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May.29

11:35 AM ET

Friday, 29 May 2009

Call Of Shame - Vote Now

Posted By:Jane Wells

Topics:Media | Print Media

Sectors:Media

Companies:News Corporation Limited | American Express Co | Wal-Mart Stores Inc

Call of Shame
CNBC.com
This week's lowlights include sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll, all on credit! Here are our nominees, followed by our choice for winner. Vote for your own in the poll at the bottom.

LOW PRICED LEADER, LOW PRICED FINE

Wal-Mart [WMT Loading... () ] is fined by OSHA for the stampeding death of a temporary worker on Black Friday last November. The fine is the highest OSHA can slap on a company for a preventable death, a whopping...$7,000. Wal-Mart makes that much in the time it took to read this sentence.

FORECLOSURE FAILURE

Fitch releases a report suggesting that foreclosure modification programs are a failure. Most subprime borrowers are redefaulting, including many homeowners who had their principals reduced 20 percent.

HOLE-MACKEREL

Courtney Love, lead singer for Hole, is being sued by American Express [AXP Loading... () ] for allegedly stiffing the company $350,000 in credit card debt. Love, "Member Since..." well, how is it even possible she ever got a card? The widow of Kurt Cobain claims she was the victim of fraudulent charges. The bigger question, why did AmEx ever extend so much credit to a troubled rock star with past drug and money problems? Please, Courtney, leave home without it.

SEX AND THE HOSER

The oldest profession in the world apparently needs media training. Prostitutes in Vancouver are preparing for the upcoming Winter Olympics, not to win medals, but to woo journalists. Training will include when to agree to an interview, pose for a picture, how to handle aggressive reporters. One would think their job experience would have given them the needed tools.

TWIT?

Twitter co-founder Evan Williams has helped produced a fabulously popular website, but in a CNBC interview, he doesn't seem to have much idea how to make money on it. What, is the business plan only 140 characters long?

BUT THE WINNER IS...AT&T!

The phone giant [T Loading... () ] is accused of juicing the vote for Fox's [NWS Loading... () ] "American Idol", as company reps admit to showing fans at Kris Allen parties how to send multiple texts for free. Allen wins, and now Adam Lambert fans are crying, "Ma Bull".