World’s Greatest Gambler, Thomas ”Amarillo Slim” Preston, Dies At 83

Thomas Austin ”Amarillo Slim” Preston Jr., a man who called himself the world’s greatest gambler, has died at the age of 83.

Bunky Preston, Slim’s son, said that Slim past away over the weekend while in hospice care in Amarillo. Slim died of colon cancer.

Bunky said: “He was playing poker until the very, very end.”

Fox News reports that Preston won the 1972 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1992.

The Daily Mail reports that Preston got the nickname “Amarillo Slim” while playing billiards. He bestowed “The World’s Greatest Gambler” title upon himself after accomplishing several strange gambling feats. Preston claims to have beaten Minnesota Fats in a game of pocket billiards with a broomstick. He claims he beat Bobby Riggs in a game of ping pong with an iron skillet. And won a bet by beating a horse in a hundred yard race. (Preston set up 100-yard zig-zag course and beat the horse.)

Preston also authored a few books on gambling and advised players to “look around the table. If you don’t see a sucker, get up, because you’re the sucker.”

Jonas Brothers Leave Disney's Hollywood Records

The Jonas Brothers** have parted ways with Hollywood Records after releasing three albums on the Disney-owned label.

The sibling trio of Nick**, Kevin and Joe Jonas**, which has sold 17 million albums worldwide, also bought back the rights to their master recordings, merchandising and publishing for an undisclosed sum.

"This was a decision that we made as a group," Nick Jonas tells The Hollywood Reporter. "Naturally, as with any partnership, when you do part ways, there is emotion tied to it. We've been blessed to have a lot of success with Hollywood and with Disney, but speaking on behalf of my brothers and our team, we're all looking forward to this next chapter. We're ready for that next step as a group, and being able to take our work with us was so important."

When contacted by THR, a Hollywood spokesperson commented: "Hollywood Records and Jonas Brothers have amicably ended an amazingly successful partnership after six years. … We couldn't have asked for better partners or nicer people to work with. We wish Nick, Kevin and Joe all the best in their future endeavors."

Kevin Jonas Partners With Ryan Seacrest for E! Reality Show

It's a rarity these days for a band with Jonas-level success to successfully reclaim their catalog (for a hefty price, typically a percentage based on past sales and estimated future earnings). But to hear manager Johnny Wright tell it, the opportunity couldn't be passed up. "We could stay, or we could go," he says of the negotiation, which came after the band had met its obligations to the label. "This will allow them to chart their own destiny."

It also will allow the band to look at additional ancillary income from digital initiatives such as apps and live concert streaming, technologies that barely existed when the web-savvy JoBros signed with Hollywood in 2007 (with masters that they had wrested from Columbia Records after the Sony label dropped them). And then there's the most lucrative stream of all: publishing, which can take the form of valuable synchs and movie placements, foreign territories, sheet music -- you name it.

"The industry and distribution channels are changing so rapidly, we don't even know what it means anymore to put out a record," says Wright. "If we wanted to take another deal with a major, it would be a different than what we entered into when we signed with Hollywood. We don't have to become just an artist to the label, we could be a partner or do it ourselves and then come back later on. There's no plan here -- the plan is whatever we decide to make it."

Wright readily admits the Jonas Brothers had outgrown Disney, something that became evident as they contemplated their exit. "In having a conversation about moving forward, we knew we weren't going to do a Jonas show on Disney Channel and the likelihood of us doing movie in that vein was not there, so the big platforms were not really accessible to us anymore," says the veteran manager, who has represented Justin Timberlake** since his 'N Sync** days.

Besides, the guys longed to take some time with a new album (their most recent, "Lines, Vines and Trying Times," came out in 2009) without the pressure of a deadline. "We don't have to have a record out under any time constraints, so they're free to just create and explore and do it at their own pace," says Wright. "And they're enjoying it."

Indeed, adds Nick Jonas: "In these past three years, my brothers and I have not released a record, but we've really come into our own as men. And we've also lived life, which is an important part to making a record. … I've got a studio set up in my apartment in New York where we can all put down our ideas. It's a really liberating feeling to just be able to create and write whatever is on our hearts."

Wright says to expect a new Jonas Brothers album by the end of 2012 or early 2013. In the meantime, the guys are putting into motion their own plan for imaging, even introducing a new logo (see right). But in turning from "boys to men, to use that cliché," he adds that this is a band that hasn't yet peaked worldwide. And with all that they do both as a group and individually -- their side projects include the E! reality show "Married to Jonas" starring Kevin Jonas and new wife Danielle Deleasa (a co-production of Jonas Enterprises and Ryan Seacrest Productions), Nick's roles in the Broadway revival of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and NBC's "Smash," a new feature film for Joe and plans to sign acts to launch their own production or publishing company -- there's no telling where the Jonas train will lead them. But one thing is for sure: They're driving it.

"What the Jonas Brothers have already done in the music business, most people will never get to," says Wright. "Now it's chapter two, where they take those experiences and lessons and music and have all the control in putting it together and making a great business plan moving forward."

Jessica Simpson Gives Birth To A Baby Girl, Maxwell Drew Johnson

Jessica Simpson has finally given birth!  The net is buzzing with the news that Jessica and her husband Eric gave birth to a beautiful 9 pound 13 ounce baby girl that they named Maxwell Drew Johnson.

At the very least Jessica should be putting up baby pictures and stories of late night spit ups instead of talking about how horny she was when she was pregnant or her pregnancy flatulence.

Us Weekly is reporting that Jessica had the baby in Los Angeles, California.  She had shared a while ago that she wanted to name the baby Maxwell or a similar androgynous name in order to be a little nontraditional.  Drew is Jessica’s mother’s maiden name.

Since announcing she and finance Eric Johnson were expecting their first child back back in November 2011, Jessica’s pregnancy has made major headlines — especially for her substantial weight gain. But like the successful business woman that she is, Jessica is turning the negative scrutiny into a positive. According to reports, Simpson has signed a deal with Weight Watchers to lose her baby weight as the company’s spokesperson!

Jessica Simpson and her fiance Eric Johnson got engaged six months after meeting each other.  They were officially engaged in November 2010.Simpson and Johnson had decided to hold off on tying the knot until after little Maxwell was born.  Neither Simpson nor Johnson was in any rush to get married anyway. During a March appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel’s show, Simpson told the host that Johnson “feels like my husband already.”

Did Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston Have an Affair?

3m360 is reporting that The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, had a secret fling with Whitney Houston at his Neverland Ranch and was devastated when the singer called it off.  They are reporting that Jackson dreamed of marrying Houston.  In a related story the Sun reported last week that six years prior to the fling with Michael, Whitney Houston had also had a brief sexual relationship with Jermaine Jackson, Michael’s brother.

The source for all of these recent revelations about Michael Jackson is his British bodyguard, Matt Fiddes.  Fiddes spoke to Michael only three days before he died.

Fiddes told the Sun before the interview,

“I loved Michael so much but I finally feel it’s time to get everything that horrified and upset me over the years off my chest. I also know this affair will end all the myths that Michael was some kind of child molester — he was a straight man.”

The affair with Houston was not the only explosive information Fiddes gave to the Sun.  He also claimed that Jackson was impotent for more than five years because of heavy alcohol and drug use.  He also claimed Jackson was a Nazi sympathizer.  He claimed that Jackson was haunted by baldness and was anorexic.  He also claimed Jackson’s body was covered with needle marks that he would call “spider bites” when asked about them.

Fiddes said of Jackson’s affair with Houston,

“One of the many stories that has never been told about Michael is that he had an ultra-secret affair with Whitney Houston that he never got over. He was furious when he heard she had also slept with Jermaine but this didn’t stop him holding a candle for her his whole life.”

Fiddes said Jackson and Houston  were both at the height of their popularity when they met.  they were also two of the biggest stars on the planet.

Fiddes said,

“They met because they were two of the biggest recording artists on the planet and mixing in the same circles. They instantly connected as kindred spirits because they understood each other’s massive fame. Whitney practically moved in to Michael’s ranch and they had a fling like any other young couple. But Michael said later he had always hoped the relationship had gone further, and I know he dreamed of marrying her.”

Paulina Gretzky Sends Out Scandalous Pics On Instagram

Paulina Gretzky once had a Twitter account filled with sexy photos. But after a stern talk with  her father, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, she decided to take a break from flaunting her body on the internet. Well, Gretzky has found a  new outlet for her revealing photos: Instagram.

Last year Paulina sent out a barrage of photos on Twitter. There were so many scandalous photos that Men’s websites like Coed Magazine and the Bro Bible compiled a list of the “Best Paulina Gretzky Twitter photos.”


But the 23-year-old bombshell deleted her Twitter account after a strong request from her father.

At the time, Paulina wrote:

“Having a nice sit down dinner with my dad about social media.” And then: “Taking a break from Twitter for a bit.”

But the “No Twitter For Paulina” rule has a loophole. She can still post to Instagram.

Gretzky recently sent out several photos to the new billion dollar Facebook tool, which showcase the young beauty drinking in her bikini.

MTV writes:

“This gal tumbled down the hotness tree and hit every branch on the way down–plus the foliage and then smashed into exposed roots, somehow giving her the urge to share her sexiness on the web. Well done, tree.”

Do you think Wayne is getting ready to have another sit down with his daughter Paulina?

How pregnant woman poisoned rival’s son with chemical

Chinonye Lucky, a 26 -year- old mother of two who is also expecting her third child, may spend the rest of her life behind bars for a first degree murder.  She is currently at the custody of the homicide department of the Edo state Police command, Benin city, where detectives are already putting finishing touches to her cases file.  She is due for arraignment any moment from now for allegedly poisoning a 16- month-old baby boy with  a killer chemical while the mother of the baby was away to fetch water.

Betraying emotions while narrating how she was overwhelmed by her untamed ego;  so much so that she threw caution to the dogs and killed an innocent baby, the same baby she actively participated in weaning, the Anambra state- born school dropout turned farmer living in Ikogu village with her Edo state born husband says, she could not really say what came over her that ill-fated day.



*Chinonye Lucky

However, investigation shows that Chinonye’s mother, the third of a peasant farmer -husband, abandoned her and her siblings while she was two years old. She, therefore,  suffered  what criminologists call ‘fixation’.  Even detectives at the homicide department confirmed that  Chinonye occasionally exhibits traits of conduct disorder among fellow inmates adding that she  may need the services of a clinical psychologist.

As subsistence farmers, both Chinonye and her rival, Mercy with their siblings including the 16 months old baby strapped in her back, made for the nearby farm.  Their mission was  to harvest cassava tubers for the forthcoming market day.  While in the farm, their husband soon joined them but left almost immediately to inspect some traps set for grass cutters.  Moments after, Mrs Mercy left for the stream to fetch water for all.

Just then, Chinonye surreptitiously made for the hut which served as a resting place in the farm and by the corner of it was a container filled with chemical.  She  grabbed it and emptied some quantity into the mouth of the 16 -months -old baby who was at the time fast asleep on a mat.

The sleeping baby licked the liquid in innocence thinking it was a normal water.  However, pandemonium broke out minutes later when the mother arrived from the stream to behold her child writhing in pains.

Autopsy report

He was already coughing blood.  Quickly, Chinonye rushed into the hut, grabbed the dying baby from her mother and dashed towards the express road screaming hospital, hospital.  As a virtuous woman,  Mercy could not leave the four children behind in the farm for hospital, instead,  she stayed behind to fetch them including her rival’s daughters to the house before joining Chinonye in the hospital.  But before Mercy’s arrival,  Chinonye was already rolling on the floor crying uncontrollably and refused to be consoled.  The baby was dead.  Nobody knew what killed him.

However, the lid was blown open after an autopsy report said the baby was poisoned.  Investigations began, and Chinonye was to confess later amid tears to detectives, that she was responsible for the death of the baby.  But she quickly dismissed insinuations that she committed the murderous act out of sheer jealousy.

“I did not mean to kill the boy after all they were all born in my presence.  Although I am yet to bear a baby boy,  that does not make me jealous of my rival who already has three boys.   I am believing God for a boy child because as I speak to you, I am pregnant.

I have lived with my rival in peace; in fact it is difficult for a stranger to know that we are rivals.  On that day, there was no quarrel between us. We all woke and decided to go to the farm to uproot some cassava tubers for the next market day.

At the farmer, a particular spirit came over me and I felt like killing the baby.  Initially, I was fighting within me on how to carry out the act but an opportunity came when my rival called to inform me that she was going to fetch water and that her baby was lying on a mat in the hut.

Quickly, I rushed to the hut, grabbed the gallon which contained some chemical which our husband use in killing grass cutter and poured some quantity into the baby’s mouth and dashed back into the farm as if nothing had happened.  It was when my rival came back that she raised an alarm that her baby was vomiting blood.  I felt bad and quickly rushed to the hut, grabbed the baby from her and took him to the hospital.

Though I did not tell her that I was responsible, I was troubled in my mind.  I did not know what came over me, I think it was devil.  All her children were born in my presence and I was actively involved in their weaning.  I just want God to forgive me because for about one week now, I have not seen my children,” she lamented.

However, the police through the public relations officer, ASP Bassey, said the law would have to take its full course.  “The moment our men are through with the investigation, she would be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction. Even though she has confessed culpability, for us, she is presumed innocent until otherwise is proven,” Bassey said.

Report: Two students arrested for campus murder

In Ekiti, the State Police Command has arrested two students for allegedly killing a final year student at the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.

Sola Falade, a 400 level student at the Faculty of Education was hacked to death last Thursday when two rival cult groups unleashed terror on the students in hostels outside the university campus.

Apart from Falade, who had a deep cut on his forehead other students were said to have been injured in the violence which erupted at about mid-night.

The situation was brought under control when armed policemen intervened.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oladipo Aina, announced the suspension of pending examinations to enable the university detect those students who engaged in the crime. He also made it clear that any student found to be unruly would be handed over to law enforcement agents.