The HAMPTON Report

Flavored oils are invaluable summer ingredients, at home over salads, grilled vegetables, meat or fish. They’re also among the simplest exotic kitchen creations imaginable.

Could it be that humans are not quite as gullible as advertised? Researchers can’t always sway diners with the lure of a bargain.

Michael Jackson’s fans are still in a state of shock over the King of Pop’s sudden death on Thursday.

So some were a little rankled when Michael’s father, Joe, turned up at the BET awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night and worked the red carpet, speaking of his late son AND plugging his latest business venture: a record label.

In a red carpet interview with CNN reporter Don Lemon, Joe said of the funeral arrangements: “We haven’t gotten to that yet.”  When Lemon asks about how his bereaved wife and children are doing, Joe responds curtly “they’re all doing fine.”

“But I want to make this statement, this is a real good statement here,” Joe says next as he introduces his business partner, Marshall Thompson.  “Marshall and I we own a record company called Ranch Records.”

Thompson then steps forward to explain that Ranch Records, which will employ Blu-Ray technology,  is the “next step” for Joe Jackson. A seemingly confused Lemon then changes the subject.

At a Monday morning press conference to address his son’s second autopsy and plans for a funeral, Jackson explained that he only brought up the record label because he was asked.

“I was asked a question last night about the record company,” Joe said. “What I’m doing is I established a record company with Marshall and the company is called Ranch Records …,” he said. “So we have a lot of good artists fixing to come out.”

Photo: Joe Jackson arrives at the BET awards on Sunday night (Reuters/ Phil McCarten)

The family of Michael Jackson began to appear in public Sunday night at the BET Awards. Father Joe Jackson and sister Janet Jackson turned up at the Los Angeles awards show, sponsored by the BET television network, that annually gives out honors to African American singers, actors, actresses and athletes.

Janet Jackson did not answer any media questions or even approach the media. She appeared on stage, thanking the audience for turning out and showing their love for her brother. You can read about that here.

But Joe Jackson did walk the red carpet and talked to a few reporters, and he came backstage to answer two questions in front of cameras. Below is a two-minute video of Joe Jackson.

Brian Fink, the salutatorian of East Hampton High School this year, wowed his fellow classmates at their sun-drenched graduation ceremony with a speech that sounded familiar, but was all his own.

BERNARD MADOFF’S success in the world of investments marked him out as an embodiment of the financial boom.

Whalers power-hitter and first baseman Mike Labrozzi admits that he sleeps with his bats and puts new ones in gym socks, but despite his quirks, the superstitious player and Sag Harbor native is one of the top hitters in Hamptons Collegiate Baseball.

Bernard Madoff, the architect of a multimillion dollar Ponzi scheme, has been sentenced to 150 years in prison today.

The nightlife scene in the Hamptons has been strange so far this season. Southampton’s Pink Elephant has filed for bankruptcy. Dune has turned into Axe Lounge as part of a disturbing summer-long sponsorship deal. Lily Pond hosts humongous sponsorship parties with the Hilton spawn. And Surf Lodge, while hip and crowded on weekends, can be intimidating. One newcomer that sounded somewhat promising …

Washington Post: Governor’s Wife Has Drawn A New Path For The Aggrieved Spouse Of A Philandering Politician