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/

November 12, 2009 Post

FIVE HIDDEN HOTEL HEALTH HAZARDS:

You've heard this before, but it's worth repeating during flu season: hotels are a breeding ground for disease. In case you're going somewhere this weekend, here are five hidden hotel health hazards to keep in mind . . . to make sure you don't get a cold, swine flu, or worse.

#1.) HOTEL DRINKING GLASSES. If you get thirsty, don't drink out of the glasses the hotel provides. A news station in Atlanta recently investigated and found that a lot of hotels never wash them. The housekeepers just wipe them down and put them back.

#2.) BED BUGS. They're hard to get rid of because they've become resistant to a lot of the chemicals used by exterminators. It's so bad that the Environmental Protection Agency hosted a "National Bed Bug Summit" in August to come up with ways to get rid of them. --They hide in the seams of the mattress, so the hotel might not even know they have them. And the worst part is, you can carry them home on your clothes.

#3.) HOTEL DOORKNOBS. The flu virus can live on a doorknob for two hours. But you also have to worry about pink eye, staph, and HPV. Hotel doorknobs see a lot of traffic, which is why they're particularly dangerous. So carry hand sanitizer with you at all times.

#4.) HOTEL SHOWERHEADS. A University of Colorado study found that dirty showerheads have a shocking amount of bacteria on them, and the big concern is lung disease. Basically, you can inhale the bacteria while the water is spraying you in the face.

#5.) HOT TUBS AND SWIMMING POOLS. Three cases of Legionnaires' disease . . . a deadly form of pneumonia . . . were linked to a Hampton Inn hot tub in 2008. And two more cases were reported at a hotel in Alabama. -And even though STD's are mainly transferred through direct contact, they can also survive up to 45 minutes in warm water. (Insure.com)

FOUR MUGGERS RETURNED A GUY'S WALLET WHEN THEY LEARNED HE WAS AN ARMY RESERVIST:

Yesterday was Veterans Day, and thankfully, most people showed the proper respect and appreciation our soldiers deserve. Even criminals. Check this out . . . --At around 1:15 A.M. on Tuesday, an unidentified 21-year-old Army reservist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was walking home from work, when he was jumped by four men wearing masks.

One of the men pulled a gun on the reservist, and told him to lie face-down on the ground. Then they took his wallet, cell phone and keys. --But while they were looking through the wallet, one of the robbers noticed the guy's Army ID. At which point they returned the guy's possessions and actually THANKED him for his service.

According to the reservist, quote, "The guy continued to say throughout the situation that he respects what I do, and at one point he actually thanked me, and he actually apologized. --"The leader of the group actually walked back, [and] gave me a quick fist bump, which was very strange."--After returning the reservist's belongings, the four men walked off. The police are still looking for the muggers, who are suspected of committing two other robberies that night. (Yahoo News)

A GUY WAS BUSTED PRETENDING TO BE A DECORATED WAR HERO AT HIS HIGH SCHOOL REUNION:

Nobody wants to show up at their high school reunion feeling like a loser who's done nothing with their life. But that's no excuse to pull something like THIS . . . Last month was the 20-year reunion for the Class of 1988 from Alhambra High School in Martinez, California.

One alumnus, 39-year-old Steven Burton, decided to show up wearing his U.S. Marine Corps uniform . . . complete with medals including the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and the Navy Cross. Steven said he'd earned the medals fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The only problem is that Steven was never in the military. He works for a bank in Palm Springs, and the whole thing was just a put-on so he'd seem cool to his former classmates. --And Steven might have gotten away with it. Except that another member of Steven's graduating class, Colleen Salonga, actually IS a Navy commander. v--Colleen became suspicious of Steven, so she took a photo of him in uniform and sent it to the FBI. Long story short, Steven was arrested for impersonating a soldier. He's been charged with the unauthorized wearing of military medals. (Smoking Gun)

(--Check out a photo of this moron wearing his fraudulent Marines uniform. . .)

WAL-MART IS GOING TO STAY OPEN ALL NIGHT ON THANKSGIVING IN ORDER TO AVOID MORE BLACK FRIDAY TRAMPLING DEATHS:

It seems like every year on Black Friday, someone gets trampled to death by a stampede of early-morning bargain hunters. Just last year, it happened to a Wal-Mart security guard in Long Island, New York.

Well this year, Wal-Mart officials are trying to avoid a repeat performance of that nonsense by keeping most of their stores open all night on Thanksgiving.--The logic is that if customers aren't forced to line up outside, there won't be a mob rushing into the store as soon as the doors open.

The only problem is that the sales still won't officially begin until 5:00 A.M. Friday. --In other words, you can camp out inside Wal-Mart all night on Thanksgiving. Or you can join the rest of us in the 21st century and take care of your holiday shopping online. The choice is yours. (Holidash)

APPARENTLY, THIS YEAR'S MUST-HAVE HOLIDAY GIFT IS SOMETHING CALLED THE ZHU ZHU PET:

What do Cabbage Patch Kids, Tickle-Me Elmo and the Furby all have in common? At one point or another, they were all must-have holiday gifts . . . and it was almost impossible to get your hands on them.

Well, this year's must-have holiday toy seems to be something called Zhu Zhu Pets. Basically, they're little, motorized hamsters that zoom around a hamster "funhouse," complete with slides, ramps and tunnels. (???) (--If you need a visual demonstration, check out an ad for Zhu Zhu Pets here . . .)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFWsvsQSoLM

Anyway, Zhu Zhu Pets were first released last month and they've been flying off the shelves. It's gotten to the point that the Zhu Zhu Pets, which sell for $8 at Wal-Mart, are fetching as much as $30 when resold on Amazon.com. (--You can link to the official Zhu Zhu Pets website here . . .) http://www.zhuzhupets.com/

(Wallet Pop)

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW

CARRIE PREJEAN went on "Larry King Live" last night . . . and got her breast implants in a bunch when he tried to ask her about her settlement with the Miss California USA organization. (--Check out this video of Carrie taking off her microphone and trying to ignore Larry . . .) http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=4de8baa9-52d4-4395-8140-240bc5346f23

ADAM LAMBERT did indeed break up with his boyfriend, Jake LaBry. Fellow "American Idol" stud KRIS ALLEN says, quote, "[Adam is] doing good. --"He's obviously not completely happy about it, but I think it was just something that needed to happen." (--Kris did NOT address the rumor that Adam is already enjoying saucy backdoor relations with a songwriter who worked with him on his new album.)

NICOLAS CAGE WAS ONCE STALKED BY . . . A MIME???

There are some pretty bizarre celebrity stalker stories . . . but this has to rank as one of the strangest. Although it also sounds like one of the LEAST threatening.

When NICOLAS CAGE was shooting the 1999 movie "Bringing Out the Dead", he was stalked . . . by a MIME. --He says, quote, "I guess it would fall into the stalker category more or less. I was being stalked by a mime . . . silent, but maybe deadly. Somehow, this mime would appear on the set and start doing strange things.

"I have no idea how it got past security. Finally, the producers took some action and I haven't seen the mime since. But it was definitely unsettling."

MIKE TYSON PUNCHED OUT A PHOTOGRAPHER AT AN AIRPORT:

MIKE TYSON was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport yesterday . . . after he punched out a paparazzi scumbag who was following him. --The incident went down at the United Airlines ticket counter at about 4:30 P.M. We don't know what set Tyson off, but witnesses say he floored the guy with a single punch.

The victim ended up with a cut on his forehead, and was treated at a nearby hospital. There's no word how bad it was. --Tyson was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor battery and released on $20,000 bond. --But Tyson . . . who was traveling with his wife and 10-month-old daughter . . . wants battery charged filed against the photographer. --Tyson's rep says the guy was, quote, "overly aggressive" and Tyson was acting in self-defense to protect his child. --

A police spokesman says, quote, "There's a lot of different versions to this story and that's all going to come out later. There were numerous witnesses and that's what this whole case is going to depend on."

JON GOSSELIN MOCKS HIMSELF IN A "FUNNY OR DIE" VIDEO:

JON GOSSELIN has become self-aware!!! In a new Funny or Die video, Jon pokes fun at himself . . . and says that he's going to go back to his pre-"celebrity" days, to revert to his, quote, "normal, simple life." (--Here's the link . . .)

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/82ee1f0bd5/jon-gosselin-goes-back-in-time

IS AEROSMITH BACK TOGETHER???

For being in their late 50s and early 60s, the guys in AEROSMITH sure move fast when it comes to creating and debunking hysteria over their status as a band. --On Tuesday night, STEVEN TYLER joined guitarist JOE PERRY onstage at the Fillmore in New York . . . during a JOE PERRY PROJECT show. --Steven told to the crowd, quote, "I just want New York to know I'm not leaving Aerosmith . . . and Joe Perry, you are a man of many colors, but I, mother(effer), am the rainbow!" (???) Then, they performed the Aerosmith hit, "Walk This Way". (--You can see fan-shot video of this at the link below.
***WARNING***: It's UNEDITED, so you can hear Steven say "mother(effer)". And about 20 seconds later Joe says "bull(crap)" while he's introducing the song.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC7EK68tdEY

--Although, Joe has been outwardly frustrated with Steven ever since their tour was cancelled after Steven fell off the stage at a show back in August . . . the talk about Steven leaving the band just began LAST WEEK. --Here's the quick timeline . . . Last Sunday, Aerosmith played a gig in Abu Dhabi. After the show, Steven told "Classic Rock" magazine that his next project would be something all his own . . . quote, "Brand Tyler." When Joe read this ONLINE, he thought Steven had QUIT.

--Then, on Monday, Joe posted messages saying that Aerosmith wasn't breaking up, but he added, quote, "In the meantime Aerosmith is positively looking for a new singer to work with. You just can't take 40 years of experience and throw it in the bin!"

--That was just over 24 hours before Steven appeared onstage Tuesday night.

--After the show, TMZ caught up with both of them. Joe confirmed that Steven was back, and added, quote, "He just couldn't stay away." When asked about the rumors of a split, Joe said, quote, "None of that's true. I don't know [where that started]."

--When Steven was asked about the break-up, he said, quote, "There is absolutely no validity to the rumor that Aerosmith is breaking up . . . mother(effer)!" (--You can watch the clip, which contains BLEEPED PROFANITY, here . . .)

http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=4f60c1a0-72a6-4da6-921e-c32944138abd

(--Just as a side note: In the video, Joe is signing all kinds of autographs . . . but says he doesn't sign guitars. I'm assuming that's because of endorsement deals or something, but I don't know. Just thought that was interesting.)

OR . . . ARE THEY STILL WALKING THEIR OWN WAYS???

So now that STEVEN TYLER has shared a stage with JOE PERRY . . . and they both adamantly denied that the band was splitting up . . . Aerosmith is okay, right? --Nope. Joe says they're still as "up in the air" as they were earlier this week. (???) --Joe gave all sorts of interviews yesterday explaining how Steven's appearance at his show was unplanned . . . and they still haven't hashed anything out.

--He told "People" magazine, quote, "I was totally surprised. I had no idea he was going to show up. We walked off stage and were sitting taking our break [before] the encore and there was a bunch of commotion and I looked up and Steven was there." --Then, to "Billboard", he added, quote, "[Steven] said, 'How ya doin'? What's going on? What songs are you playing . . . anything good or what?' I said, 'Well, we've got a couple more to go . . . you want to come and sit in with the band?' --". . . and he said 'Yeah' and [chose] 'Walk This Way'. I was really blown away that he came to the show, but he showed up and was really anxious to come and sit in and play, so I figured, what the hell?" --But Steven didn't stick around to hang out with the band afterwards. Joe says, quote, "He came up and sang and that was the last I saw of him."

Because they didn't get to talk about the future, Joe still doesn't know what's next for the band. He's under the impression that Steven wants to take TWO YEARS OFF . . . and if that's still true, Joe says Aerosmith may continue on without him. --He says, quote, "Nothing has really changed between two days ago and today. He wants to take two years off from the band. The rest of the band wants to keep on working. We have so many different options to fill up that time. --"Anything is possible at this point . . . but the band's too good to let it sit around. We're not going to wait for Steven." (--I can't WAIT to hear what happens next.)

FERGIE SAYS THE BLACK EYED PEAS AND KANYE WEST HAVE MADE HIP-HOP MORE "GAY-FRIENDLY":

In a new interview, FERGIE says that hip-hop and the gay community are cool with each other . . . and she credits her band, the BLACK EYED PEAS, and KANYE WEST for bringing them together.

-She tells "The Advocate", quote, "[The guys in my band] are completely gay-friendly. Are you kidding me? Look at how they dress! --"Kanye West really did a great thing for hip-hop and made it very mixed and open."

***THE 43RD ANNUAL CMA AWARDS ***

In case you didn't hear . . . it was TAYLOR SWIFT night at last night's "43rd Annual CMA Awards". Totally. Taylor won all four of the awards for which she was nominated . . . and at 19 . . . became the YOUNGEST performer to ever win CMA Entertainer of the Year. (--And the first solo female act to win that award since SHANIA TWAIN did it back in 1999.)

Ironically, Taylor won Best Video for "Love Story". The trophy was passed out before the show, but don't worry, BRAD PAISLEY and CARRIE UNDERWOOD managed to squeeze in the inevitable KANYE WEST joke. You can check that out here . . . http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20316530_20319261,00.html

November 11, 2009

 

STEVEN TYLER SAYS HE IS *NOT* LEAVING AEROSMITH:

JOE PERRY continues to claim that STEVEN TYLER is leaving AEROSMITH. But Steven FINALLY addressed the issue himself yesterday, while hanging out at the 2009 Glamour Women of the Year Awards. He told reporters, quote, "Does it look like I'm leaving Aerosmith?" So what's the deal, then? Why, is there all this talk about the band splitting up???

Steven said, quote, "You know what it is, it's those people who are putting out [guitarist] JOE [PERRY'S] album. Joe's doing a solo album. So people are paying attention to that."

That's true, he is. Joe is currently out promoting his new album, "Have Guitar, Will Travel", which came out last month. (--So, Steven is insinuating that this is all a publicity stunt to hype Joe's album . . . ??? Are you buying this?) Steven also mentioned that he, too, is working on a solo album . . . although that's something he's been saying for around 15 years now. We'll see what happens with that, but either way . . . Steven says he's not walking away from Aerosmith.

 

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL'S WIFE IS LEAVING HIM:

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL'S wife Shaunie filed for legal separation on Monday . . . and sources say she plans to file for divorce. -Check this out, though . . . Shaq, Shaunie and their four kids all lived in Florida. But a few days ago, she pulled the kids out of school and took them to Los Angeles with her.

--In her petition for separation, Shaunie says she's been an L.A. resident as of November 8th. --Why would she go through the trouble??? Supposedly, it's because community property laws would be more favorable to her in California. But there's a prenup in place, so it's not clear how much the move will help.--Shaunie is asking for spousal and child support . . . but she didn't say how much of either she wants.--Shaq and Shaunie have been married for almost seven years. Their four kids are all between the ages of 3 and 9.--Shaq filed for divorce in 2007, and it looked like it was going to get ugly. Shaunie actually accused him of hiding money from her. But they eventually reconciled.

 

KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR HAS CANCER:

NBA legend KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR is battling a form of cancer called chronic myeloid leukemia. He was actually diagnosed a year ago, but didn't disclose it until yesterday. -Kareem . . . who's 62 . . . said, quote, "Having lost one of my closest friends to a different, highly aggressive form of leukemia, I knew how serious my diagnosis was. My own life expectancy became a question mark.

-He added, quote, "When the doctor told me I had cancer, I was scared. My grandfather and my uncle both died from colorectal cancer, my dad almost died from it and I have the gene for it. It's in my family, so I thought this was something else along those lines, but it's not." --Kareem says that with treatment, he's expected to live a full, active life.

 

MICHAEL JACKSON'S DAD CAN'T CHALLENGE THE EXECUTORS OF HIS ESTATE:

JOE JACKSON got the legal smackdown in court yesterday . . . when a judge ruled that he has no grounds to contest the executors of MICHAEL JACKSON'S will.--And here's an interesting side-note to all this chaos: Joe's wife, KATHERINE JACKSON, actually sided AGAINST HIM on this one.

Katherine dropped HER opposition to the executors . . . because she feels that a legal battle over the estate wouldn't be in the best interest of Michael's children. She would still like a little more say in the affairs of the estate, though.

Joe is still petitioning the court for a monthly allowance from the estate. And he's still accusing the executors, John Branca and John McClain, of fraud and conflict of interest. --Joe's attorney says that if he DOESN'T get money from the estate, he'll file a creditor's claim against it. (--Apparently, he's trying to claim there was some kind of agreement. He did say that he used to get a monthly allowance from Michael . . . but we never heard that there was anything official or in writing about it.)

 

HILARY DUFF KISSED JESSICA SZOHR IN THE HYPED "THREESOME" ON "GOSSIP GIRL" MONDAY NIGHT:

The first of TWO hyped
"threesome episodes" on Gossip Girl" aired Monday night, and it was a mild success in the ratings. An estimated 2.3 million viewers tuned in. By comparison, last week's episode attracted 1.95 million viewers.

--If you missed it, here's what happened: --PENN BADGLEY and JESSICA SZOHR'S characters, Dan and Vanessa . . . along with recurring guest star HILARY DUFF, who plays Olivia . . . were talking about the wild things they still had yet to do at college. And naturally, the notion of a threesome came up. (--Don't you just LOVE Hollywood's take on college debauchery? Why couldn't this happen when *I* was in college??? Probably because I went to college in real life.) The one-guy, two-girls threesome went down . . . and did feature some same-sex kissing between Hilary and Jessica. (--If that's something that you're upset you missed, you can find a brief video and screen caps at this link . . .)
http://www.egotastic.com/entertainment/celebrities/hilary-duff/hilary-duff-lesbian-kiss-with-jessica-szohr-from-gossip-girl-005099 --More footage of this sexiness will reportedly be shown on next Monday's episode.

 

IT'S ON!!! BETWEEN DONALD TRUMP AND CARRIE PREJEAN:

It's been virtually IMPOSSIBLE to miss CARRIE PREJEAN on TV pimping her new book over the last few days. In the book . . . and in several of her TV appearances, Carrie has accused DONALD TRUMP of conducting a HUMILIATING exercise before the Miss USA pageant . . . separating the girls into two groups: Those he found attractive and those he didn't.

Well, Trump isn't taking it lying down. He released the following statement yesterday . . . quote, "Carrie should be ashamed of herself. Certainly I would never do a thing like that, because it would be too hurtful . . . --"It was total nonsense . . . it was fiction in her imagination . . . I don't even know how she came up with an idea like that. She should not have written that in the book.

"She's trying to act like she's a nun . . . so maybe she should release [her] sex tape and people would see whether or not she is a nun." --He added, quote, "She's trying to sell a book. She's doing the best she can . . . I can't imagine too many people would be interested in it, but you never know what sells these days."

 

"TWILIGHT" LEADS THE LIST OF "PEOPLE'S CHOICE" NOMINEES:

If you're getting tired of "Twilight", this will NOT be good news for you. It got a leading SIX nominations for the "36th Annual People's Choice Awards". --Those nominations include Favorite Movie . . . as well as acting nods for ROBERT PATTINSON, KRISTEN STEWART and TAYLOR LAUTNER.

Meanwhile, HBO's vampire drama, "True Blood", got THREE nominations . . . and the CW's "The Vampire Diaries" got two. --TAYLOR SWIFT, meanwhile, got three nominations in the music category . . . and MILEY CYRUS got two, but not for singing. Miley's were for "Hannah Montana" and for being a "Web Celeb" on the internet.

And, perhaps most importantly, the very sexy SUSAN BOYLE is up for Breakout Music Artist. (--She's up against Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato and "American Idol" studs Kris Allen and Adam Lambert.) --The 36th Annual People's Choice Awards" air live on CBS on January 6th.

CBS IS DEVELOPING A TV SHOW BASED ON A TWITTER FEED:

CBS is developing a comedy series based on Justin Halpern's popular Twitter account, "(Crap)MyDadSays". (--Actually, it's called "S**t My Dad Says".) Justin, who's 29 years old, uses the account to Tweet all the insane stuff that his grumpy, 73-year-old dad says.

Here are a few examples: "Just pay the parking ticket. Don't be so outraged. You're not a freedom fighter in the civil rights movement. You double parked."

--"The baby will talk when he talks, relax. It ain't like he knows the cure for cancer and he just ain't spitting it out."

--"Son, no one gives a (crap) about all the things your cell phone does. You didn't invent it, you just bought it. Anybody can do that." (--Here's the link . . .)

http://twitter.com/Shitmydadsays

--The creators of "Will & Grace" are helping develop the show, which is being described as a "family comedy." It's too soon to say if and when it'll come to TV.

 

LADY GAGA'S NEW VIDEO

LADY GAGA has released the video for her new single, "Bad Romance". I'd describe it, but I really have no idea where to start. Simply put, it's totally weird . . . not that that's unexpected or anything. (--Here it is . . .)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACm9yECwSso

 

NAZZY'S RANDOM STUFF

AFTER A GUY WAS ASSAULTED, HE TOLD 911 THAT HE MURDERED SOMEONE . . . JUST SO THE POLICE WOULD RESPOND FASTER:

I hope I never have to call the cops and tell them I've been assaulted. Because I'm willing to bet it's a terrifying experience. But people, no matter how rattled you are, THIS is not the way to go about getting help. On Monday night, 911 dispatchers received a call from 38-year-old Mark Anthony Johnson, in Tyler, Texas. (--about 95 miles east of Dallas.) Mark reported that he'd just MURDERED someone . . . and that he was still armed with a weapon. So several officers headed over to the location Mark had given them, with sirens flashing.

But when they got there, Mark told them that he had LIED to the dispatcher. He hadn't actually murdered someone . . . he HIMSELF had been assaulted. He just wanted the cops to get there as fast as possible. (--No word on if he even had any injuries from his alleged assault.) Instead, the cops charged Mark with filing a false report, arrested him, and threw him in jail. His bond's been set at $3,000. (Associated Press)

 

CAN YOU TELL IF SOMEONE IS EMOTIONALLY STABLE JUST BY LOOKING AT THEIR FACEBOOK PROFILE PICTURE?

I've never given too much thought to what my Facebook profile picture says about my personality. But, apparently, it says a whole lot. At least that's according to a new study from Sonoma State University in California, which found that the average person can paint a pretty accurate picture of a stranger's personality, based only on their Facebook profile picture. Researchers asked several study participants to view the profile pictures of 133 complete strangers. What they found is that the participants were able to accurately judge NINE out of TEN personality traits, including:

--Self-esteem

--Emotional stability

--Likability

--How open they are to new experiences

--Conscientiousness

--Loneliness

--Whether they're agreeable

--Whether they're an extravert

--And how religious they are

--The only trait they weren't able to ascertain from the profile picture was a person's political orientation. A woman named Laura Naumann led the study. She says, quote, "In an age dominated by social media . . . it becomes important to understand the ways personality is communicated via our appearance. "The appearance one portrays in his or her photographs has important implications for their professional and social life." (Yahoo News)

 

YOU COULD EARN UP TO $900 A MONTH JUST BY DRIVING AROUND:

This is just a heads-up to let you know that if you're a little strapped for cash, you can earn up to $900 a month by becoming a "brand driver." That's what it's called when you cover your car in vinyl decals called "auto wraps," which sport the logos and slogans of various corporations. All you have to do to qualify is drive at least 1,000 miles a month.

But since lot of people sign up to become "brand drivers" . . . presumably because it's easy money . . . whether or not you're chosen is based on a number of factors, including:

--Where you live

--Where you drive

--The location of your commute

--Whether you have kids . . . and how old they are

--And the kinds of events and activities you typically attend (???) (AOL Autos)

(--But, hey, $900 a month is nothing to sneeze at . . . especially if you don't mind turning your car into a mobile billboard and becoming a corporate whore. If you're interested, you can apply to become a "brand driver" here . . .)

http://www.freecarmedia.com/

http://www.drivenmediaonline.com/

 

HERE ARE FOUR THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT VACCINES:

A lot of people are talking about the swine flu vaccine right now. Like, should you get it . . . should you wait . . . will it even do anything? And to tell you the truth, I really don't know. But here are four things I DO know, that you probably didn't know about vaccines . . .

#1.) THEY DON'T CAUSE AUTISM. That's supported by 14 different scientific studies. But the debate lives on because the first signs of autism show up around the same time babies get vaccinated. And celebrities like JENNY MCCARTHY, JIM CARREY, and CHARLIE SHEEN still claim there's a link.

#2.) YOU CAN GET A LOT OF THEM. Between the day you're born and the age of two, you only get about ten vaccinations. But according to a study at the University of Pennsylvania, the average immune system could handle up to 100,000 vaccines in a lifetime.

#3.) A MALARIA VACCINE IS IN THE WORKS. Last year, malaria killed A MILLION people worldwide. And most of them were kids under the age of five. But in August, the World Health Organization announced that a safe malaria vaccine had been developed. And some children in sub-Saharan Africa are already getting it.

#4.) MOST OF THE VACCINES USED TODAY WERE DEVELOPED BY ONE GUY. A scientist named Maurice Hilleman developed over three dozen vaccines in the 1950s and '60s. And eight of them are still recommended by the CDC today.

--That includes the vaccines for measles, mumps, chickenpox, meningitis, pneumonia, and hepatitis A and B. And when Hilleman died in 2005, the "Washington Post" credited him with saving more lives than any other scientist in the 20th century. (AskMen.com)

 

NOVEMBER 10, 2009

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW

ELLEN DEGENERES SAYS SHE AND PORTIA DE ROSSI ARE PARTNERS FOR LIFE:

In the December issue of "O" magazine, ELLEN DEGENERES predicts that she and PORTIA DE ROSSI will be scissoring all the way to the grave. She says, quote, "She is so beautiful and so smart and so funny. I have that sense of 'I'm done now. I'm settled.' I know that part of my life is taken care of. I've got love. I've got someone who will be with me till the day I die."

Ellen and Portia got married in August of 2008, during that brief window in which gay marriage was legal in California. It was banned again the following November with the passage of Proposition 8 . . . but since Ellen and Portia had been legally married before then, their union remains valid.

Meanwhile, Ellen and Portia were on "Oprah" yesterday . . . and Portia revealed how she found it impossible to resist Ellen's STONE-COLD HOTNESS. --She first fell for Ellen when she was on the show "Ally McBeal". But she couldn't do anything about it for another THREE YEARS, because she was still in the closet.

She said, quote, "Over those three years, we saw each other at parties or various things, but the one time that was the most significant was at a photo shoot. --"I just walked over to say hello to her and I couldn't believe it, but she turned around and it was like an arrow was shot through my heart. I was weak at the knees and I was overwhelmed with how I felt. But then it took me about 10 months to get the courage up to do something about it."

THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS HAVE RELEASED LARRY JOHNSON:

The Kansas City Chiefs released running back LARRY JOHNSON yesterday . . . the day he was due back from his SECOND suspension in the past two years. --Johnson was suspended for two weeks after he used the GAY SLUR and took shots at head coach TODD HALEY on Twitter.

The decision to let him go was made early yesterday. Haley said, quote, "We decided that it was in the best interests of the Kansas City Chiefs organization to move forward at this time." --In 2008, Johnson was benched . . . then suspended by the league . . . over two incidents at a Kansas City club. One woman accused him of throwing a drink on her, and another said he pushed her head.

He ended up pleading guilty to two counts of disturbing the peace . . . and was sentenced to two years' probation. (--Johnson rushed for over 1,700 yards in both 2005 and '06 . . . but hasn't put up numbers like that since.)

MARTIN LAWRENCE AND JAMIE FOXX WILL BRING "SHENENEH AND WANDA" TO THE BIG SCREEN:

MARTIN LAWRENCE and JAMIE FOXX will resurrect their famous female characters in "Sheneneh and Wanda". Jamie is writing the script. --The idea started as a fake movie trailer called "Skank Robbers" . . . which Martin and Jamie threw together for the "BET Awards" earlier this year. But the response to it was so strong they decided to run with it.

The plot features Sheneneh and Wanda as, quote, "modern-day independent women trying to make it on their own, one bank robbery at a time."

(--Jamie made Wanda famous on "In Living Color". Here's one of those classic skits . . .)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZR3EdLggUI

(--Here's some Sheneneh, from the old "Martin" TV show . . .)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0uFcf7Cft4

(--And here's the "Skank Robbers" trailer that started it all . . .)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NVuTWlqA2Y

JOE PERRY SAYS AEROSMITH *IS* LOOKING FOR A NEW SINGER . . . AND SAYS THE BAND IS "NOT SPLITTING UP":

STEVEN TYLER still has yet to address the talk that he has quit AEROSMITH . . . either publicly, or privately with the band . . . but pretty soon he might be forced to, because guitarist JOE PERRY won't stop talking about it. --Yesterday, Joe posted a message on Twitter saying that the band is NOT over . . . but they're looking for a NEW SINGER. --In three Tweets, he said, quote, "Aerosmith is definitely NOT breaking up. One of the members is doing his own thing and said so in the press. That's all I know.

"In the meantime, Aerosmith is positively looking for a new singer to work with. You just can't take 40 years of experience and throw it in the bin! --"Aerosmith not splitting up. Promise that's the last you'll hear from me on the subject till we gear up again."

As for one of the members "doing his own thing," Joe is referring to some quotes Steven made to "Classic Rock" magazine . . . where he said, "I don't know what I'm doing [next] yet. But it's definitely going to be something Steven Tyler." --"[I'm] working on the brand of myself . . . Brand Tyler."

Joe saw that quote online . . . and since Steven has apparently been avoiding Joe's efforts to get in touch with him, the band is assuming this means he's leaving the band to do something on his own.

For what it's worth, Steven's daughter, Mia Tyler, has been hounded with questions about Aerosmith on her Twitter account. --Here's what she had to say about it . . . quote, "Yes, they are replacing him with Big Bird! STOP ASKING ME!!!! --"They are in their 60s now. Let them do what they wanna do! [And] can someone please tell JP that gossiping on Twitter is uncalled [for]! Amirite?"

(--JP is Joe Perry, of course . . . in case you're not up with all this hip, Twitter lingo.) (--So is this new singer Joe Perry is looking for a PERMANENT replacement for Steven . . . or just a fill-in until Steven gets back with the program???)

NAZZY'S RANDOM STUFF

A MILLION BABY STROLLERS WERE RECALLED AFTER 12 KIDS HAD THEIR FINGERTIPS CUT OFF BY DEFECTIVE HINGES:

Yesterday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced they're recalling more than ONE MILLION baby strollers sold since 1999 by a company called Maclaren USA. --Apparently, the Maclaren strollers have a hinge defect that's injured 15 kids, and 12 of them had to have their fingertips AMPUTATED. The stroller models that have been recalled are the:

--Volo

--Triumph

--Quest Sport

--Quest Mod

--Techno XT

--Techno XLR

--Twin Triumph

--Twin Techno and the . . .

--Easy Traveler (ABC News)

--If you own one of the models that's been recalled, you can order a free repair kit with specially-designed hinge covers by calling 877-688-2326, or online, here . . . (--Please note that as of late last night, the entire maclarenbaby.com site was down for "maintenance".)

http://www.maclarenbaby.com/us/content/view/88573/98889729/lang,en/

MORE THAN ONE IN THREE AMERICANS SAYS THEY'LL RE-GIFT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON:

You know what it means to "re-gift" something, don't you? That's what it's called when you take a gift you received from someone, and give it to someone else. --Anyway, a new survey has found that more than ONE in THREE Americans . . . or 36% overall . . . plan on re-gifting this holiday season. That's up from 31% last year, and 24% in 2007.

Meanwhile, 6% of Americans still haven't paid off all their debt from LAST holiday season. (--Is there an official policy on re-gifting? Everybody seems to look down on it. Or maybe the unofficial policy on re-gifting is that it's okay . . . as long as you don't get caught? Thoughts?) (Chicago Tribune)

HERE ARE SIX TYPES OF ANNOYING CO-WORKERS:

Admit it . . . you have a few co-workers that you just CAN'T STAND. It's okay, there are probably a few people in your office who don't like you either. --With that in mind, here are six types of annoying co-workers that everyone hates:

#1.) The Gossip: Whether we admit it or not, everyone loves a little gossip. But it undermines the spirit of the workplace, and creates an atmosphere of paranoia.

#2.) The Broken Clock: This person's always late to meetings, and shows up late for work. And when they do finally show up, they spend the entire day instant messaging and checking Facebook.

#3.) The Mold Guy: Every office refrigerator is stocked with moldy, month-old sandwiches and rotting fruit. And that's because every office has a Mold Guy who leaves their leftovers in the office fridge.

#4.) The Stinker: This is the person who wears way too much cologne or perfume. Or, they have wicked B.O., in which case they don't wear enough.

#5.) The Cracker: This is the guy who's always cracking jokes, cracking his knuckles, popping his chewing gum, or clanking spoons in his coffee cup.

#6.) The Tapper: This is the guy who spends every meeting tapping away at his smart phone. (Yahoo Hot Jobs)

HERE ARE SEVEN FACEBOOK PHOTOS THAT CAN GET YOU DE-FRIENDED:

Face it. Only a few of your Facebook friends are REALLY your friends. The rest you know mainly through their profile. Which is why it's annoying when people pick absurd profile photos. With that in mind, here are seven Facebook profile photos that could get you "de-friended."

#1.) Emo: As in those "emo" rock bands who always whine about being tormented and in love. The emo photo is usually black and white, you're acting all pissed-off, and you probably took it yourself, either in the mirror or by holding the camera out with your arm.

#2.) Headshot: If you're a professional model or actor, you have a headshot. That's fine. But you shouldn't be using it as your profile photo, because that's just annoying. And if you ARE, then you're probably just an ASPIRING model or actor.

#3.) Childhood: People want to see what you look like now. If you post a picture of yourself as a kid, it's like you're trying to be "cute." And people will just wonder what you're trying to hide.

#4.) Your baby: It's okay to have your baby in your profile photo, but YOU have to be in it too. Why? Because it's weird to see that "your baby" tagged me in a photo or wrote on my wall.

#5.) With a celebrity: This is the Facebook equivalent of name-dropping. And that's lame.

#6.) Couple kissing shot: You're happy and in love. Good for you. But the rest of us are miserable, and we don't need you rubbing your happiness in our faces.

#7.) Company logo: There are only two reasons to use a logo as your profile picture. The first is that you're trying to promote your business. The second is that you're unattractive and hiding behind the logo. Either way, they're both unacceptable. (Guyism)