A Halloween Disruption For A Martha Stewart Fan

An avid Martha Stewart fan was super disappointed when she purchased the Halloween issue of Martha Stewart's Living magazine this year.  She was sitting at her kitchen table and noticed something strange about a photo of a chocolate cake titled the Macabre Manse.  She thought she had seen the haunted house-styled confection before, in a previous issue of a Martha Stewart publication so she checked.  What she found was an October 2008 issue of Martha Stewart Living that had the same image.

This fan had also been an editor previously and was shocked they repurposed material.  She checked other issues looking for examples of duplicated content and found many more.  So what is the protocol on this?

I thought maybe this was a new trend, as people are not reading newspapers or magazines as much anymore.  However, repurposing content is something that many magazines and newspapers have been doing a long time - including The New York Times.  However, the publication usually (and should) clearly state it is doing this.  However, in this case there as no such label.  Instead it says Ms. Stewart's food editors are "at it again, dreaming up truly original drinks, snacks and desserts that only look gruesome."  Soon after, a spokesperson from Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia said that the two to four special editions they create each year only carry about 60 percent of original material and contain about 40 percent repurposed material.  Further, that only about 70 percent of this year's Halloween issue is original.

After our avid fan made many phone calls to Martha Stewart's Living magazine, Martha Stewart and two other reps sent a personal email back thanking her for her interest and apologizing for falling short on material and not communication this duplication matter.  Hopefully that doesn't hurt the special edition sales - the fan responded saying that it's still disappointing because "You're Martha Stewart you don't follow that standard, you set it."

The 2011 Halloween special, pictured, from Martha Stewart reused a cake from 2008.

The cake as pictured in the October 2008 issue of Martha Stewart Living.

Michaele Salahi hoping to turn life with new beau into reality TV show

You may remember Michaele Salahi - she was the one that crashed a White House party a couple of years ago and then made it on the Real Housewives of Washington D.C.  Even though she's one of those people I wish would just go away, now she's back in the media!  She recently ran away from her husband and has a new beau, Neal Schon of Journey, and is trying to start a reality show!  According to a source, Salahi believes new boyfriend will help her build a music career.  This idea has already been pitched to a few independence production companies.

What's even stranger is that her old husband, Tareq Salahi - whom she ran away from and he reported her missing - is willing to play a long with the reality show idea!  meanwhile, Schon's new wife - ex-playmate Ava Fabian - is said to be devastated by the humiliation of being dumped for Salahi, only two months after she and Schon tied the know in Pair, joined by the entire Journey musical team.

Good luck to all of them - I hope it doesn't work out!

Serena Has Another Outburst

Already being outplayed by Sam Stousur in the U.S. Open final this weekend, the last thing Serena Williams needed was to lose a game for yelling during a point.

That's what happened early in the second set, leading to an argument between Williams and the chair umpire, a scene less ugly than - but reminiscent of - the American's triade two years ago at the same tournament.  In the end, Stourur beat Williams, 6-2, 6-3, Sunday in a surprisingly lopsided upset for her first Grand Slam title. 

Down a set and facing a break point in the first game of the second, the 13-time major champion hit a forehand and shouted, "Come on!" as Stousur reached down for a backhand.  Chair umpire Eva Asderaki ruled that Williams hindered Stourur's ability to complete the point and awarded it to Stosur - putting her ahead 1-0 in that set. Williams went over to talk to Asderaki, saying, "I'm not giving her that game."  She also said "I promise you, that's not cool.  That's totally not cool."  Tournament director Brian Earley said Asderaki's ruling was proper, according to U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Chris Widmaier.Williams said later that she thought that last part of the rule applied - and the point should have been replayed - such as when one player's hat flies off during a point.  During the changeover two games later, Williams continue to talk to Asderaki, saying, "You're out of control.   You're a hater, and  you're just unattractive inside."  Finishing by saying "Really, don't even look at me." 

Later, at a newsconverence Williams rolled her eyes while deflecting a question about whether she regretted what she said to Asderaki.  "I don't even remember what I said.  It was just so intense out there.  I guess I'll see it on YouTube," Williams said.

Stourur played very well.  Hitting powerful strokes from the baseline, and looking fresher than the far-more-accomplished Williams right from the start, the ninth-seeded Stosur became the first American woman to win a major championship since Evonne Gloolagong Cawley at Wimbledon in 1980.

Williams really needs someone to help her out with anger, control and answering tough questions from media. It doesn't appear that she has a rep, but should really find one.  Tennis is a 'nice and clean' sport, a lot like golf.  It doesn't tolerate out of control behavior.  Williams has such a great career behind her, it would be sad to see her have more issues.

What's next for Kate?

In August, TLC decided to pull the plug on Kate Plus 8, which will leave Kate Gosselin unemployed. So, what's next for her?

The reality TV star is a little nervous and I would be too. She's not as popular as she was back in 2005 when the show started. She's said she's not sure what will be next and is 'freaking out.' However, saying that she'll go back to her old nursing job if nothing else pops up. But, what about the little ones who have spend most of their time behind a camera and are use to their school and neighborhood? She is going to try and keep that all the same.

But, how does Kate stay in the spotlight? Can she or will she just disappear? I guess she is determined to stay in the limelight if possible. She has reported it's just to much fun.

I wish her well though - she doesn't have the best reputation in the public eye and she is old news. She really needs to do something to stand out again and prove herself as a positive influence and an expert in some area. I'm not exactly sure how she can do that at this point. Honestly, I see her falling out of the buzz just as quick as 'Octo Mom.'