HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (08-20-10)
MIRANDA KERR ADMITS SHE'S PREGNANT:
MIRANDA KERR is finally admitting she's carrying ORLANDO BLOOM'S baby. She tells the Spanish edition of "Vogue" magazine, quote, "Yes, I am pregnant. Four months along." --Miranda and Orlando got married in July. It doesn't take a math whiz to figure out that when she walked down the aisle, her FETUS walked with her. (--Miranda is 27 . . . Orlando is 33.)
ROBERT PATTINSON IS THE SEXIEST MAN OF 2010 . . . ACCORDING TO "GLAMOUR" MAGAZINE:
The British edition of "Glamour" magazine has released the results of its Sexiest Men of 2010 poll . . . and it looks like their readers are big into vampires. --"Twilight" actor ROBERT PATTINSON took the top spot, followed by his co-star, TAYLOR LAUTNER at #2. --Two other "Twilight" studs . . . XAVIER SAMUEL and KELLAN LUTZ, finished in 4th and 5th place, respectively. --And the #3 spot was taken by IAN SOMERHALDER . . . from the TV show "The Vampire Diaries". His "Vampire Diaries" costar PAUL WESLEY came in at #48. (--Despite their "Rolling Stone" cover, "True Blood's" ALEXANDER SKARSGARD was way down at #46 . . . and costar STEPHEN MOYER didn't even make the list.)
--Here's the Top 10 . . .
#1.) Robert Pattinson
#2.) Taylor Lautner
#3.) Ian Somerhalder
#4.) Xavier Samuel
#5.) Kellan Lutz
#6.) Johnny Depp
#7.) Justin Bieber
#8.) Gerard Butler
#9.) Hayden Christensen (--Ewan McGregor only hit #50. Eat that Obi Wan.)
#10.) Channing Tatum
(--Check out the complete list here . . .)
http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/celebrity/celebrity-galleries/2010/08/50-sexiest-men-2010-results
BRITNEY SPEARS' BOYFRIEND WILL BREAK UP WITH HER IF SHE DOESN'T BATHE MORE OFTEN:
This is one of those silly stories that probably isn't true . . . but it's just too fun to pass up . . . --The not-always-reliable British tabloids say that BRITNEY SPEARS' boyfriend, Jason Trawick, has issued an ultimatum: Either she bathes more, or he's leaving. --A so-called "source" says, quote, "Britney's not the type to cover herself in pretty-smelling lotions. She hates washing her hair, so sometimes it can smell downright sour. She'll sometimes grab an outfit and wear it two or three times a week. --"Recently she put on a sundress for the third day in a row, but Jason refused to leave the house with her until she put on something else." --Fortunately, Jason's threat is working. The source says, quote, "Thankfully, she's trying more now because even she knows you couldn't think of a more embarrassing reason for a relationship to break down."
SARAH PALIN IS THROWING HER SUPPORT BEHIND DR. LAURA:
DR. LAURA SCHLESSINGER found a big supporter of her "I'm Taking Back My Apology" tour. And not surprisingly, it's SARAH PALIN. --As everyone knows by now, Dr. Laura suddenly became relevant for the first time in YEARS, when she used the N-word multiple times during a conversation with an African-American listener. --Dr. Laura immediately apologized . . . but it seems like she regrets that now. Because her next move was to announce that she was giving up her radio show in order to, quote, "regain my First Amendment rights." --And now, even though I have yet to see her wrinkly mouth form the words "I did nothing wrong," she's done several interview where she's certainly IMPLIED that. --Well, Sarah Palin went on Twitter . . . (--which I believe is one of her favorite sounding boards solely because grammar and spelling don't matter) . . . to show her support. --She said, quote, "Dr.Laura:don't retreat...reload! (Steps aside bc her 1st Amend.rights ceased 2exist thx 2activists trying 2silence"isn't American,not fair")" --Then she added, quote, "Dr.Laura=even more powerful & effective w/out the shackles, so watch out Constitutional obstructionists. And b thankful 4 her voice,America!"
JENNIFER ANISTON SAID "RETARD" ON "REGIS & KELLY":
JENNIFER ANISTON and DR. LAURA don't have too much in common. But they do have this: They're both in the hot seat for using insensitive words. --First, it was Dr. Laura and her N-words. And now, it's Jennifer and the "R-word". More specifically . . . RETARD. --Yesterday, Jennifer was on "Live with Regis and Kelly". They were discussing her recent photo shoot, in which she dressed up in several of BARBRA STREISAND'S iconic outfits. --Regis asked her, quote, "So you got to play dress-up?" And Jennifer responded, quote, "Yeah, I got to play dress up. I do it for a living, like a retard."
(--Here's video . . .)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/19/jennifer-aniston-says-ret_n_687760.html
--A representative for the Special Olympics has already called foul on Jennifer . . . and, of course, we await SARAH PALIN'S outrage.
JENNIFER ANISTON STOPPED GOING TO THAT STYLIST WHO RIPPED HER OFF FIVE YEARS AGO:
JENNIFER ANISTON is one of several celebrity clients who were ripped off by Beverly Hills stylist Maria Gabriella Perez. --But it turns out Jennifer caught on pretty early that something was up . . . because she stopped going to Perez five years ago. --She told "Good Morning America", quote, "We had a situation that was not cool so I just stopped going to her. --"I knew something like this would eventually happen because there's no way you can get away with that. It's terrible." --Perez is accused of ripping off clients like Aniston, Liv Tyler, Melanie Griffith, Anne Hathaway and Scott Speedman by stealing their credit card info. Cher has also been named as a victim, but her rep says Perez did NOT steal from her. --Perez reportedly stole around $300,000 . . . including $214,000 from Liv Tyler alone.
THE TEN MOST DANGEROUS CELEBRITIES TO SEARCH FOR ONLINE:
CAMERON DIAZ can give you a virus . . . on your computer. The McAfee anti-virus people have released their annual list of the most dangerous celebrities to search for online. And this year's topper is Cameron Diaz. --That means that if you do a search for "Cameron Diaz", there's a good chance you'll turn up sites that will give your computer a virus. Possibly one that opens up all your personal information to IDENTITY THIEVES.
--Here's the Top 10 . . . (--which is actually a Top 12 . . .)
#1.) Cameron Diaz
#2.) Julia Roberts
#3.) Jessica Biel . . . (--She was #1 last year. Should she be disappointed?)
#4.) Gisele Bundchen
#5.) Brad Pitt . . . (--He was #1 in 2008.)
#6.) Adriana Lima
#7.) Tied: Jennifer Love Hewitt and Nicole Kidman
#8.) Tom Cruise
#9.) Tied: Heidi Klum and Penelope Cruz
#10.) Anna Paquin
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE J-LO'S ASSISTANT???
JENNIFER LOPEZ is looking for a new personal assistant . . . and "Life & Style" magazine knows what qualities potential applicants need to have. --A so-called "source" tells them, quote, "The person has to be graceful under pressure, have a thick skin, and be resourceful in foreign countries, among others things. --"You'll be expected to travel at a moment's notice and must know how to adjust in each city." --Applicants should basically not have a life of their own. The source says, quote, "The job is 6 days a week, at least 12 hour days with one day off, but you may not get off for weeks. -"You'll be on call 24-7 and you've got to be organized and always on point." --Duties also include diaper-changing and cooking when the butler is away. --The job pays between $55,000 and $65,000 a year.
ROGER CLEMENS HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR LYING TO CONGRESS:
In 2008, sitting in front of a House committee on steroids in baseball, ROGER CLEMENS said, quote, "Let me be clear. I have never taken steroids or HGH." --And yesterday, Roger was indicted by a federal grand jury for LYING TO CONGRESS. Clemens was indicted on SIX counts of lying under oath. The feds say he made 15 separate statements that were less than truthful. --But he's sticking to his story. On Twitter yesterday, he said, quote, "I never took HGH or Steroids. And I did not lie to Congress. --"I look forward to challenging the Government's accusations, and hope people will keep an open mind until trial. I appreciate all the support I have been getting. I am happy to finally have my day in court." --Sources say prosecutors offered Clemens a plea deal and he REJECTED IT. --Clemens faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine if convicted on all charges. But experts say he would probably only serve 15 to 21 months behind bars. (--BARRY BONDS goes on trial next March for lying to a federal grand jury when he said he never KNOWINGLY used performance-enhancing drugs. MARK MCGWIRE recently ADMITTED that he juiced.)
BOW WOW, JENNIFER ANISTON, "NANNY MCPHEE", AND THE "TWILIGHT" PARODY "VAMPIRES SUCK" COMPETE WITH "PIRANHA 3D" THIS WEEKEND:
#1.) "Nanny McPhee Returns" (PG)
--Emma Thompson returns as Nanny McPhee, the magical nanny whose face reflects the ugly behavior of children, until they fix their bad behavior and her beauty is restored. In this one, she helps Maggie Gyllenhaal raise five kids while her husband is off at war.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3UyikYKLjQ
Official Site: http://www.nannymcphee.com/
#2.) "The Switch" (PG-13)
--A comedy starring Jennifer Aniston as a woman who gets some handsome stud to be a sperm donor so she can have a baby. But then her best friend, Jason Bateman, accidentally spills the goods . . . and replaces the lost man-juice with his own.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkuOg4DxeK0
Official Site: http://www.theswitch-movie.com/
#3.) "Lottery Ticket" (PG-13)
--Bow Wow plays a guy who holds the winning ticket to a $370 million lottery. Unfortunately, he can't claim his prize until after a three-day holiday weekend . . . and now EVERYONE wants a piece of him and his winning ticket. Ice Cube, T-Pain and Naturi Naughton are also in it.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nglUZdCqoRY
Official Site: http://www.lotteryticketmovie.com/
#4.) "Piranha 3D" (R)
--An underwater tremor unleashes prehistoric piranha on a lake during Spring Break. Elisabeth Shue plays the town sheriff . . . and Hollywood Treasure Jerry O'Connell plays a "Girls Gone Wild"-type scumbag who gets his penis bitten off by piranha. --The rest of the cast includes Richard Dreyfuss, Christopher Lloyd, Ving Rhames, "Gossip Girl's" Jessica Szohr, and "Vampire Diaries" stud Steven R. McQueen. (--Some of the cast did a Funny Or Die video in which they mockingly campaign for an Oscar. You can watch it again HERE. British minx Kelly Brook also points out she's on the cover of September's "Playboy". See a few of her pics HERE.)
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkF5VMRJGek
Official Site: http://piranha-3d.com/
#5.) "Vampires Suck" (PG-13) (Opened Wednesday)
--A "Twilight" parody starring "90210's" Matt Lanter as Edward SULLEN, and former "Gossip Girl" stud Chris Riggi as "were-chihuahua" Jacob WHITE. An unknown minx named Jenn Proske plays "Becca", the girl they're fighting over.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaCLeoL9a3M
Official Site: http://www.vampiressuckmovie.com/
THERE'S AN "EXPENDABLES"-TYPE OF MOVIE IN THE WORKS THAT COULD STAR WESLEY SNIPES, CHUCK NORRIS AND . . . JOEY LAWRENCE???
"The Expendables" was a pretty big hit. (--And, I can say from personal experience, a pretty AWESOME flick. Dolph Lundgren was a particular revelation.) --So everybody's looking for the next big ensemble action movie. And we may have just found it. --It's called "Havana Heat", and it begins filming in November. It's going to star WESLEY SNIPES and acting superstar JOEY LAWRENCE!!! But that's not all. --The cast also includes one of the actual Expendables, UFC legend RANDY COUTURE . . . as well as "La Femme Nikita" minx PETA WILSON and '80s stud MICHAEL DUDIKOFF . . . THE star of "American Ninja" 1, 2 AND 4. --It might get even better than that . . . because offers are out to CHUCK NORRIS and JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME. --The producers say they never tried to copy "The Expendables". It was just a COINCIDENCE that they were also developing a, quote, "retro '80s action all-star movie." They hope to have it in theaters next summer. (--With all due respect to Mr. Snipes, this one sounds like a direct-to-DVD affair.)
SMOKING IN MOVIES IS ON THE DECLINE:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that smoking in popular movies has been on the decline since 2005. --Last year, about half of the 145 movies studied showed NO SMOKING at all. For movies aimed specifically at children, 61% didn't depict smoking. (--The study only went through 2009.) --The CDC says, quote, "The results of this analysis indicate that the number of tobacco incidents peaked in 2005, then declined by approximately half through 2009, representing the first time a decline of that duration and magnitude has been observed." --However . . . the CDC doesn't think that's good enough . . . quote, "Nearly half of popular movies still contained tobacco imagery in 2009, including 54% of those rated PG-13, and the number of incidents remained higher in 2009 than in 1998. --"Exposure to onscreen smoking in movies increases the probability that youths will start smoking. Youths who are heavily exposed to onscreen smoking are approximately two to three times more likely to begin smoking than youths who are lightly exposed."
NIGEL LYTHGOE SAYS "AMERICAN IDOL" IS STILL NEGOTIATING WITH POTENTIAL JUDGES:
"American Idol" executive producer NIGEL LYTHGOE won't comment on the speculation that AEROSMITH singer STEVEN TYLER has already closed his deal to be a judge on the upcoming season. --Instead, he's acting like nothing is set in stone yet. In a radio interview yesterday . . . (--with Ryan Seacrest) . . . Nigel said, quote, "I can tell you . . . absolutely nothing while negotiations are going on." --However, he did confirm rumors that an official announcement is coming just after Labor Day weekend. He said that a decision on the final panel will be made, quote, "within the next three weeks."
LEE DEWYZE WILL RELEASE HIS DEBUT ALBUM IN NOVEMBER:
If you're like me, you completely forgot that LEE DEWYZE won the last season of "American Idol". But if you're not like me . . . and miss watching Lee sing on your TV every week . . . you might be interested in this: --Lee's debut album, which is still untitled, has been set for a November 16th release.
OUR *UPDATED* "AMERICAN IDOL" JUDGE POWER RANKINGS!!!
Last week, we introduced our "American Idol" Judge Power Rankings, which attempt to pass along the latest vibes on who's IN and who's on the OUTS of the Search to Replace Simon . . . and Ellen . . . and, possibly, Kara.
--Here's the latest:
#1.) RANDY JACKSON . . . There still hasn't been any legitimate talk about him leaving. In fact, executive producer NIGEL LYTHGOE even called him the show's "barnacle." (--That's British for "Catch Phrase-Using Big Guy, Who's Not Easily Moveable.")
#2.) STEVEN TYLER . . . It seems like EVERY media outlet on the planet has sources "confirming" that Steven's "Idol" deal is signed, sealed and delivered. --Ordinarily, that would mean he's a lock . . . but judging from how this process has been playing out, it's possible that this is just an elaborate red herring, and that we've all been tricked by some masterful sleight of hand!!! (--Or not . . . and Steven's in, but they're going to draw it out for publicity.)
#3.) MARIAH CAREY . . . Shocking, right? Well, last night E! Online reported that Mariah is in negotiations with "Idol" . . . and that things are looking promising. --A so-called "source" tells them, quote, "[Mariah] wants it. She's seen what 'America's Got Talent' has done for [her husband Nick Cannon], and thinks it will be a good career move." --Last week, Nick said that Mariah really wanted to do it, but he wasn't sure if she'd have time. He said he was hoping "Idol" could work around Mariah's schedule.
#4.) JENNIFER LOPEZ . . . She seems to have fallen to #2 on "Idol's" list of "diva options" . . . or #3, if you count Steven Tyler. At one point, it seemed like she was a sure thing, and now . . . "diva" demands or not . . . there's barely any talk about her.
#5.) SHANIA TWAIN . . . Last week, TMZ reported that "Idol" was in the process of lining up Shania as their "Plan B" . . . in case things didn't work out with J-Lo. That's the last we heard of that rumor. But if it's true, Kara can't be happy.
#6.) KARA DIOGUARDI . . . At this point, they're either going to give Kara the fourth seat . . . even though Nigel has repeatedly said he only wants three judges next season . . . or Kara's just being strung along as a "Plan Z" safety net. --It's probably the latter. There hasn't been any recent speculation that she'll return.
#7.) ALL THE OTHERS . . . There hasn't been any recent heat surrounding Harry Connick Jr., Chris Isaak, Bret Michaels or Jessica Simpson.
THE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS PRIMETIME SPECIAL WILL BE BACK:
This year's Grammy nominees will once again be announced during a one-hour primetime concert special . . . even though no one ever watches these things. (--This is the third year they're doing it. The first one drew 7.1 million viewers, and last year's only attracted 6.4 million viewers.) --It'll air December 1st, at 10:00 P.M., on CBS. No performers have been announced yet. (--The actual Grammys will air live on February 13th . . . also on CBS.
WEEKEND TV REMINDERS
(--Check your local listing for times in your area.)
FRIDAY TV REMINDERS:
--"Pre-Season Football: Bengals vs. Eagles" . . . 8:00 to 11:00 P.M. Eastern on Fox. (--The Cincinnati Bengals host the Philadelphia Eagles at the Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.)
--"NASCAR: Nationwide Series" . . . 8:00 to 10:30 P.M. Eastern on ESPN.
--"Flashpoint" [3rd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on CBS.
SATURDAY TV REMINDERS:
--"PGA Tour Golf: Wyndham Championship" [Third Round Play] . . . 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. Eastern on CBS.
--"Pan-Pacific Championship" . . . 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. Eastern on NBC. (--Olympic swimmers Michael Phelps, Aaron Peirsol, Natalie Coughlin and Katie Hoff compete in an international swim event that includes the men's and women's 400m freestyle, 100m fly, 200m backstroke and 50m breaststroke events.)
--"NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Bristol" . . . 7:00 to 11:00 P.M. Eastern on ABC.
--"Lake Placid 3" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Syfy. (--"Eureka's" Colin Ferguson plays a game warden dealing with some over-sized killer crocs.)
--"Whitney Cummings: Money Shot" . . . 11:30 P.M. to 12:30 A.M. on Comedy Central. (--Whitney Cummings performs her stand-up in Washington, D.C.)
-"Saturday Night Live" . . . 11:30 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. on NBC. (--Zach Galifianakis guest hosts and Vampire Weekend is the musical guest.) (REPEAT)
SUNDAY TV REMINDERS:
--"PGA Tour Golf: Wyndham Championship" [Final Round Play] . . . 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. Eastern on CBS.
--"Pre-Season Football: Vikings vs. the 49ers" . . . 8:00 to 11:00 P.M. Eastern on NBC. (--The San Francisco 49ers host the Minnesota Vikings at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.)
--"Big Brother 12" [Eviction Nominations] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on CBS.
--"Drop Dead Diva" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Lifetime. (--"7th Heaven's" Barry Watson and "The Bachelor's" Jake Pavelka guest star when Brooke Elliott's character defends a man who was fired from his job for dressing like a clown.)
--"Army Wives" [4th Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Lifetime.
--"Keeping Up With the Kardashians" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on E!
--"The Spin Crowd" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on E! (--The owner of a Hollywood public-relations firm tries to talk Mario Lopez into hosting an event to promote a tanning product.)
--"My Fair Wedding" [3rd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on WE.
BRET MICHAELS IS SUING A PROMOTER FOR POSTPONING A GIG . . . AND HE'S ASKING FOR $5 MILLION:
BRET MICHAELS is suing some concert promoters for $5 MILLION. --Bret is ticked because the promoters postponed a gig . . . scheduled for August 5th in Syracuse, New York . . . without any warning. He also says they failed to pay him his guaranteed deposits. --He's accusing them of, quote, "breaching his contract and exposing him to public contempt and ridicule with allegedly defamatory statements about his schedule." --See, the promoters went around blaming the cancellation on Bret's appearance on "America's Got Talent". --But Bret says the appearance was taped before the concert, and he showed up to play, on time, as scheduled. But when he got there, the stage was bare and there wasn't any sound or lighting equipment. --Bret believes the promoters used him as a scapegoat, because they were having financial problems. He says, quote, "You don't just go: 'Hey I don't feel like paying anybody.' I think . . . [they] bit off more than [they] could chew."
ALBUM SALES HAVE SUNK TO A NEW LOW . . . AGAIN:
Album sales dropped to a historic low back in May . . . and not surprisingly, that was NOT rock bottom. Yet another new low was notched this past week. --"Billboard" says the music industry as a whole sold 4.95 million albums last week. That's the lowest-selling week since Soundscan began tracking album sales in 1991. (--The numbers for this week won't be out until next Wednesday.) --The previous low was set the last week in May, when 4.98 million albums were sold. --At that time, "Rolling Stone" did some crazy math and determined that it could've been the worst sales week since the early 1970s. The biggest sales week since 1991 occurred in December of 2000, when 45.4 million albums were sold.
A PHISH FAN FELL OFF A BALCONY DURING A CONCERT IN NEW YORK:
During PHISH'S gig at New York's Jones Beach Theater on Wednesday night, someone fell from a 25-foot balcony, onto the seats below. --The fan . . . whose identity has not been released . . . is in critical condition at the hospital. The "New York Daily News" reports say the fan went over the railing headfirst, and sustained massive head trauma. No one below was injured. --A few witnesses have told the "New York Times" that they believe the fan jumped INTENTIONALLY, because he had "significant forward momentum." --And one of them claims that he saw, quote, "A man with long hair in a white T-shirt flying off the balcony, feet-first into the pavilion below."
AND NOW . . . JUSTIN BIEBER'S MUSIC . . . SPED UP 800%:
Earlier this week, we discovered that JUSTIN BIEBER'S song, "U Smile", sounds BEAUTIFUL . . . when it's slowed down by 800%. Well, now someone has done the opposite and SPED IT UP by 800%, and the results are NOT as interesting. --In fact, it's actually more annoying to listen to than the actual song. (--It's 24 seconds long. You can attempt to tolerate it, here . . .)
http://tv.gawker.com/5616860/justin-bieber-sped-up-800-is-horrifying
--By the way, a promo for the upcoming season of "CSI" has been released. And Justin pops up at the very end of it. (--He'll guest star on at least TWO episodes of "CSI", including the season premiere. Here's the promo . . .)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwtNE2Hy4W8
NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF
THE MOST POPULAR SUMMER DRIVING SONG IS THE U.K. IS . . . "SWEET HOME ALABAMA"?
I'm guessing not that many British tourists visit Alabama. They probably don't know the difference between Alabama and most other states . . . just like we don't know the differences between Derbyshire, Cornwall and East Sussex. --But it turns out that SKYNYRD can rock through ALL cultural differences. --According to a new survey by a British company called HPI . . . which does the same vehicle history thing over there that CarFax does here . . . the most popular summer driving song in the U.K. is "Sweet Home Alabama".
--Here's the full top 10 . . .
#1.) "Sweet Home Alabama" by LYNYRD SKYNYRD
#2.) "Walking on Sunshine" by KATRINA AND THE WAVES
#3.) "Summer of '69" by BRYAN ADAMS
#4.) "Mr. Brightside" by THE KILLERS
#5.) "Club Tropicana" by WHAM
#6.) "Good Vibrations" by THE BEACH BOYS
#7.) "Love Shack" by THE B52S
#8.) "Rio" by DURAN DURAN
#9.) "Lovely Day" by BILL WITHERS
#10.) "Sun Is Shining" by BOB MARLEY (Autoblog)
ASIA HAS OVERTAKEN EUROPE AS THE BIGGEST BEER DRINKING CONTINENT ON THE PLANET:
China's march to dominate everything in the world just keeps getting stronger and stronger. Here's their latest move: The Chinese have started drinking so much that Asia has passed Europe to become the biggest BEER DRINKING continent in the world. --In 2008, Europe had a slight edge over Asia in total beer consumption. In 2009, Asia pushed past them. According to "The Economist" magazine, China's beer drinking keeps going up 10% a year . . . faster than any other country. --But even though China drinks the most beer of any country in the world, they have so many people there that the number of beers per capita is way below a lot of other countries. --China's consumption in 2009 came out to 31 liters of beer per person. That's an average of 87 12-ounce cans of beer per person for the year. --That fell short of several European countries, including Germany, Poland, the U.K., Romania and Spain. The Czech Republic had the highest consumption per person, at 161 liters, or 454 beers per person for the year. --Here in the U.S., we drank 79 liters per person last year, or 223 beers each. Between us, Canada and Mexico, North America came in third for the most beers consumed, ahead of South America, Australia and Africa. (The Economist)
(--You can check out a map with selected countries' beer consumption here . . .)
http://www.economist.com/node/16839104?story_id=16839104
AN IRISH SCIENTIST FIGURES OUT A WAY TO MAKE CARS RUN ON WHISKEY:
Never, ever doubt the miracles that an Irishman can perform with a drink in his hand. A scientist in Cork, Ireland, has figured out a way to make cars run on WHISKEY. --Well . . . not whiskey itself. That's for drinkin'. He's created a new bio-fuel where the key ingredients are the byproducts left over during whiskey production. --His name is Martin Tangney, and he's been working on the project for two years. Since scotch and whisky distillation is one of the biggest industries in Ireland, figuring out a way to use their waste is a major priority. --Tangney says his new fuel is a green, environmentally sustainable option . . . and it could be blended with a little regular gas or diesel so cars wouldn't even need to be modified to use it. --There's no word on when it could be on the market, or if it could come over here. Tangney and his team have filed for a patent and are now starting a company to work on developing the fuel commercially. (Discovery)
ONE OUT OF FIVE AMERICANS THINK PRESIDENT OBAMA IS MUSLIM:
Believe it or not, turning on a cable news channel and listening to some host SCREAM at you for an hour isn't the best way to get informed about . . . well . . . anything. --According to a poll released yesterday by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, 18% of Americans . . . almost one out of every five . . . believe that PRESIDENT OBAMA is Muslim. And 60% of them say they got that information from the media. --Just as an FYI, Obama's not Muslim. He's Christian. But only 34% of Americans in the survey knew that. That's down from 48% who knew Obama's religion in the same survey a year ago. --That means: Two-thirds of the country either didn't know the president's religion, or got the question wrong. (Yahoo News)
POOR PEOPLE ARE MUCH MORE GENEROUS THAN RICH PEOPLE:
I guess this is why rich people stay rich, and I still have to buy generic cereal like Flakes With Frosting. It's because I have such a KIND SOUL. --According to a new study, people with lower income tend to have MUCH stronger charitable instincts than richer people . . . and are more likely to donate money, even though they don't have very much of it. --The researchers think this might happen because lower-income people are more dependent on others . . . so that makes them more empathetic and more likely to give back when they can. (Physorg.com)
THE COPS ARE CALLED AFTER A MAN CURSES OUT A WOMAN FOR TAKING 37 ITEMS INTO THE 10-ITEMS-OR-LESS LINE:
Whenever I'm at the grocery store and I see someone bring a huge cart of stuff into the express line, I always think, "What an inconsiderate a-hole." But since I'm kind of a coward, I never actually say anything out loud. --This week, at a Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Saukville, Wisconsin, someone finally DID say something out loud. And things got UGLY. --48-year-old James X. Cryns got into the 10-items-or-less line behind 56-year-old Grace Hernandez . . . who had 37 items in her cart. --Apparently, when Grace got in the line there wasn't anyone waiting, so the cashier told her it was okay. But that wasn't good enough for James. --He said, quote, "What is this? Eighty items at an express lane?" She responded, quote, "I got permission. Why, do you have a problem with that?" He responded, quote, "I do have a problem with that. You're fat and ugly." --They kept arguing, and another customer called the police. A cop who was in the area came by. He witnessed James screaming and swearing . . . so he hit him with a $429 citation for disorderly conduct. --Turns out this is the second time in two years that this particular guy has cursed out another person in public in front of that SAME OFFICER. (Appleton Post Crescent)
CHECK OUT THE 10 MOST TATTOOED CITIES IN AMERICA:
Eventually, this younger generation of tattoo-lovers is going to sober up and realize how bad those Chinese letters and tribal patterns look once they've got stretch marks and careers. But until then, let's see who's REALLY letting the tattoo ink fly. --TotalBeauty.com just put out a list of the 10 most tattooed cities in the U.S. But since there's no tattoo census, the list isn't based on the actual number of tattooed people in each city, just the number of tattoo parlors per capita. Here's the list . . .
#1.) Miami, Florida - 24 tattoo shops per 100,000 people
#2.) Las Vegas, Nevada - 16 shops per 100,000 people, plus several tattoo conventions
#3.) Richmond, Virginia - 14.5 shops per 100,000 people
#4.) Flint, Michigan - 13 shops per 100,000 people
#5.) Portland, Oregon - 12 shops per 100,000
#6.) Austin, Texas - 7.5 shops per 100,000
#7.) San Francisco, California - 7 shops per 100,000
#8.) Honolulu, Hawaii - 6.5 shops per 100,000
#9.) Kansas City, Missouri - 6 shops per 100,000
#10.) Los Angeles, California - 4 shops per 100,000 (MSNBC)
POLICE CATCH A ROBBER AFTER HE MOCKS THEM OVER EMAIL . . . AND THEY'RE ABLE TO EASILY TRACE IT:
Here it is . . . your Meatball Criminal of the Day! He's 19-year-old David P. from Kunzelsau, Germany. For some reason, the cops only released his last initial. --On August 10th, David robbed a bank in Rottingen, Germany, and got away with about $3,200.
-Two local newspapers wrote about it, and said the bank was robbed by a male, between 5-foot-10 and six feet tall, age 20 to 25, with short, dark hair. They also said he fled from the scene on foot. --Well, David couldn't believe how much they BOTCHED their write-up, so he decided to EMAIL the newspapers and the police, and taunt them for their mistakes. --He created an e-mail address that translates to robber.from.rottingen@web.de, and told the newspapers and the police that he's actually 6-foot-3 . . . 19 years old . . . and fled the scene in a car, not on foot. --The police received the e-mail . . . traced it . . . and easily caught up with David in a few hours. -According to a police spokesman, quote, "He was completely shocked." (Softpedia)
NAZZY’S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) A BULL JUMPED INTO THE STANDS AT A BULLFIGHT:
A bull jumped into the stands at a bullfight in northern Spain on Wednesday and injured forty people. (--Search for "bull jumps out of ring Tafalla, Spain.")
http://sports.break.com/bull-jumps-into-stands
#2.) A CARJACKER DROVE ONTO AN AIRPORT RUNWAY IN DALLAS:
Flights were grounded at two different airports yesterday for two different reasons. In San Francisco, someone threatened to hijack an American Airlines flight. So police pulled everyone off the plane, but later said the threat was "non-credible." -Around the SAME TIME yesterday, a carjacker in Dallas drove through a chain link fence and onto a runway at the Dallas Love Field Airport. But police rammed the car and stopped him before he got close to any planes. There's footage of it on YouTube.
(--Search for "Dallas police chase runway video." He starts to lose control of the truck around 2:43.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS4Gsyf0EdE
#3.) AND NOW . . . THE DUMBEST PRANK OF THE DAY:
A group of guys pranked their friend by having a kid hide under the hood of a car where the engine usually is. But they didn't think it through. The guy opened the hood and got SO scared, he let go and it came down right on the kid's head. (--Search for "kid car prank fail.")
http://www.break.com/index/little-kid-prank-backfires.html
#4.) A BBC WEATHERMAN GAVE A NEWS ANCHOR THE FINGER:
A BBC weatherman has apologized for flipping off a news anchor on live TV. The anchor was making fun of the weatherman's forecast, and the weatherman didn't know he was on camera. (--Search for "BBC weatherman middle finger video.")
(--WARNING: This video shows the middle finger.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2OcxFc48qA
#5.) GOLFERS TRIED TO HIT A NINE-INCH GONG FROM 200 YARDS AWAY:
A bunch of golfers in Europe did an ad for the European Tour where they tried to hit a nine-inch gong from 200 yards away. And they had to skim the ball along a LAKE to get it there. It took a while, but an English golfer named David Howell finally did it.
(--Search for "the 200 yard gong shot video." He hits the gong at 1:54.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu3OIT7mxDQ
THE FOUR MOST COMMON REASONS FOR TAKING A BREAK FROM YOUR RELATIONSHIP:
Breakups suck. There's no way around it. So sometimes people say they're 'taking a break' . . . instead of just admitting that things are over. But SOMETIMES, you actually CAN get things back on track with a little time apart. --Here are the four most common reasons for taking a break, rather than breaking it off entirely.
#1.) A FEAR OF INTIMACY. It usually happens when you transition from "just dating" into the "relationship" phase. It's like getting cold feet before a wedding: You know you want to be with someone, but it's a big change and you need to be prepared for it.
#2.) LOSING YOUR IDENTITY. In every relationship, you're going to have to compromise on certain things. But compromising all the time can make you feel like you're losing your identity. --So taking some time off . . . without your boyfriend or girlfriend around . . . can help you feel like you're your own person again.
#3.) EXPERIENCING A TRAUMATIC EVENT. Dealing with something traumatic, like a death in the family, can affect your relationship. The best thing you can do if it happens to the person you're with is to be understanding and patient while they grieve.
#4.) FREAKING OUT ABOUT WHETHER THEY'RE "THE ONE". This is hard to recover from if you get paranoid. When you start doubting whether someone is "The One," it can escalate until you're convinced they're not right for you. So . . . get a grip. (Match.com)
--Kim Cattrall - 54 (Slutty Samantha on "Sex and the City ".)
SITE FOR SORE EYES:
www.petsitting.com
Pet owners looking for pet sitters, dog walkers or a variety of other services will now be able to easily find what they need with the launch of Petsitting.com, an innovative website connecting pet owners with professional pet service providers. The website allows pet owners to search for pet care providers close to where they live at no cost.
LIFESTYLES:
Unemployed Men More ‘Date-Able’ Than Ever
Zoosk.com recently surveyed its members to find out whether continuing economic turmoil has affected their expectations when it comes to dating and love. Here are some of the findings:
· 60% of women said they’d date someone unemployed in 2010, up from 52% in 2009.
· 90% of men said they’d date someone unemployed in 2010, compared to 92% of men in 2009.
· 90% of men say they usually pick up the bill on a date, and 52% of men spend more money on the average date in 2010 than they spent in 2009.
· 57% of women spend less on dates in 2010 than they did in 2009.
· Singles are more open than ever before to dates that revolve around a free activity – 92% in 2010, compared to 85% in 2009.
· 83% of men and 93% of women agree that if someone is unemployed, they should reveal it right away. Honesty is the best policy.
States Working To Deter Drunk Drivers
Each year, nearly 12,000 people die on U.S. roads due to drunk driving – equal to about 30 jumbo jets crashing each year. In California alone, over 1,000 people died at the hands of drunk drivers in 2008. Law enforcement officers across the country are taking part in the national “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” crackdown this Labor Day holiday. From today through September 6th, police in every state will be out in full force conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols to catch drunk drivers. This year, more states are turning to technology to help fight drunk driving – from iPhone apps to Twitter, Facebook and other technologies. A full list of state-specific crackdown efforts is available at www.ghsa.org.
MIRANDA KERR is finally admitting she's carrying ORLANDO BLOOM'S baby. She tells the Spanish edition of "Vogue" magazine, quote, "Yes, I am pregnant. Four months along." --Miranda and Orlando got married in July. It doesn't take a math whiz to figure out that when she walked down the aisle, her FETUS walked with her. (--Miranda is 27 . . . Orlando is 33.)
ROBERT PATTINSON IS THE SEXIEST MAN OF 2010 . . . ACCORDING TO "GLAMOUR" MAGAZINE:
The British edition of "Glamour" magazine has released the results of its Sexiest Men of 2010 poll . . . and it looks like their readers are big into vampires. --"Twilight" actor ROBERT PATTINSON took the top spot, followed by his co-star, TAYLOR LAUTNER at #2. --Two other "Twilight" studs . . . XAVIER SAMUEL and KELLAN LUTZ, finished in 4th and 5th place, respectively. --And the #3 spot was taken by IAN SOMERHALDER . . . from the TV show "The Vampire Diaries". His "Vampire Diaries" costar PAUL WESLEY came in at #48. (--Despite their "Rolling Stone" cover, "True Blood's" ALEXANDER SKARSGARD was way down at #46 . . . and costar STEPHEN MOYER didn't even make the list.)
--Here's the Top 10 . . .
#1.) Robert Pattinson
#2.) Taylor Lautner
#3.) Ian Somerhalder
#4.) Xavier Samuel
#5.) Kellan Lutz
#6.) Johnny Depp
#7.) Justin Bieber
#8.) Gerard Butler
#9.) Hayden Christensen (--Ewan McGregor only hit #50. Eat that Obi Wan.)
#10.) Channing Tatum
(--Check out the complete list here . . .)
http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/celebrity/celebrity-galleries/2010/08/50-sexiest-men-2010-results
BRITNEY SPEARS' BOYFRIEND WILL BREAK UP WITH HER IF SHE DOESN'T BATHE MORE OFTEN:
This is one of those silly stories that probably isn't true . . . but it's just too fun to pass up . . . --The not-always-reliable British tabloids say that BRITNEY SPEARS' boyfriend, Jason Trawick, has issued an ultimatum: Either she bathes more, or he's leaving. --A so-called "source" says, quote, "Britney's not the type to cover herself in pretty-smelling lotions. She hates washing her hair, so sometimes it can smell downright sour. She'll sometimes grab an outfit and wear it two or three times a week. --"Recently she put on a sundress for the third day in a row, but Jason refused to leave the house with her until she put on something else." --Fortunately, Jason's threat is working. The source says, quote, "Thankfully, she's trying more now because even she knows you couldn't think of a more embarrassing reason for a relationship to break down."
SARAH PALIN IS THROWING HER SUPPORT BEHIND DR. LAURA:
DR. LAURA SCHLESSINGER found a big supporter of her "I'm Taking Back My Apology" tour. And not surprisingly, it's SARAH PALIN. --As everyone knows by now, Dr. Laura suddenly became relevant for the first time in YEARS, when she used the N-word multiple times during a conversation with an African-American listener. --Dr. Laura immediately apologized . . . but it seems like she regrets that now. Because her next move was to announce that she was giving up her radio show in order to, quote, "regain my First Amendment rights." --And now, even though I have yet to see her wrinkly mouth form the words "I did nothing wrong," she's done several interview where she's certainly IMPLIED that. --Well, Sarah Palin went on Twitter . . . (--which I believe is one of her favorite sounding boards solely because grammar and spelling don't matter) . . . to show her support. --She said, quote, "Dr.Laura:don't retreat...reload! (Steps aside bc her 1st Amend.rights ceased 2exist thx 2activists trying 2silence"isn't American,not fair")" --Then she added, quote, "Dr.Laura=even more powerful & effective w/out the shackles, so watch out Constitutional obstructionists. And b thankful 4 her voice,America!"
JENNIFER ANISTON SAID "RETARD" ON "REGIS & KELLY":
JENNIFER ANISTON and DR. LAURA don't have too much in common. But they do have this: They're both in the hot seat for using insensitive words. --First, it was Dr. Laura and her N-words. And now, it's Jennifer and the "R-word". More specifically . . . RETARD. --Yesterday, Jennifer was on "Live with Regis and Kelly". They were discussing her recent photo shoot, in which she dressed up in several of BARBRA STREISAND'S iconic outfits. --Regis asked her, quote, "So you got to play dress-up?" And Jennifer responded, quote, "Yeah, I got to play dress up. I do it for a living, like a retard."
(--Here's video . . .)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/19/jennifer-aniston-says-ret_n_687760.html
--A representative for the Special Olympics has already called foul on Jennifer . . . and, of course, we await SARAH PALIN'S outrage.
JENNIFER ANISTON STOPPED GOING TO THAT STYLIST WHO RIPPED HER OFF FIVE YEARS AGO:
JENNIFER ANISTON is one of several celebrity clients who were ripped off by Beverly Hills stylist Maria Gabriella Perez. --But it turns out Jennifer caught on pretty early that something was up . . . because she stopped going to Perez five years ago. --She told "Good Morning America", quote, "We had a situation that was not cool so I just stopped going to her. --"I knew something like this would eventually happen because there's no way you can get away with that. It's terrible." --Perez is accused of ripping off clients like Aniston, Liv Tyler, Melanie Griffith, Anne Hathaway and Scott Speedman by stealing their credit card info. Cher has also been named as a victim, but her rep says Perez did NOT steal from her. --Perez reportedly stole around $300,000 . . . including $214,000 from Liv Tyler alone.
THE TEN MOST DANGEROUS CELEBRITIES TO SEARCH FOR ONLINE:
CAMERON DIAZ can give you a virus . . . on your computer. The McAfee anti-virus people have released their annual list of the most dangerous celebrities to search for online. And this year's topper is Cameron Diaz. --That means that if you do a search for "Cameron Diaz", there's a good chance you'll turn up sites that will give your computer a virus. Possibly one that opens up all your personal information to IDENTITY THIEVES.
--Here's the Top 10 . . . (--which is actually a Top 12 . . .)
#1.) Cameron Diaz
#2.) Julia Roberts
#3.) Jessica Biel . . . (--She was #1 last year. Should she be disappointed?)
#4.) Gisele Bundchen
#5.) Brad Pitt . . . (--He was #1 in 2008.)
#6.) Adriana Lima
#7.) Tied: Jennifer Love Hewitt and Nicole Kidman
#8.) Tom Cruise
#9.) Tied: Heidi Klum and Penelope Cruz
#10.) Anna Paquin
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE J-LO'S ASSISTANT???
JENNIFER LOPEZ is looking for a new personal assistant . . . and "Life & Style" magazine knows what qualities potential applicants need to have. --A so-called "source" tells them, quote, "The person has to be graceful under pressure, have a thick skin, and be resourceful in foreign countries, among others things. --"You'll be expected to travel at a moment's notice and must know how to adjust in each city." --Applicants should basically not have a life of their own. The source says, quote, "The job is 6 days a week, at least 12 hour days with one day off, but you may not get off for weeks. -"You'll be on call 24-7 and you've got to be organized and always on point." --Duties also include diaper-changing and cooking when the butler is away. --The job pays between $55,000 and $65,000 a year.
ROGER CLEMENS HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR LYING TO CONGRESS:
In 2008, sitting in front of a House committee on steroids in baseball, ROGER CLEMENS said, quote, "Let me be clear. I have never taken steroids or HGH." --And yesterday, Roger was indicted by a federal grand jury for LYING TO CONGRESS. Clemens was indicted on SIX counts of lying under oath. The feds say he made 15 separate statements that were less than truthful. --But he's sticking to his story. On Twitter yesterday, he said, quote, "I never took HGH or Steroids. And I did not lie to Congress. --"I look forward to challenging the Government's accusations, and hope people will keep an open mind until trial. I appreciate all the support I have been getting. I am happy to finally have my day in court." --Sources say prosecutors offered Clemens a plea deal and he REJECTED IT. --Clemens faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine if convicted on all charges. But experts say he would probably only serve 15 to 21 months behind bars. (--BARRY BONDS goes on trial next March for lying to a federal grand jury when he said he never KNOWINGLY used performance-enhancing drugs. MARK MCGWIRE recently ADMITTED that he juiced.)
BOW WOW, JENNIFER ANISTON, "NANNY MCPHEE", AND THE "TWILIGHT" PARODY "VAMPIRES SUCK" COMPETE WITH "PIRANHA 3D" THIS WEEKEND:
#1.) "Nanny McPhee Returns" (PG)
--Emma Thompson returns as Nanny McPhee, the magical nanny whose face reflects the ugly behavior of children, until they fix their bad behavior and her beauty is restored. In this one, she helps Maggie Gyllenhaal raise five kids while her husband is off at war.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3UyikYKLjQ
Official Site: http://www.nannymcphee.com/
#2.) "The Switch" (PG-13)
--A comedy starring Jennifer Aniston as a woman who gets some handsome stud to be a sperm donor so she can have a baby. But then her best friend, Jason Bateman, accidentally spills the goods . . . and replaces the lost man-juice with his own.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkuOg4DxeK0
Official Site: http://www.theswitch-movie.com/
#3.) "Lottery Ticket" (PG-13)
--Bow Wow plays a guy who holds the winning ticket to a $370 million lottery. Unfortunately, he can't claim his prize until after a three-day holiday weekend . . . and now EVERYONE wants a piece of him and his winning ticket. Ice Cube, T-Pain and Naturi Naughton are also in it.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nglUZdCqoRY
Official Site: http://www.lotteryticketmovie.com/
#4.) "Piranha 3D" (R)
--An underwater tremor unleashes prehistoric piranha on a lake during Spring Break. Elisabeth Shue plays the town sheriff . . . and Hollywood Treasure Jerry O'Connell plays a "Girls Gone Wild"-type scumbag who gets his penis bitten off by piranha. --The rest of the cast includes Richard Dreyfuss, Christopher Lloyd, Ving Rhames, "Gossip Girl's" Jessica Szohr, and "Vampire Diaries" stud Steven R. McQueen. (--Some of the cast did a Funny Or Die video in which they mockingly campaign for an Oscar. You can watch it again HERE. British minx Kelly Brook also points out she's on the cover of September's "Playboy". See a few of her pics HERE.)
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkF5VMRJGek
Official Site: http://piranha-3d.com/
#5.) "Vampires Suck" (PG-13) (Opened Wednesday)
--A "Twilight" parody starring "90210's" Matt Lanter as Edward SULLEN, and former "Gossip Girl" stud Chris Riggi as "were-chihuahua" Jacob WHITE. An unknown minx named Jenn Proske plays "Becca", the girl they're fighting over.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaCLeoL9a3M
Official Site: http://www.vampiressuckmovie.com/
THERE'S AN "EXPENDABLES"-TYPE OF MOVIE IN THE WORKS THAT COULD STAR WESLEY SNIPES, CHUCK NORRIS AND . . . JOEY LAWRENCE???
"The Expendables" was a pretty big hit. (--And, I can say from personal experience, a pretty AWESOME flick. Dolph Lundgren was a particular revelation.) --So everybody's looking for the next big ensemble action movie. And we may have just found it. --It's called "Havana Heat", and it begins filming in November. It's going to star WESLEY SNIPES and acting superstar JOEY LAWRENCE!!! But that's not all. --The cast also includes one of the actual Expendables, UFC legend RANDY COUTURE . . . as well as "La Femme Nikita" minx PETA WILSON and '80s stud MICHAEL DUDIKOFF . . . THE star of "American Ninja" 1, 2 AND 4. --It might get even better than that . . . because offers are out to CHUCK NORRIS and JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME. --The producers say they never tried to copy "The Expendables". It was just a COINCIDENCE that they were also developing a, quote, "retro '80s action all-star movie." They hope to have it in theaters next summer. (--With all due respect to Mr. Snipes, this one sounds like a direct-to-DVD affair.)
SMOKING IN MOVIES IS ON THE DECLINE:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that smoking in popular movies has been on the decline since 2005. --Last year, about half of the 145 movies studied showed NO SMOKING at all. For movies aimed specifically at children, 61% didn't depict smoking. (--The study only went through 2009.) --The CDC says, quote, "The results of this analysis indicate that the number of tobacco incidents peaked in 2005, then declined by approximately half through 2009, representing the first time a decline of that duration and magnitude has been observed." --However . . . the CDC doesn't think that's good enough . . . quote, "Nearly half of popular movies still contained tobacco imagery in 2009, including 54% of those rated PG-13, and the number of incidents remained higher in 2009 than in 1998. --"Exposure to onscreen smoking in movies increases the probability that youths will start smoking. Youths who are heavily exposed to onscreen smoking are approximately two to three times more likely to begin smoking than youths who are lightly exposed."
NIGEL LYTHGOE SAYS "AMERICAN IDOL" IS STILL NEGOTIATING WITH POTENTIAL JUDGES:
"American Idol" executive producer NIGEL LYTHGOE won't comment on the speculation that AEROSMITH singer STEVEN TYLER has already closed his deal to be a judge on the upcoming season. --Instead, he's acting like nothing is set in stone yet. In a radio interview yesterday . . . (--with Ryan Seacrest) . . . Nigel said, quote, "I can tell you . . . absolutely nothing while negotiations are going on." --However, he did confirm rumors that an official announcement is coming just after Labor Day weekend. He said that a decision on the final panel will be made, quote, "within the next three weeks."
LEE DEWYZE WILL RELEASE HIS DEBUT ALBUM IN NOVEMBER:
If you're like me, you completely forgot that LEE DEWYZE won the last season of "American Idol". But if you're not like me . . . and miss watching Lee sing on your TV every week . . . you might be interested in this: --Lee's debut album, which is still untitled, has been set for a November 16th release.
OUR *UPDATED* "AMERICAN IDOL" JUDGE POWER RANKINGS!!!
Last week, we introduced our "American Idol" Judge Power Rankings, which attempt to pass along the latest vibes on who's IN and who's on the OUTS of the Search to Replace Simon . . . and Ellen . . . and, possibly, Kara.
--Here's the latest:
#1.) RANDY JACKSON . . . There still hasn't been any legitimate talk about him leaving. In fact, executive producer NIGEL LYTHGOE even called him the show's "barnacle." (--That's British for "Catch Phrase-Using Big Guy, Who's Not Easily Moveable.")
#2.) STEVEN TYLER . . . It seems like EVERY media outlet on the planet has sources "confirming" that Steven's "Idol" deal is signed, sealed and delivered. --Ordinarily, that would mean he's a lock . . . but judging from how this process has been playing out, it's possible that this is just an elaborate red herring, and that we've all been tricked by some masterful sleight of hand!!! (--Or not . . . and Steven's in, but they're going to draw it out for publicity.)
#3.) MARIAH CAREY . . . Shocking, right? Well, last night E! Online reported that Mariah is in negotiations with "Idol" . . . and that things are looking promising. --A so-called "source" tells them, quote, "[Mariah] wants it. She's seen what 'America's Got Talent' has done for [her husband Nick Cannon], and thinks it will be a good career move." --Last week, Nick said that Mariah really wanted to do it, but he wasn't sure if she'd have time. He said he was hoping "Idol" could work around Mariah's schedule.
#4.) JENNIFER LOPEZ . . . She seems to have fallen to #2 on "Idol's" list of "diva options" . . . or #3, if you count Steven Tyler. At one point, it seemed like she was a sure thing, and now . . . "diva" demands or not . . . there's barely any talk about her.
#5.) SHANIA TWAIN . . . Last week, TMZ reported that "Idol" was in the process of lining up Shania as their "Plan B" . . . in case things didn't work out with J-Lo. That's the last we heard of that rumor. But if it's true, Kara can't be happy.
#6.) KARA DIOGUARDI . . . At this point, they're either going to give Kara the fourth seat . . . even though Nigel has repeatedly said he only wants three judges next season . . . or Kara's just being strung along as a "Plan Z" safety net. --It's probably the latter. There hasn't been any recent speculation that she'll return.
#7.) ALL THE OTHERS . . . There hasn't been any recent heat surrounding Harry Connick Jr., Chris Isaak, Bret Michaels or Jessica Simpson.
THE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS PRIMETIME SPECIAL WILL BE BACK:
This year's Grammy nominees will once again be announced during a one-hour primetime concert special . . . even though no one ever watches these things. (--This is the third year they're doing it. The first one drew 7.1 million viewers, and last year's only attracted 6.4 million viewers.) --It'll air December 1st, at 10:00 P.M., on CBS. No performers have been announced yet. (--The actual Grammys will air live on February 13th . . . also on CBS.
WEEKEND TV REMINDERS
(--Check your local listing for times in your area.)
FRIDAY TV REMINDERS:
--"Pre-Season Football: Bengals vs. Eagles" . . . 8:00 to 11:00 P.M. Eastern on Fox. (--The Cincinnati Bengals host the Philadelphia Eagles at the Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.)
--"NASCAR: Nationwide Series" . . . 8:00 to 10:30 P.M. Eastern on ESPN.
--"Flashpoint" [3rd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on CBS.
SATURDAY TV REMINDERS:
--"PGA Tour Golf: Wyndham Championship" [Third Round Play] . . . 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. Eastern on CBS.
--"Pan-Pacific Championship" . . . 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. Eastern on NBC. (--Olympic swimmers Michael Phelps, Aaron Peirsol, Natalie Coughlin and Katie Hoff compete in an international swim event that includes the men's and women's 400m freestyle, 100m fly, 200m backstroke and 50m breaststroke events.)
--"NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Bristol" . . . 7:00 to 11:00 P.M. Eastern on ABC.
--"Lake Placid 3" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Syfy. (--"Eureka's" Colin Ferguson plays a game warden dealing with some over-sized killer crocs.)
--"Whitney Cummings: Money Shot" . . . 11:30 P.M. to 12:30 A.M. on Comedy Central. (--Whitney Cummings performs her stand-up in Washington, D.C.)
-"Saturday Night Live" . . . 11:30 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. on NBC. (--Zach Galifianakis guest hosts and Vampire Weekend is the musical guest.) (REPEAT)
SUNDAY TV REMINDERS:
--"PGA Tour Golf: Wyndham Championship" [Final Round Play] . . . 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. Eastern on CBS.
--"Pre-Season Football: Vikings vs. the 49ers" . . . 8:00 to 11:00 P.M. Eastern on NBC. (--The San Francisco 49ers host the Minnesota Vikings at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.)
--"Big Brother 12" [Eviction Nominations] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on CBS.
--"Drop Dead Diva" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Lifetime. (--"7th Heaven's" Barry Watson and "The Bachelor's" Jake Pavelka guest star when Brooke Elliott's character defends a man who was fired from his job for dressing like a clown.)
--"Army Wives" [4th Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Lifetime.
--"Keeping Up With the Kardashians" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on E!
--"The Spin Crowd" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on E! (--The owner of a Hollywood public-relations firm tries to talk Mario Lopez into hosting an event to promote a tanning product.)
--"My Fair Wedding" [3rd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on WE.
BRET MICHAELS IS SUING A PROMOTER FOR POSTPONING A GIG . . . AND HE'S ASKING FOR $5 MILLION:
BRET MICHAELS is suing some concert promoters for $5 MILLION. --Bret is ticked because the promoters postponed a gig . . . scheduled for August 5th in Syracuse, New York . . . without any warning. He also says they failed to pay him his guaranteed deposits. --He's accusing them of, quote, "breaching his contract and exposing him to public contempt and ridicule with allegedly defamatory statements about his schedule." --See, the promoters went around blaming the cancellation on Bret's appearance on "America's Got Talent". --But Bret says the appearance was taped before the concert, and he showed up to play, on time, as scheduled. But when he got there, the stage was bare and there wasn't any sound or lighting equipment. --Bret believes the promoters used him as a scapegoat, because they were having financial problems. He says, quote, "You don't just go: 'Hey I don't feel like paying anybody.' I think . . . [they] bit off more than [they] could chew."
ALBUM SALES HAVE SUNK TO A NEW LOW . . . AGAIN:
Album sales dropped to a historic low back in May . . . and not surprisingly, that was NOT rock bottom. Yet another new low was notched this past week. --"Billboard" says the music industry as a whole sold 4.95 million albums last week. That's the lowest-selling week since Soundscan began tracking album sales in 1991. (--The numbers for this week won't be out until next Wednesday.) --The previous low was set the last week in May, when 4.98 million albums were sold. --At that time, "Rolling Stone" did some crazy math and determined that it could've been the worst sales week since the early 1970s. The biggest sales week since 1991 occurred in December of 2000, when 45.4 million albums were sold.
A PHISH FAN FELL OFF A BALCONY DURING A CONCERT IN NEW YORK:
During PHISH'S gig at New York's Jones Beach Theater on Wednesday night, someone fell from a 25-foot balcony, onto the seats below. --The fan . . . whose identity has not been released . . . is in critical condition at the hospital. The "New York Daily News" reports say the fan went over the railing headfirst, and sustained massive head trauma. No one below was injured. --A few witnesses have told the "New York Times" that they believe the fan jumped INTENTIONALLY, because he had "significant forward momentum." --And one of them claims that he saw, quote, "A man with long hair in a white T-shirt flying off the balcony, feet-first into the pavilion below."
AND NOW . . . JUSTIN BIEBER'S MUSIC . . . SPED UP 800%:
Earlier this week, we discovered that JUSTIN BIEBER'S song, "U Smile", sounds BEAUTIFUL . . . when it's slowed down by 800%. Well, now someone has done the opposite and SPED IT UP by 800%, and the results are NOT as interesting. --In fact, it's actually more annoying to listen to than the actual song. (--It's 24 seconds long. You can attempt to tolerate it, here . . .)
http://tv.gawker.com/5616860/justin-bieber-sped-up-800-is-horrifying
--By the way, a promo for the upcoming season of "CSI" has been released. And Justin pops up at the very end of it. (--He'll guest star on at least TWO episodes of "CSI", including the season premiere. Here's the promo . . .)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwtNE2Hy4W8
NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF
THE MOST POPULAR SUMMER DRIVING SONG IS THE U.K. IS . . . "SWEET HOME ALABAMA"?
I'm guessing not that many British tourists visit Alabama. They probably don't know the difference between Alabama and most other states . . . just like we don't know the differences between Derbyshire, Cornwall and East Sussex. --But it turns out that SKYNYRD can rock through ALL cultural differences. --According to a new survey by a British company called HPI . . . which does the same vehicle history thing over there that CarFax does here . . . the most popular summer driving song in the U.K. is "Sweet Home Alabama".
--Here's the full top 10 . . .
#1.) "Sweet Home Alabama" by LYNYRD SKYNYRD
#2.) "Walking on Sunshine" by KATRINA AND THE WAVES
#3.) "Summer of '69" by BRYAN ADAMS
#4.) "Mr. Brightside" by THE KILLERS
#5.) "Club Tropicana" by WHAM
#6.) "Good Vibrations" by THE BEACH BOYS
#7.) "Love Shack" by THE B52S
#8.) "Rio" by DURAN DURAN
#9.) "Lovely Day" by BILL WITHERS
#10.) "Sun Is Shining" by BOB MARLEY (Autoblog)
ASIA HAS OVERTAKEN EUROPE AS THE BIGGEST BEER DRINKING CONTINENT ON THE PLANET:
China's march to dominate everything in the world just keeps getting stronger and stronger. Here's their latest move: The Chinese have started drinking so much that Asia has passed Europe to become the biggest BEER DRINKING continent in the world. --In 2008, Europe had a slight edge over Asia in total beer consumption. In 2009, Asia pushed past them. According to "The Economist" magazine, China's beer drinking keeps going up 10% a year . . . faster than any other country. --But even though China drinks the most beer of any country in the world, they have so many people there that the number of beers per capita is way below a lot of other countries. --China's consumption in 2009 came out to 31 liters of beer per person. That's an average of 87 12-ounce cans of beer per person for the year. --That fell short of several European countries, including Germany, Poland, the U.K., Romania and Spain. The Czech Republic had the highest consumption per person, at 161 liters, or 454 beers per person for the year. --Here in the U.S., we drank 79 liters per person last year, or 223 beers each. Between us, Canada and Mexico, North America came in third for the most beers consumed, ahead of South America, Australia and Africa. (The Economist)
(--You can check out a map with selected countries' beer consumption here . . .)
http://www.economist.com/node/16839104?story_id=16839104
AN IRISH SCIENTIST FIGURES OUT A WAY TO MAKE CARS RUN ON WHISKEY:
Never, ever doubt the miracles that an Irishman can perform with a drink in his hand. A scientist in Cork, Ireland, has figured out a way to make cars run on WHISKEY. --Well . . . not whiskey itself. That's for drinkin'. He's created a new bio-fuel where the key ingredients are the byproducts left over during whiskey production. --His name is Martin Tangney, and he's been working on the project for two years. Since scotch and whisky distillation is one of the biggest industries in Ireland, figuring out a way to use their waste is a major priority. --Tangney says his new fuel is a green, environmentally sustainable option . . . and it could be blended with a little regular gas or diesel so cars wouldn't even need to be modified to use it. --There's no word on when it could be on the market, or if it could come over here. Tangney and his team have filed for a patent and are now starting a company to work on developing the fuel commercially. (Discovery)
ONE OUT OF FIVE AMERICANS THINK PRESIDENT OBAMA IS MUSLIM:
Believe it or not, turning on a cable news channel and listening to some host SCREAM at you for an hour isn't the best way to get informed about . . . well . . . anything. --According to a poll released yesterday by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, 18% of Americans . . . almost one out of every five . . . believe that PRESIDENT OBAMA is Muslim. And 60% of them say they got that information from the media. --Just as an FYI, Obama's not Muslim. He's Christian. But only 34% of Americans in the survey knew that. That's down from 48% who knew Obama's religion in the same survey a year ago. --That means: Two-thirds of the country either didn't know the president's religion, or got the question wrong. (Yahoo News)
POOR PEOPLE ARE MUCH MORE GENEROUS THAN RICH PEOPLE:
I guess this is why rich people stay rich, and I still have to buy generic cereal like Flakes With Frosting. It's because I have such a KIND SOUL. --According to a new study, people with lower income tend to have MUCH stronger charitable instincts than richer people . . . and are more likely to donate money, even though they don't have very much of it. --The researchers think this might happen because lower-income people are more dependent on others . . . so that makes them more empathetic and more likely to give back when they can. (Physorg.com)
THE COPS ARE CALLED AFTER A MAN CURSES OUT A WOMAN FOR TAKING 37 ITEMS INTO THE 10-ITEMS-OR-LESS LINE:
Whenever I'm at the grocery store and I see someone bring a huge cart of stuff into the express line, I always think, "What an inconsiderate a-hole." But since I'm kind of a coward, I never actually say anything out loud. --This week, at a Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Saukville, Wisconsin, someone finally DID say something out loud. And things got UGLY. --48-year-old James X. Cryns got into the 10-items-or-less line behind 56-year-old Grace Hernandez . . . who had 37 items in her cart. --Apparently, when Grace got in the line there wasn't anyone waiting, so the cashier told her it was okay. But that wasn't good enough for James. --He said, quote, "What is this? Eighty items at an express lane?" She responded, quote, "I got permission. Why, do you have a problem with that?" He responded, quote, "I do have a problem with that. You're fat and ugly." --They kept arguing, and another customer called the police. A cop who was in the area came by. He witnessed James screaming and swearing . . . so he hit him with a $429 citation for disorderly conduct. --Turns out this is the second time in two years that this particular guy has cursed out another person in public in front of that SAME OFFICER. (Appleton Post Crescent)
CHECK OUT THE 10 MOST TATTOOED CITIES IN AMERICA:
Eventually, this younger generation of tattoo-lovers is going to sober up and realize how bad those Chinese letters and tribal patterns look once they've got stretch marks and careers. But until then, let's see who's REALLY letting the tattoo ink fly. --TotalBeauty.com just put out a list of the 10 most tattooed cities in the U.S. But since there's no tattoo census, the list isn't based on the actual number of tattooed people in each city, just the number of tattoo parlors per capita. Here's the list . . .
#1.) Miami, Florida - 24 tattoo shops per 100,000 people
#2.) Las Vegas, Nevada - 16 shops per 100,000 people, plus several tattoo conventions
#3.) Richmond, Virginia - 14.5 shops per 100,000 people
#4.) Flint, Michigan - 13 shops per 100,000 people
#5.) Portland, Oregon - 12 shops per 100,000
#6.) Austin, Texas - 7.5 shops per 100,000
#7.) San Francisco, California - 7 shops per 100,000
#8.) Honolulu, Hawaii - 6.5 shops per 100,000
#9.) Kansas City, Missouri - 6 shops per 100,000
#10.) Los Angeles, California - 4 shops per 100,000 (MSNBC)
POLICE CATCH A ROBBER AFTER HE MOCKS THEM OVER EMAIL . . . AND THEY'RE ABLE TO EASILY TRACE IT:
Here it is . . . your Meatball Criminal of the Day! He's 19-year-old David P. from Kunzelsau, Germany. For some reason, the cops only released his last initial. --On August 10th, David robbed a bank in Rottingen, Germany, and got away with about $3,200.
-Two local newspapers wrote about it, and said the bank was robbed by a male, between 5-foot-10 and six feet tall, age 20 to 25, with short, dark hair. They also said he fled from the scene on foot. --Well, David couldn't believe how much they BOTCHED their write-up, so he decided to EMAIL the newspapers and the police, and taunt them for their mistakes. --He created an e-mail address that translates to robber.from.rottingen@web.de, and told the newspapers and the police that he's actually 6-foot-3 . . . 19 years old . . . and fled the scene in a car, not on foot. --The police received the e-mail . . . traced it . . . and easily caught up with David in a few hours. -According to a police spokesman, quote, "He was completely shocked." (Softpedia)
NAZZY’S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) A BULL JUMPED INTO THE STANDS AT A BULLFIGHT:
A bull jumped into the stands at a bullfight in northern Spain on Wednesday and injured forty people. (--Search for "bull jumps out of ring Tafalla, Spain.")
http://sports.break.com/bull-jumps-into-stands
#2.) A CARJACKER DROVE ONTO AN AIRPORT RUNWAY IN DALLAS:
Flights were grounded at two different airports yesterday for two different reasons. In San Francisco, someone threatened to hijack an American Airlines flight. So police pulled everyone off the plane, but later said the threat was "non-credible." -Around the SAME TIME yesterday, a carjacker in Dallas drove through a chain link fence and onto a runway at the Dallas Love Field Airport. But police rammed the car and stopped him before he got close to any planes. There's footage of it on YouTube.
(--Search for "Dallas police chase runway video." He starts to lose control of the truck around 2:43.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS4Gsyf0EdE
#3.) AND NOW . . . THE DUMBEST PRANK OF THE DAY:
A group of guys pranked their friend by having a kid hide under the hood of a car where the engine usually is. But they didn't think it through. The guy opened the hood and got SO scared, he let go and it came down right on the kid's head. (--Search for "kid car prank fail.")
http://www.break.com/index/little-kid-prank-backfires.html
#4.) A BBC WEATHERMAN GAVE A NEWS ANCHOR THE FINGER:
A BBC weatherman has apologized for flipping off a news anchor on live TV. The anchor was making fun of the weatherman's forecast, and the weatherman didn't know he was on camera. (--Search for "BBC weatherman middle finger video.")
(--WARNING: This video shows the middle finger.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2OcxFc48qA
#5.) GOLFERS TRIED TO HIT A NINE-INCH GONG FROM 200 YARDS AWAY:
A bunch of golfers in Europe did an ad for the European Tour where they tried to hit a nine-inch gong from 200 yards away. And they had to skim the ball along a LAKE to get it there. It took a while, but an English golfer named David Howell finally did it.
(--Search for "the 200 yard gong shot video." He hits the gong at 1:54.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu3OIT7mxDQ
THE FOUR MOST COMMON REASONS FOR TAKING A BREAK FROM YOUR RELATIONSHIP:
Breakups suck. There's no way around it. So sometimes people say they're 'taking a break' . . . instead of just admitting that things are over. But SOMETIMES, you actually CAN get things back on track with a little time apart. --Here are the four most common reasons for taking a break, rather than breaking it off entirely.
#1.) A FEAR OF INTIMACY. It usually happens when you transition from "just dating" into the "relationship" phase. It's like getting cold feet before a wedding: You know you want to be with someone, but it's a big change and you need to be prepared for it.
#2.) LOSING YOUR IDENTITY. In every relationship, you're going to have to compromise on certain things. But compromising all the time can make you feel like you're losing your identity. --So taking some time off . . . without your boyfriend or girlfriend around . . . can help you feel like you're your own person again.
#3.) EXPERIENCING A TRAUMATIC EVENT. Dealing with something traumatic, like a death in the family, can affect your relationship. The best thing you can do if it happens to the person you're with is to be understanding and patient while they grieve.
#4.) FREAKING OUT ABOUT WHETHER THEY'RE "THE ONE". This is hard to recover from if you get paranoid. When you start doubting whether someone is "The One," it can escalate until you're convinced they're not right for you. So . . . get a grip. (Match.com)
--Kim Cattrall - 54 (Slutty Samantha on "Sex and the City ".)
SITE FOR SORE EYES:
www.petsitting.com
Pet owners looking for pet sitters, dog walkers or a variety of other services will now be able to easily find what they need with the launch of Petsitting.com, an innovative website connecting pet owners with professional pet service providers. The website allows pet owners to search for pet care providers close to where they live at no cost.
LIFESTYLES:
Unemployed Men More ‘Date-Able’ Than Ever
Zoosk.com recently surveyed its members to find out whether continuing economic turmoil has affected their expectations when it comes to dating and love. Here are some of the findings:
· 60% of women said they’d date someone unemployed in 2010, up from 52% in 2009.
· 90% of men said they’d date someone unemployed in 2010, compared to 92% of men in 2009.
· 90% of men say they usually pick up the bill on a date, and 52% of men spend more money on the average date in 2010 than they spent in 2009.
· 57% of women spend less on dates in 2010 than they did in 2009.
· Singles are more open than ever before to dates that revolve around a free activity – 92% in 2010, compared to 85% in 2009.
· 83% of men and 93% of women agree that if someone is unemployed, they should reveal it right away. Honesty is the best policy.
States Working To Deter Drunk Drivers
Each year, nearly 12,000 people die on U.S. roads due to drunk driving – equal to about 30 jumbo jets crashing each year. In California alone, over 1,000 people died at the hands of drunk drivers in 2008. Law enforcement officers across the country are taking part in the national “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” crackdown this Labor Day holiday. From today through September 6th, police in every state will be out in full force conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols to catch drunk drivers. This year, more states are turning to technology to help fight drunk driving – from iPhone apps to Twitter, Facebook and other technologies. A full list of state-specific crackdown efforts is available at www.ghsa.org.
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