First, the 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' fiasco. The ending was leaked on the Web and DeepDiscount.com released the book early. Of course Scholastic, publisher of the 'Harry Potter' series, plans legal action against the distributor, Levy Home Entertainment, and DeepDiscount.com. It's also trying to identify the Internet user who leaked the book on the Web.Scholastic estimated that the books that went our early are about one-hundredth of one percent of the total books to go on sale in the U.S. OK, it's really not that much if you look at this number, but I'm still upset, as are other 'Harry Potter' fans. I myself pre-ordered my book from a different online retailer and I won't be getting the book until the official release date. So between now and then, I've tried to steer away from any possible news or stories that may reveal the book ending. Sigh...
Second, the Michael Vick fiasco. As a Virginia Tech alumna and a dog lover, I'm completely disgusted and embarrassed. I thought Marcus Vick was the bad one in the family ... I guess I was wrong! It breaks my heart reading about what Vick has allegedly done.According to the indictment, Vick runs Bad Newz Kennels out of his property in Surry County, Virginia, for dogfighting. Dogs that did not perform well as fighters were executed by methods such as hanging, drowning, electrocution, shooting and beating. There are other sickening things that he allegedly did to the dogs, but I won't go there -- they'll just make me weep.
If Vick is found guilty, my hopes are he doesn't get to play in the NFL anymore and he gets all the punishment that he deserves. Last I read he may face up to 6 years in prison plus $350,000 in fines if found guilty. Is that enough?
Hot Searches from July 18, 2007:
1. Linus Roache -- Joins 'Law & Order' cast as an Assistant DA.
2. Courtney Thorne-Smith -- 'According to Jim' actress is expecting a baby.
3. 'Harry Potter' ending -- Leaks before official release date.
4. Jessica Lunsford -- Father wants Jessica's killer to face death penalty.
5. Joan Jett -- Has she been dating Carmen Electra?
6. Michael Vick -- Falcons QB is indicted on charges related to illegal dogfighting.
7. 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' -- Review by NY Times upsets publisher.
8. TAM Airlines -- All 186 people on board of the Brazilian airline die in plane crash.
9. Atlanta Falcons -- Will Michael Vick continue to play?
10. Bad Newz Kennels -- Vick's alleged dogfighting operation in Surry County, VA.
11. Long Island Railroad -- Tornado and storm hit New York.
12. Celebrities -- Get the latest stories on your favorite celebrities!
13. MTA -- New York's motorists are stranded in flash floods.
14. 'Harry Potter' -- Fans are upset over leak of the final book.
15. 'So You Think You Can Dance' -- Who will be kicked off tonight?
16. Jennifer Love Hewitt -- In 'Shortcut To Happiness' with Alec Baldwin.
17. Lil Bow Wow -- In Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's video with Mariah Carey.
18. Jennifer Lopez -- In 'El Cantante' with husband Marc Anthony.
19. Carmen Electra -- Dating Joan Jett?
20. Jerry Hadley -- Opera singer dies from a self-inflicted wound to his head.
More news on Michael Vicks can be found on AOL News -- also search for Michael Vick on AOL Search.
See sponsored links for: NFL tickets, 'Harry Potter' merchandise.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1. Hey Vick....
You're pretty brave with dogs. How about you and me...5 minutes. Just you and me!!!!
Posted at 2:27PM on Jul 19th 2007 by Mike
2. I've contacted the Falcons asking them to ship Vick out to Oregon for a public execution. I've received no reply.
Posted at 6:09PM on Jul 19th 2007 by Randy
3. Mike Vick is a punk like his little brother ! He's bothered because he's a chitty QB , all he can do is run ! Well , you better start running Vick , you animal abusing jerk ! Hope the law comes down on you as hard as possible and you get yrs. in jail . Then someone , of course , will say it was a racial thing , I'm already hearing that ! What a crock , every time a black person is at fault for something , it's racial !!
Posted at 8:06PM on Jul 19th 2007 by Robert Wells
4. I would like to see this sick bastard be dipped in hot oil very slowly and even that would be to good for the dirt bag!
Posted at 12:23PM on Jul 21st 2007 by bill collins
5. well it is mean to abuse animals. But it is hypocritical to put someone in jail for it. As you sit there eating chicken, beef, shrimp, lamb, and foie gra... remember all animals made for consumption are treated like shit. I grew up on a farm and the animals had a reasonable quality of life, but the horrible caged experience of mass produced chickens and cows and ducks, etc is markedly questionable. Unless you are vegan, you can't righteously put someone in jail who does dog fights when you sponsor the torture, murder, and eating of poor animals everyday. No cow wants to give milk forever, through a machine, no duck wants to be forced fed, no chicken wants to be caged etc. Treat all animals good from wonderful dogs to wonderful birds to wonderful everything. I think, if found guilty, he should get a 3 million dollar fine, keep his job so he can pay it, and do 10 years probation and 10k hours of community service on animal based community service.... and the same goes to who ever was involved take 20% of their future earnings for the next 10 years - that be a better lesson to all than jail because obviously greed over money was the issue not the fear of jail. Jail will just cost us taxpayers money.
Posted at 9:06PM on Jul 22nd 2007 by Lisa
6. Right on Lisa! I wholeheartedly agree with you, especially about the way factory farmed animals are treated.It is a disgrace to humanity. I am vegan and pro-animal rights and proud of it!I think Vick is nothing but a greedy and heartless dirtbag and I hope he suffers the consequences of his actions. I think he should go to jail for a long time and also pay a huge fine, just like any ignorant red neck or anyone else would get sentenced to if caught in such a hideous enterprise. His race and "celebrity" should not even be considered a factor in this case.
Posted at 9:39PM on Jul 22nd 2007 by Pat
7. I think that the heartless brutality with no sense of remorse even enjoyment from such activities should not only be kicked out of the NFL, fined and jailed...but, I think the sub-human things that he did to the animals should be done to him--slowly and painfully.
Posted at 10:21PM on Jul 22nd 2007 by Roberta Vance
8. You know, I think it would be fitting for Vick to be shot, drowned, electrocuted or slammed against the ground until he dies, so he could endure the same torture that he dished out.
Posted at 11:25PM on Jul 22nd 2007 by susan
9. All you people posting to slam this a**hole - be sure to write to the Falcons to express your outrage. It does us no good to bitch about this monster unless we bitch to the right people! Unfortunately, I can't locate the links I wrote to previously. I'll post 'em if I find 'em. I just wanted to go ahead and urge people to DO something constructive with their anger on this. It's really important b/c last I heard, the NFL was NOT planning any sanctions against him!!! It's just all kinds of wrong if this punk gets to keep earning the big bucks and being a "role model" after pulling this kind of cowardly, disgusting crap with helpless animals!
Posted at 3:40AM on Jul 23rd 2007 by sunny
10. He should be pemanently banned or he should have to donate a year's salary to theh ASPCA, work in an animal shelter and get counselling/
Posted at 4:31AM on Jul 23rd 2007 by John Ponzini
11. Why are all of you so MAD at Michael Vick, you don't even know if he's Guilty yet! All of you are always itching for a chance to be racist. I know we all love to hear bad news reports about black people, it gives us a reason to say mean things. But if you think about it dogs had more rights than black people at one point in time,and they probably still do. So what are u so mad about really?
Posted at 9:55PM on Jul 23rd 2007 by The White Guy
12. Counseling? r u serious how do you counsel the devil vickscum can live out his karma for now .ship him to singapore get rid of the non human I'd love to see him torn limb from limb Maybe a nice crucifixion I encourage everyone to SEND all your great comments to Nike and Roger Goodall and Falcon's team What a disgrace to all athletes.ATHLETES OUT THERE UNITE TAKE A STAND FOR OUR CHILDREN YOU ARE ROLE MODELS MILLIONS OF CHILDREN REVERE AND IDOLIZE PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES.SUPERSTAR SCUMBAGS NEED TO BE GONE AND NOT TOLERATED ATHLETES YOUR POSITION IS A GIFT FROM GOD YOU NEED TO GIVE BACK IN LOVE AND HUMILITY YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT TAKE FOR GRANTED YOUR GREAT PRIVILEGE
Posted at 3:46PM on Jul 24th 2007 by Clotilde
13. Let me say it again, I am on my shivering grounds with this fruitcake. And I don't think judgement should be based on his celebritiship; but the sole responsibility of his involvement with this mentally ill crime.
And anytime we get a bloomer like this who enjoys watching the persecution of animals, with all the money, success and prosperity that he has, he needs to be put under the jail. Never to be seen or heard from or about for the rest of his life.
I would've respected him more if he had've committed an more logical crime. Why don't he pick on a man, instead of defenseless little animals. Lets face it, the man is a fruitcake. And he needs to take a nice long vacation.
MICHAEL VICK TAKE A VACATION!!
Posted at 6:56AM on Jul 25th 2007 by Rodney Melton
14. Most of you guys are just ridiculous! You talk as though you are having a conversation or confrontation with Michael Vick. You need to listen to yourselves; you sound like someone that's full of hate and bias. You don't even know Michael Vick; neither do you know what you are talking about to be accurately information. What drives you to have this much hate for someone you don't know? Do you search the news for those that commit acts against animals or are you the kind that likes to jump in and kick someone whom someone else said did a crime only to find out the information to not be correct? Oh, I'm sorry! I could say a lot to you would executioners/murders. But I warn you to look at your own actions in life and be critical upon yourself and then maybe you will qualify to judge someone else.
Posted at 7:55PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by Gman