The passengers who survived the crash of US Airways Flight 1549 are a little miffed about their treatment by the airline. The plane was brought down by a flock of Canadian geese a little over two weeks ago. It’s believed at least one goose was sucked into each engine mid-air, causing the plane to crash in the Hudson River on the west side of Manhattan. Every single person lived – a miracle, to say the least.

US Airways has made a token gesture towards the passengers, and as a result they’re coming off as rather stingy. The passengers are complaining that the higher ups at the airline are too busy congratulating themselves to care. They’ve offered the passengers free upgrades – when available – to first class on domestic flights for one year. And one upgrade to either Hawaii or Europe. Oh, and they can have priority check in, too.

The passengers think the airline can and should do better. Many of them say it’ll be at least a year before they’ll want to fly again, and are considering filing lawsuits.

We crash-landed in the Hudson River - but all we got were these lousy upgrades! US Airways sent a raft of “frigid” letters to the 150 passengers of miracle Flight 1549 saying their death-defying ordeal has earned them top customer status - but for just one year, The Post has learned.

Some who were on the plane - brought down by a flock of geese after takeoff from La Guardia Airport on Jan. 15 - said the temporary tease of first-class perks is for the birds. “I think if you survive a plane crash, being upgraded permanently is a good gesture too,” said Fred Berretta, 41, of Charlotte, NC, where the Airbus A320 was headed.

Manhattanite Tess Sosa, who escaped the sinking plane with her husband and two small children, thought the airline was too focused on self-congratulations - and “they want to exonerate themselves as much as they can… They are happy they had such amazing results, and they applaud themselves, and then give us a small token?” she said. “That’s how I take it.”

The airline announced the upgrades and other perks last week in a letter Sosa described as “frigid” at best. CEO Doug Parker wrote that passengers would get “coveted” Chairman’s Preferred status - but only until March 2010. The membership gives each passenger and a companion first-class domestic travel when seats are available, one upgrade to Europe or Hawaii, choice seats and priority check-in. “We would very much like to see you on a future US Airways flight soon,” Parker wrote.
“My husband is not going to want to get on a plane for at least a year,” [Sosa] said.

A spokesman for the US Airways said passengers did not have to waive their rights to sue in order to accept the checks or the Chairman’s Preferred membership. Some have already contacted lawyers.

[From the New York Daily News]

The airline did get credit from passengers for quickly mailing $5,000 checks to go towards items lost on the plane. I’m not sure what kind of legal standing the passengers have, in terms of lawsuits. It’s obviously rare that a whole plane full of people survives a crash. They’d have to prove some sort of fault or negligence on the part of the airline. Considering how successful the landing was, that might be hard.

Birds happen, and they can bring down planes. Two days after the crash I stopped by my local corner market and started laughing when I saw the Daily News’ anti-Canadian Goose cover story entitled “Pluck ‘Em!” next to the cash register. The owner started telling me how mad he was about the plane’s design. He believed a plane should be able to take on a goose or two without going down. His logic was very simple: “You put a strawberry in a blender, does the blender break? No! You put ice in a blender, does the blender break? NO! But you put a goose in a plane and the plane breaks?” I know nothing about how things work on a plane, but I couldn’t argue with his logic. Although I’ve broken at least two blenders in my day.

According to the Daily News, La Guardia airport has gone to great lengths to mitigate Canadian Geese over the years. And the goose strike happened once the plane was already over New Jersey. While I’m on the side of the passengers and wish the airline would be more generous, I think it will be hard to charge them with negligence, at least based on the information we have right now.

Who knew dolphins smoke from bongs…no wonder why those bottle-nosed creatures always look like they are smiling as if everyday is filled with sunshine and rainbows even in the most trying times. Those beotches are higher than a freakin’ kite! Before you know it, we’ll see pigs Jessica Simpson flying! (we kid, we kid) Bad joke, I know. Anybong, somewhere in the world Michael Phelps is indulging in a big bag of Doritoes, a jar of pickles, a King Size Kit Kat, a pan of brownies and a 2-liter bottle of Orange Crush. Yum. Homeboy just got sold out for what we are presuming some big dolla dolla bills, y’all! But, you know what? He’s probably not even mad…

Here’s the low down via News Of The World…

Yes the above photo IS in fact Michael Phelps and yes, my friends, that is a bong. Ok, get this…back in November, Michael Phelps decided to do a little celebrating by showing up to a house party unannounced. Cool, right? Well, not so much.

An insider told News of the World, “He was out of control from the moment he got there. If he continues to party like that I’d be amazed if he ever won any more medals again.”

The reason for his “surprise” visit? A female lady lovah…

“Michael came to visit Jordan (the lady lovah) but ended up just getting wasted every night. He arrived with a group of girls hanging all over him. Jaws hit the floor when he walked in. You don’t get many celebrities in Columbia, so when Phelps comes to your party it’s a very big deal. He didn’t know many people so you’d think he’d be a little shy. But he was loud, obnoxious and slamming beers from the get-go. Every girl wanted a piece of him and every guy wanted to be his best buddy. He couldn’t get enough of all the attention.”

And apparently he is a professional midnight toker…

“You could tell Michael had smoked before. He grabbed the bong and a lighter and knew exactly what to do. He looked just as natural with a bong in his hands as he does swimming in the pool. He was the gold medal winner of bong hits. Michael ended up getting a little paranoid, though, because before too long he looked like he was nervous and ran out of the place.”

But the next night, Phelps was seen out partying again. The source added: “He was right back at it at Pavlov’s bar. Like the night before he was holding court, throwing back shots two at a time and pouring drinks to every cute girl.”

Hmmmm…so I believe it is safe to assume that Dolphin boy can smoke like its nobody’s business…and this time he just got caught…so what do you think? Will there be another Olympics for everyone’s favorite dolphin and most importantly…what will China think? Will he lose his endorsement deals?

Michael, Michael, Michael…what will Shamu think?

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Britney with Sam Lutfi in December of 2008.

Apparently Sam Lutfi and Adnan Ghalib aren’t done with Britney Spears. This week the singer had to get restraining orders against them. Why? After an entire year of being out of her life and out of the spotlight, the two are still conspiring to undermine her conservatorship. That’s legal speak for “they’re trying to get back in Britney’s life and take advantage of her again.”

According to TMZ, the pair have been conspiring with lawyer Jon Eardley to act on Brit’s behalf legally. Eardley once tried to claim he was Britney’s lawyer (even though she already had one) in an attempt to challenge the conservatorship – at Lutfi’s behest.

Both Sam and Adnan have been communicating with Britney. Sam is obviously the bigger problem, being the more evil one. He’s been threatening Britney’s dad Jamie as well, and has sent out text and instant messages with false accusations. This guy sure is persistent.

TMZ has just obtained declarations from Jamie Spears and others in the latest Britney Spears case — Britney’s lawyer says Sam Lutfi had inserted himself and tried peddling false and hurtful info about Jamie, Britney and others in her family. Sam allegedly was calling lawyers saying that Britney wanted to hire her own lawyer, presumably to fight the conservatorship. Sources tell TMZ that is definitely not what Britney wanted.

As we first reported, the conservators for Britney Spears obtained a restraining order today against Sam Lutfi, Adnan Ghalib and attorney Jon Eardley. We’re told Brit herself is furious at Lutfi and Ghalib and would like to see them jailed.

Here’s the most interesting part….According to the legal papers, late last month Lutfi sent text messages to Brit’s hairdresser, saying he wasn’t responsible for the conservatorship. A week or so later, Britney received “instant messages from a person with the screen name ____….The person — who posed as the mother of a daughter with autism — made a number of utterly false and hurtful assertions concerning Mr. Spears and his family, threatening to go public with such purported ‘information’ unless Mr. Spears spoke with that person.” Almost immediately after Brit got those messages, Lutfi began calling Jamie.

[From TMZ]

Sam Lutfi has also been communicating with Britney and Jamie’s lawyers. And this guy isn’t trying to go under the radar when he threatens and blackmail the Spears. He actually thinks he’s so entitled to have a say in Britney’s life that he’s not afraid to go to lawyers with claims that he knows secrets about Brit and her dad.

One of the lawyers in the case filed a declaration saying over the past month she received “multiple telephone calls and text messages from Lutfi.” She says Lutfi wanted to set up an urgent meeting to “speak with Mr. Spears and me with regard to what he claimed was ‘information he had received about Mr. Spears and his daughter, Britney Spears as well as others.’” The attorney also says Lutfi claimed “he had been talking with Adnan Ghalib about the conservatorship and Ms. Spears’ status as a conservatee.”

In another document, one of the conservatorship lawyers claims “Mr. Lutfi has sent text messages and instant messages that contain false and hurtful allegations concerning Mr. Spears, Ms. Spears, and the Spears family.” The lawyer continues, “Mr. Lutfi, Adnan Ghalib, and Jon Eardley sought unsuccessfully to induce an attorney to file” false statements with the court.

The papers make it clear….”Over the past month, Ms. Spears has had numerous telephone conversations with both Mr. Lutfi and Mr. Ghalib and has exchanged numerous text messages with both of them.” But we’re told now Brit is so mad at them she wants them locked up.

Under the TRO, Lutfi, Ghalib and Eardley must stay 250 yards away from Britney, her parents and her kids. The TRO also prohibits the trio from “acting on Ms. Spears’ behalf…inducing or assisting another person to file legal pleadings” on her behalf.

[From TMZ]

This guy just doesn’t quit. Lutfi is both a master manipulator and a control freak – the perfect Svengali. It’s hard to believe that after all this time he’s still trying to insert himself into Britney’s life, and thinks he should have some say in it. He’s just some random, evil guy that passed through her life. He’s not family, he’s not a business associate. He’s nothing, and he knows his only claim to fame is as the guy who messed up Britney Spears’ life for a while. How pathetic is it that after a whole year, he’s still got nothing else going on in his life but to obsess over Britney?

I think Sam Lutfi could truly be dangerous. He’s clearly infatuated with Britney and can’t let her go. He insists on having a say in her life and can’t handle being told otherwise. He’s a control freak who’s gone so far as to threaten her family members. He seems like the kind of extreme person who won’t take no for an answer. Britney has a lot of security, but I hope she beefs it up. Better yet, I hope someone can find a crime to charge Lutfi with in order to lock him away.

Here’s Britney and Adnan out to dinner on January 16, 2008. Image thanks to WENN.

The grandfather of the octuplets arriving home with 3 of his other grandchildren yesterday.

This past week Nadya Suleman gave birth to octuplets, who are all doing well – seven of the eight are breathing on their own. Negative information has come out about her family. Nadya is single, and already has six young children. She lives with her parents, who appear to be supporting her financially. According to CBS, her parents ended up having to file for bankruptcy and lost their home, and as a result moved into the house they’d bought for her.

A neighbor of the Sulemans is speaking out – and she claims the father of the octuplets is a sperm donor, and is also the same man who donated for Nadya’s first six kids. She also believes he’s unaware that his sperm is still being used and doesn’t know about the octuplets. The neighbor says Nadya is a “professional student,” and even hints that she may have used her student loans to finance the fertility treatments.

In an effort to try and find out more about the woman who gave birth to octuplets earlier this week, we went to the home she shares with her parents and six other children in Whittier, California. What we learned is that her whole neighborhood is buzzing about the possibility that the 33-year-old mother used the same sperm donor to conceive the octuplets AND her other six children.

In an exclusive interview with momlogic, one neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous, revealed that the very pregnant young mom was THE hot topic of conversation at the neighborhood Christmas party. He says, “From what I heard, she likes kids, she wants a jillion kids. She even lied to the doctors who impregnated her.” The grandmother of the octuplets told the LA Times she never expected fertility treatments would lead her to conceive her eight babies. Neither doctors nor family members have commented on whether or not she used donor sperm.

When asked if he knew who the father of the baby is, the neighbor said, “She is single. She used a sperm donor, someone she knew, who donated sperm a long time ago. He donated the sperm for the first six kids and she used his frozen sperm for these ones. I don’t think the sperm donor knows about these eight kids. He was not involved.”

According to the neighbor, the parents are very supportive of their daughter and even lost their own home in an effort to support her. “The parents lost their house supporting their daughter,” the neighbor went on. “They actually bought this house for her, but then they lost their house supporting her and her kids and they had to move in with her. And now her father has to go back to Iraq to earn more money to support her. Her father either works as a truck driver or an interpreter [in Iraq].”

As to whether the mother herself works, the neighbor says: “She’s a professional student and I want to know where the money’s coming from to do this. Maybe she’s using her student loans to do it.” The family is very private: “They stick to themselves and you can always hear the grandma yelling at the kids because they are so rambunctious.”

[From Mom Logic]

Angela Suleman, Nadya’s mother (and the octuplets’ grandmother) admits her daughter has been obsessed with having babies since she was a teenager. Angela also sounds like she’s utterly exhausted and fed up.

Angela Suleman told The Associated Press she was not supportive when her daughter, Nadya Suleman, decided to have more embryos implanted last year. “It can’t go on any longer,” she said in a phone interview Friday. “She’s got six children and no husband. I was brought up the traditional way. I firmly believe in marriage. But she didn’t want to get married.” …

While her daughter recovers, Angela Suleman is taking care of Nadya’s other six children, ages 2 through 7, at the family home. She said she warned her daughter that when she gets home from the hospital, “I’m going to be gone.” Nadya Suleman wanted to have children since she was a teenager, “but luckily she couldn’t,” her mother said. “Instead of becoming a kindergarten teacher or something, she started having them, but not the normal way,” he mother said.

Yolanda Garcia, 49, of Whittier, said she helped care for Nadya Suleman’s autistic son three years ago. “From what I could tell back then, she was pretty happy with herself, saying she liked having kids and she wanted 12 kids in all,” Garcia told the Long Beach Press-Telegram. “She told me that all of her kids were through in vitro, and I said ‘Gosh, how can you afford that and go to school at the same time?’” she added. “And she said it’s because she got paid for it.”

Garcia said she did not ask for details.

[From CBS News]

Nadya’s father - whose name hasn’t been stated - claimed she wasn’t trying to have eight more children, just one. CBS also noted that she has a degree from California State University Fullerton in child and adolescent development. As of last spring she was studying for a master’s degree in counseling. Angela Suleman says all the babies have the same dad, and according to The Associated Press, the birth certificates of the first four children all list a David Solomon as the father.

This story is obviously a minefield, and there are so many complex ethical, moral, and practical questions involved that it’s not even possible to go into all of them here. On a day-to-day level, I’m wondering how Nadya is going to cope with 14 children. Angela Suleman says she’s not going to be around once Nadya gets back from the hospital. From all the articles I’ve read, it’s clear she was not supportive of her daughter’s most recent pregnancy, and has made that clear to her all along. Nadya’s father is going back to Iraq to get work to support his daughter’s enormous family – as well as his wife and himself.

Clearly Nadya’s parents have made huge sacrifices while supporting her “obsession,” as Angela Suleman puts it. The father is not in the picture at all, and it’s reasonable to assume he didn’t know his sperm would be used so many times. Obviously Nadya is going to need help – and I’m eager to hear what her plan is.

Here’s the grandfather of the octuplets arriving home with 3 of his other grandchildren yesterday. Images thanks to Splash.

Rapper DMX (Earl Simmons) has received a sentence of 90 days in jail for several charges in Arizona. Amongst the charges: animal cruelty, identity theft and drug possession. Considering the charges, ninety days sounds like too little.

Last May, authorities raided DMX’s Arizona property. They found dead and malnourished pit bulls. In the summer of 2007, they found the remains of three dead pit bulls and took away 12 others that were sick and malnourished. Thus, the animal cruelty charges. Personally, I’ve always hoped that judges would start issuing these animal-killers the same kind of treatment they gave to their pets. Let’s cage DMX up, not feed him and force him to fight.

A judge in Arizona sentenced rapper DMX to 90 days in jail on Friday on drug, theft and animal cruelty charges.

The 38-year-old rapper, whose real name is Earl Simmons, has been in custody since December.

Maricopa County Superior Court Commissioner Phemonia Miller gave Simmons no credit for time served and placed him on 18 months of supervised probation.

The rapper turned actor, whose hit albums include “Year of the Dog … Again” and “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot,” has been in legal trouble during the past year in Arizona, where he keeps a home near Phoenix.

In May, he was arrested on drug and animal cruelty charges after sheriff’s deputies raided his home. Authorities found dog carcasses and malnourished pit bulls.

He also was charged with assuming someone’s identity and giving false information during a trip to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, in a suspected attempt to avoid paying the bill.

Simmons had pleaded guilty to the charges to settle three criminal cases against him and agreed not to own animals or possess firearms.

“After several run-ins with the law, Mr. Simmons is finally being held accountable for his actions. We will continue to prosecute aggressively all cases involving cruelty to animals,” county attorney Andrew Thomas said in a statement.

Simmons’ attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.

[From Reuters]

Ninety days in jail is not “accountability”. If he was just regular Earl Simmons, rather than a famous rapper, who was facing charges of drug possession and animal cruelty, the sentence would be so much more severe.

Here’s DMX and wife Tashera Simmons at the CUN Academy Awards Celebration Dinner in Hollywood in 2007. Image thanks to WENN. Header thanks to Images thanks to Splash.

A year after Heath Ledger’s death, one of the last pieces just fell into place. In September, MSat reported that the insurance company covering Heath’s policy was refusing to pay the claim because his death could have been a suicide - even though all medical evidence proved that it was accidental. Lawyers representing Heath took action against the insurance company, and his now $10 million claim will be paid out.

A lawsuit involving Heath Ledger’s $10 million life insurance policy has reached a confidential settlement, documents filed Wednesday in a Los Angeles court show.

The suit had been filed by a lawyer, John S. LaViolette, working on behalf of the actor’s daughter Matilda, 3. The suit claimed that ReliaStar Life Insurance Company had refused to honor the policy because it asserted that Ledger’s death could have been a suicide.

“The parties are pleased they were able to reach an amicable settlement,” said attorney William Shernoff, who represents Matilda and LaViolette.

The New York Medical Examiner found that Ledger, 28, died of an accidental drug overdose in January 2008.

The papers also show that LaViolette is seeking to be appointed as guardian of Matilda, who is the beneficiary of the insurance policy.

[from People]

There has been an excessive number of controversies and legal disputes over Heath’s death. Immediately after his passing, there were concerns within Heath’s own family over his father’s ability to execute the will, then he was exploited by a woman who said that they had a child together (which proved untrue). There were even questions - because Heath’s will was outdated - whether his daughter Matilda would get anything. It’s good to see that this is finally all being put to rest.

Now while you might think Jenny McCarthy, Kim Kardashian and Carmen Electra were just out and about together for a good time, you are wrong, Vern. Last night it was all about a good party AND a good cause. Super Bowl Weekend kicked off last night at Jackson’s Bistro: “Leather and Laces” party with Carmen Electra, Jenny McCarthy and Kim Kardashian co-hosting this bash to benefit Generation Rescue, an autism research and treatment advocacy organization headed by McCarthy.

Other peeps who attended the event included Kourtney Kardashian, Adrienne Bailon, Reggie Bush, Jordin Sparks and Rob Patterson.

Ummm, how fabulous does Jenny look? Wowsers. She puts all those other beotches to shame! U go girl!

Click after the jump for more pics of Jenny, Kim K., and Carmen at last night’s event.

Image Source: Wire Image

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But, unfortunately funny.

So Jessica Simpson has indulged in one too many chocolate covered donuts with sprinkles…the media is ripping on Tony Romo’s girl hardcore. While every D-list celebrity has had something to say about Jessica’s fuller figure, there is one very important question one must wonder. Why hasn’t her man grown some balls to defend his woman? And where’s Papa Joe in all this? We know Papa Joe has once publicly commented on his own daughter’s rack…so why isn’t he opening his flap trap now? Shame, shame, shame. Despite being called a fatty bow-batty, Jessica Simpson has courageously gone where no other has gone before…hip-hugging leather pants.

In what was her first performance since the controversy over her new curvy chub, Jessica Simpson strutted across a Virginia stage in some tight leather pants as a “take that u big meanies” presentation.

At the end of her set, Jessica briefly thanked the crowd for their support and positively shouted, “Stay positive, and pray out loud! I love you guys, good night.”

C’mon Papa Joe…Tony Romo…grow some balls and defend your beotch!

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Just a few short years ago, Orlando Bloom looked young, fresh and boyish…like 13-year-old boyish. And, I didn’t like it. My sister thought he was the fox that rocks with his three chest hairs and his inability to grow facial hair. But, damn…something happened on the way to the pirate ship. Orlando Bloom got a (fake) tree tattoo on his chest and all of a sudden I want to be an apple on one of those branches. Damnnnnnn. And HELLO brown curly wig! Love you.

Yesterday Mr. Bloom was spotted on the set of his latest flick in the film “Sympathy for Delicious”. (And how fitting!) Bloom’s movie is directed by “Just Like Heaven” actor Mark Ruffalo and tells the story of a recently-paralyzed DJ who develops an ability to heal people. Heal Me Orlando, Heal Me!!!

Image Source: Splash

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Miss Jordin Sparks attended the 6th Annual Leather and Laces Celebration at Jackson’s last night in Tampa, Florida. While other celebs chose to put on a gown for the event, Jordin opted for a dressed up denim ensemble. What do you think of Jordin’s fashion choice?

Jordin gets a big fat…
( polls)

Click for more pics of Jordin at the partay.

Image Source: Wire Image

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