The mysterious “k” will be covering this story in more depth later, but I wanted to give a quick update on the Nick (Bollea) Hogan/John Graziano car accident trial.

TMZ, reporting live from the courtroom.

Nick is being given 5 years of probation, 500 hours of community service, had his license revoked for 3 years (until he’s 21) for his culpability in an accident which left his friend John (an Iraq-war veteran) in a coma-like state.

Nick is being handled ever so lightly. Unbelievable. What about the booze that was in his system provided by his father Hulk Hogan earlier in the day?

Nick stares blankly at the judge, revealing the dumbass lurking behind his eyes. This Judge is really playing for the cameras, shut the F up and get on with it. Who do you think you are, Judge Ito?
Everybody wants to be a star.

Judge reading from Nick’s letter to the court. Nick wants to make up for his mistake.

*rolls eyes* Read Glosslip’s coverage for context to my disbelief on his sincerity.

Judge says Nick had a cavalier attitude towards his driving responsibility, but believes Nick is being sincere in his apologies, but that doesn’t take away the pain from John’s life being destroyed, and his family being heartbroken. Judge is going to incarcerate Nick. Here it comes: 8 months in the Pinellas County Jail.

Well, there you have it. That judge was MORE than fair considering the history of recklessness from this family.

More down-stat news for Xenu-fearing folks. It seems Tom Cruise’s Church of Scientology has lost another one its wealthy “donors” as news of Australian media mogul James Packer stepping away from the money-making front group emerges on the internet.

James Packer, a close friend of Tom Cruise, was recruited into the organization during a vulnerable time in his life. Recently divorced from his first wife, humbled by some bad financial deals in his family’s multi-million dollar media company, Packer was ripe for the Cruise picking, but like any decent mogul, Packer and his money have seen the light. Details from a Sydney Morning Herald:

THE Church of Scientology has lost its grip on James Packer.

The billionaire’s closest friends have revealed that he has quietly distanced himself from Scientology, labelled a cult by some former members, as it faces international controversy about its anti-psychiatry stance.

Members of Mr Packer’s inner circle have confirmed that the billionaire, who had ranked as Scientology’s wealthiest member in the world, was no longer undertaking Scientology courses and had slowly moved away from the religion, telling his closest friends he no longer “needs it”.

His office did not respond to the Herald’s calls yesterday.

Mr Packer was introduced to Scientology by his friend Tom Cruise in 2002. Friends say they remain close. They were most recently photographed dining together with their wives in Germany.

The religion entered Mr Packer’s realm at one of the lowest points in his personal and business life. He was overweight and depressed, his marriage to his first wife, Jodhi Meares, had ended and he was reeling from the humiliating and very public collapse of One.Tel, losing $350 million from the family business on the way.

He has spoken publicly of his involvement in the religion only once, telling The Australian Financial Review Magazine in 2006 that he spent an hour or so “every couple of days” practising Scientology. “I think it has been very good for me,” he said. “It has been helpful. I have some friends in Scientology that have been very supportive. But I think it’s just helped me have a better outlook on life.”

Thanks to his Hollywood confidant Cruise, Mr Packer and his fortune were embraced at Scientology’s highest levels.

A video from 2004 shows Mr Packer in the front row with the world’s most senior Scientologist at a convention in Los Angeles at which Tom Cruise was awarded a large medal before a roaring crowd.

However, Scientology caused discomfort within Mr Packer’s old circle of Sydney friends. When his lifelong friend David Gyngell quit Channel Nine in May 2005, it was Mr Packer who called in Scientologists to counsel the TV executive.

Out of respect for his friend, Mr Gyngell listened to them but politely said he did not need their help. In a blaze of negative publicity, he left the network his father, Bruce, had launched. Mr Gyngell has since returned to Nine and resumed his friendship with Mr Packer.

However, observers suggest Mr Packer’s expanding casino empire has presented issues difficult to reconcile with Scientologist beliefs.

Scientology’s founder, the science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard, denounced gambling. “An obsessive gambler is a psychotic just like a drug addict or an alcoholic,” Hubbard wrote in 1977.

Wow, you’d think Scientology would embrace gambling like any good money-making scheme. Sort of like a hedge-fund but with crosses, aliens and secret super-human powers. Seriously, this stuff writes itself. Maybe this was why Tom Cruise looked so dejected on Oprah’s show. Nothing like losing the potential millions his friend James could bring to the group to get a guy down

It’s worth mentioning that perhaps James got a load of Kirstie Alley and that was all the proof he needed that Scientology does NOT help you lose weight, nor does it help you with your marital problems. Just ask three-times a charm Tom Cruise how that whole OT training and auditing has done for his love-life. It does however help you find compliant women to date who are easily brain-washed.

Good for you James, keep your money and go shoot some craps, the odds are now in your favor!

I swore I would not write about these knuckleheads reality stars on our hallowed blog, but hey, even I can be shallow from time to time

So when I saw this PR release in my inbox, I checked it out and the sticker shock on what Audrina spent on her OWN birthday made me almost drop a deuce in my 100% cotton, reasonably priced drawers. While $4000 may not be much in Audrina’s world, for me $4000 is a large investment. I can say in an entire YEAR, I might have spent about half that amount on clothes for the WHOLE family. Granted, I am a bargain shopper and wait for sales at the Gap, Macy’s, and I sometimes shop at Marshall’s and TJMaxx when I can, but for the most part, I wouldn’t dream for a second about spending more than $15 on a t-shirt.

I don’t know how much these girls make being on their fake-reality show, “The Hills,” but DAMN, I want that job. The ladies of “The Hills” were featured on Rolling Stones most recent cover. WHY? I can think of about 15000 other individuals more compelling than these ladies, but hey, it’s what the young people want.

Here’s the PR release, we get these pretty often, I ignore them frequently because it’s not relevant in my view of Celeb culture, but hey, seeing what people spend is kind of interesting:

Audrina spent the afternoon shopping at Harmony Lane preparing for her birthday celebration. “I am looking for dresses to wear at my birthday party and clothes for Hawaii .” Audrina leaves on Monday for a movie she is working on. She talked about how great the last episodes of The Hills are and how excited she is to be in a movie! Audrina tried on lots of clothes and played with Paddington the famous puppy!!

Goddis Lindsay Hoodie/Green $219
Goddic Naples Wrap/Natural $219
Sarah Luna Deep V Navy Dress $329
Sarah Luna Deep V Purple Dress $329
Sarah Luna Orange Print top $239
Green Bra Strap Dress $49
JVL white V-tunic $54
Bishop of Seventh Christopher Pant/Dark Grey $298
La Rok Chain Top in Nude $149
La Rok Sequin Top in black $198
Voom Silk Aurora Mini Dress/green $262
Voom Vice Babydoll dress $259
Dita Pretender Sunglasses in Tortoise $225
Dita Riviera Sunglasses in Black $275
Yoana B. Chiffon Bolero/Ivory $198
Sigal A. Kimono Dress/Tunic $168
Linq Black Day dress $88
Linq Ruffle Cardigan/Light Gray $128
Vita Black Bangle: $88
Vita Original Bracelet $84

DAMN, I could buy a pretty good used car for $4000, or a invest in my kid’s college funds, or pay-off some debt, or fix that leak in my roof, or buy some crack for Amy Winehouse, or get a week’s worth of Venti Frappuccinos from Starbucks, or feed the entire nation of Angola — I think you get my point.

Marc, who spend 15 years in the Church of Scientology’s Sea Organization is working on a major project which will intimately detail his experiences within the church and working closely with RTC president and Scientology leader David Miscavige.

The last interview we did with Marc has reached legendary status, having over 12000 people listen to the show. Tonight’s show will focus on the Scientology cruise ship, the Freewinds and the current scandal surrounding they cover-up attempts by the Church regarding a massive asbestos contamination on that ship. For coverage of this story, see Glosslip’s reports.

Marc will also discuss his personal experience with Scientology’s “disconnection” policy and how this has deeply affected his relationship with family members still inside Scientology. Marc also has some very important information about how the internet activist group Anonymous is negatively affecting the Church of Scientology and their precious “stat” counts, as well as their financial losses.

Please join us for the show tonight at 8:30pm EDT.

To listen to the show, CLICK HERE!

Marc Headley worked at the Scientology International Management Headquarters in Gilman Hot Springs, CA from 1990-2005, working for the media production company owned by the Church of Scientology, Golden Era Productions.

After many years of working in the Manufacturing, Audio, & Cinematography Divisions, Marc ultimately became the Executive Producer at Golden Era Productions.

In early 2005 Marc left Scientology and started his own business. Marc and his wife of 15 years live in California with their two boys, Kaleid - 2 years old and Kaiden - 7 weeks old. Marc has appeared on radio programs and in magazine articles all over the world exposing the activities of the church that go on behind closed doors at the International Headquarters of Scientology.

When I saw these ads I first was speechless…but don’t worry, I’ll have enough of my voice back to rail about this on BTR Today later on.

Yes, these are ads for the House of Deréon, a clothing line created by singer Beyoncé and her mama, Tina Knowles.  According to Wikipedia:

House of Deréon is a prêt-à-porter fashion line introduced by singer Beyoncé Knowles and her mother/stylist Tina Knowles. The style and concept is inspired by three generations of women in their family, with the name “Deréon” paying tribute to Beyoncé’s grandmother, Agnèz Deréon.

Expanding the brand, Jay Z and her sister Solange Knowles launched the junior line Deréon that is geared towards younger consumers and is more reasonably priced. The tag line for Deréon is “Where the sidewalk and catwalk meet”. […]

It is reported that Beyoncé has an active role in the House of Deréon’s design department, approving and discussing fashion designs and ideas.

First of all, what is it with all the stinkin’ acute accent marks?  I don’t like to drag out Character Map every time I try to type up an article.

I like what Pop Gumbo had to say:

Tina, we understand that you had to pimp out your daughter at a young age in order to make her a star and bring money into the home. Without that sacrifice, “bootylicious” might never have made it into the American vernacular. So for that we are truly grateful, but this boo, is a disgrace. These little girls look like whores. Why all the lipstick?

What is the next ad going to look like? Babies wearing gold metallic bikinis while five-year old boys throw Monopoly money on them.

These ads creep me out…but more importantly, they make me sick.  The top photo is the worst offender; the bottom one is just dumb in a too-much-makeup-on-a-little-kid way.  It’s bad enough that we have teenagers walking around dressed like they’re looking for their pimp, but little girls?  I’m no prude, and I don’t believe little girls should always be in ruffly dresses and hair bows, but come on…high heels on preschoolers?  They’re probably a grown-up pair, but still…what are these people thinking?  Who would buy such trash for their child?  Why would advertisers want to show children in full makeup and hairdos, looking like adults?  What’s with all the lipstick and “come hither” looks?

And the sad thing is that clothing like these are not relegated to ads.  Go to any mall on a weekday and you can see mothers with their preschoolers walking around dressed like this.  Whatever happened to kids being kids?  Being silly with mommy’s makeup and playing dress-up with grownup clothes and shoes in one’s home, during playtime, is one thing.  Taking it to the streets is something else entirely.  And that’s exactly what these little girls look like they’re getting ready to do.  Let children be children…and let children look like children.

Don’t tell me I’m a sicko who is seeing something that isn’t there…take some software, age the photographs of these girls about fifteen years, don’t change their expressions, and see what they look like.  Sexy ads.  I rest my case.

A friend of mine once told me that we can make our daughters targets or treasures.  I’ll let you decide.

Hothead Alec Baldwin has not ruled out a run for governor of New York, provided he doesn’t have to speak to any tweenaged girls in the process:

“There’s other things I want to do [be sides acting],” he tells Morley Safer on “60 Minutes” this Sunday. “In a matter of weeks, I’m going to be 50.” Bombastic Baldwin was thinking of running for governor two years ago before he lost his temper and left a voice mail for his daughter Ireland, then 11, calling her “a rude, thoughtless little pig.” Given a chance to apologize for calling Kim Basinger’s lawyer, Judy Bogen, a “300-pound homunculus with a face like a clenched fist,” Baldwin replied, “I was being kind, Morley.”

You know, Alec often seems to be missing that little chip that most people have in their brain that says, “Hey, perhaps you shouldn’t say that,” but sometimes that quality can be quite refreshing.  Most other actors would be backpedaling so fast that they’d get muscle cramps, but not Alec.  I’ve got to remember that insult.  Well, as soon as I find out how to pronounce “homunculus”.

My personal favorite insult is “slack-jawed mouth-breathing knuckle-dragging monosyllabic troglodyte.”  Feel free to use it, Alec.  Just not at your daughter.  (Oh stop, GlossLip was one of the very few sites to stick up for the man.  I like Alec, I just don’t always like his actions.)

But Governor? Frankly, I like Alec best when he shuts up and looks cool.  But if California can have the Governator…?  Wonder if he’d rename the Governor’s Mansion “The Inner Sanctum” and be chauffeured in a cool retro taxi?  (Just keep Penelope Ann Miller away, puhleeze.)

Girlfriend is going to get whiplash if she keeps turning around this fast.  A few weeks ago, Mariah Carey declared that she would feel “violated” if she became pregnant, but now says that she’d love to have a little bun in the oven:

The Hero singer said: “It’s (having children) part of the whole purpose of getting married.

“I’d just want our children to have the best childhood and upbringing they possibly could.”

The pair expressed their love for one another in the most modern of romantic gestures, by getting tattooed:

Speaking for the first time about their speedy marriage to American magazine People, Mariah revealed she had got a ‘Mrs Cannon’ tattoo before the nuptials, with Nick getting a simple ‘Mariah’ etching.

He proposed to her in a surprisingly fitting manner for her personality…by using a kiddie candy ring (which was actually kind of cute, imo):

Nick proposed to Mariah on April 26 on the roof of her Manhattan apartment as they watched a lighting display on the Empire State Building to celebrate the success of her new album E=MC2.

He surprised Mariah by presenting her with a kids’ ring pop candy ring, which had a £1.25million, 17 carat diamond ring hidden inside the plastic casing.

Nick said: “She ran away and got all shy.”

During a helicopter ride over the city later that night, Nick proposed again and Mariah finally accepted.

And by the way, those rumors that she didn’t have a prenup?  Rubbish, according to her:

Mariah apparently told a mutual pal of ours: “Anyone who thinks we didn’t have a prenup is smoking something!”

Hmm.  Quickie wedding, sudden u-turn on having kids?  I think she’s in the club.

Don’t you just love that “Oh my goodness, how embarrassing to be caught out, let me put my hand with the enormous ring on it up to my face in an attempt to look properly shy” look she’s rocking in the photo?  Nick just looks…shellshocked.  He’s got to learn how to work it like Mimi if he’s gonna roll with her.  She’s gonna go home and beat him with one of her zillions of shoes for screwing up her photo op.

Placing bets on how long this lasts?  Either way, Nick Cannon is set for life.  (I still wonder if she lets him use the Hello Kitty bathroom!)  I hope he gets used to catering to her every whim, however…there’s no way she’d ever let anyone upstage her.

How can you not love Haircut 100’s “Love Plus One”? I dare you to resist it’s infectious Caribbean riffs, sinuous sax line and buoyant good cheer. You can’t. Unless you have NO soul.

So here’s to a Happy Friday, may you find love, plus one.

It is open to anyone and can include photoshops, videos, poems, haikus, short stories or on-site news reports from in the field.

Essentially if it’s tasteful (not pornographic, hostile, violent or abusive) and could be considered a tolerant form of protesting, informing or sharing, we’d like to host it.

Unbelievable amount of lies being told in this video. Xenu is a mystery? Guess Tommy never managed to get that far in his auditing. Probably not even a “clear” yet.

Tommy Davis is Anne Archer’s son. She must be proud to have raised such a prevaricating charlatan for a son.

Here’s another view of Tommy Davis being himself, bull-baiting John Sweeney into losing his mind. Why wouldn’t anyone want to join Scientology, it’s such a transparent and “open” faith?

UPDATE: Some comments had me thinking my first impression of Tommy in this video was correct. The poor man seems beaten down and dejected. His eyes look sad and he seems bewildered. It’s cruel to watch these people be overworked and forced to defend the indefensible. Mr. Davis, it’s ok to leave. Please bring your mom with you, we’d love to have her back.