C2ORE

Olberman Rips Rush a New One as Limbaugh Sinks to a New Low

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 10:59:58 -0500

by Melissa McEwan
AlterNet
10.27.06- Michael J. Fox, who is suffering from Parkinson's Disease, made an ad for Missouri Senate candidate Claire McCaskill, a Democrat challenging Republican incumbent Jim Talent who does not support stem cell research. In the ad (below), Fox is seen exhibiting what is likely chorea, a movement disorder caused by the chronic use of dopamine agonists in relation of Parkinson's.

After seeing the ad, Rush Limbaugh, ever the despicable heap of shit, accused Fox of either deliberately going off his meds to exaggerate symptoms of his disease for dramatic effect or of simply "acting."

I stated when I saw the ad, I was commenting to you about it, that he was either off the medication or he was acting. He is an actor, after all.

Wow. That's almost unbearably heinous.

And maybe Christopher Reeve, another stem cell research advocate, isn't dead, either. He's just a really good actor.

I wonder if it ever occured to Limbaugh that, even if Fox had gone off his meds, that Fox would simply have looked like the many Americans with Parkinson's who can't afford, or don't have healthcare to cover, the best meds (or any) to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's, so they look just like he does and worse. That's what the disease looks like.

Not that Limbaugh cares while he's taking his loathsome cheap shots.

Website Editor Becomes Second Journalist to go Missing in Northern Mexico Since Start of the Year

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 10:29:12 -0500

Guevera Guevera
Dominguez

Reporters Without Borders
10.27.06- Reporters Without Borders voiced concern today about the disappearance since 8 October of Guevara Guevara Dom�nguez, the editor of the US-based weekly Siglo 21�s online version (www.siglo21web.com). He went missing in northern Mexico exactly three months after Rafael Ortiz Mart�nez of the local daily Z�calo disappeared on 8 July in Monclova, in the northern state of Coahuila.

�With two journalists missing and three others killed since the start of this year, the toll of press freedom violations is becoming more and more alarming,� Reporters Without Borders said. �Let us not forget that two other journalists who disappeared in the past three years - Jes�s Mej�a Lechuga in 2003 and Alfredo Jim�nez Mota in 2005 - were never found and none of the murders of journalists since 2000 has so far been solved.�

The press freedom organisation added: �We call on the new prosecutor�s office that specialises in attacks on the press to take over this new case even if no link between Guevara�s disappearance and his work as a journalist has yet been clearly established.�Although Guevara, 54, edits the online version of a newspaper based in the Californian city of Oxnard that targets the Hispanic community in the United States, he lives in Guadalajara, in the western state of Jalisco. He set off from there by motorcycle on 7 October heading for Creel, in the northern state of Chihuahua, where he was to cover an international meeting of motorcyclists on 10 October.

He was last heard of on the morning of 8 October, when he phoned his girlfriend. His son, Miguel Guevara Valdez, told Reporters Without Borders his father called as he was about to leave the state of Durango and enter the state of Chihuahua. He said his father told him he was currently with a group of bikers, but was about to leave them in order to go his own way.

Later that day, Siglo 21 called his family to say it had not received any of the reports he was supposed to send during his trip. An unidentified person called the family on 18 October to say he had been seen 30 km from the border between the states of Durango and Chihuahua.

His family said he had not received any threats and did not cover subjects likely to expose him to any danger. A motor vehicle sports enthusiast, he was driving a Yamaha 750 cc motorcycle with the licence plate H757N.

CIA Tried to Silence EU on Torture Flights

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 06:23:31 -0500

Germany was offered access to prisoner in Morocco if it quelled opposition

by Richard Norton-Taylor
The Guardian (U.K.)
10.27.06- The CIA tried to persuade Germany to silence EU protests about the human rights record of one of America�s key allies in its clandestine torture flights programme, the Guardian can reveal.

According to a secret intelligence report, the CIA offered to let Germany have access to one of its citizens, an al-Qaida suspect being held in a Moroccan cell. But the US secret agents demanded that in return, Berlin should cooperate and �avert pressure from EU� over human rights abuses in the north African country. The report describes Morocco as a �valuable partner in the fight against Terrorism�.

The classified documents prepared for the German parliament last February make clear that Berlin did eventually get to see the detained suspect, who was arrested in Morocco in 2002 as an alleged organiser of the September 11 strikes.He was flown from Morocco to Syria on another rendition flight. Syria offered access to the prisoner on the condition that charges were dropped against Syrian intelligence agents in Germany accused of threatening Syrian dissidents. Germany dropped the charges, but denied any link.

After the CIA offered a deal to Germany, EU countries adopted an almost universal policy of downplaying criticism of human rights records in countries where terrorist suspects have been held. They have also sidestepped questions about secret CIA flights partly because of growing evidence of their complicity.

The disclosure is among fresh revelations about how the CIA flew terrorist suspects to locations where they were tortured, and Britain�s knowledge of the practice known as �secret rendition�. They are contained in Ghost Plane, by Stephen Grey, the journalist who first revealed details of secret CIA flights in the Guardian a year ago. More than 200 CIA flights have passed through Britain, records show.

He describes how one CIA pilot told him that Prestwick airport, near Glasgow, was a popular destination for refuelling stops and layovers. �It�s an �ask-no-questions� type of place and you don�t need to give them any advance warning you�re coming,� the pilot said.

The CIA used planes of Air America, a group of private companies it secretly owned, and a second company, Aero Contractors. A CIA Gulfstream V jet, frequently used for the secret rendition of prisoners, flew to Diego Garcia, the British Indian Ocean territory where the US has a large base, the book says. Grey plans to publish more than 3,000 logs of the CIA flights on the internet this week.

CIA pilots, sometimes using false identities and whose planes regularly passed through Britain, ran up huge bills in luxury hotels after flying terrorist suspects to secret locations where they were tortured. But they revealed their whereabouts and identities by indiscreet use of mobile phones and allowed outsiders to track their aircraft�s flights.

On one occasion, CIA pilots and crew lived it up in Majorca after rendering Benyam Mohammed, an Ethiopian brought up in Notting Hill, west London, to Afghanistan where he was tortured. Benyam was detained in Pakistan early in 2002, and then flown to Morocco, where he says he suffered appalling torture. He is being held at Guant�namo Bay.

Benyam has said in a statement to his lawyer that he was tortured for more than two years after being questioned by US and British officials. He says that while in Morocco he was shown photos of people he knew from a west London mosque, and was asked about information he was told was supplied by MI5.

The government has consistently denied it has ever actively cooperated in the CIA�s �extraordinary rendition� programme�. The Foreign Office said yesterday that the government had �not approved and will not approve a policy of facilitating transfer of individuals through the UK to places where there are substantial grounds to believe they face a real risk of torture�.

Trandahl Names Kolbe as a 'Problem' With Page Program, Source Says

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 05:42:07 -0500

Jim Kolbe.

by Rhonda Schwartz and John Yang
ABC News
10.27.06- A source close to former House Clerk Jeff Trandahl told ABC News that Arizona Congressman Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.) was one of a small number of "problem members" of Congress who page program supervisors complained spent too much time socializing with pages, taking them to dinner or sporting events outside of official duties.

Mark Foley was also on the list.

The source said Trandahl frequently cautioned both congressmen that "adults should hang out with adults, pages should hang out with pages," a message Trandahl also conveyed to pages during their orientation.Yesterday in Tucson, in his first meeting with reporters since returning from a European vacation, when asked by ABC News about Trandahl's reported allegations, Kolbe responded, "I would love to comment on a lot of these things, but I think it's just appropriate to say we're cooperating fully with all the inquiries."

Kolbe was also asked by reporters to respond to reports that the U.S. Attorney in Phoenix has opened a preliminary inquiry into a 1996 camping trip Kolbe took with two high school boys, both former pages, following a report by MSNBC that one adult member of the trip was "creeped out" by "fawning, petting and touching" on the arms, shoulders and back of one of the teenagers by Kolbe.

"I know there are a number of inquiries underway, and we're cooperating fully with all those inquiries, and I'm sure at the end of the time it will show that we acted appropriately and did exactly the right thing," Kolbe said.

School Official Threatened by GOP Aide over Political Support

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 05:33:25 -0500

Mark Steven Kirk.

by Lynn Sweet
Chicago Sun-Times
Washington 10.27.06- A staffer for Rep. Mark Steven Kirk (R-Ill.), in a threatening e-mail, tried to get the president of Tel Aviv University to pressure a prominent supporter of Democrat Dan Seals to back down.

The target of a July e-mail by Kirk district representative Caryn Garber was insurance magnate Robert M. Schrayer, who is the national chairman of the Tel Aviv University American Council and on the board of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.

Kirk said Wednesday he reprimanded Garber and warned her that she would be fired if it happened again.Her action "does not reflect my view. When I heard about it I was upset," Kirk said.

Kirk, in his third term, is facing a stronger-than-expected challenge from Seals, who, like Kirk, is a strong backer of Israel. The north suburban 10th Congressional District has a substantial Jewish population.

Garber sent the e-mail from her personal account to Sam Witkin, who is the president of TAU's U.S. operation. Witkin declined her suggestion that he get TAU President Itamar Rabinovich, a former Israeli ambassador to the United States, to intervene.

'DIfficult position'
In the e-mail, Garber wrote "that Itamar should call Bob and tell him his actions can have a very bad effect on the university." Kirk is a member of the House Appropriations Committee's Foreign Operations subcommittee, which handles grants to entities in Israel and other countries.

Garber added, "Revenge is a dish best served cold."

Schrayer said he took the note "as a threat in two ways," to pressure Rabinovich to get him to resign his position with the university -- which involves fund-raising for the school -- "and kind of a blind threat that because he is on the appropriations committee, that Tel Aviv University could be hurt.''

Schrayer had supported Kirk in previous contests. Kirk said, "I am in a difficult position" because Schrayer "is now a passionate supporter of my opponent."

Rapper Shows Off His Two Affordable and Practical Vehicles on "MTV Cribs"

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:46:13 -0500

P-Krunk (right)
with Paul Wall.

by Jeff Lyons
used wigs
10.26.06- MTV abruptly halted filming of the latest episode of "Cribs" yesterday, and plans to scrap the entire segment that featured a tour of platinum-selling rapper P-Krunk's mansion in suburban Atlanta.

Producers said the show was going well until they were led outside to check out his fleet of presumably tricked-out rides. "We were shocked, and dare I say appalled, when P-Krunk opened up his garage door and exposed two non-customized, frequently driven vehicles showing a bit of wear and tear: a 1998 Ford Aerostar minivan and a 2001 Toyota Corolla."

Unfazed by the producers' grimaces and gasps of disappointment and confusion, P-Krunk began a detailed tour and description of his average autos."Check it dawg, my minivan is mad sensible. It gets crazy gas mileage and it's hella roomy, yo. I'm big pimpin' when I load up my shorties and my crew and we kick it at the Mickey D's drive-thru," said the married, 28-year-old father of two. "Gotsta have the removable back seat too, so me and my boo can be loading up bags of garden mulch and manure at Home Depot."

The rapper carefully wiped down the exterior of his minivan�gently cleaning some dirt off the "My Child is an Honor Student at Peach Tree Prep" bumper sticker�with a chamois and moved on to his "main ride."

"You feeling my Corolla?" P-Krunk queried as he relaxed in the cloth-covered driver's seat of the moderately priced, four-door, grey family sedan and played with the small plastic knobs of his factory-installed AM/FM radio with cassette and single CD player.

"I like my B.Seigs & Freeway playing at a low, pleasant volume so I can pay attention to the roadeezy fo' sheezy." The bass was definitely not humping his face as the tinny hip-hop songs barely trickled out of the two, standard three-inch speakers mounted in the grey plastic dashboard.

When a cameraman pointed out that the car was missing a hubcap, the rapper laughed and said, "No big thang, nothing a twenty-spot can't fix down at the junk yard."

Asked if he plans on buying more expensive performance cars or a giant Hummer like many of his newly rich contemporaries in the near future, P-Krunk quickly responded, "Ten grand for rims? No my brother, this baller is hanging on to his paper. I don't need to be rollin' on dubs to represent and I sho' as shizzle don't plan on being a broke-ass bitch this time next year. Who do I look like, Hammer?"

"Cribs" segment producer Jonah Rothelsberg explained the reasoning behind shelving the show. "I appreciate P-Krunk's unique taste, but we have a responsibility to our young viewers and advertisers to show the real lifestyles that are true to the artist's genre of music. A rapper who doesn't capriciously spend all his money on cars and 100-inch plasmas is an anomaly that strains credibility. Our viewers would think we made this up or were trying to punk them."

Rothelsberg cleared his throat and continued with a grin in a fake urban patois, "Sorry playa, my homies just ain't havin' it."

Bush on Iraq: �If We Can�t Win, I�ll Pull Us Out.�

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 10:25:12 -0500

The president talks candidly to a group of conservative journalists.

Mission
Accomplished?

by Byron York
National Review
10.26.06- Everybody knows George W. Bush is determined to win the war in Iraq. What came through in a meeting with conservative journalists in the Oval Office Wednesday afternoon, though, was the president�s frustration in not being able to find more meaningful ways to measure progress in the war, and in not being able to make the case more effectively to the American people that progress is, in fact, being made.

But beyond that loomed an even larger concern: In today�s Iraq, the president conceded, it is the enemy, and not the United States, that is defining what victory means.The frustration in the room stemmed not so much from internal divisions and paralysis in the Iraqi government, or lagging indicators like oil and energy production. Rather, it came from the fact that American forces simply do not seem to be winning the war � on anyone�s terms � and that most Americans are disinclined to leave the troops in Iraq without some clear movement toward victory.

�The American people were solidly behind this when you went in and you toppled the Taliban, when you go in and you topple Saddam,� columnist Mark Steyn said to the president. �But when it just seems to be a kind of thankless, semi-colonial, policing, defensive operation, with no end � I mean, where is the offense in this?�

�We are on the offense,� Bush answered. U.S. forces are taking it to the enemy every day. But he explained that the administration had made a decision that in some ways has hobbled its ability to show just how much it is on the offense. �We have made a conscious effort not to be a body-count team,� Bush said, in a clear reference to the tabulations of enemy killed that became a hallmark of the Vietnam War. And that, in turn, �gives you the impression that [U.S. troops] are just there � kind of moving around, directing traffic, and somebody takes a shot at them and they�re down.�

Bush took pains to stress that is not the case. �Al Qaeda has got special operations teams on them every day,� he said. �The death-squad leaders � well, we had two operations today that created a little news. These boys are after them. Given actionable intelligence, they�re moving hard, and they�re pressing hard. And I don�t want to give you numbers. It�s frustrating, however, because you�re right, it�s the perception that this military power full of decent people is just getting picked off and nothing�s happening. And I share the same frustration you share.�

Most of all, though, Bush said he realizes that the American people share that frustration, too. �People, most of them, are out there saying, �What are you doing? Get after �em,�� Bush said.

He�s heard it himself. �I�m from Texas,� Bush continued. �My buddies are saying, are you doing enough, not are you doing too little. They want to know, are we winning. They want to know, this mighty country, are we doing what it takes to win?�

It would be fair to say that no one fully knew the answer to that question. At times during the conversation, the president seemed vexed � not beaten, not downcast, but vexed � by conditions in Iraq. Bush didn�t say so, but from his words it seemed hard to deny that in some significant measure the insurgents and the sectarian killers are in control in the country, and that the fate of the American mission is in their hands. �The frustration is that the definition of success has now gotten to be, how many innocent people are dying?� the president said. �And if there�s a lot dying, it means the enemy is winning.� He paused. �That doesn�t mean they�re winning.�

But what does it mean? NRO and CNBC's Larry Kudlow asked, �How can you measure winning? The last couple of years, there just don�t seem to be any signals or signs that we�re winning.�

�This is the significant disadvantage we have in this war because the enemy gets to define victory by killing people,� Bush answered. In World War II, Bush said, progress, while hard to gain, was easier to describe. One could point to ships sunk, and battles won. �We don�t get to say that � a thousand of the enemy killed, or whatever the number was,� Bush said. �It�s happening. You just don�t know it.�

So if the U.S. chooses not to reveal how many of the enemy it has killed � and if, in any event, that death toll is not stopping the sectarian violence � then how does one assess what is going on? �I�ve thought long and hard about this, because it is precisely what is frustrating most people,� Bush said. �A lot of people are just saying, �You�re not doing enough to win. We�re not winning, you�re not doing enough to win, and I�m frustrated, I want it over with, with victory.� And I�m trying to figure out a matrix that says things are getting better. I think that one way to measure is less violence than before, I guess��

But that, of course, leads back to the president�s statement that the enemy gets to define victory by killing people. If the sectarian forces are able to keep up the killing, then they will determine who wins in Iraq.

The latest plan to retake the offensive on defining victory is the so-called benchmark. �The idea is to develop with the Iraqi government a series of benchmarks � oil, federalism, constitutional reform, there�s like 20 different things � and have that developed in a way that they�re comfortable with and we�re comfortable with,� Bush said. Progress toward those goals would give the administration new ways to point toward overall progress in Iraq.

Beyond that, the president seemed to be considering a plan to refine the country�s governmental structure in a way that would accommodate the Shiite, Sunni, and Kurd populations without dividing the country. �We�ve had a lot of people out there saying, split up the country,� Bush said. �That�s not going to work. But there are ways to achieve a more balanced federalism from what some people think is going to happen to them. There could be more � like Texas, we always want less federal, more state. And that�s the way � this balance can be achieved through negotiations. That�s what they�re trying to do.�

But in the end, there is still that frustration with a level of violence that U.S. forces don�t seem able to control. The consequences tear at Bush every day, but he remains convinced that the war will ultimately succeed. �If we can�t win, I�ll pull us out,� the president said. �If I didn�t think it was noble and just and we can win, we�re gone. I can�t � I�m not going to keep those kids in there and have to deal with their loved ones. I can�t cover it up when I meet with a family who�s lost a child. I cry, I weep, I hug. And I�ve got to be able to look them in the eye and say, we�re going to win. I have to be able to do that. And I�m not a good faker.�

�And so what I�m telling you is � we�ll win this.�

GOP mad about corruption probe leaks before election

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 10:15:51 -0500

Raw Story
10.26.06- Republicans are mad about corruption probe leaks before the election and are privately grumbling that "rogue elements" within the Department of Justice are trying to help tip the election to Democrats, according to Roll Call.

"For House Republicans, it seems that every week brings a new report about a GOP lawmaker under investigation by the Justice Department for alleged corruption," John Bresnahan writes. "And with the elections just 12 days away, Republicans are crying foul, complaining bitterly that the negative press spurred by the public disclosure of those criminal probes could help cost them their House majority."

"While a Justice Department run by Republican appointees who were nominated by a conservative Republican president would normally get the benefit of the doubt from GOP lawmakers and staffers, some party insiders are privately wondering whether 'rogue elements' within the department � and more specifically the Public Integrity Unit, where corruption cases are handled � are trying to tip the election to Democrats by leaking news of these investigations so late in the cycle," the article continues.A top political operative for the GOP tells Roll Call that it appears as if "the Public Integrity Unit of the Justice Department is running wild," and that they are "trying to have some effect" on the midterm elections.

Excerpts from Roll Call article:
A House GOP leadership aide suggested that �rogue elements� within DOJ�s bureaucracy are �working for a Democratic victory� on Nov. 7.

�Of course, we all want to root out corruption at all levels of government,� said the aide, who said he was �afraid to speak publicly� since it may spur more leaks about Republican lawmakers. �At the same time, when word of Congressional investigations are continually thrown out in the media late in the cycle, then it smacks of a campaign against Republicans.�

Another senior GOP staffer speculated that it was �residual anger� from Speaker Dennis Hastert�s (R-Ill.) public criticism of the June 20 FBI raid on Rep. William Jefferson�s (D-La.) office that is feeding the �campaign� against House Republicans.

�I think there are people within the Justice Department who are angry with Hastert and the [GOP] leadership� over the Congressional response to the Jefferson raid. �This is all payback, that�s all.�

NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas Becomes Sponsor of Major League Gaming's Top Pros

Thu, 19 Oct 2006 21:19:20 -0500

One of the Biggest Names in Professional Basketball Teams Up With the Best Team in Professional Video Gaming

Dave Walsh,
perhaps the world's
best gamer is on
Gil's team.

PRNewswire
New York, 10.19.06- Major League Gaming (MLG) today announced that one of the biggest names in professional basketball is teaming up with one of the biggest team names in professional video gaming. Washington Wizards point guard and team captain Gilbert Arenas, has become a sponsor of Final Boss, one of the most dominant teams on the Boost Mobile MLG Pro Circuit. In addition to sponsoring Final Boss, Arenas will appear in the MLG Pro Circuit TV show airing on USA Network this Fall.

"MLG and Final Boss are going to be huge. It's a great investment for me to get in at the beginning like this, and it's fun to be involved with. The MLG competitions are unreal -- the level of talent and energy is unbelievable. And once the show airs in November, Final Boss will be celebrities," said Arenas.MLG has experienced phenomenal growth and record-breaking attendance numbers during the 2006 Boost Mobile MLG Pro Circuit, and sports a booming online community. Major brands like Boost Mobile, Scion, GameStop, and Red Bull have already partnered with MLG, and the League's association with Arenas continues to expand the League's mainstream appeal.

"MLG is fueled by entrepreneurship and the competitive spirit -- both among our players, and in individuals like Gilbert Arenas, who will play an expanding role with us and our teams as MLG grows into a global sports media business," said Mike Sepso, CEO of Major League Gaming.

Team Final Boss
Final Boss is the most successful and heralded MLG team, having won an unprecedented eight consecutive tournaments in 2005 and 2006. Always considered the team to beat, Final Boss has set the bar for competitive gameplay, consistently innovating new strategies and techniques to stay ahead of the pack. The team is lead by human-highlight reel Walshy. Saiyan provides quick and adept support, while the awe-inspiring Ogre twins strike fear into even the toughest opponents through their versatile play style. The overall dominance and persistent hard work and sportsmanship of the squad has earned Final Boss a three year, one million dollar contract with Major League Gaming.

Gilbert Arenas
Many of the dominant qualities in team Final Boss could also describe Arenas. Known for his fierce competitiveness and strong work ethic, Gilbert is a two-time NBA All Star (2005, 2006), has been named to the All-NBA Third Team twice (2005, 2006), was the MVP of the Rookie Challenge 2003, and was named Most Improved Player of 2002-03. When he's not playing basketball, Gilbert spends his time playing Halo 2 on Xbox, trying to perfect his skills in that game as well. He is a fan of Final Boss for their skill, passion and dominance in their field.

ABOUT MAJOR LEAGUE GAMING
MLG is the first professional video game league. By raising video game competition to the level of professional sport, the company is creating a sports media business that provides players, developers, publishers, media partners, and advertisers a unique connection to the video game lifestyle enjoyed by 168 million Americans. With the support of major sponsors, MLG operates a pro tour that in 2006 will make 7 stops in major cities across the U.S., exclusively featuring the best gamers in the world. We produce a variety of online and broadcast-quality programming that showcases MLG's pros and this exciting new sports entertainment phenomenon. More information can be found at www.mlgpro.com.

Agent Zero's Video Game Minions

Gilbert Arenas.

by Dan Steinberg
Washington Post
10.19.06- Just talked to Dave Walsh, aka Walshy, one of Gilbert Arenas's sponsored video gamers. Walshy is the 22-year-old captain of Final Boss, a former student at Grand Rapids Community College who now makes well into the six figures and hangs out with NBA superstars because he's bloody good at video games. He fully realizes that this is slightly weird, but he's not complaining.

(Before I go further, if you haven't yet, please read Michael Lee's pitch perfect blog item on Gil from yesterday. Gil, as he's done several times this preseason, insists that he doesn't understand why people think he's quirky. Michael Lee and Brendan Haywood try to explain. Great stuff.)

(Walshy, as an Arenas employee, was very diplomatic when I asked whether he believed Gil to be quirky.

"You know, I don't think anyone's 100 percent normal," he said.)

(Also, rival blogger Ivan Carter and I will be front and center at the Wizards hoo-hah tonight, at which they're debuting their new alternate road jerseys in a fashion show featuring players and family members. This event has the potential to change my life. And having seen Jeffrey's win in last night's "Project Runway" finale--an event that a WaPo sportswriting colleague told me brought him more joy than any sporting event he's seen in the past decade--I feel uniquely qualified to cover the Wiz Fashion Show.)

Anyhow, Walshy. He and the fellow Final Bosses, as has previously been mentioned, were introduced to Gil through Red Bull, one of the team's other sponsors. They met when Gil was in L.A. filming a commercial, and they convened together in front of a video game screen. Gil was impressed with their skills. Final Boss was...well...

"Compared to tournament players, he's not so good, but for an NBA player I'd say he's very good," Walshy said. "You really do have to put a lot of time into it, and he really can't put as much time into it, because he has a basketball career."

(Walshy, for example, spends 30 to 40 hours a week working on his virtual game before big tournaments. So what would happen if he faced off against Gil? "It'd be kind of like me trying to play him in basketball," Walsh said. "It wouldn't be pretty." But the Final Bosses regularly meet Gil online and offer him helpful hints for improving his game.)

Anyhow, Gil heard that Final Boss had a million-dollar sponsorship deal and originally wanted to buy out their contract and own the team, but instead he decided on this sponsorship plan, in which each team member gets a few thousand dollars a month from Gil, plus some fringe benefits.

Like, Adidas jackets and Adidas pants and seven pairs each of customized Adidas sneakers that play off their Halo nicknames and their Halo symbols. Walshy's symbol, for example, is a wasp, and so he has images of wasps on several of his customized sneakers. Gil has promised that more goodies are on the way.

Plus, he flew down to Orlando and hung out with Final Boss at a tournament. They went to an arcade at a Friday's and put down some money on a basketball shooting game. Gil won. They also went to a Denny's and rolled up a tab of $60 or $70, and then Gil dropped a $100 bill as a tip and the waitress came running out of the restaurant to thank him. ("You can tell the guy's down to earth; he's happy to help other people," Walshy said.)

Plus, he's flying the Final Bosses out to D.C. for the Wiz home opener, even though Walshy admits he's a Pistons fan.

Plus, he's flying Walshy's girlfriend and relatives out to Vegas for a big tournament ($100k grand prize) next month, a tournament that the team is gearing toward.

Plus, like any true 21st century important NBA-type person, Walshy is also launching a clothing line, Kiaeneto, which he describes as like Hurley for video gamers.

Anyhow, I asked Walshy whether it was a greater thrill to get their million-dollar contract with Major League Gaming, or their more modest deal with Gilbert.

"I mean, Gilbert's something that money can't buy: a cool guy that's willing to help us in any way possible," Walshy said. "He's this huge superstar that millions and millions of people know, but he just treats you great. He's really nice. I don't know, it's weird. You expect a movie star, but he just acts like a normal guy."

So there you go. He is normal.

Worm Eats into McDonald's Promotion

Wed, 18 Oct 2006 20:39:47 -0500

Associated Press
10.18.06- Winners of 10,000 MP3 players given away in a McDonald's promotion in Japan (only) got an unwelcome bonus: a worm in their prizes.

The Japanese subsidiary of the fast food chain has warned its winners that their new players are infected with WORM_QQPASS.ADH, which can steal personal data if activated by plugging the player into a PC. The company is offering a link to a Trend Micro program that can remove the worm from infected computers, and is replacing the MP3 players on request, says our colleague Peter Sayer of the IDG News Service.

The worm spreads from the MP3 player to other removable drives on Windows systems and tries to disable some antivirus applications. It also attempts to transmit account logon information from the QQ Instant Messenger application, popular in China and South Africa.McDonald's ran the MP3 player promotion in August and sent the prizes to 10,000 winners in late September. Trend Micro rates the risk of damage from the worm as high, but says few infections have been reported so far.