Could Jacko Become Mr. Las Vegas?

By Jerry Garner

According to a written press statement issued yesterday by a spokeswoman for Michael Jackson, the “King of Pop” has received multiple offers to perform in Las Vegas, where Jackson now resides. Details are still sketchy at this time, but one has to wonder if Jackson could replace Wayne Newton as Mr. Las Vegas.

The press statement, issued by Jackson spokesperson Raymone Bain, clarified several key points about the Jackster’s private life, as well as announcing that the pop icon has received several unsolicited proposals from some of the largest resorts on the Las Vegas strip.

The statement issued by Bain stated that Michael Jackson is “reviewing and evaluating” multiple proposals for his future, which include proposals from several Vegas resorts. She said that the Las Vegas proposals were not solicited by Michael Jackson, but were presented to him voluntarily by a number of resorts that are competing for his attention.

The announcement did not say which resorts have issued proposals, but mentioned that Jackson is not feeling any pressure to make a decision quickly.

"He does not believe that he is under any time constraint for making his decisions." Bain’s announcement said.

More interesting was other news that was clarified as part of the announcement, such as officially dispelling rumors that Jackson is not having difficulty in finding employment in a Las Vegas resort. In fact, the announcement says he has not been seeking such opportunities and is merely evaluating the ones that were brought to him voluntarily.

"Mr. Jackson has been presented numerous proposals -- proposals which he has not solicited, but were presented to him, several of which include performing in Las Vegas" the announcement read.

The press statement also confirmed that Michael Jackson is now living in Las Vegas full time. This follows extensive overseas travels in Europe. Jackson has also recently resided in both Bahrain and Ireland. Although he still maintains the famous Neverland Ranch in California, he has not resided at that location since he was acquitted of child molestation charges in 2005.

Jackson moved to Las Vegas a few months ago, prompting rumors that the entertainer had relocated to the area to seek employment in a Las Vegas resort, similar to the deal Celine Dion had struck with Caesars Palace. Yesterday’s announcement sought to clarify these rumors, stating that the reasons for selecting Las Vegas had nothing to do with casinos.

"Mr. Jackson did not move to Las Vegas to shop a Vegas show," Bain says, but "likes the city and found it a convenient location to record with the artists, songwriters and producers who are working with him in the studio."

Bain also stated that Jackson had never maintained any deal to sing on the popular television show “American Idol”, despite the flood of rumors to the contrary.

The ultimate end to the news release will not be known for several weeks. Fans of the pop star wait with eager anticipation to see if the legend could be the next mainstream act to fill a private stadium night after night, or if Jackson will stick to his reclusive tendencies and avoid the limelight for a while longer.

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Michael Jackson to perform in Las Vegas?

Meet the new Mr. Las Vegas

Jackson mulls Vegas show offers

Pirates Attack Humanitarian Relief Vessel In Somalia

By Jerry Garner

Pirates off the coast of Somalia have hijacked a cargo ship conducting a humanitarian mission for the United Nations. The United States is reported to have dispatched a war ship to protect other humanitarian vessels after this latest pirate attack.

Sea pirates hijacked the freighter, MV Rozen, Sunday morning. Reports state that the vessel was boarded off the coast of North-Eastern Somalia, by an organized gang of pirates brandishing AK-47s. The attack has caused many to fear a resurgence of the piracy that was once widespread and rampant in the area.

According to a spokesperson for the UN World Food Program, the vessel had just completed delivery of 1,800 tons of food aid to the towns of Bosasso and Berbera. Having unloaded the cargo, the ship was on it’s return voyage to vessel’s home port in Mombasa, Kenya.

"It was hijacked this morning at about 9.30am near the town of Bargal," said Stephanie Savariaud, a spokesperson for the United Nations.

The attack followed warnings from Kenya that there could possibly be a resurgence of piracy off the Horn of Africa.

Andrew Mwangura, a representative of the International Seafarers Assistance Program, said, “As it was heading home, the heavily-armed pirates emerged from a motorboat, they jumped in the ship and seized it.”

The identity of the pirates is not known at this time. In the past, similar attacks have been carried out by a well-organized cartel of Somalis. The pirates typically use speed boats mounted with machine guns to catch up to the slower moving ocean liners, and then board the vessel with automatic weapons.

Somali pirates are once again becoming a well-known problem along the shipping corridors of Eastern Africa. By some accounts, their attacks even rival those of the armed gangs who plague the Malacca Straight in the South China Sea.

The Kenyan company that operates the MV Rozen, Motaku Shipping, has had a particularly difficult time with the pirates. Following this recent attack on the Rozen, the company said that all four vessels under it’s command have suffered from piracy in the last two years.

The MV Torgelo, also operated by Motaku Shipping, fell victim to pirates in October 2005 as she came to the aid of her sister vessel, the Semlow. The Semlow had been hijacked by pirates more than three months earlier while delivering aid to Somalia’s tsunami victims, and both she ship and the crew were held captive for 100 days before being released.

Only a week after the Torgelo hijacking, the company’s other vessel, the Miltzow, was hijacked and held by pirates for two days before being released. The company now instructs it’s vessels to remain at least 200 miles away from the coast of Somalia to avoid attacks by pirates, but this is an impossible task when you are delivering foreign aid to cities in that country.

At this time, both the Rozen and it’s crew of 12 men are still missing. The crew of comprised of six Kenyans and six Sri Lankans, including the Captain. The few details that are available were relayed by the Captain of the vessel before the pirates finally gained entry to the ship’s control room.

"I do not know what I will tell the relatives of the crew when they start camping outside my office tomorrow," said Karim Kudrath in an open press statement. Kudrath is the General Manager of Motaku Shipping in Mombasa, Kenya.

The same vessel under attack in this instance narrowly escaped an attack by pirates last March when making another humanitarian delivery. The problem of piracy has become so bad that shipping in the area has slowed to a crawl.

“We are the only shipping company that has agreed to take food to Somalia," Kudrath said.

He continued to say, "I am very doubtful if we will continue to offer our services to Somalia. It is getting very difficult for us."

Said Warsame, a World Food Program spokeswoman, has stated that a US War Ship has been dispatched to confront sea pirates. Warsame stated that the war ship is still in international waters, but is heading towards the area. US officials in Nairobi have not yet confirmed these reports.

Related News Links:

US warship tackles Somali pirates

Pirates hijack UN ship near Somalia

Off Somalia, There Be (Lots of) Pirates

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Jerry Garner, a resident of Las Vegas, covers a diverse array of current events and world news topics. He is most notable for his expertise in casino gambling, which is showcased at his web site, GlobalGamingNews.com.

Fishermen Catch Colossal Squid Weighing Half A Ton

By Jerry Garner

For as long as man has sailed the seas, there have been reports of sea monsters that would attack even the largest of man’s ships. The giant squid has always been one of the most widely known of these sea monsters. Fishermen in New Zealand have now caught a colossal squid weighing half a ton, making it the largest specimen ever caught.

Reports of giant squid have circulated since the 18th century. Often depicted in mammoth proportions, these sea monsters were often reported to have pulled entire ships to the ocean floor. Sailors would often treat tales of these creatures with respect and fear, while others regarded them as myth and fantasy.

In 1861, rumors circulated about an encounter between the French Navy and a giant squid. The story fueled the imagination of Jules Verne, resulting in Captain Nemo’s encounter with a colossal squid in Verne’s famous novel, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea.

Over time, evidence began to surface to demonstrate that the giant squid is a sea monster that truly does exist. Confirming that the creatures were real forever changed our view of them, even if very little is actually known of the creatures. One of the few facts about giant squid that is known is that the creatures are hunted by sperm whales, a fact that was revealed when enormous squid beaks were found in sperm whale stomachs.

While we are not certain of exactly how big these creatures can be, we now have a new benchmark after a fishing crew caught a record setting giant squid off the South of New Zealand today. The squid measured in at 39 feet long, and weighs 990 pounds, and is the largest squid specimen ever landed.

It should be noted that these are estimates made by the crew and the fisheries official on board the vessel. Official, detailed figures have not yet been released. If the initial estimates prove correct, it would make this squid 330 pounds heavier than the next biggest specimen to have every been found.

The men were fishing for Patagonian toothfish, which is sold under the name Chilean Sea Bass. According to Jim Anderton, the New Zealand Fisheries Minister, the squid began eating on of the toothfish that had been hooked. After a two hour struggle the creature was finally captured and brought on board.

"I can assure you that this is going to draw phenomenal interest. It is truly amazing," said Dr. Steve O'Shea, a squid expert at the Auckland University of Technology.

O’Shea went on to say that if calamari rings were to be made from this squid, they would be the size of tractor tires.

Colossal squid are known by the scientific name of Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni. They are estimated to grow up to 46 feet in length, and can descend to 6,500 feet below the surface of the ocean. They are believed to be very aggressive hunters.

While colossal squid are native to Antarctic waters, they have a close cousin known as the giant squid. The giant squid are native to waters just off the coast of New Zealand, and are known to be up to 39 feet in length. Aside from being slightly longer, the colossal squid is also generally heavier than the giant squid..

Related News Links:

New Zealand fishermen catch rare squid

Public Alarmed By More Tainted Food Recalls

By Jerry Garner

In the past week alone, we have seen recalls of peanut butter, fruit and baby food. Now pre-cooked chicken breasts have joined the list of contaminated products, leaving the public to wonder exact what is safe to eat and what isn’t.

The scare began last week when two ConAgra Foods products, Peter Pan peanut butter and Great Value peanut butter, were recalled and pulled from shelves. The products had been linked to an outbreak of Salmonella that caused nearly 300 people in 39 States to fall ill. Of those, 46 were hospitalized for serious conditions.

The Salmonella outbreak came on the heels of a similar outbreak last November in which tomatoes were linked to the illness. It not only resulted in multiple lawsuits being filed against ConAgra Foods, but also left Congress wondering if the US food supply is vulnerable to terror attacks.

The food scare was intensified on Friday when Dole Fresh Fruit Company recalled more than 6,100 cartons of Cantaloupes. The fruit, which was imported from Costa Rica, was also infected with a strain of Salmonella. Although there have been no reports of illness linked to the fruit, the Associated Press reported that it had been distributed to wholesale outlets in Quebec and in the Eastern United States.

The same day, Earth’s Best Organic recalled a large amount of baby food with fears that it may have been contaminated with Clostridium Botulinum, a life threatening bacteria more commonly known as Botulism.

The manufacturer or Earth’s Best Organic voluntarily recalled more than 4,000 cases of individual jars and more than 38,000 variety packs, according to a prepared statement released by the FDA. Production of the baby food has been suspended until the company and the FDA can determine, and eliminate, the source of the problem.

The baby food that was recalled is part of the company’s “2nd Vegetables, Fruits and Blends” product line, and is intended for infants 6 months and up. The jars were distributed through retail outlets and also sold on the Earth’s Best web site, according to the FDA.

The publicity surrounding such a large amount of contaminated food products in such a short period of time has left the public wondering what is safe to eat.

"Our country has pretty good food regulation standards so the fact that we've had a lot of incidents lately is pretty shocking," says Matt Wolf, a shopper from Illinois.

To add to the ever-growing list of tainted food products, we are now being told that more than 26 tons of pre-cooked chicken breasts have been recalled after the meat was confirmed to be contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes. If ingested, this contamination could develop into Listeriosis, an infection that is rare, but very serious.

The recall was issued by Carolina Culinary Foods of South Carolina. The company recalled more than 52,000 pounds of fully cooked chicken breasts that were produced on February 9th and distributed to retailers nationwide.

The recalled product are labeled “OSCAR MAYER/LOUIS RICH CHICKEN BREAST STRIPS WITH RIB MEAT, GRILLED, FULLY COOKED -- READY TO EAT.” Each 6-ounce package contains the number “P-19676” inside the USDA inspection mark on the front, and a use-by date of “19 Apr 2007” on the back.

Consumers with questions about the chicken recall should contact Kraft Consumer Response at 800-871-7117.

The latest event has left many wondering about the inspection process of the food that finds it’s way to our kitchen.

"I don't know if it's under-funding that we don't have the inspectors that we need to go out into the fields and make sure the companies are abiding by the rules that are set down," says shopper Mike Luke.

Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done on an individual level short of growing your own food, an option that is not realistic for the majority of the population. This leaves most consumers with no option other than to simply hope that the food they are eating isn’t poisoning them.

"You can't grow things in your home to the amount that there is out there to get so I don't know, you know, what are you gonna do?" Luke continued.

The unusually high volume of contaminated food products has left some members of Congress wondering if the US food supply is vulnerable to attacks from terrorists.

"If we cannot protect the nation's supply of peanut butter, one must ask how prepared we are for a terrorist attack on our nation's food supply," Michigan Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak said on Friday in response to the contaminated jars of Peter Pan peanut butter.

Consumer protection groups are also outraged and filing official complaints with the Federal Government. The groups charge that the agencies in charge of protecting the nations food supplies are all but negligent due to improper coordination. Complaints reference the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the US Department of Agriculture.

Related News Links:

Cooked Chicken Breasts Join Tainted-Food Recalls

More Recalled Foods

Illinois Republicans Push For Expanded Gambling

By Jerry Garner

Illinois House Republicans have proposed a $5 Billion budget for roads, schools and mass transportation. The money to cover the budget will come from an expansion of Illinois' casinos.

Expanding gambling in the State has not been a popular option in the past. But when compared to other options, such as increase sales tax or an increase on State income tax, offering more gambling in the State may be viewed as the most favorable option available.

House Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) remains hopeful about the proposal's odds of approval. The State has been in desperate need for a Capital Construction Plan for years, to repair aging roads and bridges. Adding to his hopes are that both parties have already mentioned using more gambling to cover the costs of these projects.

"We haven't done an infrastructure bill in seven years," Cross said. "When you look at roads, schools and higher education issues, it's time to quit talking about it."

Cross continued on to explain that while not everyone has embraced the idea, nearly everyone is in agreement on the need for a capital plan, and that the money for this plan has to come from somewhere.

The last Capital Budget was the "Illinois FIRST" plan, which was passed in 1999 during the early days of Gov. George Ryan's term. More recently, Gov. Rod Blagojevich has proposed multiple Capital Plans; all of which have failed to gain the approval of State Lawmakers.

A spokesperson for Governor Blagojevich, Abby Ottenhoff, stated that the Governor is open to considering any proposal put forth by the State Legislation.

"But it's ironic that these are the very legislators who stopped the governor from passing any capital plans for the last four years," Ottenhoff continued.

Throughout his first term, Governor Blagojevich has pushed several plans to fund school construction and various public works projects. None of these plans received proper support to be passed. House Republicans held up his most recent proposal, stating that there was not adequate funding to complete it. The Governor suggested that the State could add a keno lottery game to pay for the plan, but was ultimately forced to drop the idea.

The new plan proposed by the GOP would provide a budget of $3 Billion for purposes of road construction and mass transit projects. An additional $1.5 Billion would be applied to construction costs for schools in the State, and another $500 Million would go to various Universities and Community Colleges. The money required to pay for this plan would be derived purely from an expansion of available gambling at the casinos in Illinois.

"I understand that this does not expand gambling locations, but it would expand the positions," said Rep. Jil Tracy (R-Mount Sterling).

Tracy said that the plan is both vital and long overdue, even if an expansion of gambling is not her favorite source of funding.

Under the plan, casinos in Illinois can expand capacity on their gaming floors to include 6,000 new gaming positions, in addition to the 10,000 positions currently used at Illinois casinos. Casinos would pay $500 Million in up-front fees for the expanded capacity. Taxes and fees would continue to generate $450 Million per year from the expansion. Under the GOP Plan, casinos would need to supply the state with an additional $400 Million per year for 20 years in order to pay off construction loans for the projects.