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September 30, 2003 star-bulletin report Calls to 'The Sweetheart' flirt with disaster By Tim Ryan -- Star-Bulletin Why does Paula Abdul hate me? I loved her as a L.A. Laker cheerleader. I think she is the sweetest judge on "American Idol" -- even to those with no talent. I even felt badly when I saw her arguing publicly with her second husband -- they're divorced now -- during their honeymoon at the Four Seasons Hualalai on the Big Island. Abdul is dubbed "The Sweetheart" on "American Idol," the runaway hit Fox TV show that has filled glossy magazines with endless "idol" tales, including Paula's, whose career has had more resurrections than the Star-Bulletin. So it would seem that "The Sweetheart" would be happy to talk about her long, storied, stalled, then born-again career, especially because "American Idol" begins its first round of Hawaii judging tomorrow at Aloha Stadium. "The Sweetheart" is very busy. So busy that she missed four -- nearly five -- telephone interview appointments initiated by "American Idol" execs and "The Sweetheart's" patient assistant, Ashley. One missed call was because a meeting went on longer than expected; the second was because the assistant forgot that "The Sweetheart" had to fly to San Francisco for "Idol" tryouts. (Couldn't she have called from the first-class lounge before taking the 45-minute flight from L.A.?) The third miss was the morning after the Emmy Awards, which "The Sweetheart" attended with the two other "Idol" judges -- Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell." Perhaps "The Sweetheart" was too fatigued from cruising post-show parties, or disappointed that the show lost. The fourth miss was a doozy. "The Sweetheart's" assistant asked if 7 a.m. Hawaii time would be too early. Desperate to chat for my designated "8 to 10 minutes," I was at my desk at 6:30 a.m. reviewing my notes about "The Sweetheart's" career. I was ready and alert. I don't have to tell you what happened. "The Sweetheart" didn't call at 7 a.m. or 7:30 or any time with a 7 in it. "The Dummy" -- that would be me -- sat there, I'm embarrassed to say, until 8:30 a.m. hoping that "The Sweetheart" hadn't dumped me again. It brought back awful memories of high school. My wife and daughter advised me to forget about the interview and chanted the mantra, "Dump 'The Sweetheart.'" But I was hooked on getting through. Then came Thursday and a ray of hope. "Paula is on her way to a meeting and she will call you in 15 minutes on her mobile," Ashley said. I believed. The phone rang 30 minutes later but that's OK, I was so ready. "Aloha, Ms. Abdul," I said. "Uh, this is Tom Moffatt," Uncle Tom said, laughing. "Still haven't reached 'The Sweetheart'?" I said something nasty, then my call waiting beeped. It was Ashley. "Paula is driving through a canyon and her cell phone isn't working. As soon as she's out of the canyon she'll call, like in 10 minutes or maybe 25." "Can we talk, Ash?" I say. "Paula dislikes me, doesn't she? Why do people call her 'The Sweetheart' if she doesn't call when she says she will call?" "Paula doesn't hate anybody; she's a people person." An hour later goes by -- well, two. It's sick, I admit, but I call Ashley back in my pursuit of "The Sweetheart." "Why is Paula doing this to me, Ashley?" "She still hasn't called you? Well, she just pulled into her garage. She'll call you on a land line, like in 30 seconds." My daughter walks into my office, looks at me, shakes her head in disgust and leaves. "Poor Dad," she says. Then it rings. I can hardly bring myself to lift the receiver. My hand is shaking, but I muster the courage and say "Tim Ryan, Star-Bulletin." "Hi Tim, this is Paula Abdul," says a voice obviously suffering from laryngitis. "Please don't be mad at me, Tim. I've been a little sick. I apologize, OK?" "OK." Ambition helps Abdul endure the tough times Paula Abdul is the 5-foot-2 firecracker who exploded on the charts in 1989 all sassy, sexy, and in perpetual motion, singing, dancing and choreographing. Over the next few years Abdul earned two multi-platinum albums, six No. 1 singles, a Grammy and two Emmys. She was by all accounts a superstar. Now Abdul is the only female among the three "American Idol" judges. She sees her role partly as a buffer to the war of words between Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson, and as the voice of compassion to contestants. "I think, being a woman, that it's natural for me to be more nurturing, patient and understanding," she says. "I don't take it personally when someone isn't most talented and makes some basic mistake auditioning. "I do think Simon sometimes is over the top with his remarks and I have told him that." Abdul said she knew she had attained fame when she, along with the other judges, started being parodied on the late-night comedy and talk shows. "We've become cartoon characters of ourselves," she said. "There's nothing funnier." But there was nothing funny when the princess of pop needed some compassion of her own after seemingly disappearing overnight from public life seven years ago. "I had three discs that were completely ruptured and worn out," Abdul says. "It was causing a paralysis. I was losing all of the ability to even feel down my right side. Then it started radiating through my lower back and through my right hip into my legs." But Abdul never stopped performing, suffering through 30 shows on tour with a torn knee. Finally, a plane crash in 1992 put her in constant pain. "It's something that is so aggressive that it takes your breath away and makes your teeth start chattering because it's so uncomfortable," she said. "They gave me pills that would put a 300-pound man out. And there were no answers. Sometimes medicine doesn't work." She had 10 spinal surgeries, three metal plates put in her neck, and lost an inch in height. "But I'm back and working with dancers and a new album. No one ever expected anything ever out of me. Paula Abdul just was a girl who always believed in herself against all odds, when no one else believed in me. I've always had to prove myself." "I think, being a woman, that it's natural for me to be more nurturing, patient and understanding," says Paula Abdul. Abdul knows a little something about what it takes to become an "idol." Her ambition put her in overdrive beginning in high school, where she was head cheerleader, class president, orchestra flutist, and -- lest you think she was an airhead -- a member of the science team. Her American idol was singer/dancer Gene Kelly, but at 5-foot-2, she was always the short one, rejected at auditions. "I'd go home and I'd cry. And I'd say, 'One day people are going to notice my talent.' " The rejections didn't stop her and in 1980 she became one of the L.A. Lakers cheerleaders. "I was the short girl who didn't -- who wasn't defined by the 't' and the 'a' and the blonde hair and the legs up to here," she says. "I was the least likely candidate." By age 19, she became the squad's head choreographer. Her Laker girl moves impressed the Jackson family and by 1986 she was side by side with Janet Jackson, creating the pop star's signature dance move, the snake. She choreographed music videos, the "Tracy Ullman Show," and movies like "Coming to America." A record deal followed, and in 1989 "Straight Up" shot up to the top of the music charts. Her career "was on a bullet train," she said. "But me, I was running to catch up, all the time. And it's scary." Suddenly Abdul couldn't catch up, and by the mid '90s the train started veering off track. Her third album sold just a fraction of what her previous ones had. She went through two divorces. Today, Abdul is keeping a more even pace and says, "I love my job as judge. "I count my blessings when I sit down in that seat and I wait for the contestants to get out there," she says. "I can't wait to let them see my excitement. You only dream of roles like this. I'm living my role in life." What about her advice to aspiring singers? "Realize the capacity of talent and what you have and set a time limit," she says. "If you don't reach your goal then you might be missing out on being a great doctor, lawyer, chief, whatever. If you have what it takes, keep going. "I've never climbed the conventional ladder to success of success or fame. I've always gone through the side routes, around, where you don't least expect it. I think that's what it takes. You can't just rely on one outlet, you just gotta go for it and keep going." Abdul gives "American Idol" finalists medallions she designs, offering the kind of encouragement that she says she never had. One medallion reads, "When you wish upon a star ... you might just become one." It's "The Sweetheart's" happy ending. » Posted by Igor at 9:44 AM | Discuss September 29, 2003 good day live Paula was on Good Day Live show today. She was talking about her relationship with Colton Melby, her and Simon Cowel's "Love Hate" relationship, the legs of a goddess, the Emmy's, and the new season of American Idol. She did not mention her plans about new album. » Posted by Igor at 11:19 AM | Discuss woman with the best legs in america The Gillette Company today announced the winner of the Passion Pink Venus "Legs of a Goddess" contest, ending a nationwide search to find the woman with the best legs in America. The search, which included competitions in 10 cities across the United States and online entries, was kicked-off by Paula Abdul in June 2003 to celebrate the new Passion Pink Venus razor for women. Twenty-six year old Mara Degenhardt, a Miami Beach native, was one of almost one thousand women nationwide to "strike a pose" for the contest judges. Judges - including wellness guru and celebrity fitness trainer David Kirsch and local modeling representatives - looked for legs that were shapely, toned and that had a good overall appearance. "The contest was a fun way to show women that they don't need to be supermodels to have great legs," said Nancy Teumer, Business Director for female shaving, The Gillette Company. "With regular exercise, proper diet and the right tools - including our new Passion Pink Venus razor - any woman can feel like a goddess." When notified of her selection, Ms.Degenhardt said, "How am I supposed to study for an accounting test when I've just won the Passion Venus 'Legs of a Goddess' contest?" Nicknamed "Legs" by her family and friends, Ms. Degenhardt is a Florida International University graduate student by day and a bartender by night. In addition to winning the coveted title, Mara will ride away in a vintage, pink Cadillac convertible and have the chance to appear in a Venus commercial. Gillette for Women Passion Venus is available to consumers in North America, Europe and select international markets in food, drug, convenience and mass merchandise stores. The shaving system, which includes the refillable razor, one additional cartridge and a storage compact, retails for approximately $7.99 to $8.99 [U.S.]. A package of four refill cartridges retails for approximately $7.99 to $8.99 [U.S.]. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., The Gillette Company is the world leader in male grooming, a category that includes blades, razors and shaving preparations. Gillette also holds the number one position worldwide in selected female grooming products, such as wet shaving products and hair epilation devices. In addition, the Company is the world leader in alkaline batteries, toothbrushes and oral care appliances. » Posted by Igor at 11:14 AM | Discuss music, movies & books join online lineup You can now get more free entertainment news and special features on our Web site at www.romenews-tribune.com. You'll find “Music, Movies & Books” listed along the menu on the left side of our home page. Click it and then click which area you want to go to first: My Music, My Movies or My Books. For example, go to “My Movies” and you'll find several ways to personalize your online movie experience. You can create your own movie diary; track your favorite stars and directors; create your own movie reports; view trailers from the top 10 movies now out; and much more. You can do the same with our new “My Music” listing. From Paula Abdul to the late Barry White, you can create your own online music diary. You'll also find the latest news from the music world, sound bites from the top five albums and singles, tips on how to customize your own music links and more. Many of the same features are available in our new “My Books” report as well. You can track the latest in print (and e-books) including top sellers and other popular features. Also, you'll find E-Games, our new online games feature. Just go to the menu and click Entertainment. Then click E-Games. You'll find new games daily to enjoy. Let us know what you think of these new features by e-mailing Features Editor Rebecca Grilliot at rgrilliot@rn-t.com. » Posted by Igor at 11:10 AM | Discuss September 28, 2003 cvs beauty magazine scans Here you can see scans from CVS Beauty magazine with Paula's pictures and article. >>>Picture 1 >>>Picture 2 >>>Picture 3 >>>Picture 4 >>>Picture 5 » Posted by Igor at 12:53 PM | Discuss September 26, 2003 10 most outrageous kisses Check out this week's In Touch. It has a list of the 10 Most Outrageous Celebrity Kisses, and Simon and Paula came in at #6. The article describes how much they feud, and how their fighting is even worse off camera, therefore, it is ironic that they shared such a passionate kiss. Simon is quoted as saying that waking up next to Randy was "like waking up next to Shamu the whale." There are also three photos from The Kiss scene. [Thanx StrawberryIdol] » Posted by Igor at 7:54 PM | Discuss boutique Paula at grand opening of the Donald J Pliner boutique in Beverly Hills benefiting The Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation - 9/25/2003.     » Posted by Igor at 11:39 AM | Discuss September 25, 2003 here come the judges >>>Here you can see a picture of American Idol judges at Emmy's from the new issue of US Weekly Magazine dated October 6, 2003. » Posted by Igor at 10:00 AM | Discuss September 24, 2003 more paula emmy pictures >>>Picture 1 >>>Picture 2 >>>Picture 3 >>>Picture 4 >>>Picture 5 » Posted by Igor at 11:27 AM | Discuss September 23, 2003 paula on amazing race Paula's clip was at the ET afterparty and she said "American Idol was a pop culture phenomenon and that she liked Amazing Race and was race they won." She was very gracious. » Posted by Igor at 11:54 AM | Discuss thousands go to pac bell park to take swing at 'american idol' By Susan Young, STAFF WRITER They belted out tunes while standing in line, critiquing each other, supporting each other, yet quick to shove each other out of the way when a reporter or someone with a camera came to talk about trying out for a spot on "American Idol." At 5:30 a.m. Monday, about 400 people were waiting near the Lefty O'Doul bridge at Pacific Bell Park for their shot at stardom. By 8 a.m., the line wrapped around the ball park to the Java House, an estimated 3,000 hopefuls plus their friends and family members. This was the first time auditions for the hit reality talent show have been held in the Bay Area, and contestants came from as far away as Washington state. Local musician Bud E. Luv was walking his corgi along the Bay front, amazed at how many people showed up to get their chance at a music contract. "I've been listening to these people singing, and I don't think they have much of a chance," Luv said. "This is just crazy. But I guess it's worth it to the ones who make it." Today, about 300 will go on to the second stage of auditioning in front of "American Idol" producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick. Those two will pick who gets to audition in front of "American Idol" judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul. One hundred to 130 local finalists will go to the next phase of auditions, which will be filmed in Los Angeles. The contestants will compete against hundreds of singers from New York, Atlanta, Houston and Honolulu. The final cut of the show airs in January. The atmosphere was enhanced by "American Idol" cameras swooping down on booms. Caprisha McCatheran, 22, of Richmond, screamed until she almost had no voice, dipping into her honey supply to ease the strain. "I've been singing since I was little and people called me to tell me about this," McCatheran said. "I'm going to sing, show a little leg and hope I get picked." Some people waiting to get into the park spent their time reading the rules, which said contestants must be 16 to 24 years old on Aug. 3, 2003 and that anyone with visible tattoos would be kicked out. That sent at least one young woman with ankle ink scurrying to the parking lot to get "concealer, socks, pants, whatever ..." from her car. All the contestants had queued up Sunday to pick up a wristband and tickets into Pac Bell Park. "I got here aboutone this morning, and I didn't know that they were going to kick us out of line," said Yvette Fragoza, 20, of Oakland, who nonetheless held a spot near the front of the line Monday morning. "Then they told us that it didn't matter where we were in line. We audition according to the section and row on our tickets." You can reach Susan Young at syoung@angnewspapers.com . Perky Charlotte Epperson, 18, of Redwood City, said she sang at the Cow Palace for the Grand National and at the San Mateo County Fair, but this was her first shot at the national spotlight. "I sing country and I've been told I have an original voice," Epperson said. "I'm hoping to bring country music to 'American Idol.' " The hopefuls were allowed into the park about 10 a.m., with the rounds of auditions before producers going quickly. Reporters weren't allowed inside the park during the auditions but were able to get a clear view from the public Portwalk outside the park on the right field side. Singers lined up at eight stations, four deep and three wide and sang a capella for producers sitting at tables under blue canopy tents. Some belted out the songs so loudly people walking past on the sidewalk could hear. Others barely whispered their songs. Those chosen for today's final auditions were directed to one exit, and those excused went out on the opposite side. Those who weren't picked showed a wide range of emotions. Some cried. Some said they were just happy to get the experience. And some said it looked like the producers were obviously choosing type over talent. "We got a tough judge," said McCatheran, who won't be going on to the next phase. "There was one person in our group who was wonderful and we were sure she was going, but she didn't get in either. I don't know what they are looking for." Union City singer Jumoke Hill, 19, was obviously on the judges' menu. Hill, who looks a lot like "American Idol 2" winner Ruben Studdard, said he stumbled over the words to his song, "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay." "I forgot the words, but I guess it sounded right to them," the laconic Hill said. "So, I guess I'm going on." » Posted by Igor at 9:38 AM | Discuss September 22, 2003 emmy's Paula Abdul , a judge on the reality show, 'American Idol,' arrived at the 55th annual Primetime Emmy Awards Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003, in Los Angeles. Abdul was a presenter at the awards show. >>>Picture 1 >>>Picture 2 >>>Picture 3 >>>Picture 4 » Posted by Igor at 11:09 AM | Discuss cvs beauty magazine Paula is on the >>>cover of CVS Beauty magazine. The article is 3 pages long and it just sums up Paula Abdul's career and her part as a judge on American Idol. There are 4 pictures, including the cover, all are from American Idol. There is one of her in the pink stripped shirt, the one of her in the yellow shirt, and the promo photo with Simon and Randy (Simons in the middle on a chair with Randy and Paula on either side). [Thanx Nicole] » Posted by Igor at 11:05 AM | Discuss September 20, 2003 download her true hollywood story If you did not have a chance to see Paula's "E! True Hollywod Story" then you can do it here at paula-online.com only.
» Posted by Igor at 9:46 AM | Discuss September 15, 2003 face the music (MEDIAGUARDIAN)--The US record industry has begun its first round of anti-piracy lawsuits in a bid to save its fortunes. David Teather reports from New York on one of the first people to be sued for downloading songs - a 12-year-old Madonna fan The American music industry last week turned its collective gaze on to a 12-year-old schoolgirl from Manhattan. But it wasn't Brianna LaHara's precocious musical talents the record executives were interested in. She's not the next Britney. It was her newfound fame as one of the first targets in a crackdown on internet piracy. The bespectacled honours student, guilty of downloading songs by Madonna and Paula Abdul, looked an unlikely villain. "I got really scared. My stomach is all turning," she plaintively told the New York Post. "Out of all people, why did they pick me?" The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has turned to desperate tactics for desperate times. The suit was among a first wave of 261 filed against ordinary people for allegedly making copyrighted material available for copying online. The industry organisation has offered an amnesty to anyone who comes forward and signs an affidavit swearing never to download copyrighted music again, in an attempt to soften the bludgeoning effects of the legal action. It has, however, promised that thousands more lawsuits will be filed. In the past few years, the US recording industry has suffered an eye-popping collapse in sales. While revenues have held up in Britain, they have dropped precipitously in America where internet piracy is rampant. Some estimates suggest that 60 million Americans have downloaded songs illegally. Music sales in the US have fallen by 30% in the past three years as file-sharing services such as Kazaa have flourished. In 2000, the ten top-selling albums in the US sold a combined 60m copies. In 2001 that dropped to 40m and last year was 34m. By May of this year, Kazaa had become the world's most in-demand software, with 230m downloads. It has been adding new users at a rate of 13 million a month. "Nobody likes playing the heavy and having to resort to litigation," said Cary Sherman, the president of the RIAA. "But when your product is stolen, there comes a time when you have to take appropriate action." There have been other signs in recent weeks of how fearful the music business has become. The North American division of Universal Music, the firm behind Eminem and Shania Twain, announced plans to slash the price of compact discs by up to almost one third in an attempt to jump-start sales. At the same time Universal said it intends to substantially increase its advertising. Universal CDs will now retail in the US for as little as $12.98 (£8.20), underlining how relatively expensive they continue to be in Britain. The other four majors have not yet followed Universal's example. But Universal is by far the biggest music group in the US with 29% of the market and rivals will be under pressure to do the same. "We are in the middle of a terrible situation where our music is being stolen," said the Universal chief, Doug Morris. "We need to invigorate the market." The music firms have begun licensing their material to the likes of Apple Computer and Microsoft, which have launched competing services allowing consumers to download songs onto a portable device for as little as 99 cents. It is in this area that perhaps there is the most optimism. Apple's iTunes has been an unqualified success. Since its launch in the US in the spring, 10m songs have been downloaded. Microsoft, though, stole a march on the company when it launched its pay-as-you-go service in Europe two weeks ago, allowing users to legally download any of 200,000 songs from 8,500 artists. Sony said earlier this month that it was developing a similar offering that would launch early next year. The music industry catastrophically failed to deal with the arrival of the internet - viewing it as a threat instead of recognising it as an opportunity to build a potentially exciting new distribution method. For an industry that markets much of its product to young people, it became woefully out of touch with its audience. It could, however, have reached a turning point. The day after the uproar over the RIAA suing Brianna LaHara, the case was settled when her mother agreed to pay $2,000. Under federal law, the RIAA could have extracted up to $150,000 a song. In a flash, the schoolgirl turned into a penitent example, used to strike fear into other internet surfers. She was quoted in the accompanying press release apologising for what she had done and admitting that it was wrong. "I love music and don't want to hurt the artists I love," she said. What initially appeared to be a public relations disaster turned into a chillingly effective tactic. Newspapers, by identifying and humanising the individuals, are playing into the music industry's hands. The media turned swiftly from outrage to practical guides for avoiding being sued: New Parent-to-Child Chat: Do you Download Music?, read a front page headline in the New York Times. » Posted by Igor at 9:39 AM | Discuss his $3 million salary could spell the end (INTOUCH)--Throughout the second season of American Idol, Simon Cowell continued to announce that he was tired of the series, and that he would rather go back to the UK and work with his recording acts. The ploy worked. By holdong off on singing on the tird season, Cowell was able to wring a multimillion-dollar payday out of the final straw that tears apart America's favorite trio of judges. Cowell was the last judges to commit to the tird season of Idol which means the other two judges, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, signed for considerably less money than he did-for the same amount of work. Cowell is now earning a reported $150,000 per week for Idol 3. In addition to this, Fox is going to work with him to develope new TV programs. After his misstep with Cupid on CBS, the putspoken Brit is hungry for a hit. Viewers this year noticed that Cowell's relationship with the otehr two judges(Abdul and Jackson) had become chilly at times. Now that all of America has learned he is earning substantially more than his colleagues, will Jackson and Abdul be able to hide their feelings, or will the ill will Cowell's negotiations have generated cause uncontrollable bitterness? Stay tuned. » Posted by Igor at 9:34 AM | Discuss September 13, 2003 how this laker girl became an idol worshipper (EONLINE)--Ever wonder why Paula Abdul has such a positive attitude on American Idol? Maybe it's because she lived her own version of the show's success. To earn extra money for college, Abdul tried out for the Laker Girls--and got the job. Soon, big-time Hollywood musicians and moviemakers were seeking out her talents as a choreographer. Pop stardom followed. But as Paula Abdul: The E! True Hollywood Story, premiering Sept. 14 at 9 p.m., reveals, the demands of fame and her battle with bulimia have all played a part in shaping the person she is today. See how Abdul's love of dance was present even at an early age. And find out what strange set of circumstances led to her getting to meet one of her childhood dance heroes. Witness also her two brief, tumultuous marriages and how she worked behind the scenes in Hollywood to choreograph the dance and action scenes in some top films. Ultimately, her story is that of a dancer from Los Angeles who started small, made it big and then faded for a while, only to come roaring back in weekly fights with her best buddy Simon Cowell. Premieres: Sept. 14, 9 p.m. Encores: Sept. 14, 11 p.m.; Sept. 17, 8 p.m. » Posted by Igor at 12:08 AM | Discuss September 9, 2003 file-swapping lawsuits: are you next? (CNET)--The Recording Industry Association of America sued 261 alleged file swappers Monday, launching a legal campaign against ordinary Internet users that could ultimately result in thousands of additional lawsuits. But are you at risk? If you or a family member have used Kazaa or any other file-swapping application recently and have left your computer open to the Net, the answer is possibly--although the odds of being singled out among an estimated 60 million people using peer-to-peer software remain small. If you've kept thousands of songs in the file you're sharing with other file swappers, then the odds are a little better, though still slim. Here's a quick look at how the RIAA has done its investigations and what kind of information it has used to find people and file Monday's lawsuits. Step one: Finding file-traders isn't hard. Anybody who opens a shared folder on Kazaa, Morpheus or any other file-swapping network is susceptible to potentially prying eyes. In the most recent wave of investigations, the RIAA has used automated tools that look for a relatively short list of files. When it finds a person sharing one or more of those files, it downloads all or many of them for verification purposes. A complete list of these target files is not available, but a sampling of files cited in the early lawsuits includes the following artists and songs: • Bobby McFerrin, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" • Thompson Twins, "Hold Me Now" • Eagles, "Hotel California" • George Michael, "Kissing A Fool" • Paula Abdul, "Knocked Out" • Green Day, "Minority" • UB40, "Red Red Wine" • Ludacris "Area Codes" • Marvin Gaye, "Sexual Healing" • Avril Lavigne, "Complicated" This is far from a complete list, but if you've downloaded and shared any of those songs recently, you may be at greater risk of finding your way onto the RIAA's list. Step two: The RIAA uses features within Kazaa, Grokster and some other software programs to list all the files available within a person's shared folder and takes screenshots of that information. As filed in court, that provides a record of what in some cases has been thousands of songs shared at once. Step three: The RIAA's software records the Internet address associated with a computer that is sharing one of the copyrighted songs the organization is investigating. Some file-swapping programs try to hide this by using mechanisms such as proxy servers, but most downloads still expose this information. Step four: According to information filed as part of a related lawsuit, the RIAA also has the ability to do a more sophisticated analysis of the files that have been downloaded. The group checks the artist's name, title, and any "metadata" information attached to the files, looking for information that may indicate what piece of software has been used to create the file or any other. Some files swapped widely on the Net include messages from the original person who created the MP3 file, such as "Created by Grip" or "Finally the Real Full CD delivered fresh for everyone on Grokster and Kazaa to Enjoy!" The RIAA has also analyzed in detail some files' contents. The trade group has databases of digital fingerprints, or "hashes," that identify songs that were swapped online in Napster's heyday. Investigators check these fingerprints against those found in a new suspected file swapper's folder, looking for matches. A match means the file has almost certainly been downloaded from the Net, likely from a stream of copies dating back to the original Napster file. Step five: The RIAA files a subpoena request with a federal court. The subpoena allows the group to go to an Internet service provider and request the name and address of the subscriber who's associated with the Net address that was used to swap files. A few Internet service providers (ISPs) have fought back against these requests, but most have been forced to comply with the RIAA's request. Many ISPs notify their subscribers when a subpoena comes in that targets their information. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has set up a database that allows people to see whether their online screen name has been the target of one of these subpoenas. The RIAA said it has filed more than 1,500 of these subpoenas to date. Step six: Once the identity of the ISP subscriber has been exposed, the RIAA puts together all the information gleaned through the earlier technical investigation and files a lawsuit. In earlier cases, it has accepted settlement agreements that range between $12,000 and $17,000. In this case, it has accepted some settlement agreements for as little as $3,000. » Posted by Igor at 10:47 AM | Discuss September 7, 2003 emmy magazine interview Paula is in this monthe's issue of Emmy magazine. Here you can read Paula's interview from Emmy magazine: Q: You’re the "nice" judge on American Idol, often suggesting how lessons might help contestants, while your fellow judge Simon Cowell insists that’s a waste of time. Does being so positive detract from your credibility? A: Simon and I may both be helping increase the determination in contestants. He triggers in them, "I’ll show you!" and by suggesting lessons, I’m telling them a way to learn what they’ll need in order to show him. With regard to the "nice" thing, even though the sexes have come a long way, being edgy still plays better on a guy, who can come off as witty, than on a girl, who will come off as cold or bitchy. A lot of people confuse kind with nice. They’re very different. Q: What’s the difference? A: A person who is nice is seen as sweet. And if you’re over sixteen, it is not meant as a compliment – [you’re] viewed as lightweight and fluffy. On the other hand, a person who is kind is in a position to hurt less-powerful people but chooses not to. Look at Oprah. She could beat up on people and get away with it, and given the abuse she had to suffer in her childhood, she might even have a reason to hurt others. But she chooses not to and even went one step further several years ago by standing up to network pressure to take the low road. I am far from being perceived as powerful as Oprah by the entertainment industry, but I am viewed as powerful to viewers of AI and to these talented kids who come to our show with a wing and a prayer and a dream. I have the power to hurt them and stomp on their dreams, but I choose not to. Q: You’re the only judge on AI who’s had to face similar panels as a performer. Does that affect your performance as a judge? A: I think that plays a big part. I know how vulnerable a dream can be and how encouragement can be career-sustaining at those times when you doubt yourself. I also know how demoralizing it can be to have people not stop at mere criticism, but to descend into mean-spirited ridicule. I have elected to err on the side of kindness. If I have to choose between being seen as a Pollyanna or a bitch, I’ll go with the p-word over the b-word anytime. Q: Is your kindness also a way to balance Simon’s less-than-gracious remarks? And, speaking of Simon, what’s with you two? Do you like or dislike each other? A: I’m sure my positivity is in part a way of countering Simon’s negativity. Some observers have characterized Simon as the abusive dad, me as the nurturing mom and Randy [Jackson] as the supportive brother. Simon and I do have a thing for each other, but it’s not what everyone thinks. We needle, we tease, we flirt and play with the sexual tension in the air. At one time, Simon and I did rub each other the wrong way, but a lot has changed. What used to get to me was not how negative his comments were – it was that he seemed to take delight in hurting people who were in no position to fight back. Having been in some of those kinds of relationships, it hit a nerve with me. I felt angry toward him and frustrated with myself for not being able to be more protective of the kids. Over time, I have come to understand it differently. Q: You mean, Simon wasn’t being mean? A: I have realized that Simon is harmless. He knows how to push people’s buttons and it works for him and for the show. He doesn’t physically hurt people, so if you adopt the old sticks-and-stones philosophy in dealing with him, you’re pretty safe. I think he’s sometimes like an adolescent who finds it funny when people embarrass or humiliate themselves. [But] I think something else has happened with Simon. He is very smart and talented, but I believe that perhaps he didn’t know at the start of the show how well he would go over in America – none of us imagined what the show would turn into. As the show has grown in popularity, and along with it, Simon, he understands his role better and has less need to go over the top with his comments. And now that I think about it, there is something I have to be thankful to Simon for. Q: And what’s that? A: Like many adolescents who tease others, Simon baits everyone a lot. And something I have always needed to get better at is to not take the bait and to develop a thicker skin. Every day Simon gives me plenty of chances to practice, but I still take the bait more often than I wish. Q: What is your take on the huge popularity of AI? A: Watching young adults transform themselves from wannabes into gonnabes is truly inspiring and uplifting. There are far too few shows that offer something that so many people are so hungry for. » Posted by Igor at 6:31 AM | Discuss September 5, 2003 judges in week's magazines The Big Three entertainment magazines, In Touch, Us, and People, all have articles on the American Idol judges: In Touch: Has a feature about greed being the possible downfall of three network TV shows, including AI. The article mentions Simon's big upcoming payday and whether or not Paula and Randy are resentful. It also mentions that Simon wants 20,000,000 to host a late night talk show. The cover masthead has pictures from all three shows, including one of Simon and Paula on AI2 finale night, and the article has a larger version of the same photo with Randy. Us: A piece about Simon's cattiness concerning Randy's surgery and weight loss. It says that the comments may be all in fun, since Simon, Randy, Ryan, and Terri were all spotted hanging together at a club in NYC. Great picture of Simon and Randy. People: Short blurb about songs that are banned from AI (Inside Edition mentioned the other night that "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys was banned by the judges), with one of Simon's famous "thumbs down" photos. Many songs are taboo due to the expense and difficulty of obtaining copyrights to songs by certain artists. As for "Fallin,'" Simon just says "We're sick of hearing it." There is a partial list of the banned songs, including "At Last" by Etta James (Sad, because Julia DeMato's rendition on the CD is so breathtaking.), "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston, and "Get the Party Started" by Pink, as well as any song by Bruce Springsteen, Carly Simon, James Taylor, and Mariah Carey. [thanx StrawberryIdol] » Posted by Igor at 10:42 AM | Discuss September 2, 2003 judges nyc press conference Here you can see screencaptures of American Idol Judges NYC Press Conference (8/29) from Extra.        » Posted by Igor at 12:44 PM | Discuss September 1, 2003 e! true hollywood story Sunday, Septmeber 14th Paula Abdul is on E! True Hollywood Story at 9 pm ET. Check your local listing. » Posted by Igor at 10:27 AM | Discuss |
