OCALA, Fla. - Wesley Snipes will be allowed
to leave the United States to work on two movies while his lawyers appeal his
tax convictions.
Federal judge William Terrell Hodges on
Wednesday approved the actor's motion to travel to London and Bangkok,
Thailand. Snipes will be in England about three days this month for
post-production editing of "Gallowwalker," and in Thailand for eight weeks to
film "Chasing the Dragon."
A jury convicted the action star in February of
three counts of willfully failing to file his income taxes. The 45-year-old
Snipes, star of the "Blade" trilogy, "White Men Can't Jump" and "Jungle Fever"
among other films, has appealed the convictions and his three-year prison
sentence to the 11th Circuit Court in Atlanta.
Prosecutors asked Hodges to deny Snipes'
request to travel abroad, saying he was a flight risk.
Louisville’s
Trent Guy Wounded After Weekend Beef
A college receiver is recovering from being shot
in the back.
A
20-year-old Louisville wide receiver is expected
to fully recover from a gunshot wound to his back that he suffered after an
argument. Trent Guy underwent surgery after he was allegedly attacked outside a
downtown Louisville nightclub this past weekend when a club patron reportedly
touched Guy’s fiancée, leading to an argument. While he was on his way out of
the club to his car, one of two men allegedly opened fire on Guy, cops say.
“His injuries aren’t as severe as they could be,” says Rocco Gasparro, a
spokesman from Louisville’s athletic department. “At this time, we expect him
to have a full recovery, but it’s too early to speculate on his playing
status.” Police haven’t made any arrests.
Turner Also Drew Online Comic Adaptation Of 'Heroes'
SANTA MONICA, Calif. --
Comic book artist Michael
Turner, who drew covers for major titles such as "Superman-Batman," "The
Flash" and "Civil War, has died.
The
artist, who had been battling bone cancer for eight years, was 37.
Through his publishing company Aspen MLT, Turner
created online comic adaptations for the
NBC series
"Heroes."
Turner also published his own
titles, including the best-selling "Fathom," a deep-sea story about a female
superhero with water-based powers.
He
also drew covers for large projects such as
DC Comics' "Justice
League," Marvel's "Civil War" and was a regular cover artist for
"Superman-Batman" and "The Flash."
Just click the banner below and check it out and get
started!
Chic Rider:
Chelsea Alexis
We wanted to know how it feels to be a chick in a mans world of Motor
cycles. So we put out a bulletin, and met a true Ryde or Die chick.
My name is Chelsea Alexis. I
am a student, model, dancer, waitress, and biker chic! Trust me, it's a full
schedule. I grew up in small town Midwest. When I was about 16 I started
dating a guy with a sport bike. We use to go riding all the time. It was
great. Then one day I decided, "I'm sick of riding on the back!" I told him
that I wanted to drive. Surprisingly enough, he agreed to teach me. So, the
next week, lessons began. From the first time I was in control of all that
power, I was in love! I had found something that I would never give up.
By
the end of that summer I had my own sport bike. My first motorcycle was a 2001
Suzuki GSXR 1000. The bike had been sitting untouched in a barn for two years
when I bought it. It needed some work and a whole lot of TLC, but I knew it
was meant for me the minute I saw it. Everyone always says that your first
motorcycle should be smaller, a 600cc motorcycle at the most. I had learned on
a Honda 929RR so I thought it was silly to buy a 600cc bike after that.
Everyone told me that I was crazy, and that I was going to kill myself on that
big of a bike. I told them that they were silly for thinking that and just
jealous that mine was bigger than theirs. I rode every chance that I got. I
rode to work, to school, and even to the grocery store. I started carrying abackpack every where I went
instead of a purse. And I still do that to this day.
Eventually everyone has their first wreck. I was riding through my college
campus late at night with some of my friends when a car blew a red light. I
grabbed my break and the front tire locked. I came off the bike, but the bike
kept going. My bike continued all the way across the intersection before
hitting a telephone pole and falling over. My best friend had already skidded
to a stop and come to scoop me up out of the road. The guy in the car that
caused the wreck never even stopped. Its not riding a motorcycle that is
dangerous. It's the people in the vehicles around you that are dangerous.
Luckily, I was not hurt badly. I had a lot of road rash and had ruined my
favorite pair of jeans, but that was the worst of it. I spent the rest of the
night soaking my road rash and letting my friend pick asphalt out of my back
and knee. I could not take a hot shower for a week. Luckily for my bike, all
the damage was cosmetic. So I was back on my motorcycle the next week.
Shortly after the wreck, my bike was stolen and I never saw it again. Unlike
cars, it's pretty easy to get away with stealing a motorcycle. All you have to
have is a few strong men and a pick up truck. Most stolen motorcycles are
never recovered. I was devastated when my bike got stolen. It was my prized
possession. I had put so much time, energy, and money into fixing it and now
it was gone.
I saved up over the winter and waited. As soon as spring came, I began my
search. Shortly after I started looking for my new sport bike, a riding friend
of mine called me up to tell me that he was selling his2001 GSXR 1000. The exact same
year, make, and model of my first motorcycle. I knew his motorcycle very
well. It was beautiful. There was so much chrome on that bike it was hard to
stare at when it was in the sun. I knew that I didn't need to look anymore. I
told him to hold onto his motorcycle because I knew that I wanted it. It was a
little out of my price range, so I had to do some serious quick money making.
I picked up hours at the restaurant I worked at and within the next month his
GSXR 1000 was mine. I still have the GSXR and I love it more than ever.
I have found that female riders get a lot of mixed feelings from male riders,
especially sport bike riders. Some of the guys on motorcycles think it's
awesome to see a female on a sport bike. Others seem to think that females
only belong on the back of a motorcycle. Well, I am here to tell you boys that
have a problem with it, it's only going to get worse! In the last few years I
have seen such a huge increase in the number of female riders. I am so excited
that other women are getting their own motorcycles and participating in a once
completely male dominated sport. Also, new organizations are popping up
everywhere to support female riders. Female stunt rider Jessica Maine has
started an international women's riding group called Chic Riders. It helps
female riders everywhere come together and meet other chic riders. I know I
have met some amazing women through it. I look forward to the next few years
and seeing even more females riding bikes.
Got a Ryde or Die story? We
want to hear about it. Just drop us an e-mail with your stories, and photos if
possible to: VBLAZIN@aol.com. You just may
see your story in an upcoming issue of VBLAZIN!
The fifth annual Xtreme Rides
Auto and Bike Show was held at The Elizabeth Portuguese Club in Elizabeth New
Jersey on 22nd. Luckily the thunderstorms held off to only a little rain for a
few seconds. The show had Live Dyno, Bikini Contest, Models, Vendors, Car
Clubs, Giveaways, Barbecue and more. It was also nice to see a show only
charging $8.00 to get in. Looks like they were really in to putting on a show.
The show was hosted by Adree DeSanti. There was over thirty sponsors for the
show. O course the Rix models made a strong presence at the show.
Everyone had a good time at the show with the giveaways, cars, models. Special
thanks to Artistic Chrome for putting up the thousand dollars for the bikini
contest.
Used Oil
Becomes Hot Commodity
FAIRLESS HILLS, Pa. -- Restaurants use it to fry up
the food people buy, but when they frying is finished, Slack's Hoagie Shack
Store in Bucks County
also sells the used oil.
Companies buy the old oil from restaurants and refine it into fuel for
diesel engines.
"Six months ago you’d have to pay someone to come and take it away from
you," said Melissa Cruz,
from Slack’s Hoagie Shack.
Now it's becoming pretty valuable.
A company now pays Slack's for their oil, about $90 a month, but Slacks'
employees said a guy from another company, SmarterFuel of
Bethlehem, stole a tank full
of their liquid gold from a canister behind the store.
"No way, no way could it have been a mistake," Cruz said.
The alleged oil thief couldn’t get through the padlock, so the owners said
he went the two-by-four route:
"He stuck it in here, pried it open, turned it sideways so he could fit the
hose through there," a worker said.
A Slack's worker said he caught the thief in the act.
The Slack's worker said he saw the Smarterfuel logo on the side of the truck
that drove away.
A Smarterfuel representative told NBC 10 they absolutely did not steal from
Slack’s.
Fairless Hills police are now investigating:
Local police said this is the first time they’ve investigated a case like
this, but nationally it’s becoming a bigger issue, and the higher the gas
prices go, the more you’re going to hear about crimes involving cooking oil.
"This is a small business. Everything is more expensive. We have to find
ways to make it just like everybody else and this is kind of our silver lining,
to know that this what used to be junk is worth something and people are paying
us for it," Cruz said.
VBLAZIN GET INTO THE
"ALLZONE"
Wet Tees at it's BEST!
International
Fire Goddess along with Studio Allzone Night Club in Roselle New Jersey had a
Fourth of July Bikini Contest followed up the next week by a wet T-shirt
contest. Lester of Studio Allzone loves to see everyone have a good time at his
club and gives away lots of cash for these contests with first place winners
taking home $1,500.00, second place $1,000.00, third place $500.00 and all
other competitors getting $100.00 for participating. Studio Allzone is the club
known for the cool blast which is a great idea. Just when it starts to get hot
in the club out comes a blast of cold smoke to cool everyone off in the club.
The bikini contest on came first and the winner was determined by crowd
applause. In first place was Linda Kolso with Angela Rosado in second, and
Alyna Silva in third.
The following week was the wet T-shirt contest which was hosted by Kristy
Morgan, winner of the second season Shot of Love Show with Tila Tequila. She
was joined on stage by Jersey.
The first round the contestants came out and paraded around the stage for
everyone to see, then the next round came the wet down. Kristy really played it
up to the crowd and flirting with the contestants. It looked like she was more
interested in some of them than Tila.
In first place taking the $1,500.00 was Alyna Silva followed by Angela Rosado
in second, and Phylicia Kyte in third.
For more information on Studio Allzone check them out on the net at
http://studioallzone.us and the International Fire Goddess at
www.internationalfiregoddess.com
GAME ON!
Unreal Tournament III (360) REVIEW
Unreal Tournament III has finally made its way to the 360, and the
results are, as expected, excellent. First released on the PC and PS3, the
online-focused shooter should prove to be a fan favorite across all systems.
Although there are some notable additions for the 360, this is essentially the
same game everyone else has been playing without any compromises.
Porting Action
Although
UT3 now supports 1080p resolution (the PS3 was 720p), there's little
in the way of visual distinction. The lighting seems a bit more subtle here,
though the colors are slightly muted. Nitpicking aside, argumentative console
fanboys won't find a clear winner in the presentation—both console versions
look terrific.
Looks are important for the Unreal engine, and it's clear that no one can use
the technology quite like Epic. Since there's virtually no story in the game,
and the gameplay focus is squarely on killing other players, the devil is in
the details, and Epic has had plenty of time to refine the nature of their
long-running tournament. Refinements are really all you should expect here
though. This is Unreal Tournament through and through, and for players
who didn't like the arcade-style, run and gun play of the previous games,
UT3 won't change their minds.
Instant Action... Just Add Jibs
UT
is all about frenetic action, complete with double jumps and action-hero
evasion moves, power-ups, and a faster pace than its competition. More weapons,
vehicles, levels, modes, and characters are added to the mix of course, and the
game successfully manages to balance all these elements. The result is
satisfying multiplayer game that will enthrall shooter fans, but still drifts
on the shallow end of the online experience. Since UT3 is meant for
jumping right in, recent advancements in the genre—such as a persistent world
and character building—are absent. The lack of meaningful customization of your
character's appearance is also disappointing, and you're stuck with the game's
character models. The 360 version does sport two new models though.
Other additions include five original maps, in addition to the three extra maps
previously available for the PC and PS3. The biggest addition is the inclusion
of two-player split-screen multiplayer, which can be combined with the online
play for times when you have friends at home and abroad. No matter how you
choose to multiplay, there are plenty of options in store.
Deathmatch, team deathmatch, warzone, duel, and vehicle and regular capture the
flag offer up a well-rounded selection of game styles. The maps range from
suitable for one-on-one to supporting up to 16 players and are all very well
designed. The vehicle-oriented maps in particular are huge, and crossing them
without the use of a vehicle or your trusty hoverboard is a daunting task.
Guns, Guns, Guns
There's an incredible variety of weapons and vehicles in UT3.
Traditional tanks and ATVs, small aerial fighters, and turrets will feel
familiar; but the alien necris craft seem like H.G. Wells' designs gone crazy.
Most of the weapons from prior games are here as well—the rocket launcher, flak
cannon, link gun, shock, sniper, and bio rifles, minigun. The new anti-vehicle
longbow rocket was added to help round out the vehicle focus, and there's even
a portable tactical nuke launcher.
Although the single-player game is really just a tutorial for the online
action, there's a surprisingly meaty campaign here, complete with some
semblance of a story and minimal explanation of why wars in the future are
played out like multiplayer games. The AI bots are effective and reliable, can
complete objectives well, and act remarkably autonomous. While not flawless of
course, the game sports some of the best bot AI you're likely to find.
Unreal As Usual
The real meat is online though, and Unreal Tournament 3 doesn't
disappoint. Rock solid framerates even during intense, large matches, and
stable connections help make the game one of the best online fights out there.
Although games like Halo 3 have a devoted following purely for their
multiplayer, UT3 has an appeal all its own, with enough style and
refinement to warrant a place in the online hall of fame.
The "Jackass" daredevil writes in his blog that after 115 days of sobriety,
he is "back in the looney bin." Steve-O, whose real names is Stephen Glover,
told fans that he's still struggling with the effects of the many drugs he'd
taken over the years.
Glover didn't indicate in the July 3 posting on MySpace where he was staying
or for how long. His agent said Monday he would not comment on personal
matters.
Glover was arrested for drug possession in March at his Hollywood home. He
pleaded guilty to cocaine possession last month, part of a deal that called for
successful completion of a rehab program.
His attorney, Barry Gerald Sands, was expected to deliver a progress report
in a Los Angeles court.
V-Review: 'Hellboy
II' Compelling, Creative
Fantasy
Del Toro's Superhero Sequel Smart, Funny, Full Of
Action
'Hellboy II: The Golden
Army' (PG-13)(out
of four)
What's
so addictive about the "Hellboy" films is the feeling that all the stodgy rules
of the superhero genre are being broken, tossed aside and rewritten in front of
our eyes -- not all that different from what "Hancock" tried, but failed, to do
a week ago.
Based on the comics by Mike Mignola, one learns all he needs to know about
the "Hellboy" universe in realizing that its hero is a misplaced demon baby,
complete with horns and tail, that was brought into our dimension by a team of
rogue Nazis seeking a supernatural upper hand during World War II.
He isn't only an antihero; he might just be the Antichrist, and it's his
gung-ho, street-smart, too-cool-for-school attitude that makes this universe so
giddily peculiar. He isn't just a static force of good or evil, just a
blue-collar working guy who knows how to take on the ghouls and goblins.
In the first "Hellboy," which was released four years ago, we saw the way
that nurture prevailed over nature. Adopted and raised by a professor to serve
as a super-secret agent in a classified department of the American public,
Hellboy (Ron Perlman) became mankind's ultimate savior against the dark forces
of the supernatural world.
But
in "Hellboy II," the "Golden Army" mentioned in the title isn't composed of
demons, or monsters, but is instead commanded by a wondrous Prince Nuada (Luke
Goss). We learn the whole convoluted backstory in an initial flashback, which
sounds more like something from "Lord of the Rings." Long ago, in a bid to
fight back against humanity, a race of creatures existing deep within the
forests fashioned a massive, unstoppable army of golden machines. But at the
last second, a truce is struck with mankind and it was agreed that man would
get the cities, while these other forces would get their free run over nature.
The drama in "Hellboy II" seems ripped straight from the pages of "The
Chronicles of Narnia." Now that humans have pillaged the earth, Nuada is
committed to resurrecting the Golden Army and taking control of the planet, and
Hellboy and his team of freakish superheroes will set out to stop him at every
turn.
Ah, but not so fast. This is no ordinary clashing of the titans, and
director Guillermo del
Toro ("Pan's Labyrinth") asserts from the very beginning that this will not
be a familiar journey down the road of a swords-and-spears epic. Opening up
with a scene set in a secret government installation, we are plunged into the
boring, day-to-day life of Hellboy and his cohorts. He tries to irritate his
boss, Tom Manning (Jeffrey
Tambor), he cracks jokes with his right-hand fish-man Abe Sapien (Doug
Jones), and he finds himself tiptoeing around an angry girlfriend, Liz
(Selma Blair), who can turn her body into a raging inferno.
As much as Hellboy seems out of place in the role of hero, so does this
scene seem out of place in the middle of an action adventure epic, and that's
what makes "Hellboy II" such a wild ride. It keeps taking left turns, making
wisecracks and going for the silly punch line.
One
of the film's biggest surprises is its angry depiction of humans. As Hellboy
and his comrades must repeatedly run out into civilization to take on the
warriors and agents of the Golden Army, we come to realize that the human race
is only in danger because of their greedy destruction of the planet. And the
New York City crowds
don't hail Hellboy as their savior, but instead mock him for his looks. It's
enough to wonder if humans deserve saving.
There are sequences of "Hellboy II" that rely a little too heavily on
computer effects, as our hero must shoot down a neverending army of robots --
sequences that don't seem so much original as derivative. But then there are
scenes of such originality and imagination -- such as the discovery of a troll
market under the Brooklyn Bridge -- that make the journey instantly memorable
and magical.
It's almost as if "Hellboy II" is proving that it can do two things
simultaneously: Fulfill its superhero requirements and then shift gears into
something more compelling, creative fantasy adventure. And it's here where del
Toro, one of the most creative directors working today, proves his grit. Just
as he did with the dark-but-giddy "Blade II," and the bland-but-wondrous "Pan's
Labyrinth," he treads the two worlds of "Hellboy II" with skill and grace.
He can go epic, but then go quirky. He can give us a swordfight, but then
imagine a whole underground universe of freaks. Heck, he can alternate between
trolls and office politics, between a gorgeous sequence involving a giant plant
attacking the Big Apple, and a genuine melodrama involving a demon man
struggling with domestic issues.
What a trip.
Pioneer Corp.
to sell Blu-ray disc recorders
By SHINO YUASA
The Associated Press
TOKYO - Pioneer Corp. will start selling Blu-ray disc recorders in Japan
sometime before March 2009, the company said Tuesday, the latest in a string of
Japanese electronics makers entering the increasingly competitive sector.
Pioneer spokeswoman Kayoko Tanaka said the decision to enter the domestic
Blu-ray market anticipated burgeoning Japanese demand for products in the
next-generation video format. No decision has been made on overseas sales
plans, she said.
Pioneer will develop Blu-ray DVD recorders with partner Sharp and sell them
under the Pioneer brand targeting high-end consumers, Japan's top business
daily The Nikkei reported earlier Tuesday. Tanaka declined comment on the
details of the report.
Sony Corp., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., which makes Panasonic brand
products, and Sharp Corp. dominate Japan's Blu-ray sector, controlling a
combined 98 percent market share, according to The Nikkei.
Last year, Pioneer announced a tie-up with Sharp under which Pioneer will
buy Sharp's liquid crystal displays for flat TVs. Pioneer and Sharp have also
been working together on Blu-ray disc recorders and players.
Pioneer decided in March to stop making plasma display panels in an effort
to turn around its money-losing business. Pioneer used to be one of the leading
developers of panel technology but has fallen behind bigger companies such as
Matsushita and South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc.
Electronics makers are stepping up their product offerings with hopes demand
will rise with the Beijing Olympics in August and Christmas shopping later in
the year.
TMZ
allowed to repost portion of actor's sex tape
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - The woman in a sex tape featuring Verne Troyer , best known
for his role in the "Austin Powers" movies , says she allowed celebrity Web
site TMZ to broadcast snippets of the tape.
Troyer's ex-girlfriend, Ranae Shrider, signed a declaration filed in federal
court in Los Angeles stating the tape was created with her video camera. Her
statement prompted a judge to allow TMZ to reinstate a post featuring snippets
of the tape.
The judge had temporarily barred TMZ from showing or broadcasting any
portion of the tape on its Web site or TV show. The post was restored by
Tuesday evening.
The judge has still barred a porn distributor named in a $20 million lawsuit
filed by Troyer from distributing or taking orders for the 50-minute tape.
Troyer starred as Mini Me in two "Austin Powers" movies. His lawsuit alleged
the tape was stolen. Shrider's statement says she believes she also owns the
tape, but so far has only given permission to TMZ to air it.
Fed May Give
Emergency Loans To Wall
Street
Wall Street Would Draw Directly From Central Bank, but
no bail out for foreclosure on misplaced families
WASHINGTON -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben
Bernanke said the Fed is considering giving squeezed
Wall Street firms more
time to draw emergency loans directly from the central bank to help them
overcome credit problems.
The Fed in
March agreed to let investment houses temporarily go to the Fed for a quick
source of cash.
Those loan privileges are supposed to last through mid-September.
Bernanke, in prepared remarks Tuesday, said the Fed is considering several
options, including "extending the duration of our facilities for primary
dealers beyond year-end."
A
20-year-old 
My name is Chelsea Alexis. I
am a student, model, dancer, waitress, and biker chic! Trust me, it's a full
schedule. I grew up in small town Midwest. When I was about 16 I started
dating a guy with a sport bike. We use to go riding all the time. It was
great. Then one day I decided, "I'm sick of riding on the back!" I told him
that I wanted to drive. Surprisingly enough, he agreed to teach me. So, the
next week, lessons began. From the first time I was in control of all that
power, I was in love! I had found something that I would never give up.
I saved up over the winter and waited. As soon as spring came, I began my
search. Shortly after I started looking for my new sport bike, a riding friend
of mine called me up to tell me that he was selling his
International
Fire Goddess along with Studio Allzone Night Club in Roselle New Jersey had a
Fourth of July Bikini Contest followed up the next week by a wet T-shirt
contest. Lester of Studio Allzone loves to see everyone have a good time at his
club and gives away lots of cash for these contests with first place winners
taking home $1,500.00, second place $1,000.00, third place $500.00 and all
other competitors getting $100.00 for participating. Studio Allzone is the club
known for the cool blast which is a great idea. Just when it starts to get hot
in the club out comes a blast of cold smoke to cool everyone off in the club.
Although
UT3 now supports 1080p resolution (the PS3 was 720p), there's little
in the way of visual distinction. The lighting seems a bit more subtle here,
though the colors are slightly muted. Nitpicking aside, argumentative console
fanboys won't find a clear winner in the presentation—both console versions
look terrific. 
UT
is all about frenetic action, complete with double jumps and action-hero
evasion moves, power-ups, and a faster pace than its competition. More weapons,
vehicles, levels, modes, and characters are added to the mix of course, and the
game successfully manages to balance all these elements. The result is
satisfying multiplayer game that will enthrall shooter fans, but still drifts
on the shallow end of the online experience. Since UT3 is meant for
jumping right in, recent advancements in the genre—such as a persistent world
and character building—are absent. The lack of meaningful customization of your
character's appearance is also disappointing, and you're stuck with the game's
character models. The 360 version does sport two new models though.
What's
so addictive about the "Hellboy" films is the feeling that all the stodgy rules
of the superhero genre are being broken, tossed aside and rewritten in front of
our eyes -- not all that different from what "Hancock" tried, but failed, to do
a week ago.
But
in "Hellboy II," the "Golden Army" mentioned in the title isn't composed of
demons, or monsters, but is instead commanded by a wondrous Prince Nuada (Luke
Goss). We learn the whole convoluted backstory in an initial flashback, which
sounds more like something from "Lord of the Rings." Long ago, in a bid to
fight back against humanity, a race of creatures existing deep within the
forests fashioned a massive, unstoppable army of golden machines. But at the
last second, a truce is struck with mankind and it was agreed that man would
get the cities, while these other forces would get their free run over nature.
One
of the film's biggest surprises is its angry depiction of humans. As Hellboy
and his comrades must repeatedly run out into civilization to take on the
warriors and agents of the Golden Army, we come to realize that the human race
is only in danger because of their greedy destruction of the planet. And the
