November 13, 2009

FOUR FRIDAY THE 13TH SUPERSTITIONS, AND HOW THEY STARTED:

It's Friday the 13th. Do you know why it's supposed to be an unlucky day? Some people think it comes from Christianity, because Jesus died on a Friday, there were 13 people at the Last Supper, and Judas was the 13th guest. -- But don't worry . . . that's NOT where it came from. In fact, no one really knows for sure. If you think THAT'S interesting, here are four more superstitions, and the history behind each . . .

#1.) BREAKING A MIRROR. It's supposed to bring seven years of bad luck. That's because people used to think their reflection represented their soul. And if you broke that reflection, your soul would be damaged. As far as the seven years part goes, it's a bit of a mystery. --But experts think it has to do with the Romans, who thought life renewed itself every seven years. So breaking a mirror was like breaking your soul, and it took seven years to start fresh.

#2.) WALKING UNDER A LADDER. In some cultures, the triangle symbolized life. And walking through a triangular shape was tempting fate. There's also just common sense: If you walk under a ladder, it could fall, or something on the ladder could fall and hit you on the head.

#3.) BLACK CATS. In the middle ages, people thought black cats could turn into witches and demons. Since no one wanted to cross paths with them, the idea that it was bad luck to cross paths with a black cat spread pretty easily.

#4.) SPILLING THE SALT. Salt was a luxury in the middle ages, and doctors used it too. So it was expensive, and wasting it was frowned upon. Some experts think it was originally considered bad form to spill the salt, then people naturally associated it with bad luck. --But why do you have to throw some over your shoulder, and why does it have to be your LEFT shoulder? Well, traditional Christians thought the devil hung out on their left shoulder. So when they threw it OVER their shoulder, they were actually throwing it in the devil's face. (AssociatedContent.com)

FOUR BAD DATING HABITS:

If you've had a tough time getting a date recently, you might be in a rut . . . or you might just be a victim of unhealthy dating habits. Here are four of them, and how to turn things around:

#1.) MISTAKING "LUST AT FIRST SIGHT" FOR "LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT." When guys meet someone, they get carried away by the idea of getting someone new. And women start fantasizing about how he might be "the one." --But real relationships are based on reality. Don't move in together because you have a great sex life. And don't start choosing names for your kids. If you actually want it to last, you need to slow down, and take time to get to know someone.

#2.) DATING WHEN YOU'RE DESPERATE. If you make dating decisions based on how lonely you feel, things won't turn out well. Relax, accept that the dating game takes a while . . . and maybe even take a break from trying altogether.

#3.) LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT MATCH. There's a difference between being "selective" and being "picky." Don't dismiss people as soon as you find something "wrong" with them. Focus on what IS, rather than criticizing what ISN'T.

#4.) GETTING STUCK WITH THE WRONG PERSON . . . AGAIN AND AGAIN. Every relationship, whether it's short-term or long-term, is a reflection of YOU. If you keep dating people who use and abuse you, maybe it's because there's a part of you that doesn't feel you deserve someone good. --So if you keep getting stuck with the wrong person, there's probably something you need to change about yourself before you find someone new. It sounds corny, but seeing a therapist or reading some self-help books can actually help you figure things out. (Happen Magazine)

THE MOST POWERFUL PERSON IN THE WORLD IS . . . BARACK OBAMA:

This week, "Forbes" released its annual list of the world's most powerful people. Here's a look at the top ten:

#10.) BILL GATES

#9.) Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, the King of Saudi Arabia

#8.) Michael Duke, the president and CEO of Wal-Mart

#7.) RUPERT MURDOCH

#6.) Carlos Slim Helu, the CEO of TelMex, Mexico's largest telecommunications company . . . and the world's third richest person

#5.) Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the founders of Google

#4.) BEN BERNANKE

#3.) VLADIMIR PUTIN

#2.) Hu Jintao, the president of China

#1.) BARACK OBAMA (--You can link to the entire list here . . .)

http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/11/worlds-most-powerful-leadership-power-09-people_land.html

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ACCEPTING DONATIONS TO HELP PAY DOWN THE NATIONAL DEBT:

The holidays are a time to help those in need. And if you think about it . . . who's more in need than the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? --With that in mind, the U.S. Treasury Department is accepting donations to help pay down the $7.6 TRILLION national debt. --All you have to do to contribute is write a check payable to the Bureau of the Public Department, and make a note in the memo section that it's a gift to help pay down the national debt. Then you can mail your check to:

Attn: Department G
Bureau of the Public Debt
P.O. Box 2188
Parkersburg, West Virginia 26106-2188

(--We know all this because it's on the Treasury Department's website, at the bottom of the "Frequently Asked Questions" section. Take a look . . . and won't you please do your part to help out?)

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/resources/faq/faq_publicdebt.htm

--By the way . . . this is nothing new. In the last fiscal year, Americans donated more than $3 MILLION toward the federal debt. That's about 0.000001% of the total. (--All I want to know is, just who are these people that can't find a better charitable cause than the federal government? Because I'll bet your local soup kitchen is flat broke. Maybe check with them before you cut THIS check.) (Yahoo News)

THE BALLOON BOY'S PARENTS ARE PLEADING GUILTY:

Prosecutors in Colorado have announced that the parents of Balloon Boy, a.k.a. Falcon Heene, are going to plead guilty today. It seems they accepted a plea deal in exchange for lenient sentences.

-Here are the details of the agreement:

#1.) Falcon's dad, Richard, will plead guilty to attempting to influence a public servant, which is a felony. He could have gotten up to six years in prison. Instead, he's looking at no more than 90 days in jail.

#2.) And his mom, Mayumi, will plead guilty to false reporting to authorities, which is a misdemeanor. Originally, she was charged with a felony too. But since she's a Japanese citizen, a felony conviction could have gotten her deported. --With the plea deal, she could get up to 60 days in jail. And if she gets any jail time at all, she'll probably be allowed to serve it in a work-release program. --According to the Heene family's attorney, quote, "[Richard] feels like he's got to do what he's got to do to save his wife from being deported." (Yahoo News)

A ROBBERY SUSPECT USED HIS FACEBOOK STATUS UPDATE AS HIS ALIBI . . . AND THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM WERE DROPPED:

Last month, 19-year-old Rodney Bradford was arrested as a suspect in an armed robbery investigation in Brooklyn, New York. But the charges against him were dropped just a few days later. Because of Facebook. --On Saturday, October 17th, at 11:49 A.M. . . . the exact time the robbery occurred . . . Rodney posted a Facebook status update from a computer in his father's apartment in Harlem. Supposedly it said, quote:

"ON THE PHONE WITH THIS FAT CHICK . . . [WHERE'S] MY IHOP" --According to an expert on social media, quote, "This is the first case that I'm aware of in which a Facebook update has been used as alibi evidence. We are going to see more of that because of how prevalent social networking has become." (New York Times)

YOUR KID COULD CATCH SWINE FLU FROM SANTA:

This year, when you take your kids to see Santa at the mall, I want you to think about THIS . . . --Dr. James Orlowski is the head of Pediatrics at University Community Hospital in Tampa. He says that viruses and other bacteria can live for up to eight hours on a person's clothing. That includes the SWINE FLU virus.

Anyway, Dr. Orlowski is worried that if a kid with swine flu sits on Santa's lap, his beard, hair, and Santa suit could act as a perfect haven for the virus to camp out and wreak havoc. --In other words, there's a real chance that your kid could catch swine flu from Santa. (WTSP News 10 - Tampa)

45% OF WOMEN WANT THEIR FIANCÉ TO WEAR A "MAN-GAGEMENT" RING:

Okay, guys, here's the situation: You love your girl more than anything in the world, so you ask her to marry you . . . and she says YES. But then, after you put the engagement ring on her finger, she says she wants YOU to wear an engagement ring too. -Or, rather, a "man-gagement" ring. So what do you do?

The reason I ask is because, according to a recent survey on Brides.com, 45% of women say they would want their fiancé to wear one. (My Fox - Washington, D.C.)

(--If you're wondering, etiquette dictates that the man wear his "man-gagement" ring on his left hand until the wedding day, at which point he switches it to his right hand. In other words, once you're married, you'll be wearing TWO rings instead of one.)

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW

PREJEAN PANDEMONIUM

CARRIE PREJEAN SAYS THE BIBLE DOESN'T FORBID BREAST IMPLANTS:

CARRIE PREJEAN'S body may be a temple, but God didn't build it up to her standards . . . so she got breast implants. -But Carrie would like you to know that God is COOL with her fake boobs. She tells "Christianity Today", quote, "I don't think there's anything wrong with getting breast implants as a Christian. I think it's a personal decision. --"I don't see anywhere in the Bible where it says you shouldn't get breast implants."

DONALD TRUMP *DID* SELECT CERTAIN WOMEN TO ADVANCE IN THE MISS USA PAGEANT . . . BUT HE SAYS THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT:

CARRIE PREJEAN has accused DONALD TRUMP of FIXING part of the Miss USA Pageant. She said that HE chose certain women to advance before the judges could even see them . . . --And she claimed that Donald separated the women into two lines . . . one for the hotter girls and one for the rest. --Well, it turns out this is all basically true. But the question is . . . does it matter??? --TMZ posted some audio yesterday from the pre-show screening portion of the pageant. And Donald is clearly lining the girls up by looks. Although he did it by having the girls themselves choose fellow contestants for the "pretty line". --He also told them that the exercise was all for FUN, and didn't mean anything.

Now, as for choosing some women to advance in the pageant himself, Trump didn't try to hide that. At least not from the other contestants. (--Whether he ever meant for the public to hear this audio is another story.) --He explained to the ladies that when he first bought the pageant, he was disappointed with the choices that the judges made . . . claiming that often, the most beautiful women wouldn't be selected. -So he decided to give himself the authority to make sure that didn't happen again. He even had a name for the process: THE TRUMP RULE. --When TMZ asked Donald to comment on this, he made no excuses. He said, quote, "That's why Miss Universe and Miss USA get such good ratings . . . and that is why Miss America is off the air." (--Here's the audio from the Miss USA pre-show screening . . .)

http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_audio/trump.mp3

"TWILIGHT" DIRECTOR CATHERINE HARDWICKE SAYS ROBERT PATTINSON AND KRISTEN STEWART ARE DATING:

Just in case you're still wondering about this . . . CATHERINE HARDWICKE . . . the director of the first "Twilight" movie . . . says ROBERT PATTINSON and KRISTEN STEWART are dating. --In an interview with "Time" magazine, she says, quote, "After I cast him I told Rob, 'Don't even think about having a romance with her . . . she's under 18. You will be arrested.'" (--Kristen is 19 now . . . Pattinson is 23.)

She added, quote, "In terms of what Kristen told me directly, it didn't happen on the first movie. Nothing crossed the line while on the first film. --"I think it took a long time for Kristen to realize, 'O.K., I've got to give this a go and really try to be with this person.'"

SOMEONE ALLEGEDLY TRIED TO EXTORT CINDY CRAWFORD . . . USING A PICTURE OF HER 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER BOUND AND GAGGED:

Here's how a simple game of cops and robbers can go horribly wrong for you . . . --A man has been arrested for allegedly trying to blackmail CINDY CRAWFORD and her husband, Rande Gerber. At the center of the alleged plot is a picture of Cindy and Randy's 7-year-old daughter . . . GAGGED AND BOUND TO A CHAIR.

A guy named Edis Kayalar contacted Cindy and Rande this past July, telling them he had the picture. And he claimed he just wanted to help them out. Of course, his version of "helping" was to offer to SELL them the picture, so it wouldn't end up in the tabloids. --He stole the picture from the apartment of Cindy's former nanny . . . whom he had met in a bar. He also lifted Cindy's cell number and a handwritten note that read, quote, "The babysitter went crazy and tied everyone up and they need your help! Please."

The nanny claims the picture was taken during a perfectly innocent game of cops and robbers. Cindy and Rande had no idea it even existed. So far, the nanny is not facing any charges. --Kayalar was deported to Germany back in September . . . but several weeks ago, he allegedly started calling media outlets like TMZ, claiming he still had a copy of the picture, and seeing if anyone was interested in buying it.

THE 30 BEST TV SERIES OF THE 2000s:

"The A.V. Club" has published a list of The Best TV Series of the 2000s. Naturally, the rank is up for debate. (--If you're a TV junkie like me, you should agree with the selections on this list . . . and if you're a casual viewer, you might want to keep some of these shows in mind when you're drafting a list of DVDs for your Christmas list.)

--Here's the list:

#1.) "The Wire", HBO (2002-2008)

#2.) "The Sopranos", HBO (1999-2007)

#3.) "Arrested Development", Fox (2003-2006)

#4.) "Freaks and Geeks", NBC (1999-2000)

#5.) "Mad Men", AMC (2007-present)

#6.) "Breaking Bad", AMC (2008-present)

#7.) The British version of "The Office", BBC2 (2001-2003)

#8.) "Lost", ABC (2004-2010)

#9.) "Deadwood", HBO (2004-2006)

#10.) "The Shield", FX (2002-2008)

#11.) The American version of "The Office", NBC (2005-present)

#12.) "Battlestar Galactica", Sci-Fi (2004-2009)

#13.) "30 Rock", NBC (2006-present)

#14.) "Futurama", Fox (1999-2003)

#15.) "Veronica Mars", UPN / CW (2004-2007)

#16.) "Friday Night Lights", NBC (2006-present)

#17.) "Firefly", Fox (2002-2003)

#18.) "How I Met Your Mother", CBS (2005-present)

#19.) "Big Love", HBO (2006-present)

#20.) "Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!", Cartoon Network (2007-present)

(--To see write-ups on each show, plus "essential episodes," hit up this link . . .)

http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-best-tv-series-of-the-00s,35256/3/