Time For The Weekend

So, there's this little thing called His Words - Not Mine that has to be finished this weekend, because the last chapter falls upon me, and if I'm gonna make sure it gets done (and done right), there's no time to drag my heals. Onward to our review...

Best of the week: Trail Of Legal Tears

The Supreme Court won't hear an appeal from a group of Native Americans who think the name of the NFL's Washington Redskins football team is offensive. So go back to your casino and count your money. And by your I mean the white man's money.

The high court turned away an appeal from Suzan Shown Harjo, ending the latest round in the 17-year court battle between the Redskins and a group of American Indians who want them to change their name.

Harjo and her fellow plaintiffs have been working since 1992 to have the Redskins trademarks declared invalid. They initially won — the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office panel canceled the trademarks in 1999. But U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly overturned the ruling in 2003 in part because the suit was filed decades after the first Redskins trademark was issued in 1967. The U.S. Court of Appeals then sent the case back to Kollar-Kotelly, noting that the youngest of the plaintiffs was only 1 year old in 1967 and therefore could not have taken legal action at the time.

But Kollar-Kotelly rejected that argument, saying the youngest plaintiff turned 18 in 1984 and therefore "waited almost eight years" after coming of age to join the lawsuit. The Court of Appeals upheld that decision in May, and the Supreme Court now has refused to review that decision.

This doesn't end the legal battle, however. The plaintiffs have a backup plan: A group of six American Indians ranging in age from 18 to 24 filed essentially the same claim two years ago, but the new case has been on hold until this one was resolved. None of the judges has commented on whether the Redskins name is offensive or racist, instead holding in favor of the football team on legal technicalities.

What say you, Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams? Oh, never mind.

Also: Meet Brooke Phillips (21), who appeared in the HBO series 'Cat House' which featured her working at the Moonlite Bunny Ranch brothel. She appeared on the show under the name Hayden Brooks, and here's her professionally crafted bio:

I am a sultry twenty one year old that weighs 115 pounds and is 5'5". My name is Hayden Brooks and I will captivate you with my seductive blue eyes and dark brown hair. I am a new to the Bunny Ranch, but not new to the industry of pleasure and memorable experiences! I was raised in a city called Moore, Oklahoma just outside of Oklahoma City. It was in the surrounding lakes that I learned to wake board and jet ski and love it still! I am also a big fan of boxing and used to box in Oklahoma. I can land a pretty mean right hook, but only if you want me to.

Often times you can find me reading anything science fiction as I like to read books about werewolves and vampires. I am currently taking a break from my college studies, but will soon attain my Bachelor's in History. Prior to my history studies I acquired a certified nurse's assistant license. A relaxing evening with a nice meal and movies are always great. Sushi and steak are my two favorite meals, but don't ask me to pick a favorite movie because I have way too many! I know how to lay low, but definitely know how to add some spice to the night.

Music is another favorite of mine. I danced for over three years because I loved music so much! I can definitely entertain you with many moves on the pole that you have never seen before nor knew were possible. Let me fulfill all your desires; email me today to set up an appointment.

Don't fall in love yet, because she's dead. It's a shame when a piece of ass dies, but when it's a prostitute and reality show personality, I have mixed feelings. Phillips had been shot and was found in a house in Oklahoma City which had been set fire to. Three other people also died.

Bunny Ranch owner Dennis Hof said: "She was a sweet, nice girl, who tended to date the wrong guys. She had a lot of energy and was a lot of fun. Translation: She earned a lot of money because she would fuck all night long, and I appreciate her for that, but not enough to have tried to keep her from dating scumbags that might murder her. He added, "Hundreds of girls here are just mourning. They are very upset. It's devastating to the Bunny Ranch." Yes, if prostitutes can't live safe, murder free lives, who can?

Phillips left the legal brothel two months ago because she was pregnant, and that's no place to have a baby! "At this time, we have no suspects identified in the case," said Oklahoma City Police. Of course they don't. This isn't an out of the ordinary case, where people are shot and then burned. It probably happens all the time, and there's any number of factors as to why it occurred. I just glad it wasn't this other Brooke, Brooke Taylor. The other one is cute and all, but I like brunettes and redheads above blondes.

And: Seems as though you can get plenty of use out of other things than the animal itself...

A new plant that converts cow dung into energy for homes was recently opened in the northern part of the Netherlands. And don't dismiss it just because they have legalized marijuana. Manure from cows at a nearby dairy farm will be fermented along with grass and food industry residues, and the bio gas released during the process will be used as fuel for the thermal plant's gas turbines. The heat generated will be distributed to around 1,100 homes nearby. Firms in Europe and elsewhere have been investing in bio gas plants and this is the second of its scale running on cow manure in the Netherlands. It follows another plant that was opened in the beginning of the year.

Best picture of the week:

Classy and deadly

Best bonus links:
• Woman Awarded $3M In Assault Claim Against KBR - Congrats, but what about the rest of us who've be raped by these Haliburton subsidiaries
• TLC- 'Kate Plus 8' No Longer 'In Production' - The nightmare is almost over.
• Belgian Robbers Score $3M Worth Of iPhone - Any time you have a heist where they robbers jack something for a large haul, they deserve to keep it.
• Officers Raid Alleged Pot Operation 25 Feet From LAPD Station - Not smart enough to pull a big caper, and not even smart enough to grew weed and not get caught.
• End Of An Era: Oprah Ending Show After 25 Years - Better start reinforcing those cabinets and cupboards...she's be running free and hungry soon.

Worst of the week: Mercedes has taken over and purchased 2009 F1 constructors champ Brawn GP, sending several half-written storylines to their completion. Brawn's success coming out of the 2008 demise of the Honda squad is sport story gold, but if there is to be another victory next year, it will be under the Mercedes Grand Prix name. Ross Brawn will remain as the team principle.

To facilitate the move, Mercedes sold their 40% stake in the McLaren team, but will still supply them engines until at least the end of 2015. The takeover deal gives Mercedes a majority shareholding in Brawn along with Abu Dhabi investment company Aabar, who bought a 9.1% stake in Mercedes parent Daimler last March. The two combined will own 75.1% of Brawn, with Daimler holding 45.1%. No other financial details were given. Mercedes last ran their own Formula One team in 1955. The carmaker pulled out of the sport that year after one of their cars crashed at the Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar race, killing at least 82 spectators. The company returned to motor racing in 1988 and Formula One in 1993 as engine partners to the Swiss Sauber team.

Brawn Mercedes GP, who already swapped veteran Rubens Barrichello with Williams for Nico Rosberg, is poised to take Nick Heidfeld from the disbanding BMW team, creating a German super team. So where does that leave 2009 champ Jenson in all this? Sharing a garage with compatriot and prior world champ Lewis Hamilton, forming a British super team. The deal marks the first time in Formula One history that a team has started the new season with a line-up featuring the most recent two successive world champions. It is also the first pairing of two British world champions since Graham Hill partnered Jim Clark at Lotus in 1968.

Talks had stalled with Mercedes Brawn GP as Button hoped to come closer to his previous salary, having taken a drastic cut in 2009 to help the virgin team. With the title, he'd hoped to stay and reclaim (rightfully so!) his salary, but it is unclear if penny pinching or the impending Mercedes deal (which should be attributed in some part to Button's success this year) was driving Brawn to lowball him. His visit to the McLaren factory and the Mercedes / Heidfeld rumors last week was high indication that Button would leave, culminating in a three year deal. Hamilton, who has been endeared to McLaren and developed for nearly a decade before driving for them, is still the top dog there, even though Button arrives with the crown and team principal Martin Whitmarsh says there will not be any favoritism. You can ask former teammate and double-champ Fernando Alonso about his thoughts on that...

So where does that leave Kimi Raikkonen? He will take a year off from Formula One, which displeases me greatly. A Hamilton / Raikkonen squad would have been a badass match up with the Ferrari and Red Bull teams, both sporting solid pairs of drivers.

"The alternatives at F1 level for next season were McLaren or nothing. Kimi and McLaren did not reach an agreement, so he will not drive at F1 level at least during next year," his agent Steve Robertson said.

Raikkonen, who spent five years at McLaren before joining Ferrari at the end of 2006 to claim the 2007 championship, was replaced Alonso, who now clearly apprears to be following him around. The more recent situation with his payout and ousting from Ferrari cast doubt on his F1 future, fueled by his recent comments that any contract he signs must allow him to continue his rally racing activities.

"Kimi still lives and breathes the ambition to drive. A year off in that sense does not mean anything," said Robertson - except my favorite guy isn't going to be on the grid! "If I do decide to stay in Formula One, I wouldn't go to any of the small teams where I would not have the chance to fight for the championship," Raikkonen said in October. "Otherwise there is no reason to be in Formula One. I achieved what I wanted."

Runner-up Red Bull have Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber under contract while Brawn were never likely to meet his salary demands, leaving McLaren the only viable option. There would be an opening at Red Bull at the end of next year when Webber's contract runs out, and pairing with Vettel would be sweet. Toyota, who had made Raikkonen an offer, have since quit F1. Fortunately, other champions have taken years out in the past and come back strongly, notably Alain Prost who fell out with Ferrari in 1991 and sat out 1992 before returning to win the title with Williams in 1993. Niki Lauda retired in 1979 before coming back in 1982, winning his third championship with McLaren in 1984.

And: NBA superstar LeBron James is still high on crusades. Last week it was Michael Jordan, this week it's the Cleveland Browns. When asked about the 1-7 Browns, who are (technically speaking) his hometown team, James wasn’t necessarily upset upset about coach Eric Mangini or the direction of the team. He just wishes that he could help. “If I put all my time and commitment into it, if I dedicated myself to the game of football, I could be really good, no matter what team I was on.”

The fucking balls on this guy! And the Browns are so bad, they're actually playing this nonsense up! "I think he should come on down," Mangini said, smiling. "I know he's pretty busy right now, but if he wants to give it a shot, the guy is gifted. He's competitive and tough. I'm sure whatever he applied himself to, he'd probably be good in baseball or soccer or swimming." Yeah, look out Michael Phelps and David Beckham, LeBron is comin' at 'cha!

James was an All-State wide receiver in high school, but to Mangini, he's a welcome distraction from his team's poor play, calling James "a freak athletically". He also said the 6-foot-8, 260-pounder could be dangerous at tight end, wide receiver or even outside linebacker, but stopped short of offering to toss James' salad. Quarterback Brady Quinn got in on the mental jerk-off. "That'd be great," Quinn said. "Tell him to suit up and let us know, we'll get him working. Obviously he's an incredibly talented athlete. If he wants to try to play a little bit now, we'd be more than willing to pick him up."

Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers and smartest man in Cleveland isn't convinced James, could step into the NFL and be able to handle the pounding. "I heard that comment," Rogers said. "I have mixed emotions about that. A great athlete? Yes. A football player? No." Rogers looked into TV cameras for the next part of the interview. "Yeah LeBron, I said it," he said. "It's a punishing game. I just don't think you can step off the basketball court after not going through this year in and year out and just play football. From that standpoint, I just don't think it's possible. You have to weather and condition your body to take this punishment."

But you know what? Go ahead and try. You'll make Michael Jordan's baseball career look like Cooperstown material. Here's to hoping they break your jaw before they dislocate your knees, just so we don't have to hear you run your mouth.

Worst picture of the week:

I don't care how many fashion magazines Chloë Sevigny gets herself in, she clearly knows nothing about clothing.

Worst bonus links:
• GM's $1.2 Billion Loss A Step In The Right Direction - I don't know in what world this would be true, but since I can't find any others, somehow it must be ours.
• Adam Lambert- I Don't Want to Be a Gay Poster Child - Then stop acting like one.
• Too Emotional Rachelle Lefevre Skips New Moon Premiere - Getting fired and replaced from an acting gig will do that to you.
• Amazing Race's Gary and Matt: "We Don't Feel Like We Lost" - However, you did, so stop lying to yourself.
• Report: 20-Somethings Can Go 2 Years Between Paps / New Advice: Skip Mammograms In 40s, Start At 50 - And while you're taking this bad info to heart, don't get regular doctor and denal appointments either. Western medicine is for suckers!