‘Laker Girl’ Jeanie’s book details life secrets
February 16, 2011 by Trend PK
Filed under Entertainment
LOS ANGELES: Anybody who has ever worked for a family business knows it is hard to juggle the competing issues of work life versus family life.
But when your family business is as high profile as professional basketball’s Los Angeles Lakers — one of the winningest championship teams of all time — the job can be even more challenging. Add in that you are dating the team’s coach, and it gets even more complicated.
Welcome to the world of Jeanie Buss and her memoir “Laker Girl,” which is currently in bookstores.
Buss is executive vice president of business operations for the Lakers, one of the world’s best known sports franchises. She is the daughter of team owner, Dr. Jerry Buss, and sister to executive vice president of player personnel, Jim Buss. As important, she is the girlfriend of coach Phil Jackson.
She calls juggling her personal and her business life one of the most challenging issues she faces, day-to-day.
“My dad is very clear about family time being family time and not letting business encroach on that. And if there is a serious business issue, we make an appointment, sit down and have a meeting and keep it separate,” Buss told Reuters.
“Anybody who’s in a family business will agree that it’s really hard to keep boundaries, yet it’s really important to keep the sanity of the family,” she said.
Buss is, perhaps, the biggest Laker booster of them all, and it comes across in “Laker Girl.” Readers gain insight into the team during its championship season of 2009-2010, as well as into Buss’s life with Jackson and her career in business.
During the last season, Buss wrote in a daily journal and her thoughts on the team’s ups-and-downs over roughly eight months provide a timeline for “Laker Girl.”
She said that one question she is often asked is what it’s like to be a woman working in such a storied sports franchise, and by writing in journal form she could “share in real time, the highs and the lows” of working for the team.
Interspersed between the journal entries are chapters on her father’s start in southern California real estate, in which he amassed the fortune he used to purchase the Lakers in 1979.
Buss also shares her own work experiences with readers, starting out as a 19 year-old promoter of World Team Tennis matches in the late 1970s and moving on to her work with the Lakers, helping market the team and sell merchandise associated with it and its players, including Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.
When asked what the Laker brand stands for, she is quick to reply. “In one word, I would say winning.
“My dad…he’s an American story. He is a self-made man who used education to pull himself out of a poor childhood,” Buss said. “He built an empire, but all the time being a fan. For him, he runs the team as a family and its fans like to win.”
“Laker Girl” offers readers some basic business tips as Buss relates experiences about being a highly-placed executive in a male-dominated business.
“You’ve got to stay true to yourself,” Buss said. “You have to have discipline and know your stuff and if people try to dismiss you, that’s their loss.
“Know what you’re good at, what your talents are, and hone those skills. That is what will help you succeed,” she said.
And, of course, she addresses the inevitable: whether Jackson will ever pop the marriage question.
Hint: the final answer is on the last page.
US condemns bomb attacks on mosques in Pakistan
November 6, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
WASHINGTON: The United States has condemned the two terror attacks on mosques in Pakistan on Friday.
“The United States condemns today’s two bombings that took place at mosques in Pakistan which brutally targeted innocent people at worship,” Acting Deputy Department Spokesman Mark C. Toner said during a press briefing on Friday.
“By attacking places of worship, whoever was responsible has demonstrated a clear lack of- or clear disregard, rather, for the Pakistani people and for the peaceful religion they practice,” he added.
The spokesman said that the US “will continue to work with the Government of Pakistan to combat violent extremism and terrorism,” and added that “our thoughts and our prayers go out with the families and friends of those who were touched by these attacks.”
Earlier, three people were killed and 24 others injured when unknown men
Alaska Senate Race Results
Alaska Senate Race Results: We’re bringing you news of the Midterm Election 2010 results from across America and if you want to see full results for each state so far see our previous article here for a simple and clear summary. We’ve also told how Proposition 19 has been defeated in California, and the results of the California election 2010.
However it’s time to turn our attention to what’s going on in the highly-divisive Alaska Senate Race which is neck and neck right now. Indeed it’s so close that it may be some weeks before an official result is known. Huma Khan and Leezel Tanglao over on ABC News report that projections show a Republican winner from write-in candidate Lisa Murkowski or Joe Miller the Tea Party candidate. Democrat Scott McAdams looks likely to finish in third place.
This story is likely to run and run as write-ins account for around 41% of the vote with Miller currently on 34% and McAdams 24%. The feud in the Republican Party means that if Murkowski wins it will be the first time since 1954 that a write-in candidate has won a Senate seat according to John Blackstone over on CBSNews.
However Joe Miller is a Tea Party favorite, backed by Sarah Palin but there’s always a chance if the vote is split that McAdams could take the victory instead. It’s certainly one to watch. What are your thoughts on the Alaska Senate race? We’d be interested to hear from you so please send us your comments.
Anjaana Anjaani to release on 1st October
There was slight uncertainty which was building up around the release date of Anjaana Anjaani. Though plans for 24th September were finalised months back, the latest developments around the court verdict to be passed around 60 year-old Ayodhya title suit has apparently led to some rethinking amongst the makers. Add to that the fact that the film’s lead Ranbir Kapoor has shared his thoughts around the film’s release pretty openly has led to further round of speculations.
During one of the promotional events of the film, Ranbir Kapoor went on record to state that it was improper to release the film on 24th September since such a big national level decision was being announced on the same day. He felt that it was more appropriate to release Anjaana Anjaani a week later. Though producer Sajid Nadiadwala and director Siddharth Anand were supposedly not quite prepared for such comments, they have now been prompted to give it all a rational thinking and are finally releasing the film a week later on October 1st.
Says an industry observer, “The film has heated up quite well for this Friday release. The music is hit while promotional events have been going on full swing as well. No producer would actually want to move his film ahead when so much publicity has already taken place. A week’s delay would lead to more investment in the entire promotion and publicity machinery.”
“However, what is also of utmost importance is to pre-empt the sentiments across the country on 24th September. Really, one can never be too sure about how tense the situation could be then. It is not just about UP; it is about the whole country. Security is already pretty pressed up for the entire weekend. It may not be a bad idea after all for Anjaana Anjaani to hold on for a while and let 24th September pass by”, he continues.
Now that this Ranbir Kapoor- Priyanka Chopra starrer has decided to come on 1st October, it won’t be a bad deal after all. The only major competition for the week is with Aakrosh but given the dramatic genre of this Priyadarshan directed film and hence a different target audience, it won’t be an issue for any of the two films to do well. Rajnikanth and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan starrer Robot also releases on 1st October but again, its audience base is primarily down South.
While neither Sajid Nadiadwala nor Siddharth Anand were available for comments, the lead actors were continuing to promote the film in a business as usual manner.
British endorses Pakistan’s stance on terror war: Kaira
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said President Asif Ali Zardari and British Prime Minister David Cameron lauded the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in war on terror during the talks the two leaders held in London on Friday.
In an interview with media he said the talks were held in a cordial atmosphere. Kaira said that President Asif Ali Zardari explained Pakistan’s stand on all issues, including war on terror and the British Prime Minister supported his viewpoint.
He said the two leaders discussed the historic relations between the two nations .
The British Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the democratically elected government, Kaira said and added, sacrifices rendered by Pakistan Army, law enforcement agencies and the civilian population were appreciated.
Zardari critic of Nawaz over UK visit statement
LONDON: President Asif Ali Zardari has said world must help Pakistan more for complete eradication of terror menace, Geo News reported.
Criticizing Nawaz Sharif over his viewpoint regarding his UK visit, Zardari said Nawaz Sharif’s assertion regarding my UK visit reflected sickness of his thoughts.
This he said in a televised interview with a British television on Friday. He said our fight is not only against Taliban but it is also a war against an ill idea.
Pakistan army played a vital role in combating terrorism, he said.
Cargo plane crashes at Alaska base; 4 on board
July 29, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE: A military cargo plane on a training run crashed Wednesday at an Air Force base near downtown Anchorage, but there was no immediate word on casualties, the Air Force said. Witnesses reported seeing a ball of fire rising hundreds of feet high.
Four people were onboard the C-17, Air Force Capt. Uriah Orland said. Asked if there were deaths, he did not answer.
After the 6:14 p.m. crash at Elmendorf Air Force Base, access routes to the site, which was not on a runway, were closed.
The plane was from the 3rd Wing, based at Elmendorf, and Orland said it was on a local training run. He added more information would be released later Wednesday.
Anchorage Fire Dept. Captain Bryan Grella said his crew was just getting done with dinner at about 6:30 p.m. at the downtown fire station when something caught his eye.
“It was a big, gray plume of smoke, and I saw a fireball go up in it,” he said.
The fireball extended about 750 feet in the air. He estimated the plume to be about two miles from downtown.
A board of officers will investigate the crash.
It”s the third airplane incident in Anchorage this summer. In June, one child was killed and four others burned when a small plane crashed after taking off from the city”s small-airplane airport in downtown Anchorage.
Days later, a small plane landed on the busy Glenn Highway, the only highway leading north out of Anchorage. There were no injuries in the latter mishap.
Gov. Sean Parnell and Sen. Mark Begich issued statements late Wednesday expressing sadness over the crash and sending well-wishes to members of the military.
“Alaskans are very connected to the military, and our thoughts and prayers are with Alaska”s Air Force family,” Parnell said.
lady gaga alejandro music video
June 8, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Lady GaGa has released the highly anticipated “Alejandro” music video. The 9 (almost) minute video is true GaGa–lots of nudity and sexual connotations. The video is confusing no matter how many times you watch it. Who is “Alejandro”? He must be important considering his name is repeated 1283721038 times during the song.
When you watch the “Alejandro” music video get ready to see men in fishnets and heels, GaGa in the nude, and weapons of war. We’re not sure which man is Alejandro in the video or what kind of hold he has on Lady GaGa. The video opens with a troop of men dancing–I’ll be honest it is pretty cool; then it goes into weird clips of GaGa in torture device contraptions and a funeral procession.
As much as I love Lady GaGa this video is way weird and a little disturbing. In the end it looks like GaGa is the leading lady in an all male orgy of some sorts. I wonder if MTV and VH1 will air the whole video.
Watch Lady GaGa’s official “Alejandro” music video and leave a comment with your thoughts!
dora the explorer illegal immigrant
May 22, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
dora the explorer illegal immigrant
As a resident of the state of the Arizona, I have been following the recent immigration law passed with some interest. Many have expressed concern over the new law, and many are trying to boycott the state of Arizona. I even attended a 30 Seconds To Mars concert over the last weekend here where the artist said on stage that he and his band should boycott the state and not do the show. He did it anyway because he didn’t want to punish concert goers who he had to postpone on once already.
The composite photo, which was created by Debbie Groben of Sarasota, FL, was not intended as a political commentary. Instead, Groben, who is against the new anti-immigration law, said she was inspired to create the image last year for the fake news web site FreakingNews.com.
Interestingly, this image and other similar one, are being used by both sides of the immigration debate. Dora is non-threatening and relatable. But she’s also, presumably, foreign (although she speaks Spanish and English, the show never explicitly states her ethnic or national heritage).
“Dora is kind of like a blank screen onto which people can project their thoughts and feelings about Latinos,” Erynn Masi de Casanova, a sociology professor at the University of Cincinnati, told the Associated Press. “They feel like they can say negative things because she’s only a cartoon character.”
Some anti-immigration web sites see the character, whom they assume is a migrant from Mexico, as part of a larger conspiracy to convince Americans to welcome Hispanics.
Last month, Arizona passed a law requiring police, in the context of enforcing other laws, to question people about their immigration status if they have reasonable suspicion they are in the country illegally.
The depictions, whether through irony or protest, are being used by those who oppose and support Arizona’s law. On one hand she’s a likable symbol who many can relate to, and at the same time, perceived as an outsider who doesn’t belong anywhere.
It’s not the first time a children’s character has been dragged into a serious debate.
In the late 1990s, Tinky Winky the Teletubby, a purple children’s TV character with a triangle antenna – was called out by Christian leaders for being gay. Sesame Street roommates Bert and Ernie are often involved in statements on same-sex marriage.
aiyana jones
May 17, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Aiyana Jones, 7 year old case
The case of 7-year-old Aiyana Jones shooting death by a Detroit Michigan Police Special Response Team officer is being spun in so many ways that each news report discussing it reads differently and most of these don’t appear as though they are being very honest about it. So I thought it made sense to clear things up as to why this case is in our National Police Misconduct News Feed. Here’s what we know so far based on information culled from multiple sources…
At 12:40am on 05/16/2010 the Detroit Michigan Special Response Team entered a duplex to serve an arrest warrant on a suspect in a homicide case who was living in the upstairs unit. The police announced, tossed a flash-bang grenade into one of the windows of the duplex, and then entered into both the upstairs and downstairs rental units of the duplex.
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Police say that their warrant applied to both units in the duplex, even though the suspect did not live in the lower unit where another family lived. When the lower unit was entered an officer alleged he made physical contact with a 46-year-old woman who was Aiyana’s grandmother. At this point the officer discharged his weapon and 7-year-old Aiyana was fatally injured with a gunshot wound to the neck by an unspecified type of firearm on the nearby couch where she had been sleeping prior to the intrusion.
Assistant Chief Ralph Godbee said at a news conference Sunday that Aiyana Jones was hit in the neck by a single bullet and died at a hospital.
“This is any parent’s worst nightmare. It also is any police officer’s worst nightmare,” Godbee said.
Godbee said officers with the department’s Special Response Team set off a flash grenade as they entered the home with their guns drawn about 12:40 a.m. Sunday with a warrant to look for a suspect in the Friday slaying of a 17-year-old boy.
Police state that a 46 year old woman, had contact with a police officer and the officer’s gun went off and this precious 7 year old, Aiyana Jones, was at that time struck by the gun fire in her head and neck area. Her grieving father states that his 7 year old baby girl, Aiyana Jones was asleep when police burst in and was throwing flash grenade’s and burnt his baby to death and then shot and killed her.
