Ethic Soup

Jailbird Conrad Murray in Same Cell Block as James DeBarge, Michael Jackson's Ex Brother-in-Law

 

Oh dear. It's awkward for the jailbirds. Doggone it.

There are about 4,000 inmates in L.A. County Men's Jail. Conrad Murray is one of them, except he is being housed in the administrative segregation unit. That's where they put the 'special' inmates -- those whose celebrity status might threaten their safety from other prisoners.

The former physician, convicted of manslaughter in the murder of icon Michael Jackson, is in a cell only feet away from James DeBarge, an ex brother-in-law of Jackson. And DeBarge is mad about that.

Poor Conrad Murray Can't Make Restitution: Michael Jackson's Family Says 'Forget It.'

 

Poor Conrad Murray, the former doctor who lost his license to practice medicine, is currently behind bars, serving a 4 year jail sentence for his role in killing Michael Jackson.

"Poor Conrad Murray," literally represents his finances. Jackson's family was seeking more than $100 million in restitution from Murray, but not any more. Murray has no money to pay. He is broke. 

Dennis Hopper Still Hangs in his Venice Neighborhood: A Memorial Mural Goes Up

Dennis Hopper Mural in Venice, CA, by Artists Madsteez and MAR

 

The most recent news featuring the late Dennis Hopper is a memorial mural in Venice, CA., where he was a neighborhood fixture. Two local artists, Madsteez and MAR, recently completed a mural to commemorate Hopper in the beach community.

A MEMORIAL COLLABORATION

Madsteez, who had  previously painted a Hopper portrait, pictured below, agreed to the collaborative project suggested by MAR as an homage to Hopper's legacy as a long time, loved resident in Venice.

"We heard 1,000's of comments while painting this piece but the one that means the most was when an older gentleman walked up and matter-of-factly said, 'It's about time,' " reports the LAist. You can view a video of the mural being painted on the Madsteez website. 

 

Now There is Caffeinated Soap: Cats Will Even Shower for Some, People Keep Sleeping

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We already know that entrepreneurs and manufacturers are putting caffeine in everything. But soap? That's the newest in a long list of caffeinated drinks and foods: energy drinks, cough medicine, candy bars, popcorn, chewing gum, ad nauseum.

Advertisers ask if you are among those who can't wake up without drinking one, two, three cups of coffee. Hey! Kick the coffee habit and get clean with caffeinated soap.

And then, you won't have to worry about your cat slurping the left-in-a-cup coffee that you didn't drink. It's toxic, poisonous, to cats and dogs. Just 150 mg can kill little snookums.

However, if the odor of your soap in the shower has the scent of coffee, your cats just may let you lather them up under the shower faucet. 

Hard to believe, huh? Yes, I hear you laughing. If you buy the promise that caffeine-infused soap will wake you up -- just go back to bed and try dreaming some more.

Yet, there are a number of caffeinated soap brands and entrepeneurs  who -- having convinced Grandpa to give up some money -- think they'll make a fortune. After all, caffeinated coffee is the most popular drug in the world.

There is Costic's Peppermint Scented Caffeinated Soap, with a slight mentholatum effect and costs $8.68, a soap called Shower Shock is a mere $6.99 and Bath Buzz costs $5.95. The Psyco Soap folks however, think caffeinated soap is crazy!

ETHIC SOUP HAS MORE CAFFEINE POSTS:

Click and read: Caffeine is in everything: How much is in you?  

Click and read: Teens and Caffeine: Wired With Chewing Gum 

Click and read: Caffeine gender effect: Caffeine more addictive for boys

Click and read: Caffeinated popcorn: the latest in absurdities

Click and read: Coffee overdose hospitalized rock star Dave Grohl

  

by Sharon McEachern

FCC Finally Fixes Earsplitting Volume of TV Commercials

FINALLY, yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission  unanimously approved rules that will require cable operators and TV stations to quiet those thunderous TV commercials.

More than a year ago, September 2010, Congress passed the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, or CALM Act, giving the FCC the job of ensuring that TV commercials aren't louder than TV programs. Next, we, the listening public, had to keep sticking our fingers in our ears at commercial-time because nothing changed.

WE CAN'T BE C.A.L.M. FOR YET ANOTHER YEAR

But, it's still not going to take effect for yet another year. Supposedly, the new rules start next December, in 2012. That's when cable operators and TV stations will have to make TV commercials no louder than the TV programs. What's with the hold-ups, deferrals? I think it's just part of the definition for government.

Consumers have been complaining about the excessively loud television commercials for decades -- decades.

 

Follow-Up: Another Face Burned in Surgical Fire

          Tommy Beams, Washington State,latest burn victim of surgical fire 

 

It was just a few days after a similar horrible surgical fire in Florida, that a man undergoing routine surgery in a Grays Harbor Community Hospital, Washington state, had a fire erupt on his face  -- while he was unconscious and under anesthesia. Tommy Beams (pictured above)was burned on his face and head. 

Beam was undergoing a one-hour procedure to remove a bump on his head when he said his oxygen mask caught fire. He was rushed to Harborview Medical Center after the accident last Thursday.

"The physical pain is tremendous," Beam told the Baltimore Sun. "My lips, my face ... on fire."

FAA Chief Babbitt Resigns: Good Riddance

  

      Randy Babbitt                                          Michael Huerta

   The Guy Who's Out                                The Guy Who's Now In

 

The Ethic Soup post yesterday was about FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, 65, being put on a leave of absence by Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, following charges against Babbitt for driving while intoxicated -- on the wrong side of the road -- at night.

He was arrested and released, pending a February court appearance. Luckily, Randy Babbitt was stopped before he could kill someone.

Today's follow-up post is that Babbitt is out and Deputy Administrator Michael Huerta is in as FAA acting administrator.

 

Colorado Towns Ban Plastic Bags, Charge Fees for Paper Bags

   Mt Sopris visible from Carbondale, Co.  Photo: Flickr/Thad Roan/Bridge Pix

 

 

PLASTIC grocery bags are being banned and fees attached to paper bags in more Colorado towns.

 Preserving the majestic beauty of the pristine Rocky Mountains, formed between 80 million and 55 million years ago, is of great benefit to its residents and visitors. Who wants to look out their window at evergreens holding onto plastic bags that float by ? 

More importantly, protecting the environment from plastic pollution is the ethical thing to do.

Recently we reported on the new Aspen ordinance banning the city's two grocery stores from distributing plastic bags and ordering a 20-cent fee on paper bags.

Now, there are two more Colorado towns restricting or placing fees on single-use, carryout shopping bags. The hope is that the efforts will encourage shoppers to bring their own reusable bags to the grocery store.

 

Birmingham Alabama's County to File $4.1 Billion Bankruptcy: Largest Municipal Bankruptcy in Nation's History

 

                                          

For years now, we've had our fingers crossed for the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County -- 'Bama's most populous area.

CORRUPT MAYOR

We hoped that once Larry Langford, Birmingham's former mayor(pictured below, climbing out of a sewer), was convicted and put away in federal prison for 15 years, the county and city could begin to recover.

After sinking into crippling debt from an upgrade of its sewer system, Jefferson Co. has been been struggling to avoid bankruptcy since 2008; however, recent discussions on a debt restructure broke down. Another element in the decision to file bankruptcy seems to have been the Alabama Legislature's inability to reach a consensus on any way to help the county resolve its financial problems.

 

$4.1 BILLION BANKRUPTCY FILING

Sadly, yesterday, Jefferson Co. declared that it would default and seek Chapter 9 protection from creditors in a $4.1 billion filing.  This is the largest municipal bankruptcy filing in U.S. history.

The biggest loss in the filing will be faced by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., the investment bank which arranged most of the financing to revamp the county's sewer system.

POLLUTED WATER/SEWER RENOVATIONS

In 1996, a federal judge ordered the sewer renovations after  area waterways were found to be polluted. But, taxes that were going to be used to fund the enormous project were later declared illegal, reports Market Watch. 

Although municipal bankruptcies are rare, there have been 11 so far in 2011, including Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's state capital, and Central Falls, Rhode Island's smallest city.

Not surprisingly, bond investors are nervous.

BELOW, READ MORE ABOUT BIRMINGHAM'S TROUBLES:

 

 

by Sharon McEachern

 

CLICK AND READ "Birmingham Mayor Arrested: Langford Joined Jailed Mayors Club"

CLICK AND READ "Birmingham Exposed to Unconscionable Degree of Risk: Sues JP Morgan Chase" 

CLICK AND READ "Birmingham Mayor Langford Convicted on 60 Counts of Bribery, Money Laundering"

CLICK AND READ "Bama's Birmingham Votes to Replace Ousted Mayor: It's 4 mayors in 4 months"

CLICK AND READ "Out of the Sewers Into Federal Prison: Birmingham's Langford Gets 15 Years"

Jury Still Deliberating: Murder Trial of Dr. Conrad Murray in Michael Jackson's Death

CLOSING ARGUMENTS were made in the murder trial of Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, last Thursday.

Judge Michael Pastor (pictured above) gave the jury long,trial-specific instructions to follow as they deliberate.

On Friday, the unsequestured jury began its deliberations. After working some seven hours Friday, no verdict was reached during the jury's first day behind closed doors. The jury of seven men and five women was released to go home for the weekend, to resume deliberations on Monday (tomorrow).

OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE

They have a lot of trial information to review. The jury listened to 49 witnesses over more than three weeks. That includes Conrad Murray's three young girlfriends and character witnesses including patients. Additionally, they heard from former employees of Jackson, investigators and medical experts for both the prosecution and defense teams.