HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (01-24-11)
The Octomom Hasn't Had Sex in 11 Years:
Octomom NADYA SULEMAN told TMZ that she hasn't had sex . . . or even kissed anyone . . . in 11 years.
--She also said that her "fetish video" . . . in which she's in a corset, whipping a grown man dressed as a baby . . . was a, quote, "spoof" and a "parody". (--Check out the video of Nadya claiming to have been celibate for 11 years here.) --Meanwhile . . . TMZ also spoke with one of the Octomom's neighbors . . . and she said it's not easy living across the street from Nadya and her 14 kids. --The woman said, quote, "She doesn't treat her older children very nicely. She often is heard cursing at them and yelling at them. --"We can oftentimes hear the babies crying, and the older children seem to be out late at night in the backyard on the trampoline." --She also said that Nadya's, quote, "maniacal" laugh is an issue. But she added that Nadya is, quote, "trying to maintain and control it a little bit more." (--You can watch video of this here. It includes some audio the woman recorded of the chaos coming from Nadya's house.)
George Clooney Says He Won't Get Married Again:
Everybody keeps trying to marry GEORGE CLOONEY off . . . and George keeps telling us that he's NOT going to make that mistake again. --The subject came up yet again Friday night, when George was on "Piers Morgan Tonight". It was actually George's dad, NICK CLOONEY, who was prodding him to marry his Italian girlfriend, Elisabetta Canalis. --And George gave pretty much the same answer he always does . . . quote, "I hate to blow your whole news story, but I was married. Yeah, so I've proven how good I was at it and I just . . . I'm allowed one." (--George was married to actress TALIA BALSAM from 1989 to 1993. She plays Natalie Portman's mom in her new flick, "No Strings Attached". She's currently married to John Slattery of "Mad Men" fame.) --Here's something else Clooney isn't cut out for: Politics. He told Piers, quote, "Honestly, my job is as good as they get. I think that I am best suited as an advocate for issues . . . --". . . And I look to people who are far smarter and far better at this than I am to lead." --And here's what he had to say about his Malaria . . . quote, "I guess the mosquito in Juba looked at me and thought I was the bar." (--Here's video of George discussing his malaria.) --George also sounded off on the paparazzi, for trying to coerce him into doing stupid things. --He said, quote, "When I'm walking through an airport, you got a camera in front of me and you ask me, 'Hey, who's the fat girl you're walking next to?' or something like that. --"That's not trying to catch me doing something dumb, that's trying to make me do something dumb." (--Here's video off that comment.)
Ivanka Trump Is Pregnant:
DONALD TRUMP'S daughter IVANKA is pregnant. There's no word on the due date. This will be the first child for Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner . . . who owns the "New York Observer". --She Tweeted, quote, "I have been wanting to share some amazing news with you all for some time. I'm pregnant! Jared and I couldn't be more excited." (--Ivanka is 29.)
Monica Got Married a Month Ago:
R&B minx MONICA got married to Los Angeles Lakers guard SHANNON BROWN on November 22nd . . . and they were able to keep it a secret until this weekend. --She says, quote, "This is a very special time in my life. I am blessed to have married the man that God sent me. He's loving, compassionate, strong and supportive of my children, family and career. I look forward to our lives together." (--Privacy is kind of a double-edged sword for celebrities. I mean, if you're able to keep a marriage a secret that long, you have to wonder if it's only because nobody really cares about you.)
Kim Kardashian Hints That She Wants to Have Kris Humphries' Baby:
It looks like KIM KARDASHIAN is starting to get baby-crazy . . . for real. --Yesterday, she Tweeted a picture of her New Jersey Net boyfriend KRIS HUMPHRIES when he was a kid. And the caption read, quote, "I want my son to look like this!" (--Check it out here.)
Jessica Simpson Thanks God for Her Boyfriend's Backside:
JESSICA SIMPSON has a lot to be thankful for. And that apparently includes her boyfriend ERIC JOHNSON'S TIGHT BACKSIDE. --Saturday night, she Tweeted, quote, "Saying my prayers before bedtime...Thank you Lord for blessing me with a Man that has the perfect Tush...laying my hands upon it with peace :)"
Danny Glover Is Cool with Mel Gibson:
Even though MEL GIBSON added racism to his growing repertoire of offensive behaviors this past summer, his old friend DANNY GLOVER still has his back. --Danny told MTV News, quote, "I love Mel. That's my friend. He's had tough times. We've all had tough times." --Danny said he and Mel have kept in touch, and even ran into each other recently. He said, quote, "We ran up and hugged each other, man." --He added that the Mel Gibson he knows is, quote, "a very generous man, a man that . . . whatever he goes through . . . is always searching for something and searching for meaning in his life." (--Grab video of his comments, here.)
Does Mickey Rourke Smell?
Let's be honest: MICKEY ROURKE looks like he smells bad. And according to the "National Enquirer", looks are NOT deceiving in this case. --A so-called "source" says, quote, "Mickey's a nice guy . . . but the bottom line is he smells! He's got a definite hygiene problem. Between his overpowering body odor and his awful breath, a lot of people won't go near him unless they have to. --"[He] either forgets to take showers or is adamantly opposed to using deodorant." --And his trailer is even worse . . . quote, "It's so sloppy and messy that the makeup and wardrobe people try to work with him anywhere else but there. They avoid that trailer like a hazardous waste dump!" --The source adds, quote, "Mickey's like Pigpen in the 'Peanuts' comics: He's lovable, but dirty. Directors tend to overlook his bad hygiene because he's such a sweetheart and gifted actor. --"But the crew and the cast get the brunt of it. On bad days when they see Mickey, they run in the other direction."
Aaron Carter is in Rehab:
"Singer" and former "Dancing with the Stars" contestant AARON CARTER is in rehab. There's no word what substance or substances he's being treated for. Aaron is 23 years old. --His manager says, quote, "Aaron, understanding the challenges and hard work it would take to get himself back to the top, requested to take some time before we started to heal some emotional and spiritual issues he was dealing with. --"Therefore he has chosen to enter a facility where he feels he will get the guidance and cleansing he needs that will help him on the music journey he's about to take."
Bret Michaels Will Have Heart Surgery Today:
BRET MICHAELS will have surgery today to repair a hole in his heart. On Saturday, he said, quote, "Barring any complications, I should be out within three to four days. --"Then, I will be down (resting) for three weeks. I don't know if I can sit around for that long, but I'll try my best." --Bret still isn't completely recovered from the brain hemorrhage he suffered last April . . . but he's getting there. --He said, quote, "I've done a lot of neurological tests, and they say I'm about 95% there. --"I still have a little 'funk' with my left hand that I haven't quite figured out, but I think with a little more therapy, by one full year (after the hemorrhage), I'll be as good as I'm going to get." --One last note: Bret says he still hasn't set a date with his new fiancée, Kristi Gibson . . . quote, "It may be the longest engagement in history, but I took the next step."
Big Surprise Here: Gwyneth Paltrow Thinks She's Better Than You:
Would it surprise you to learn that GWYNETH PALTROW thinks she's better than you? That's according to a woman named Abbie Diaz . . . who spent years working as a maitre d at several Manhattan restaurants. --She says, quote, "If you're not worthy, it's like you're not there . . . [Gwyneth has a] passive-aggressive comportment . . . meant to unnerve the plebeians." --But she adds that Gwyneth enjoys male servers . . . as long as they're, quote, "cute and sweet."
"Harry Potter" Actress Afshan Azad Was Beaten Up By Her Brother for Dating a Non-Muslim:
AFSHAN AZAD . . . who plays Padma Patil in the "Harry Potter" movies . . . was beaten up by her brother Ashraf last year. --He punched her repeatedly, dragged her by the hair and threatened to kill her. And all because he found out she was dating a non-Muslim. --Well, Ashraf was sentenced to six months behind bars on Friday . . . even though Afshan said she'd forgiven him and asked the judge for leniency. (--Afshan's father allegedly made death threats against her, too. But he was cleared.)
Jack LaLanne Has Died at the Age of 96:
No matter how healthy he lived, JACK LALANNE had to die sometime. And yesterday, he finally did. Jack died of respiratory failure due to pneumonia at his home in California. He was 96. --Forget about Richard Simmons, Jane Fonda or even Chuck Norris and his Total Gym . . . Jack LaLanne was America's TRUE guru of physical fitness. --He hosted "The Jack LaLanne Show" from 1951 to 1985. He also opened one of the first health spas in 1936. --He was also known for staging insane feats of strength, like swimming the length of the Golden Gate Bridge in handcuffs, while towing a boat behind him. --Jack's agent said he worked out every day of his life, right up to the end. Last year, while celebrating his 95th birthday, Jack dropped this classic line . . . quote, "I can't afford to die, it'd wreck my image." (--Here's video of a young Jack LaLanne doing some FINGERTIP PUSHUPS.)
Natalie Portman's New Romantic Comedy is #1 at the Box Office:
NATALIE PORTMAN now has two movies in the top 10. Her new romantic comedy, "No Strings Attached", opened at #1 with $20.3 million. And "Black Swan" is at #6 after earning another $6.2 million.
1.) (NEW) "No Strings Attached", $20.3 million.
2.) "The Green Hornet", $18.1 million. Up to $63.4 million in its 2nd week.
3.) "The Dilemma", $9.7 million. Up to $33.4 million in its 2nd week.
And Now . . . A List of Movies That Contain the Most F-Bombs:
Have you ever wondered what movies drop the most F-bombs? Well, Wikipedia has a list of them. --Standing well above the rest of the pack at #1 is a movie whose title is the F-word itself. It's a documentary about the F-word, and it uses it 824 times in a mere 93 minutes. --Next up is the 1999 flick "Summer of Sam", directed by SPIKE LEE and starring JOHN LEGUIZAMO and MIRA SORVINO. It's got 435 F-bombs in it. --Here are the Top 10 flicks, along with the year they were made, and the number of F-bombs dropped in them . . .
#1.) "(Eff)", 2005, 824
#2.) "Summer of Sam", 1999, 435
#3.) "Nil By Mouth", 1997, 428
#4.) "Casino", 1995, 422
#5.) "Alpha Dog", 2007, 367
#6.) "Twin Town", 1997, 318
#7.) "Running Scared", 2006, 315
#8.) "Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat", 2002, 311
#9.) (tie) "Menace II Society", 1993, 300
#9.) (tie) "Goodfellas", 1990, 300
(--This being Wikipedia, I wouldn't necessarily trust this list to be 100% accurate or complete. But there are a TON of movies on it. You can check out the whole thing here.)
Check Out the Trailer for "Scream 4":
The trailer for "Scream 4" hit the web over the weekend. (--You can check it out here.) --"Scream 4" hits theaters on April 15th. NEVE CAMPBELL, COURTENEY COX and DAVID ARQUETTE are all back from the original trilogy. -They're joined by EMMA ROBERTS, HAYDEN PANETTIERE and RORY CULKIN.
Bill Clinton Isn't In "The Hangover 2":
Pictures surfaced last year showing BILL CLINTON on the set of "The Hangover 2" in Thailand. And that had people thinking Clinton would be making a cameo in the movie. But that's probably not true. --ED HELMS says, quote, "He came and visited us. I'd be surprised if there's a scene in the movie." (--Clinton was in Thailand to give speeches on clean energy and meet with world leaders.)
Elijah Wood Says His Part in "The Hobbit" Won't Mess With the Integrity of the Book:
ELIJAH WOOD wants J.R.R. TOLKIEN fans to know that the inclusion of his character, Frodo Baggins, in the "Hobbit" movies will NOT mess with the integrity of the novel. (--Frodo is a "Lord of the Rings" character, but was NOT mentioned in "The Hobbit", which takes place many years earlier.) --Wood says, quote, "It's a very small piece, and I think that's the most appropriate . . . The way that it will fit in will not infringe upon the integrity of 'The Hobbit'. It'll fit and it'll be appropriate."
Oprah Winfrey Is Revealing a Shocking "Family Secret" Today:
OPRAH WINFREY will reveal an EARTH-SHATTERING "hidden family secret" on today's show . . . and no, it is NOT going to be a lesbian thing. Sorry. -In a promo clip for the episode, Oprah says, quote, "In the past 25 years, the "Oprah" show has reunited a lot of people. I thought I'd seen it all. But this, my friends, is the miracle of all miracles." --And that's no exaggeration. --Er, actually . . . it probably is. There's no word on what this is all about yet, but Oprah's preview continues, quote, "I was given some news that literally shook me to my core. --"This time, I'm the one being reunited . . . only a handful of people in my life know about this . . . I was keeping a family secret for months, and on Monday you're going to hear it straight from me." (--You can watch the promo at Oprah.com, here.) --The "family secret" could be rooted in Oprah's troubled childhood. --She was born into poverty to two unmarried teenagers. The couple split up after Oprah was born, and various family members raised her. She was also molested as a child. Then she became pregnant at 14, but the baby died just after it was born.
Keith Olbermann Is Out at MSNBC . . . Effective Immediately:
On Friday, KEITH OLBERMANN suddenly announced that his MSNBC show, "Countdown", was OVER . . . and that Friday's episode would be its last. He began hosting "Countdown" nearly eight years ago, back in March of 2003. --MSNBC has confirmed that Keith is out . . . saying, quote, "MSNBC and Keith Olbermann have ended their contract. MSNBC thanks Keith for his integral role in MSNBC's success and we wish him well in his future endeavors." --There aren't many concrete details on what happened, but it seems like Keith was either fired or forced out. --Keith referenced the "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!" scene from the 1976 movie "Network" in his final sign-off. -He said, quote, "I think the same fantasy has popped into the head of everybody in my business who has ever been told what I've been told, that this is going to be the last edition of your show. You go directly to the scene from the movie 'Network' . . . --"Complete with the pajamas and the raincoat, and you go off on an existential, otherworldly journey of unutterable profundity and vision, you damn the impediments and you insist upon the insurrections . . . --"And then you emit Peter Finch's guttural, resonant, 'So,' and you implore the viewer to go to the window, open it, stick out his head and yell . . . well, you know the rest. In the mundane world of television goodbyes, reality is laughably uncooperative." (--You can watch his full sign-off at MSNBC.com, here. And watch the entire four-minute "I'm mad as hell" speech from "Network" here, but be CAREFUL, there's profanity at 1:25 and 2:40. He gets out of his chair at the 1:30 mark.) --"The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell" will take over "Countdown's" timeslot.
What Happened to Keith Olbermann . . . and What's Next for Him?
Even though MSNBC suspended KEITH OLBERMANN for a few days back in November for making unauthorized campaign contributions to Democratic politicians, the general consensus seems to be that the NBC / Comcast merger had more to do with Keith's exit --In the tradition of fine journalism, TMZ is reporting BOTH that Keith's new Comcast bosses fired him . . . and that Keith initiated his own exit, anticipating that it was only a matter of time before he was forced out. --If Keith DID work out his own deal, TMZ claims he'll still get the $7 million he was supposed to be paid over the next two years . . . and in exchange, he'll have to stay off TV for a certain period of time. (--We're hearing it might be six months.) --So what's next for Keith? --TMZ says that if Keith is banned from doing TV for awhile, he could do something online . . . and RadarOnline.com, hints that he could run for office. --"Entertainment Weekly" has a different take. They say he could team up with AARON SORKIN . . . the guy who wrote "The Social Network", and the TV shows "The West Wing" and "Sports Night" . . . on a TV project. --Sorkin has reportedly been developing a new show based on a cable news show . . . and "Countdown" is one of the shows he looked to for inspiration. --"Entertainment Weekly" says Sorkin is working with HBO on the project, but the network hasn't confirmed that. If Keith is involved . . . it's unclear if he'd be serving as just a writer, or if he could appear on the show, too. --For the record, MSNBC says the Comcast deal had nothing to do with Keith's departure . . . and that this situation is "absolutely not" a sign that they're planning on toning down their liberal-leaning philosophy.
Did Regis Philbin Quit "Live!" Rather Than Take a Pay Cut?
Maybe REGIS PHILBIN didn't just suddenly quit "Live! With Regis and Kelly" because it was time to move on . . . or for health reasons. --TMZ claims ABC execs were planning on cutting Regis' salary after his current contract was up . . . "partly because the show is not performing as well as in the past, and partly because he takes a lot of time off." --Naturally, Regis wasn't happy . . . and that's why he abruptly decided to walk away. --"Sources" say Regis is now making between $18- and $20 million a year on "Live!". --None of this is official, but Regis DID recently FIRE his agent of 30 YEARS, Jim Griffin. (--Griffin has confirmed his firing to the "Los Angeles Times".) --There's also the fact that Regis is NOT retiring from the entertainment business . . . just from "Live". --He doesn't even seem to have any post-"Live" plans yet. Or if he does, he hasn't shared them yet.
Three More Advertisers Have Bailed on MTV's "Skins":
Three more advertisers pulled their commercials from that racy new MTV show, "Skins". Taco Bell led the charge last week, after the Parents Television Council urged people to BOYCOTT the restaurant. --Now, General Motors has placed "Skins" on their "Do Not Buy" list . . . and the Wrigley Company is out because they say, quote, "it was never our intent to endorse content that could offend consumers." --For what it's worth, Wrigley didn't specifically OK "Skins" in the first place. Instead, their ads, quote, "were part of a broader advertising plan with [MTV]." And H&R Block is apparently in a similar boat. --A rep says, quote, "H&R Block is not an advertiser of the show. One ad ran by mistake as part of a rotation. Once we learned this, we immediately took steps to ensure it didn't happen again. H&R Block did not select it to be part of our rotation." --Meanwhile, despite the PTC's efforts to have "Skins" investigated for "child pornography," there's still no official indication that MTV plans on toning it down. --In a spot for tonight's episode, "Skins" advertises a sexual fling . . . between two female characters. (--You can watch the girl-on-girl spot, here.) --By the way, 18-year-old "Skins" actress Sofia Black D'Elia, who plays a lesbian named Tea . . . (--the one with the straight hair in the clip) . . . is defending the show. --In an interview on HDNet, she said, quote, "It's pushing the boundaries for teen drama because I think 'Skins' goes where other shows are afraid to. --"It's what teens are doing. It's the way teenagers believe, I think, especially you know in certain situations when you come from home lives where your parents don't really support you or really listen to you. --"That's what most of these kids are going through. And so, um, the drugs and the sex, they're vices, and that's what teenagers have." (--You can watch a video of her comments, here.)
Monday TV Reminders: (--Check your local listings.)
--"House" . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Fox. (--The team tries to link symptoms between a teenage military recruit and his drill sergeant, while House helps Cuddy's daughter get into a prestigious preschool.)
--"Gossip Girl" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on the CW. (--"Spin City's" Michael Boatman and "One Life to Live's" Tika Sumpter join the cast as father and daughter.)
--"American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Discovery Channel. (--Lee returns to speak with Paul Senior about the issues he faces with his sons, and Senior files a second lawsuit against Paul Jr.)
--"Cake Boss: Next Great Baker" [1st Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:30 P.M. on TLC.
--"Castle" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ABC. (--Castle FINALLY kisses Beckett.)
--"Rupaul's Drag Race" [3rd Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:30 P.M. on Logo. (--Vanessa Williams is a guest judge.)
--"19 Kids & Counting" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on TLC.
Did You Know Ricky Gervais Used to Be a Pop Singer?
Did you know that RICKY GERVAIS was a pop singer in the early '80s? He and a man named Bill Macrae were in a short-lived group called Seona Dancing. They had a single called "Bitter Heart". (--Check out the video, here.)
Kanye West Is Putting Out Another Album This Summer:
KANYE WEST is in a prolific state of mind. His last album, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy", just came out in November . . . his joint album with JAY-Z is on the way . . . and he's planning on releasing another new solo album this summer. --On Twitter, Kanye said, quote, "[My album with Jay-Z], 'Watch the Throne' [is] coming in 2 months!!!!!!!!!! My new album [is] coming this summer. [My] 'All [of] the Lights' video in 1 week!!!!!! This is high end rap music."
KELSEY GRAMMER isn't the only one in his family getting married. His 27-year-old daughter SPENCER, who's on that show "Greek", just got engaged. (Full Story)
The Spanish porno star who was photographed at a Barcelona sex club with MACAULAY CULKIN says it wasn't their first time hanging out together . . . but she won't give any details about their times together. (Full Story)
For those of you who might still care, EMMA "BABY SPICE" BUNTON is engaged. (Full Story)
ELTON JOHN and "Glee" star MATTHEW MORRISON recorded a duet for Morrison's upcoming album. (Full Story)
ANTOINE DODSON . . . yes, the YouTube sensation better known as the Bed Intruder Guy . . . is working on a reality show. (Full Story)
Did MADONNA screw over the African nation of Malawi when she scrapped plans to build a $15 million school for girls? (Full Story)
Actress ANDREA ANDERS plays the love interest of MATTHEW PERRY on his new ABC show "Mr. Sunshine" AND MATT LEBLANC on his upcoming Showtime series "Episodes". And she's LeBlanc's real-life girlfriend. (Full Story)
Another day, another ratings record for "Jersey Shore". What is our problem, America? (Full Story)
"American Idol" ratings continued to drop for the show's second episode Thursday night. (Full Story)
"Big Brother 9" winner ADAM JASINSKI was sentenced to four years in federal prison for trying to sell 2,000 oxycodone pills and failure to file a tax return in 2008. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF
Texting Stuff Like "gr8" and "What r u up 2" Makes Kids Better At Spelling?
So, when your kids send text messages, they use abbreviations with letters and numbers, like g-r-8 for 'great' and 4-g-o-t for 'forgot.' And you probably think they're becoming a brainless, English-mangling fool. --But believe it or not, a new study by Coventry University in England found that when kids text message using abbreviations . . . that actually makes them BETTER at real spelling. --Here's why. When a kid is figuring out how to abbreviate a word, it requires them to think about how the word is ACTUALLY spelled, so they can properly shorten it. And that makes the correct spelling sink in. --In the study, kids who used texting abbreviations for ten weeks scored HIGHER on real spelling tests than kids who didn't use abbreviations. --The researchers say, quote, "There is no evidence that children's language play when using mobile phones is damaging literacy development. --"We are now starting to see consistent evidence that children's use of text message abbreviations has a positive impact on their spelling skills." (The Telegraph)
The U.S. Is Named the Tenth-Happiest Country In the World:
Just remember: No matter how bad things get in this country, we're still a hell of a lot less miserable than the rest of the world. --Well . . . the rest of the world not counting Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the Scandinavian countries, and a few others. --Forbes.com just put out a list of the world's HAPPIEST countries. It's based on prosperity, economy, education, business, health, safety, personal freedom, and social values. And the U.S. finished solidly in TENTH place. --The top 10 goes: Norway, Denmark, Finland, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Canada, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the U.S. --On the other end of the scale, the least-happy country in the world was . . . Zimbabwe. It just beat out Pakistan, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. --Only 110 countries were ranked, because some of them didn't have enough data to make the list . . . like Iraq and Afghanistan. (Forbes)
And Now, Three New Things To Worry About:
#1.) TOBACCO MAY BE MORE DEADLY THAN WE EVER THOUGHT. It's not exactly news to say "smoking will kill you" . . . but putting it in this context will give you something new to worry about. --Every year, tobacco kills more people than AIDS, drugs, alcohol, murder, and car crashes . . . combined. (Tobacco Free CA) (--Tobacco Free CA is also putting out some VERY aggressive ads. Check this one out, it's particularly effective.)
#2.) DWP . . . DRIVING WHILE PETTING. There aren't any solid numbers on this, but according to experts, tens of thousands of car accidents are caused every year because of pets running loose inside of cars. TENS OF THOUSANDS. --A rep from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says, quote, "An unrestrained pet can be hugely distracting, if he's seeking your attention, putting his face in front of yours, chewing the upholstery, or vomiting." (Arizona Republic)
#3.) ANESTHESIA DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. The odds are extraordinarily low . . . but there's a chance you could be AWAKE during major surgery. A study out of Germany found that anesthesia doesn't fully work on about two out of 1,000 people. --For those two out of 1,000, they're not fully out of it . . . so they stay awake during their surgery and actually see and hear what's going on. It happens mainly to people who've been using painkillers for several years. (UPI)
A Woman Suffers a Stroke and Becomes Partially Paralyzed . . . Because of a Hickey?
This story is about a freak accident that happened when a man gave a woman a hickey. So this alone shouldn't stop you from giving hickeys. The fact that you're not 12 years old should stop you from giving hickeys. --Anyway, in New Zealand, a 44-year-old woman and her boyfriend were hooking up and he gave her a hickey on her neck. Shortly after, she felt like something was wrong. REALLY wrong. So she went to the hospital. --When she got there, it turned out the hickey had caused a STROKE. -Apparently, she had a blood clot she didn't know about in her neck. When her boyfriend gave her the hickey, the suction loosened up the clot . . . it traveled down to her heart . . . and caused the stroke --It gets worse. Because of the stroke, she now has minor, partial paralysis on the right side of her body. --Now . . . before you panic, the doctors in New Zealand who treated her say that they've NEVER seen a case like this before. Ever. In the history of the world. --Dr. Teddy Wu treated the woman at the Middlemore Hospital in Auckland. He says, quote, "We looked around the medical literature and having a love bite cause something like that hasn't been described before." (Daily Mail)
It's So Cold That If You Leave a Banana Outside, It Can Freeze Solid And Hammer a Nail:
This is pretty insane. It's SO cold outside in some parts of this country that if you leave a banana outside, it can freeze solid enough to HAMMER A NAIL. --At about minus-13, bananas freeze hard enough to drive a nail into a board. It works whether the banana is peeled or unpeeled. And it works with lots of other foods too . . . even eggs. (NBC 11 - Minneapolis (--You can see a video of a local news reporter hammering with a banana here. Warning: This video is long and almost too corny to watch. The banana part starts at 1:48. We'd recommend skipping to there.)
Marriott Is Getting Rid of Adult Movies in Their Hotel Rooms . . . Because These Days, People Travel With Their Own Porno:
If you travel with a laptop, iPod, iPad, portable DVD player, or basically anything people travel with these days . . . and you like to watch porno . . . odds are you don't need any help from your hotel room's weak On Demand selection. --And the hotel chains know it. In fact, Marriott International has just announced they're getting rid of pay-per-view adult movies in all their hotel rooms . . . because people aren't buying them anymore. --In a statement, Marriott says, quote, "Changing technology and how guests access entertainment has reduced the revenue hotels derive from in-room movies." In-room movie rentals are down 39% over the past ten years. --Marriott isn't getting rid of non-porno movies, because even though they're not as popular as they used to be, they still bring in tens of millions of dollars. --But they've never LOVED having porno available in the rooms . . . they just felt like it was a necessary evil, because of the huge amount of money it brought in. Now that the revenue is down, they can afford to follow through on their moral objections. (USA Today)
A Man Is Shot and His Wife Drives Him To the Hospital . . . But Makes Two Stops Along the Way To Pick Up the Kids From School:
Here's a hypothetical for our married couples: Your husband comes back from the store earlier than planned, he's been SHOT in the leg, and he wants you to drive him to the hospital. Is that REALLY the right time to knock out a few errands? --On Thursday afternoon in Syracuse, New York, 34-year-old Ronnie Gregory was walking to the store when he saw a man firing a gun at him. Ronnie ran, but felt a bullet hit him in the right leg. --He managed to walk a few blocks to his house, and he asked his wife to drive him to the hospital. -She agreed . . . but apparently decided her husband's leg wound wasn't exactly a life-or-death emergency worthy of breaking the speed limit. Or even driving to the hospital right away. --On the way, she made TWO stops . . . to pick up the kids from school. First she stopped at an elementary school, and then at a high school. Then, with the family all piled in the car . . . they FINALLY headed straight to the hospital. --Ronnie was lucky . . . his wife guessed right and his wound wasn't life threatening. --The police are still investigating why someone shot at Ronnie in broad daylight on a Thursday afternoon. (Syracuse Post-Standard)
MEATBALL CRIMINALS
Three Guys Who Robbed Drivers Stuck In the Snow Were Busted . . . When Their Car Got Stuck In the Snow:
This could be Exhibit A if we ever need to prove that karma is real. --Last week, three men were driving around Kansas City, Missouri looking for people whose cars were stuck in the snow. They'd stop, offer to help . . . and then pull out guns and rob the drivers. --But their crime spree blew up in their face on Thursday when they were driving around . . . and THEIR Chevrolet Suburban got stuck in the snow. --The police came to the scene because their Suburban matched the description that the robbery victims had given. --The cops found a gun holster, credit cards of several of their victims, and $42 inside. --18-year-old Darion Page and 17-year-old Michael Wilson Junior were arrested and charged with robbery and armed criminal action. The third robber is 16, so he was charged as a juvenile and his name wasn't released. (Kansas City Star)
Instead of Shoveling Snow, A Man In Massachusetts Tries To Blow Up His Snow With Homemade Bombs:
No one likes shoveling snow. Other than going to the dentist and getting Brazilian waxes, it's one of the most horrible things that humans ever do voluntarily. But declaring a JIHAD on your snow probably isn't the answer. --23-year-old Leo Powers of Abington, Massachusetts was arrested last week when a neighbor reported that he was using HOMEMADE BOMBS to blow up the snow banks in front of his house . . . so he wouldn't have to shovel them. --Apparently, when Leo found out, he threatened to blow up the neighbor too. He was arrested and charged with threats to commit a crime and possession of incendiary devices. (Patriot Ledger)
Police Catch an Arsonist Because He Left Behind a Major Clue At the Scene . . . One of His Fingers:
I'd guess it's tough for the police to find fingerprints when someone commits arson . . . they probably burn up or get covered pretty thoroughly with ash and smoke damage. --So this might be the easiest arson fingerprinting EVER. Police in Titusville, Florida caught a suspected arsonist when he left behind a major clue at the scene . . . the top half of ONE OF HIS FINGERS. --On Saturday, 24-year-old Ismael Ortiz set fire to a house in Titusville. When the police were searching through the wreckage, they found a latex glove. Inside of the glove? The tip of a finger. They ran the print and it matched Ismael. --Apparently, when Ismael set the fire and tried to run away, he slammed his hand in a door on the way out. That clipped one of his fingers . . . but he just kept going. --The police tracked down Ismael at a hospital, where he was being treated. He confessed to burning down the house . . . but said he'd been paid to do it by the guy renting the house, who wanted a renters' insurance settlement. --That guy is 58-year-old Sammy Davis (--no relation, he's a white guy). Police are still trying to track him down. (Orlando Sentinel)
RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS
A guy in Kentucky went to the hospital for a circumcision and woke up without his junk: The doctor had found a cancerous growth, and removed his entire penis while he was under anesthesia. Now the guy is suing. (Full Story)
Is Obama dying his hair? Check out some 'before and after' photos. (Full Story)
An 80-year-old man with dementia couldn't find his car in a shopping center parking lot . . . in 2008. He found it last week, and owed $14,000 in parking charges. But they waived the fees. (Full Story)
Check out a 'map' that shows how often people swear on Twitter posts in different parts of the country. (Full Story)
Even though AOL started giving free accounts years ago, 80% of their profits come from monthly subscriptions. And most of that is from dial-up subscriptions? (Full Story)
STUPID VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) Jets Quarterback Mark Sanchez Wiped a Booger on His Teammate . . . And Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger Got Humped: New York Jets quarterback MARK SANCHEZ had good moments and bad moments in last night's 24-19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. --But his NASTIEST moment came in the first quarter, when he got caught on camera wiping a booger on backup quarterback MARK BRUNELL'S chest.
(--Search for "Mark Sanchez Wiped a Booger on Mark Brunell")
--Then on one of the last plays of the game, Steelers quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER fell on the football . . . and for some reason, his running back RASHARD MENDENHALL briefly started humping him.
(--Search for "Roethlisberger Gets Humped")
#2.) A Guy Tried to Rob a Convenience Store . . . But Sprinted Out the Door When the Clerk Pulled a Samurai Sword:
A man in South Carolina who's connected to at least 14 convenience store robberies in the past year has finally been arrested. And the video of his last robbery attempt is outstanding. --The guy told the clerk he had a gun, then the clerk pulled out a SAMURAI SWORD. The robber immediately ran the other direction. --But the clerk chased him out the door with the sword, and police eventually found the guy hiding in some bushes.
(--Search for "Clerk Foils Robbery Attempt with Samurai Sword")
#3.) Check Out a Montage of Movie Characters Saying the Phrase, "Now, If You'll Excuse Me . . ."
If you want to be reminded of how Hollywood's been using the same old clichés for decades, there's a montage on YouTube of movie characters saying the phrase, "Now, if you'll excuse me".
(--Search for "Now If You'll Excuse Me Supercut.")
#4.) Life Expectancy Has Doubled In the Last 200 Years . . . And a Swedish Researcher Came Up With a Cool Way to Illustrate How It Happened:
A Swedish researcher took data from the last 200 years and showed how life expectancy has gone from less than 40 years old in 1810, to over 75 years old today --It's a little more academic than your average 'guy taking a watermelon to the nuts' video . . . but the way the information is presented is really cool.
(--Search for "200 Countries 200 Years 4 Minutes")
#5.) Tobacco Kills More People than AIDS, Drugs, Alcohol, Murder, and Car Crashes . . . Combined?
The new anti-smoking ads in California are pretty intense. If you haven 't seen them, you can watch them all at TobaccoFreeCA.com. They're all about how California has saved lives and money by banning smoking in planes, bars, and restaurants. --One of them shows a guy on an airplane crawl into the drinks cart . . . then out of a brick-oven in a pizza place . . . then into a fountain . . . and out of a fish tank at a hospital. --Then he makes his way to the nursery, picks up a swaddled newborn, and says that even if you were born TODAY . . . tobacco still kills more people than AIDS, drugs, alcohol, murder, and car crashes . . . combined.
(--Search for "TobaccoFreeCA.com Emerging")
The Seven Craziest Diets In History:
If you think today's crash diets are crazy, check out this list of the weird diets from the past. Just to be clear, these are all diets you should NEVER try, because they don't work . . . and some of them can even KILL you.
#1.) The Vinegar Diet. It was popular in the 1800s, and basically consisted of drinking massive amounts of vinegar, which resulted in vomiting and diarrhea. --It was made popular by the poet Lord Byron, who suffered from severe anorexia and bulimia.
#2.) The Chewing Diet. In 1903, a San Francisco art dealer claimed that he dropped 40 pounds by over-chewing his food. And he said anyone could do it, just by chewing each bite at least 32 times. -After chewing, you were supposed to let the food "trickle" down your throat instead of swallowing . . . which sounds like a major choking hazard. --Then if any pieces of food were too big to "trickle", you had to spit them out in your napkin . . . which is just nasty.
#3.) The Tapeworm Diet. This one was popular in the early 1900s, and the crazy thing is, it works. If you ingest a tapeworm, it'll live in your stomach, feed off the food you eat, and make you lose up to one or two pounds a week. --On the downside, you've got a worm living in your stomach that could eventually KILL you. And it's so dangerous, the importing and selling of tapeworms is illegal in the United States.
#4.) The Cigarette Diet. In the 1920s, cigarettes were also marketed as appetite suppressants, and Lucky Strike ads included the line, "Pass me a Lucky . . . I pass up the sweets." The main side effect of the diet: cancer.
#5.) The Slimming Soap Diet. In the 1930s, special soaps were sold that could allegedly WASH your fat away. Long story short, they didn't work.
#6.) The Drinking Man's Diet. A book called "The Drinking Man's Diet" came out in 1964, and it was a hit with chubby alcoholics everywhere. In two years, 2.4 million copies were sold, in 13 languages. --It's basically all about avoiding carbs. So it's like the South Beach diet, but you also have to drink hard liquor with every meal. --Some people still swear by it, but that much drinking can obviously lead to OTHER problems in your life.
#7.) The Cotton Ball Diet. Rumor has it, models still use this one to stay skinny. It involves soaking cotton balls or tissues in water, then eating them before meals so you feel full on less food. But it can seriously damage your digestive tract. -Plus, you can accomplish the same thing by drinking a big glass of water before dinner, or eating sugar-free Jell-O . . . which tastes a lot better than cotton.
(MyDaily.com)
Octomom NADYA SULEMAN told TMZ that she hasn't had sex . . . or even kissed anyone . . . in 11 years.
--She also said that her "fetish video" . . . in which she's in a corset, whipping a grown man dressed as a baby . . . was a, quote, "spoof" and a "parody". (--Check out the video of Nadya claiming to have been celibate for 11 years here.) --Meanwhile . . . TMZ also spoke with one of the Octomom's neighbors . . . and she said it's not easy living across the street from Nadya and her 14 kids. --The woman said, quote, "She doesn't treat her older children very nicely. She often is heard cursing at them and yelling at them. --"We can oftentimes hear the babies crying, and the older children seem to be out late at night in the backyard on the trampoline." --She also said that Nadya's, quote, "maniacal" laugh is an issue. But she added that Nadya is, quote, "trying to maintain and control it a little bit more." (--You can watch video of this here. It includes some audio the woman recorded of the chaos coming from Nadya's house.)
George Clooney Says He Won't Get Married Again:
Everybody keeps trying to marry GEORGE CLOONEY off . . . and George keeps telling us that he's NOT going to make that mistake again. --The subject came up yet again Friday night, when George was on "Piers Morgan Tonight". It was actually George's dad, NICK CLOONEY, who was prodding him to marry his Italian girlfriend, Elisabetta Canalis. --And George gave pretty much the same answer he always does . . . quote, "I hate to blow your whole news story, but I was married. Yeah, so I've proven how good I was at it and I just . . . I'm allowed one." (--George was married to actress TALIA BALSAM from 1989 to 1993. She plays Natalie Portman's mom in her new flick, "No Strings Attached". She's currently married to John Slattery of "Mad Men" fame.) --Here's something else Clooney isn't cut out for: Politics. He told Piers, quote, "Honestly, my job is as good as they get. I think that I am best suited as an advocate for issues . . . --". . . And I look to people who are far smarter and far better at this than I am to lead." --And here's what he had to say about his Malaria . . . quote, "I guess the mosquito in Juba looked at me and thought I was the bar." (--Here's video of George discussing his malaria.) --George also sounded off on the paparazzi, for trying to coerce him into doing stupid things. --He said, quote, "When I'm walking through an airport, you got a camera in front of me and you ask me, 'Hey, who's the fat girl you're walking next to?' or something like that. --"That's not trying to catch me doing something dumb, that's trying to make me do something dumb." (--Here's video off that comment.)
Ivanka Trump Is Pregnant:
DONALD TRUMP'S daughter IVANKA is pregnant. There's no word on the due date. This will be the first child for Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner . . . who owns the "New York Observer". --She Tweeted, quote, "I have been wanting to share some amazing news with you all for some time. I'm pregnant! Jared and I couldn't be more excited." (--Ivanka is 29.)
Monica Got Married a Month Ago:
R&B minx MONICA got married to Los Angeles Lakers guard SHANNON BROWN on November 22nd . . . and they were able to keep it a secret until this weekend. --She says, quote, "This is a very special time in my life. I am blessed to have married the man that God sent me. He's loving, compassionate, strong and supportive of my children, family and career. I look forward to our lives together." (--Privacy is kind of a double-edged sword for celebrities. I mean, if you're able to keep a marriage a secret that long, you have to wonder if it's only because nobody really cares about you.)
Kim Kardashian Hints That She Wants to Have Kris Humphries' Baby:
It looks like KIM KARDASHIAN is starting to get baby-crazy . . . for real. --Yesterday, she Tweeted a picture of her New Jersey Net boyfriend KRIS HUMPHRIES when he was a kid. And the caption read, quote, "I want my son to look like this!" (--Check it out here.)
Jessica Simpson Thanks God for Her Boyfriend's Backside:
JESSICA SIMPSON has a lot to be thankful for. And that apparently includes her boyfriend ERIC JOHNSON'S TIGHT BACKSIDE. --Saturday night, she Tweeted, quote, "Saying my prayers before bedtime...Thank you Lord for blessing me with a Man that has the perfect Tush...laying my hands upon it with peace :)"
Danny Glover Is Cool with Mel Gibson:
Even though MEL GIBSON added racism to his growing repertoire of offensive behaviors this past summer, his old friend DANNY GLOVER still has his back. --Danny told MTV News, quote, "I love Mel. That's my friend. He's had tough times. We've all had tough times." --Danny said he and Mel have kept in touch, and even ran into each other recently. He said, quote, "We ran up and hugged each other, man." --He added that the Mel Gibson he knows is, quote, "a very generous man, a man that . . . whatever he goes through . . . is always searching for something and searching for meaning in his life." (--Grab video of his comments, here.)
Does Mickey Rourke Smell?
Let's be honest: MICKEY ROURKE looks like he smells bad. And according to the "National Enquirer", looks are NOT deceiving in this case. --A so-called "source" says, quote, "Mickey's a nice guy . . . but the bottom line is he smells! He's got a definite hygiene problem. Between his overpowering body odor and his awful breath, a lot of people won't go near him unless they have to. --"[He] either forgets to take showers or is adamantly opposed to using deodorant." --And his trailer is even worse . . . quote, "It's so sloppy and messy that the makeup and wardrobe people try to work with him anywhere else but there. They avoid that trailer like a hazardous waste dump!" --The source adds, quote, "Mickey's like Pigpen in the 'Peanuts' comics: He's lovable, but dirty. Directors tend to overlook his bad hygiene because he's such a sweetheart and gifted actor. --"But the crew and the cast get the brunt of it. On bad days when they see Mickey, they run in the other direction."
Aaron Carter is in Rehab:
"Singer" and former "Dancing with the Stars" contestant AARON CARTER is in rehab. There's no word what substance or substances he's being treated for. Aaron is 23 years old. --His manager says, quote, "Aaron, understanding the challenges and hard work it would take to get himself back to the top, requested to take some time before we started to heal some emotional and spiritual issues he was dealing with. --"Therefore he has chosen to enter a facility where he feels he will get the guidance and cleansing he needs that will help him on the music journey he's about to take."
Bret Michaels Will Have Heart Surgery Today:
BRET MICHAELS will have surgery today to repair a hole in his heart. On Saturday, he said, quote, "Barring any complications, I should be out within three to four days. --"Then, I will be down (resting) for three weeks. I don't know if I can sit around for that long, but I'll try my best." --Bret still isn't completely recovered from the brain hemorrhage he suffered last April . . . but he's getting there. --He said, quote, "I've done a lot of neurological tests, and they say I'm about 95% there. --"I still have a little 'funk' with my left hand that I haven't quite figured out, but I think with a little more therapy, by one full year (after the hemorrhage), I'll be as good as I'm going to get." --One last note: Bret says he still hasn't set a date with his new fiancée, Kristi Gibson . . . quote, "It may be the longest engagement in history, but I took the next step."
Big Surprise Here: Gwyneth Paltrow Thinks She's Better Than You:
Would it surprise you to learn that GWYNETH PALTROW thinks she's better than you? That's according to a woman named Abbie Diaz . . . who spent years working as a maitre d at several Manhattan restaurants. --She says, quote, "If you're not worthy, it's like you're not there . . . [Gwyneth has a] passive-aggressive comportment . . . meant to unnerve the plebeians." --But she adds that Gwyneth enjoys male servers . . . as long as they're, quote, "cute and sweet."
"Harry Potter" Actress Afshan Azad Was Beaten Up By Her Brother for Dating a Non-Muslim:
AFSHAN AZAD . . . who plays Padma Patil in the "Harry Potter" movies . . . was beaten up by her brother Ashraf last year. --He punched her repeatedly, dragged her by the hair and threatened to kill her. And all because he found out she was dating a non-Muslim. --Well, Ashraf was sentenced to six months behind bars on Friday . . . even though Afshan said she'd forgiven him and asked the judge for leniency. (--Afshan's father allegedly made death threats against her, too. But he was cleared.)
Jack LaLanne Has Died at the Age of 96:
No matter how healthy he lived, JACK LALANNE had to die sometime. And yesterday, he finally did. Jack died of respiratory failure due to pneumonia at his home in California. He was 96. --Forget about Richard Simmons, Jane Fonda or even Chuck Norris and his Total Gym . . . Jack LaLanne was America's TRUE guru of physical fitness. --He hosted "The Jack LaLanne Show" from 1951 to 1985. He also opened one of the first health spas in 1936. --He was also known for staging insane feats of strength, like swimming the length of the Golden Gate Bridge in handcuffs, while towing a boat behind him. --Jack's agent said he worked out every day of his life, right up to the end. Last year, while celebrating his 95th birthday, Jack dropped this classic line . . . quote, "I can't afford to die, it'd wreck my image." (--Here's video of a young Jack LaLanne doing some FINGERTIP PUSHUPS.)
Natalie Portman's New Romantic Comedy is #1 at the Box Office:
NATALIE PORTMAN now has two movies in the top 10. Her new romantic comedy, "No Strings Attached", opened at #1 with $20.3 million. And "Black Swan" is at #6 after earning another $6.2 million.
1.) (NEW) "No Strings Attached", $20.3 million.
2.) "The Green Hornet", $18.1 million. Up to $63.4 million in its 2nd week.
3.) "The Dilemma", $9.7 million. Up to $33.4 million in its 2nd week.
And Now . . . A List of Movies That Contain the Most F-Bombs:
Have you ever wondered what movies drop the most F-bombs? Well, Wikipedia has a list of them. --Standing well above the rest of the pack at #1 is a movie whose title is the F-word itself. It's a documentary about the F-word, and it uses it 824 times in a mere 93 minutes. --Next up is the 1999 flick "Summer of Sam", directed by SPIKE LEE and starring JOHN LEGUIZAMO and MIRA SORVINO. It's got 435 F-bombs in it. --Here are the Top 10 flicks, along with the year they were made, and the number of F-bombs dropped in them . . .
#1.) "(Eff)", 2005, 824
#2.) "Summer of Sam", 1999, 435
#3.) "Nil By Mouth", 1997, 428
#4.) "Casino", 1995, 422
#5.) "Alpha Dog", 2007, 367
#6.) "Twin Town", 1997, 318
#7.) "Running Scared", 2006, 315
#8.) "Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat", 2002, 311
#9.) (tie) "Menace II Society", 1993, 300
#9.) (tie) "Goodfellas", 1990, 300
(--This being Wikipedia, I wouldn't necessarily trust this list to be 100% accurate or complete. But there are a TON of movies on it. You can check out the whole thing here.)
Check Out the Trailer for "Scream 4":
The trailer for "Scream 4" hit the web over the weekend. (--You can check it out here.) --"Scream 4" hits theaters on April 15th. NEVE CAMPBELL, COURTENEY COX and DAVID ARQUETTE are all back from the original trilogy. -They're joined by EMMA ROBERTS, HAYDEN PANETTIERE and RORY CULKIN.
Bill Clinton Isn't In "The Hangover 2":
Pictures surfaced last year showing BILL CLINTON on the set of "The Hangover 2" in Thailand. And that had people thinking Clinton would be making a cameo in the movie. But that's probably not true. --ED HELMS says, quote, "He came and visited us. I'd be surprised if there's a scene in the movie." (--Clinton was in Thailand to give speeches on clean energy and meet with world leaders.)
Elijah Wood Says His Part in "The Hobbit" Won't Mess With the Integrity of the Book:
ELIJAH WOOD wants J.R.R. TOLKIEN fans to know that the inclusion of his character, Frodo Baggins, in the "Hobbit" movies will NOT mess with the integrity of the novel. (--Frodo is a "Lord of the Rings" character, but was NOT mentioned in "The Hobbit", which takes place many years earlier.) --Wood says, quote, "It's a very small piece, and I think that's the most appropriate . . . The way that it will fit in will not infringe upon the integrity of 'The Hobbit'. It'll fit and it'll be appropriate."
Oprah Winfrey Is Revealing a Shocking "Family Secret" Today:
OPRAH WINFREY will reveal an EARTH-SHATTERING "hidden family secret" on today's show . . . and no, it is NOT going to be a lesbian thing. Sorry. -In a promo clip for the episode, Oprah says, quote, "In the past 25 years, the "Oprah" show has reunited a lot of people. I thought I'd seen it all. But this, my friends, is the miracle of all miracles." --And that's no exaggeration. --Er, actually . . . it probably is. There's no word on what this is all about yet, but Oprah's preview continues, quote, "I was given some news that literally shook me to my core. --"This time, I'm the one being reunited . . . only a handful of people in my life know about this . . . I was keeping a family secret for months, and on Monday you're going to hear it straight from me." (--You can watch the promo at Oprah.com, here.) --The "family secret" could be rooted in Oprah's troubled childhood. --She was born into poverty to two unmarried teenagers. The couple split up after Oprah was born, and various family members raised her. She was also molested as a child. Then she became pregnant at 14, but the baby died just after it was born.
Keith Olbermann Is Out at MSNBC . . . Effective Immediately:
On Friday, KEITH OLBERMANN suddenly announced that his MSNBC show, "Countdown", was OVER . . . and that Friday's episode would be its last. He began hosting "Countdown" nearly eight years ago, back in March of 2003. --MSNBC has confirmed that Keith is out . . . saying, quote, "MSNBC and Keith Olbermann have ended their contract. MSNBC thanks Keith for his integral role in MSNBC's success and we wish him well in his future endeavors." --There aren't many concrete details on what happened, but it seems like Keith was either fired or forced out. --Keith referenced the "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!" scene from the 1976 movie "Network" in his final sign-off. -He said, quote, "I think the same fantasy has popped into the head of everybody in my business who has ever been told what I've been told, that this is going to be the last edition of your show. You go directly to the scene from the movie 'Network' . . . --"Complete with the pajamas and the raincoat, and you go off on an existential, otherworldly journey of unutterable profundity and vision, you damn the impediments and you insist upon the insurrections . . . --"And then you emit Peter Finch's guttural, resonant, 'So,' and you implore the viewer to go to the window, open it, stick out his head and yell . . . well, you know the rest. In the mundane world of television goodbyes, reality is laughably uncooperative." (--You can watch his full sign-off at MSNBC.com, here. And watch the entire four-minute "I'm mad as hell" speech from "Network" here, but be CAREFUL, there's profanity at 1:25 and 2:40. He gets out of his chair at the 1:30 mark.) --"The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell" will take over "Countdown's" timeslot.
What Happened to Keith Olbermann . . . and What's Next for Him?
Even though MSNBC suspended KEITH OLBERMANN for a few days back in November for making unauthorized campaign contributions to Democratic politicians, the general consensus seems to be that the NBC / Comcast merger had more to do with Keith's exit --In the tradition of fine journalism, TMZ is reporting BOTH that Keith's new Comcast bosses fired him . . . and that Keith initiated his own exit, anticipating that it was only a matter of time before he was forced out. --If Keith DID work out his own deal, TMZ claims he'll still get the $7 million he was supposed to be paid over the next two years . . . and in exchange, he'll have to stay off TV for a certain period of time. (--We're hearing it might be six months.) --So what's next for Keith? --TMZ says that if Keith is banned from doing TV for awhile, he could do something online . . . and RadarOnline.com, hints that he could run for office. --"Entertainment Weekly" has a different take. They say he could team up with AARON SORKIN . . . the guy who wrote "The Social Network", and the TV shows "The West Wing" and "Sports Night" . . . on a TV project. --Sorkin has reportedly been developing a new show based on a cable news show . . . and "Countdown" is one of the shows he looked to for inspiration. --"Entertainment Weekly" says Sorkin is working with HBO on the project, but the network hasn't confirmed that. If Keith is involved . . . it's unclear if he'd be serving as just a writer, or if he could appear on the show, too. --For the record, MSNBC says the Comcast deal had nothing to do with Keith's departure . . . and that this situation is "absolutely not" a sign that they're planning on toning down their liberal-leaning philosophy.
Did Regis Philbin Quit "Live!" Rather Than Take a Pay Cut?
Maybe REGIS PHILBIN didn't just suddenly quit "Live! With Regis and Kelly" because it was time to move on . . . or for health reasons. --TMZ claims ABC execs were planning on cutting Regis' salary after his current contract was up . . . "partly because the show is not performing as well as in the past, and partly because he takes a lot of time off." --Naturally, Regis wasn't happy . . . and that's why he abruptly decided to walk away. --"Sources" say Regis is now making between $18- and $20 million a year on "Live!". --None of this is official, but Regis DID recently FIRE his agent of 30 YEARS, Jim Griffin. (--Griffin has confirmed his firing to the "Los Angeles Times".) --There's also the fact that Regis is NOT retiring from the entertainment business . . . just from "Live". --He doesn't even seem to have any post-"Live" plans yet. Or if he does, he hasn't shared them yet.
Three More Advertisers Have Bailed on MTV's "Skins":
Three more advertisers pulled their commercials from that racy new MTV show, "Skins". Taco Bell led the charge last week, after the Parents Television Council urged people to BOYCOTT the restaurant. --Now, General Motors has placed "Skins" on their "Do Not Buy" list . . . and the Wrigley Company is out because they say, quote, "it was never our intent to endorse content that could offend consumers." --For what it's worth, Wrigley didn't specifically OK "Skins" in the first place. Instead, their ads, quote, "were part of a broader advertising plan with [MTV]." And H&R Block is apparently in a similar boat. --A rep says, quote, "H&R Block is not an advertiser of the show. One ad ran by mistake as part of a rotation. Once we learned this, we immediately took steps to ensure it didn't happen again. H&R Block did not select it to be part of our rotation." --Meanwhile, despite the PTC's efforts to have "Skins" investigated for "child pornography," there's still no official indication that MTV plans on toning it down. --In a spot for tonight's episode, "Skins" advertises a sexual fling . . . between two female characters. (--You can watch the girl-on-girl spot, here.) --By the way, 18-year-old "Skins" actress Sofia Black D'Elia, who plays a lesbian named Tea . . . (--the one with the straight hair in the clip) . . . is defending the show. --In an interview on HDNet, she said, quote, "It's pushing the boundaries for teen drama because I think 'Skins' goes where other shows are afraid to. --"It's what teens are doing. It's the way teenagers believe, I think, especially you know in certain situations when you come from home lives where your parents don't really support you or really listen to you. --"That's what most of these kids are going through. And so, um, the drugs and the sex, they're vices, and that's what teenagers have." (--You can watch a video of her comments, here.)
Monday TV Reminders: (--Check your local listings.)
--"House" . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Fox. (--The team tries to link symptoms between a teenage military recruit and his drill sergeant, while House helps Cuddy's daughter get into a prestigious preschool.)
--"Gossip Girl" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on the CW. (--"Spin City's" Michael Boatman and "One Life to Live's" Tika Sumpter join the cast as father and daughter.)
--"American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Discovery Channel. (--Lee returns to speak with Paul Senior about the issues he faces with his sons, and Senior files a second lawsuit against Paul Jr.)
--"Cake Boss: Next Great Baker" [1st Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:30 P.M. on TLC.
--"Castle" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ABC. (--Castle FINALLY kisses Beckett.)
--"Rupaul's Drag Race" [3rd Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:30 P.M. on Logo. (--Vanessa Williams is a guest judge.)
--"19 Kids & Counting" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on TLC.
Did You Know Ricky Gervais Used to Be a Pop Singer?
Did you know that RICKY GERVAIS was a pop singer in the early '80s? He and a man named Bill Macrae were in a short-lived group called Seona Dancing. They had a single called "Bitter Heart". (--Check out the video, here.)
Kanye West Is Putting Out Another Album This Summer:
KANYE WEST is in a prolific state of mind. His last album, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy", just came out in November . . . his joint album with JAY-Z is on the way . . . and he's planning on releasing another new solo album this summer. --On Twitter, Kanye said, quote, "[My album with Jay-Z], 'Watch the Throne' [is] coming in 2 months!!!!!!!!!! My new album [is] coming this summer. [My] 'All [of] the Lights' video in 1 week!!!!!! This is high end rap music."
KELSEY GRAMMER isn't the only one in his family getting married. His 27-year-old daughter SPENCER, who's on that show "Greek", just got engaged. (Full Story)
The Spanish porno star who was photographed at a Barcelona sex club with MACAULAY CULKIN says it wasn't their first time hanging out together . . . but she won't give any details about their times together. (Full Story)
For those of you who might still care, EMMA "BABY SPICE" BUNTON is engaged. (Full Story)
ELTON JOHN and "Glee" star MATTHEW MORRISON recorded a duet for Morrison's upcoming album. (Full Story)
ANTOINE DODSON . . . yes, the YouTube sensation better known as the Bed Intruder Guy . . . is working on a reality show. (Full Story)
Did MADONNA screw over the African nation of Malawi when she scrapped plans to build a $15 million school for girls? (Full Story)
Actress ANDREA ANDERS plays the love interest of MATTHEW PERRY on his new ABC show "Mr. Sunshine" AND MATT LEBLANC on his upcoming Showtime series "Episodes". And she's LeBlanc's real-life girlfriend. (Full Story)
Another day, another ratings record for "Jersey Shore". What is our problem, America? (Full Story)
"American Idol" ratings continued to drop for the show's second episode Thursday night. (Full Story)
"Big Brother 9" winner ADAM JASINSKI was sentenced to four years in federal prison for trying to sell 2,000 oxycodone pills and failure to file a tax return in 2008. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF
Texting Stuff Like "gr8" and "What r u up 2" Makes Kids Better At Spelling?
So, when your kids send text messages, they use abbreviations with letters and numbers, like g-r-8 for 'great' and 4-g-o-t for 'forgot.' And you probably think they're becoming a brainless, English-mangling fool. --But believe it or not, a new study by Coventry University in England found that when kids text message using abbreviations . . . that actually makes them BETTER at real spelling. --Here's why. When a kid is figuring out how to abbreviate a word, it requires them to think about how the word is ACTUALLY spelled, so they can properly shorten it. And that makes the correct spelling sink in. --In the study, kids who used texting abbreviations for ten weeks scored HIGHER on real spelling tests than kids who didn't use abbreviations. --The researchers say, quote, "There is no evidence that children's language play when using mobile phones is damaging literacy development. --"We are now starting to see consistent evidence that children's use of text message abbreviations has a positive impact on their spelling skills." (The Telegraph)
The U.S. Is Named the Tenth-Happiest Country In the World:
Just remember: No matter how bad things get in this country, we're still a hell of a lot less miserable than the rest of the world. --Well . . . the rest of the world not counting Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the Scandinavian countries, and a few others. --Forbes.com just put out a list of the world's HAPPIEST countries. It's based on prosperity, economy, education, business, health, safety, personal freedom, and social values. And the U.S. finished solidly in TENTH place. --The top 10 goes: Norway, Denmark, Finland, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Canada, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the U.S. --On the other end of the scale, the least-happy country in the world was . . . Zimbabwe. It just beat out Pakistan, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. --Only 110 countries were ranked, because some of them didn't have enough data to make the list . . . like Iraq and Afghanistan. (Forbes)
And Now, Three New Things To Worry About:
#1.) TOBACCO MAY BE MORE DEADLY THAN WE EVER THOUGHT. It's not exactly news to say "smoking will kill you" . . . but putting it in this context will give you something new to worry about. --Every year, tobacco kills more people than AIDS, drugs, alcohol, murder, and car crashes . . . combined. (Tobacco Free CA) (--Tobacco Free CA is also putting out some VERY aggressive ads. Check this one out, it's particularly effective.)
#2.) DWP . . . DRIVING WHILE PETTING. There aren't any solid numbers on this, but according to experts, tens of thousands of car accidents are caused every year because of pets running loose inside of cars. TENS OF THOUSANDS. --A rep from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says, quote, "An unrestrained pet can be hugely distracting, if he's seeking your attention, putting his face in front of yours, chewing the upholstery, or vomiting." (Arizona Republic)
#3.) ANESTHESIA DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. The odds are extraordinarily low . . . but there's a chance you could be AWAKE during major surgery. A study out of Germany found that anesthesia doesn't fully work on about two out of 1,000 people. --For those two out of 1,000, they're not fully out of it . . . so they stay awake during their surgery and actually see and hear what's going on. It happens mainly to people who've been using painkillers for several years. (UPI)
A Woman Suffers a Stroke and Becomes Partially Paralyzed . . . Because of a Hickey?
This story is about a freak accident that happened when a man gave a woman a hickey. So this alone shouldn't stop you from giving hickeys. The fact that you're not 12 years old should stop you from giving hickeys. --Anyway, in New Zealand, a 44-year-old woman and her boyfriend were hooking up and he gave her a hickey on her neck. Shortly after, she felt like something was wrong. REALLY wrong. So she went to the hospital. --When she got there, it turned out the hickey had caused a STROKE. -Apparently, she had a blood clot she didn't know about in her neck. When her boyfriend gave her the hickey, the suction loosened up the clot . . . it traveled down to her heart . . . and caused the stroke --It gets worse. Because of the stroke, she now has minor, partial paralysis on the right side of her body. --Now . . . before you panic, the doctors in New Zealand who treated her say that they've NEVER seen a case like this before. Ever. In the history of the world. --Dr. Teddy Wu treated the woman at the Middlemore Hospital in Auckland. He says, quote, "We looked around the medical literature and having a love bite cause something like that hasn't been described before." (Daily Mail)
It's So Cold That If You Leave a Banana Outside, It Can Freeze Solid And Hammer a Nail:
This is pretty insane. It's SO cold outside in some parts of this country that if you leave a banana outside, it can freeze solid enough to HAMMER A NAIL. --At about minus-13, bananas freeze hard enough to drive a nail into a board. It works whether the banana is peeled or unpeeled. And it works with lots of other foods too . . . even eggs. (NBC 11 - Minneapolis (--You can see a video of a local news reporter hammering with a banana here. Warning: This video is long and almost too corny to watch. The banana part starts at 1:48. We'd recommend skipping to there.)
Marriott Is Getting Rid of Adult Movies in Their Hotel Rooms . . . Because These Days, People Travel With Their Own Porno:
If you travel with a laptop, iPod, iPad, portable DVD player, or basically anything people travel with these days . . . and you like to watch porno . . . odds are you don't need any help from your hotel room's weak On Demand selection. --And the hotel chains know it. In fact, Marriott International has just announced they're getting rid of pay-per-view adult movies in all their hotel rooms . . . because people aren't buying them anymore. --In a statement, Marriott says, quote, "Changing technology and how guests access entertainment has reduced the revenue hotels derive from in-room movies." In-room movie rentals are down 39% over the past ten years. --Marriott isn't getting rid of non-porno movies, because even though they're not as popular as they used to be, they still bring in tens of millions of dollars. --But they've never LOVED having porno available in the rooms . . . they just felt like it was a necessary evil, because of the huge amount of money it brought in. Now that the revenue is down, they can afford to follow through on their moral objections. (USA Today)
A Man Is Shot and His Wife Drives Him To the Hospital . . . But Makes Two Stops Along the Way To Pick Up the Kids From School:
Here's a hypothetical for our married couples: Your husband comes back from the store earlier than planned, he's been SHOT in the leg, and he wants you to drive him to the hospital. Is that REALLY the right time to knock out a few errands? --On Thursday afternoon in Syracuse, New York, 34-year-old Ronnie Gregory was walking to the store when he saw a man firing a gun at him. Ronnie ran, but felt a bullet hit him in the right leg. --He managed to walk a few blocks to his house, and he asked his wife to drive him to the hospital. -She agreed . . . but apparently decided her husband's leg wound wasn't exactly a life-or-death emergency worthy of breaking the speed limit. Or even driving to the hospital right away. --On the way, she made TWO stops . . . to pick up the kids from school. First she stopped at an elementary school, and then at a high school. Then, with the family all piled in the car . . . they FINALLY headed straight to the hospital. --Ronnie was lucky . . . his wife guessed right and his wound wasn't life threatening. --The police are still investigating why someone shot at Ronnie in broad daylight on a Thursday afternoon. (Syracuse Post-Standard)
MEATBALL CRIMINALS
Three Guys Who Robbed Drivers Stuck In the Snow Were Busted . . . When Their Car Got Stuck In the Snow:
This could be Exhibit A if we ever need to prove that karma is real. --Last week, three men were driving around Kansas City, Missouri looking for people whose cars were stuck in the snow. They'd stop, offer to help . . . and then pull out guns and rob the drivers. --But their crime spree blew up in their face on Thursday when they were driving around . . . and THEIR Chevrolet Suburban got stuck in the snow. --The police came to the scene because their Suburban matched the description that the robbery victims had given. --The cops found a gun holster, credit cards of several of their victims, and $42 inside. --18-year-old Darion Page and 17-year-old Michael Wilson Junior were arrested and charged with robbery and armed criminal action. The third robber is 16, so he was charged as a juvenile and his name wasn't released. (Kansas City Star)
Instead of Shoveling Snow, A Man In Massachusetts Tries To Blow Up His Snow With Homemade Bombs:
No one likes shoveling snow. Other than going to the dentist and getting Brazilian waxes, it's one of the most horrible things that humans ever do voluntarily. But declaring a JIHAD on your snow probably isn't the answer. --23-year-old Leo Powers of Abington, Massachusetts was arrested last week when a neighbor reported that he was using HOMEMADE BOMBS to blow up the snow banks in front of his house . . . so he wouldn't have to shovel them. --Apparently, when Leo found out, he threatened to blow up the neighbor too. He was arrested and charged with threats to commit a crime and possession of incendiary devices. (Patriot Ledger)
Police Catch an Arsonist Because He Left Behind a Major Clue At the Scene . . . One of His Fingers:
I'd guess it's tough for the police to find fingerprints when someone commits arson . . . they probably burn up or get covered pretty thoroughly with ash and smoke damage. --So this might be the easiest arson fingerprinting EVER. Police in Titusville, Florida caught a suspected arsonist when he left behind a major clue at the scene . . . the top half of ONE OF HIS FINGERS. --On Saturday, 24-year-old Ismael Ortiz set fire to a house in Titusville. When the police were searching through the wreckage, they found a latex glove. Inside of the glove? The tip of a finger. They ran the print and it matched Ismael. --Apparently, when Ismael set the fire and tried to run away, he slammed his hand in a door on the way out. That clipped one of his fingers . . . but he just kept going. --The police tracked down Ismael at a hospital, where he was being treated. He confessed to burning down the house . . . but said he'd been paid to do it by the guy renting the house, who wanted a renters' insurance settlement. --That guy is 58-year-old Sammy Davis (--no relation, he's a white guy). Police are still trying to track him down. (Orlando Sentinel)
RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS
A guy in Kentucky went to the hospital for a circumcision and woke up without his junk: The doctor had found a cancerous growth, and removed his entire penis while he was under anesthesia. Now the guy is suing. (Full Story)
Is Obama dying his hair? Check out some 'before and after' photos. (Full Story)
An 80-year-old man with dementia couldn't find his car in a shopping center parking lot . . . in 2008. He found it last week, and owed $14,000 in parking charges. But they waived the fees. (Full Story)
Check out a 'map' that shows how often people swear on Twitter posts in different parts of the country. (Full Story)
Even though AOL started giving free accounts years ago, 80% of their profits come from monthly subscriptions. And most of that is from dial-up subscriptions? (Full Story)
STUPID VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) Jets Quarterback Mark Sanchez Wiped a Booger on His Teammate . . . And Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger Got Humped: New York Jets quarterback MARK SANCHEZ had good moments and bad moments in last night's 24-19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. --But his NASTIEST moment came in the first quarter, when he got caught on camera wiping a booger on backup quarterback MARK BRUNELL'S chest.
(--Search for "Mark Sanchez Wiped a Booger on Mark Brunell")
--Then on one of the last plays of the game, Steelers quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER fell on the football . . . and for some reason, his running back RASHARD MENDENHALL briefly started humping him.
(--Search for "Roethlisberger Gets Humped")
#2.) A Guy Tried to Rob a Convenience Store . . . But Sprinted Out the Door When the Clerk Pulled a Samurai Sword:
A man in South Carolina who's connected to at least 14 convenience store robberies in the past year has finally been arrested. And the video of his last robbery attempt is outstanding. --The guy told the clerk he had a gun, then the clerk pulled out a SAMURAI SWORD. The robber immediately ran the other direction. --But the clerk chased him out the door with the sword, and police eventually found the guy hiding in some bushes.
(--Search for "Clerk Foils Robbery Attempt with Samurai Sword")
#3.) Check Out a Montage of Movie Characters Saying the Phrase, "Now, If You'll Excuse Me . . ."
If you want to be reminded of how Hollywood's been using the same old clichés for decades, there's a montage on YouTube of movie characters saying the phrase, "Now, if you'll excuse me".
(--Search for "Now If You'll Excuse Me Supercut.")
#4.) Life Expectancy Has Doubled In the Last 200 Years . . . And a Swedish Researcher Came Up With a Cool Way to Illustrate How It Happened:
A Swedish researcher took data from the last 200 years and showed how life expectancy has gone from less than 40 years old in 1810, to over 75 years old today --It's a little more academic than your average 'guy taking a watermelon to the nuts' video . . . but the way the information is presented is really cool.
(--Search for "200 Countries 200 Years 4 Minutes")
#5.) Tobacco Kills More People than AIDS, Drugs, Alcohol, Murder, and Car Crashes . . . Combined?
The new anti-smoking ads in California are pretty intense. If you haven 't seen them, you can watch them all at TobaccoFreeCA.com. They're all about how California has saved lives and money by banning smoking in planes, bars, and restaurants. --One of them shows a guy on an airplane crawl into the drinks cart . . . then out of a brick-oven in a pizza place . . . then into a fountain . . . and out of a fish tank at a hospital. --Then he makes his way to the nursery, picks up a swaddled newborn, and says that even if you were born TODAY . . . tobacco still kills more people than AIDS, drugs, alcohol, murder, and car crashes . . . combined.
(--Search for "TobaccoFreeCA.com Emerging")
The Seven Craziest Diets In History:
If you think today's crash diets are crazy, check out this list of the weird diets from the past. Just to be clear, these are all diets you should NEVER try, because they don't work . . . and some of them can even KILL you.
#1.) The Vinegar Diet. It was popular in the 1800s, and basically consisted of drinking massive amounts of vinegar, which resulted in vomiting and diarrhea. --It was made popular by the poet Lord Byron, who suffered from severe anorexia and bulimia.
#2.) The Chewing Diet. In 1903, a San Francisco art dealer claimed that he dropped 40 pounds by over-chewing his food. And he said anyone could do it, just by chewing each bite at least 32 times. -After chewing, you were supposed to let the food "trickle" down your throat instead of swallowing . . . which sounds like a major choking hazard. --Then if any pieces of food were too big to "trickle", you had to spit them out in your napkin . . . which is just nasty.
#3.) The Tapeworm Diet. This one was popular in the early 1900s, and the crazy thing is, it works. If you ingest a tapeworm, it'll live in your stomach, feed off the food you eat, and make you lose up to one or two pounds a week. --On the downside, you've got a worm living in your stomach that could eventually KILL you. And it's so dangerous, the importing and selling of tapeworms is illegal in the United States.
#4.) The Cigarette Diet. In the 1920s, cigarettes were also marketed as appetite suppressants, and Lucky Strike ads included the line, "Pass me a Lucky . . . I pass up the sweets." The main side effect of the diet: cancer.
#5.) The Slimming Soap Diet. In the 1930s, special soaps were sold that could allegedly WASH your fat away. Long story short, they didn't work.
#6.) The Drinking Man's Diet. A book called "The Drinking Man's Diet" came out in 1964, and it was a hit with chubby alcoholics everywhere. In two years, 2.4 million copies were sold, in 13 languages. --It's basically all about avoiding carbs. So it's like the South Beach diet, but you also have to drink hard liquor with every meal. --Some people still swear by it, but that much drinking can obviously lead to OTHER problems in your life.
#7.) The Cotton Ball Diet. Rumor has it, models still use this one to stay skinny. It involves soaking cotton balls or tissues in water, then eating them before meals so you feel full on less food. But it can seriously damage your digestive tract. -Plus, you can accomplish the same thing by drinking a big glass of water before dinner, or eating sugar-free Jell-O . . . which tastes a lot better than cotton.
(MyDaily.com)
posted by Nazzy @ 5:58 AM
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