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Monday, February 15, 2016

Celebrity rabbi Pinto set to enter prison for bribery conviction

A day after Israel sent a former prime minister to prison for the first time, a popular high-powered rabbi convicted of corruption is set to enter jail to begin serving a one-year sentence. 
Yoshiyahu Pinto will begin his jail term for bribing a police officer in the medical center of Ramle’s Nitzan Prison, because of health issues.
He is set to enter the prison at about 1 p.m. and will serve his time just a stone’s throw from former prime minister Ehud Olmert, who began a 19-month sentence at Ramle’s Maasiyahu Prison on Monday.
Last month, the High Court rejected an appeal by Pinto, an ultra-Orthodox rabbi and kabbalist, for lenience on account of his health situation.
Pinto, who enjoys an international following among celebrities and business leaders as well as high-powered contacts in the Israeli government and elsewhere, gave his last lesson to followers Monday, telling them that nobody would “break our spirit.”
“We’ve been through serious illness and haven’t been scared for a minute,” he said, according to daily Haaretz. The way of God would be their real triumph, he added.
“We worried when there were problems, now there are good things,” he said. “You don’t know how many good things will flow from this
In May, the Tel Aviv District Court sentenced Pinto to a year in prison and a NIS 1 million ($260,000) fine after the rabbi pleaded guilty as part of a plea bargain.
Under his plea bargain, Pinto agreed to testify against Menashe Arviv, the former head of the police’s anti-corruption unit, who is suspected of receiving benefits from businessmen associated with the rabbi.
Pinto’s lawyers alleged to the State Attorney’s Office that Arviv had accepted favors illegally and provided secret information in return. Arviv was last questioned by police in September. Charges have not been brought against him.
The scandal prompted Arviv to take an extended vacation, and then, in February, to resign after 36 years of service in the police, though he maintained his innocence.
The case was linked to the suicide in July of police Brig. Gen. Ephraim Bracha, days after an Israeli news website accused him of accepting bribes from Pinto.
Hours after his death, the Justice Ministry cleared Bracha of any wrongdoing.
Since 2011, Pinto, 42, who heads several charity organizations and Torah study institutions in the coastal city of Ashdod and in the US, has been the subject of a number of ongoing investigations, both by Israeli police and the FBI.
The rabbi — whose followers have included Jay Schottenstein, chairman of the American Eagle Outfitters clothing company, and Israeli real estate mogul Jacky Ben-Zaken — was suspected of embezzlement of funds from an organization he oversaw. According to FBI suspicions, he was also the target of a blackmail attempt.

By semo at 10:43 PM

Grammys 2016 fashion: The WORST dressed celebrities on the red carpet


By semo at 10:25 PM

Valentine's Day: Stars From Scandal, Grey's, The Flash, Thrones and More Name Their Favorite TV Couples


By semo at 10:22 PM

The best and worst of Grammys fashion

If there is one thing we can count on the Grammys to give us each year, it’s a parade of jaw-dropping (and sometimes controversial) fashion. To no surprise, this year’s red carpet did not let us down. As usual, here are our picks for best- and worst-dressed, as well as best-dressed couple and best-dressed group. Best dressed Kaley Cuoco Kaley Cuoco Kirk McKoy TNS Selena Gomez
On hand to support her good friend Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez stole the show when she stepped out in a dazzling Calvin Klein dress that featured figure flattering cutouts. Kaley Cuoco Keeping things chic and sophisticated, Kaley Cuoco’s sparkly Naeem Khan jumper stunned from every angle as she made her way down the red carpet. Tori Kelly While she might have been a newcomer to the Grammys this year, Tori Kelly looked every bit like a fashion veteran in her beautiful emerald green gown by Gauri and Nainika. Worst dressed Manika When you’re an up-and-coming artist, it’s all about finding a way to get your name out there. For singer Manika, that meant showing up to the Grammys in an ensemble that left little to the imagination. Janelle Monae Always a fashion risk taker, Janelle Monae went for an out-of-the-box look that ended up being a huge fashion miss. Z LaLa With Lady Gaga now opting for tamer red carpet looks, it seems that singer Z LaLa is ready to step in and take the title for wackiest red carpet fashionista. Best men’s fashion The ladies weren’t the only ones making a style statement on last night’s red carpet. Musicians like Common, Sam Smith and Big Sean all looked dapper in suits tailored to fit their personalities. Best trend: bobs If you’ve been itching for a new haircut, might we suggest taking some inspiration from Taylor Swift and Adele. Both Grammy-winning singers stepped out sporting short bobs that have us itching to go shorter this spring. Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/living/article60581966.html#storylink=cpy
By semo at 10:19 PM

Watch Taylor Swift's Grammys Opening

On one end of the spectrum of celebrity facial expression range, there's The Weeknd, who could not even be tempted to smile whilst surrounded by famous models at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Slightly farther down the line, there's Kanye West, who only smiles when he's not smiling, followed by noted one face–haver Kit Harrington. But way, way down on the opposite end, there's Taylor Swift, whose myriad of facial expressions will one day likely grant her an Oscar. Happily, tonight's Grammys was no exception. In the show's opener, she performed "Out of the Woods" in a glittery catsuit, all while delivering some of the night's most top-notch faces. Watch the whole thing above, and catch up with everything else Grammys-related right here.
By semo at 10:14 PM

Rihanna Cancels Her Grammy Performance But Makes a Big Fashion Statement All the Same


By semo at 10:12 PM

New York Fashion Week Day 5 Recap: Life the Olsen Way




Day five of New York Fashion Week has come and gone, and in its wake there’s plenty to discuss. The day started downtown at The Row, where Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen presented a mostly monochrome and very minimalist collection. Later came shows from Jeremy Scott, Carolina Herrera, Phillip Lim, and Thom Browne, with the evening culminating at Rag & Bone, where Marcus Wainwright and David Neville honed their streetwear-to-runway vision. Oh, and it snowed. Get all the news from the shows and more, here.
By semo at 10:09 PM