Powerball jackpot hits $325 million: What you should know

Powerball mania has begun: Saturday night's jackpot is already at $325 million and is expected to drive higher as Americans plunk down their hard-earned money in a bid to strike it rich.

No ticket-holder matched the six Powerball numbers Wednesday night. That means the top prize of $250 million went unclaimed, and rolls over. The Powerball jackpot is now up to $325 million, or a relatively paltry $202.9 million if the winning ticket-holder decides to cash out up front.

Powerball has been called "America's Game" and "America's Lottery," but that is a bit of a misnomer. You can't play Powerball everywhere -- the $2 tickets are sold only in 42 states, plus Washington, D.C., and the Virgin Islands.

The Powerball game itself is pretty simple. Five of the winning numbers are pulled from a drum containing 59 white ping-pong-style numbered balls, and one red ball is plucked from a drum containing 35 red balls. That red ball puts the "power" in Powerball. The jackpot goes to a ticket-holder who matches all five white balls in any order, plus the red Powerball. In all, there are nine ways to win.

In case you're wondering, the chances of winning that jackpot are said to be 1 in 175,223,510.00.
If you happen to live in a state like, say, California that is a total party pooper and does not participate in Powerball, you might be wondering whether you can buy Powerball tickets online.

We'll let Powerball.com answer that question so that there's no uncertainty: "No one can sell lottery tickets by mail or over the Internet across state lines or the U.S. national border. No one. Not even us. No one." (Some lotteries legally sell tickets online, but only to their in-state residents.)

You're probably too smart to fall for a lottery scam, but you might want to pass along this warning from Powerball to those who might not be as astute: A fairly common ruse is to send an e-mail or letter, or to use a phone call, to tell someone that he or she has won the lottery -- and needs only to make a small deposit to collect said winnings.

"NO. It is a common scam," says Powerball.com, adding: "You never have to send money to collect a legitimate lottery prize."

R.I.P. Whitney Houston

Legendary singer Whitney Houston has died, according to the Associated Press. She was 48.

Houston’s cause of death is currently unknown, however, the singer had a long history with drug and alcohol abuse. According to TMZ, Houston was found dead at the Beverly Hilton hotel.

A six-time Grammy winner, Houston sold more than 55 million albums in the U.S. and her 1987 album Whitney became the first album by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Her most recent LP, I Look to You, was released in August 2009.

In addition to her music career, Houston was an Emmy Award winning actress

ACTA: The Corporate Usurpation of the Internet

In the wake of a public outcry against internet regulation bills such as SOPA and PIPA, representatives of the EU have signed a new and far more threatening legislation yesterday in Tokyo. Spearheaded by the governments of the United States and Japan and constructed largely in the absence of public awareness, the measures of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) dramatically alter current international legal framework, while introducing the first substantial processes of global internet governance. With complete contempt towards the democratic process, the negotiations of the treaty were exclusively held between industry representatives and government officials, while excluding elected representatives and members of the press from their hearings.

Under the guise of protecting intellectual property rights, the treaty introduces measures that would allow the private sector to enforce sweeping central authority over internet content. The ACTA abolishes all legal oversight involving the removal of content and allows copyright holders to force ISPs to remove material from the internet, something that presently requires a court order. ISPs would then be faced with legal liabilities if they chose not to remove content. Theoretically, personal blogs can be removed for using company logos without permission or simply linking to copy written material; users could be criminalized, barred from accessing the internet and even imprisoned for sharing copyrighted material. Ultimately, these implications would be starkly detrimental toward the internet as a medium for free speech.

The Obama Administration subverted the legal necessity of allowing to US Senate to ratify the treaty by unconstitutionally declaring it an “executive agreement” before the President promptly signed it on October 1^st, 2011. As a touted constitutional lawyer, Barack Obama is fully aware that Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution, mandates Congress in dealing with issues of intellectual property, thus voiding the capacity for the President to issue an executive agreement. The White House refused to even disclose details about the legislation to elected officials and civil libertarians over concern that doing so may incur "damage to the national security." While some may hang off every word of his sorely insincere speeches and still be fixated by the promises of hope offered by brand-Obama, his administration has trampled the constitution and introduced the most comprehensive authoritarian legislation in America’s history. 

In addition to imposing loosely defined criminal sanctions to average web users, the ACTA treaty will also obligate ISPs to disclose personal user information to copyright holders. The measures introduce legislative processes that contradict the legal framework of participant countries and allows immigration authorities to search laptops, external hard drives and Internet-capable devices at airports and border checkpoints. The treaty is not limited solely to internet-related matters, ACTA would prohibit the production of generic pharmaceuticals and outlaw the use of certain seeds for crops through patents, furthering the corporate cartelization of the food and drug supply.

ACTA would allow companies from any participating country (which include EU member states, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Morocco) to shut down websites without any explanation. Hypothetically, nothing could prevent private Singaporean companies from promptly taking down American websites that oppose the Singapore Air Force conducting war games on US soil, such as those conducted in December 2011. By operating outside normal judicial framework, exporting US copyright law to the rest of the world and mandating private corporations to conduct surveillance on their users, all prerequisites of democracy, transparency and self-expression are an afterthought.  

The further monopolization of the existing resources of communication, exchange and expression is ever present in the form of deceptive new articles of legislation that unanimously call for the implementation of the same austere censorship measures. Even if the ACTA treaty is not implemented, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TTP) between Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Vietnam and the United States offers more extensive intellectual property regulations. Leaked documents prepared by the U.S. 

Business Coalition (which have been reportedly drafted by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufactures of America, the US Chamber of Commerce, and the Motion Picture Association of America) report that in addition to ACTA-style legislation, the TTP will impose fines on non-compliant entities and work to extend the general period of copy write terms on individual products. 

Under the sweeping regulations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, individual infringers will be criminalized and sentenced with the same severity as large-scale offenders. Within the United States, the recently announced Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade (OPEN) H.R. 3782 regulation seeks to install policies largely identical to SOPA and PIPA. The Obama administration is also working towards an Internet ID program, which may be mandatory for American citizens and required when renewing passports, obtaining federal licenses, or applying for social security. Spreading these dangerous measures to other countries participating in these treaties would necessitate a binding obligation on the US to retain these policies, averting any chance of reform.

The ACTA will become law once it is formally ratified and cleared by the European Parliament in June. By petitioning members of the European parliament and educating others about the potential dangers imposed by this legislation, there is a chance of the treaty being rejected. Upon closer examination of the human condition with all of its inequalities, food insecurity and dire social issues, our governments have lost their legitimacy for giving such unwarranted priority to fighting copyright infringement on behalf of lobbyists from the pharmaceutical and entertainment industries. The existence of ACTA is a clear statement that surveillance, regulations and securing further corporate centralization dwarfs any constructive shift towards stimulating human innovation and self-sufficient technologies.  

When former US National Security Advisor and Trilateral Commission co-founder, Zbigniew Brzezinski spoke before the Council on Foreign Relations in 2010, he warned of a global political awakening beginning to take place. Technology such as file sharing, blogging, and open source software has the potential to undermine the oligarchical governing interests seeking to centrally control our society and enforce the population into being entirely dependent on their commodities. The following excerpt from Brzezinski’s book Between Two Ages: America’s Role in the Technetronic Era, provides invaluable insight into the world being brought in; “The technetronic era involves the gradual appearance of a more controlled society. Such a society would be dominated by an elite, unrestrained by traditional values. Soon it will be possible to assert almost continuous surveillance over every citizen and maintain up-to-date complete files containing even the most personal information about the citizen. These files will be subject to instantaneous retrieval by the authorities.”

RECORD WEEKEND! ‘The Vow’ Beats ‘Safe House’ Friday: Both $38+M; ‘Star Wars 3D’ $9M-$23M; ‘Journey 2′ $6.5M-$24.5M

FRIDAY 9:30 PM, 4TH UPDATE: “I’d back off a little. So far we’re ahead by a lot,” a Sony exec tells me tonight about this seesawing battle at the box office Friday between The Vow and Universal’s Safe House. (Actually the difference is less than a mil.) After much bigger-than-expected midnights and matinees and now opening night, hang on for a wild ride because Hollywood is confident the North American box office can debut four major movies to $20+M on this non-holiday weekend. For certain, that’s never been done before.* I for one am relieved not to write the word ‘slump’ so far when it comes to 2012 since this is not just another ‘up’ weekend but a record-setter.

There are real surprises so far today: Sony Pictures/Screen Gems’ The Vow was expected to be the certain frontrunner because of strong tracking. It’s even bigger than projected. The PG-13 romantic tearjerker starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams took in $700K in midnight shows and then soared. It is coming on strong Friday evening – aka Date Night. Universal’s R-rated actioner Safe House also is wildly overperforming for an adult-targeted movie and is yet another winner for reliable Denzel Washington after adding $542K in midnights and taking flight. LucasFilm/Fox’s Star Wars 3D: Episode I – Phantom Menace roared in matinees just as it did in $1.1M midnights. But most of that was pre-sales and tonight its momentum is slowing to a $23M weekend which is still a lot of coin. Fanboys wanted to be first in line for this latest version of 1999′s much derided prequel; now can regular moviegoers tolerate Jar Jar Binks again? It all depends on how frontloaded this wild card winds up. If it is, it’ll be beaten by Warner Bros’ PG-rated Journey 2: The Mysterious Island which already opened better-than-expected overseas with $50M. It came on fierce late Friday to probably reach $24.5M in the U.S. and Canada. Stay tuned.

*For the record, on the 2008 holiday weekend December 26-28, all four movies opened on Christmas and all four enjoyed $20+M openings in the three-day weekend: Fox’s Marley And Me ($36.4M), Disney’s Bedtime Stories ($27.4), Paramount’s Benjamin Button ($26.9M), and MGM/UA’s Valkyrie ($21M).

Here are Top Ten Friday/weekend numbers which will refine later tonight:

1. The Vow (Screen Gems/Sony) NEW [2,958 Theaters]
Estimated Friday $15M, Estimated Weekend $39.2M

2. Safe House (Universal) NEW [3,119 Theaters]
Estimated Friday $14M, Estimated Weekend $38.6M

3. Star Wars 3D: Phantom Menace (LucasFilm/Fox) NEW [2,655 Theaters]
Estimated Friday $9M, Estimated Weekend $23M

4. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (Warner Bros) NEW [3,470 Theaters]
Estimated Friday $6.5M, Estimated Weekend $24.5M

5. Chronicle (Fox) Week 2 [2,908 Theater]
Estimated Friday $3.6M (-58%), Estimated Weekend $12M, Estimated Cume $39M

6. The Woman In Black (CBS Films) Week 2 [2,856 Theaters]
Estimated Friday $3.1M, Estimated Weekend $10M, Estimated Cume $35.2M

7. The Grey (Open Road) Week 3 [2,801 Theaters]
Estimated Friday $1.3M, Estimated Weekend $4.8M, Estimated Cume $42.5M

8. Big Miracle (Working Title/Universal) Week 2 [2,133 Theaters]
Estimated Friday $952K, Estimated Weekend $3.9M, Estimated Cume $13.3M

9. The Descendants (Fox Searchlight) Week 13 [1,581 Theaters]
Estimated Friday $941K, Estimated Weekend $3.4M, Estimated Cume $70.7M

10. Red Tails (Fox) Week 4 [1,580 Theaters]
Estimated Friday $746K, Estimated Weekend $2.8M, Estimated Cume $45.5M

Katherine Heigl's 'One For The Money' Is One For The Guys, Too

Katherine Heigl has become the queen of rom-coms. With a resume that includes, "27 Dresses," "Life As We Know It," and "New Years Eve," you know you are in for a perfect ladies' night out when you see a Katherine Heigl flick.

But what if you are bringing your boyfriend to the movies this weekend? Well, don’t worry ladies, you can bring your boys along to see Katherine’s new movie, "One For the Money." She promised us!

"I wouldn’t qualify it as a romantic comedy. It’s got that and it’s got comedy, but it’s mostly about this sort of murder mystery undertone that keeps it moving and keeps the pace going," Katherine told MTV News at the New York premiere. "I always feel like I’m selling it to men, like there’s explosions and there’s shooting. You’re gonna like it too, I promise."


Still not convinced? Well, let’s take some advice from her love interest in the flick, Jason O’Mara.

"I think if the guys come and see it, there’s gonna be lots in it for them. This is not a frilly romantic comedy," he said. "With all due respect to Katie’s past work, this is not "27 Dresses." There’s something kind of edgy, something kinda blue collar about this that gives it a bit of a realism, and I think it’s cool. Whether you’re male or female I think you’re gonna have a good time."

Will you be seeing “One For The Money"? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!

Sarah Burke Tribute at Winter X Games 2012

A friend, daughter, wife, sister, hero, legend was honored on the opening night of the 2012 Winter X Games in Aspen, CO. For a moment the action sports community paused to pay tribute to one of the greatest spirits to have graced this earth – Sarah Burke. To say the least, the dedication of the Winter X Games to the memory of Sarah was fitting.

In short, the tribute was poignant and emotionally stirring: Sal Masekela’s words spoke true, very very true…

“Sarah’s true legacy will not be found in any stat line or in any record book. You see, if you met Sarah Burke once, you had a friend for life…”

The opening day (and night) of competition at Winter X Games 2012 delivered moments of extraordinary athleticism, culminating with the crowning of champions. Yet, as impressive as these moments may have been (and will be to come), none will be as memorable as the bright shining light that is Sarah’s legacy. Thank you Sarah for all you have shown us – we will carry on your torch with heads held high.

Stop Censorship " STOP SOPA - PIPA !"

Why should you care about a bill called SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act)? Fight for the Future has a short video explanation of it. CNET also has a really good breakdown of how SOPA would affect you.


As a blogger, I’m concerned by the implications of bills like SOPA and the Senate version PIPA. As someone with a legal background, I’m even more alarmed that they might become law.

Copyright infringement is wrong — but so are overreaching laws that don’t give a damn about due process. Under SOPA, IP rights holders can proceed vigilante-style against allegedly offending sites, without any court hearing or any judicial intervention or oversight whatsoever. A “good faith belief” that an identified Internet site is “primarily designed or operated for the purpose of” infringement would be enough to initiate the process of blocking access to that particular site. Are we really going to let the government block websites based on a “good faith belief”?

This quote summarizes my feelings on the subject: “Copyright and trademark infringement on the Internet is a very real problem, and reasonable proposals to augment the ample array of enforcement powers already at the disposal of IP rights holders and law enforcement officials may serve the public interest. But the power to break the Internet shouldn’t be among them.” – Stanford Law Review

Addicted to the internet like I am? You should care about stopping SOPA and PIPA. Don’t let the big media companies buy the legalization of censorship. Contact Congress now. Check to see if your congressperson is a cosponsor of SOPA or of PIPA.