Heath’s Death Puts Producers in Tough Situation
January 25, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) Heath Ledger’s death last Tuesday in his upper Manhattan placed two production companies in a difficult situation as far as the marketing and filming of some of Ledger’s newest films. Although both acknowledged sadness and expressed their deepest condolences to Family and friends of the star who was well respected and an outstanding talent in the movie industry, still the producers are left with some serious issues to contemplate.
Ledger had just finished filming late last year the role of The Joker for the movie “The Dark Knights” which is a sequel to the Batman series. Warner Bros. campaigned the movie with Ledger as the joker drawing the word “Why so serious” using blood in a misty glass. The film production company says they will alter the ad campaign as the movie is set to be released this June. In an interview last November, Ledger described his role as the Joker to be a “psychopathic, mass-murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy.” which was disturbing for him and prompted the actor to take sleeping pills as he was having trouble sleeping after he reprised the role popularized by Jack Nicholson in an earlier version of the hit movie series.
Another film Heath Ledger was working on and was still in production was the movie “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,” a film by director Terry Gilliam that was shot in London last year. The unfortunate matter is the fact that the movie’s filming is only halfway done as they were set to go to Vancouver, British Columbia to finish it and do the editing. The movie was slated for release early next year. In a statement, actor Christopher Plummer who was part in the movie said, “An enormous amount left to do.” God knows what’s going to happen now,” Plummer said.
His death came as a great surprise for those who knew him well. Although, some of them thought that they already spotted early signs of trouble from the actor when in London for the new movie they where shooting, Plummer noted that Ledger had a “terrible, lingering bug in London, and he couldn’t sleep at all. We all — I thought he’d probably got walking pneumonia”
2-Day Advancement for Wall Street
January 25, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) For the second straight day, Wall Street bounced back with big gains to hold a mini rally for those monstrous losses experienced since the start of January this year. Leading the upsurge was Dow Jones Industrials which was up by over 100 points Thursday to record a 2-day advancement of over 400 points in total. The Dow Jones finished trading with 12378.61 exactly 108.44 points or 0.88% higher when the day started. Nasdaq composite index gained 44.51 points while Standard & Poor 500 also rose by 13.47 points.
The announcement by the Federal Reserve and the government of an agreement that could earn taxpayers a refund ranging from $600 to $1200 or possibly more if you declared in your tax statements a dependent was the main factor experts attributed to for the 2-day rise. Also, some hope of optimism can be felt in the market as the upcoming January 29th - 30th meeting by the Federal Reserves nears. An expected decision in lowering Interest Rates even further could also play a huge role if the proposed plan pushes through. This would mean that a number of people struggling to hold on to their properties could gain a reprieve once the Interest rates are lowered and this could pave the way for the US economy to avoid the Recession.
Bill Dwyer chief executive of MTB Investment Advisors said. “People have that ‘R’ word stuck on the front of their forehead. It’s really just a dramatic slowing of growth. We may not have a recession,”
Stephen Carl who is the head of equity trading at the Williams Capital Group said, “We still have a long way to go in getting the economy on track,” Carl said. “Whether we dip into a recession or not, a lot of things need to be fleshed out in the markets.”
With several more proposed plans by congressional lawmakers and the Federal Reserves to add to the so called stimulus package they released this week, all of which are aimed at helping the economy and bond insurers in principle, stability in the Stock Market could finally be forged if investors decide that stocks are secure and bottoms have already been hit leaving only one way for things to bounce back: going up.
Dowling College’s School of Aviation to Soar to New Heights Under Direction of New Dean
January 24, 2008
(Oakdale, N.Y.) Dowling College President, Robert Gaffney, is proud to announce the appointment of Coram resident Dr. John Wensveen as the new Dean of Aviation. Dr. Wensveen is considered one of the aviation industry’s leading experts on low-fare high value airline operations and was most recently President of Washington, DC based Airline Visions. Dr. Wensveen has been dubbed the ‘idea factory’ by many of his colleagues for his ability to identify trends and focus on fast results.
“Dr. Wensveen will serve as a valuable addition to the aviation program and we are happy to have someone of his stature here at our institution. I am confident that under his direction, the School of Aviation will continue to move forward,” said President Gaffney.
“The foundation is already here at Dowling College to achieve greatness and it is my hope to have the School of Aviation widely recognized as one of the leading aviation institutes in the country. I look forward to working with the staff and faculty to ensure this goal,” said Dr. Wensveen.
Dr. Wensveen’s previous experience includes his role as Vice President of International Development with Washington-Dulles based MAXjet Airways, the first start-up US flag carrier to obtain FAA certification to operate on the trans-Atlantic since the events of 9/11. He was also Professor of Airline Management and Operations at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida and was the project lead on the creation of the world’s first Airline Operations Center Simulation Laboratory, an international project in partnership with major aviation/aerospace companies including airlines, airports, ground handling organizations, manufacturers, academic institutions and government. While at Embry-Riddle, Dr. Wensveen built a reputation in the aviation industry as one of the leading experts in his field.
Dr. Wensveen is a member of a number of professional organizations and is a frequent speaker at international aviation events. Dr. Wensveen publishes frequently in major aviation publications and is an aviation analyst for the media often seen on television networks and quoted in newspapers and magazines. He is author of North America’s leading aviation textbook entitled, Air Transportation: A Management Perspective and is author of another book entitled, Wheels Up: Airline Business Plan Development. Dr. Wensveen hosted a number of leading radio shows in the U.K. and was awarded ‘Best Male Presenter’ at the BBC Radio One Awards.
About Dowling College
Dowling College is an independent, coeducational college that serves more than 6,500 students at its historic Rudolph Campus on the banks of the Connetquot River in Oakdale, NY, and the 105-acre Brookhaven Campus in eastern Long Island and a business center located near the Nassau-Suffolk border in Melville. Dowling offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in several disciplines through its four schools: Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Education. http://www.dowling.edu
Ron Paul Secures 2nd Place in Louisiana, Predicts Giuliani Dropout
January 24, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) Preliminary results show that Senator John McCain has won the Republican party’s caucuses in Louisiana while Ron Paul took second place.
Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Roger F. Villere, Jr. announced the preliminary results of delegate elections held at GOP caucuses across the state on Tuesday evening.
“Preliminary results show that a majority of the 105 state convention delegates who have been elected ran on a statewide pro-life uncommitted slate,” Villere said. “I congratulate the candidates and supporters of this group on their victory and look forward to working with them to keep our Party platform pro-life at the state and national conventions,” he said.
“I offer my congratulations Senator John McCain on his success in the Louisiana caucuses,”" Villere said. “Senator McCain is an American hero and this is further evidence that he enjoys strong support in Louisiana and throughout the South,” he said.
Supporters of Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) appear to have captured the next highest number of delegate positions.
“I applaud the supporters of Congressman Paul for their enthusiasm and superior organizational ability,” Villere said. “Our Party needs the infusion of new activists who have both political skill and a passion for protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us by the Constitution,” he said. “I left the caucus with a renewed commitment to promote our core Republican principles of limited government and individual freedom, thanks to the zeal displayed by Congressman Paul’s Louisiana supporters,” Villere said.
Next Tuesday, Florida hosts a major Republican primary. Florida is where the former mayor of New York City hopes to turn things around but a new Florida poll by the St. Petersburg Times showed McCain leading the state with 25 percent, followed by Romney with 23 percent. Giuliani trailed at 15 percent despite spending millions of dollars in Florida and investing all of his campaigns time and energy there.
Congressman Ron Paul who also secured second place in Nevada, predicted that former frontrunner Rudy Giuliani would soon drop out of the Republican contest. Paul has beaten Giuliani in four out of five Republican primaries.
“Most of the mainstream media continue to pretend that we do not exist,” reads a statement from Paul on his campaign website. “Yet soon the race will be down to four candidates-Romney, McCain, Huckabee, and me, and there is no stopping us, as Tim Russert grudgingly pointed out the other night. Thanks to you, we are in this all the way through a brokered convention.”
Heath Ledger: Autopsy Inconclusive
January 24, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) It will take 10-14 more days to determine the cause of death for actor Heath Ledger who was found Tuesday dead in his bedroom lying face down in his bed fully naked. An initial autopsy was performed yesterday but the report showed inconclusive results of how the actor died.
Early investigations show firm evidence that Ledger died between 1 P.M to 2.45 P.M. His housekeeper entered Ledger’s room at exactly 1 PM to change a light bulb and she heard him snoring and sleeping in his bed. By 2.45 PM, she entered the room again to inform the actor that his massage therapist has arrived for his 3PM appointment. That’s when she found him dead and immediately called Mary-Kate Olsen whose number was pre-programmed in Ledger’s phone to seek her advice. Mary Kate sent private assistance although before it could arrive, the massage therapist called her back and said she was calling 911.
Overdose to drugs is suspected as the cause of death but Police remain defiant to confirm this until the official autopsy reports come out. Also found in his room was a $20 bill lying rolled up on his floor. Further testing showed that no traces of drugs where found on the bill. Also discovered where six different types of prescription drugs ranging from anti-anxiety medications to sleeping pills most of which where found near his bed and in the bathroom.
His death comes as a shock to his friends, colleagues and family. “Working with Heath was one of the purest joys of my life,” said Ang Lee, who directed Ledger in “Brokeback Mountain.” “He brought to the role of Ennis more than any of us could have imagined — a thirst for life, for love and for truth, and a vulnerability that made everyone who knew him love him. His death is heartbreaking.”
In Perth Australia, his family released a statement as they mourn the death of their loved one. “Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life, but few had the pleasure of truly knowing him,” Ledger’s father, Kim Ledger, told reporters while standing with the actor’s mother and sister in Perth, Australia. “He was a down-to-earth, generous, kindhearted, life-loving, unselfish individual extremely inspirational to many.”
Auction Site Ebay CEO Stepping Down
January 24, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) Chief Executive of EBay, the worlds biggest online auction site, Meg Whitman has announced that she will be stepping down as the company’s CEO this coming March 31st, 2008 to give way for fresh leadership in the company and to take on new endeavors for her career. She will remain a member of the board of directors for the company.
Replacing her will be John Donahoe, 47, who was hired in 2005 by Whitman herself and is currently serving as the Head of Marketplace for Ebay. Her departure coincides with her long time mantra that every CEO should step down after 10 years to inject new perspectives and ideas into the company. She was elevated as the CEO of Ebay on March 1998. “It’s time for eBay, and this community, to have a new leadership team, a new perspective, and a new vision,” Meg Whitman quoted in her company’s blog.
“With humor, smarts and unflappable determination, Meg took a small, barely known online auction site and helped it become an integral part of our lives,” Pierre Omidyar, eBay’s founder and chairman, said in a statement. “We’re all enormously grateful that Meg dedicated herself to stewarding eBay through its 10 most formative years.”
Ebay started roughly in the online auction business, but in the 10 years that Meg Whitman served as the CEO she transformed it from a rugged business into one of the most innovative and influential sites on the internet. She leaves in the wake of the company a growth for their quarterly report which would be a good legacy for any CEO to depart.
Experts though have criticized her the last year for not making enough decisions and moves to counter that of growing rivals such as Amazon.com resulting into some down times for the company last year. “Whitman wasn’t as innovative as her counterparts at Amazon and elsewhere…They definitely need a bit of a change of direction,” said Aaron Kessler, an analyst at Piper Jaffray. “The biggest challenge is buyer activity. There’s been buyer fatigue in the last year or so, with fewer people coming to the site and coming less often.”
Space Ship WhiteKnightTwo Unvieled
January 24, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) After the initial success of SpaceShipOne, the first space craft made to carry tourists to a tour in outer space for a fee, Burt Rutan unveiled in New York yesterday the detailed models of a new Spaceship aimed at bringing more tourists to Outerspace for a better, safer and less expensive experience of their lives called “WhiteKnightTwo”.
This new Space Ship WhiteKnight can carry more load as it is bigger and with a few more innovations introduced in it. The concept is simple, The WhiteKnight which has two fuselage and four engines will carry the new SpaceShipTwo which is a bigger version of the SpaceShipOne and release it once it gets high in altitude. The idea is to lessen the burden of the SpaceShipTwo and therefore providing longer run in outer space. The spacecraft pilot will then fire the shuttle’s rocket engine to boost it upward.
Building of these Space Ships are underway with the WhiteKnight projected to be around 70% finished while the SpaceShipTwo is about 60% done. Flight tests will commence later this year and Pilot simulation has already begun. Passenger flights will start late next year although company president Will Whitehorn won’t confirm the exact timeframe for passenger flights to start. “We don’t want to make promises that we can’t meet,” Mr. Whitehorn said. “We’re in a race with nobody, apart from a race with safety.”
In response to the critics who called for the safety of the Space crafts, Burt Rutan said, “This has to be such that the fear of the risk doesn’t hold down the growth of the industry,” Although he added that he compares the safety of the new Space craft as those of airliners in the 1920’s by saying. “Don’t believe anyone who tells you that the safety level of new spaceships will be as safe as the modern airliner,”
The main goal of the company is to prove that a regular human being doesn’t have to be fit to go to outer space. With the success of the first SpaceShipOne, Whiteborn said that, “We’ve proved that ordinary people can go to space,” he said, “and almost all of us have the right stuff.”
Strong Cast at the Australian Open Semi’s
January 24, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) As the Quarterfinals drew to a close yesterday in both Men’s and Women’s draws in the Australian Open tournament, a cast of strong players remains that should guarantee a hard, fun smashing tennis under the sun in the last three days of the tournament.
In the Women’s draw, both the defending champion and the World Number one have been eliminated paving the way for Europeans to settle the championship. World Number three player Jelena Jankovic remains as the highest seeded player after she defeated Defending Champion Serena Williams in straight sets yesterday 6-3, 6-4 to roll into the semis while fellow Serbian Ana Ivanovic defeated the other Williams Sister Venus in dominating fashion to forge a showdown with Daniela Hantuchova who defeated Polish, Radwanska to advance to her first ever Grandslam event Semis. Jankovic meanwhile will have to face the player who defeated World Number one Justin Henin in Maria Sharapova who has been playing really well and has shown great composure.
Overall for the Women’s draw it features a cast of young and athletic players that could bode well for Women’s tennis. Both Sharapova and Ivanovic are only 20 years old while Jankovic is 22. Hantuchova is the oldest at 24 years of age.
In the Men’s side, the world’s top three players remain. Roger Federer who is gunning for his 13th Grandslam title will face World No.3 Serbian upstart Novak Djokovic in what promises to be a hard fought game that features two of the elite players in the world today. Experts of course are in favor of Federer but only by the thinnest of Margins. Djokovic disposal of World number 5 David Ferrer in straight sets yesterday demonstrated that he might be ready to ascend the throne from Federer.
In other draws, Spanish sensation Rafael Nadal will try to stop the raging bull from France Jo-Wilford Tsonga who is the only unseeded player left in the tournament and one of the early surprises in the season opening tournament for the ATP this year.
Semis will start today with Sharapova vs. Jankovic headlining the event at 9.30 PM EST followed by Ivanovic vs. Hantuchova. The Men’s draw will play tomorrow with Nadal vs. Tsonga playing first then the much anticipated match of Federer vs. Djokovic unravels.
Yahoo Inc. To Cut Hundreds of Employees
January 23, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) In a cost cutting clean-up Yahoo Inc. announced that it will cut hundreds of employees off of its payroll by next month. The exact number was still undetermined as Yahoo chairman and Co-founder Jerry Yang announced that the company is still seeking the advice of the board members to settle on an exact number.
If this plan pushes through, this would be the biggest cleaning out the company has undergone since its inception in the industry and their initial success. This comes in the wake of investors requesting the company do more to help boost the declining price of shares of stocks investors have experienced the last two years.
Experts conclude however that the company will probably cut 5% off of its current 14,000 employees which would result to 700 people nationwide losing their jobs by next month. A number of investors criticized Yang for being too soft in making tough decisions for the company that would have reversed its current failures in an earlier time. Standard and Poor 500 equity analyst Scott Kessler said: “A lot of what drives the market comes down to perception and, rightly or wrongly, there is a perception that Yahoo needs to be repaired,” Kessler said. “To gain credibility, you need to make hard choices like this.”
To encourage its investors, Yahoo stated in a conference call of a multi-year plan aimed at transforming the company and enriching the long-term company stocks holder. “Yahoo plans to invest in some areas, reduce emphasis in others and eliminate some areas of the business that don’t support the company’s priorities,” the statement said.
On Wall Street, Yahoo stocks fell almost 28 percent since Yang replaced Terry Cemel as CEO of the company last June. Yahoo shares per stock also fell to a year low at $19.92 on Tuesday down by 4.14 percent. The company’s troubles could be due to several factors including the ascension of Google as the primary internet search engine site and years of misguided management of the company.
Corruption Inquiry Netted 4 New York City Police Officers
January 23, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) 4 Members of the Brooklyn South Narcotics Division Police Department were arrested and charged with Falsifying records from drug seizures and other criminal charges in relation to drug operations, officials said on Monday.
Of the four men charged, two where arrested in December, Officer Sean Johnston and Julio Alvarez were arrested when Sean Johnston was heard in a bugged room in the department bragging about getting 11 bags of cocaine off of a buy-bust operation they were involved with. In the said operation, the officers declared obtaining 17 Ziploc bags of cocaine rather than the 28 bags which was seized from a dealer on September 13th in Coney Island. After being on the record bragging, Investigators quickly made an inquiry and thereafter arrested the two detectives charging them with official misconduct, falsifying business records and filing false documents, according to court papers. Up until now, the investigation is still undergoing and the whereabouts of those 11 missing bags of cocaine are not yet clear.
After the arrests, officers of the internal affairs bureau were prompted to conduct further investigations within the department itself and as a result, two more Police officers were arrested last week on an unrelated incident which involved drug sting operations last year.
Working in the same department as the two officers arrested earlier, Sgt. Michael Arenella and Officer Jerry Bowens, who had been with the force since 1995 was found to have stashed two packs of cocaine from the original 40 Ziploc bags seized in another sting and took $40 off of the $250 cash taken in that same operation. Although it was later determined that they took the two bags of cocaine and the $40 to pay-off the confidential informant, they were still arrested and charged since it is against policy and the misinformation lead to the filing of a false report.
Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly moved quickly to shake-up Personnel of the entire Brooklyn Police Department. He transferred Deputy Chief James O’Neill, the commanding officer of the department’s narcotics operations, as well as Inspector James O’Connell, the commander of Brooklyn South Narcotics. The Division will now be headed by Chief Joseph Reznick.
