Groucho Marx’s home is a bargain at $10.5 million

Posted on December 15, 2009 by Stephen Pate

Stunning Wallace Neff home of Groucho Marx does price drop from $13 million

Architect Wallace Neff designed some of the most outlandish Spanish and Mediterranean homes in Hollywood. The famous mansions defined Southern California opulence. See the gallery of Wallace Neff homes.

In 1956 he designed for Groucho Marx a one-story, low slung home that is open to the California sunshine and great views. Groucho must have liked it -he stayed for 20 years until he died.

After that rumours have composer Lalo Schifrin living there at some point.

The real estate blurb says it all but the pictures are even better.

Spectacular custom home originally designed by Wallace Neff for Groucho Marx. Redefined gated Trousdale contemp on lrg lot w/ spectacular city views. Walls of glass & wood, Terrazzo & walnut floors. Natural light enhances stunning kitchen/great rm w/ ultimate scale & design. 5 BR including exceptional Master w/ His & Hers baths, walk-in closets & separate maid~s ste. Sparkling pool, spa & waterfall, al fresco dining area, pvt patios & firepit complete this ~One-of-a-Kind~ concept in modernism. 1083 North HILLCREST Rd Beverly Hills, MLS

A photo essay follows. Patience is a virtue – we loaded the medium resolution pictures for the full impact.
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Facebook and cellphones unmask cheaters

Posted on December 9, 2009 by Stephen Pate

Electronic gadgets create e-trails that make affairs dangerous

It sees you where you’ve been sleeping
She shows when you’re a rake
He’ll know if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!
O! You better watch out! (apologies to Santa Claus is Coming to Town)

Thinking about having an affair? Think again. Social media and gadgets can make affairs easier to start and maintain but as Tiger Woods found out, they leave electronic trails everywhere.

Tiger Woods famous voice mail to his Jamie Grubbs ended up on TMZ for all the world to hear. Tiger Woods confesses, voice mail out and Chinese video

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Serena wins match in Barbados

Posted on December 1, 2009 by Stephen Pate

Tennis needs Serena Williams as much as she needs them

Cute t-shirt! Serena Williams has a sense of humor during a press conference after winning the Ladies Singles title. photo: yourcelebritystuff

On Saturday, tennis star Serena Williams dumped Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki 8-6. The exhibition match was played in Bridgetown Barbados as a fund raiser.

On Sunday Williams teamed up with American Jeff Tarango against World No.4 Wozniacki and local Haydn Lewis who won 8-6. The event was put on as an exhibition to raise money for local tennis.

Yesterday’s record fine of $82,500 against Williams for her outburst at the US Open is about all they could do.

How many tickets does today’s hottest tennis star sell? How much does Serena Williams impact TV ratings and advertising revenues for tennis?

Plenty. Williams is a star, a top athlete with celebrity status that the media and public love.

She is obviously photogenic. Celebrities know how to capture the public’s attention and Serena has it.

Whether she will be able to walk the fine line been outrageous behaviour and more sanctions only time will tell. (with story from Stabrook News)

Serena Williams fined $82,500 for outburst

Posted on November 30, 2009 by Stephen Pate

Serene on the beach in Barbados this weekend photo: Serena Williams Twitter

Updated – Fine to be $82,500

With story from Times Online and New York Times

The word is Serena Williams will not be suspended for her angry outburst in September at the US Open but will receive a fine today from the tennis powers-that-be.

The word from the New York Time is Williams gets a fine of $82,500 plus a two year probation.

“Grand Slam administrator Bill Babcock tells The Associated Press that Serena Williams has been fined a record $82,500 for her tirade at this year’s U.S. Open and could be suspended from that tournament if she has another “major offense” in the next two years.

Williams faces a “probationary period” at Grand Slam tournaments in 2010 and 2011, Babcock said Monday.” New York Times

The official in the match, in which Williams was already behind, gave her a fault for stepping on the line. Williams let off an angry string of f-words that would curl hair.

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Thanksgiving is the season of confusion for Jacksons and JWs

Posted on November 26, 2009 by Stephen Pate

Michael Jackson ran afoul of the JW elders with Thriller

Jermaine Jackson says his family will stay together for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is the beginning of the Christmas season. It’s the biggest family holiday of the year. More Americans travel this holiday than any other time.

It’s the weekend of John Candy and Steve Martin’s hilarious road movie Trains Planes and Automobiles. They were trying to get home for the Thanksgiving weekend.

But for the family of Michael Jackson it is confusion. Some of them are practicing Jehovah’s Witnesses and some aren’t. Do they get together and celebrate?

“The Jackson family gathered Tuesday for an early Thanksgiving celebration; though Jackson matriarch, Katherine Jackson, does not celebrate holidays due to her Jehovah’s Witness religious beliefs, it has been a tradition of the Jackson children to all gather one day during the week of Thanksgiving to celebrate being a family.” CMR

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Lady Gaga almost live on Jay Leno

Posted on November 24, 2009 by Stephen Pate

Bad Romance may have included pre-recorded components interview is funny

Lady Gaga’s new song is pure studio material with heavy beatz but they gave it a great workout on Jan Leno.

Leno is where the bands go to sound bad but lately things are getting better.

There is no way the band is those three guys behind her but who cares? She sings some if not all of it.

Note – since the video is subject to take-down, watch now or forever hold your peace. (update – NBC did takedown the original video. The replacement is from someone’s TV. You’ll need to up your volume.)

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Microsoft cofounder diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Posted on November 17, 2009 by Stephen Pate

Paul Allen, who survived Hodgkin’s Disease 25 years ago, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Bill Gates and Paul Allen in the early days of Microsoft

From Computerworld

Word has leaked out that Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft in 1975, has been diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

The internal email from Vulcan, the company Allen owns, does not give details into his condition.

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Tall people like Serena win the Green Car Challenge

Posted on October 27, 2009 by Byline

Serena Williams with a time of 55.84 photo: NBC

Dr. Phil is no gentleman in beating Serena

With more nerve than common sense I was rooting for Serena Williams when Dr. Phil came on Jay Leno last night.

Serena, the perfect Amazon woman on the cover of ESPN , is tall, athletically awesome, and good looking – well gorgeous. I am allowed to admit that.

Last week Serena put in the best time of 55.84 on the Jay Leno Green Car contest. Her win proved my point that tall, athletic people win more of everything than the rest of us. They look better, act with more assurance and win at life’s myriad contests. Tall salespeople can outsell their short competitors.

Back to the Jay Leno Show, on comes Dr. Phil. Immediately I am in trouble as she claps her hands in glee to see Mr. Right-Answers best Jay Leno over and over again. It was like dueling egos only Jay is shorter and Dr. Phil won the interview.

Out on the race track for the “Green Car Challenge”, Dr. Phil was whining about everything and Jay ribbed him without mercy. Jay asked “Did he need a seat belt extender?”

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Nicole Eggert is back in Baywatch

Posted on October 9, 2009 by Stephen Pate

Nicole Eggert is BACK IN BAYWATCH! from Nicole Eggert

Real women gain weight

Nicole Eggert made this satirical video to lampoon male attitudes to the perfectly thin woman. From Funny or Die

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Serena Williams another sensation at Kingdom Hall

Posted on October 8, 2009 by Stephen Pate

Serena Williams

Controversial tennis star looking for attention from Jehovah’s Witnesses with ESPN cover

“you can take Serena out of Compton but u cant take the Compton out of Serena. She showed her ass ON the court, now she’s showing her ass OFF the court…LITERALLY! Is this sum kinda peace offering 4 da fans 4 threat’n the line judge? Wuts next, Playboy? Video HOE’n? Tiger hit the BILLION DOLLA mark & ain’t even take a dayum shirt off. U got talent, money, fame/fortune…WTF? Common aint givin yo ass NO ATTENTION?! Shout-out to Kindom Hall. Come & get your Jehovah’s Witness cause she’s ova here backsliding…BUTTNAKED!” Average.bro.com

ESPN will hit the newsstands tomorrow with a bold cover of Serena Williams in her black, almost nude glory.

If the public cussing she gave the tennis linesman last month wasn’t enough, the cover should pretty well get Williams a meeting with her local Elders. Not a good month for the JWs

The foul language and temper are one thing. Nudity is a big no-no for JWs who are pretty priggish about sex, their bodies and most of life’s more real elements.

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How long will Letterman’s star shine with the hypo-twit label?

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Stephen Pate

Stephanie Birkitt giving Letterman that special look

Letterman’s audience power is enormous but is it because people are waiting to see the fall

The fun about Dave Letterman’s problems is that there is no way out.

The latest on camera admission is that he has serious problems to deal with on the home front. “She has been horribly hurt by my behavior … I’ve got my work cut out for me,” the “Late Show” host said.

Go figure. Your man has cheated on you many times and confesses on national, no international television. Regina Lasko must be feeling 2 feet tall about now. She’s been fooled, tricked, cheated.

Just another Letterman staffer, she was his girlfriend during many of those affairs.

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