Fair Trade

Caribou Coffee Co. announces their new Fair Trade coffee.

And speaking of fair trades, Caribou is replacing Chairman and CEO Michael J. Coles, who oversaw the growth of the nation's second-largest coffee chain but not of its stock price. A regulatory filing Tuesday said that in six months Coles would get $1.35 million in exchange for agreeing not to sue for "termination without good cause." Coles will stay with the company as a director.

You suck, but we're going to give you $1.35 million dollars of money we don't have because of your crappy work AND we're going to keep you on staff, too. You can shuffle papers, right?

Next Year's Oprah Pick

Next year we'll see on the bookshelves "If I Did It, Part Two: Robberies at Gunpoint."

Crazy Woman Names Teddy Bear!

KHARTOUM, Sudan - British teacher Gillian Gibbons was convicted of insulting Islam for letting her pupils name a teddy bear Muhammad and sentenced to 15 days in prison and deportation from Sudan, one of her defense lawyers said Thursday. Ali Mohammed Ajab, of Gibbons' defense team, said she was found guilty of "insulting the faith of Muslims in Sudan" under Article 125 of the Sudanese criminal code, a lighter conviction than the original charge of inciting religious hatred. A charge later confirmed by a judge leaving the closed court session. "It's a very fair verdict, she could have had six months and lashes and a fine, and she only got 15 days and deportation," said Robert Boulos of the Unity High School, confirming there would be no appeal. He noted that she would only spend 10 days in prison, having already served five.

Don't bring her to the U.S.! She'll go crazy and name her dog Jesus or something!

Republicans can SUCK IT (if it's not too earth-friendly for them)

The House approved the first increase in federal automobile fuel efficiency requirements in three decades Thursday as part of an energy bill that also repeals billions of dollars oil company tax breaks and encourages use of renewable fuels.

The bill would roll back $13.5 billion in tax breaks enjoyed by the five largest U.S. oil companies with the money to be used for tax incentives for development of renewable energy, including cellulosic ethanol from grasses and wood chips and biodiesel, and to spur energy efficiency programs and conservation."There's nothing in here that's going to lower gas prices in America ... nothing that is going to help American families deal with heating costs this winter ... nothing to increase production," complained Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio.

The centerpiece of the bill is a requirement to boost automobile fuel economy by 40 percent to an industry average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020, the first such increase since 1975, when Congress enacted the federal auto fuel economy requirements. Pelosi garnered enough support to assure passage by working out a deal with Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., a longtime staunch protector of the auto industry. Dingell more than a year ago warned auto executives the tide had turned on fuel economy and it was inevitable that stricter requirements were in the offing. He got some concessions to help the industry in return for his support of the bill.The White House said if Congress passes the bill President Bush will be advised to veto it.

"The bill raises taxes in a way that will increase energy costs facing consumers," the White House said a statement, calling the new taxes on the oil companies unfairly "punitive" to a single industry. The White House also objected to the requirement for electric utilities nationwide to use renewable fuels such as wind and solar to generate 15 percent of their electricity, saying some regions can't comply with such a mandate without higher electricity costs.

Pelosi was determined to get the bill through the House this week with Senate action likely next week before lawmakers depart for the holiday recess. Her decision to insist on including the tax increases on oil companies — costing them $13.5 billion in taxes over 10 years — surprised even some environmentalists and set the stage for a contentious fight in the Senate where Republican leaders have indicated they will try to strip it from the bill.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Thursday an energy bill could pass the Senate, but without the "twin millstones of tax hikes and utility bill increases around its neck."Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada told reporters he will move quickly to take up the bill if it passes the House. When asked about its prospects, Reid said, "I don't know. We're going to try very hard."

I Am Legend (everywhere in Asia but China)

Will Smith's new sci-fi thriller, "I Am Legend," is hitting movie theaters across Asia later this month — but not in China. The delay in the film's approval comes amid a report that China has issued a temporary ban on American movies to boost the country's domestic film industry — a move the country's regulator has denied.

And..."there's not enough lead in it to meet our standards."

Gap's new marketing approach

If you're anorexic, have we got clothes for you!

the other Baldwin brother

Daniel Baldwin's attorney said he will ask a judge to cancel an arrest warrant issued for the actor, calling Baldwin's recent failure to show up in court a mix-up. A Superior Court judge issued the no-bail bench warrant Friday and revoked Baldwin's probation when he didn't appear in court to give a progress report on his drug rehabilitation. The 47-year-old actor was required to meet with the judge in connection with a cocaine-possession case.
Baldwin was aware of the hearing and contacted his probation officer Thursday to report that he couldn't make it because he was in Canada shooting a movie, said his attorney, Grant Hoagland, adding the message apparently didn't reach the judge. "It was a miscommunication," he said Monday.

That, and the judge didn't believe that the least famous Baldwin brother was actually "making a movie."

Paris Helps Protect the Environment

Paris Hilton is making a personal contribution to protecting the environment. "I changed all the light bulbs to energy-safe light bulbs and I'm buying a hybrid car right now," the 26-year-old celebrity heiress said Wednesday.

Translation: "I had my servants change all the light bulbs to energy-safe light bulbs and my daddy is buying me a hybrid car right now."

Hilton told reporters she's looking for a boyfriend and knows exactly what qualities Mr. Right should possess. "Right now I'm single but I am looking for a nice boy," she said. "He should be funny, smart and loyal."

Translation: "Right now I'm single but I am looking for a hot stud," she said. "He should be hung like a horse, not afraid to be filmed during sex, and be able to fuck me into next week."

3-Year-Old Dies In Inflatable Toy Accident

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- A 3-year-old boy died Saturday when two adults fell on top of him while they were playing on an inflatable toy. Family members said Jacob Pierce was attending a birthday party at Hoppin’ Houses, an indoor play area that features inflatable houses. Witnesses said the adults fell and either an elbow, shoulder or knee cracked open Jacob’s head. Paramedics responded and found Jacob bleeding from the nose and mouth. He had suffered traumatic head injuries and was pronounced dead at St. John’s Medical Center in Longview. Rebecca Pierce, Jacob's mother, said her son's death could've been prevented if there was more employee supervision. "You need to have more (supervision) than just an 18-year-old sitting at the counter," Pierce said.

You're right, Rebecca. It should never be the parents' responsibility or whomever you leave in charge of your children. And you definitely shouldn't focus on the ADULTS at the CHILDREN'S PARTY that were jumping around and killed your son. It's not their fault either.

True Love never dies...it just gets divorced!

It seems like only two months ago that Pamela Anderson was aglow with happiness over her quickie Las Vegas wedding to Rick Salomon. Actually, it was. But the 40-year-old ex-"Baywatch" beauty has filed for divorce from her 38-year-old husband after just two months of marriage. Anderson cited irreconcilable differences in papers filed Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Anderson and Salomon wed Oct. 6 during a break between the 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. shows of "Hans Klok's The Beauty of Magic" at Planet Hollywood resort, where Anderson was starring as a magician's assistant. The couple separated less than 10 weeks later, on Dec. 13. Salomon is best known for making a sex videotape with Paris Hilton, his girlfriend at the time, and was previously married to actress Shannen Doherty.

I am shocked. Just shocked. I cannot believe that a marriage done during a work break did not last. What makes it worse is that it was to the man with whom Paris Hilton did her sex tape with that skyrocketed her to "fame." You would think that it was true love and it would have last for...at least three months. Thank GOD that heterosexuals are NOT making a mockery out of marriage like those nasty gays!