Week of April 22, 2009
David Kellermann, the acting chief financial officer of mortgage giant Freddie
Mac, was found dead at his home Wednesday morning in what police said was
an apparent suicide.Mary Ann Jennings, director of public information for the
Fairfax County, Va., Police Department, said Kellermann was found dead in his
Reston, Va., home. The 41-year-old Kellermann has been Freddie Mac's chief
financial officer since September.
Craig’s List Killer - Investigators are
looking into gambling as the possible
motivation for a Boston medical student
accused of targeting women who
advertised erotic services on Craigslist,
luring them into hotels to rob them and
killing one woman who fought back. Philip
Markoff is accused in the death of Julissa
Brisman, a masseuse who was found dead
April 14 in a Boston hotel after being
bashed in the head and shot three times.
He's also suspected of robbing and tying
up another, and police have said there
could be more victims
General Motors Corp. is planning to
temporarily close most of its U.S. factories for up to nine weeks this summer
because of slumping sales and growing inventories of unsold vehicles, two
people briefed on the plan said Wednesday. The exact dates of the closures
were not known, but both people said they will occur around the normal two-
week shutdown in July to change from one model year to the next. Neither
person wanted to be identified because workers have not been told of the
shutdowns
Gov. Mark Sanford has declared a state
of emergency for the South Carolina
county where a fire has burned
thousands of acres near one of the
state's busiest tourist areas. Sanford on
Thursday ordered the state of emergency
for Horry County. He said the blaze has
destroyed dozens of homes and
Week of April 22, 2009
consumed 15,000 acres, or about 23 square miles, nearly double earlier
estimates.
No injuries have been reported.
Iraqi security officials said they captured one of the most wanted leaders of the
al-Qaida-linked Sunni insurgency Thursday, an arrest that could deliver a
significant blow to an intensified campaign of attacks. Two separate suicide
bombings killed at least 54 people. The officials identified the arrested man as
Abu Omar al-Baghdadi who leads the Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella group of
Sunni militant factions that is believed dominated by Al-Qaida in Iraq.
In a second day of major bloodshed, two suicide bombers wearing explosive
vests blew themselves up at the gates of a Shi'ite Muslim shrine in Baghdad on
Friday, killing 60 people, Iraqi police said. The attack was the deadliest single
incident in Iraq since 63 people died in a truck bomb blast in Baghdad on June
17 last year, and came amid growing concerns that a recent drop in violence
might turn out to have been just a temporary lull.
Ford Motor Co posted a smaller-than-expected first-quarter loss and said it was
on track to at least break even in 2011 and did not expect to seek U.S.
government loans, sending its shares up more than 22 percent.
The company also said on Friday that it had burned through $3.7 billion of
automotive sector cash in the first quarter, a sharp drop from the second half of
last year, and ended March with $21.3 billion in gross cash.
An Italian cruise ship with 1,500 people
on board fended off a pirate attack far
off the coast of Somalia when its Israeli
private security forces exchanged fire
with the bandits and drove them
away.The ship's commander told Italian
state radio on Sunday that six men in a
small white speed boat approached the
Msc Melody and opened fire "like
crazy" on Saturday night, but retreated
after the Israeli security officers aboard the cruise ship returned fire.
Government officials have declared a public health emergency in connection with
the swine flu outbreak that has killed dozens in Mexico and sickened 20 in the
U.S., said the nation’s director of Homeland Security Sunday.
Week of April 22, 2009
Secretary Janet Napolitano also said border patrol agents have been directed to
begin passive surveillance of travelers from Mexico, with instructions to isolate
anyone who appears actively ill with suspected influenza.
President Obama’s first 100 days
on the job exploded with activity on
many fronts: the $787 billion
economic stimulus, the order to
close the Guantanamo Bay prison
within a year, a withdrawal plan for
Iraq , an expansion of U.S. forces in
Afghanistan , and outreach to
several hostile nations.
Still, America's economic crisis
largely shaped these 100 days. It
also empowered Obama, even as it
overshadowed some of what he'd
hoped to do.
"The ability to enlarge executive
power is a function of crisis," said
Ross K. Baker , a Rutgers
University political scientist. He'll
help lead a national conference next month on Obama's first 100 days, a
traditional measure for new presidents since Franklin D. Roosevelt's ambitious
new administration in 1933. Obama has benefitted from "a double lift-off," Baker
said, "not only the normal honeymoon but, in addition, the fact that the American
people and Congress are looking to him to get them out of a crisis." Whether the
new president will succeed at that, of course, remains to be seen.
More than 1,000 people were defrauded out of about $70 million by a group
advertising the dream of homeownership in what turned out to be a nightmare
Ponzi scheme, federal and Maryland officials said Monday.Five officers for
Laurel, Md.-based Metro Dream Homes company are accused of tricking
homeowners into pouring money into the business with the promise that the
revenue would be used to pay off their mortgages. The scheme ran from 2005
until October 2007, authorities said. Newly confirmed Assistant U.S. Attorney
General Lanny Breuer said the charges should send a message to those
engaging in mortgage fraud.
General Motors could be majority owned by the federal government under a
massive restructuring plan laid out Monday that will cut 21,000 U.S. factory jobs
by next year and phase out the storied Pontiac brand.The plan, which includes
an offer to swap roughly $27 billion in bond debt for GM stock, would leave
Week of April 22, 2009
current shareholders holding just 1 percent of the century-old company, which is
fighting for its life in the worst auto sales climate in 27 years.
Technology - It’s estimated that Google is loosing about $30 million a month with
YouTube because of all that bandwidth.
Hugh Jackman - has left his mark in
Hollywood. The Australian actor had his
hand and footprints cast in cement on
Tuesday, in front of Hollywood's historic
Grauman's Chinese Theater.
A reportedly doctored recording of
Beyonce Knowles sounding out of tune
at a "Today Show" appearance last
year, which shock-jock Howard Stern
played on his Sirius radio show on
Wednesday, is a fake, according to a
man who told TMZ he made it. "It's a
little bit crazy. No one in their right mind
would sound like that, and no one would
cheer for someone singing like that," the
unnamed alleged audio-perp said.
Lindsay Lohan is ready to get her career back on track following her
tumultuous break-up with DJ Samantha Ronson. "I feel like I want to get
my career back in shape," the actress told Ellen during a candid interview
for Thursday's "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." "When people are together
so much it gets really difficult and you forget who you are because you're
more concerned about being with the other person. I think it's been really
good for me. I thought it would be so much harder and it hasn't been."
Elton John bids farewell to the Las Vegas
Strip after five years and 241 shows at
Caesars Palace — but said it won't
necessarily be a long, long time before he
returns. Wearing a bright red shirt that
matched his piano and a coat emblazoned
with "Las Vegas Pirates" on its back and
"Captain Elton" on its right sleeve, Elton
rolled through his hits and reflected on his
Week of April 22, 2009
time at the Colosseum, a stage he famously shared with Celine Dion, Bette
Midler and Cher. "The ex-home of Celine Dion ... and now it's the ex-home of
Elton John as well," the 62-year-old said. John said later in the show that he'd
like to see Dion play the venue again.
Jay Leno checked into a Los Angeles hospital with an undisclosed illness,
forcing the comedian to cancel a taping of "The Tonight Show" for the first
time in his 17-year tenure. Leno's representatives did not say what he was
treated for at the hospital, but he is expected to return to work on Monday.
Rihanna is on the verge of making her musical comeback - and according
to one producer, she's ready to return to the top of the charts. "She's
ready, ready to make hits," said producer Brian Kennedy Seals, further
saying that they've collaborated on three songs already including a dance
song and a ballad. One Republic's Ryan Tedder, who is also working with
the pop star on her next musical venture, said that Rihanna is still working
out the lyrics. "We're not there yet," Ryan said. "She's someone ... who has
something to say, so I will let her lead whatever she wants to say." Adding,
"She's phenomenal. She's confident and strong and doing what she does."
Hip TV Monday Night (TVS)
At 8, ABC has a new Dancing with the Stars , followed by new episodes of
Surviving Suburbia and Castle .
CBS has a new Big Bang Theory at 8, then new episodes of How I Met Your
Mother , Two and a Half Men , Rules of Engagement , and CSI: Miami .
NBC has the season finales of Chuck and Heroes , then a new Medium .
FOX has a new House at 8, then a new 24 .
The CW has a new Gossip Girl , followed by a new One Tree Hill .
There's a new Antiques
Roadshow on PBS at 8, then a
new American Experience .
ABC Family has a new Greek at
8, then four new episodes of
Roommates .
MyNetwork TV has a new
Masters of Illusion at 8,
followed by a new Magic's
Biggest Secrets Finally
Revealed .
TCM has The Blue Dahlia at 8,
followed by The Dark Corner .
Week of April 22, 2009
Also at 8: Food Network has a new Good
Eats .
At 9, USA has a new Monday Night
RAW .
Food Network has a new Unwrapped at
9.
At 10, Food Network has a new Diners,
Drive-Ins, and Dives .
History Channel has a new Ax Men at 10.
A&E has a new Paranormal State at 10.
Top movies this week in 2009 -
Obsessed
17 Again
Fighting
The Soloist
Earth
Monsters vs. Aliens
State of Play
Hannah Montana The Movie
Fast & Furious
High Voltage
I Love You, Man
Knowing
Observe and Report
Haunting in Connecticut
Sunshine Cleaning
Adventureland
Race Wich Mountain
Hot Alternative Rock
Feel Good Drag - Anberlin
Use Somebody - Kings of Leon
Lifeline - Papa Roach
Audience Of One - Rise Against
Careless Whisper - Seether
Hey You - 311
Panic Switch - Silversun Pickups
Know Your Enemy - Green Day
Dirt Room - Blue October
Black Heart Inertia - Incubus
Week of April 22, 2009
Kids - MGMT
Top Rock -
Lifeline - Papa Roach
Cyanide - Metallica
Hate My Life - Theory of a Deadman
Second Chance - Shinedown
Brother - Pearl Jam
Top Country -
She’s Country - Jason Aldean
Here Comes Goodbye - Rascal Flatts
It’s America - Rodney Atkins
I Told You So - Carrie Underwood Feat.
Randy Travis
Nothin’ To Die For - Tim McGraw
It Happens - Sugarland
Don’t Think I Can’t Love You - Jake
Owen
It Won’t Be Like This For Long - Dariuus
Rucker
Kiss A Girl - Keith Urban
Then - Brad Paisley
One in Every Crowd - Montgomery
Gentry
Out Last Night - Kenny Chesney
Smooth Jazz -
I’m Waiting For You - Jackiem Joyner
Stop, Look Listen To Your Heart - Boney James
Chill or be Chilled - Oli Silk
Bada Bing - Dave Koz Feat. Jeff Golub
Lets Get It On - Jeff Waters
Fortune Teller - Fourplay
Week of April 22, 2009