INSTANT KARMA: Michael Vick Chew Toy
“Is your hunger for Michael Vick merchandise gnawing at you now that the NFL and Nike have pulled all things related to the Falcons’ quarterback from the shelves? In the wake of Vick’s federal indictment on dog-fighting charges, www.vickdogchewtoy.com is offering the ultimate opportunity for Fluffy to get his revenge. According to the Web site, the Vick Dog Chew Toy — at $10.99 plus $2 shipping — will be available for delivery starting Tuesday — but get yours while you can. The toy likely infringes on rights to use Vick’s name and image, as well as on NFL trademarks.” [via CHICAGO TRIBUNE]
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HOORAY FOR PHILLYWOOD: Now Hiring — The Dream Factory
“Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell has announced that a California movie mogul plans to build a major motion picture studio in the Delaware Valley, at a site yet to be determined. “A major movie and entertainment studio will be constructed somewhere in the Delaware Valley. There are three sites in consideration, one in Bucks County, one in Delaware County, one in Philadelphia.” The developer is Hal Katersky of Santa Monica, Calif., who recently built a major studio facility in Albuquerque, N.M. He says Hollywood is hungry for less costly places to film. Katersky won’t reveal the sites he’s considering here, but he says the facility, costing upwards of $200 million, will allow for major movie and television productions — and he hopes to have it up and running by the end of 2008.” [via KYW]
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NOT ME: Utah Mine Owner Blames Earthquake, Media, And Miners’ Union
“During a press conference Tuesday on the status of six men trapped in a Utah coal mine, Robert E. Murray, chairman of Murray Energy Co. (an owner of the Crandall Canyon mine) yelled at circling news helicopters and insisted, “There is no emergency here.” He ordered the sheriff to get rid of the helicopters, screaming on-camera to “get ‘er done.” Murray spent a majority of the conference asserting an earthquake was to blame for the cave-in and repeatedly denied that any mine practices might have played a role.” CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO [via HUFFINGTON POST]
UPDATE: HUNTINGTON, Utah (CNN) — Efforts to reach six men trapped in a collapsed coal mine in Utah were “wiped out” Tuesday by what the mine operator’s CEO called continuing “seismic and tectonic activity.” “There is absolutely no way that through our underground rescue effort we can reach the vicinity of the trapped miners for at least one week,” said Robert Murray, CEO of Murray Energy, the parent company of the mine’s operator. “We are back to square one,” he said.