Christina McDowell (then Prousalis) with her father and his private plane during headier times.
BY CHRISTINA MCDOWELL
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, dear Kings of Hollywood, but you have been conned.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Christina McDowell, formerly
Christina Prousalis. I am the daughter of Tom Prousalis, a man the Washington Postdescribed as "just some guy on trial for penny-stock fraud."
(I had to change my name after my father stole my identity and then
threatened to steal it again, but I'll get to that part later.) I was
eighteen and a freshman in college when my father and his attorneys
forced me to attend his trial at New York City's federal courthouse so
that he "looked good" for the jury -- the consummate family man.
And you, Jordan Belfort, Wall Street's self-described Wolf: You
remember my father, right? You were chosen to be the government's star
witness in testifying against him. You... [Read the full story at LA Weekly]
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Contributed by S. Rothe' du Bois What is Himalayan Pink salt?
Himalayan salt is a pure, hand-mined salt that is derived from ancient sea salt
deposits. Himalayan Pink Salt is used by holistic chefs, spas, health
professionals, and individuals for its range of nutritional and
therapeutic properties.It is believed to be the purest of all known salts.
According to Healthy Life, Himalayan Pink Salt was originally formed from marine fossil deposits
over 250 million years ago during the Jurassic era. Harvested from
ancient sea beds, this rare and extraordinary salt has been a valuable
commodity for centuries. Historically, the Himalayan people used this
salt to preserve their fish and meat throughout the year, and every
spring they transported the salt to Nepalese valleys for trade. Heavily
burdened yaks would carry the salt along narrow sloping paths,
mountains, and cliffs in order to sell and exchange the salt for other
commodities.
Himalayan Pink Salt is still extracted from mines by hand, according to
long-standing tradition, and without the use of any mechanical devices
or explosion techniques. After being hand-selected, the salt is then
hand-crushed, hand-washed, and dried in the sun. However it should be
noted that most of the commercial supply of Himalayan Pink Salt on the
market today is currently coming from the mountainous regions of
Pakistan.
For culinary purposes, simply dissolve the salt into soups and hot
dishes, or place the coarse salt crystals into a salt grinder and mill
directly onto dishes.
Benefits of Himalayan Pink salt:
Pink salt can be used to stimulate circulation, relax the body, lower
blood pressure, sooth sore muscles, and remove toxins from the body.
Anti-aging; rids the body of acidic wastes that cause degeneration
Peaceful, relaxed quality of energy, better moods, positive thoughts
Ease cramps, constipation, digestive disorders
Regulates and purifies critical body fluid levels
Purifying, detoxifying to the blood
Stronger libido, sexual vitality, more vigor
Essential minerals replenishes vital electrolytes
Nutrients are absorbed more efficiently by the body.
Foods cooked with Himalayan Pink Salt taste better, and their nutrients are absorbed better by the body.
If you suffer from food allergies, Himalayan Pink Salt does not contain
anti-caking or flow agents, is not heat treated, and is non-iodized.
Iodized table salt contains dextrose derived from corn, one of the most
common allergens.
Table salt, as well as many of today's popular sea
salts contains anti-caking and flow agents derived from alumino-silicate
of sodium or yellow prussiate of soda. These desiccants, along with
various bleaching agents, make refined salt little more than an
industrial waste byproduct. Himalayan Pink Salt offers the healthiest
alternative, and is unrefined, all natural, with no additives of any
kind.
It also contains 84 minerals and elements in trace amounts which the
body needs to stay healthy. That makes it not only a super Nutritional
Supplement and Electrolite Balancer, but a wonderful Anti-Oxidant.
It is also pollution free having been deposited under an ancient sea
bed over 250 million years ago when there was no pollution on earth.
It is that time of the year, gathering holiday gift ideas. Where to start your search? Begin with the most anticipated luxurious wish guide, Christmas Book proffered by none other than, Neiman Marcus.
The arrival of the holiday season is marked by the launch of the Christmas Book
at Neiman Marcus.
The 87th edition of the legendary Christmas Book is a
guide to the best of Neiman Marcus gifts for everyone in the family,
including the most expected Fantasy Gifts. We present you eight
spectacular, one-of-a-kind gifts that promise the best of the Neiman
Marcus lifestyle. Start with a luxe gym ciclotte and move on to amazing
travel companions, the most exclusive modes of transportation, and the
ultimate diamond experience.
Let us know what is on top of your list this Holiday season!
“His & Hers” 2013 – Ultimate Outdoor Entertainment System, $1,500,000
An outdoor television that emerges from its discreet, underground
cache, telescoping upward and unfolding to reveal its mega 201″ C SEED
screen. The system includes technologically advanced speakers,
subwoofers and amplifiers that project unparalleled sound, a DirecTV®
satellite and DVD management system, and a built-in movie package
featuring up to 300 movies and concerts. Plus, that never-ending
argument over who controls the remote is no longer an issue. Two Apple®
mini iPadsTM serve as the remotes; one for him and one for her.
With every Ultimate Outdoor Entertainment System purchase, NM will donate $10,000 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation.
Bespoke Global Falconry Companion, $150,000
Consider yourself lucky to take part in an ancient sport once
reserved for nobles of Medieval Europe, the Middle East, and the
Mongolian Empire. The falconry comes with a portable mew and matching
custom trunk, a 20-karat gold-plated perch, hand-carved stands, leather
perch scale, and hand-sewn glove, anklet, and exotic-skin hoods by Ken
Hooke, the world’s preeminent falconry hood maker. Next, the furniture:
Chatwin chairs and a foldout table by Richard Wrightman. Imagine
unfolding the beautiful, handmade backgammon board from Alexandra
Llewellyn, whilst pouring yourself a drink from one of the lead crystal
decanters, and smoking your favorite cigar, using your matching cigar
cutter by David Linley.
With every Bespoke Global Falconry Companion purchase, NM will donate $1,500 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation.
Ciclotte, $11,000
This modern spin on the exercise bicycle will ensure it never gets
relegated to the basement. A blend of amazing form and state-of-the-art
function, the Ciclotte’s large wheel is a nod to the unicycles of the
late 1800s, but that’s where the design reminiscing ends. This piece is a
study in the power—and beauty—of simplicity. Good looks aside, its
dynamic design is rivaled only by its effortless performance. Sitting
astride your cycle, you adjust the angle of the carbon-fiber handles,
choose from one of 12 levels of resistance, engage the pedals, and ride
your way to a fitter, healthier you.
With every Ciclotte purchase, NM will donate $1,000 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation.
Every extraordinary gem has a history, but rare is the opportunity to
trace its provenance. This once-in-a-lifetime adventure starts with a
trip to the De Beers headquarters in London. You’ll receive your
25-carat rough and uncut Forevermark® diamond, learn about the unique
inscription it will receive, and meet the master craftsman who will
hand-cut and polish it to perfection. A private tour of The Crown Jewels
and dinner with De Beers CEO Philippe Mellier and Forevermark CEO
Stephen Lussier in the Tower of London follow. Your journey continues on
a vessel off Namibia’s coast, where your diamond was first discovered.
You’ll then explore rough-diamond sorting houses and a children’s
community project, where the population benefits from Forevermark’s
responsible sourcing of diamonds. Lastly, meet with New York jewelry
designer Maria Canale in the US to design the ring that will exhibit
your exceptional diamond.
With the purchase of the Forevermark Ultimate Diamond Experience, NM
will donate $10,000 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation.
The Glass house Experience, $30,000
For the first time ever, you and a very lucky guest get to experience
an overnight stay in the New Canaan, Connecticut, weekend residence of
world-renowned architect and art patron, Philip Johnson. Get
up-close-and-personal access to the life and style of one of the
twentieth century’s most revered visionaries as you wander among the 14
architectural structures, study his world-class modern painting and
sculpture collection, visit the private library, and stroll through the
49 acres of bucolic grounds. Up to ten of your nearest and dearest will
join you at Philip Johnson’s table for a locally sourced, multicourse
culinary experience.
All of the proceeds of this purchase will go toward the nonprofit
National Trust for Historic Preservation, which supports Club Glass
House, a program that provides educational tours to children.
Indian Larry’s “Wild Child” Motorcycle, $750,000
Handbuilt in Brooklyn, New York, for the Discovery Channel “Biker
Build-Off” series, “Wild Child” is considered the pinnacle of Indian
Larry’s artistic achievements. It features his signature-dished tank,
root beer metal flake paint, twisted down tube frame, and a truly unique
engine with a shovelhead front cylinder, panhead rear, and jockey
shift. An open belt drive is emblazoned with the “Wild Child” name.
Brass accents and a handcarved leather seat complete the picture of this
motorized masterpiece. A second gift offered by Indian Larry, “Question
Everything”, $80,000 (available online), is modeled after Indian
Larry’s famous “Daddy O.”
With the purchase of “Wild Child,” NM will donate $7,000 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation.
The Neiman Marcus 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, $344,500
With its elegant profile and confident stance, your Neiman Marcus
2014 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante is one of only 10 in the world.
Beneath its NM Exclusive Seychelles Blue exterior exists the culmination
of a century of technological and engineering prowess.
Handbuilt in
Gaydon, England, your Vanquish Volante sports a 100% carbon fiber
shell—the first ever in Aston Martin’s history—allowing for a much
lighter car with greater torsional and structural rigidity, while
enhancing safety, performance, and handling. A new, naturally aspirated
6.0-liter, V-12 engine produces some 565 horsepower and is tuned to
deliver 457 pound-feet of torque. The engine sends the drive strictly to
the rear wheels via a six-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission,
making acceleration smooth, steady, and responsive. Like a certain
secret agent, you have a penchant for beautiful British automobiles—and a
taste for adventure.
With every purchase of the Neiman Marcus 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish
Volante, NM will donate $3,000 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation.
Contributors to Neiman Marcus Christmas 2013 Blog:
JPMorgan Chase & Co
is warning some 465,000 holders of prepaid cash cards issued by the
bank that their personal information may have been accessed by hackers
who attacked its network in July. The cards were issued for
corporations to pay employees and for government agencies to issue tax
refunds, unemployment compensation and other benefits.
JPMorgan
said on Wednesday it detected that its web servers used by its site
www.ucard.chase.com had been breached in the middle of September. It
then fixed the issue and reported it to law enforcement.
Bank
spokesman Michael Fusco said that in the months since the breach was
discovered the bank has been investigating to find out exactly which
accounts were involved and what pieces of information could have been
taken. He declined to discuss how the attackers breached the bank's
network.
Fusco said the bank is
notifying the cardholders, who account for about 2 percent of its
roughly 25 million UCard users, about the breach because it cannot rule
out the possibility that their personal information was among the data
removed from its servers.
The bank
typically keeps the personal information of its customers encrypted, or
scrambled, as a security precaution. However, during the course of the
breach, personal data belonging to those customers had temporarily
appeared in plain text in files the computers use to log activity.
The
bank believes "a small amount" of data was taken, but not critical
personal information such as social security numbers, birth dates and
email addresses.
Cyber criminals
covet such data because it can be used to open bank accounts, obtain
credit cards and engage in identity theft. Many states require banks to notify customers if they believe there is any chance that such information may have been taken in a breach.
The bank is also offering the cardholders a year of free credit-monitoring services.
The warning only affects the bank's UCard users, not holders of debit cards, credit cards or prepaid Liquid cards.
Fusco
said the bank has not found that any funds were stolen as a result of
the breach and that it has no evidence that other crimes have been
committed. As a result, it is not issuing replacement cards.
The
spokesman declined to identify the government agencies and businesses
whose customers it had warned about the breach. Fox 8 News in New
Orleans reported on its website that three Louisiana agencies were
notified by the bank on Wednesday that the personally identifiable
information of some state citizens may have been exposed.
State officials could not be reached for comment late Wednesday.
The bank said it does not know who was behind the attack, though the Secret Service and FBI are investigating the matter.
Businesses and government agencies are increasingly using prepaid cards because they are easier to cash than paper checks.
Yet
the vast stores of data behind payment cards of all kinds have created
new risks. In 2007 some 41 million credit and debit card numbers from
major retailers, including the owner of T.J. Maxx stores, were stolen.
In May of this year U.S. prosecutors said a global cybercrime ring had stolen $45 million from banks by hacking into credit card processing firms and withdrawing money from automated teller machines in 27 countries.
(Reporting by David Henry in NEW YORK and Jim Finkle in BOSTON; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
Actor Paul Walker, passed away today due to a fatal car crash. Saturday, November 30, 2013.
Paul Walker, the actor whose stardom catapulted with the Fast and
Furious movie franchise, died Saturday in a car crash in Southern
California. He was 40 years old.
His publicist, Ame Van Iden,
confirmed Walker's death. His official Twitter and Facebook fan pages
released a statement Saturday night that said the actor died in an accident while attending a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide.
"He was a passenger in a friend's car, in which both lost their lives," read the statement signed #TeamPW.
"We appreciate your patience as we, too, are stunned and saddened
beyond belief by this news. Thank you for keeping his family and friends
in your prayers during this very difficult time."
The celebrity news website TMZ reported Walker was in a Porsche that lost control and crashed into a tree.
A statement from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station said
deputies responded to a fiery crash in Valencia about 3:30 p.m. Saturday
afternoon.
"The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded,
extinguished the fire and subsequently located two victims inside the
vehicle. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene," the statement
read.
The other person in the car has not been identified.
Walker had been filming the seventh movie in the "Fast and Furious" series before the crash took his life.
The original movie, titled The Fast and the Furious, starred Walker
alongside Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster. Walker
played Brian O'Conner, an undercover Los Angeles police officer assigned
to infiltrate the world of underground street racing who eventually got
pulled into the lifestyle.
Walker had parts in notable films
before joining the Fast and Furious franchise. He played in the popular
teen-centric films Varsity Blues and She's All That as well as
Pleasantville and a headlining role in Meet the Deedles.
Prior
to that, he had bit TV parts in Touched By an Angel, The Young and the
Restless, Who's the Boss, Charles in Charge and Diff'rent Strokes.
Walker began acting as a young child, and his first roles were in TV commercials. He was born Sept. 12, 1973 in Glendale, CA.
Story By George Jones/Raycom
Universal conveyed its condolences to Walker's family, saying, "All of us at Universal are heartbroken. "Paul was truly one of the most beloved and respected members of our
studio family for 14 years, and this loss is devastating to us, to
everyone involved with the Fast and Furious films, and to countless
fans."
More tributes flowed on social media websites such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
"So sad. He gave a lot of joy," wrote James Franco, while model/actor
Tyson Beckford posted "Tyson Beckford: RIP Paul Walker, loved working
with you on "Into the Blue."
Television host Carson Daly said that he was "Sick about the tragic
loss of #PaulWalker.
"I enjoyed our time together very much. Such a
really nice guy," while actress Alyssa Milano, current host of "Project
Runway All Stars," protested "No. No. No" before adding "Rest with the
angels."
