This blog will cover the ongoing quest for justice by the family of Councillor Patsy Kelly who was abducted and brutually murdered by British security forces in 1974.

After several non-investigations by the then RUC and subsequently by the PSNI, the Historical Enquiries Team are due to publish the findings of their investigation within this next few weeks.

This blog will keep everyone up-to-date on the progress of the case from the Kelly family’s point of view with an honest and forthright provision of content.

I Posted This Track From R. Kelly Last Week But It Only Featured Tyrese This Version Also Features Robin Thicke And The Dream…A Must Download This Ish Is Dope, Track After The Jump R. Kelly-Pregnant Feat. Tyrese, Robin Thicke ,and The Dream

…::LISTEN::…

Yes, it’s pretentiously titled Untitled but he might have a good song or a half on there. The album has leaked a week ahead of it’s time. Click here to read all about it.

I cannot believe I, like,  broke my, like, promise. I actually didn’t have a lot of, like, stuff yesterday. I, like, went to school and came home. So in my, like, grade there have been major, like, social stuff. So, this kid named… I’m gonna say but let’s call him, like, Ken. So Ken said to another girl named… Kelly that, like, he wanted to go out. She said yes but she and the rest of our grade didn’t know that Ken was going out with another girl named… Greta. So, like, Greta is loser-ish and, um, she not so, like, social. Greta doesn’t really follow all of the who’s, like, going out and stuff. Greta doesn’t know about Kelly and Kelly doesn’t know about Greta. I don’t even know why Ken is, like, going out with Greta she’s, like, really ugly. Well, I know all of this, like, stuff ’cause Ken swore me to secrecy and, like, if you know I CANNOT keep a secret so, like, I had to tell someone, like, you know? I really hope I, like, made up for the, like, missed day. I know that like no one reads my blog and stuff but still. Oh Emfrea Kingjee!

After many days in pursuit of the wild Detroitonian, I have finally caught up with the most sought after personality in Lavapiés, Miss Melissa. She was charming a group of Senegalese gentlemen when I stumbled upon her and happened to have a few minutes to douse the flame of curiosity that was burning inside me. Do you want to know what I was just dying to know?

Kelly: What famous person do other people tell you that you most resemble?

Meli: Jenna Elfman, emphasis on the ‘Elf’.

Kelly: If you could live in any home on a television series, what would it be?

Meli: Lucy and Desi’s second apartment.

Kelly: Who would you most like to be stuck in an elevator with?

Meli: Alberto. Hey baby, let’s share some O subscript 2, if you know what I mean….

Kelly: What’s the habit you’re proudest of breaking?  

Meli: Sister Mary Ann’s. Twenty-six Hail Marys.

Kelly: Where were you on September 11, 2001?

Meli: Mr. Rice’s class.

Kelly: Which of the four seasons do you most anticipate?

Meli: Dubai´s. Though I don’t know how the no-pork thing’s gonna fly.

Kelly: What’s your least favorite word?

Meli: Azberjain. It discouraged me from reading today’s whole entire paper .

Kelly: What do you think Victoria’s secret is?

Meli: Don’t care because the word ’secretion’ scares me too.

Kelly: What is one food you will never give up?

Meli: Blue Corn chips and Salsa.

Kelly: What’s your favorite tree?

Meli: Gotta love the dreaminess of the Sleeping Pillow, and the lingering smell of the Scotch Wine Tree you got for Christmas, long after it’s started to drop needles and get naked. But my fav-o is the one that provides me with feathery shade when I’m on the beach. Can’t think of the name at the mo. TOTAL calm.

Kelly:  If you could have personally witnessed one event in history, what would you want to have seen?

Meli: “The Rite of Spring” premiere in Paris. Who, after witnessing that night, could claim that music DOESN’T make us crazy? Manson ain’t got nada on Stravinsky.

Kelly: Do you feel that children should be sheltered from unhappiness?

Meli: Happiness is relative. Within the context of each culture, community, family, value set, recollection of personal experiences, peace, intrinsic motivation, human rights, the realization of one’s interdependency on his or her environment …. what was the exact question again? Liberal jargon’s got me jumbled.

Kelly:  If you found a $100 what would you do with the money?

Meli: Try to buy some scalpies for the Muse Show this week, and then realize that 100 dollars is only worth 66.8 euro. So then I’d go to the bar.

I’ll be getting my copy sometime today.

Check back later for more details!

UPDATE

I was at Barnes and Noble when it opened its doors at 9am. The sales clerks in the DVD section had no idea what I was talking about but eventually located a copy with a retail price of $59.99.

Unlike the covers for the previous few seasons, this one doesn’t feature a cast shot but rather individual pictures of the characters. Staring out from the center is Hilary Swank (Carly). I’ve been complaining about this ever since the art was first released as Swank was only in 16 episodes. Sure, she was billed as a lead character (and hired to be in the whole season) but with limited cover space, that spot should’ve gone to Vincent Young (Noah), who was not only in every episode of the season but also seasons 9 and 10. I’ve been told the decision to put Swank front and center was a marketing decision designed to capitalized on the Oscar winner’s recognition factor. Apparently that applies to the individual disc covers as well as Swank is also featured prominently on one of those while this time the MIA actor is Brian Austin Green (David), who’s been with the series since Day 1.

The back cover also doesn’t feature Young but manages to include him and everyone else in the description (though in a different order than the opening credits): “The Real World: 90210…School is over and the friends of Beverly Hills 90210 are discovering that life after graduation is not as easy as they thought! Come along with Brandon (Jason Priestley), Kelly (Jennie Garth), Donna (Tori Spelling), David (Brian Austin Green), Steve (Ian Ziering), Val (Tiffani Amber Thiessen), Noah (Vincent Young), and Carly (Hilary Swank) as they explore love and life outside of college in all 30 titillating episodes of Season 8. Experience Kelly’s recovery from a drive-by shooting, Brandon and Kelly’s wedding plans, and Donna’s drug overdose. It doesn’t take long for the gang to discover that the real world can be just as unpredictable as college.”

The set contains 7 discs with descriptions on the back of the individual cases. It’s pretty much a given there’s going to be errors (or, at the very list, vague summaries that miss the key points) but there are some doozies here! (1) “Racial lyrics lead David’s band, After Dark, into problems.” First off, the band wasn’t David’s–he was pseudo-managing them. But more importantly, After Dark is the name of the club that’s been on the show since season 5, not the name of the band (which was actually called Cain Was Able). (2) Continuing with the band name errors, they say “a member of Jasper’s Legend tries to sue Noah after a car accident” but the band was called Jasper’s Law. (3) We’ve got a serious reversal of events when they say “Valerie accuses Noah of date rape when she wakes up without any memory of the night before…and Donna and David get into a car accident.”  Considering Donna and David’s interaction is partly the catalyst for Valerie and Noah even sleeping together, the order is crucial. (4) And the biggest error comes in the description for the two-part series finale: “Kelly takes an AIDS test after she comes into contact with the blood of an HIV patient. Trying to calm their new female news achor, Brandon ends up getting her drunk. Mel issues David an ultimatium. Valerie anxiously awaits her HIV test results. Brandon and Kelly have some very big news for their invited guests a few hours before the wedding.” The first half of that (from “Kelly…” to “…ultimatium” is from an episode in season 7! That’s right, folks. How a description for an episode that wasn’t even in this season–and wasn’t even a season finale, for that matter–ended up merged with the description for the actual season finale is beyond me. And, just to be totally accurate, Brandon and Kelly had their “surprise” *at* the wedding, not hours before.

Also worth mentioning is the pamphlet advertising other shows on DVD, including 90210: The First Season. The description reads: “New Drama. Same Zip. There’s a new generation in town, and they’re turning up the heat at West Beverly High. For hook-ups, break-ups, drug busts, and betrayals, 90210 is the place to go for the ultimate in guilty pleasures! Packed with Special Features.”

Unfortunately, this set isn’t “packed with special features.” Just as it was with season 7, my biggest complaint is the absence of special features altogether. I can only hope they are making some kick-ass ones for a complete series release. (And if there’s no complete series release, I’ll be hella pissed.)

Season 9 comes out in February.

Stay tuned!

It’s Tuesday…and before we get to our final DWTS poll, let’s discuss some other newsy odds & ends. As in, buh-bye Jon & Kate plus 8 …how do you feel about the final episode of TLC’s hit show that drew zillions of fans, prompting everything from obsession and adoration to rage and ridicule from most of them? Both Jon and Kate spoke separately and used words like “bittersweet”,  blaming “youth” for the mishaps. They say the kids too are “already missing” the show. (If you ask me, glad they quit when they did as  those kids need all the time they can get to invest — and invest wisely  — because something’s going to have to cover what I’m betting will be whopping therapy bills). Moving on, you know that Taylor Swift cleaned up at the AMA’s…and that Rihanna and Lady GaGa  sparkled as well. But there was someone else who may have done a little too much em, “R-rated” sparkling , and I am of course referring to bad boy Adam Lambert whose showstopping performance is being called “too raunchy” and “sexually risque”. Did you see it? Do you agree? It does look a little racy, although I don’t think we’ve seen the last of this boy’s tricks. And with a very popular brand new album in stores now, he’s seems almost unstoppable. Speaking of unstoppable, the big question today — it is Tuesday, after all — is just who will be stopped on tonight’s DWTS finale? Who will take that mirror ball home to rest for 2009? Voice your choice in today’s featured poll!

1) Donny

2) Mya

3) Kelly

• The St. Louis Post-Dispatch says 90210 is “succeeding.”
• TVGuideMagazine.com has 90210 casting spoilers.
• The New York Times has an article on the webseries trend, which mentions Jennie Garth (Kelly, Beverly Hills 90210) and The Broadroom.
• I watched Grey’s Anatomy for the first time last night and saw that James Pickens Jr. (Henry, Beverly Hills 90210) is in it.
• Beverly Hills 90210 on DVD made EW.com’s Holiday Gift Guide. (I heard Dawson’s Creek is in there, too, but I can’t find it.)
• Brian Austin Green (David, Beverly Hills 90210), Ed Westwick (Chuck, Gossip Girl) and Jessica Szohr (Vanessa, Gossip Girl) are all included in PEOPLE.com’s Couples Watch.
• PEOPLE.com has an interview with Szohr about her style compared to Vanessa’s.
• Blake Lively (Serena, Gossip Girl) will host Saturday Night Live on December 5.
• Kristen Bell (Gossip Girl, Gossip Girl) was a presenter at the American Music Awards.
• Examiner.com has more on the Sophia Bush (Brooke, One Tree Hill) and Austin Nichols (Julian, One Tree Hill) appearance on a USO Tour.
• James Lafferty (Nathan, One Tree Hill), Robert Buckley (Clay, One Tree Hill) and Eric Balfour (Eddie, The O.C.) are all starring in The Legend of Hell’s Gate: An American Conspiracy.
• There’s an interesting reference to The O.C. in this Huffington Post piece.
• SoapNet will air the two O.C. specials–The O.C.: Obsess Completely and Welcome to The O.C.: A Day in the Life–Tuesday at 1 and 2pm.
• Joshua Jackson (Pacey, Dawson’s Creek) will star in UFO, a film based on a British television show.

Dos misterios orbitan alrededor de The Box. Uno es sobre la película misma y otro sobre su director, el joven prodigio Richard Kelly. Convertido en estrella gracias al éxito inesperado de Donnie Darko, naufragó en Cannes con Southland Tales. La primera es una película independiente (atendiendo a todas sus características: situada en una pequeña población norteamericana, actores comerciales en papeles secundarios, retrato costumbrista-crítico de una comunidad) que se ve invadida por la presencia de toques fantásticos hasta convertirse en una experiencia cercana al cine de David Lynch o David Cronenberg. Su segundo trabajo parte de una premisa bien distinta: una distopía que apela a un futuro multirreferencial, invadido por la cultura pop, donde cualquier sentimiento e ideología han perdido su significado. Su humor estúpido y su desfase estético fueron motivo de condena para muchos, pese a que se podría entender sin ningún problema como continuación directa de Donnie Darko.

En las dos primeras películas de Kelly nos encontramos ante unos personajes que intentan escapar de un mundo que determina su existencia, pero donde aparece una persona que es capaz de subvertir ese orden de las cosas. En Donnie Darko, el orden espacio-temporal del universo golpeado por aquello que todavía desconocemos. En Southland Tales parecen moverse muchos más niveles en una relación compleja: desde la guerra de Iraq (con un solemne y emocionante “remember Fallujah”) hasta nuevamente las leyes del universo: espacios que se comprimen y tiempos que se superponen.  Southland Tales es una película mucho más quebrada y dispersa que Donnie Darko. Es un universo en descomposición, un mundo que camina inevitablemente hacia su destrucción y en el que la ideología (el neomarxismo) olvida su valor primigenio.

Tras ver The Box, se podría aplicar todo lo dicho anteriormente. El principio es excelente. Lo mejor de Richard Kelly es su habilidad para proponer argumentos. Un matrimonio ante un dilema moral (supongo que a estas alturas todo el mundo conoce su argumento, en caso contrario que utilice alguna base de datos de las recomendadas). Aunque la pareja es también el dilema en sí mismo. Él es un científico de la NASA y ella una profesora de filosofía. Al igual que en Donnie Darko, el pensamiento científico se mueve en unos márgenes poco definidos que lo acercan al pensamiento mágico. En este sentido, lo más sorprendente de la película es que Kelly filma las escenas en la NASA de forma muy misteriosa y, sin embargo, las apariciones fantásticas se muestran con muchísima naturalidad.

Para comentar esto último con mayor extensión, sería interesante tratar otra constante habitual del cineasta norteamericano: su gusto por contextualizar sus películas. En Donnie Darko, los años 80, la era Reagan y el auge de la Mayoría Moral. En Southland Tales, un futuro asediado por el cambio climático, por la dictadura de los mass-media, la guerra y la degeneración del conflicto ideológico. Para The Box, Kelly se traslada a 1976, tiempo en el que el país norteamericano vio el fin de la guerra de Vietnam, pero también el del movimiento contracultural. Perdió la esperanza en el cambio político, en la figura del presidente, tras el escándalo Watergate. Tanto en Donnie Darko como en The Box, la política se mantiene en off, pero el comportamiento de los personajes parece determinado por el devenir histórico del momento. En estos dos casos, las familias aparentemente felices se quiebran ante la aparición de lo paranormal y lo inexplicable, a la manera de David Lynch. Para directores como Lynch o Kelly (por citar dos entre muchos), lo fantástico es una forma de “hacer ver” la realidad. Lo real se halla tan contaminado (por la política, por los medios de comunicación) que la única forma de romper esa barrera es ir en busca de todo lo contrario.

Pero para The Box, es difícil saber si es más inexplicable toda la serie de circunstancias surrealistas que le acontecen a la pareja protagonista (desde dilemas kafkianos hasta una aparición de un siniestro Santa Claus) o todos los acontecimientos políticos del país: el caso Watergate, la llegada a la luna o la carrera nuclear auspiciada por la guerra fría. De ahí que los planos de las grandes estructuras de la NASA que filma el director parezcan algo ajeno a nuestra concepción de la realidad, tanto como la intriga fantástica que se desarrolla (con poca fortuna). En la película se cita a Sartre (el dilema moral), pero al final termina acercándose (de nuevo citando) a Arthur C. Clarke y su ciencia ficción de vertiente científica. Se trata pues, de un cineasta que parece moverse más cómodo en la ficción que en la propia realidad, aunque en última instancia su cine parece una reflexión acerca de esa gran ficción llamada América.

I subscribe to the Sporting News Today which is a daily sports page delivered to my email box everyday. It reminds me of Frank DeFord’s brilliant and underappreciated sports daily, The National that was published in the early 1990’s.

One feature of the Sporting News Today that I enjoy reading is titled, “My Profile (what you won’t find on Facebook even if you are a friend)”. The featured athlete/coach answers questions like “What’s on your iPod?” What car do you drive? “First Job?” The one question that always creates the most interesting answer to me is “Talent you’d most like to have?” and inevitably the talent that most athletes would like to have is to sing or play a musical instrument. Conversely, it amazes me how many musicians, by their actions, wish that they were athletes. We see them every year at the various all star festivities playing softball or hoops. On occasion I’ll catch Bob Seeger or Alice Cooper playing golf in a celebrity Pro Am at Pebble Beach or some other exotic and challenging course. I thought it would be interesting to take a listen to athletes who have actually tried to be musicians and take a look at musicians who have actually tried to be athletes.

The Athletes!
Bernie Williams: The former New York Yankee outfielder was so graceful throughout his career in the Bronx. I think you’ll find Bernie one of the best athletes turned musician. He is a phenomenal guitarist as you can see and hear:

Shaquille O’Neal: We all know Shaq has skills on the hardwood but how about his skills on the mic? Sorry it’s NOT the clip that he’s most famous for (kids might be reading).

The late Wayman Tisdale could really play the bass as evidenced here. Unfortunately cancer took him from us way to early. Check him out…

Carl Lewis: How painfully memorable was this?

Chris Jericho: the WWE may be fake but Jericho is a Rocker without a doubt.

The Musicians!
Mark Walberg: before Entourage and all the films there was Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.

Here’s Mark teeing off in a celebrity pro am. Looks like he’s got some game…

Master P: Record producer and rapper extraordinaire!

NBA baller? Not so much… But a great cover of Kurtis Blow’s “Basketball”

I think the athletes that are also musicians win out in this comparison. What do you think?

Kelly
Strategic Account Manager
PlayNetwork, Inc.

Pixie Lott was in the Live Lounge performing a beautiful version of David Guetta and Kelly Rowland’s When Love Takes Over.

Pixie Lott – When Love Takes Over (Acoustic)

Luego de su primera temporada donde la serie 90210 vio pasar todos los problemas imaginables en torno a los adolescentes, más mucho dinero, la secuela de la popular serie de los años noventa creada por Aaron Spelling estrena su 2da temporada en la señal del cable  Sony en medio de controversias.

Cambia de horario, serán ahora los martes cuando los dramas en West Beverly Hills High School lleguen a la pantalla chica. Para los protagonistas de la serie: Annie, Naomi, Silver, Adriana, Ethan, Dixon y Navid las cosas no serán fáciles. A su regreso a clases después de un largo verano se verán sorprendidos por la llegada de nuevos compañeros.

Para tormento de los galanes de la escuela Teddy (Trevor Donovan) llegará a poner las hormonas de las chicas a tope. El nuevo jugador de tenis del colegio será el nuevo objetivo de algunas de las estudiantes, mientras que Gia, (Rumer Willis) una nueva estudiante de tendencia homosexual será una pieza clave en el periódico del colegio.

Hasta en las mejores familias
Resulta difícil pensar que son muchos los jóvenes que adquieren la independencia de los padres para vivir una vida sin reglas, 90210 va más allá de la premisa y se aleja, incluso de la historia que en los noventas también se convirtiera en escándalo. La segunda temporada de la nueva versión trajo a la pantalla chica la exposición de casos que podrían encontrarse en cualquier lugar: adicciones, madres adolescentes, libertinaje y abandono, pero la serie sabe llevarlo de la mano con mucho glamour, la máscara favorita de las chicas de Beverly Hills.

Pese a todo, esta nueva versión no ha contado con el éxito de la primera, en la que Kelly, Brenda, Brandon, Steve, Andrea, Donna y muchos más vieron correr su vida en la preparatoria e incluso dar el salto a la universidad, además de que permanecieron en el gusto del público durante una década.

Han sido dos años los que 90210 está por cumplir y, a pesar de la herencia de la producción anterior, sus protagonistas tienen mucho trabajo por delante para demostrar que su talento puede ir más allá de estos personajes e incluso brincar a la pantalla grande.

90210 /  martes / 21:00 horas / Por: Canal Sony

I enjoy watching awards that show a tribute to music.  Even if it is an awards show that is voted on.  I would rather watch the performances on those because we all know it is the dumb ten year-olds that vote for those.  So, I just ignore the results.  I just got finished watching the American Music Awards.  There were many great moments and some head scratching moments.

I will start off with the fan voted awards.  The big winners were the late Michael Jackson and Taylor Swift.  Next I will go to the performance losers of the night.  First would be Rihanna.  I know she went through a bad year, but the performance was very messy.  The Second and last would be Adam Lambert.  I think it is good that there are artist out there that are open about their sexual preferences, but that was awkward.  It was a very screamy, pitchy performance.  I know a great songwriter Claude Kelly wrote this song, but I think he went a little skew with this one.

Now For the best performances of the night.  First would be Kelly Clarkson.  I an a big fan of songs that include orchestra strings.  They had changed this song because of the comparison to Beyonce, but this version is great.  I would like if Clarkson had done maybe a new song, but performing a different version is good.  Second would be Lady GaGa. Physically she scares me a little, but musically she is fantastic.  She proves that you should not judge by appearance and listen to the music.  It was great when she smashed her way in to the piano section.  Piano was a great choice to include.  Lastly was the great Whitney Houston.  The award of the night for her.  What is better that seeing a legend perform.  It is great to see her back again.  These three ladies also did what not many on the show did.  They performed on pitch and key.      I just wish the ending of the show was different.

Overall, It was an alright show.  The end went for too much shock value and could end up overshadowing the great performances in this show.  Congrats to all the winners and good night.  I hope…….

I’ll admit it.  I would never, in a month of Sundays, put Sadie on my daughter’s birth certificate.  It would be Sarah, thanks very much, just in case she grows up to run for office or take up brain surgery or otherwise wants to sound like a mature, serious adult.

I’m not necessarily in the majority.  And I’m not necessarily right, either.  Plenty of women named Julie and Jodie have turned out just fine.  And plenty of Sarah/Sadies are irritated at having to constantly explain that yes, Sadie is a nickname for Sarah.

So for your consideration, I’ve pulled together a list of ends-in-ie-names just might stand on their own.

I’m excluding choices like Katie and Maggie -  names easily connected to formal versions, as well as feminizations like Billie and Charlie.  And if it more commonly ends in -y, you won’t find it here – so no Mollie, Lillie or Lucie.

That still leaves bunches of names:

• Arlie – Arline started out as a well-born child kidnapped by gypsies in a nineteenth century opera, but today she’s the outdated Arlene.  Arlie might be a short form, or she may related to a surname.  Either way, she sounds fresher than the -een ending original.
• Birdie – Lady Bird was worn in the White House.  Actress Busy Phillips bestowed this avian appellation on her daughter.  While there are more subtle ways to evoke the finely feathered, Birdie isn’t quite unthinkable.
• Bonnie – Worn by the ill-fated daughter of Rhett and Scarlett in Gone With the Wind – who was actually named Eugenie Victoria.  She means pretty – and she is just that.
• Callie – If Kelly and Kaylee are independent given names for girls, why not Callie?  She’s also a possible nickname for classics like Caroline and Charlotte, as well as the less-expected Calla, Calista or Calliope.
• Dessie – In Ireland, Dessie is a nickname for Desmond – and thus, exclusively masculine.  In the US, it sounds more like a riff on Bessie.
• Dulcie – She’s sweet – literally, from the Latin dulcis.  Longer form Dulcinea conjures up the Judybats, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Don Quixote – though the literary Dulcinea was actually named Aldonza.
• Erie – Eir was a Norse goddess; Éire, a Celtic one – she lent her name to Ireland.  Eiry is a Welsh girl’s name – related names abound, all meaning snow.  Erie may be linked to any or none of the above, and could rhyme with fairy, or have a totally other pronunciation.
• Hattie – You might put Harriet or Henrietta on the birth certificate, but millinery references aside, Hattie has some style.
• Hettie – Another possibility for Henrietta,  as well as Hester or Hestia.
• Lettie – Formal name options include the salad-esque Lettice, or the lacy Letitia.  If Victorian valentine isn’t your style, Lettie might appeal.
• Lindie – Lucky Lindy was aviator Charles Lindbergh’s nickname.  The Lindy Hop was a swing-era dance craze named in his honor.  Linda is a Baby Boomer – as are elaborations like Melinda and Belinda.  But today, Lindie might work as a nickname for hippie chic tree name Linden – or on her own.
• Lottie – Charlotte is in the US Top 100 and rising, but it seems as very few Charlottes are answering to this nickname – so far.
• Maisie – Like Maggie, she could be a diminutive form of Margaret, via the Scottish Mairead.  But if Daisy stands on her own, maybe Maisie does, too.
• Millie – Mildred might be too dowdy to ever make a comeback, but Millie is Thoroughly Modern.  She’s also a spunky nickname for the super-sweet Millicent.
• Minnie – Yes, there’s the mouse.  But there’s also the actress – who was actually born Amelia Fiona Driver.
• Tillie – Matilda is ever so fashion forward.  Short form Tilda brings to mind the actress.  Then there’s Tillie – perhaps a bit too cute, but possibly wearable on her own.
• Trudie – It’s hard to imagine naming a daughter Gertrude.  But Trudie seems like a logical sister for Sadie – spunky, retro and not too flimsy to stand on her own.
• Zadie – If Sadie stands along, why not her zippy cousin?  The z-to-s switch has worked out just fine for novelist Zadie Smith.
• Zelie – There have definitely been women named Zelie, but her exact origins are unclear, though some link her to the French Zéline and she brings to mind the Yiddish Zelig.

I could go on – there’s Winnie and Elsie, Flossie and Roxie.  But I’ll stop here and just ask: would you consider a short, ends-in-ie name for a daughter?  And if so, would you put it on her birth certificate or opt for a more formal version?

By Cara Sulieman

A GROUP set up in memory of Brandon Muir are to have their child protection petition heard before a committee of the Scottish Parliament.

Calling on the government to set up a Safe Guardian scheme, they hope that children who are suffering from suspected abuse can stay with a safe family member while social services investigate.

RealJustice4Brandon claim that Brandon’s life might have been saved if he had been able to stay with his grandparents instead of returning to his mother’s house.

The tragic tot from Dundee died from a ruptured intestine just hours after his mother’s boyfriend, Robert Cunningham, assaulted him.

Allan Petrie from the campaign group hopes that the petition – which will be heard by the Public Petitions Committee on December 1 – will bring in a law to help protect Scotland’s children.

“Wake up call”

And he hopes that the politicians will take the opportunity to improve child protection in Scotland.

He said: “Every time there is a child killed at the hands of their parent or someone with responsibility over them – who are usually under the influence of illegal drugs – we hear from politicians that it is a wake up call but then they seem to hit the snooze button till the next time.

“We have produced proposals that we think will not only help save lives and stop children from being abused but also break the cycle of drug addiction in this country by removing children from a drugs environment, which they are being introduced to as normal way of life, whilst keeping them within the family network.”

The Safe Guardian proposal the group have put forward involves placing the child with family members who live in another house and who has undergone police background checks.

Allan believes that it is the best way to ensure that the child is kept safe with the least disruption to their life as possible.

“Less traumatic”

He said: “We believe that keeping the child within the family network is important for the child.

“It would be less traumatic for the child to go and live with a family member and, where there is an investigation into alleged abuse, the child would be in a safe zone.

“If the allegations were false then there would be less of a stigma for the child in returning home as they have only been spending time with a relative – something which is normal in many families.”

With 380 signatures on the petition, Allan is hoping that it has enough clout to persuade the MSPs on the committee to look further into the issue and lead to it being debated in the parliament.

He said: “We hope that with the support that has been shown for our proposals the Petitions Committee will support the Safe Guardian Law’s inclusion for debate within the Scottish Parliament.

“These proposals would be inexpensive to implement and ease the extreme pressure on the social services and foster care system allowing them to pick up the children who have no extended family to act as safe guardian.”

“Rethink care system”

As well as the Safe Guardian Law, the petition proposes a number of steps that local authorities could take to help mothers who are addicted to drugs.

It suggests that mothers who are known to be users of drugs be monitored and helped to kick their addiction. If they are still using when they give birth, then the baby would be placed with a “safe guardian” until she has overcome her addiction.

Barnardo’s Scotland said that they had been campaigning for the government to “rethink” the way the care system works.

SallyAnn Kelly head of children’s operations said: “We need to have a straightforward and coherent system which supports children at risk

“This will require political dialogue at UK, Scottish and local level to agree a route forward. I strongly support the strengthening of the systems that are in place to protect children.

“This can only be achieved by the public, politicians and professionals supporting each other to highlight theses issues in this very complex and difficult area.”

Robert Cunningham was found guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced to ten years in prison in March.

Brandon’s mother, Heather Boyd, was cleared of all involvement in his death.

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

It’s been a long day. But I can’t wait to share.  She is…beautiful and nothing more needs be said…

Happy, joyous, and free….

Reviewed by Audiegrl

The greatest serial killer in history has never been named. But what if we are looking in the wrong place?

In 1888, a deranged killer stalked his prey on the streets of east London at night. After 121 years since the murder and mutilation of at least five prostitutes, the case remains unsolved and the true identity of Jack the Ripper has never been known. The world’s greatest criminal investigators have focused on searching for answers in London. However, in the 1890s a series of horrific murders took place across the United States in New York, San Francisco, Galveston and Atlanta, that mirrored the attacks in attacks in the UK. In this one hour special, Discovery Channel’s viewers will witness the new evidence, science and analytical techniques being used to reveal the true identity of Jack the Ripper.

NYPD Cold Case Detective Ed Norris

Carrie Brown aka Old Shakespeare

Capt. Ryan,

You think that “Jack the Ripper” is in England, but he is not, I am right here and I expect to kill somebody by Thursday next, and so get ready for me with your pistols, but I have a knife that has done more than your pistols. Next thing you will hear of some woman dead.

Yours truly,

Jack the Ripper

Richard Jones

Known as the From Hell or Lusk Letter

Dr. Thomas Bond

Jack the Ripper victims: Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catharine Eddowes, Mary Kelly

Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum

Astonishingly, in 1927…forty years later, a much older Kelly voluntarily returns to the insane asylum and began to chronicle his travels. A typed copy of Kelly’s confession letter survives in the National Archives, and Norris is the first detective to read it. In the letter, Kelly describes having “problems dealing with society“, and being “overtaken with feelings of envy, jealousy, and malice“. Kelly states, “the thing has been hard because of all kinds of ’skank’” (a term he uses to refers to women of low moral character) and “I’ve been on the warpath since I left Broadmoor Asylum.” Also in his letter, he admits to traveling to London after his escape, and more interestingly he tells of traveling to the United States and arriving in New York conveniently before the Carrie Brown murder. He was by profession, a trained upholsterer, and would have known quiet a bit about knives and how to use them effectively for the purpose of murder. Kelly also mentioned traveling to many cities in the US before returning to England and admitted that he came to the US many times over a period of 40 years.

USS Zaandam

Both illustrations of Jack the Ripper

The left composite, was drawn based on 118 year old eye-witness accounts of Jack the Ripper in London. They examined different witness statements and used modern day forensics to come up with a portrait of the killer, even indicating what type of hat he wore.

The drawing on the right, is the result of Mancusi shaving 40 years off of James Kelly’s photo at age 67. As you can see, once they added the type of hat mentioned by eye witnesses, the drawings are a very close match.

In the end, there is no doubt in Norris’ mind that he has found Jack the Ripper. We may never know. John Kelly died of natural causes in 1929 inside Broadmoor Asylum and took his secrets to his grave. In my opinion, Jack the Ripper in America was very well done and is a must-see for all forensic buffs and amateur Ripperologists. I’m interested in seeing further research, analysis and discussion of Norris’ theory. Regarding any factual errors in this post, I apologize in advance, and encourage everyone to let me know what needs to be corrected.

Time After Time

On a lighter note, anybody remember the movie “Time After Time” starring Malcolm McDowell, John Warner and Mary Steenburgen? McDowell played H.G. Wells, who uses his time machine to chase his friend, Warner (aka Jack the Ripper) through the streets of modern day (1979) San Francisco. After watching Norris’ documentary, maybe Hollywood’s silly (but entertaining) version of the Ripper story had a sliver of truth to it after all.

The Secret of Prisoner 1167: Was This Man Jack the Ripper? by James Tully

Hat tip and special thanks to Roy Corduroy for his suggestion to add this book to this post. Casebook: Jack the Ripper gives this book a three-starred review:

A triumphant achievement on the part of Jim Tully, well-researched and written. James Kelly is his suspect, a lunatic upholsterer and wife-murderer who is actually in the Guinness book of world records for his escape from Broadmoor asylum. Tully weaves a fascinating story, regardless of your feelings on Kelly as a suspect. Recommended.”

Related Articles and Sites

Casebook: Jack the Ripper

Maps of Whitechapel, 1888-1894

Ripperological Preservation Society

Jack the Ripper Tours

Serial Killer Database – Jack the Ripper

The Whitechapel Society

• Monday’s One Tree Hill (2.6 million viewers) dropped ever so slightly and Gossip Girl (2.2 million viewers) dropped a bit more in the ratings compared to last week.
• Last night’s 90210 ( 2.1 million viewers) stayed the same in the ratings compared to last week.
• For some reason, this week (both Monday and Tuesday) The CW only had 94 percent coverage instead of 95 percent. But I’m not sure how much difference that actually makes in the ratings. I’ve been told it was 94 prior to this season so it’s possible that will be the norm again.
• The CW sent out a press release, however, touting this week’s ratings for all 3 shows, as well as how the network did overall during the sweeps period as well for this season in general compared to last year.
• It was comforting to read the comments on EW.com’s 90210 recap and see many other original fans with similar complaints to the Jackie-Kelly storyline as I have.
• TV Guide Magazine has a spoiler-filled interview with Matt Lanter (Liam, 90210).
• Greg Vaughan (Cliff, Beverly Hills 90210) tweeted that his new role on 90210 will begin in January and that it is recurring.
• Tristan Wilds (Dixon, 90210) is reportedly dating Rihanna.
• Zimbio has an interesting look at the hairstyle Jennie Garth (Kelly, Beverly Hills 90210) had at the New Moon premiere.
• PEOPLE.com and EW.com have brief recaps of Kellan Lutz (George, 90210) appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show today.
• Kristin has major spoilers for Gossip Girl.
• GQ named Leighton Meeter (Blair, Gossip Girl) their Obsession of the Year.
• PEOPLE.com has more details from Meester’s Glamour UK coverstory.
• Meester says she is collaborating with Lil Wayne on one of her songs. Wayne recently had a baby with Lauren London (Christina, 90210).
• MTV has an interview with Jessica Szhor (Vanessa, Gossip Girl).
• Michelle Trachtenberg (Georgina, Gossip Girl) is partnering with Coach on a jewelry line.
• Hilarie Burton (Peyton, One Tree Hill) is featured in the new SoGoPro prodcast.