Russia has closed all casinos overnight, leaving approximately a third of a million people unemployed!
"I feel terrible. We just let 1,000 people go," said Yuri Boyev, general director at Metelitsa, a high end casino frequented by billionaires the home of gas giant Gazpro's lavish Christmas parties.
Prime minister Vladimir Putin came up with the idea during his presidency in 2006 after several gaming operations in Moscow were linked to Georgian organized crime.
The government plans to restrict gambling to Las Vegas-style gaming zones in four rarely visited regions that need major investments.
The development replacement zones require funds of up to $40 billion and have not been built.
"The zones have no roads, water or electricity. We fulfilled the law by shutting, the government did not fulfill it as the zones are not ready yet," said Boyev.
In order to compensate for jobs lost, the Kremlin guaranteed work in restaurants and shopping centers that are to replace casinos, but the gambling industry has its doubts.
The unemployment rate in Russia it at an eight-year high!!!!!
Even though casinos knew the shutdown date for at least a year, few thought the government would go through with it, as gaming brings in up to $7 billion and $1 billion in taxes.
The people of Russia will suffer more from the lack of funds than organized crime!
Citizens paying the price for political power struggles!
That remains to be seen, but President Barack Obama insists that he will not neglect the rights of the gay community any longer. The President invited leaders of the community to the White House today for a reception celebrating Gay Pride Month.
He spoke to the audience about the "support" the community will garner from himself and the First Lady and looks forward to changing minds as well as laws.
"I will not only be your friend, I will continue to be an ally and a champion and a president who fights with you and for you," he said.
You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?????
The President addressed the fact that many gay rights leaders have viewed his administration as being somewhat lax in the fight for equal rights. However, Obama assured his guests that the fight was just beginning and that the community should look forward for things to come: "I know many in this room don't believe that progress has come fast enough. And I understand that…I expect and hope to be judged not by words, not by promises I've made, but by promises that my administration keeps."
Some of the plans he intends to implement include an "employee nondiscrimination bill" and a "hate crimes bill" for the protection of gays and lesbians, a rescindication on a ban on entry into the US based on HIV status, and a repeal on the "don't ask, don't tell" military policy that allows homosexuals to serve as long as they don't disclose or act on their sexual orientation.
As for same-sex marriage, Obama still seems to be taking a backseat on that one, noting that he "has issued a presidential memorandum expanding some federal benefits to same-sex partners", but it doesn't include health benefits or pension guarantees.
Keep going, Mr. President. We know you can do much more. Let's see it happen!
We posted yesterday that the baby-faced Nick Jonas would be in Washington D.C today, Wednesday.
Above, he is seen testifying for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation during a Senate hearing. Nick, along with many other celebrities, urged the Senate for federal funding for Type 1 Diabetes research at the Senate Dirksen Building.
Who could say "no" to Nick Jonas?
Give'em what he wants!
The President's kids adore him! You don't want to upset them…do you?
We've got yet another unfaithful politician on our hands!
Married South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has admitted to having an affair with an Argentinean woman!
Sanford finally fessed up to an affair that was discovered 5 months ago with a "dear, dear friend from Argentina" while secretly visiting her in Buenos Aires.
Ick!
"I'm a bottom-line kind of guy. I'll lay it out, it's going to hurt, and we'll let the chips fall as they may," said Sanford at a news conference on Wednesday in Columbia.
So why did Sanford admit to cheating on his wife so publicly??
The South Carolina governor has dropped the ball politically, according to his colleagues and critics.
Earlier Wednesday, South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler said in a statement it was the "height of irresponsibility for the governor to walk out on his solemn duty to the people of South Carolina.
"When it comes to the real needs and concerns of South Carolinians, Mark Sanford has been pretty much missing in action for the last six-and-a-half years. But it is not acceptable for him to be actually missing," South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler stated on Wednesday morning.
She continued: "However, as disturbing as it is to walk out on your responsibilities without telling anyone, what's more troubling is that the governor and his staff have been less than truthful about his whereabouts."
Sanford had been MIA from South Carolina since the 18th, and originally claimed he was busy "hiking in the Appalachian Trail."
Oh, how technology has made it so easy to spot a liar!
All kinds of goodies are starting to pour out in the investigation of Portland's gay Mayor, Sam Adams. Mayor Adams was accused of sleeping with a young intern, which he initially fervently denied.
He then conceded and admitted to the relationship and today his lawyers released this statement to follow up his apology:
"In 2005, Sam Adams was briefly and stupidly involved sexually with an 18-year-old man. In 2007, Sam Adams' political ambition overcame his sense of responsibility and he tried to cover it up. In 2009, Sam Adams' knowledge of what it means to do the right thing, vis a vis Mr.Breedlove, was restored. Ironically, it served to lay him low at the very moment of his greatest political success. He has been publicly humiliated. He is sincere in his oft repeated apologies to friends, constituents and fellow citizens. He wants now to be the leader he was elected to be. Whether he is permitted to do so will be decided by the voters of Portland when the recall effort is launched in a few days. It is best kept in their hands. No crime was committed."
Only minutes after this was released did the media catch wind of some revealing text messages sent between Adams and his former lover! The texts range from discussing lawyers to Beau's infamous interview with The Oregonian to some genuine moments of sadness between the two men. At one point, Breedlove apologies to Adams for the situation, but Adams responds: " ?… I'm the felon, the slutty trashy felon. All over the news…I'm so sorry Beau."
And this is why you never want to cover shiz up and never leave a paper trail to out you. Or, in this case, a texting trail.
This is sure to get much uglier for ole' Sam Adams!
Everyone wants a piece of the pie when it comes to the John Edwards babymama drama!
Andrew Young originally claimed to be the father of Rielle Hunter's baby, but after the media learned the child was the result of a sultry tryst between Hunter and the former presidential nom, he's now selling his story!
At least trying to.
Young, a long-time friend of Edwards, wanted to "set the record straight" by writing the tell-all, because he believes his reputation is destroyed and wants to repair that shiz ASAP.
The faux baby-daddy is shopping around a proposal which exposes the sex scandal in great detail: Young was paid off by "Texas fat cat" Fred Baron (as instructed by Edwards) to claim paternity of the love child and invite Hunter to live with him, his wife and three children.
Today, Wednesday, President Obama will sign a presidential memorandum extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees, but will not, however, sign over full health insurance coverage. To do so would require a legislative process.
In an Oval Office announcement, Obama will detail which benefits same-sex partners will receive. The announcement comes as the President faces unrest from the gay and lesbian community, which has become wary of Obama's seemingly empty promises to "fight hard" for equality. Recently, several gay donors withdrew sponsorship from a Democratic National Committee fund-raising event where Vice President Biden is scheduled to speak.
GOOD!!!!
Obama has demonstrated reluctance to dive into more divisive gay issues, such as overturning the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy, extending benefits of government employees, or repealing the hateful Defense of Marriage Act.
While we think Obama's latest move is a step in the right direction, it's a bit disappointing that we've had to light a fire under his ass to get the gears in motion!
The Daily Show took a cue from The Colbert Report and are now traveling beyond the green screen!!!
Senior investigative foreign correspondent, Jason Jones, will venture into Iran to "search for human decency in a nation most commonly know for hating western civilization" in Jason Jones in Iran: Access of Evil.
The week long segment will feature Jones and producer Tim Greenberg visiting destinatations throughout the Republic. including Tehran, Qom and the Imam Mosque in Esfahan.
The Daily Show duo will attend a speech given by President Ahmadinejad, along with speaking to a cross-section of Iranian society including a Zoroastrian priest, an Iranian family, an underground rapper, a feminist blogger, former Vice President of the Republic Islamic cleric, Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Ali Abtahi and former Foreign Minister and aide to Ayatollah Khomeini, Dr. Ebrahim Yazdi.
In order to accommodate communication in Iran - which, in the face of a possibly rigged election and consequential protests and information blockade has been using Twitter to spread news regarding - the microblogging site has rescheduled its maintenance downtime.
Twitter announced its plans via its blog, expressing gratitude for network partners NTT America for "being flexible in what is essentially an inflexible situation."
