HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (09-14-10)

"VMA" FALLOUT

TAYLOR SWIFT BACKED OUT OF A PLANNED DUET WITH KANYE WEST . . . BUT THEY MADE THEIR PEACE BACKSTAGE AT THE "VMAs":

A KANYE WEST / TAYLOR SWIFT duet at Sunday night's "MTV Video Music Awards" would've been the perfect way to bury the hatchet from last year's show, where Kanye infamously stormed the stage and interrupted Taylor's moment. --Obviously, that didn't happen. Instead, they both performed new songs . . . separately . . . that were clearly inspired by last year's fiasco. But according to new reports, MTV was trying to set up a duet . . . and Taylor was the reason it didn't happen. --E! Online says that Kanye was onboard . . . and the plan was for them to close out the show together. There's no word on what they would've performed. --Supposedly, producers were still trying to convince Taylor to join Kanye throughout the actual ceremony . . . but to no avail. --Meanwhile, "Us" magazine is reporting that Kanye and Taylor DID make peace backstage . . . in a private meeting in Taylor's dressing room. --A so-called "source" says quote, "Kanye got word she was going to do the song about him and wanted to talk it out. Taylor felt bad. They talked and everything is good between them now. --"But they promised to keep what they spoke about between them."


WILL.I.AM SAYS HE WAS *NOT* TRYING TO MAKE A STATEMENT ON RACISM WITH HIS "VMA" OUTFIT:

WILL.I.AM would like you to know that the crazy outfit he wore to the "MTV Video Music Awards" was NOT meant to be RACIST or make some statement on race. -If you didn't see, he was wearing all black, including black gloves . . . with a HINT of pink. (???) --But the kicker was that he actually painted his FACE black, leading to criticism that he was in BLACKFACE. --A lot of people went off on Will on Twitter . . . including one who said he was setting black people back 100 years. --In a series of Twitter messages, Will.I.Am said, quote, "[First], just because I [wear] all black including head mask as expression and [to] emphasize my outfit, it shouldn't be looked at as racial . . --"Let go of the past. There are far more important things [to] bark about: Jobs, health, education . . . not a black man wearing all black everything. --"Are you guys serious? My outfit set 'black people back 100 [years]'? Choose your [tweets] wisely. No education sets people back . . . no jobs, bad health."


THE "VMAs" HAD THEIR BIGGEST RATINGS IN *EIGHT* YEARS:

An estimated 11.4 million people watched the "MTV Video Music Awards" on Sunday night. That made it the most-watched MTV show . . . overall . . . since the 2002 "VMAs". --Ratings for the "VMAs" have been on the rise. Back in 2006, the ceremony only attracted 5.8 million viewers. Last year, 9 million people tuned in, which was the most-watched "VMA" telecast since 2004.


BROOKLYN DECKER DOESN'T THINK IT'S STRANGE THAT SHE GOT MARRIED AT 22:

"Sports Illustrated" swimsuit issue cover girl BROOKLYN DECKER was only 22 when she married tennis stud ANDY RODDICK last year. But she doesn't think she was too young. --She says, quote, "It wasn't weird for me. My mom got married when she was 19, and my husband's parents got married young . . . in their 20s. And both sets of parents are still together. --"We're so lucky. We had that influence around us, and basically, it came down to the fact that neither of us had to get married." --She adds, quote, "It was never part of my plan to get married young, but we did it because we really wanted to." --By the way . . . Here's more proof that no matter how perfect you might be, your man will always want WHATEVER YOU'RE NOT: Brooklyn says Andy has a thing for OLDER WOMEN. --She says, quote, "Andy definitely has crushes. He loves women in their 40s and 50s. He loves CHRISTIE BRINKLEY and DIANE LANE. A woman who's graceful and has it all together. So not me." (--Andy is 28, by the way. Brooklyn turned 23 last April.)


JUSTIN BIEBER IS TRYING TO STAY SINGLE:

Sorry, girls . . . JUSTIN BIEBER likes to keep your hopes up from time to time by saying he wouldn't be against dating a fan. But unfortunately, he's not dating ANYONE right now. And that's on purpose. --He says, quote, "I'm single. I'm kind of looking, but I'm kind of trying to stay single." --When he DOES decide to settle down, though, this is what he's looking for . . . quote, "An ideal girl is someone who is funny, who can make me laugh. And someone who has nice eyes and a nice smile."


CHECK OUT A CLIP OF JUSTIN BIEBER ON "CSI":

JUSTIN BIEBER guest stars on the season premiere of "CSI" a week from this Thursday. And we have a preview clip. (--Check it out . . .) (--I don't wanna hate on this kid. He's trying his best. But I don't think they need to engrave his name on an Emmy just yet . . .)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOuEh7e3f50


MICHAEL CLARKE DUNCAN ACTUALLY ADMITS HE'S DATING OMAROSA:

We've heard that MICHAEL CLARKE DUNCAN is dating reality show idiot OMAROSA MANIGAULT STALLWORTH. And now, he's actually admitting it. --He says, quote, "[I like] her personality. Really! She's very knowledgeable. She's the first woman that I can wake up next to and knows all about politics and what's going on in the world. --"The world, defense, what's going on with the President's program. Anything and everything. She's very intelligent." (--Michael Clarke Duncan is 52 . . . Omarosa is 36.)


SACHA BARON COHEN AND ISLA FISHER HAVE ANOTHER BABY:

"Borat" superstar SACHA BARON COHEN and his wife ISLA FISHER have a new baby. --We don't know when Isla gave birth or the name or sex of the baby. And we may not anytime soon. They don't plan to comment on the birth, because they're all private like that. --Sacha and Isla also have a 2-year-old daughter named Olive.


LADY GAGA DISCUSSED HER MEAT DRESS ON YESTERDAY'S "ELLEN":

ELLEN DEGENERES filmed the season premiere of her show backstage at the "MTV Video Music Awards" Sunday night. One of her guests was LADY GAGA . . . and the subject of her MEAT DRESS came up. --Ellen said, quote, "I get most of your outfits. You have the meat bikini on and now the meat dress . . . because I'm vegan . . . What is the purpose of the meat?" --And here's Gaga's explanation . . . quote, "Well, it is certainly no disrespect to anyone that is vegan or vegetarian. As you know, I am the most judgment-free human being on the Earth. --"However, it has many interpretations, but for me this evening if we don't stand up for what we believe in and if we don't fight for our rights, pretty soon we're going to have as much rights as the meat on our bones. And, I am not a piece of meat." --PETA . . . which already criticized Gaga's meat bikini . . . is also going after her for the meat dress --They said, quote, "Someone should whisper in her ear that there are more people upset by butchery than impressed by it . . . and that means a lot of young people will not be buying her records if she keeps it up. --"Meat is the decomposing flesh of an abused animal who didn't want to die, and after time spent under the TV lights, it would smell like the rotting flesh that it is and likely be crawling in maggots . . . not too attractive, really." --On a lighter note, Lady Gaga also talked with Ellen about her very obvious nervousness while accepting all her VMAs Sunday night. --She said, quote, "I was supremely nervous in a way that I have never been nervous because I wasn't performing. I'm not used to just . . . like going to accept awards and get my picture taken." --She added, quote, "I can't let my fans down tonight because then I'm just another (B-word) in a dress at an award show."


JOHN MAYER HAS QUIT TWITTER:

JOHN MAYER is the latest celebrity to set the world on its ear by abandoning Twitter. --He actually shut it down Sunday, after Tweeting, quote, "What does this button do?" --His rep issued the following statement . . . quote, "With the Battle Studies Tour now at a close and a return to the studio planned, John has discontinued his Twitter account. However, he continues to communicate with his fans via his blog as he always has." --John had well over 3 MILLION Twitter followers.


CHECK OUT SOME PICTURES OF MICHAEL RICHARDS' ALLEGED ASSAULT ON A PAPARAZZI SCUMBAG:

We heard yesterday that a paparazzi scumbag is suing MICHAEL RICHARDS for allegedly knocking him to the ground and then kicking him repeatedly. --Well, TMZ posted the guy's pictures from the incident. And frankly, there doesn't seem to be anything too damaging to Richards in them. (--Check 'em out for yourself here . . .)
http://photos.tmz.com/galleries/alleged_michael_richards_paparazzi_fight#tab=most_recent



TOM BRADY SAYS HE WAS SCARED OUT OF HIS MIND DURING HIS ACCIDENT LAST WEEK:

TOM BRADY discussed his recent car accident yesterday . . . (--On Boston's WEEI-AM). He said he was, quote, "scared out of my mind", after his Audi hit a minivan that crossed in front of him after running a red light last Thursday. --The worst part was that Tom actually thought he'd hit a woman who was walking her dog. He said, quote, "I swear to God, it was like 'The Matrix'. When the cars hit, I saw all the glass kind of explode. --"Then I saw her go flying. I thought, 'Oh, my God' as we're kind of skidding to a stop. I saw her go flying back." --The woman did get knocked over . . . or maybe she just fell . . . but she wasn't hit. And she wasn't injured. --After the accident, Tom said, quote, "I didn't even know what to do, because you're just in shock. I was kind of sitting there in the car, looking around, trying to get my bearings . . . And then once I got home, then it really hits you." --Tom also offered the following advice . . . quote, "That was a scary morning for all of us. Man, wear your seatbelts. That's all I can tell everybody. You never know."


ADAM "THE ONE TRUE BATMAN" WEST IS GETTING HIS OWN COMIC BOOK!!!

ADAM WEST . . . a.k.a. THE ONE TRUE BATMAN . . . is finally getting his own comic book -It's called "The Mis-Adventures of Adam West". It's by that company, Bluewater comics . . . but it's not autobiographical like the ones they make of other celebrities. --This one will be fictional, featuring Adam going on, quote, "a dimension-hopping adventure featuring encounters both fictional and within his real-life history." --Adam himself says, quote, "That's what I wanted: something that was more Walter Mitty or 'Pink Panther', with adventure the kids will love, and action." --Adam says his character might even meet Batman . . . (--whom he played in the CLASSIC 1960s TV series) . . . or the mayor on "Family Guy" . . . (--for whom Adam provides the voice.) --The comic will be out in the spring of 2011. (--To read more about it, and to see pictures of the some of the book's covers, hit up this link . . .)
http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/09/13/adam-west-comic-book-series-misadventures-of-adam-west/


RUSSELL CROWE IS MAKING A KUNG-FU MOVIE WITH RZA OF THE WU-TANG CLAN . . . ???

RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan is directing and starring in a Kung-Fu flick called "The Man with the Iron Fist" . . . and he says RUSSELL CROWE is starring in it with him. --RZA will play a village blacksmith and weapon-maker in feudal China. But he won't give away too much about Russell's character. --All he'll say is, quote, "Russell's gonna be the baddest man alive. That man is in fighting shape. That man will knock you out." (--Russell and RZA worked together a few years ago on the movie "American Gangster". They even teamed up and wrote songs for the soundtrack, but producers decided not to use any of them.)


"ECLIPSE" WILL HIT BLU-RAY AND DVD IN DECEMBER:

"Eclipse" hits Blu-ray and DVD on December 4th . . . just in time for Christmas, obviously. A two-disc special edition will include deleted scenes and commentary by ROBERT PATTINSON, KRISTEN STEWART and author STEPHENIE MEYER. --There will also be two companion DVDs hitting stores the same day. One is called "Music Videos and Performances from the 'Twilight Saga' Soundtracks, Volume 1". That one's pretty self-explanatory. --The second one, "Destination Forks: The Real World of 'Twilight'", provides a look at the real-life town of Forks, Washington, where the story is set.


"AMERICAN IDOL" INSANITY

"AMERICAN IDOL" WILL REPORTEDLY PAY JENNIFER LOPEZ $12 MILLION . . . BUT THEY DIDN'T CAVE IN TO ALL HER "DIVA" DEMANDS:

There still hasn't been an official announcement . . . but there are some new, UNOFFICIAL reports that JENNIFER LOPEZ has been locked in as an "American Idol" judge. --Deadline.com claims J-Lo will receive $12 MILLION . . . (--Which, from what we've heard, would be roughly $8 million MORE than they were offering PAULA ABDUL last year.) --J-Lo was reportedly holding out for $15 million, but "Idol" didn't budge. But that wasn't all she was demanding. -Supposedly, J-Lo wanted a side-deal to develop TV shows and movies for herself. But again, Fox and "American Idol" said thanks but no thanks. --A while back, we'd heard that J-Lo almost LOST the gig because she was being a DIVA. This new report backs that up . . . saying that she repeatedly threatened to drop out unless she got what she wanted, but Fox called her bluff. (--By the way, Deadline.com also claims that J-Lo had SOME leverage, because SIMON COWELL had already asked her to be a judge on the U.S. version of "The X Factor", which will premiere NEXT fall. We haven't heard that before.)

OPRAH IS TAKING HER STUDIO AUDIENCE TO AUSTRALIA:

On the 25th and FINAL season premiere of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" yesterday, Oprah announced that she'd be taking her studio audience to AUSTRALIA. --This wasn't just a random audience, though. For this episode, producers had specifically packed the studio with Oprah's "most loyal viewers" . . . somehow. --Oprah announced the FREE trip saying, quote, "This is really my last chance to do something really big. And if you want to do something big, you would want to take along your ultimate viewers. --"I started to think about where would I most want to go. Maybe I should take all of you with me to the other side of the world. We're going to Australia! We are going to Australia! You and you and you and you, are going to Australia!" (--Naturally, this is reminiscent of Oprah's legendary Pontiac giveaway . . . "You get a car! You get a car! You get a car!" . . . but this was even MORE epic. You can watch video of the Australia review below.) (--My favorite part is at the 1:05 mark . . . after Oprah teases that it'll be bigger than going to New York . . . and some wildly excited Oprah fan seems to mouth the words: "Bigger than New York!!!" It's amusing.)
http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Oprahs-Surprise-for-Her-Ultimate-Viewers-Video
--The trip . . . which will happen in December . . . will be eight days long. Oprah will tape at least two episodes while she's there. It'll be the first time she's filmed the show outside the U.S. --As part of the announcement, a giant plane was wheeled onstage . . . and JOHN TRAVOLTA came out of the cockpit. John is a pilot who works for Qantas airlines as its "ambassador-at-large." --Some sites are reporting that John will be FLYING the plane that's taking the 300 audience members, but that's not the case. --A spokesperson for Qantas says that the whole group will fly together . . . but not on one plane. Instead, the group will be spread over several flights. (--It doesn't even sound like John is going on the trip.) (--So sadly, Oprah is not taking advantage of an AWESOME TV show idea I just had for her new OWN network, which will be launching in January.) (--I thought she could do some sort of "Lost" / "Survivor" mash-up . . . where instead of going to Australia, she, John Travolta and 300 rabid Oprah fans land on some remote island and remain there for a month or so. I'd watch that.) (--By the way, Oprah isn't footing the bill for this. Qantas is writing off the $400,000 cost . . . in exchange for the publicity they're getting from this stunt.)


JOAQUIN PHOENIX WILL BE COMING BACK TO "LETTERMAN":

JOAQUIN PHOENIX will return to the "Late Show with David Letterman" next Wednesday . . . to promote the new "documentary" about him, "I'm Still Here" --This will be his first time back since his BIZARRE appearance back in February of 2009. (--A repeat of that episode will air THIS Thursday.) (--Here are some highlights from that episode . . .)
http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/video/?pid=RWVVwTcyE7l0ry2HGxhc3fVJ0mcagiDS&vs=Default&play=true


IS LINDSAY LOHAN IN NEGOTIATIONS TO HOST "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE"?

The "New York Daily News" is reporting that LINDSAY LOHAN is in negotiations to host "Saturday Night Live" on December 4th. There's no official word on this yet. She has hosted "SNL" twice before . . . in 2004 and 2006.


"BIG BANG THEORY" MINX KALEY CUOCO BROKE A LEG . . . FOR REAL:

KALEY CUOCO . . . who plays Penny on "The Big Bang Theory" . . . fell off a horse and broke her leg over the weekend.
-As of last night, Kaley was still in the hospital recovering. "The Big Bang Theory" is currently in production . . . and a rep for the show says she'll have to be written out of the episode they're filming this week. -However, production will be on a pre-scheduled hiatus next week . . . and they're optimistic Kaley will be able to return to the set after that.


LARRY KING'S LAST GUEST . . . WILL BE HIS FIRST GUEST:

LARRY KING says he already knows who will be the FINAL guest on "Larry King Live" when the show ends its run in December. --He tells HollywoodLife.com, quote, "[It will be former New York governor] Mario Cuomo . . . [who was also] the first guest, 25-and-a-half years ago." (--He was governor from 1983 to 1994.) --British "America's Got Talent" judge PIERS MORGAN will take over Larry's time slot beginning in January.)
TUESDAY TV REMINDERS: (--Check your local listings.)

--"One Tree Hill" [8th Season Premiere] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on the CW.

--"Wipeout" [3rd Season Finale] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC.

--"Minute to Win It" [1st Season Finale] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on NBC.

--"Big Lake" [1st Season Finale] . . . 8:30 to 9:00 P.M. on Comedy Central.

--"America's Got Talent" [Performance Show] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on NBC.

--"Life Unexpected" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on the CW.

--"Covert Affairs" [1st Season Finale]. . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on USA.

--"360 Sessions" . . . 9:00 to 9:30 P.M. on IFC. (--Stereophonics performs and discuss their career and musical influences.)

--"1000 Ways to Die" [3rd Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on Spike TV.

--"Primetime: Crime" [4th Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ABC.

--"Fashion's Night Out 2010" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on CBS. (--Neil Patrick Harris hosts the second annual New York City fashion show with appearances by Justin Timberlake, Oscar De la Renta, Tommy Hilfiger, and Tory Burch.)

--"Parenthood" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on NBC. (--William Baldwin guest stars as the mean boss of Peter Krause's character.)

--"Teen Mom" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on MTV.

--"The It Crowd" [4th Season Finale] . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on IFC.


NEW ON VIDEO TODAY

--"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" - Another movie based on a video game. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal Abs . . . with Bond girl Gemma Arterton as his love interest and Ben Kingsley as the villain, who's trying to get his hands on a dagger that has the power to turn back time.

--"Letters to Juliet" - While vacationing in Italy, Amanda Seyfried finds a love letter that's been lost for 50 years, so naturally she answers it. (???) Then goes on a road trip with an old lady and her grandson to help Vanessa Redgrave find her lost love.

--"Just Wright" - A romantic comedy starring Queen Latifah as a physical therapist who falls for an NBA all-star client, who's played by Common. Paula Patton plays her best friend, who moves in on her man after Latifah tries to keep their relationship strictly professional.

--"Princess Kaiulani" - Q'orianka Kilcher . . . better known as Jewel's cousin and the chick from "Pocahontas" . . . plays one of the last heirs to the throne of Hawaii when power was stripped from her people in the late 1800s.

--"Paper Man" - Jeff Daniels plays a novelist whose only friend is the costumed superhero who lives in his imagination. Lisa Kudrow plays his wife, Ryan Reynolds is his imaginary friend, and Emma Stone is a troubled teenage girl he forms an unlikely friendship with.

--"Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale" - Barbie's latest animated feature has her rescuing her aunt's failing Paris fashion house with the aid of three fairies.
TV SERIES ON DVD:

--"Glee: The Complete First Season" . . . a seven-disc DVD set.
--"The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Third Season" . . . a three-disc set.
--"Grey's Anatomy: The Complete Sixth Season" . . . a six-disc DVD set.
--"Private Practice: The Complete Third Season" . . . a five-disc DVD set.
--"Fringe: The Complete Second Season" . . . a six-disc DVD set.
--"The Good Wife: The First Season" . . . a six-disc DVD set.
--"Rules Of Engagement: The Complete Third Season" . . . a two-disc DVD set.
--"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season Five" . . . a three-disc DVD set.
--"The League: Season 1" . . . a two-disc DVD set of the FX fantasy football sitcom. (--The second season kicks off this Thursday.)
--"Designing Women: Season 4" . . . a four-disc set. (--It ran for seven seasons.)
--"Leave It to Beaver: Season 4" . . . a six-disc set. (--It ran for six seasons.)

NEW MUSIC OUT TODAY


--"A Thousand Suns", Linkin Park (--You can listen to the complete album . . . as one, 48-minute track at their MySpace page, HERE.) (--Just so you know, it contains some naughty language, which is UNCENSORED.)

--"Hurley", Weezer (--The album title is a reference to Hurley, the character Jorge Garcia played on "Lost". The cover is just a picture of his face. If you haven't seen it, check it out at Weezer's official site, HERE.)

--"Band of Joy", Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant (--Band of Joy was Robert's FIRST band, which he formed with the late John Bonham, who would later be in Led Zeppelin with him.) (--None of the members of the other original Band of Joy members appear on this album, but it does feature folk singer Patty Griffin, musician Buddy Miller and multi-instrumentalist Darrell Scott.)

--"Flamingo", Brandon Flowers (of The Killers) (--This is his first solo album. Brandon has said that the Killers plan on regrouping sometime next year.)

--"Everything Comes and Goes", Michelle Branch (--A six-song EP from the former Wreckers minx. This is her first solo effort in seven years.) (--She had some big solo hits in the early 2000s, like "Everywhere" and "All You Wanted".)

TODAY'S NEW VIDEO GAMES

--"Halo: Reach" . . . the "Halo" series is an Xbox360 exclusive title. This latest first-person shooter is a prequel to the main trilogy.

--"The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest" . . . on the PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, and Nintendo DS. It will also support new motion controller technology on the PS3.

--"Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" . . . on Xbox360, PS3, Wii, and Nintendo DS. It's based on that animated flick hitting theaters later this month.

--"Scooby Doo! and the Spooky Swamp" . . . on the PS2, Wii and Nintendo DS.

--"Cabela's North American Adventures 2011" . . . on the Xbox360, PS3, PS2, Wii, and PSP. The latest edition of the classic hunting game allows you to play online in group hunts of up to four people on the Xbox360 and PS3 versions.

--"Truth or Lies" . . . on the Xbox360, PS3, and Wii. Like a lie detector game that's played with a microphone. It uses a calibration system to measure stress levels in your voice as you answer awkward and embarrassing questions.

MOTION GAMES:
--"Swords" . . . exclusively for the Wii. This is pretty straight-forward. You can use either a standard controller or the Wii Motion Plus in various sword-fighting battles.

--"Racquet Sports" . . . only on the PS3. This uses the new Playstation Move motion controller, which is hitting stores this week. The Move is very similar to the Wii remote but there are some differences. You can read about them HERE.

(--The Move costs $50 by itself. It works in conjunction with the Playstation Eye camera, so if you don't already have that, it'll set you back an additional $40.)

(--To give you an idea of how The Move works, check out this demo video for an upcoming game called "Sorcery", in which you use your remote as a wand. Sadly, you'll have to wait until April to pick up this one.)


BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD ARE REFORMING FOR THEIR FIRST SHOW IN 42 YEARS:

BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD . . . the folk rock band from the '60s featuring NEIL YOUNG and STEPHEN STILLS . . . will reform next month for their first gig in 42 YEARS. (--Their last public performance was in 1968.) --It'll happen the weekend of October 23rd in Mountain View, California . . . (--in the San Francisco Bay Area) . . . at this year's Bridge School Benefit. (--An annual charity concert organized by Neil Young and his wife, Pegi.) --The reunion will also feature singer Richie Furay. But two people won't be there. Original bassist Bruce Palmer died in 2004 . . . and the band's first drummer, Dewey Martin, died last year. (--Bassist Rick Rosas will sit in for Palmer. Drummer Joe Vitale will take Martin's place.) (--Other performers expected at the benefit include: Pearl Jam, Elvis Costello, Modest Mouse, Billy Idol, Lucinda Williams, Jackson Browne and T-Bone Burnett's Speaking Clock Revue, which features Elton John and Leon Russell.)


COLDPLAY'S NEXT ALBUM WON'T BE OUT UNTIL NEXT YEAR:

If you were hoping COLDPLAY would release their next album before the end of the year . . . we have some bad news. It isn't happening. --CHRIS MARTIN told fans in London that they, quote, "still have a lot of work" to do before it's finished. In fact, they said they haven't actually completed ANY songs yet. --There's no word WHEN the album might be out.


NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF

EVERY YEAR, GROCERY STORES OVERCHARGE AMERICANS $1 BILLION DOLLARS:

I never really check my receipt at the grocery store. I mean, if my TV dinners or spray cheese are supposed to be on sale for 40 cents off and they don't ring it up that way, I'm not going to hold up the line to get four dimes back. --And apparently, those mistakes happen a lot. In fact, most people are just as laid back as I am about checking their receipts . . . so it REALLY adds up. --According to a new study by New York City's Department of Consumer Affairs, every year, grocery stores overcharge Americans a total of at least $1 BILLION. It could even be as much as $2.5 BILLION. --The most common problem is that a sale isn't programmed into the register . . . so even though the tag on the shelf says there's a sale, the food doesn't scan with a sale price. --Other big problems are the scales charging for the weight of your food AND plastic packaging, not just the food . . . or taxes being added to non-taxable items. --Jonathan Mintz led the study. His team tested almost 1,000 supermarkets and more than HALF of them overcharged for at least one item. --He says he doesn't believe that grocery stores are purposefully trying to cheat customers, but he does wonder if, quote, "they're really making the effort to make sure that their customers are charged appropriately." (ABC News)


CHECK OUT FIVE PRODUCTS YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BUY GENERIC:

There are definitely times when you should buy brand-name: Store-brand vodka just tastes different . . . you don't want a TV made in a communist country that no longer exists . . . and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese can NEVER be duplicated. --But in some cases, you can save a decent amount of money by buying generic . . . and you won't notice ANY difference in the quality. Here are five things at the grocery store you should ALWAYS buy generic.

#1.) Pain relievers and over-the-counter medications. Generic medicines aren't just similar to name brand medicines . . . they're IDENTICAL. They legally use the exact same formulas. And they can be as much as $4 cheaper.

#2.) Milk. Unless your milk palette is so good that you can tell subtle differences between brands . . . and odds are, it isn't . . . you should just go for the cheapest carton on the shelf.

#3.) Bleach. Bleach is just a basic cup of chemicals that you're throwing into a ton of water. You're buying into marketing hype if you think a name brand is much more "color safe" or "deep cleaning" than a generic.

#4.) Cleaning products. Brand-name cleaning sprays can cost a lot more than generics, and they won't make ANY noticeable difference when you use them. Go as cheap as possible.

#5.) Spices. Maybe you splurge on fine imported spices from the Orient occasionally, and that's fine. -But for spices like salt, pepper, paprika and oregano . . . these are made from the same basic ingredients whether they're name brand or generic. (Yahoo Finance)


HAND SANITIZER DOESN'T REALLY HELP STOP COLDS AND FLUS:

More and more hand sanitizer dispensers are popping up around this country, and like the good, health-conscious, responsible Americans we are, we're rubbing liquid alcohol on our hands whenever we get the chance. --The Dial soap people make Dial Hand Sanitizer, and to promote it, they commissioned a study from the University of Virginia to show just how effective hand sanitizers are at killing germs and preventing the spread of diseases. --Well . . . OOPS. --The study at UVA found that using hand sanitizers doesn't really make an impact on how often you're going to get a cold or the flu. --In the study, people who used sanitizers had a cold rate of 42 infections per 100 volunteers, compared with 51 infections per 100 for people who didn't use the sanitizers. That's not a statistically significant difference. --For the flu, 12 out of 100 volunteers who used sanitizers were infected, versus 15 out of 100 who didn't use sanitizers. Again, that's not a significant difference. --Dr. Ronald Turner led the study. He says the results were a surprise and, quote, "we all thought if you used hand disinfectants it would have an impact." Hand-washing is still a much more effective way to keep yourself from getting sick. --And while hand sanitizer isn't great at stopping the cold and flu, other studies have shown that they're useful for killing more dangerous bacteria, especially in third-world countries. (Charlottesville Daily Progress)


A FIRM HANDSHAKE IS A SIGN THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LONG LIFE?

A firm handshake is CRUCIAL if you want people to take you seriously: It's hard to respect people who introduce themselves with a soft, delicate caress, or a limp fish. And now we know there's ANOTHER reason to shake hands with POWER. --A study out of England finds that people with a strong grip LIVE LONGER than other people. Usually, keeping a good grip is a sign your muscles are being used and active . . . which becomes more and more important as you get older. --In the study, elderly people with weak handshakes were 67% more likely to pass away than people with firm grips. (Yahoo News)


IN THE U.S., YOU ARE NOW NEVER MORE THAN 115 MILES FROM THE CLOSEST MCDONALD'S:

I guess it's weirdly comforting to know that you'd never have to drive more than two hours to get yourself a Double Quarter Pounder With Cheese, a large fries and, if the season's right, a Shamrock Shake or a McRib. --According to the latest numbers by the website DataPointed.net, in the continental U.S., you are never more than 115 miles away from a McDonald's. --That's actually FURTHER than it used to be. A McDonald's in northeastern California recently closed down, making it just a little harder for someone in northwest Nevada, near the Sheldon National Antelope Refuge, to get to one. --Before that restaurant closed, no American was ever more than 108 miles from a McDonald's. Now, when you're in northwestern Nevada, you'll have to drive an extra seven miles to get to one. (Data Pointed)
(--Here's a map showing all 13,000 McDonald's restaurants in the lower 48 . . .)
http://tcs.wisebrother.com/tcstodaysTcs/fullArtShow/12604?cid=6329


THE WAY YOU ANSWER THIS RIDDLE SHOWS A LOT ABOUT HOW YOU THINK AND WHAT GENERATION YOU BELONG TO:

This riddle has been around forever, and it was featured on both "All In The Family" and "The Cosby Show". But it's still a really interesting look at how different people and different generations view the world. --Here's the riddle: "A man and his son are driving and get into a car accident. The man dies instantly, the boy is rushed to the hospital. The head surgeon says, 'I can't operate on this boy, he's my son.' Who is the surgeon?" -Ready for the answer? --The surgeon is the boy's mother. --ABC News went out and interviewed several adults and several fifth graders to get their answers to this riddle. The adults were almost always stumped and gave answers like "God" or "is it the boy's brother?" --The fifth graders seem to see the world through much more gender-blurred eyes . . . and most of them said "the surgeon is his mother." These are kids who were born in 1999 or 2000. --And several of the kids also thought the answer could be "his other father" . . . since they saw a gay couple as a possibility, too. (Good Morning America)

(--Here's their report, featuring interviews with the adults and kids . . .)
http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/different-generations-same-riddle-21861323


A THIEF GETS BUSTED WHEN HE DECIDES TO GET GAS FOR A STOLEN AUDI . . . AND DOESN'T REALIZE IT NEEDS DIESEL:

Here's your Idiot Criminal of the Day! Today's unlucky winner is 27-year-old Daniel Boxall of Ramsgate, Kent, England. --A few months back, Daniel pickpocketed a woman named Caroline Lyons and stole the keys to her $20,000 Audi A4. He jumped in the car and took off down the street. --A few miles later, he realized the car's gas tank was on "E" so he pulled into a gas station to quickly fill up. He didn't see the label on the gas cap saying the car was DIESEL . . . so he went ahead and filled up with regular unleaded gas. --He drove off, and the car stopped running a few hundred yards later. --Daniel flagged down a man who was driving by and offered to sell him the Audi . . . for $150 on the spot -That pricing model made the guy VERY suspicious, so he said no, drove off, and called the police. They came and busted Daniel by the side of the road. --He told them he was forced to drive the car by a, quote, "black drug dealer" who stole it . . . but surveillance video showed that no, Daniel was the one who stole the keys and he's very much white. --On Friday, Daniel was found guilty of aggravated vehicle taking. He got a 12-month suspended sentence and had his license revoked for a year. (The Telegraph)


A BURGLARY RING ROBBED 50 HOUSES LAST MONTH BY CHECKING FACEBOOK TO SEE WHEN PEOPLE WEREN'T HOME:

With Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare, it's tempting to update people whenever you're out doing something exciting: "Heading to Hawaii for the week!" "I'm at the county fair!" "Having back hair removed, get in line, ladies!" --Well . . . let this story be a GIGANTIC reminder why you need to THINK before you broadcast your location to the world. --In Nashua, New Hampshire, police just broke up a burglary ring that robbed FIFTY houses last month. And every time, the burglars knew the houses would be empty because people had either Tweeted about it or updated their Facebook status. --The burglars were finally caught when an off-duty police officer named Mike Dore heard fireworks going off. When he investigated, he recognized the fireworks packages and remembered that someone had reported them as stolen. --That led the police to 25-year-old Victor Rodriguez, 25-year-old Mario Rojas and 17-year-old Leonardo Barroso . . . all of whom have been arrested and charged in the burglaries. The police suspect a few more people were involved as well. --So far, the police have recovered between $100,000 and $200,000 worth of stolen property. (Nashua Telegraph)


THIS YEAR'S NEW TREND IN SEXY HALLOWEEN COSTUMES IS . . . SKANKY "SESAME STREET" CHARACTERS?

There's something about this that just feels unwholesome. --Based on costume sales online and around the country, it seems that this Halloween, the trend for women who want to dress SEXY is . . . skanky "Sesame Street" costumes. --Seriously. There are sexy versions of Cookie Monster, Big Bird and Elmo that are selling like crazy. --The costumes involve a short, colorful dress that's furry or feathery . . . knee-high socks . . . and a headband with the character's googly eyes on top. On BuyCostumes.com these things are going for $49.99. --There are also male "Sesame Street" costumes that are much, much less sexy and more comical. You can get Grover, The Count, Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch or Elmo. (The Consumerist)
(--You can see the costumes or purchase them here . . .)
http://www.buycostumes.com/browse/Adult-Costumes/_/N-3i/Ntt-sesame/results1.aspx


NAZZY’S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) AND NOW . . . MOONWALKING IN PUBLIC:

Last year, some guy posted a nine-second video of himself moonwalking through Wal-Mart while pulling a shopping cart . . . and it's gotten almost TWO MILLION views. --Now there's a new one. It starts with a pretty tame skateboarding trick, and then you see a truck passing in the background . . . with the guy from the original video moonwalking in front of it. (--Search for "Pop Moonwalks popdog04.")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC6dxgLk0GY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE1ZvCnwkYk&NR=1

#2.) AN NFL COACH RAN TOWARD A REFEREE TO CALL A TIMEOUT . . . AND PULLED A HAMSTRING:

In the fourth quarter of the Atlanta Flacons' 15-9 loss to the Steelers on Sunday, Falcons head coach MIKE SMITH ran toward a referee to call timeout . . . and pulled a hamstring.

(--Search for "Mike Smith Falcons hamstring." They show it at :18, but you have to watch a 15-second ad before the video starts.)

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Video-Falcons-coach-hurts-hamstring-running-dow?urn=nfl-269061

#3.) AND NOW . . . A HURRICANE OF ANTS:

When a group of army ants goes looking for food, they use pheromones to find their way back to the colony. But if they lose the scent, sometimes they just start following EACH OTHER . . . and end up walking in a circle until they DIE. --It's technically called an "ant mill," but it basically looks like a tiny black hurricane.
(--Search for "ant hurricane.")

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA37cb10WMU


#4.) HERE'S THAT AWESOME "JACKASS 3D" CLIP FROM THE VMAS:


In case you missed it, the "Jackass 3D" sneak preview from the MTV Video Music Awards gets funnier every time you watch it. It's a longer version of the scene in the trailer where BAM MARGERA gets drilled by a giant spring-loaded hand.
(--Search for "Jackass 3D ultimate hand." Warning: There's bleeped profanity.)
http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/09/12/jackass-3d-clip/


#5.) HERE'S A TODDLER SINGING THE "BED INTRUDER" SONG:

It's been a month and a half since the "Bed Intruder" video hit YouTube . . . and the Auto-Tuned remix has been viewed over 20 MILLION TIMES. --It's so popular, even LITTLE KIDS know the lyrics. There's a new video on YouTube of a little girl singing it . . . and she can't be older than three.
(--Search for "little girl singing bed intruder song.")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfX3ObILS4U


FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD BUY ORGANIC . . . AND FIVE YOU SHOULDN'T:

We all know the organic stuff at the grocery store COSTS more, but is it worth it? The magazine "Prevention" has a definitive list of things you SHOULD and SHOULDN'T buy organic. --The main reason to buy organic is to avoid pesticides. First, here's a list of five fruits and vegetables you SHOULD buy organic . . .

#1.) CELERY. 75% of it is grown during the fall and winter . . . when rain and wind promote the growth of bacteria and fungal diseases. --And since we eat the whole stalk, celery that ISN'T organic gets sprayed with more chemicals than most other vegetables.

#2.) PEACHES. Some farmers spray them every week or two until they're ready to be picked . . . and peach fuzz can easily trap pesticides. So buy organic, and if you're ever suspicious about a peach, you can always peel it before you eat it.

#3.) APPLES. They're susceptible to more than 30 insects, so they're sprayed with a lot of pesticide. Plus, extra chemicals are added so the apples can be stored for up to NINE MONTHS before they make it to your grocery store.

#4.) BELL PEPPERS. Some vegetables, like broccoli, have chemical compounds that serve as built-in insect repellents. But bell peppers are technically FRUIT, so they DON'T. And pesticides tend to accumulate near the creases at the top.

#5.) POTATOES. They're sprayed five or more times throughout the growing season for two reasons: To protect them from bugs, and to make them all the same size and shape . . . for fast food restaurants and potato chip companies.
--Now here are five things you SHOULDN'T buy organic, because it's just a waste of money . . .

#1.) PEAS. They're protected by the pod.

#2.) ONIONS. They produce their own protective chemicals, so farmers only spray them early on. And by the time they're harvested, there's no pesticide left on the outside . . . which you peel off anyway.

#3.) ASPARAGUS. It grows so fast, there's not much time for bugs to get to it. So farmers don't bother using chemicals.

#4.) MANGOS. They're grown in Mexico, the Caribbean, and parts of South America, where the dry climate discourages the growth of fungus.

#5.) WATERMELONS. Any pesticides are on the outside, which you don't eat. For the same reason, you don't really have to buy organic cantaloupe, pineapple, avocados, or corn. (Prevention.com)


SITE FOR SORE EYES:

www.celebnamedroppers.com

Everyone has had their brush with a celebrity. This new website gives people a forum to share their celebrity encounters. Celebrity Name Droppers is easy to use for both visitors and posters. Posters set up an account with a username and valid e-mail. Visitors can enjoy the posts and post comments.



NO WAY! ON eBay?!

(Exactly As Posted)

The Rights To Name My Pure White Cat
Item number: 190444323546

Bidding ends: September 20th
With no bids at press time, starting bid: $0.99
Item location: Benwood, WV

Seller says: “PLEASE HELP THIS NAMELESS CAT!!!!!!!!! She has recently adopted me and needs a name! Up for auction is the rights to name my pure white cat. She is the cat pictured in this auction. Winner receives rights to name this cat, along with a photo of the cat and certificate stating the cats name and namer.”



Information Overload

A survey by the Pew Research Center found that Americans spend an average of 57 minutes a day getting news from newspapers, radio and television, the same amount of time as in 2000. However, we also spend an additional 13 minutes getting news online, increasing the total time spent to 70 minutes. The news consumption totals did not include cell phones, so the likely average amount of time exceeds 70 minutes, Pew added. Other findings:

· 83% of Americans get news in one form or another on a daily basis while 17% reported consuming no news at all.
· 36% of adults get news from digital and traditional sources while 39% said they relied solely on traditional sources.
· Only 9% said they got news through the Internet or mobile devices exclusively.
· 33% said they regularly use search engines to find news, up from 19% in 2008.



Dirty Handed

About one in seven Americans aren’t washing their hands after using a public restroom, according to restroom researchers who spied on people’s behaviors in public bathrooms. A new study by Harris Interactive shows that 15% of those observed didn’t wash their hands after using a public restroom. Researchers found that 23% of men didn’t wash their hands, compared to 7% of women. However, the new numbers are actually good news for hygiene. Only 77% of those observed in 2007 washed their hands. This year’s report documents the highest hand-washing rate since 1996. Researchers watched more than 6,000 adults using restrooms at Turner Field ballpark in Atlanta, the Museum of Science and Industry and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Pennsylvania Station and Grand Central Terminal in New York City, and the Ferry Terminal Farmers Market in San Francisco. Results showed:

· The Chicago science museum was the best overall, where 93% washed up.
· The two train stations in New York were the worst overall, where only 80% washed.
· Men were at their worst at Turner Field, where only 65% washed. But Turner Field brought out the best in women, with 98% washing their hands after using the restroom.

Researchers also conducted phone surveys. About 96% of those surveyed by phone said they always wash their hands in a public restroom. The phone survey also found that:

· The vast majority of us say we always wash our hands after using the bathroom at home (89%).
· Those of us who say we always clean our hands before handling or eating food is staying about the same: 77% in 2010, compared to 78% in 2007. Among women, 83% say they clean their hands before touching their food; just 71% of men say they do.
· Only 39% of Americans say they always wash their hands after coughing or sneezing.






Happy 25th ‘Super Mario!’

"Halo" isn’t the only major video game franchise with something to celebrate this week. Super Mario Bros. was released in Japan on September 13, 1985. The U.S. version of the game for the Nintendo Entertainment System arrived one month later. The series has turned its star character into one of the industry’s most recognizable icons. As of last year, the franchise had sold more than 222 million worldwide, according to Nintendo. To help commemorate the milestone, The Guardian compiled 25 Mario facts. Here a few of them:

· Mario was created by Shigeru Miyamoto and appeared in the game designer’s first ever title, the 1981 arcade “Donkey Kong.”
· Mario was originally known as Jumpman. When the American office of Nintendo was trying to rename the character for the U.S. market, legend says the workers were interrupted by their landlord, Mario Segale, and decided to name the character after him.
· Mario was originally a carpenter, not a plumber. He also appeared as a doctor in the 1990 puzzle title “Dr. Mario” and its sequels.
· “Donkey Kong Jr.,” the 1982 sequel to “Donkey Kong,” is the only game in which Mario officially stars as the antagonist.
· Bowser, the key antagonist of the “Super Mario Bros” series, has also appeared as a good guy. He helps Mario in the 1996 title “Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.”
· 1983’s “Mario Bros” was set in the New York sewer system and introduced Mario’s brother Luigi.
· Bowser was originally sketched as an ox by Miyamoto, but his drawings were misinterpreted by animator Yoichi Kotabe as a turtle. The duo worked together on the latter idea and the Bowser we know today was born.
· The naughty version of Mario – Wario – first appeared as a nemesis in the Game Boy title “Mario Land 2.” Wario’s name blends Mario with the Japanese adjective “warui,” meaning evil.
· The first "Super Mario Bros" game has sold 40.24 million copies, although that figure is skewed by the fact that it was bundled with the NES console. It was considered the best-selling game of all time until being pushed into second place by “Wii Sports.”
· Nintendo composer Koji Kondo provided the iconic soundtrack to "Super Mario Bros." The main theme, known as “Ground Theme,” is one of the most recognizable pieces of game music ever recorded. The tune remained on the Billboard ringtone charts for 125 weeks.
· The Chain Chomp enemies in “Mario Bros 3” look like steel black balls with razor sharp teeth. They were inspired by an incident in Miyamoto’s childhood when a neighbor’s dog chased him before it was yanked back by its chain.
· The Whomp characters from “Super Mario 64” were inspired by a mythological being known as the nurikabe, a “wall ghost” that misdirects or impedes travelers at night.
· The versions of the ghostly Boo enemies found in “Super Mario 64” are based on the wife of the game’s co-designer, Takashi Tezuka.
· The 1993 movie “Super Mario Bros” was Hollywood’s first attempt to create a video game tie-in. It starred Bob Hoskins and Dennis Hopper.
· Since 1995, the voice of Mario has been provided by American voice actor Charles Martinet. He also voices Wario and Luigi.
· The "Super Mario Bros" series is in the Guinness Book of Records as the most successful gaming franchise of all time.
· Mario has appeared in over 200 video games.