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Today’s News in LA LA Land

Steve Verdon
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For those of you who don’t live in LA LA Land (better known as Los Angeles, or LA) Paris Hilton has been sent back to the clink to serve out the remainder of her 45 day sentence.

Many might be wondering what the big deal is. This is just some silly rich girl who is in trouble with the law. All I can say is, “You apparently don’t live in LA LA Land. Here this is a big deal. TMZ is right now nothing but Paris Hilton. Drudge has been having Paris Hilton updates at the top of his site all day so far. Talk radio this morning was all over it.

For those of you who haven’t been following the event, or unlike me can seem to get away from it, Hilton was initially ordered to serve 45 days in jail for violating her parole and driving on a suspended license (her license was suspended for driving while under the influence). The judge, Michael T. Sauer decided that Hilton needed an object lesson so sentenced her to do the time in jail vs. house arrest. The sentence was then knocked down to 23 days of which Hilton served 5. Hilton was then released due to some mystery health reason to finish her sentence out via house arrest (although this time for the full 40 days) by the L.A. County Sherrif Lee Baca.

The judge found out, as did the LA District Attorney and both were not happy. The judge ordered Hilton back into court today and had the sheriff’s department pick her up (complete with handcuffs) and escort her back into court. The judge, being quite preturbed at this decided that now Hilton will serve out the remainder of her 45 day sentence (40 days) in jail. Hilton was escorted from the courtroom by a female deputy crying out “Mom, Mom, Mom!”

There you go, now you should be pretty much up-to-date on this ridiculous spectacle.

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13 responses to “Today’s News in LA LA Land”

  1. charles austin Avatar
    charles austin

    Perhaps Martha Stewart can counsel her on being a frickin’ grownup.

  2. M. Murcek Avatar
    M. Murcek

    Not even a new (let alone news) story. Rich people have bought their way out of jail for years. One would imagine this has included someone buying his / her way even off of death row.

  3. Anderson Avatar
    Anderson

    I’m a little ashamed at how gratified I am by the account of today’s hearing.

    Okay, I lied — I’m not ashamed at all.

    Btw, Steve, was thinking of you t’other day:

    Medicare isn’t the problem. Healthcare is the problem. If we don’t figure out a way to contain the overall rise of medical spending, it really doesn’t matter much exactly how those dollars get spent.

    That’s Drum agreeing with Ezra Klein. Are we all Verdonians now?

  4. jim Avatar
    jim

    While all of you gloat about this consider that she will get out about 15 days before the woman in Tennessee who killed her husband. We have a wonderful “justice” system in this country.

  5. Tlaloc Avatar
    Tlaloc

    Drudge has been having Paris Hilton updates at the top of his site all day so far. Talk radio this morning was all over it.

    That surprises me. I thought Drudge maintained pretentions of being a real jounalist.

    Oh wait.

    flips on CNN.

    Nevermind. Carry on.

  6. Anderson Avatar
    Anderson

    Was that the woman whose hubby was a pastor? Got a link? I wondered what happened with that.

  7. Steve Verdon Avatar
    Steve Verdon

    That’s Drum agreeing with Ezra Klein. Are we all Verdonians now?

    Gadzooks!

    There is some truth in what he is saying, but I’d argue that the policies are part of the issue. Policies such as Medicare, the tax exempt status of health care benefits, etc.

    Now look at what you’ve done Anderson! A serious comment about health care in a Paris Hilton thread. That’s not hawt.

  8. Steve Verdon Avatar
    Steve Verdon

    Oh wait.

    flips on CNN.

    Nevermind. Carry on.

    Heh, I was wondering if you’d show up Tlaloc. Damn, another thing we agree on. You’re right it does appear to be getting easier. I don’t know who should be more scared.

  9. Steve Plunk Avatar
    Steve Plunk

    What many are missing here is the exposure of our criminal justice system and the capriciousness of it. By virtue of her celebrity the media is paying attention to this and we get an inside look at crime and punishment.

    It’s funny that this person gets 45 days for a DUI. Sure she violated her probation but the cops didn’t catch the media did. Meanwhile the lady who shot her sleeping husband in the back gets a likely sentence of no more than 270 days.

    The more we see of our criminal justice system the more we talk about it. Since most of us never get caught up in it (my youthful indiscretions let me experience it long ago) we assume everything is hunky-dory. It ain’t.

  10. jim Avatar
    jim

    http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2007/jun/08/060803646.html

    Here is the link to the Tennessee killing. The AP site i use has taken it down for some reason.

  11. Anjin-San Avatar
    Anjin-San

    The convergence of real news/celebrity gossip has been going full steam ahead since the telecommunications act of 1996(?) put us on the fast track to media monopolies.

    For news outlets, reporting stories like this is much easier than putting in the hours that go into real investigative reporting.

    For the elite who benefit most from the status quo, having a nation of folks who are more concerned with American Idol and Paris Hilton that the real issues facing our country and the world has obvious advantages.

  12. William d'Inger Avatar
    William d’Inger

    Paris Hilton is not the issue here. She’s just a pawn in a media circus. It would be the same had it been any other rich celebrity.

    The real issue is who the hell let her out. That, IMHO, deserves the in-depth investigation.

  13. Steven Taylor Avatar
    Steven Taylor

    Having once lived in the LA media market, I can only imagine what the local news is like this afternoon.

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