Richard Chemel's No-Name247

Is Paula Abdul going to Replace Paula Abdul on American Idol!

Ahhh....focus groups. Radar online is reporting that Fox is doing focus groups during the American Idol tryouts, to determine if any of the guest judges will rate higher than former judge Paula Abdul!  If the groups determine that Ms Abdul is missed...look for a sweet money offer to be made for her return to the show.....or perhaps she needed a longer vacation.....or more so...is this a publicity stunt to garner higher ratings when the show returns?

Radar Online

Marcus Schrenker- "Missing" Pilot- Faked His Own Death??? Securities Probe??

I am just getting back into the swing of things- and see this pilot Marcus Schrenker faked his own death during a flight, calling in a distress call before he disappeared.  Now authorities have said he had a red motorcycle stashed at a storage unit....but now its gone... Fox News sheds some light on Schrenker :

Schrenker lived a lavish life as an investment manager and an experienced recreational pilot who performed aerial stunts.

He bought luxury automobiles, two airplanes and a $4 million house in an upscale neighborhood known as "Cocktail Cove," where affluent boaters often socialize with cocktails in hand.

But in reality, Schrenker's life appeared to be spiraling downward. He lost a half-million-dollar judgment against one of his companies, and his wife filed for divorce. Investigators probed his businesses for possible securities violations.

The Mystery Continues

Securities Probe?

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Guinness Rishi Holds Record for downing a bottle of Ketchup in 39 seconds.

Guinness Rishi believes he holds the record for downing a 17.28 ounces of Ketchup in 39 seconds. Rishi uses a straw to suck the contents out of the bottle. Two brands of the condiment Rishi enjoys most is Maggi and Heinz.  Guiness Rishi changed his name from Har Parkash in hopes of getting his bizzare records into the Guinness Book of Records. From Mail Online: His records include 'taking on the world's oldest adoptee', after he legally took custody of his 61-year-old brother-in-law. Guiness also built the tallest sugar cube tower in the world, which stands at 64 inches. But none were good enough to make the record books yet. ( pictures of Rishi are available at the mail online article)

Mail Online

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PETA Hits Back at Burger King's "Flame" Fragrance! Gore from Murder King

Perhaps PETA should have bought the Flame from Burger King. I did, and posted about it. It smelled like cheap cologne- and there was NO, I repeat, NO hint of "flame broiled meat" smell, let alone the smell of a whopper. Also the bottle was the size of a sample cologne bottle. For the record I got a call from Ricky's Halloween who handled the distribution for BK, asking my opinion. I told them there was No Meat Smell, and found the whole thing to be misleading. I was told by the CSR, that they are getting some complaints as well.

But back to PETA...they have created a parody of BK's Flame- called Gore- The illustrations are below....and I think we get their point. Their marketing and promotion is always something that captures the attention of the world. Their point is always well taken.

A PETA VP said: If the picture of a dead cow on the packaging doesn't jolt someone into remembering what dead meat is all about, maybe the stench of guts will."

Brand Republic

 Rant on BK's Flame

Buzzfeed

WalMart* Opening Scaled Down Marketside Stores! A Test Program in the Phoenix Area

October 4 is D-Day in the Phoenix area- that is when the Almighty, Great Monolith, Walmart  is set to open a small-format (12,000 sq ft) store called Marketside. The first four in the market test will open in Phoenix - putting them in direct competition of Fresh & Easy  stores owned by UK's Tesco. The Marketside stores will draw from the same Walmart Philosophy- Lets push the other guy out, affordable prices on fresh food and prepared foods.  Walmart has not unveiled the stores- but spokesfolks say that this is only a pilot program.
The logo is supposed to be s a stylized tomato, egg and grape topped by Wal-Mart's signature blue star and will concentrate on convenience, freshness and low price.

CS News
Reuters
Specialty Foods Memo

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RIP Longtime ABC Food Critic Elmer Dills Dies at 82! Worked for the CIA for 20 Years

In preparing for this post on the death of Food Critic Elmer Dills, I found out that he gained his dining prowess by wining and dining clients as an employee for the CIA. After he left the CIA he went to work as a Food and Travel Critic- appearing on ABC TV. Dills also wrote a number of books. He was 82

KABC- Elmer Dills

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TV Chef and Cookbook Author Antonio Carluccio Stabs Himself in the Chest with a Butcher Knife!

TV chef Antonio Carluccio, is in intensive care in a  London Hospital after stabbing himself with a Butcher knife in his home in South London. Authorities haven't been able to determine whether the stabbing, which may have punctured his lung, was accidental, or whether Carluccio was trying to commit suicide. Besides being a TV chef, Carluccio owns a chain of Rustic Italian Restaurants in the UK.

Daily Mail

6 Foot Long Zucchini Grows in Appolonia Castitlione's Back Yard- No Miracle Grow at All

Appolonia Castitlione is amazed at what she found in her backyard garden. A six-foot tall zucchini is still growing in her vegetable garden. Castitlione, 48, and lives in the Queens, told the Daily News- She didn't use Miracle Grow, but rather used 5-10-5 fertilizer and water. The world's record for zucchini is 7 foot -10 inches grown in India in 2006. Someone will have a nice Zucchini salad someday!! (picture from Goldfield for the News)

Daily News

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A Fredrick, MD Novice Farmer Unearths a Mickey Mouse Shaped Potato!

Novice Farmer Rick Brown was enthused about his eight pound crop of Potatoes, but when he saw that one of his spuds resembled Disney icon Mickey Mouse- he was overjoyed. No word from Disney if they are planning to sue a higher power for copyright infringement of the Mickey Mouse shape.

Backyard Farmer Finds Disney Icon in Potato

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A bunch of Ruby Roman Grapes Auctioned for $910.00 or $28 per grape

A new breed of grapes, the Ruby Roman went on auction yesterday in Japan, and one bunch (1.5 pounds) was auctioned for $910.00 exceeding the previous high auction price of $249.00.

According to the AP story:
Fruit is generally expensive in Japan, and people often buy grapes, peaches and melons as luxury gifts. Japanese are often willing to pay top prices for high-end fruits, especially for the prestige of owning the very first ones of the year.

Makes me look at the fruit a little differently. Anyone know where I can get some Ruby Roman Grape Seeds?

Ruby Roman Grape Auction exceeds expectations