Ashley ends up making her fortune via NY Gov Scandal

The $1,000-an-hour prostitute reportedly hired by New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer may soon make much more than that, turning her 15 minutes of infamy into a tidy sum of money.

Since 22-year-old Ashley Alexandra Dupre was identified by The New York Times late on Wednesday as the governor's paramour, the prostitute and aspiring singer's songs have become the most popular downloads on a music-sharing Web site and at least one magazine is prepared to pay her for a nude photo spread.

Proving the adage there's no such thing as bad publicity, Hustler publisher Larry Flynt told the Access Hollywood television program on Friday that he plans to offer Dupre $1 million to pose nude in his magazine.

Earlier this week, the woman told the Times she was worried about paying her rent this month after the escort service she worked for was shut down by federal officials.

The newspaper reported Spitzer was heard on a federal wiretap last month arranging a tryst with a prostitute called "Kristen," whom the paper identified as Dupre.

Spitzer resigned on Wednesday and apologized for his "private failings," but did not refer specifically to the report.

According to Dupre's MySpace page (www.myspace.com/ninavenetta), she left home at 17 and moved to New York, where she is trying to pursue a music career.

Her R&B- and pop-tinged songs "What We Want" and "Move Ya Body" are ranked as the two best-selling songs on the AimeStreet.com music sharing Web site.

A spokesman for Aime Street, which uses a demand-price model where users pay more for popular songs, would not confirm how many times Dupre's songs had been downloaded. But he said "Move ya Body," which was uploaded to the site around 2 a.m. (0600 GMT) on Thursday, rose to the highest download price (98 cents) faster than any other song in the site's history.

Dupre's page on the site has been viewed more than 300,000 times and artists get a 70 percent cut of sales. If 1 million copies were sold, as some media outlets have estimated, then she's already made more than $680,000 from her notoriety.

New York radio stations, including the top-rated Z100, have been playing her music on the airwaves. Her profile on the social networking Web site MySpace has had over 7 million page views.

Penthouse Magazine Group president and publisher Diane Silberstein has said the men's magazine would consider offering Dupre a nude cover shot.

On Friday, The New York Post ran five pages of revealing pictures of Dupre from a 2007 photo shoot purportedly to promote her music career.

US loses its no.1 spot on world Economy

US loses its no.1 spot on world Economy

 The U.S. economy lost the title of "world's biggest" to the euro zone this week as the value of the dollar slumped in currency markets.

Taking the gross domestic product of both economies in 2007, the combined GDP of the 15 countries which use the euro overtook that of the United States when the European currency surged to a record high of more than $1.56 per euro.

"The curious outcome of breaching this latest milestone is that the size of the euro zone's annual output has now exceeded that of the U.S.," the economics department of Goldman Sachs, the Wall Street investment bank, said in a note to clients.

Taking official estimates of 2007 GDP -- $13,843,800 billion for the United States and 8,847,889.1 billion euros for the euro zone -- the economy of the latter passed the United States once converted into dollars, shortly after the euro topped $1.56.

The dollar sank to $1.5688 per euro late in European trading hours on Friday, at which rate the euro zone's 2007 GDP equates to $13,880,568.4 billion.

The 2007 GDP estimates are as published by the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis and provided to Reuters on request for the euro zone by Eurostat, the European Union's statistics office.

Billionaire Philanthropy

Billionaire Philanthropy

There is a philanthropic convergence at the head of this year's billionaires' list. Warren Buffett, who tops the rankings, has pledged to turn over most of his fortune to the charitable foundation hitherto funded by the fortune of the man he replaces at the top, William H. Gates III.

This combination puts the pair at the forefront of a new wave of entrepreneurial philanthropists. They are eschewing traditional areas of giving such as the arts in favor of big global social issues, particularly poverty, health and education.

They have the wealth to do so. And, pace Buffett, who is outsourcing the disposal of his money to Gates, they are still young enough to have the energy and fire to undertake such ambitious and challenging philanthropy. They work on a global scale and apply the skills and approaches of business to the work of doing good.

This is reflected in our list of the largest U.S. charitable donations by billionaires last year. It is dominated by gifts of at least $100 million for specific health and education objectives.

In Pictures: The Biggest Billionaire Gifts Of 2007

Used to rigorous goal setting, benchmarking, accountability and operational efficiency, the new philanthropists seek to maximize the social impact of their actions, just as they sought to maximize shareholder value in their businesses. Comfortable with innovation, they believe they can develop new products and services through technology that will make it have a significant impact.

In practice, they are marrying the approaches taken by corporate social-responsibility programs now flourishing at companies like Cisco Systems (nasdaq: CSCO - news - people ) and PepsiCo (nyse: PEP - news - people ) to the single-issue focus and reach of nongovernmental organizations. In the process, they promise to change the rules of the aid and economic development game.

Gates has promised to step down from the day-to-day operations of Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) this coming July to devote himself full time to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He has been selling 20 million Microsoft shares each quarter and donating the proceeds to his foundation. Currently, the foundation has assets of $37.8 billion.

Buffett irrevocably committed in 2006 to giving the majority of his shares in Berkshire Hathaway (nyse: BRK - news - people ) to charity, mostly Gates' foundation, in 5% chunks over the next 20 years. At the time of the announcement, the gift was valued at $31 billion, but if Berkshire's shares continue to rise in value, the donation's ultimate size could far exceed that sum.

In inflation-adjusted dollars, Buffett will give away more money than John D. Rockefeller or Andrew Carnegie. And apparently it takes resources on this scale to truly make a dent in any of the world's myriad problems. It's worth remembering that no philanthropist has solved a worldwide problem since Carnegie brought universal access for the poor to books via libraries, and Rockefeller used his billions to fund the research that would lead to the eradication of polio.

Gates' ambition is on a similar scale. He wants to eradicate the 20 leading diseases in the world during his (or his wife's) lifetime.

Carlos Slim Helú, the Mexican businessman who is now the world's second-richest person, has poked fun at Buffett and Gates for "going around like Santa Claus." In general, Latin American billionaires do not have a record of charitable giving comparable to Buffett or Gates, and the region's tax laws, unlike those in the U.S., often do not encourage it as much.

But Helú has given away hefty sums by any but Buffett and Gates' standards. He gave $100 million last year to the foundation run by former U.S. President William Clinton. In all, he has pledged close to $7 billion worth of cash and stock to fund education and health projects and to revitalize Mexico City's downtown historical district.

"Our concept is more to accomplish and solve things, rather than giving," he said when announcing in March 2007 a $450 million foundation for health care and research.

Gates and those of a similar mind would say that is exactly what they are doing. Most are as hands-on in their philanthropy as they were in their companies. They revel in the complexity of the challenges, and can imagine piecing together the necessary parts of, say, controlling malaria--from fundamental scientific research to creating low-cost delivery systems for the finished vaccine--as an exercise in supply-chain management.

The best of them also have the breadth of mind to join the dots between health and broader societal issues. How do you get a poor person to take a dose of medicine when he is too malnourished to swallow?

The Gates Foundation, for one, is already moving beyond the pure medical dimensions of health into agriculture and micro-financing. In January, it announced a $306 million package of agricultural development grants "designed to boost the yields and incomes of millions of small farmers in Africa and other parts of the developing world so they can lift themselves and their families out of hunger and poverty."

In the end, it and other foundations will inevitably find themselves in the business of promoting sound social infrastructure, open markets, the rule of law, and transparent and corruption-free government. This is the globalization and modernization of what Rockefeller called the "business of beneficence." And this will increasingly bring the new generation of foundations into conflict with governments around the globe.

It is already happening in India, where British-based Indian billionaire Anjil Agarwal is trying to use $1 billion of his $3.8 billion fortune to set up an elite private research university in India that Agarwal hopes will grow into an Indian rival to world-class institutions like Stanford, Harvard and Oxford. Though many Indians acknowledge the shortcomings of their country's higher education system, Agarwal is under attack from both the country's educational bureaucracy and local landowners, who would lose 10,000 acres of land. (Harvard, by contrast, makes do with 380 acres.)

While gaining some acceptance from governments, who, in U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown's words, "are starting to realize their limitations," entrepreneurial philanthropists are deeply distrusted by the traditional charitable establishment. Nor will all cultures be comfortable with philanthropic foundations that promote Western values of freedom, technology and entrepreneurship.

It will be interesting to see how the $100 million program investment bank Goldman Sachs (nyse: GS - news - people ) announced this week to school women in Africa, Asia and the Middle East in business and management will be received in those countries where women have traditionally not been given access to such education. Thomas Robertson, dean of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, one of the participating business schools, notes that there "will be issues when students go back into the family structure, or community, about how they'll apply what they learned."

Yet "no longer can businesses, governments or nongovernmental organizations afford to act independently of each other--the stakes are just too high," as John Connolly, global chairman of Deloitte & Touche, said at the World Economic Forum's January meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

It was there that Gates outlined the next evolution of entrepreneurial philanthropy, what he called "creative capitalism," a way to provide market incentives for companies to serve the poorest people in the world. But before the companies move in, the billionaires and their new foundations will beat the path.

$20 for Medical Records with Critical Information

Florida hospital's medical records sold as scrap paper for $20.

In the Wall Street Journal's (3/10) Health Blog, Heather Won Tesoriero wrote, "When an enterprising Salt Lake City fourth-grade teacher paid $20 for scrap paper for her students, she walked away with a box of confidential medical records from a Florida hospital." Last December, the "Central Florida Regional Hospital shipped three boxes of medical records...via UPS to a Las Vegas auditor." The auditor never received one of the boxes, and "contacted hospital officials who, in turn, got in touch with UPS a couple of weeks later."

       

The information on the records included "detailed medical histories, phone numbers, addresses, Social Security numbers, and insurance information."

In addition, "[s]everal of the patients whose information was lost are dead." Although officials at the hospital tracked "the box since it was reported missing in Phoenix, [they] did not contact the affected patients," according to hospital risk manager Kelly Ferrell, who added that the hospital "worr[ies] about wrongful disclosure."

       

Magnesium to reduce STROKE risk...

Study suggests diets rich in magnesium may cut stroke risk in smokers.

"Diets rich [in] magnesium, found in whole grains and vegetables, could help reduce stroke risk in smokers," according to a study published in the Mar. 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. Susanna Larsson, Ph.D., of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, and colleagues, followed over 26,000 men "for more than 13 years," and "found that those who consumed an average of 589 milligrams of magnesium each day in their diets had a 15 percent lower risk for cerebral infarction -- a stroke that occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked -- than those who consumed less magnesium."

While "Larsson and colleagues did not investigate mechanisms by which magnesium might reduce ischemic stroke risk, they called the link 'biologically plausible.'" The researchers cited "earlier research indicating that high magnesium intake has beneficial effects on blood lipid and glucose levels, markers of systemic and vascular inflammation, and lipoprotein peroxidation."

Meeting Your 2b Otherhalf

Meeting Your 2b Otherhalf


You spot her across a dark, smoky room. You buy her a drink. You think she said her name was Laura, but you can't hear that well over the heavy pulse of the bass. After a few minutes of small talk, you ask for her number. She scribbles it down, smiles, and shortly returns to her friends. You think things went pretty well until you call her three days later, only to hear Carl from Carl's Dry Cleaning answer the phone. What went wrong?

Here's the thing: Many women do not like meeting men at bars. Sure, you're good-looking, dressed nicely, even funny, but you keep getting fake phone numbers, polite rejections, and blatantly rude refusals. You're looking for women in all the wrong places. Bars and parties may seem like great spots to meet women, but women are rarely open to come-ons of any sort in these settings. Bars and parties exude mystery, wildness and sex; many women see men who are on the prowl at bars and parties as generic partiers who only want one-night stands.

go where few have gone before

A woman's defenses are up at a bar or party. You need to approach her in a place where she is relaxed and receptive to meeting you. So get away from the booze and the blaring music and approach women in less obvious places -- places where you aren't just an anonymous guy nodding his head to the music with a beer permanently attached to his hand. Approach her in places where she can get a sense of your personality and see that not only do you have interests, but you also share some of hers. Check out this list and you might actually have a chance of getting a phone number that won't connect to Doug's Pizzeria or the clinic for venereal diseases.

Number 10

Building supply/hardware stores

Pathetic, but true: Many women wander around hardware store aisles with very little idea of what they are doing -- and lots of questions. If she looks like she's trying to decide which item to buy, politely offer a suggestion and show her anything else she may need (including your number for house calls). "I once went to the hardware store looking for caulking for my windows. I knew I needed the white stuff and a caulking gun, but I had no idea how it worked," says Jenn, 25. "I finally asked this guy which gun was better, and he ended up coming over to help me caulk the windows. Now we're going out, and you wouldn't believe the amount of caulking jokes we have."

Number 9

Not only do you get to be surrounded by a group of sweaty, athletic women, but you also may meet someone who shares your love of sports. Try consoling a woman from the losing team and point out one of the excellent plays she made. Or, approach a woman from the winning team. Since her endorphins will be soaring from the exercise and the victory, she may be in a state to say yes to just about anything.

Number 8

At a bank, the DMV, or an amusement park. This is the time to pull out the wit: funny one-liners can break the monotony of the wait. At the bank, you can be the fun element in a normally tedious and sometimes stressful setting. At an amusement park, lineups are often over an hour long; plenty of time to chat her up, and convince her to spend the rest of the day with you (provided she's not there with her boyfriend). You never know what kind of rides you might end up on.

Number 7

Here's your chance to prove there is more to you than your swashbuckling good looks and rugged body. Check out a woman who's browsing in your favorite sections. This gives you the opportunity to ask her about a book she may have read, or recommend one that you've read -- especially over a latte at the bookstore's coffee shop.

Number 6

Painting, cooking or a language class: Although it may have been vehemently covered up in the '50s, women really do love men who can cook for them. And hey, while you're making her swoon over your Pasta Carbonara, impress her with your Italian. These types of classes also offer a perfect excuse to get together later -- to practice your grinding skills (uh, pepper grinding that is), or your tongue rolling skills (to roll your R's in Spanish, of course).

Dance, aerobics, or yoga classes: Once she realizes you're straight, she'll be very impressed by your ability to express your less masculine traits. And not only will you be improving your own physique, you will be surrounded by a classroom full of sculpted, scantily clad, sweating women.

Any dance class that requires a partner (i.e. Latin or swing dancing): Women love men who can dance even more than they love men who can cook. Just try mentioning the words, Dirty Dancing , Patrick Swayze, and John Travolta circa Grease around any woman and see how long it takes for her to sigh orgasmically.

Number 5

Yes, some women actually go to games too (but maybe just to see the built men running around in tight pants or shorts). Go with a friend, and pay a little less attention to the game, and a little more to the women watching it -- sit next to a couple of women and ask their opinions on a debate you and your buddy are having about the last play, the players, or previous games of the season. Switch teams if you have to -- just don't let all the scoring happen on the field.

Number 4

These events are usually rallied around passionate and controversial subjects, and the atmosphere is usually emotionally charged, making female attendees more emotionally available (or vulnerable) and open to discussing the events with a fellow concerned citizen. Try attending poetry readings, anti-clear-cutting lectures, or demonstrations to free Tibet. But make sure you actually have a somewhat intelligent opinion on the subject; otherwise she may run straight into the arms of the sensitive zealot with the banner and the guitar.

Number 3

Your eyes meet as you both reach for the last head of lettuce... The grocery store may seem like a better place to stock up on macaroni and cheese than meet women, but one advantage you have is the element of surprise -- she won't be expecting to meet men while cruising the aisles. Casually make a joke in the produce section; it worked for Jay, 26: "I made a funny comment about the frozen meat, and we ended up shopping together. I let her pay first, and she actually waited for me and we left together." Jokes are good; just don't compliment her on those beautiful melons.

Number 2

Be free to let your inner French painter out. You will find a plethora of single women at museums, either to admire the beauty of the paintings or to study them on a deeper artistic level. Read up on all the big names before going to visit the permanent collection, or just see the featured exhibit. But learn the difference between Van Halen and Van Gogh before you ask her which one is her favorite Dutch painter.

Number 1

Pretend you're shopping for your sister or some other female relative and ask either the saleswoman or a female shopper her opinion on which item she likes best. Ask about simple items, such as which sweater goes best with which skirt, or if those polka dot pants really are in style. Don't push your luck by asking her to try it on for you, but most women do enjoy giving advice on which color, size and style you should buy. Bonus: she might automatically assume you're shopping for your girlfriend, that is, until you break the news to her.

think outside the bar

A bar seems like an easy place to meet women, beautiful, single women consuming alcohol. But the problem is they don't want to meet you at a bar. To prove to the ladies that you have more substance than a light ale, you need to make more of an effort than throwing on a black shirt and some aftershave. You need to go to places where she can see that you are a well-rounded guy with interests and a functioning brain.

Not only will the extra effort help to enhance your personality and your appeal, but it also gives you the chance to meet a more exceptional woman, one who has better things to do than stand at the bar and wait for you to buy her a drink. 

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Invasion of Very You

Invasion  of  Very  You


Microsoft's patent application for a "unique monitoring system" that would keep tabs on a worker's productivity levels, physical and mental well-being, as well as competence. This so-called system would consist of wireless sensors that would measure a worker's heart rate, body temperature, brain signals, facial movements, and respiration rate. As if that wasn't enough, the system would also provide assistance and alert management if it sensed a worker was highly stressed or frustrated. Talk about invasive!

Now there are those who think it will take years before these type of monitoring systems start showing up at work, but the reality is they're already out there. The UK's Hot Forest Technology has developed Optimal Office, a system that the company says will help you (meaning the boss) "identify the stress fingerprint of your organization." It's not as intrusive as the system Microsoft is working on, but Optimal Office comes close.

Workers are given a special mouse with bio-sensors that capture a person's body temperature and galvanic skin response, which are used to detect the user's level of anxiety and stress. The same bio-feedback technology used in the mouse is the same used in lie detectors, so that should give you an idea of how accurate it can be.

If the system determines a person's baseline stress level is peaking, it will alert them via a pop-up box, and walk them through a series of stress reducing exercises that are supposed to help relax the person. All the while, the information is being sent to a web server so your boss can view it anytime and determine whether they need to fire or hire more people around the office. It's a good thing this system is still overseas, but it'll be only a matter of time before something like this creeps into the American workspace. What do you think? You think the boss could ever get away with this?