February 19, 2010

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW

WINTER OLYMPICS QUICK HITS

A GERMAN LUGER CHIPPED HIS TOOTH BITING HIS MEDAL FOR A PHOTO:

Part of the tradition that goes with winning an Olympic medal is posing for photos while BITING the medal. (--Because back in the old days, that's how people tested gold to make sure they weren't being scammed.) --German luger DAVID MOELLER (--Yes, it's pronounced "Molar") won a Silver medal earlier this week. Even though it wasn't a gold medal, he was still happy to pose for the traditional medal-biting picture . . . until he CHIPPED a TOOTH on it. --A corner of his front tooth chipped off, and Moeller had to make an emergency trip to the dentist. --Afterwards he said, quote, "It didn't hurt, but it is annoying when you can't smile as you normally do." --As an interesting side note, this year's medals are one of the heaviest in Olympic history. They weigh about 1 pound, 2 ounces. --Also, unlike previous Olympic medals, the Vancouver medals aren't flat. They have a "undulating wave" which might make them more dangerous to bite. (Yahoo and The Local)


GOLD MEDAL BONEHEAD OF THE DAY: A DUTCH SPEED SKATER ASKS A TV REPORTER IF SHE'S STUPID:

You wouldn't think a speed skater would get enough attention to be a prima donna, but check out Dutch Speed Skating gold medalist SVEN KRAMER. --A local news reporter asked him to state his name, country and event to help tape editors back at the station to identify him . . . and Sven TOOK OFFENSE. He told her, quote, "Are you, stupid? Hell, no, I'm not doing that." --When he finally approved her asking a DIFFERENT question, Sven offered the following jewel of wisdom: "I feel pretty good." --Later, while talking to a reporter from his own country, he complained about how stupid the woman was not to recognize him. He told that reporter, quote, "She was there when it happened, and then you have to sum up your whole biography. She's crazy." (--Check out video of this jerk here . . .) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIkgCbljJys


A FRENCH SKIER CRASHED FIVE SECONDS INTO HER RACE:

MARION ROLLAND might have had the worst downhill run in Olympic history. She crashed exactly FIVE SECONDS into her race on Wednesday. --Making matters worse, she injured her knee and had to be carried off the course, meaning she may miss her slalom event. (--Check out this spectacular flame-out here, complete with stunned French announcers here . . .)http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/Video-French-skier-falls-five-seconds-into-down?urn=oly,220613 (Yahoo)


A TORONTO NEWSPAPER RAN A LUGE-THEMED AD RIGHT NEXT TO AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE DEAD LUGER:

Someone at the Toronto newspaper "The Globe and Mail" wasn't paying attention to the layout on Tuesday. --The paper ran an Olympic-themed ad from the Chartered Accountants of Canada on page O12. It showed a luge racer and said, "When there are no brakes to rely on, every decision matters." --Directly opposite the ad, on page O13 was an article titled "Games still reeling from shock of luger's death."


LINDSEY VONN WRAPPED HER SORE SHIN IN CHEESE:

LINDSEY VONN won a gold medal in the Women's Downhill on Wednesday despite a seriously injured shin. She credits her performance to the healing power of CHEESE. --In addition to massage and laser treatments, she wrapped her leg in TOPFEN CHEESE, which is a semi-soft European cheese curd. It supposedly reduces swelling. --Austrian skiers swear by Topfen . . . and so do nursing mothers, who claim that it helps treat mastitis, which is a PAINFUL SWELLING of BREAST TISSUE. (NY DAILY NEWS)


THE RESORT WHERE THEY ARE HOLDING THE ALPINE SKI EVENTS MAY GO INTO FORECLOSURE TODAY:

The glitches continue for the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Lehman Brothers may FORECLOSE on Whistler Resort, which is the site for the downhill, snowboard, and ski jumping events . . . TODAY. --The resort is one of several properties owned by INTRAWEST. In December, they defaulted on a debt payment of more than $500 million. Lehman has given them until today to produce the cash. (CNBC)


THE U.S. NOW HAS A SEVEN MEDAL LEAD ON GERMANY:

After the sixth day of competition, the U.S. is still in first place. The Krauts are still our nearest competition, but now we have a comfortable seven medal lead on them thanks to the four new medals we picked up yesterday. Here are the latest standings . . .
#1.) The United States, with 18 medals . . . 6 Gold, 5 Silver, and 7 Bronze. #2.) Germany with 11 medals . . . 4 Gold, 4 Silver, and 3 Bronze.#3.) Norway with 8 medals . . . 3 Gold, 3 Silver, and 2 Bronze.#4.) Canada with 7 medals . . . 3 Gold, 3 Silver, and 1 Bronze#5.) France with 7 medals . . . 2 Gold, 1 Silver, and 4 Bronze.


YESTERDAY'S NEW MEDALS FOR THE UNITED STATES:

U.S. Olympians won one Gold medal, two Silver medals, and one Bronze medal yesterday. Here's a breakdown of the medal winning events for the United States on Day 6:
--Women's Super Combined Alpine Skiing: SILVER, Julia Mancuso (--Super Combined is a downhill ski run followed by a slalom run. Downhill Gold Medalist LINDSEY VONN led after the downhill portion of this race, then hit a gate, lost a ski, and CRASHED during the slalom.)--Snowboarding, Women's Halfpipe: SILVER, Hannah Teter --Snowboarding, Women's Halfpipe: BRONZE, Kelly Clark --Men's Figure Skating: GOLD, Evan Lysacek


ERNIE ELS IS UPSET WITH TIGER WOODS FOR SCHEDULING HIS PRESS CONFERENCE DURING A PGA TOURNAMENT:

When TIGER WOODS makes his much-anticipated public statement today, he'll be doing so during a PGA event: The Accenture Match Play tournament. Some of Tiger's fellow pros aren't cool with that. --ERNIE ELS says, quote, "It's selfish . . . You can write that. Mondays are a good day to make statements, not Friday. This takes a lot away from the golf tournament. I feel sorry for the sponsor." (--Tiger probably doesn't, though. Accenture was one of the first sponsors to dump him after the scandal broke over Thanksgiving.)--Fellow golfer SERGIO GARCIA said, quote, "Timing-wise, it's not the best." --Today's statement will be made at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. They're going overboard with security to make sure that only INVITED media get in. --Only a small group of people will be in attendance, including about SIX members of the media. The speech is expected to be about five to seven minutes long. Tiger will not answer questions. --Some media outlets are reporting that Tiger's wife, ELIN NORDEGREN, will NOT be there.


THE PGA TOUR COMMISSIONER SAYS TIGER WOODS IS ON A BREAK FROM REHAB:

TIGER WOODS never confirmed that he went to sex rehab. But yesterday, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem did. He also revealed that Tiger isn't finished with rehab. He's just on a break. --Finchem said, quote, "As we understand it, Tiger's therapy called for a week's break at this time during which he has spent a few days with his children and then will make his statement before returning. --"Accordingly, there was very little flexibility in the date for the announcement. --"This is the time frame that met with his rehab schedule, coming out for a little bit, being with his family for a little bit, doing this, it just worked. --"He got out of rehab last week, he spent some time with his family and he had some time for this tomorrow, and he'll address the details of that tomorrow. I should leave that to him."


IS THIS PART OF TIGER WOODS' STATEMENT???

An alleged excerpt from the speech TIGER WOODS is giving this morning showed up online yesterday. --Keep in mind that we have NO WAY of knowing if this is legit. We don't even know the original source. --With that in mind, here it is . . . --"Directly to the point there is no one to blame but me for the mess I have put my wife and family through. I accept total and complete responsibility. My wife and I have been trying to work things out but sadly things have not worked out. --"We have decided to live apart with me having mutually agreed upon times when I can be with our children." --For the record, Tiger's reps say this thing is, quote, "absolutely false."


ADAM LAMBERT SAYS HE MADE OUT WITH KE$HA:

In a radio interview yesterday . . .. ADAM LAMBERT revealed that he made out with KE$HA the other night. --He said, quote, "I made out with Ke$ha actually, a couple nights ago . . . she's really pretty and we were laughing and just started kissing, I don't know." --Asked if Ke$ha was a good kisser, he said, quote, "She was great. It was pretty innocent, to be honest with you. It wasn't too dirty." --Adam was also asked about his stance on fur . . . and he's FOR IT. --He said, quote, "I know this is the most un-PC way to put it, but I didn't kill the thing, so I don't see why I can't wear it . . . It's like, we eat meat. --"I don't like cruelty to animals, obviously, anything that can be done to prevent that. But I think fur looks great."(--You can listen to the audio here . . .)http://tmz.vo.llnwd.net/o28/newsdesk/tmz_audio/021810_adam_lamert_audio.mp3


TRACY MORGAN TELLS THE GREATEST SEX STORY EVER:

The GREATEST SEX STORY EVER has been told. And it has been told by "30 Rock" star TRACY MORGAN, in "Elle" magazine. --He said, quote, "When I was 17, I had sex with a woman with a wooden arm. It was shaped like it was holding a cup. And it was painted red. And in my mind I was like, 'Oh (crap)!' But I did it anyway." --And that, my friends, was the GREATEST SEX STORY EVER. Thanks Tracy.


KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN'S BOYFRIEND DOESN'T THINK TOO HIGHLY OF HER MOM:

It's no secret that KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN'S baby-daddy, Scott Disick, isn't exactly in with the family . . . especially Kourtney's mom, KRIS. And on RYAN SEACREST'S radio show yesterday, he didn't smooth things over. --First, he said, "When I hear Kris' voice, all I hear is anger at all times." --Asked how he might be able to mend his relationship with Kris, Scott said, quote, "Well, I figure we could bridge the gap if I start training really hard right now in either football or basketball. --"But I don't know how long it would take to be in the NBA or NFL. Kris just thinks if you're an athlete, you tend to be a better person, and that's not always the case." --Then he said, quote, "Now that [our son] Mason's here and she's like a grandmother and she realizes she's not like a 20-year-old kid and she's like a grandmother, I think her attitude has changed for the better and I'm appreciative of it."


#1.) There was a rumor going around Wednesday that SIMON COWELL had gotten engaged. It's NOT TRUE. (--Simon is reportedly dating an "American Idol" makeup artist named Mezhgan Hussainy . . . but they're not engaged.)


#2.) Yesterday on "The View", BARBARA WALTERS denied rumors that she's living with FRANK LANGELLA. She said, quote, "If he's in my apartment, I don't know where!"



NICOLAS CAGE SAYS HE'LL PAY OFF EVERYTHING HE OWES:

NICOLAS CAGE is in some serious financial trouble right now . . . trouble that includes a $6 million debt to the IRS. --He blames it all on a shady financial manager, whom he is in the process of suing. In the meantime, he plans on making good on ALL his IOUs. --He says, quote, "I have a new manager now, so I'm halfway there. And I will pay off all those debts, to the last cent. I have a responsibility for my sons and my wife. I have to get back on my feet." (--Cage and his wife, Alice Kim, have a four-year-old son named Kal-El . . . which is the birth name of Superman. He also has a 19-year-old son named Weston from a previous relationship.) --Cage says he actually felt SUICIDAL when he realized what a huge hole he was in. He added, quote, "The first thing you think is, 'This can't be true. I want to crawl up and hide at the end of the world.'" --Cage says it was mostly crazy property purchases that ruined him. (--He owns . . . or at one time owned . . . three castles, two islands in the Bahamas and several mansions.)


CHRIS BROWN GOT GOOD MARKS DURING A STATUS HEARING YESTERDAY:

CHRIS BROWN got high marks yesterday from the judge overseeing his assault case. --Chris and his attorney presented proof to the court that he had performed 32 days of hard labor and attended 17 of his required 52 domestic violence courses. --The judge told Chris he was doing a good job . . . saying, quote, "Looks like you're doing really, really well. That's always good to see. I think you've made a lot of progress in the last month." --The judge also gave him permission to leave the country for some concerts from May 18th to June 27th. --Brown was sentenced to six months . . . or 180 days . . . of HARD LABOR for his assault of RIHANNA last February. (--Instead of asking for generic "community service", prosecutors specified that they wanted Chris to WORK, doing things like washing cars, picking up trash and removing graffiti. The judge went along with it.)


#1.) GILBERT ARENAS may be suspended for the rest of the NBA season for bringing a gun into the Washington Wizards locker room . . . but the team might still have a place for him next year. --Yesterday, Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld said, quote, "We think he's going to be back with us. He's part of the organization. If he's going to play, he's going to play here." (--There's no word on the possible fate of fellow locker room gunslinger JAVARIS CRITTENTON . . . who was also suspended for the rest of the season.)


MOVIE RANDOMS:

#1.) MARTIN SCORSESE says that LEONARDO DICAPRIO will play the lead in his upcoming movie about FRANK SINATRA. But Leo will NOT do the singing --Scorsese says, quote, "With those records? Frank will do the singing. But we're waiting for a finished script." (--There's no word yet on a possible release date . . . which isn't surprising since there isn't even a finished script yet.) (--Scorsese and DiCaprio's latest collaboration, "Shutter Island", opens TODAY. They've also done "The Departed", "The Aviator" and "Gangs of New York" together.)


#2.) The trailer for the third "Twilight" movie, "Eclipse", will hit theaters on March 12th, before ROBERT PATTINSON'S next movie, "Remember Me". (--"Eclipse" comes out June 30th. "Remember Me" is a drama co-starring EMILIE DE RAVIN from "Lost".)


"AMERICAN IDOL" HAS DISQUALIFIED CHRIS GOLIGHTLY:

On Wednesday night, "American Idol" unveiled their Top 24 . . . and as if on cue, the show's first "controversy" broke almost immediately after the broadcast. -Yesterday, "Idol" announced that CHRIS GOLIGHTLY . . . the curly-haired dude, who grew up bouncing between foster homes . . . has been disqualified. 20-year-old TIM URBAN will replace him. (--If you were watching close enough, you saw that something was amiss on Wednesday's episode. Chris appeared in a Top 24 group shot near the end, but Tim was shown instead when the contestants were announced individually.) -"Idol" didn't elaborate on why Chris was DQ'ed, but it appears that there was some confusion regarding a previous recording contract. Chris didn't tell producers that he was signed as a member of a boy band around the time of his audition last June. --Chris claims he didn't mention it because the contract had expired before his audition. But his former manager, Lawrence Franklin, says that Chris WAS under contract at the time, but he was willing to let him out for the audition. --Either way, Chris was unable to immediately produce documents to prove that the contract wasn't active when he auditioned . . . so "Idol" dropped him and moved on. --In an interview yesterday, Chris said, quote, "This is not fair. I don't know what to do. Everything was fine when I made the Top 24. --"I've left [the producers] voicemails, but they've screened my calls. They don't even answer me. Nobody. But I went and looked this morning . . . I was not in a contract. --"If [the show's] trying to say that's what it was about, they're covering their ass." Chris added that he isn't sure how he's going to proceed with this, but he said, quote, "I just want the spot I earned." --Later, SIMON COWELL said he was still in the dark . . . quote, "I really, honestly don't have a clue why he's been removed from the competition. I'm guessing it's some sort of technical reason. It's a shame for him. He needed this opportunity." --When asked if Chris could be considered for Simon's new show, "The X Factor", he said, quote, "Well, I've gotta find out what the reason [for his disqualification] is first! If it was something like a technical reason, yeah, of course he could."


THE OLYMPICS BEAT "AMERICAN IDOL" IN THE RATINGS:

On Wednesday, Winter Olympics coverage beat "American Idol" in the ratings . . . by nearly 12 million viewers. During the 9:00 P.M. hour, 30.4 million people were watching the Olympics, and just 18.4 million were watching "Idol" on Fox --That's not only a season low for "Idol", but it was also the lowest-rated episode since April of 2004, and the first time "Idol" has been beaten in its timeslot in the past six years. (--On Tuesday night, "Idol" beat the Olympics 23.6 million to 19.7 million.)


WILL TINA FEY BRING HER SARAH PALIN IMPRESSION BACK TO "SNL"?

TINA FEY has announced that she will be returning to host "Saturday Night Live" in April . . . and it sounds like we might see her SARAH PALIN impression again. -She said, quote, "It's inevitable that we'll try it, at least. We'll see if it makes it to air. --"[The Sarah Palin thing] was the strangest thing that's ever happened to me. I've never had anything fall in my lap like that. Everything is usually me trying to convince the people of Earth that it's OK for me to perform. That felt like the opposite." --There's no date for her "SNL" appearance yet.


AEROSMITH IS BACK, APPARENTLY:

In the last week, AEROSMITH has booked two European festival gigs . . . WITH STEVEN TYLER . . . and more are reportedly on the way. A U.K. based rep for the band says they're working on more European dates. --Supposedly, the group has also been offered tour dates in South America . . . but there hasn't been any word on any North American dates. --Obviously, this means Steven is back in Aerosmith . . . at least for now . . . but there's no official word on their status. But yesterday, Aerosmith drummer JOEY KRAMER did Tweet, quote, "Aerosmith is back!" (--We'll keep you posted.)


THE WHO'S FUTURE IS IN DOUBT . . . BECAUSE PETE TOWNSHEND'S HEARING PROBLEMS HAVE RETURNED:

PETE TOWNSHEND . . . of THE WHO . . . says his hearing problems have returned, which may put the future of the band in jeopardy. --He tells "Rolling Stone", quote, "If my hearing is going to be a problem, we're not delaying shows. We're finished. I can't really see any way around the issue." --Pete suffers from a disorder called tinnitus . . . which is marked by a ringing or some other persistent sound in one or both of the ears. One of the common causes of it is NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS. --The Who has already been forced to scrap plans for a tour this year and an appearance at the Coachella music festival. Their only show on the books is a May 30th charity show in London.


THE SUBJECT OF "MY SHARONA" IS PRETTY HOT:

SHARONA ALPERIN has been getting some media attention since the death of KNACK singer DOUG FIEGER. (--Yes, there WAS a real Sharona.) --She and Doug dated, then broke up . . . but they stayed friends right up until Doug's death this past Sunday from Cancer. She was even among the people who were with him last weekend when he passed away. (--Sharona is in her late 40s now. She's into real estate. And she's still quite hot. Check her out here . . .) http://www.mysharona.com/


NAZZY'S RANDOM STUFF

A SCHOOL DISTRICT IS BEING SUED FOR SPYING ON STUDENTS USING THE WEBCAMS OF SCHOOL-PROVIDED LAPTOPS:

Michael and Holly Robbins send their son Blake to Harriton High School, one of two high schools in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, a suburb west of Philadelphia. --It's a pretty wealthy area. In fact, the Lower Merion School School District is so wealthy, all 2,300 students at both high schools get a school-issued laptop. Sounds pretty sweet, right? --There's a catch: Recently, an assistant principal named Lindy Matsko told Michael and Holly that Blake had engaged in improper behavior at home . . . and the school had the webcam images to prove it. --And that's because the laptops came equipped with webcams that can be secretly activated by school administrators. --Now the Robbins are suing the school district in Federal Court, and suspect the cameras captured other students and their family members in any number of embarrassing situations. --School officials haven't commented on the suit, or confirmed whether they secretly activated the webcams. And we're not sure what Blake's accused of doing. (Associated Press)


A GUY CRASHED A SMALL PLANE INTO AN IRS BUILDING IN TEXAS AND KILLED TWO PEOPLE:

As you've probably heard by now, a 53-year-old guy named Andrew Joseph Stack crashed a small plane into an IRS building in Austin, Texas yesterday morning. The crash killed two people, critically injured two others, and injured another 11 people. --Andrew died in the crash too. Apparently he had some kind of beef with the IRS, but it's unclear exactly what it was. So yesterday morning he set his house on fire, and got into his Piper Cherokee PA-28, a four-seat single-engine airplane, sort of like a Cessna. --Then he slammed it into a building that housed an IRS office with about 199 employees. --He'd also posted a rambling suicide note on his website that read in part, quote, "I saw it written once that the definition of insanity is repeating the same process over and over and expecting the outcome to suddenly be different . . . --"I am finally ready to stop this insanity. Well, Mr. Big Brother IRS man, let's try something different; take my pound of flesh and sleep well." (--The "pound of flesh" bit is a reference to Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice", where a money-lender requires a pound of flesh when a loan can't be repaid. You can read more about the whole thing here . . .)http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/02/18/texas.plane.crash/index.html


THREE IN FIVE WOMEN ADMIT THEY TRICKED THEIR MAN INTO PROPOSING:

Guys . . . I know you love your girl. And I know that WHEN and IF you're ever ready, you're going to propose to her. But you need to know that your girl may try to force your hand. --That's according to a new survey in the UK, which found that THREE in FIVE women admit they used dirty tactics to trick their man into proposing. --ONE in THREE women say they bullied their man into getting married by threatening to leave him if he didn't propose. --17% sent themselves flowers from a fake admirer in order to make their man jealous. --And ONE in TEN women admit they got pregnant ON PURPOSE in order to trick their man into proposing. --And even after all that underhanded, semi-evil nonsense, ONE in THREE women say they still didn't enjoy their wedding day as much as expected. (Daily Mail)


THERE'S A NEW KEYBOARD THAT HAS ONE BUTTON FOR COMMON INTERNET ACRONYMS LIKE "LOL" AND "L8R":

The reason people started using acronyms like ROFL, IMHO, and TTYL is because it's quicker and easier than typing out the actual words. Put another way, it's because people are LAZY. (--If you're living in the stone age and don't know what the abbreviations above stand for, they're "Rolling On the Floor Laughing," "In My Humble Opinion," and "Talk To You Later.") --Now, a company called Kotaku has taken laziness to a whole new level by developing a new keyboard called the Fast Finger, which has a single button for the most common Internet acronyms and abbreviations.(--You can buy the Fast Finger keyboard for $23 here . . .)http://www.fastfingerkeyboards.com/store/index.php/buy.html(Yahoo Video Games)


THERE'S A WEBSITE THAT LETS BURGLARS KNOW WHEN YOU'RE NOT HOME:

People love posting status updates on social network websites to let their friends know when they're at work, or the movies, or on vacation. Which, if you think about it, is a really bad idea. --Enter PleaseRobMe.com . . . a website that posts status updates from Twitter users about their whereabouts, to let "burglars" know what houses they should rob. (???) (--You can link to the website here. Just know that as of last night, it was down. It's unclear why, but maybe it's because people didn't appreciate their information being used that way.) (--The site's creators said they wanted to point out how BAD an idea it is to post your whereabouts online. But let's face it, this probably wasn't the best way to conduct their little public service announcement.) http://pleaserobme.com/ (New York Times)


SOME GUY ALMOST KILLED HIMSELF BY PUTTING ON 20 NICOTINE PATCHES:

Now it's time for a little segment we like to call Amazing Feats of Drunken Stupidity . . . --On Tuesday, an unidentified 25-year-old man in Regina, Canada, got boozed-up and locked himself inside the bathroom of a restaurant, where he inexplicably applied 20 NICOTINE PATCHES to his body. --Once they realized something was going on, restaurant employees called the police. And eventually, rescue workers were able to coax the drunken fool out of the bathroom. --The man was rushed to the hospital where he was treated. As of last night, he was still recovering in the hospital. (CBC News) (--WARNING!!! Do NOT attempt to see how many nicotine patches you can wear at once. It's dangerous, and you could die . . . just like this MEATBALL almost did.)


HOOKERS IN SWISS BROTHELS ARE BEING TAUGHT TO USE DEFIBRILLATORS TO

PREVENT ELDERLY CUSTOMERS FROM DYING:
Prostitution is legal in Switzerland, and in the southern city of Lugano, there are about 38 brothels and sex clubs. --Anyway, it seems Lugano's sex workers are good at what they do. Because lately, a string of elderly customers have suffered heart attacks and DIED while being serviced. --So to prevent it from happening, hookers in Lugano are being taught to use DEFIBRILLATORS, because according to one sex club owner, quote, "Having customers die on us isn't exactly good publicity." (Daily Telegraph)



NAZZY'S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) This guy pranks his boss by telling him that if you tilt your head back and pretend like you're shaking salt into your mouth, you can actually taste salt. Then his boss does it and looks like he's giving a guy oral.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmyzJT0Sr2w(Search Terms: I play a little joke on my boss video)


#2.) Someone noticed that at the end of "Back To The Future III" one of Doc's kids in the background makes a weird gesture and points at his crotch. (--It happens at :38, and there are a couple slow-motion replays at :48.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeO-MK0xUP4 (Search Terms: Back to the Future Part III - Verne points at his crank)


HOW TO DEAL WITH FOUR WOMEN WHO MIGHT BE IN YOUR GUY'S LIFE:

Let's face it, most women get JEALOUS at some point in their relationship when it comes to other women. If that sounds like you, here are four females that may be in your guy's life, and how to deal . . .

#1.) THE EX-GIRLFRIEND WHO'S STILL HANGING AROUND. For starters, you should know that it's good to have a boyfriend who's on good terms with his exes. It's a sign of maturity and it means he's more likely to treat you well if things don't work out. --But their contact needs to be appropriate. Lunch every once in a while and an occasional phone call is fine. But when push comes to shove, his priority should be you. --So here's how to deal: Whatever you do, DON'T bash his ex or call her needy. That'll only make him think you're jealous and crazy. Instead, tell him you really like her, but sometimes it bothers you when they go out for dinner or drinks together.

#2.) A PAST LOVER WHO ROCKED HIS WORLD. A lot of guys have this woman in their past: Someone who was so smart, funny, or sexy, you feel like you just can't compare. --And to make things worse, usually she's so long-gone that you can't even meet her and size her up. But if you ask for details to satisfy your curiosity, you'll only learn things that will upset you. --Here's how to deal: You can't change his past, so you're better off just accepting it, and reminding yourself that no matter how amazing she was in bed, there's a reason they aren't still together.

#3.) THE FEMALE CO-WORKER. It's natural to wonder if those late nights at the office are purely professional, or something more. --If he's going out with his female coworker and a group of people, that's fine . . . but if it's just the two of them meeting for martinis at a lounge all the time, that could be something else. --How to deal: It can be easy to misinterpret office friendships as something more, so the fastest way to get a better gauge is to meet the woman in question. Tell him you'd like to meet his co-workers at happy hour some day. --If he resists, it could be a red flag. If you DO meet the woman in question, your intuition will probably clue you in to what's really going on.

#4.) HIS BEST FEMALE FRIEND. He's known her a lot longer than you, and maybe she even knows him better than you. How can you compete with that, right? WRONG. If they haven't dated by now, they probably never will. --Still, once your relationship gets serious, his primary source of support should shift from his best friend to you. And while it might take some time, it needs to happen eventually. --How to deal: When you talk to him about your concerns, don't make it about how he has a female friend . . . focus on how his friendship with her is specifically affecting YOUR relationship. Like if he's blown you off to spend time with her instead. (Match.com)

February 18, 2010

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW

WINTER OLYMPICS UPDATE

A CRAZY GUY USED A HOMEMADE SECURITY BADGE TO CRASH JOE BIDEN'S BOX AT THE OLYMPICS:

Things have not gone smoothly at the Vancouver Olympics. Yesterday, Canadian police admitted that a mentally ill man used homemade credentials to crash JOE BIDEN'S box at the Opening Ceremonies on Friday. --Police say he had an ''infatuation'' with Biden. So he made a security pass at home by printing the words ALL ACCESS PASS from the Internet and LAMINATING it. --It got him through several security checkpoints and into the DIGNITARIES BOX. The guy got within 12 steps of Biden before security officers noticed that he, quote, ''didn't fit in'' and intercepted him. --Since it took them five days to even admit that it happened, it should come as no surprise that there aren't many details. --The guy was 48 years old, but police didn't release his name, or any information about his mental illness or infatuation. He didn't have a weapon, and the Vice President was never in danger. (CTV)


A BARRICADE COLLAPSED AT A FREE OLYMPICS CONCERT . . . PLUS A BREAKDOWN OF EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GONE WRONG SO FAR:

Did we mention there have been some glitches at the Olympics? The latest glitch took place Tuesday night, when a concert barricade collapsed and injured 19 people. --The free late-night concert was in David Lam Park and featured a Canadian band called ALEXISONFIRE. --But in the middle of the band's first song, a barricade near the stage gave way, and the crowd spilled onto the ground. --The concert was cancelled, and so was the fireworks display that was scheduled to happen afterwards. Ten people were treated on site, and another nine were taken to the hospital for evaluation. (AP) (--Some of the other glitches that have taken place at this year's Olympics include: The torch malfunctioned at the opening ceremonies. A speed skating event was delayed for more than an hour when the Zamboni broke down . . .) (--The downhill ski events were postponed because of a snowstorm, and 20,000 snowboarding tickets were refunded because there was NO SNOW. A photographer accidentally turned on a sprinkler and flooded the luge track . . .) (--Officials screwed up the timing of a biathlon race, making 5 racers start at the wrong time. JOE BIDEN'S motorcade crashed and injured two gold medalists, someone tried to beat up MITT ROMNEY . . . a luger died on a practice run . . .) (--And a crazy guy used a homemade security badge to crash the Vice President's box at the Opening Ceremonies. But other than that . . . best Olympics ever.)

AN AUSTRIAN WITH DIARRHEA WON SILVER IN THE BIATHLON:

You know how the Olympics coverage is filled with those profiles of athletes who had to overcome personal struggles to get there? They probably won't do one on CHRISTOPH SUMANN . . . but they should. --Christoph just won the silver medal for Austria in the 12.5 kilometer Biathlon. That's the one where they do cross-country skiing, and stop to shoot at targets with rifles. And he did it while suffering from DIARRHEA. --He wasn't sure if he was going to be able to complete the 33-minute race without taking a break, but he made it through, and only missed two of 20 targets. He finished 16.5 seconds behind the gold medalist. --After the race, he said, quote, ''I had some problems with my belly, and I went straight from the toilet to the track this morning.'' --Sumann isn't the only athlete fighting diarrhea this Olympics. British bobsledder ALLYN CONDON left the Olympic village for several days to avoid infecting his teammates. But he doesn't race until February 26th. (Reuters)


WINTER OLYMPICS MEDAL COUNT . . . WE'RE WINNING AGAIN:

The U.S. came back strong yesterday. We picked up SIX new medals to pull ahead of Germany in the overall medal count. By the end of the fifth day of competition, the Krauts were only able to pick up one new medal. Here's your medals breakdown . . .

#1.) The United States, with 14 medals . . . 5 Gold, 3 Silver, and 6 Bronze.
#2.) Germany with 10 medals . . . 3 Gold, 4 Silver, and 3 Bronze.
#3.) France with 7 medals . . . 2 Gold, 1 Silver, and 4 Bronze.
#4.) Canada with 6 medals . . . 2 Gold, 3 Silver, and 1 Bronze.
#5.) TIED at 5 medals apiece: South Korea with 3 Gold and 2 Silver; Norway with 1 Gold, 2 Silver, and 2 Bronze; and Austria with 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze.

YESTERDAY'S NEW MEDALS FOR THE UNITED STATES:

U.S. Olympians won three more Gold medals, another Silver, and two more Bronze yesterday. Here's a breakdown of the medal winning events for the United States on Day 5:

--Women's Downhill Skiing: GOLD, Lindsey Vonn
--Women's Downhill Skiing: SILVER, Julia Mancuso
(--Vonn has been struggling with a shin injury all week. She became the first American woman to win gold in the downhill. She and Mancuso are the first Americans to win gold and silver in any Alpine skiing event since 1984.)
--Men's Speed Skiing, 1000 meters: GOLD, Shani Davis
--Men's Speed Skiing, 1000 meters: BRONZE, Chad Hedrick
(--Davis also won gold in the 1000 meters in 2006, so he's the first person to win the event in two straight Olympics. He's also the guy who's been ''feuding'' with STEPHEN COLBERT.)
--Men's Snowboarding, Halfpipe: GOLD, Shaun ''The Flying Tomato'' White
--Men's Snowboarding, Halfpipe: BRONZE, Scotty Lago
(--White also won the gold in 2006. He hit something called a Double McTwist 1260 in his last run, which is apparently a big deal. He doesn't want to be known as The Flying Tomato anymore. Maybe we can call him Red Zeppelin.)


TIGER WOODS WILL BREAK HIS SILENCE TOMORROW:

TIGER WOODS will speak publicly tomorrow, for the first time since Thanksgiving, when his wife ALLEGEDLY went after him with a golf club, and the world learned about his many forays into THE WHORE ZONE. --He'll speak from the headquarters of the PGA Tour in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, at 11:00 A.M. Eastern. --Tiger's agent says, quote, "Tiger plans to discuss his past and his future and he plans to apologize for his behavior. --"While Tiger feels that what happened is fundamentally a matter between he and his wife, he also recognizes that he has hurt and let down a lot of other people who were close to him. --"He also let down his fans. He wants to begin the process of making amends and that's what he's going to discuss." --Tiger will NOT be taking questions. Sources say he'll just read a prepared statement.

WHAT DID ELIN NORDEGREN REALLY SAY TO RACHEL UCHITEL BEFORE SHE ATTACKED TIGER???

We've heard that ELIN NORDEGREN called RACHEL UCHITEL on her husband's phone and reamed her out before she went after him with that golf club. But what did she say??? --The "National Enquirer" claims to have the details. They say Elin called Rachel the B-word . . . and a, quote, "home-wrecking whore." --She also screamed, quote, "You're interfering with my family! You're ruining our lives! What's wrong with you? You're pathetic! Don't you realize there are children involved? Don't you care?"


IS TIGER WOODS ALREADY THE FAVORITE TO WIN THE MASTERS???

TIGER WOODS' agent announced yesterday that Tiger was going to speak tomorrow. He gave only a vague indication of what Tiger would talk about, and he didn't say one way or another what Tiger's career plans might be. --And yet TMZ says oddsmakers are already pegging him to win the Masters Tournament . . . which takes place in April. --The only one they mention by name is Sportsbook.com . . . which reportedly has Tiger as the heavy favorite, with PHIL MICKELSON in a distant second. (--There's talk now that Tiger will make his return to golf at the Tavistock Cup, a PGA-sponsored tournament that kicks off on March 22nd in Florida. If that's true, then it's obviously likely that he WILL enter the Masters.)


SPIKE TV IS DOING A NEW GOLF COMEDY FEATURING A SEX-ADDICTED CHARACTER NAMED TIGER:

Spike TV has ordered a new golf comedy featuring a sex-addicted character named Tiger. (???) --Tiger isn't the main character . . . or even a golfer. He's the caddy for a washed-up former U.S. Open champ played by JOHN SCHNEIDER . . . (--a.k.a. Bo Duke from the original "Dukes of Hazzard" TV series.) --The show is called "Back Nine", and it features Schneider's character traveling the country . . . accompanied by his sex-addicted caddy, of course . . . competing in small-time tournaments in order to work his way back up to the PGA Tour. --Now, here's the part that seems a little hard to swallow: Spike supposedly put this project on the fast track A YEAR AGO, and the Tiger character . . . who's black, by the way . . . was supposedly in the script even back then. --In other words, according to their timeline, the character existed LONG before anyone knew Tiger Woods was going through white women the way Adam Lambert goes through eyeliner. (--There's no word on a premiere date.)


LAUREN GRAHAM DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A FAILURE BECAUSE SHE'S SINGLE AT 42:

Former "Gilmore Girls" star LAUREN GRAHAM is 42 and unattached. And she hates it when people try to make her feel like a failure. --She says, quote, "What is so funny to me is I'm in a profession where two percent of people are working, yet there's still this implication that you're not completely successful if you're single and in your 40s. --"Well, why not? I wanted a horse when I was growing up too. Does that mean I'm not successful, because I don't have a horse?" --She adds, quote, "You learn to give yourself a break. I want to continue to celebrate where I am and not be apologetic. Whether I'm 43 or 60, I want to say, this is where I want to be in my life, because, hey, this is it." (--Lauren will be 43 on March 16th.)


REESE WITHERSPOON HAS A NEW MAN:

REESE WITHERSPOON has a new man. His name is Jim Toth, and he's a Hollywood agent. A so-called "source" says, quote, "They've been on at least 10 dates. They've been to each other's houses and out to dinner together. --"Jim is trying to keep it quiet, but he and Reese are together, he's told friends." (--Reese used to be married to her "Cruel Intentions" co-star Ryan Phillippe. They divorced in October of 2007.)


DID KIM BASINGER TIP OFF THE PAPARAZZI TO ALEC BALDWIN'S NON-SUICIDE ATTEMPT???

It's looking more like KIM BASINGER was the reason why the paparazzi were waiting for ALEC BALDWIN when he returned home from the hospital following his NON-suicide attempt. --Here's a quick recap of the circumstances surrounding that chaos: Alec and his daughter Ireland, who was at her mom's home in L.A., were having an argument on the phone. --Alec allegedly said something about ENDING IT before they hung up. Ireland tried to call him back later and couldn't get a hold of him, so she panicked and called 911. --Cops showed up . . . and took Alec to the hospital as a precaution. He was released an hour later, after doctors decided there was nothing wrong with him. --When Alec returned home . . . and this was in the middle of the night, mind you . . . the paparazzi were waiting for him. --The next day, Alec insinuated that Kim had something to do with Ireland calling 911 AND with the paparazzi being tipped off about it. And he may be right. --According to the "Chicago Sun-Times", a major New York paparazzo claims that Kim DID call him and the other photographers . . . and she did so almost immediately after Ireland called 911. --Kim's rep denies she had anything to do with it.



#1.) There's a story going around that CHARLIE SHEEN is being urged by, quote, "loved ones" to go to rehab for alcohol abuse. But Charlie's rep says, quote, "He is not going to rehab. Who told him to go to rehab? Correct answer: no one."


#2.) JESSE JAMES got his dog Cinnabun back. A woman found the dog a while ago, and held onto it until she saw its picture on a flier. She called Jesse yesterday morning and returned the dog. (--Cinnabun had been lost since January 25th.)


#3.) MISCHA BARTON was asked about that odd little cigarette she was photographed smoking earlier this week. She said it was a ROLLIE. In other words, she's claiming it was a TOBACCO cigarette she'd rolled herself. (--You buying that???)


#4.) ANNA KOURNIKOVA'S mother, Alla, has been charged with a felony count of child neglect. As you may recall, Alla left her 5-year-old son Allan home alone while she ran some errands. --The kid ended up falling out a second-story window, then trying to nurse his wounds in the family swimming pool. He was found by neighbors crying and bleeding, and hospitalized for minor injuries. (--Allan is Anna's half-brother.)


NANCY KERRIGAN'S BROTHER MAY SOON BE OUT OF POLICE CUSTODY . . . AND BACK LIVING WITH HIS MOTHER:

NANCY KERRIGAN'S brother Mark may soon be out of police custody and back living with his mother . . . in the very house where he allegedly caused his father's death last month. --Yesterday, a judge amended the terms of Mark's bail, allowing him to move back home if he forks over 10-grand. --He'll have to wear a GPS monitoring bracelet and submit to random drug and alcohol testing. -Mark was arrested on January 24th, after his 70-year-old father Daniel suffered a fatal heart attack following a physical altercation with Mark at their Boston-area home. (--Mark is 45.) --The coroner ruled Daniel's death a homicide, and Mark is expected to be charged with manslaughter. --Nancy and her mother refuse to blame Mark for Daniel's death, and have vowed to help him fight the charges.


BILL CLINTON BLAMES HIS HEART HEALTH ON FRIED FOOD AND ICE CREAM:

BILL CLINTON is home recuperating from his latest heart scare. And he's using himself as a lesson to others on the dangers of a poor diet. --He says, quote, "I'm very, very lucky that I didn't have a much worse set of circumstances. --"The root causes were the habits I acquired in my childhood, mostly the way I ate and the way it interacted with my own biology and propensity to produce bad cholesterol. --"I ate too much fried food, too much ice cream, too much everything." --He added, quote, "Many, many young people are facing exactly the same circumstances I did unless they change their eating and exercise habits. They may or may not be as lucky as I was."


JAMES CAMERON SAYS "AVATAR" IS HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT:

When JAMES CAMERON directs a movie, it can never just be a movie. It HAS to be something earth-shatteringly important. --Take "Avatar", for instance. It's so much more than entertainment. In Cameron's mind, it's an ENVIRONMENTAL CALL TO ACTION. --He says, quote, "When [Fox execs] read it, they sort of said, 'Can we take some of this tree-hugging, 'FernGully' crap out of this movie?' And I said, 'No, because that's why I'm making the film.' --"If you're tuned in to what's happening in 'Avatar', you start to feel a sense of moral outrage when you see the tree fall [destroying the Na'vi's home], and it's a compassionate response for these people. --"Then you feel a sense of uplift at the end as good vanquishes evil. If you put those two things together, it actually creates a ripe emotional matrix for people to want to do something about it. --"We're getting a tremendous amount of feedback from environmental groups, from people with specific causes. --"Whether it's indigenous people being displaced by companies to do mining or to do oil drilling, or if it's environmental groups saying, 'Let's do some curriculum around 'Avatar'.'"


THE LATE CAPTAIN PHIL HARRIS *WILL* BE FEATURED ON THE UPCOMING SEASON OF "DEADLIEST CATCH":

The late CAPTAIN PHIL HARRIS . . . who passed away last week . . . will still be featured on the upcoming season of his Discovery Channel series "Deadliest Catch". (--He died of complications from a stroke he suffered on January 29th.) --Executive producer Thom Beers tells "Entertainment Weekly" that they had finished filming the entire sixth season prior to Harris' stroke. --He adds that Captain Harris and his family DID allow their cameras to roll after the stroke . . . but no decision has been made on whether or not to air that footage. --He says, quote, "We were there the entire time. We were there in the hospital. When he came out [of a medically induced coma], he was trying to talk. He couldn't, but he was motioning with his hand to my producer and cameraman. --"We said, 'We want to give you your space and get out,' and he wrote on a piece of paper. It said, 'No, we need a great finish to this story.' He's just got out of a coma, and he's producing!" --Obviously, producers will leave it up to Harris' family as to whether or not to air the post-stroke stuff. The sixth season will premiere in April.


JON GOSSELIN AND TLC HAVE SETTLED THEIR DIFFERENCES:

JON GOSSELIN and TLC have settled their legal issues. (--TLC filed a breach of contract suit against Jon, for making money off unauthorized interviews and TV appearances. Jon countersued claming TLC ruined his "reputation.") --The network has released this statement: "TLC has reached a settlement with Jon Gosselin and will be undertaking procedural steps to conclude the litigation. --"All terms of the settlement are confidential. The whole Gosselin family remain under contract with TLC." --This deal means that KATE GOSSELIN is clear to do her spin-off reality show . . . and it could also pave the way for Jon to appear in something on TLC as well. There are no further details, and neither Jon nor Kate have commented.


SELENA GOMEZ SAYS MILEY CYRUS IS READY TO MOVE ON:

A while back, MILEY CYRUS announced that the upcoming fourth season of "Hannah Montana" would be her last. And if you were wondering if Miley was ready to adjust to life without the show . . . (???) . . . SELENA GOMEZ wants to reassure you. --She says, quote, "I think that [Miley is] growing with the show, and I think it's such a great platform for her. And she's lived up to it as wonderfully as she could, and I think she continues to carry it, but she's ready for other things."



#1.) JAY LENO'S bandleader (slash) sidekick KEVIN EUBANKS may not be leaving "The Tonight Show" permanently . . . just taking a reduced role. --He posted a Twitter message saying, quote, "I'll still be around on the show . . . but less as of now. I'll tweet when a definite plan is set." (--Yesterday, NBC confirmed that Kevin told them he wanted to, quote, "pursue personal touring and recording opportunities." NBC also said he'd be there when the "Tonight Show" returned on March 1st. But that's all we know for now.)


#2.) "Lost" executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse tell "Entertainment Weekly" that MAGGIE GRACE . . . who played Shannon . . . will be back on the show later this season. It's unclear how many episodes she'll appear in. --Cuse says they have a, quote, "good story" for her . . . but, naturally, wouldn't give any other details. Maggie was an original and regular cast member until Season Two, when Shannon was killed off. (--Shannon died in Sayid's arms after she was accidentally shot by Ana Lucia, who was played by MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ. Ana had mistaken Shannon for one of The Others.)


DIDDY SAYS HE'S HIP-HOP'S FIRST WEALTHY SHOW-OFF:

In a British radio interview . . . (--with Tim Westwood) . . . DIDDY bragged about being hip-hop's first wealthy show-off, and claimed that everyone else is copping his style. --He said, quote, "There's a lot of people that have emulated my style. And that's a positive thing, you're supposed to inspire people. But there's also a lot of cats that emulate the style and they not even really connecting in their head who they got it from. --"Anything they're doing right now as far as in the game, I started the jets, I started the yachts, I started owning the companies, I started the liquor, I started getting money, I started hiring us, empowering us . . . --"I started the whole vote campaign, anything that wasn't cool, anything that wasn't traveling, artists traveling overseas, getting that up, I mean, that's what I do, my style and my flavor and my swag is really unstoppable and second to none. --"I'm definitely one of the baddest mother(effers) to ever touch the face of the Earth."


NAZZY'S RANDOM STUFF

A GUY CALLED 911 TEN TIMES AND *STILL* DIED, BECAUSE PARAMEDICS WOULDN'T WALK THROUGH THE SNOW TO GET HIM:

The city of Pittsburgh has had an insane amount of snow this month, and it's causing all kinds of problems around the city. Just ask Sharon Edge, who lives in a suburb called Hazelwood. --On Friday, Sharon's fiancé, 50-year-old Curtis Mitchell, called 911 when he felt pain in his abdomen. But when the ambulance showed up, there was too much snow on the road to reach Curtis' house. --So rescue workers parked three blocks away and told Curtis to come to them . . . which he physically couldn't do. Eventually, they left without helping Curtis at all. But it doesn't end there . . .--Over the next three days, Sharon and Curtis called 911 NINE MORE TIMES, and emergency vehicles were sent to their house TWO MORE TIMES. --But each time, the EMTs said they couldn't get to Curtis because the ground was covered by 15 inches of snow. And each time they drove off without helping him. --In fact, at one point a medic even told the 911 dispatcher that if Curtis wanted help, quote, "he is just going to have to come down to the truck." --Finally, on Sunday morning . . . 30 HOURS after their first call to 911 . . . an emergency crew managed to make it to Sharon and Curtis' house. But by the time they got there, Curtis was already DEAD. --Sharon says, quote, "I sat up here with him, watching him die. They didn't do their jobs like they were supposed to . . . I'm very angry, I'm mad, I'm frustrated . . . --"He didn't have to die. And the way he died, he was in pain, a lot of pain, and he shouldn't have had to die like that. When you pass away, you [are] supposed to go in peace, and I don't think my man went in peace." --For the record, Pittsburgh's Public Safety Director says that what happened to Curtis is, quote, "unacceptable . . . You get out of the damn truck and walk to the residence . . . That's what needed to happen here." --It's not clear whether anyone will be punished because of the incident. It's also not clear exactly what caused Curtis' death. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / KDKA News 2 - Pittsburgh)


ONE IN FIVE WOMEN THINK THEIR GIRLFRIEND IS FAT . . . BUT WOULD NEVER TELL THEM:

Just when it seems like women couldn't possibly treat each other any WORSE than they already do, we hear something like THIS . . . -According to a new survey in the UK, ONE in FIVE women secretly thinks her best friend is overweight . . . but would NEVER tell her. --And of the ONE in FOUR women who actually HAVE mustered up the courage to talk to their friend about her weight, 12% say she went, quote, "mental," while ONE in FIVE say it ended their friendship. (???) (Daily Express)


24% OF BRITISH PEOPLE WASH THEIR SHEETS JUST THREE TIMES A YEAR:

This survey took place in the UK, and we're not sure if the results would be similar here. But if they are, it's kind of gross . . . --According to a new survey, nearly ONE in FOUR British people . . . or 24% overall . . . wash their sheets just THREE times a year. --If you're wondering, you should wash your sheets in hot water at LEAST once a month. And ideally, you should wash them once a week. That way you'll avoid a build-up of dead skin cells, and the dust mites that feed on them. Nasty, but true. (Daily Telegraph / eHow)


THE WHITE HOUSE IS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO MANAGE PRESIDENT OBAMA'S TWITTER ACCOUNT:

Earlier this week, the White House sent out a job posting for someone to become PRESIDENT OBAMA'S new social networks manager. --In other words, the White House wants someone to manage the president's Facebook and Twitter accounts. --According to the listing, some of the job qualifications are: --Excellent writing and editing skills with strong attention to detail. --Strong familiarity with social networks. --The ability to work hard and under deadline pressure. --Passion for engaging Americans in, quote, "advancing President Obama's agenda and changing the country." --And job candidates also must to be willing to relocate to Washington, D.C.
(--You can fill out the online application here . . .) http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/socnetsmanager
(AOL Jobs)


THE FIRST AMENDMENT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR TEACHERS ON FACEBOOK:

This is just a heads-up to let all you students know that you can complain about your teachers as much as you want on Facebook and Twitter. And there's nothing your school can do about it. Here's why . . . --In 2007, Katie Evans was a senior at Pembroke Pines Charter High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida (--about 20 miles north of Miami). --Katie had a teacher who she hated, so she created a Facebook page where she would vent her frustration. --But when the principal found out about the page, he removed Katie from her advanced placement classes and suspended her for three days. --So Katie filed a lawsuit claiming the school violated her First Amendment right to free speech. And on Friday, a judge ruled in Katie's favor. --According to the ruling, Katie's Facebook page, quote, "falls under the wide umbrella of protected speech. It was an opinion of a student about a teacher that was published off-campus, did not cause any disruption on-campus, and was not lewd, vulgar, threatening, or advocating illegal or dangerous behavior. --"In short, the potential spark of disruption had sputtered out, and all that remained was the opportunity to punish." In other words, it's your Constitutional right to make fun of your teachers on Facebook. (Miami Herald)


A NEW BILL IN VIRGINIA WOULD ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY TO USE CARPOOL LANES EVEN IF THEY'RE DRIVING ALONE:

I'll agree that members of the U.S. military should have certain perks. After all, it's their job to defend our country. But I really don't understand how THIS has anything to do with it . . . --Recently, a Republican named Chris Stolle introduced a bill in Virginia that would allow members of the military to use the CARPOOL LANE on their way to work, even if there's no one else in the car with them. --Chris says, quote, "If we can get some active duty military off the three-lanes and into those HOV lanes, it's going to make a lot less traffic congestion for everybody. Everybody benefits from that, not just the military." (???)--The bill still has to be approved in the Virginia state senate, but the general thinking is that it's a shoo-in. (--For the record, there are 22 active military installations in Virginia . . . including Quantico Marine Base, the Norfolk Naval Station, Langley Air Force Base, seven Army posts, and The Pentagon.)
(WVEC News 13 - Hampton Roads)


A WOMAN SOLD HER SON'S OLD NINTENDO ON EBAY FOR $13,105:

If you still have some old toys lying around, it might be worth your while to look at what you've got in the attic or basement. Here's why . . . --Recently, an unidentified woman put her son's old Nintendo up for sale on eBay, along with five original games:

--"Major League Baseball"
--"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2"
--"Super Mario 3"
--"Super Mario Brothers / Duck Hunt"
--And an extremely rare game called "Family & Fitness: Stadium Events", which was originally marketed for something called the Family Fun Fitness pad, a precursor to the Power pad. --Not only was the woman able to sell the old Nintendo, she managed to scam some geek out of $13,105 because the "Stadium Events" game is that rare. (Boing Boing)


NAZZY’S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) A couple British news anchors thought the Ash Wednesday mark on JOE BIDEN'S forehead was a bruise, and joked that maybe he messed around on the luge at the Olympics. (--They mention it at :27, and apologize at 3:06.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLeJMoS-_Jo
(Search Terms: Kay Burley Joe Biden Sky News Ash Wednesday)

#2.) This bus driver in Taiwan apparently fell asleep at the wheel, and by the time he woke up, he'd crashed into at least ten cars. (--It shows it from two other angles at :29 and :59.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UReNC4opOA (Search Terms: Taiwan bus crash video)

FOUR HEALTH PROBLEMS YOU SHOULD NEVER IGNORE:

Apparently, some illnesses travel in pairs. Doctors don't know much about WHY it happens, they just know that people who have one condition often have the other. --So according to Prevention.com, here are four health problems you should never ignore, because they might be a sign you have something even worse . . .

#1.) MIGRAINES. If you have one every few months, you're 50% more likely to have a heart attack. And if you have at least one migraine a week, you're three times more likely to have a stroke.

#2.) HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. According to a ten-year study by Harvard Medical School, if your blood pressure is constantly high, you're twice as likely to develop diabetes, regardless of how much you weigh. -But you can reduce your risk by getting more exercise, losing weight, eating less salt, and quitting smoking.

#3.) PSORIASIS. The rough, itchy patches of skin are uncomfortable, but according to a five-year study of 500,000 people, they might also increase your heart attack risk. It all depends on how bad your psoriasis is. If it's severe, your risk is doubled. --They're not sure WHY it happens yet. But they think your arteries might get inflamed when your body tries to fight off the disease.

#4.) ASTHMA. Studies show a strong connection between asthma and psychological problems like depression and anxiety. Researchers think one can lead to the other. --If you have breathing problems, it can cause anxiety. And if you have anxiety, it can cause breathing problems. So if you think you have either, ask your doctor about both.

February 17, 2010

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW

WINTER OLYMPICS UPDATE

SOME GUY TOOK A SWING AT MITT ROMNEY WHILE FLYING BACK FROM THE OLYMPICS:

Former Republican Presidential candidate MITT ROMNEY spent the weekend at the Vancouver Olympics with his wife Ann. Then, on the way home, he nearly THREW DOWN with a passenger on the plane --But it wasn't his fault. As his Air Canada flight to Los Angeles was getting ready to take off, the jerk sitting in front of his wife reclined his seat too far back. --So Romney asked the guy to put his seat up . . . and it was ON. According to a Romney spokeman, the guy became ''physically violent'' and took a swing. --Even though the other guy threw the first punch and deserved a beating, Romney didn't retaliate. The plane returned to the gate, and the crew dragged the guy off. He hasn't been identified, and Romney doesn't plan to press charges. (--Romney was the CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympics and was in Vancouver as a guest of honor. Surprisingly, the Romneys were in row 15 of coach. That's how you treat a guest of honor? People get punched out in coach.) (Toronto Globe and Mail)

A CANADIAN CURLER IS FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS PREGNANT:

KRISTIE MOORE is an Olympic Athlete. Sort of. She's an alternate for the Canadian women's curling team. That's the sport that looks like shuffleboard on ice. --And if you're wondering how challenging the sport of curling really is, consider this: Kristie is FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS PREGNANT. --But the team's captain said they chose her anyway because, quote, "She is young and fit." --Kristie is definitely showing, but she doesn't think her condition will affect her performance. She says, quote, "In the eighth month or so, that might be an issue." (--Believe it or not, Kristie is the THIRD pregnant Olympian in history. Swedish figure skater MAGDA JULIN won a gold medal in 1920 in her first trimester, and knocked-up German skeleton racer DIANA SARTOR finished fourth in 2006.) (Yahoo)


THE U.S. GOALIES HAD THEIR HELMETS CENSORED:

The International Olympic Committee has been busy CENSORING GOALIE HELMETS to make sure that no one reads anything inappropriate. --It's become a tradition for goalies to unveil tacky, airbrushed, over-the-top goalie helmets for the Olympics. --The U.S. helmets feature red-eyed eagles swooping, Uncle Sam flexing his enormous biceps, and a Native American shooting an arrow. The I.O.C. is fine with all of that. --But starting goalie RYAN MILLER needed to put a decal over the phrase "Miller Time" on the back of his helmet, because it's a beer slogan. (--Even though it's also his LAST NAME.) --Backup goalie JONATHAN QUICK needed to cover up "Support Our Troops" on his helmet, because it was a political message. --And third-stringer TIM THOMAS had to hide "k.i.t k.o.t k.a.t." . . . which are the initials of his three children. No reason was given. (--Although maybe it was simply too similar to the Kit Kat candy bar.)(Reuters)


THE GERMANS HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD IN THE OVERALL MEDAL COUNT:

After four days of competition, the U.S. fell behind Germany in the medal count. The Germans picked up four new medals, but we didn't pick up a single one. Here is yesterday's overall medals breakdown . . .
#1.) Germany with 9 Medals . . . 3 Gold, 4 Silver, and 2 Bronze.
#2.) The United States, with 8 Medals . . . 2 Gold, 2 Silver, and 4 Bronze.
#3.) France with 7 Medals . . . 2 Gold, 1 Silver, and 4 Bronze.
#4.) Canada with 5 Medals . . . 2 Gold, 2 Silver, and 1 Bronze.
#5.) South Korea with 4 Medals . . . 3 Gold and 1 Silver.

WE MAY HAVE NOT WON ANY MEDALS, BUT AT LEAST OUR HOCKEY TEAMS BOTH WON THEIR GAMES:

Even though U.S. Olympians were SHUT OUT in medals for all five of Tuesday's main events, the men's and women's hockey teams both won their games. The men's team beat Switzerland, 3-1, and the women's team embarrassed Russia with a score of 13-0. --Our best finishers in the other events were:
--Women's Snowboard Cross: Fifth Place, Lindsey Jacobellis
--Speed Skating, Women's 500 meter: Sixth Place, Heather Richardson (--Lindsey was favored to win the snowboarding gold, but she lost her balance on a jump in the semifinals, fell off the course, and was disqualified.) (--She SHOULD have won the gold four years ago, but she fell while showboating at the finish line and came in second. So much for redeeming herself this year.)



THE THIEVES WHO STOLE CHARLIE SHEEN'S CAR ALSO TOOK HIS CHEVRON CARD:

The thieves who stole CHARLIE SHEEN'S Mercedes earlier this month took his Chevron card out of it before they rolled it down an embankment near his gated community. --According to TMZ, they used it for seven fill-ups. Police are now hoping to turn up some leads by interviewing employees at all the gas stations where it was used. (--By the way . . . RadarOnline.com says that Charlie's wife, Brooke Mueller, is in rehab for CRACK ADDICTION. The website claims Brooke was also treated for a crack addiction back in 2001.)

MEGAN FOX "DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR" ALL THE ATTENTION SHE'S GETTING:

It's time for another celebrity to complain about all the "unwanted" attention they're getting. -This time, it's MEGAN FOX. In a new interview with "W" magazine, she says, quote, "It's an immense amount of pressure, celebrity itself. I didn't create that. I didn't sign up for that; I didn't know that was going to happen. It created itself." --To Megan's credit, she does admit to SOME culpability here. She says, quote, "[It's happened] with my assistance, obviously. Whatever. --"But it's so big and it's so much. Such a good portion of it is so negative. I think that if you are receptive to anything, if you feel anything ever, it's impossible not to let it affect your life." --Megan also reveals that she's not really sure of herself as an actress. She says, quote, "There's a million people I could name who are more deserving of the parts that I get and the life that I'm living. --Asked if she's jealous of anyone in Hollywood, she says, quote, "Everybody, maybe? Anyone who's got any sort of legitimate accolades."


IS KEVIN SMITH READY TO DROP HIS BEEF WITH SOUTHWEST AIRLINES???

Believe it or not, the "Too Fat to Fly" controversy between KEVIN SMITH and Southwest Airlines is still chugging along. But maybe not for much longer. --It sounds like Kevin is ready to put it to bed. In his latest blog, he writes, quote, "Lots of folks still telling me to stop crying and lose weight . . . as if that's what this was all about. --"Once again: I know I'm fat. The point of all this? I'm not too fat for Southwest Air, yet someone deemed me so. *sigh*" --But, after continuing on for a while, he closes out the post with the following . . . quote, "But, folks? Tomorrow? Let's Tweet about other stuff, shall we? This is starting to taste mediciney and fruitless."(--If you're still fascinated by all of this, you can read the whole thing here . . .)http://silentbobspeaks.com/?p=393

#1.) EVANDER HOLYFIELD'S wife Candi has dropped the restraining order she took out against her husband earlier this month, after he allegedly assaulted her. There's no word what made her change her mind. --At the time, Candi claimed that Holyfield hit her several times during an argument that started when she complained about being cold because the heat in their Georgia home had been turned off.


#2.) BEYONCÉ'S dad, MATTHEW KNOWLES, has been ordered to pay $8,200 a month to a woman who claims he fathered the child she gave birth to on February 4th. --Knowles . . . who has not admitted or denied being the father . . . is taking a paternity test on March 1st. Beyoncé's mom, Tina, filed for divorce from Matthew in November . . . presumably after she found out about his alleged love child.

#3.) KELLY OSBOURNE has been looking really good these days. And according to her, a simple diet tip helped her get her weight under control. --She says, quote, "A trick I've learned is to eat just a little bit of something that has no carbs and no sugar in it before you go to sleep because it keeps your metabolism going. --"They say you should never eat before you go to bed, but I've found just having a tiny little snack . . . like half an apple or something like that . . . before you go to sleep really helps."

#4.) JILLIAN MICHAELS . . . one of the trainers on "The Biggest Loser" . . . is being sued over her Maximum Strength Fat Burner pills. A woman has filed a class-action suit, claiming that the pills contain a potentially lethal blend of ingredients. -This is the THIRD time Jillian has been sued over the Fat Burner pills. The first two suits were brought by people who just claim the pills don't work. (--You have to admit, it seems kind of hypocritical for such a harsh advocate of nutrition and exercise to put her name on diet pills. It doesn't sound like anything more than a cash grab, does it???)

DEAN KOONTZ'S TAKE ON FRANKENSTEIN IS BEING TURNED INTO A MOVIE:

Author DEAN KOONTZ'S series of modern-day "Frankenstein" novels are being turned into a movie. For those of you who aren't familiar with the plot . . . and that's probably most of you . . . here's the deal . . . --Dr. Frankenstein is IMMORTAL, and living in present-day New Orleans as Dr. Helios . . . the CEO of a company called Helios Biovision. --He's building an army of artificial humans to destroy the human race. But he's losing control of his new creations . . . and one has even become a serial killer. --The original Frankenstein monster is the hero of the story. His name is Deucalion, and he has the power of teleportation. He was summoned by Tibetan monks to help stop Helios. And they gave him some sweet tattoos. --Aiding Deucalion are two New Orleans homicide detectives. --Koontz has done three books in the series, and the fourth is coming June 22nd. There's no word on a release date for the movie.


KEVIN EUBANKS IS LEAVING "THE TONIGHT SHOW":

KEVIN EUBANKS . . . JAY LENO'S bandleader (slash) sidekick . . . is considering retirement. Yesterday, NBC confirmed the news in a statement. --It reads, quote, "Kevin has expressed interest in pursuing personal touring and recording opportunities . . . however, he will be with the show when it returns." --So he'll be there when Jay's "Tonight Show" returns on March 1st, but beyond that nothing is certain. The "New York Times" reports that he's in the process discussing an exit strategy with the producers and Jay himself. -Kevin joined the band back in 1992 . . . and became the bandleader when BRANFORD MARSALIS left in 1995. --No one from Kevin's camp . . . assuming he has one . . . has commented on this yet, but a so-called "colleague" of his says, quote, "It's been more than 17 years and he just said he wanted a break." (--Yeah, that or he was secretly on Team Conan.) --And just to cover all the bases, no one is saying that Kevin's departure would be permanent . . . but then again, no one is suggesting it may only be temporary either. --HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH stud DARIUS RUCKER has already been rumored to be a possible replacement . . . but Darius' rep has said it isn't true, and NBC said yesterday that they haven't offered the gig to anyone yet.

THE PALIN FAMILY DID *NOT* APPRECIATE BEING REFERENCED ON THIS PAST SUNDAY'S "FAMILY GUY":

This past Sunday's episode of "Family Guy" featured a female character with Down syndrome, who mentioned that her mother was a former governor of Alaska . . . you know, like SARAH PALIN. --And Sarah . . . whose youngest son TRIG has the disorder . . . was not pleased. --On her Facebook page yesterday, Sarah didn't post her reaction, but her DAUGHTER'S. --BRISTOL PALIN had said, quote, "As a culture, shouldn't we be more compassionate to innocent people . . . especially those who are less fortunate? --"Shouldn't we be willing to say that some things just are not funny? Are there any limits to what some people will do or say in regards to my little brother or others in the special needs community? --"If the writers of a particularly pathetic cartoon show thought they were being clever in mocking my brother and my family [on Sunday], they failed. All they proved is that they're heartless jerks." --Sarah described Bristol's comment as, quote, "a much more restrained and gracious statement than I want to make." --But Sarah did give her own views on the subject last night on "The O'Reilly Factor". --She said, quote, "This world is full of cruel, cold-hearted people who would do such a thing."(--There's more. You can see the whole interview here . . .)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tarcoBFVAOA

THE CW HAS RENEWED FIVE OF THEIR SHOWS FOR NEXT SEASON:

The CW handed out early renewals for five of their shows. --"The Vampire Diaries", "Gossip Girl", "Supernatural", "America's Next Top Model", and "90210" will all be back next season. --The jury's still out on some of their other slows, like "One Tree Hill" . . . which has been on the fence for YEARS now . . . "Smallville" and "Melrose Place". --For those that are deeply concerned about the fate of those shows . . . here's the latest line on them, according to E! Online. --Supposedly, the future of "One Tree Hill" depends on the new CW show "Life Unexpected". Only one of these shows is expected to be back next season. --It's quote, "likely" that "Smallville" will be back, but another season could be its last. The show has attracted a respectable 2.5 million viewers on Friday nights. (--Yes, 2.5 million viewers is respectable for The CW. Not so for any of the other major networks. Heck, that's less than half what JAY LENO was getting in primetime.) --As for "Melrose Place", sources tell E! that it doesn't look good, but the network is waiting to see how it does in the ratings after it returns on March 9th.
TV RANDOMS:


#1.) Rumor has it that 63-year-old Food Network super-star PAULA DEEN is in talks to appear on "American Idol". A "source" tells E! Online that negotiations have been ongoing for about two weeks. --It's unclear what Paula would do on "Idol", but the running theory is that she could serve as a guest judge. It's also unclear what musical qualifications she has, but that hasn't really been a deal breaker for "Idol" guest judges in the past.


#2.) TARYN MANNING . . . who played Nola the prostitute in "Hustle & Flow" . . . has been cast as a regular in CBS' updated version of "Hawaii Five-O". --She'll play the younger sister of Detective McGarrett, who will be played by ALEX O'LOUGHLIN. The cast also includes "Lost" star DANIEL DAE KIM. The show will premiere this fall.

#3.) The "authenticity" of "Jersey Shore" has just sustained another accidental fist-pump to the face. That's because JWOWW admitted to FoxNews.com that neither she, nor SNOOKI, are actually Italian. (--ATTICA!!!) --She said she's actually Spanish and Irish . . . while Snooki is Chilean. Nonetheless, they still refer to themselves as, quote, "guidette princesses".


DID SEBASTIAN BACH SAVE AXL ROSE FROM BEING STABBED???

There's a chance that AXL ROSE could have been STABBED on Sunday . . . during the second of GUNS N' ROSES' two secret New York City shows. --Fortunately, SEBASTIAN BACH . . . of SKID ROW "fame" . . . was there, and acted selflessly to SAVE AXL'S LIFE. Maybe. --The "New York Post" reports that, while Guns was onstage, some dude walked into the venue . . . brandishing a switchblade. --A so-called "witness" says, quote, "[He] pulled out a knife and flicked the blade out. Sebastian, who was standing on a banquette, said: 'Nobody is getting anywhere near my man Axl Rose with a knife,' and went after him. --"Security then immediately threw him out. The man appeared to be drunk. It was dealt with so quickly that none of the other guests or the band were aware of it." --Our hero, Sebastian, has yet to comment on the alleged incident. (--Now, the "New York Post" is definitely NOT one to EVER embellish a story, but isn't it convenient that Sebastian stepped in between Axl and an ARMED man . . . and it was "dealt with so quickly" that no one even knew it happened???)


MUSIC RANDOMS:

#1.) The DailySwarm.com claims "multiple industry sources" tell them that Lady Gaga, Green Day, The Strokes and a reunited Soundgarden will headline this year's Lollapalooza, which is going down August 6th through the 9th in Chicago. --The festival's promoter wouldn't comment . . . so we probably won't hear anything definite until the lineup is officially announced. That usually happens in April.


#2.) AEROSMITH has booked another European festival gig WITH STEVEN TYLER. This time it's the Sweden Rock Festival, which is scheduled for June 9th through the 12th. They'll also play at Britain's Download music festival in June. --Guitarist JOE PERRY said, quote, "This is the first show of our European tour. We can't wait to uncork our tour here in Sweden and I am sure the cork will hit the ceiling." (--So what's going on? Is Steven back in the band or what???)


#3.) ADAM LAMBERT stopped a performance in New York on Monday night . . . mid-song . . . to tell some girl to get off her phone. He stopped singing, and told the fan, quote, "Can you get off your phone?! --"You're yelling into it. Wait, sorry, we're going to start over. Really?! Dominoes . . . we deliver!" He added, quote, "You're not watching TV honey . . . it's a live show." (--Here's video . . .)http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=f768b13a-3730-468e-a4bb-e10005d4dc37


JAY-Z SAYS THE FACT THAT HE TOUCHED THE WORLD SERIES TROPHY BEFORE A-ROD PROVES THAT HIP-HOP HAS ARRIVED:

JAY-Z says hip-hop has truly arrived, and he's the proof. --He says, quote, "The world is inspiring me. I get out and see the world and more of the world is accepting of our music and what we do. I'm just inspired by the whole thing and how big hip-hop can be and how much of a phenomenon it is. --"You couldn't imagine hip-hop being at the World Series. I touched the championship trophy before A-ROD and the Vince Lombardi trophy before the Saints. --"You couldn't imagine that happening 10 years ago. How about five years ago? I'm saying that to say that the journey hip-hop has taken and we are right now, there's no imitation to it . . . still. Still!"


JAY-Z DOESN'T THINK "WE ARE THE WORLD" SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMADE:

JAY-Z would like you to know there's a reason why he and his wife BEYONCÉ weren't part of the new "We Are the World". --He says, quote, "I have an interesting take on that. Namely, that they should never have remade it in the first place. --"I know everybody is gonna take this wrong: 'We Are the World', I love it, and I understand the point and think it's great. But I think 'We Are the World' is like 'Thriller' to me. I don't ever wanna see it touched. --"I'm a fan of music. I know the plight and everything that's going on in Haiti . . . So I appreciate the efforts and everything, but 'We Are the World' is untouchable like 'Thriller' is untouchable. --"Some things are just untouchable. It was a valiant effort, but for me, it's gonna be untouchable." --Jay thinks they should have written a NEW song instead . . . but he adds, quote, "As everyone knows, I have tremendous respect for QUINCY JONES. Of course, I think he's genius, as everyone else does. --"But I think it's time for us to make a new song."


NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF

WOMEN LOVE SHOPPING BECAUSE OF EVOLUTION:

Women love shopping. Now, thanks to a new study from the University of Michigan, researchers think they know why: It's because of EVOLUTION. Here's the logic . . . --Thousands of years ago, men were HUNTERS and women were FORAGERS. --When men went hunting, their technique for killing prey was to get in and out as quickly as possible . . . just like most modern men with shopping. --But for women, foraging required a lot of sorting and careful examination to get the best stuff . . . just like a lot of modern women with shopping. --A guy named Daniel Kruger led the study. He says, quote, "Women would want to have more things to search through, and to be able to experience them, touch them, feel textures and see colors. --"With a guy, he knows the properties he wants. It may be more efficient to have a counter that the guy walks up to, says what he wants, and they go get that item from a storage room." --In other words, the reason your girl is always shopping and spending all your money is because she's compelled by evolution. Not that it matters all that much when she blows $200 on a new pair of shoes . . . I'm just saying. (MSNBC)


AMERICANS ARE THE BEST-LOOKING PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!!!

It's moments like this when I stop and think to myself: "Yes, I AM awesome." (???) --Recently, a British website called OnePoll.com asked users which country has the BEST-LOOKING people. Check out the top five:
#5.) Italy#4.) Australia#3.) Spain#2.) Brazil#1.) THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (!!!) (UPI)

THE HAPPIEST STATE IN AMERICA IS . . . HAWAII:

Yesterday, a new Gallup poll came out ranking the 50 states in terms of HAPPINESS. --It was based on several different criteria, including emotional health, work environment, healthy behavior, basic access to healthcare and recreation, and something called life evaluation, which is basically how satisfied people are with life. --According to the study, the five happiest states are:
#5.) Iowa#4.) Minnesota#3.) Montana#2.) Utah#1.) Hawaii
--And the five least happy states are:
#5.) Nevada#4.) Ohio#3.) Arkansas#2.) Kentucky#1.) West Virginia (Yahoo News)
(--You can link to the full list here . . .)http://www.livescience.com/culture/happy-states-2009-100216.html


CATHOLIC LEADERS WANT YOU TO GIVE UP TECHNOLOGY FOR LENT . . . AND THEY HAVE A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW TO DO IT:

Today is the first day of Lent, the period leading up to Easter when . . . traditionally . . . Christians give up a small luxury to represent the hardships Jesus endured during his temptation by Satan. --And this year, Catholic leaders in the UK are urging Christians to go on a "carbon fast" to reduce their carbon footprint and help the environment. --According to one Catholic leader, quote, "Lent is a period when we should look at how we live our lives. Giving up chocolate is a symbol of that, but giving up technology is a more serious way of looking at the issues that face us as a global community. --"It is a statement [of solidarity] with a world that does not have that ability to communicate the way we can, and a reminder to us that perhaps we may have got beyond ourselves in terms of our own consumption of technology." --Here's a list of possible "carbon fasts" that Catholic leaders have suggested: --Give up all technology for one day a month . . . that means no computer, no TV and no cell phone . . . and donate the money you save to charity. --Become a part-time vegetarian by eating at least two vegetarian meals a week. --Mend your old clothes instead of buying new stuff.
--Start composting food waste, and growing your own fruits and vegetables.--Cut your meat and vegetables thinner, so they'll cook faster and use less energy.--Turn off the lights and eat by candlelight.--Take the train instead of flying.--Arrange "swapping parties" with your friends where you exchange clothes, jewelry and other items so everyone gets something new without going to the store.--Avoid "excess" idling and acceleration to cut back on emissions when driving. --Save water by only flushing the toilet every other time you use it. (Daily Telegraph)


TWO COMPLETE STRANGERS TIED THE KNOT TO PROVE A POINT ABOUT THE "SANCTITY" OF MARRIAGE . . . OR LACK THEREOF:

If you've been following the gay marriage debate, you know that one of the major knocks against it is that it violates the "sanctity" of marriage. --Well, a guy from Orlando named Brian Feldman doesn't buy it. So last week, he put up a post on Facebook saying he'd marry ANYBODY who showed up at the courthouse on Friday morning. --The idea was to show that marriage between a man and a woman isn't necessarily "sanctified," it's just between members of the opposite sex. --Or as Brian put it in his post, quote, "Is this entire project a mockery of marriage? Not at all! It’s completely within the legal rights of Brian and any other heterosexual couple with $123.50 (plus $6 for a standard marriage certificate). --"Sound absurd? Not nearly absurd as denying the equal right to marry for same-sex couples who truly care about each other; who’ve been in committed, productive and, most importantly, loving relationships for upwards of 20+ years. --"That, to Brian, and millions of Americans who believe in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality, is truly absurd - to say nothing of a civil injustice." --Anyway, three women showed up at the courthouse. And after playing spin-the-bottle to determine which one Brian would marry, he tied the knot with a COMPLETE STRANGER named Hannah Miller. (!!!) (Orlando Sentinel)


ARE SCHOOLS GOING TO PLAY BURT BACHARACH TO PREVENT KIDS FROM GRINDING ON THE DANCE FLOOR?

We've been hearing about this for a while, and it doesn't seem to be going away: High schools across the country keep looking for new ways to stop their kids from grinding on the dance floor. --On the one hand, it's hard to take this stuff seriously, because we should be more worried about their grades, and at least they're not shooting each other. --On the other hand, if you have kids, or you've ever SEEN the stuff they do when they're dancing, you know why this bothers people. It's like "Dirty Dancing" on crack. --Some schools have banned dances, posted rules, or made their students sign contracts before dances . . . all in the name of the anti-grinding movement. But the best plan so far is the one from the Pacific Hills School in L.A. --Last year, they threatened to turn on the lights if students started to grind . . . and to interrupt whatever song was playing with BURT BACHARACH . . . or WILLIAM SHATNER'S rendition of "Mr. Tambourine Man". (LA Times)


SHOULD DOGS BE ALLOWED TO GO EVERYWHERE WITH THEIR OWNERS?

I'm not exactly sure when it happened, but some time around the rise of PARIS HILTON and her merry band of celebu-skanks, it became socially acceptable for dog owners to take their pets EVERYWHERE with them. --And I'm not just talking about parks and other outdoor spaces . . . I'm talking about restaurants, stores, and even airplanes. --The question is: Should dogs be allowed to go everywhere with their owners? --Well, two editorialists addressed that exact topic in a recent "Complaint Box" piece in the "New York Times".--A woman named Barbara Rosenblatt took the dissenting opinion. She says, quote, "Animals are joining the ranks of small, bored children who must accompany their grown-ups just about everyplace. --"Perhaps what it will take to keep animals out of stores is a few too many paw prints on the merchandise, or a deposit by a dog that mistook a rug for a sidewalk." --And a woman named Erica Manfred defended her right to take her dog anywhere by saying he, quote, "makes my life bearable, and I don't care what anyone thinks." (Paw Nation)


FORMER WASHINGTON REDSKIN DARRELL GREEN RAN THE 40-METER DASH IN 4.43 SECONDS ON HIS 50TH BIRTHDAY:

DARRELL GREEN is a former cornerback for the Washington Redskins. He retired from the NFL in 2002, and on Monday he celebrated his 50th birthday . . . by running the 40-meter dash in 4.43 SECONDS. --If that doesn't mean anything to you, think of it this way . . . Darrell's 40-meter time on Monday was still faster than MOST players in the NFL right now. (Fan House)


GIRLS WHO PLAY SPORTS IN HIGH SCHOOL ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE CHUBBY WHEN THEY GROW UP:

A new study from the University of Illinois at Chicago has found that when girls play sports in high school, they're 7% less likely to be overweight 20 to 25 years later in life. (New York Times) (--You can link to the full story here . . .)http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/health/16well.html

HERE ARE FIVE SIGNS YOU'RE SLEEP-DEPRIVED:

You know you need to get about eight hours of sleep to be at the top of your game. But sometimes it's just not possible. --With that in mind, here are five signs your body will send to let you know you're SLEEP-DEPRIVED:

#1.) You can't make even the simplest decision: A study from the University of California at San Diego found that when people are tired, they have a harder time distinguishing between minor stuff and what's important . . . so they're easily confused.

#2.) You're always hungry: Studies have shown that when you don't get enough sleep, the body produces less of a hormone called leptin that curbs appetite, and more of a hormone called ghrelin that stimulates the appetite.

#3.) You keep getting sick: Studies have found that sleep boosts the immune system. And when people get less sleep than they need, they're up to three times more likely to get sick than those who get enough sleep.

#4.) You're an emotional wreck: The part of the brain that processes fear and anxiety is called the amygdala. Brain scans have shown that when people lose sleep, their amygdala is 60% more active than that of someone who's fully rested. --And other studies have found that when people are tired, their amygdala has a harder time communicating with the part of the brain that controls appropriate emotional responses . . . thus the near-constant waterworks.

#5.) You keep knocking stuff over: A study from Stanford University found that lack of sleep impairs focus, balance, reflexes, and depth perception. (MSN Health)


NAZZY'S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) This is what happens when you combine "Star Wars" nerds with the dorks who do those spontaneous 'flash-mob' events: a bunch of people suddenly start a lightsaber fight at a shopping mall in Bristol, England. (--It starts at 1:10.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUZgrL85OKs(Search Terms: Bristol lightsaber flashmob YouTube.com)

#2.) A politician in New Hampshire voiced her support for banning gay marriage by graphically describing how men have sex using the back-door.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgDWAvLh0yo(Search Terms: Nancy Elliott New Hampshire HB1590 video)

#3.) An Australian weatherman is attacked by a pelican in the middle of his report.http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1929349(Search Terms: pelican attacks weatherman Australia)


FIVE INVENTIONS WE OWE TO THE SPACE PROGRAM:

NASA was planning to put another man on the moon by the year 2020, but it would have cost $100 billion. So President Obama cut the plan when he sent his new budget to Congress. But some people say he made the wrong decision. Here's why. --These are five inventions people rely on every day that were inspired by NASA's research . . .

#1.) GPS. NASA researchers originally developed it as a space-based navigation system for the military. And it was used to increase the accuracy of satellite-guided missiles. But now you've probably got it on your cell phone.

#2.) MEMORY FOAM. NASA needed a new material that would make liftoffs and landings easier on the astronauts' bodies. So they made one. Now people use it to get a better night's sleep and to help with aches and pains caused by normal mattresses.

#3.) INVISIBLE BRACES. They're made from a special material that's stronger than steel and doesn't stain. And most important, it's clear. NASA developed it, and the military used it on heat-seeking missiles.

#4.) CORDLESS POWER TOOLS. The astronauts needed lightweight equipment that had a decent battery life. Black and Decker was already working on it when NASA got involved. But that's when the technology started getting a lot better.

#5.) CAT SCANS. This is one of the most-important things NASA's ever come up with. During the Apollo missions in the 1960's, scientists needed a way to digitally enhance pictures of the moon. --And the technology they came up with eventually evolved into CAT scans and MRIs, which are used to help diagnose cancer and all sorts of other diseases. (AskMen.com)FACT OR

February 16, 2010

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW

A U.S. SNOWBOARDER IS SELLING PANTIES FOR HAITI:

It's great to see a successful athlete give back. And when that athlete is smoking hot, it's even better. --Meet snowboarder HANNAH TETER. She won the gold in the half-pipe in 2006 and she's competing again this year. She also posed in this year's "Sports Illustrated" swimsuit issue. --Hannah is donating ALL HER PRIZE MONEY from this season to help the recovery in Haiti. She also tried to raise more money online by selling maple syrup. --Now she's found a more marketable product: Sweet Cheeks Panties, a company that sells 'boy-shorts' with "Make Love Not War" printed on the backside. --A pair costs $18, and five bucks from each sale goes to Doctors Without Borders. --The site has inspirational slogans like "Peace of Ass", "Do Your Civic Booty", and "Baby Gave Back", but those slogans aren't available yet. There'll be a new one each month. (--You can pick up a pair here: http://www.sweetcheekspanties.com.)(--If you're more into syrup, try: http://www.hannahsgold.com) (--And if you just want to ogle Hannah and other sexy winter Olympians . . .) http://guyism.com/2010/02/your-guide-to-the-sexy-olympians-of-vancouver-2010.html


IS THE INTEGRITY OF SNOWBOARDING RUINED BY TIGHT PANTS?

The Canadian Snowboard Cross team is creating a controversy in Vancouver . . . because their PANTS are TOO TIGHT. --Snowboarders have always been the pot-smoking, long-haired outlaws of the Winter Olympics. And they always wear baggy pants. --But in their quest to represent their home country this year, Canadian snowboarders are wearing aerodynamic body suits. --The Americans tried to get the International Ski Federation to set a minimum pant-leg width for snowboard events, but they were voted down. Don't laugh, the X Games already has one. --Since then, snowboarders have had a sort of gentleman's agreement to go baggy. --But now that the Canadians have VIOLATED that agreement, U.S. team members are complaining. NATE HOLLAND said it endangers, quote, "the integrity" of the sport. --Nate finished fourth today. Behind one of the Canadians in their performance-enhancing pants. --And NICK BAUMGARTNER said, quote, "We want to keep the 'cool' factor in snowboarding." (Toronto Star)


IT'S ON BETWEEN SOUTH KOREA AND CHINA'S SPEEDSKATERS!

I don't want to alarm anyone, but there seems to be a speedskating FEUD between ASIAN SUPERPOWERS. --It started when the coach of South Korea's women's short-track speedskating team . . . a guy named GUANG-BOK CHOI . . . got upset at practice when he noticed a Chinese official taping his team. Which is NOT illegal by the way. --The Chinese cameraman refused to stop taping . . . so Choi threw a bunch of water bottles at him. But he missed and hit the seats in front of the guy. (Yahoo)

WINTER OLYMPICS RESULTS

WINTER OLYMPICS MEDAL COUNT . . . WE'RE STILL WINNING:
After three days of competition, the U.S. remained atop the medal count. (--Not that it matters. The Olympics are about the joy of competition. And endorsement deals.)
#1.) THE UNITED STATES, with 8 Medals: 2 Gold, 2 Silver, and 4 Bronze.#2.) GERMANY, with 5: 1 Gold, 3 Silver, and 1 Bronze.#3.) TIED at 4: FRANCE with 2 Gold and 2 Bronze, and CANADA with 1 Gold, 2 Silver, and 1 Bronze.#4.) TIED: NORWAY, ITALY, SWITZERLAND, and SOUTH KOREA with 3 each


YESTERDAY'S NEW MEDALS FOR THE UNITED STATES:

U.S. Olympians won one gold medal and one bronze medal yesterday. Here’s a breakdown of the medal winning events for the United States on Day 3:
--Men's Snowboard Cross: GOLD, Seth Wescott --Men's Downhill Alpine Skiing: BRONZE, Bode Miller (--Wescott also won gold in 2006, when Snowboard Cross made its Olympic debut. So he's the ONLY OLYMPIC CHAMPION the sport has EVER KNOWN. )

#1.) The "National Enquirer" claims that "Gossip Girl" star BLAKE LIVELY is considering an offer to pose for "Playboy". They say she wants to start distancing herself from the younger demographic that watches her show. (--Blake is 22.)

#2.) Just a quick FYI: LEONARDO DICAPRIO did NOT propose to his girlfriend, BAR REFAELI, on Valentine's Day. There's a rumor going around that he did.

#3.) NICOLE RICHIE and JOEL MADDEN are getting married. Nicole announced last night on "The Late Show with David Letterman" that she and Joel are finally engaged. --Nicole and Joel have been together for three years. They have two kids . . . a 2-year-old daughter named Harlow and a 5-month-old son named Sparrow.

#4.) E! Online says that AVRIL LAVIGNE and BRODY JENNER . . . (--Stepbrother to the Kardashian clan) . . . have been HOOKING UP for the last few weeks. (--Brody broke up with "Playboy" Playmate JAYDE NICOLE in December. Avril filed for divorce from DERYCK WHIBLEY last October.)

DID TIGER WOODS IMPREGNATE ONE OF HIS MISTRESSES . . . TWICE???

JOSLYN JAMES . . . the MATTRESS ACTRESS who claims to be one of TIGER WOODS' many mistresses . . . says that Tiger impregnated her. TWICE. Both times while he was married to ELIN NORDEGREN. --Joslyn tells "Us Weekly" that she miscarried the first child . . . but she aborted the second because it would have been due around the same time that Elin was going to give birth to Tiger's son Charlie . . . who just turned a year old. --She says, quote, "I just didn't want to ruin anything." Joslyn didn't tell Tiger about either pregnancy --Joslyn . . . who claims her affair with Tiger lasted from 2006 through last year . . . now says she feels bad for Elin . . . quote, "She didn't deserve this, and she didn't deserve being humiliated."


TIGER WOODS AND ELIN NORDEGREN HAD NO CONTACT ON VALENTINE'S DAY:

Not surprisingly, it was NOT a good Valentine's Day for TIGER WOODS. ELIN NORDEGREN basically shut him out. --Tiger and Elin are reportedly living in separate homes near each other in Florida. --And a so-called "source" says, quote, "Valentine's Day was not a day for Elin and Tiger to be close. They had no physical contact. She pretty much only sees him when she drops off the kids for him to see." --On Saturday night, Elin went out with a group of friends to celebrate someone's birthday . . . and she flat-out told Tiger beforehand that he was not welcome to join her. --Another source says, quote, "The marriage is very much up in the air right now. A few weeks ago she was determined to save it. Now that he's been home she can't bring herself to go near him. --"She still very, very hurt. No one knows what she's going to do. I'm not sure that she knows what she's going to do."


CHYNNA PHILLIPS IS IN REHAB FOR "ANXIETY":

CHYNNA PHILLIPS . . . the blonde, short-haired one from WILSON PHILLIPS . . . has checked into rehab for ANXIETY. --Her rep says, quote, "With the full support of her family and friends, she is looking forward to her recovery. We ask that people respect her and her family's privacy at this time." --There's no word if Chynna's anxiety is related to the UTTER CHAOS that has enveloped her family since late last year . . . --. . . when Chynna's half-sister MACKENZIE PHILLIPS revealed that she'd had a 10-year sexual relationship with their father, JOHN PHILLIPS . . . (--Of THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS.) --Chynna was one of the few high-profile members of the family who actually stuck her neck out to SUPPORT Mackenzie. --Mackenzie issued the following statement yesterday . . . quote, "I love my sister so much. She was there for me, and I am here for her . . . She is so very strong and funny. She is going to be just fine, I know it."


CHARLIE SHEEN'S WIFE MAY BE IN REHAB:

A few semi-reputable websites are reporting that CHARLIE SHEEN'S wife, BROOKE MUELLER, is in rehab. --TMZ claims that she checked into a place called The Canyon in Malibu this past Tuesday . . . one day after she and Charlie went to Aspen, Colorado to sort out their legal issues. --And RadarOnline.com says that Brooke seriously tied one on the night before she checked in. --A so-called "source" says, quote, "It got to the point where even Charlie told her to go to rehab because of their kids. --"She had one final party, drinking pretty heavily, and Charlie was with her part of the time. But when he left it didn't stop. The next day she was in bad, bad shape and that's when she went into rehab."


BETTY WHITE KNOWS YOU WANT HER TO HOST "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" . . . AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE'S INTO IT:

If you haven't heard, someone has started a Facebook campaign to try to get BETTY WHITE a hosting gig on Saturday Night Live". --The page is called: "Betty White to Host SNL (please?)!" . . . and as of late last night, more than 336,000 people had become "fans" of it. (--Here's the link . . .) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Betty-White-to-Host-SNL-please/266442514828?v=info --Anyway, Betty IS aware of the campaign. She tells E! Online, quote, "I'm just amazed. I would think by now that they've had such an overdose of Betty White that they'd be throwing rocks instead. --"I don't know where it came from. I have no idea where it started, but it just keeps growing." --And it sounds like she'd be down for it. She says, quote, "That would depend on scheduling and all that. But who knows? You can't ever say yes or no or never . . . you just wait to see what happens." --And in a separate interview, she added, quote, "That would be up to ['SNL' executive producer] Lorne Michaels." (--There's no comment from "SNL" yet.)

#1.) On "The View" yesterday, BARBARA WALTERS announced that her annual pre-Oscars specials will end after this year's show, which will air on March 7th. So far, two guests have been announced: SANDRA BULLOCK and MO'NIQUE. --She said, quote, "ABC has asked me to keep doing these specials as they have been so successful . . . and I'm thrilled we have such great stars and have such a wonderful show . . . but to be honest, I feel like I've been there, done that."

#2.) Former "King of Queens" star KEVIN JAMES . . . who also starred in "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" . . . will host this year's Kids' Choice Awards on March 27th. --The nominees are out, and not surprisingly, the stars of the "Twilight" movies led everyone with five nominations. MILEY CYRUS was next with four. (--You can find the complete list of nominees, here . . .)http://www.nick.com/kids-choice-awards/nominees/

#3.) 17-year-old SELENA GOMEZ pulls down $11,025 per episode of her Disney Channel series, "Wizards of Waverly Place" . . . at least, according to TMZ. --The show's current, third season includes 35 episodes . . . meaning that she is earning over $385,000 a year on the show. (--That may seem like a lot, but it isn't much of a raise from the $10,000 an episode she earned during the first season.)

AEROSMITH HAS BOOKED A GIG *WITH* STEVEN TYLER:

Maybe AEROSMITH won't replace singer STEVEN TYLER after all. --According to "Classic Rock" magazine, Aerosmith . . . WITH Steven . . . has been booked to play at Britain's Download music festival, which takes place in June. --In a statement, Steven seems to confirm the news . . . quote, "In the early days of Aerosmith, we were infected with the vibe coming out of the U.K. with The Yardbirds, Blues Breakers, Pretty Things and the [Rolling] Stones. --"We wanted what they had bad. So baby, we're coming home. Rock and roll can be pure sex and we can't wait to Download."

GUNS N' ROSES HAVE PLAYED ANOTHER "SURPRISE" U.S. GIG:

GUNS N' ROSES played their second "surprise" show in the U.S. in less than a week on Sunday night. Like the first one, this one went down in New York City. (--Again, although they've been performing in places like Asia and Canada, these are Guns' first U.S. gigs since a short, two-song set in L.A. back in 2007.)

50 CENT'S PRODUCTION COMPANY IS SHOOTING A MOVIE:

50 CENT'S production company is filming a movie called "Love Me, Love Me Not" at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. It's reportedly about a football player who is diagnosed with cancer. 50 is in the movie, but it's unclear if he's playing the football player.

OLYMPIC SKIER WILL BRANDENBURG SAYS HE'D LIKE TO TAKE TAYLOR SWIFT OUT FOR DINNER AND A MOVIE:

One of the many cool things about being a stud athlete in the Olympics is that people pay attention to what you say. For example, downhill skier WILL BRANDENBURG mentioned in an interview that he has a crush on TAYLOR SWIFT . . . and that lead to more interviews. --Here's how it started. He said, quote, "I think me and Taylor could have a good time. She's got that girl next door attitude. I like it a lot. A nice little dinner and a movie date, something like that. So if you're out there, Taylor." --Word got around pretty quickly so someone else brought it up and Will ran with it. He said, quote, "I've had a crush on her for a while so I thought I'd give it a shot and see what happens. --"I'm a straight shooter, so I just went at it and asked her out. I'm a simple guy, so a nice little dinner and a movie, and if she wants to learn how to ski, I'll take her skiing. --"They (guys on the ski team) like to give me a hard time about that and I said, 'She's really cool. She's like the girl next door.' They gave me even more (grief) about that." (--You can check out portions of those two interviews here . . .) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H61pagDZheE-Will Brandenburg would probably have a better shot at Taylor if he was a medal contender, but from what I've read, he's not. And yet, anything can happen. He'll be competing TODAY in the men's Super Combined, which is scheduled to go down this morning.

NAZZY'S RANDOM STUFF

THE RED CROSS COLLECTED $255 MILLION FOR THE HAITI RELIEF EFFORT . . . BUT ONLY SENT $80 MILLION TO HAITI:

After the earthquake in Haiti, the American Red Cross became the go-to nonprofit for donating to the Haitian relief effort, since they could be trusted to properly handle your money. Or so we thought. --Now it turns out that of the $255 MILLION the Red Cross collected for the relief effort, only $80 MILLION of it actually made its way to Haiti. That leaves $175 MILLION of YOUR donations unaccounted for. --The obvious question is: Where did it go? --Well, according to the website for the Red Cross, quote, "On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of OTHER disasters. --"Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disasters." --In other words, the Red Cross decided Haiti only needed $80 MILLION. So any money they receive over that amount is being used to pad their general fund. Which isn't such a bad thing. But it's not the first time they've done this:
#1.) In 1989, the Red Cross raised $50 MILLION for the victims of the San Francisco earthquake. But it's estimated that only $10 MILLION of it was turned over to the actual victims.
#2.) After September 11th, the Red Cross raised $543 MILLION for the family members of people who died in the attacks. But they held back more than HALF of that money, which eventually led to the dismissal of their president.
#3.) In 2004, the Red Cross raised $3.21 BILLION to aid the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami. But they're still holding onto $500 MILLION of it.
#4.) And in 2005, the Red Cross raised $1.1 BILLION to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina. But they kept $200 MILLION of it to, quote, "prepare for future disasters."
(FWIX / MSNBC / Reuters / Socialist Worker / Duke City Fix)


YOU'RE NOT LAZY, YOU JUST SUFFER FROM SLUGGISH COGNITIVE TEMPO DISORDER:

In 2012, the American Psychiatric Association is going to release a new edition of the "Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders", which you can think of as a sort of "bible" for psychiatric disorders. --Anyway, there's a version of the manual online, and it includes nearly 300 conditions, including several new disorders that . . . to be honest . . . don't sound like "disorders" at all. Here's what I'm talking about . . .
#1.) If you're passive and inactive, you're not just lazy . . . you have Sluggish Cognitive Tempo Disorder.
#2.) If you're going through a divorce and are having a hard time getting along with your ex, you're not just having a normal reaction to major emotional stress . . . you have Relational Disorder.
#3.) If you're always complaining, you might not just be a whiner . . . you have Negativistic Personality Disorder.
#4.) If you sometimes lose your temper and suddenly become very angry, you don't just have a bad temper . . . you have Intermittent Explosive Disorder.
#5.) If you get a kick out of being appalled by pornography and other obscenities, you're not just a self-righteous prude . . . you have Mary Whitehouse Syndrome.
#6.) If your kid is uncomfortable with his or her gender, they're not just struggling to figure out their sexuality and define who they are . . . they have Gender Incongruence.
#7.) If you can't stop picking up bar skanks, you're not just a male slut with a high sex drive . . . you've got Hypersexual Disorder.
#8.) If you get really moody when you're PMSing, you're not just a normal woman . . . you've got Premenstrual Dysphonic Disorder.
#9.) And if you don't care about the planet, you're not just a REPUBLICAN . . . you've got Nature Deficit Disorder.
(--You can link to a working draft of the "Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" here . . .)http://www.dsm5.org/Pages/Default.aspx
(Daily Mail)

A GUY WHO WAS CONVICTED OF VEHICULAR HOMICIDE WANTS HIS CASE REOPENED BECAUSE OF THE TOYOTA RECALL:

The moment Toyota announced all those recalls, we should have known a bunch of cases like THIS were going to pop up . . . --In June of 2006, 32-year-old Koua Fong Lee of St. Paul, Minnesota, was getting off the highway in his 1996 Toyota Camry. But he accidentally hit the gas instead of the brakes, and slammed into another car at 90 miles per hour. --Three people were killed in the crash, and Koua was sentenced to eight years in prison for criminal vehicular homicide, careless driving, and several other charges. --But now, Koua is requesting that his case be reopened. He swears he didn't step on the wrong pedal, and he's convinced that Toyota and its faulty engineering is to blame for the accident. --Koua says, quote, "I think that might be the reason why I'm in here . . . I know that I stepped on the brake. I was pressing it to the max, but it wasn't working." --For the record, Koua's Camry is not one of the models that's been recalled . . . yet. But according to the prosecutor on his case, quote, "If there's some proof that there are problems with the car, of course we'll analyze it." (Pioneer Press)

A TSA AGENT FORCED A DISABLED KID TO TAKE OFF HIS LEG BRACES AND WALK THROUGH THE METAL DETECTOR ON HIS OWN:

Last March, a 53-year-old cop named Bob Thomas took a trip to Disney World with his wife, Leona, and their disabled son, Ryan, to celebrate Ryan's fourth birthday. --At the airport in Philadelphia, Ryan's LEG BRACES set off the metal detector, and a TSA agent refused to let him through security until he took the braces off and walked through the metal detector on his own. (???) (Philadelphia Inquirer) (--You can link to the full story here . . .)http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/84368492.html

THE AVERAGE TEEN SENDS TEN TEXT MESSAGES PER HOUR:

According to a new study by the Nielsen Company, the average teen sends TEN text messages an hour. Or 240 text messages a day. Or 87,600 text messages a year. (!!!) (Parent Dish) (--You can link to the full story here . . .)http://www.parentdish.com/2010/02/11/nielsen-teens-sends-an-average-of-10-text-messages-per-hour/

A WOMAN IS SUING A HOSPITAL FOR $30,000 FOR ACCIDENTALLY GIVING HER THE WRONG BABY TO BREASTFEED:

Two years ago, 33-year-old Jennifer Spiegel gave birth to a healthy baby boy at the Evanston Hospital in Evanston, Illinois.--Now, she's suing the hospital for at least $30,000 because a nurse accidentally handed her the wrong baby to BREASTFEED, which Jennifer says left her with a, quote, "awful internal feeling." (???) (Chicago Sun-Times) (--You can link to the full story here . . .)http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/2046505,CST-NWS-baby14.article

A STATE SENATOR FROM UTAH WANTS 12TH GRADE TO BE OPTIONAL:

If there's one thing I'm sure we can all agree on, it's that Americans are TOO SMART and TOO EDUCATED. -So it makes perfect sense that a Republican state senator from Utah named Chris Buttars is suggesting the state's public high schools make 12th grade OPTIONAL for students who've already completed their required credits.--According to Buttars, the state could save $60 million a year by letting students graduate early, instead of forcing them to come back for senior year when . . . let's face it . . . a lot of them are just going to goof off the whole time anyway. (--You can get more information about Senator Buttars' proposal here . . .)http://www.sltrib.com/ci_14361726(Salt Lake Tribune)

THERE'S A FLOATING WEDDING CHAPEL OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA:

If you're trying to plan a unique, memorable wedding, you might want to check out the 'Floating Chapel on the Bay' by a company called Weddings on Water. --Basically, Weddings on Water operates a FLOATING WEDDING CHAPEL off the coast of Florida just south of St. Petersburg. And it bills itself as "America's only floating chapel," which seems highly likely. --Jill Chandler Fisher and Captain Jerry "Orca" Fisher own the Floating Chapel. They say it's large enough to hold 100 guests, and wedding services are performed seven days a week, ranging from $700 and up. (Bay News 9 - Tampa) (--You can take a look at their website here . . .)http://www.weddingsonwater.com/

AND NOW . . . ENJOY SOME UNFORTUNATE CORPORATE LOGOS:

You have to love it when a company blows a bunch of money trying to decide on the perfect corporate logo . . . only to pick one resembling a certain part of the male anatomy, or one that looks like two people doing the nasty. (--With that in mind, you can link to a collection of 20 unfortunate corporate logos, here . . .) http://www.manofest.com/Galleries/Bizarre/20-Unfortunate-Logos/


HERE'S A WEDDING RING FOR *REAL* MEN:

A jewelry company called Kinekt Designs wanted to create a wedding ring for REAL men. --So they came up with the Gear Ring, which is a titanium ring with mechanized gears that allow the top and bottom of the ring to spin in opposite directions. The Gear Ring sells for $165. (Luxist) (--You can check out Kinekt's website here . . . http://kinektdesign.com/(--And you can link to the full story here . . .)http://www.luxist.com/2010/02/11/the-gear-ring-by-kinekt/(Luxist)

THERE'S A WEBSITE THAT ONLY SELLS TRAVEL-SIZED BATH PRODUCTS:

If you're sick of the TSA taking your toothpaste, face cream, and contact solution every time you travel, you might want to check out a new website we found called 3floz.com (--pronounced "three fluid ounces dot com"). --As the name suggests, the website sells all sorts of bathroom products in three-ounce containers, which is the largest size allowed by the Transportation Security Administration for carry-on luggage. It's so awesome. (???) (Gadling) http://3floz.com/(Gadling)

INDONESIA TOOK DOWN A STATUE OF PRESIDENT OBAMA BECAUSE HE HASN'T DONE ANYTHING FOR THEM:

When he was a kid, PRESIDENT OBAMA spent four years living in Indonesia. So last year, government officials decided to honor him by ERECTING a bronze statue of Obama as a kid in a park in the country's capital of Jakarta. --But last month, Indonesians started complaining that the statue should be taken down since Obama hasn't done anything to help the country. --Yesterday, the statue was removed from the park, and moved to a nearby elementary school that Obama attended when he was a kid. --According to a school spokesman, quote, "There is no controversy about the statue being here. Everyone at the school welcomes it." (Yahoo News)

MORE THAN HALF OF ALL U.S. PRESIDENTS HAD LAW DEGREES:

Yesterday was President's Day . . . a phony "holiday" we invented to honor a bunch of bums who disappointed us while they were in office. --Anyway, we were wondering what sort of academic credentials a person should have if they're crazy enough to want to become president. So we took a look at what degrees some of our past presidents have gotten. Check it out: --BARACK OBAMA spent two years at Occidental College in Los Angeles before transferring to Columbia University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in political science. He also has a law degree from Harvard University. --GEORGE W. BUSH got his bachelor's degree in history from Yale University. He also holds a master's of business administration from Harvard Business School, and is the only U.S. president to have earned an MBA. --BILL CLINTON got his bachelor's degree in foreign service from Georgetown University. He also has a law degree from Yale University. -GEORGE H.W. BUSH got his bachelor's degree in economics from Yale University . . . and he did it in just two and a half years. --RONALD REAGAN got his bachelor's degree in economics and sociology from Eureka College in Illinois. --LYNDON B. JOHNSON got his bachelor's degree in teaching from Southwest Texas State Teachers College, which is now called Texas State University at San Marcos. --JOHN F. KENNEDY got his bachelor's degree in international affairs from Harvard University. --THOMAS JEFFERSON got his degree in mathematics, metaphysics, and philosophy from the College of William and Mary. But listen to this . . . --Neither ABRAHAM LINCOLN or GEORGE WASHINGTON graduated from college. Washington had something called a surveyor's certificate from the College of William and Mary, and Lincoln only had 18 months of formal education. --Overall, 23 of the 44 U.S. presidents have held law degrees. (--So what can you take from this? If you want to be president, you need to get a law degree from an Ivy League school. But if you want to be a GREAT president, you shouldn't go to college at all.) (???) (Yahoo Education)


NAZZY'S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) OPRAH didn't realize that New Orleans Saints quarterback DREW BREES has a birthmark on his cheek. So when he sat down for an interview, she thought it was lipstick and tried to wipe it off.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZFs8fZVOAk(Search Terms: Oprah Drew Brees birthmark video)

#2.) The waves at this weekend's Mavricks Surf Contest near San Francisco were so big, they reached a crowd of spectators and injured a bunch of people.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV7KhSdUQPU(Search Terms: Mavericks Surf Contest Half Moon Bay massive wave video)

#3.) This failed marriage proposal at a New York Rangers hockey game was actually a hoax. The big screen shows the guy propose, and then the woman storms out.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4AlDQT5sM8(Search Terms: marriage proposal fail New York Rangers Valentine's Day)

#4.) This guy set the world record for receiving the hardest kick to the groin without wearing a cup. He gets kicked by an MMA fighter, but he's so used to it, it barely even fazes him. (--He gets kicked at :45 and they explain why it doesn't hurt at 2:10.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a86cQobU-n4(Search Terms: Sports Science world record kick to the groin part 2 video)

FOUR WAYS TO PROMOTE YOURSELF AT WORK:

According to a recent study, the more you speak up at work, the more capable people think you are . . . even if what you say isn't particularly brilliant. So stop letting your work speak for itself. Here's a list from "Psychology Today" magazine of four ways to promote yourself at work if you're shy.
#1.) SAY HI. Just staying visible and making good eye contact goes a long way. If you like hiding in your cubicle all day, make sure you say hello to people when you pass them in the hallway. That way, at least they'll know you're alive.
#2.) WRITE. People who don't like having face-to-face conversations tend to rely on writing more often. And they tend to be good at it too. So don't fight it. --Make sure you write smart emails, and think about starting a blog or opening a Twitter account. Instead of bragging out loud, you can post a message on Facebook, or send a Tweet. Use your boss's email address to find his Twitter or Facebook account and link up.
#3.) ORGANIZE AN EVENT. It can be anything. And it doesn't have to be big. It can be suggesting a new place for lunch, or putting together the March Madness pool. Whatever it is, you'll be the one who does the planning. So they'll start to think of you as a "go-to" person.
#4.) TRY PUBLIC SPEAKING. If you're shy, you're probably saying "NO WAY." But public speaking is actually a really great tool for shy people because you get to prepare. --And then when you do it, it's like pulling off a band-aid really quickly. You talk to everybody at once, and then you don't have to talk to each one of them face-to-face. (PyscholgyToday.com)