Friday, December 18, 2009

A Bag of God



A Bag of God
By Ice Cream Girl Maria


The only way that you’re going to get out of this is if you take out a bag of magic tricks.
No, no wait….
A bag of God.
He had a bag of God with him.
OK?

Where can I buy this bag of God?
Oh Sully
Oh Sully
He is blessed with it
Where do I find this greasy highway?

Listen to me.
No, no wait.
A Bag of God

He had a bag of God with him, OK?

Bag of God, Bag of God, Sully’s got a bag of God
Bag of God, Bag of God, Sully’s got a bag of God
Bag of God, Bag of God, Sully’s got a bag of God

Are you kidding me?
I’ll tell ya’
Bag of God, Bag of God, Sully’s got a bag of God

And this guy pulled out a bag of God
Are you kidding me?
I tell you.

Don’t let me start
Hey, where can I buy this bag of God?
Uh, he had it. I don’t know, you have to ask him.
Bag of God, Bag of God, Sully’s got a bag of God

Tell me why Captain Sully is a hero:
This guy’s amazing.
First of all, what he did was equivalent to being on a greasy highway facing a tractor trailer with your
whole family—not even your family—with hundreds of strangers.
The only way you’re going to get out of this is if you take out a bag—
A bag of magic tricks
No wait, a bag of god

And he said, I’m facing death right now
I’m in the process of dying
I’m dying
And this guy pulled out his bag of god
A bag of god.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Top Trials of the Decade

Me & Vinnie Top Trials of the Decade
Sirius XM Stars Too Sirius 108/XM 139


10) The People of New York v. Sean Combs A.K.A. “Puff Daddy”

Crime: On December 27, 1999, rapper Sean Combs and his then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez were partying in a New York City nightclub when an argument broke out. Shots were fired, and Combs and crew fled the club. Police stopped their vehicle and found a stolen 9 mm pistol on the front seat. The driver, Wardel Fenderson, said that Combs tried to bribe him to claim ownership for the gun.
Charges: Criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of stolen goods, bribery
Location: New York, NY
Opening Arguments: January 29, 2001
Judge: Charles Solomon
Lead Presecutor: Matthew Bogdanos
Lead Defense Attorney: Benjamin Brafman, Johnnie Cochran, Jr.
Verdict: March 16, 2001, not guilty of all charges

9) United States v. Martha Stewart

Crime: On December 27, 2001, TV host and magazine publisher Martha Stewart sold her entire holding of pharmaceutical company ImClone Systems stock: 3,928 shares, valued at $232,000. One day later, the FDA announced its decision not to approve ImClone’s newest drug, Erbitux. This caused the stock to drop by 18%. An investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission revealed that company executives had traded on inside information and sold of large quantities of ImClone stock before the FDA announcement.
Charges: Nine counts, including charges of securities fraud, obstruction of justice, and making false statements
Trial location: New York City
Jury Selected: January 26, 2004
Judge: Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum
Lead Prosecutor: Karen Seymour
Lead Defense Attorney: Robert Morvillo
Verdict: Prior to jury deliberation, the judge threw out the security fraud charge. Stewart was found guilty of all remaining charges.
Sentence: $30,000 fine, five months of prison, five months of home confinement, two year of probation

8) Anna Nicole Smith

Crime: On February 8, 2007, Anna Nicole Smith was found dead in her Hollywood, Florida hotel room. After Smith’s death, intense legal proceedings began over the custody of her remains, and the custody of her daughter, Danielynn.
Custody Hearings Begin: February 21, 2007
Location: Broward County, Florida
Judge: Larry Seidlin
Result: On February 22, custody of Smith's body was awarded to Miami lawyer Robert Millstein.
Paternity test result: On April 10 2007, a Bahamian court ruled that DNA testing proved that Larry Birkhead was the father of Dannielynn.


7) People of the State of California v. Michael Joseph Jackson

Crime: In February of 2003, British journalist Martin Bashir’s documentary entitled Living with Michael Jackson revealed firsthand footage of Jackson’s bizarre closeness with young boys, especially one Gavin Arvizo. In the film, Jackson also discussed having shared his bed with other children. This reignited public concern over Jackson’s conduct, and after an investigation, the District Attorney’s office of Santa Barbara, CA brought down indictments.
Charges: Two counts of administering an intoxication agent, seven counts of child molestation (on seven occasions, Jackson "willfully, unlawfully and lewdly committed a lewd and lascivious act upon, and with, the boy's body and certain parts and members thereof, with the intent of arousing, appealing to and gratifying the lust, passions and sexual desires")
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Date of Opening Statements: February 28, 2005
Judge: Judge Rodney Melville
Lead Prosecutor: Tom Sneddon
Lead Defense Attorney: Thomas Mesereau Jr., Mark Geragos
Verdict: June 13, 2005, not guilty on all charges


6) The People of California v. David Westerfield

Crime: On the morning of February 1, 2009 Damon and Brenda van Dam discovered that their seven year-old daughter Danielle was missing from her room. Investigators discovered that a neighbor had left for a camping trip within hours of Danielle’s disappearance. That neighbor, David Westerfield, was arrested on February 22 when two small blood stains were found on his clothing and in his motor home. Danielle’s body was found three weeks after her disappearance.
Charges: Murder, kidnapping, possessing matter depicting person under 18 in sexual conduct
Location: San Diego, CA
Opening Statements: June 4, 2002
Judge: William Mudd
Lead Prosecutor: Jeff Dusek
Lead Defense Attorney: Steven Feldman
Verdict: August 21, 2002, guilty of all charges
Sentence: Death Penalty

5) People of the State of California vs. Scott Peterson

Crime: On December 14, 2002, Scott Peterson’s pregnant wife, Laci, was reported missing from their home in Modesto, California. After revelations surfaced that Scott kept a mistress, Amber Frey, he soon became a suspect in his wife’s disappearance. The bodies of Laci and the unborn Connor were found on April 14, 2003 in San Francisco Bay.
Charges: Two counts of premeditated murder
Jury Seated: May 27, 2004
Location: Redwood City, California
Judge: Alfred A. Delucchi
Lead Prosecutor: Rick Distaso
Lead Defense Attorney: Mark Geragos
Verdict: November 12, 2004, guilty of first-degree murder
Sentence: Death penalty

4) People of the State of California v. Robert Blake

Crime: On May 4, 2001, actor Robert Blake’s wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, was shot to death as she sat in Blake’s sports car behind a Los Angeles restaurant, where the couple had just dined.
Charges: One count of murder with special circumstances, two counts of solicitation of murder, one count of murder conspiracy
Jury Sworn In: December 2, 2004
Trial location: Los Angeles, CA
Judge: Darlene Schempp
Lead Prosecutor: Shellie Samuels
Lead Defense Attorney: (in order) Harland Braun, Thomas Messereau, M. Gerald Schwartzbach
Verdict: March 16, 2005, not guilty of the murder, not guilty of one of the two counts of solicitation of murder. The jury deadlocked over the other count, and it was ultimately dropped. On November 18, 2005, Blake was found liable for her wrongful death.
3) State of Colorado v. Kobe Bean Bryant

Crime: On July 4, 2003, Eagle, Colorado Sheriff Joe Hoy issued an arrest warrant for Kobe Bryant in connection with a sexual assault complaint filed by 19 year-old hotel employee Katelyn Faber. Bryant admitted to an adulterous sexual encounter with his accuser, but denied her sexual assault allegation.
Charges: One count of felony sexual assault
Hearings Location: Eagle County, Colorado
Trial Date: Jury selection began on August 27, 2004, but on September 1, the judge dismissed that case after Faber refused to testify in the trial.
Judge: Frederick Gannett, Terry Ruckriegle
Lead Prosecutor: Mark Hurlburt
Lead Defense Attorney: Pamela Mackey, Hal Haddon
Verdict: Although the criminal case was dropped, a separate civil lawsuit against Bryant, which the two sides ultimately settled with undisclosed terms.

2) State of Nevada v. O.J. Simpson

Crime: On September 13, 2007, OJ Simpson led a group of men into a room at the Palace Station Hotel to retrieve sports memorabilia they claimed was stolen. Two days later OJ was arrested. Thomas Riccio, one of OJ’s friends and henchmen, captured the entire heist on audiotape.
Charges: Twelve counts including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, assault, robbery, and using a deadly weapon
Trial Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Trial Start Date: September 15, 2008
Judge: Jackie Glass
Lead Presecutor: David Roger, Chris Owens
Lead Defense Attorney: Yale Galanter, Gabriel Grasso
Verdict: October 3, 2008, guilty on all charges
Sentence: Fifteen years

1)The State of Florida v. Casey Marie Anthony

Crime: On July 15, 2008, Cindy Anthony called 9-1-1 to report her granddaughter Caylee as missing. When it emerged that Caylee’s mother, Casey, had last seen the girl on June 16—an entire month earlier—Casey Anthony became a suspect in the disappearance. Caylee’s body was found near the Anthony home on December 11, 2008.
Charges: First Degree Murder
Location: Orange County, Florida
Indictment Date: Casey Anthony was indicted on October 14, 2008.
Lead Defense Attorney: Linda Kenney Baden, Jose Baez

Guests for the Show:
Diane Dimond
Investigative reporter, author of Be Careful Who You Love: Inside the Michael Jackson Case
http://www.dianedimond.net/

Mike Brooks
Journalist, security consultant, law enforcement analyst for In Session

Midwin Charles
Founder Midwin Charles & Associates LLC, Legal Contributor for In Session
www.charleslawfirm.com/

Rita Cosby
Journalist, 3-time Emmy award winner
http://www.ritacosby.com/

Jane Velez-Mitchell
Host of Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell on HLN, author of iWant, My Journey from Addiction and Over-consumption to a Simpler, Honest Life
http://www.janevelezmitchell.com/

Lisa Sweetingham
Journalist, former CourtTV reporter, author of Chemical Cowboys: The DEA’s Secret Mission to Hunt Down a Notorious Ecstasy Kingpin
http://www.lisasweetingham.com/

Yale Galanter
Criminal Defense Attorney, he has defended OJ Simpson since 2001
http://www.galanterlaw.com/

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Vinnie Parco, P.I.

Vincent Parco, P.I. is here to talk about Tiger, cheating, and how not to get caught. Want to hire Parco? Visit him at www.ispyforyou.com.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Amanda Knox Verdict

Freelance journalist Andrea Vogt joined us this morning to discuss the Amanda Knox guilty verdict. She has been following the trial from Perugia, Italy for the Seattle Post Intelligencer. Despite broad criticism of the trial by the US media, Vogt maintains that Knox received a fair trial.


Thursday, December 3, 2009

Diabetes and Sexual Dysfunction

Don't be embarassed, give Dr. Alsikafi a call. He's our guest this hour when we discuss sexual dysfunction and diabetes. For anyone in Chicagoland, his office phone numerb is (847) 599-1111.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Which Tiger-Lady is the Hottest?

Which of Tiger Woods' alleged mistresses is the hottest? Are we sensing a type here?


Bachelorette #1: Rachel Uchitel

Bachelorette #2: Jaimee Grubbs

Bachelorette #3: Kalika Moquin

Or, the wife, Elin Nordegren. Would you cheat on this?
To be continued....?

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Michael Billy on Stage

If you're in New Jersey this weekend and like musicals, you can catch Michael Billy in The Garage Theater's production of The Music Man.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Jailhouse Jocks of the Decade

This Thanksgiving, Vinnie Politan will host a countdown of the Top 10 Jailhouse Jocks of the Decade on Sirius XM Radio. Vinnie is the host of Me & Vinnie (Sirius XM Stars Too, Sirius 108/XM 139, Monday-Friday 6 AM to noon ET; twitter.com/meandvinnie; non-subscribers can listen live here).

The Jailhouse Jocks Countdown will reveal the worst athletes of the past decade--not the worst in an athletic sense, the worst in the trouble-making sense. The athletes will be ordered according to the relative stupidity, notoriety and badness of their misconduct.

Vinnie will be joined by Will Leitch (Contributing Editor, New York Magazine; founder of Deadspin.com) and Ryan Smith (Host, In Session on TruTV; former counsel for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars). Plus, legendary sportscaster Len Berman will weigh in on the “Craziest Conduct” of the decade.

Top 10 Jailhouse Jocks of the Decade
10. OJ Simpson

CRIME: On September 13, 2007, a group of men led by OJ Simpson was arrested after robbing sports memorabilia from a Las Vegas hotel room. The entire heist was captured on audio tape.

RESULT: Although Simpson pleaded not guilty to twelve counts including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, assault, robbery, and using a deadly weapon, on October 3, 2008 he was found guilty on all charges. He is currently serving a fifteen year sentence at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Lovelock, Nevada as Inmate #1027820.

9. Ron Artest

CRIME: On November 19, 2004, a brawl broke out after the Pacers’ Ron Artest fouled Pistons center Ben Wallace. The brawl culminated in Artest punching a fan.

RESULT: Two days after the brawl, the NBA announced that Artest would be suspended for the remainder of the season (73 games and playoffs), the longest non-drug or betting related suspension in NBA history. Artest lost approximately $7 million in salary due to the suspension.

8. Dick Cheney

CRIME: While on a February 2006 Quail hunting trip in Texas, then-Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot his friend and hunting companion Harry Whittington. Whittington, a 78-year-old Texas attorney, was sprayed across the face, neck, and upper torso with birdshot.

RESULT: Whittington suffered a mild heart attack, and atrial fibrillation. The Kenedy County Sheriff's office cleared Cheney of any criminal wrongdoing in the matter, and in an interview with Fox News, Cheney accepted full responsibility for the incident. Later, Whittington apologized to the vice-president for the trouble the event had caused him and his family.

7. Kobe Bryant

CRIME: On July 4, 2003, Eagle, Colorado Sheriff Joe Hoy issued an arrest warrant for Kobe Bryant in connection with a sexual assault complaint filed by 19 year-old hotel employee Katelyn Faber. Bryant admitted to an adulterous sexual encounter with his accuser, but denied her sexual assault allegation.

RESULT: In September 2004, the assault case was dropped by prosecutors after Faber refused to testify in the trial. Afterward, Bryant agreed to apologize to Faber for the incident. The accusation tarnished Bryant's reputation, and the public's perception of Bryant plummeted. Faber filed a separate civil lawsuit against Bryant, which the two sides ultimately settled with undisclosed terms.

6. Tim Donaghy

CRIME: On July 20, 2007, columnist Murray Weiss of the New York Post revealed that the FBI was investigating allegations that NBA referee Tim Donaghy had placed tens of thousands of dollars in bets on games during the 2005–06 and 2006–07 season. By selectively calling fouls, Donaghy was able to manipulate the point spread of games he officiated.

RESULT: On August 15, 2007, Donaghy pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting wagering information through interstate commerce. Donaghy was sentenced in 15 months in prison. After serving 13 months of the sentence, he was released on November 4, 2009.

5. Jeremy Mayfield

CRIME: During a random drug screening on May 1, 2009 at Richmond International Raceway, NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield tested positive for methamphetamine. On July 6, 2009, Mayfield tested positive for methamphetamine a second time.

RESULT: Mayfield has been suspended indefinitely for violating NASCAR's substance abuse policy. He has countersued for breach of contract, discrimination and defamation, and the case remains in court. Mayfield recently auctioned off his 475-acre estate to raise legal funds, and hired celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos. He blames the drug test results on his ingestion of the allergy medicine Claritin D.

4. Jayson Williams

CRIME: On February 14, 2002, Jayson Williams shot and killed his driver Costas "Gus" Christofi while playing with a shotgun in his Alexandria Township, NJ home. Before alerting police of the incident, Williams attempted to disguise his role in the event.

RESULT: Williams was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter in 2004 but convicted of covering up the shooting. He is expected to plead guilty to an additional charge of aggravated assault. In the plea deal, Williams will receive a three-year jail term, with eligibility for parole after 18 months.

3. Roger Clemens

CRIME: In his 2005 book, Juiced, Jose Canseco blew the whistle on Roger Clemens’ steroid use. Clemens was again indicated by follow pitcher Jason Grimsley, and the Mitchell Report on steroid use in Baseball.

RESULT: Clemens has repeatedly denied receiving any illegal performance enhancing drugs in the media, in court, and before hearings in Congress. After his Congressional testimony, a House committee recommended that the Justice Department investigate whether Clemens lied under oath. A grand jury was convened in January, 2009 to hear evidence of a possible perjury, but has not yet rendered a decision.

2. Michael Vick

CRIME: In July 2007, Vick was indicted on federal offense and state felony charges relating to the enterprise of an interstate dog fighting ring. Vick was accused of financing the dog fighting operations, and directly participating in the fighting and executions of at least six dogs.

RESULT: A month after his indictment, Vick pleaded guilty to "Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture.” Vick was sentenced to serve 23 months in federal prison. He was released from prison on May 20, 2009, and on August 13, 2009, Vick signed a one year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

1. 2000 Spanish Intellectual Disability Basketball Team

CRIME: After winning a gold medal in Intellectual Disability Basketball at the 2000 Paralympics Games in Syndey, Australia, a member of the team revealed that ten of the Spanish team’s twelve athletes were not, in fact, disabled. The team was outed by Carlos Ribagorda, an undercover journalist who was invited to join the team despite his lack of any disability.

In their first match, the team played too well and, when more than 30 points
ahead at half-time, were ordered by their coach to slow down their scoring
and let the other team shoot more. But their biggest mistake was to win
gold…. They were advised by officials to wear dark glasses and hats and grow
beards in order to pass unnoticed at the team's triumphal return home at
Madrid's Barajas airport. (The Guardian, 2008)


Ribagorda claims that the Spanish Federation for Mentally Handicapped Sports “didn't hesitate in signing up athletes without any type of handicap…..the aim of this policy was to win medals and gain more sponsorship.”

RESULT: The Spanish team was ordered to return its medals. After the incident, the International Paralympic Committee suspended all official sporting activities involving an intellectual disability, citing serious problems regarding the determination of eligibility.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Josef Fritzl

Bojan Pancevski joins us to talk about the story of Josef Fritzl. His new book is I'm No Monster.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

What is forensic entomology?

Tim Downs, novelist and forensic entomology expert is here to explain what forensic entomology is. Check out his books HERE.

Giuseppi

Rising legal star Joseph DiBenedetto is here to share some insight into the Mike Tyson arrest, and to opine on other legal stories of the day.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Real Men Get Snipped!

Vasectomy coach Rob Hunter is in studio to convince you to get the snip. http://www.realmengetsnipped.com/

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Your Death Penalty Questions Answered

Yesterday you all had lots of good questions about the workings of the death penalty system. Today on the show we'll talk to Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center to answer all your questions.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

The Boob Test

Can you tell the real boobs from the fake ones? Here's the link. We'll discuss this on Friday's show.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Billy Gets to Hug Vinnie

Major Announcement: Vinnie is leaving New York City. Effective Immediately. Michael Billy gives him a goodbye hug.

Don't worry, Vinnie will still be on the air....but now from a mystery location.

"We did this for the show"


Ahh, the refreshing honesty of six year olds.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

R.I.P., Captain Lou

Vinnie and Captain Lou, MSG 1979

Today's show brought to you by...the number 9!

Vinnie flashes nine fingers with Scott Flansburg, the Human Calculator. Many of you asked about his book; It is called Math Magic. Sign your kid of for the American Math Challenge.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Mark Fuhrman

Mark Fuhrman is in studio today to debate the media's role in police work. His new book is The Murder Business.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Happy Columbus Day!

Ralph Cinque, author of Vinland, the new graphic novel about Lief Ericson, is on the show today to break the sad news to Vinnie that Christopher Columbus WAS NOT the first European to reach the Americas.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Peeper's Sketch

Courtroom artist's sketch of Erin Andrews' peeper Michael David Barrett.

The Polanski tapes

Hollywood has been quick to the defense of Roman Polanski. All week Vinnie has been livid that anyone would stick up for this child rapist, just because he made some good movies. In our last hour of the week, with some help from Andrew Goldberg of TheSmokingGun.com, we read the transcripts of Samantha Gailey's grand jury testimony, and of the proceeding where Roman Polanski entered his guilty plea.

Anyone that thinks Polanski did nothing wrong, anyone that thinks Polanski was tricked by a twisted judge, listen to these clips.





Friday, October 2, 2009

Monday, September 28, 2009

Steph Watts

Investigative reporter Steph Watts is in studio to tell us what he's working on these days. Follow his work on HIS BLOG.

We Heart Buttons

Who's the DJ, Nicky Buttons' reality show, is underway. More pictures at DJ Clue's website: www.djclue.tv/

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Legal Insanity Thursday

Attorney, Bachelor, Former Comedian and Vince Vaughn sound-alike Eric Richman is in studio. Will he accept our offer to set him up on a date with your other favorite single lawyer Tamara Holder?

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Vote for DJ React

Nicky Buttons: By day Me & Vinnie board op. By night DJ React, night club superstar.

Breaking News: Nicky Buttons will be staring as a contestant on Who's the DJ, a reality show where top DJs will battle and cohabitate. http://www.djclue.tv/

Check out more of Nicky Buttons' music at his MySpace page. http://www.myspace.com/djreact

See him perform on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/DJReact33

And also follow him on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DJReact

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Autism and the Law

Autism expert Dr. Robert Melillo is here to discuss the case of an autistic teen accused of killing his mother. His book about autism is Disconnected Kids. More information at BrainBalanceCenters.com.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Rod Blagojevich Interview

Vinnie and Dr. J with former Ill. Governor Rod Blagojevich


Discussed here: will Blago testify at his trial: will Patti Blagojevich take the stand; Christopher Kelly's death


Discussed here: Blago ranks the crimes of other disgraced governors; Rock n Roll v. Disco; Naked men; Rebbie Jackson


Discussed here: Who would Blago fight in a celebrity boxing match; Blago's favorite Chicago pizza place; Blago comparing himself to Gandhi in an NBC interview; Blago listens to himself sing Elvis karaoke

Monday, September 14, 2009

Rod Blagojevich. What should we ask him on Tuesday? Post your suggestions below.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Here Comes the Judge

Judge Lynn Toler, host of Divorce Court, is here today. Her new book is Put It in Writing!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Mexican world records!

Mexicans are obsessed with breaking world records. Here's a video of the world record most people dancing together to Michael Jackson's Thriller.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

More Renaissance Faire Pictures

Vinnie and Michael Billy are the guests of honor at the jousting event


Vinnie and Michael, plus producer, Dr. J

Vinnie and Michael with the Queen