Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Kevin Smith: Virgin America Eats It

Kevin Smith might want to consider alternate forms of transportation.
Seriously, you can pimp out your own tour bus and just enjoy the ride, John Madden style. Sure it takes longer, but the director and air travel just don't mix.
Smith, who famously feuded with Southwest after he was kicked off a flight for being too large in February, had issues with Virgin America this time around.
Kev Smith
BLOWING SMOKE: When it comes to flying, Kevin Smith tends to.
Smith says on his blog that he, his wife Jennifer Schwalbach, and their friend Jason Mewes arrived at New York's JFK airport in plenty of time for a flight.
"Boarding started at 11:15, and we arrived at the gate at 11:35 – a full 10 minutes before scheduled departure," Smith wrote in a blog post on Monday.
"But as we reached the gate, we saw a man closing the door ... We told him we were on the flight and he told us it was too late; the flight was closed."
"It was 11:36."
Despite having first class seats and a concierge service, officials reportedly told Smith and his party that there was nothing he could do – nor could he take their bags, which included medication Smith's wife needed, OFF the flight.
"They didn’t even TRY to call someone about getting the bags," he wrote. "The plane sat right at the jetway still attached. Our bags could've EASILY been removed in the time the jet remained at the gate (or we could’ve been permitted to board)."
Smith said he waited until 10 minutes before departure to board because, "when you fly first, you board first, sit down … and then EVERYONE files past you."
"And when you're the Too Fat To Fly guy on a plane? Well, everyone stares," he adds. "Then the whispering starts. A hundred people look right at you."
While Smith ultimately missed his flight – and his child's first basketball game at school because of the delay – he was rebooked on a later flight.
He later received a nice surprise – a "lovely, apologetic email, full refund for flight, free tix offer – all before I've landed," Smith wrote.
"I appreciate the gesture/effort."
Virgin America 1, Southwest 0.

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Cops: Angelina Pivarnick Punched Girl's Grill

Angelina Pivarnick, formerly of Jersey Shore and currently of various police lineups, didn't just get in a fight this weekend, she went after the girl. Hard.
According to law enforcement, the erroneously self-proclaimed Kim Kardashian of Staten Island punched some chick in the mouth in Atlantic City, N.J.
Ange was set to fight a Celebrity Boxing bout against another reality star - Kerry Schwartz, whoever that is - but got into an unsanctioned bout earlier.
Dumb Ass Angelina
AC cops claim the wannabe rapper was the aggressor at the Taj Mahal (shocker), allegedly punching the unidentified girl in the face and body.
Police say a summons complaint for simple assault has already been mailed to Pivarnick ... and she's due back in court later on this month.
Angelina says she plans on cooperating with authorities, but adds, "That night I feel I was provoked, taunted, and harassed into a fight."
"On top of that there are signs pointing in the direction that this was a set up against me and I have witnesses and evidence to prove this."
Just like on Jersey Shore when Snooki whomped her ass, we're sure she had NOTHING to do with it and the attack came out of nowhere.

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Gloria Allred Condemns Khloe Kardashian for Rape Comment

It's a rare day when THG sides with Gloria Allred.
But it's also a rare day when a celebrity compares being screened at the airport with being raped.
That's exactly what Khloe Kardashian did on Lopez Tonight, however, prompting the following response from the attention-loving lawyer:
Gloria Allred PhotoLooking Miserable
“Rape is a crime of violence. I believe that the word should not be used loosely to describe security measures at airports or at any other place.
"I think that many victims of sexual assault who have been the true victims of men who committed that violent crime against them and who have been forced to suffer the physical and emotional harm that results from that crime would be insulted that the term would be used in the way that Ms. Kardashian used it."
Do you agree with Allred's take? Did Khloe go too far in her comparison?

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T.I. Getting Smarter in Prison

T.I. may be a convicted felon who blew a second chance with a probation-violating arrest that nixed his early release, but the man is nothing if not inspirational.
He's effing tired of jail, but it sounds like he's hanging in there. The release of his new album, No Mercy, which he finished before his 11-month sentence, helps.
"So here it is. NO MERCY, the most honest and intimate installment of my life story as promised," T.I. posted on his official site, which he somehow can update.
A T.I. Image
Says the embattled rapper: "Hope ya'll enjoy it and it lives up to the very high standards I've set for myself or anyone who's considered to be one of the best."
Humble as always. The self-adulation continues:
"I must admit it takes a lot to go through as much as I have and still keep the love in your heart and in your art. But at the end of the day, if that's what it takes to produce the music to keep the world of hip-hop evolving on its axis."
"Even the lowest of the lows of my life was all worth it."
"Thanks again for your prayers, your time, and attention. And remember... it doesn't matter how long it'll be before the next time you see me. What matters is I'll be a better man before that time comes. The longer I sit, the smarter I get."
"I'd like to give a very special thank you to the fans who've been writing me and lifting my spirits. I read all of them. I would never be able to write you all back, but I'd like to list as many of you individually as I can and thank the others collectively."
T.I. ends noting he does not consider himself "done" and is staying positive. He wants to be a "father to his kids," a "husband to his wife" and "son to his mother."
Before his Nov. 1 surrender, T.I. not only completed the album, but he also shot a music video featuring Chris Brown for the album's second single, "Get Back Up."
Sounds like his mantra for life - and what he told that suicidal guy.

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Elizabeth Edwards Passes Away at 61

Elizabeth Edwards, a lawyer, best-selling author, mother of three and the wife of two-time presidential candidate John Edwards, died in her North Carolina home.
She was 61. Just days after doctors advised her to suspend her cancer treatment, Elizabeth tragically succumbed after battling the disease for over six years.
Elizabeth Edwards was surrounded by friends and family in her last days, including John himself. She and John were estranged following the Rielle Hunter scandal.
EE
R.I.P. Elizabeth Edwards (1949-2010).
Monday, Elizabeth posted what read like a farewell message on her Facebook page reading, "The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that."
"And yes, there are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It's called being human,"she added.
"But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that, I am grateful."
Elizabeth is survived by a grown daughter, Cate, and two young children, Jack and Emma. Her son Wade died in a car accident at age 16 back in 1996.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina Law School, she was her famous husband's intellectual equal, his chief ideologue and most of all, his rock.
Edwards helped remake the role of the political spouse in this era. She was the driving force behind her husband’s rise to the Democratic political elite.
As strategist, campaign manager, surrogate and public interpreter for her husband, she earned a nation's respect - but that respect grew in recent years.
John Edwards' career unraveled as quickly and shockingly after he fathered a love child with Hunter, then lied and possibly illegally tried to cover it up.
But Elizabeth’s charm, intelligence and class never wavered, and her willingness to condemn John's actions and separate from him spoke volumes.
Our condolences go out to her children and loved ones.

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