HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (01-27-11)

Kelsey Grammer's Wife May Prevent Him from Getting Remarried Next Month:

KELSEY GRAMMER wants to marry his new girlfriend, Kayte Walsh, next month. But that plan may have just gone up in smoke, thanks to his CURRENT wife CAMILLE. --Camille and her irritable bowel asked a judge to delay the divorce proceedings, so her lawyers can make sure all the financial issues are sorted out and she doesn't get screwed in the settlement. And that request was granted. --Camille is also asking for a $10 million bond to protect her in case Kelsey remarries and then DIES . . . and Camille has to fight Kayte over his estate. --Her attorney says, quote, "There is no question [that Kelsey] plans to remarry immediately. --"She shouldn't have to go into her pocketbook to fight for the estate when you know there is going to be a remarriage . . . with Ms. Grammer number next." (--Camille is his third wife.) --Kelsey's attorney says Camille is just stalling. And, obviously, he's going to fight that whole $10 million bond thing. --He says he expects the divorce to be finalized at a hearing on February 7th . . . after which Kelsey and Kayte will get married, as planned.


Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem Had a Boy:

PENELOPE CRUZ and JAVIER BARDEM are the proud parents of a baby BOY. There's still no word on the name. --Also, we're now hearing that Penelope gave birth on Saturday, not Tuesday.


Mike Tyson Has a New Son:

MIKE TYSON and his wife Lakiha are the proud parents of a baby boy named Morocco Elijah Tyson. Lakiha gave birth on Tuesday. --Mike and Lakiha already have a 2-year-old daughter named Milan . . . and Mike has five other children from previous relationships. --In May of 2009, Mike's 4-year-old daughter Exodus died when she accidentally strangled herself with a treadmill cord while at the home of her mother . . . who was Mike's ex-girlfriend. --Ten days later, Mike married Lakiha.


Did Chelsea Handler Break 50 Cent's Heart?

As far-fetched as it sounds, "Us Weekly" claims that CHELSEA HANDLER broke 50 CENT'S heart. --The two of them were allegedly messing around late last year . . . although neither of them ever confirmed that genital secretions had been swapped. But she dumped him just before the holidays. --A so-called "source" says that 50 tried to win her back by sending her gifts . . . but she sent them back. She even put a note on one of them that said, quote, "I can buy my own gifts." (--Chelsea is currently having her cradle robbed by Andre Balazs . . . a 54-year-old hotel tycoon who used to nail Uma Thurman. Chelsea is 35.)


Cheryl Burke from "Dancing with the Stars" Was Molested as a Child:

CHERYL BURKE from "Dancing with the Stars" reveals in the new issue of "People" magazine that she was molested as a child. -It happened when she was just five years old. The molester was a retired mailman who used to do odd jobs around her house . . . including picking her up from school. --Cheryl says, quote, "It was lots of touching. He would pull my pants down in his van or he would touch me in the living room while [Burke's caregiver] Ima was in the kitchen cooking. --"I knew what he did was wrong, but I wanted this older man's affection." --A year later, though, Cheryl ended up testifying against the man in court after he sexually assaulted her stepsister and a friend. --He ended up being sentenced to 20 years in prison, but he's since been released. Cheryl says, quote, "It creeps me out. My worst nightmare is to run into him. Not until he dies will I be able not to worry." (--Cheryl is 26 . . . she'll be 27 in May. It's not clear how long the dirtbag ultimately served.) --Cheryl discusses this in her memoir, "Dancing Lessons", which comes out next month. She also reveals that she's been physically abused by two boyfriends.


Bret Michaels Is Out of the Hospital:

BRET MICHAELS was discharged from the hospital yesterday . . . just two days after he underwent surgery to repair a hole in his heart. He's now recuperating at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona. --His doctor says, quote, "Because of the successful outcome [of the surgery] and Bret's determination, I believe he will be able to return to normal activity within weeks."



Levi Johnston Will *Not* Let Bristol Palin Change Their Son's Last Name:

BRISTOL PALIN'S efforts to give her son Tripp her own last name will apparently come to nothing. LEVI JOHNSTON says that boy will REMAIN a Johnston . . . and he's not giving up his parental rights, either. --Levi's rep says, quote, "Levi has his son, and that isn't changing. It is what it is." --He also thinks Bristol should stop talking smack about Levi's parenting skills in public . . . quote, "The Palins need to take the high road. There's a child involved in this and Levi is not going to stoop to this level. --"The Palins like to fight. They can say whatever they want to say. But Levi is not going to dignify their comments with a response."


Vanilla Ice is Apparently Pretty Rich:

When VANILLA ICE does cheesy reality shows like "Dancing On Ice", "Celebrity Boxing" and "The Surreal Life", it gives the impression that he's a washed-up celebrity just scraping by and taking any gig that comes his way. --But apparently, that's NOT the case. Ice is doing just fine, in fact. As you may have known, Ice has his own show on the DIY Network, called "The Vanilla Ice Project". --And he says, quote, "I've been making great investments on property for 15 years and it follows me going around buying houses, doing them up, doing construction. I do a lot of TV stuff but I also turn a lot down . . . it's got to be an adventure." --And despite what you may think, Vanilla Ice's music career is still going pretty strong. He says, quote, "I've sold 3 million records in the past eight months and I've got a new record out next month called 'WTF'." --This should give you an indication of how good things are going for him . . . quote, "I've bought yachts, mansions, cars . . . I have an exotic car rental business in Palm Beach and I've just bought a Rolls-Royce Phantom." --He also has a pet Kangaroo named Bucky Buckaroo. (???) He says, quote, "I've had him since he was a baby and now he's 5-foot-10. He's spoiled rotten; he has his own enclosure and a female pot-bellied pig in there who is his lover. --"Kangaroos will hump anything. I think the pig likes it. There's also a goat in there who he grew up with but they're just friends."


Willow Smith Will Indeed Star in a Remake of "Annie":

It's happening just like they said it would: WILLOW SMITH will star in a remake of the rags-to-riches musical "Annie", which is being developed by Willow's parents, WILL and JADA, along with JAY-Z. --Jay . . . who's also the boss of Willow's record label . . . says, quote, "We're developing a true superstar in Willow."


Peter Jackson Had to Have Emergency Ulcer Surgery:

All that "Hobbit" chaos must have finally taken its toll on PETER JACKSON. He had emergency surgery yesterday to repair a perforated ulcer. --Ironically, the same condition contributed to the death of J.R.R. TOLKIEN in 1973. But Jackson is expected to fully recover.


John Travolta Met with John Gotti Jr. Yeserday:

It looks like JOHN TRAVOLTA is seriously considering that JOHN GOTTI movie . . . because he met with JOHN GOTTI JR. at a restaurant last night. The director, Nick Cassavetes, was there, too. (--Cassavetes' movies include "John Q", "Alpha Dog" and "The Notebook".) (--Check out video of the two Johns leaving the restaurant here.)


The "Glee" / Kings of Leon Battle Is Becoming More Intense:

"Glee" creator Ryan Murphy and the band KINGS OF LEON do NOT get along . . . and the back-and-forth between them appears to be HEATING UP. --Here's the latest: Yesterday, Kings of Leon drummer NATHAN FOLLOWILL slammed Murphy on Twitter . . . saying, quote, "Dear Ryan Murphy, let it go. See a therapist, get a manicure, buy a new bra. --"Zip your lip, and focus on educating 7 [year]-olds how to say (eff)." --Murphy is an openly gay man . . . so naturally, people are calling Nathan's "insults" homophobic. And Murphy himself is among them. --He responded, quote, "Just read [his] Tweet, in which he implied I should 'get a manicure and buy a bra.' Wow. That's a homophobe badly in need of some education. I'm all for manicures, [but] don't wear a bra. --"[I'd] guess most gay dudes don't. But it's telling that Nathan can reduce a group of people to a mean-spirited cliché, in a time where young gay men are killing themselves all over the country because of hatred like this." --Nathan later deleted his Tweet . . . and said he was sorry. He Tweeted, quote, "I'm sorry 4 anyone that misconstrued my comments as homophobic or misogynistic. I'm so not that kind of person. I really do apologize." --The whole thing started when Kings of Leon refused to let "Glee" use their music. They later said they turned it down because they weren't familiar with the show, but they also implied that by doing it they'd be "selling out." --Then, Murphy told the "Hollywood Reporter", quote, "(Eff) you, Kings of Leon" and called them "self-centered (A-holes)," and accused them of hating on "arts education." --Kings of Leon singer CALEB FOLLOWILL seemed STUNNED at that. He responded, quote, "This whole 'Glee' thing is a shock to us. It's gotten out of hand. We're not sure where the anger is coming from." --Bassist JARED FOLLOWILL also chimed in on Twitter . . . although it's awkwardly worded. He said, quote, "I think I found out who I was sitting [next] to last night and he said '(Eff) You' and something about music at school. Who gives a (crap)?" ) (--Meanwhile, previews of "Glee's" big post-Super Bowl episode are out . . .) (--It'll feature a rendition of MICHAEL JACKSON'S classic, zombie-packed "Thriller" video. You can find the spots, here and here . . . and pictures of the cast as zombies, here.)


10 Dudes That Could Replace Regis Philbin on "Live!":


REGIS PHILBIN isn't walking away from "Live! with Regis and Kelly" until this summer at the earliest . . . but "Entertainment Weekly" has already put together a list of 10 guys who could replace him on the show.

--Supposedly, this is NOT a wish list . . . all these names are being talked about behind the scenes. Naturally, ABC isn't commenting on any of this.

--Here's "Entertainment Weekly's" list:

--Ryan Seacrest

--"Survivor" host Jeff Probst (--He's co-hosted the show in the past.)

--Mario Lopez (--He's also co-hosted the show in the past.)

--"Bachelor" host Chris Harrison

--Kelly Ripa's husband Mark Consuelos. (--"Entertainment Weekly" adds, quote, "We're hearing he's an unlikely choice.")

--"20/20" host Chris Cuomo.

--CNN superstar Anderson Cooper. (--He's also co-hosted before. However, he's in the middle of developing his own daytime talk show.)

--"Access Hollywood" anchor Billy Bush

--"How I Met Your Mother" stud Neil Patrick Harris (--He's also co-hosted.)

--"Dirty Jobs" host and "Deadliest Catch" narrator Mike Rowe

--"Entertainment Weekly" also listed five names that are being "floated by other publications" . . . but that they consider, quote, "silly."

--They are: Nick Jonas . . . uh, yeah, that's pretty silly . . . Bryant Gumbel, Glenn Beck, Tom Bergeron, Larry King and "Glee" star Jane Lynch. (???) (--Nick Jonas . . . like many of these other rumored replacements . . . has co-hosted with Kelly before.)

--By the way, Regis has apparently talked with MARY HART . . . who's leaving "Entertainment Tonight" in May . . . about working together in the future. --Obviously, it's too early to say if anything will come of it. They bumped into each other at a recent event, and discussed the possibilities.
Will Ferrell Will Do an Extended Guest Stint on "The Office":

NBC has announced that WILL FERRELL will be joining "The Office" later this season. He'll appear in four episodes . . . with at least one of them coming after STEVE CARELL leaves in April. (--There are no specific airdates yet.) --Will is playing an "inappropriate branch manager" who arrives from the home office while Steve's character, Michael Scott, prepares to leave. --Supposedly, Will is a fan of the show, and it was his idea to come aboard for a few episodes to help ease the transition to "Office" life after Steve Carell.


NBC Has Ordered-Up Some Lesbians:

NBC is developing a sitcom called "I Hate That I Love You" . . . about a lesbian couple. Here's the premise: "A straight couple introduces two of its lesbian friends to one another, and what results is both instant attraction and a pregnancy."


Steven Tyler's Daughters Say Steven Has Made "American Idol" Less Boring:

If nothing else, STEVEN TYLER has brought some fun unpredictability to the "American Idol" judging panel this season . . . and his daughters would agree. --MIA TYLER tells "Life & Style" magazine, quote, "We're a very sarcastic family. He's the funniest man I know. --"He's saving the show because it was kind of boring before. There's only so many times you can watch Simon [COWELL] be mean to people." --She adds that despite his borderline insanity on "Idol", he's just a normal guy at home. She says, quote, "He's very protective and gets mad at us for not cleaning the cat litter box . . . typical dad stuff." --"Idol" has continued its slide in the ratings this season, but the show picked up at least one new fan: Steven's other daughter LIV TYLER. --She says, quote, "I was so excited [when Steven became a judge]. I never really watched 'American Idol' [before]. --"[But] I watched it with my girlfriends at home the other night . . . and I had goose bumps for an hour and a half and laughed and loved it."


Thursday TV Reminders: (--Check your local listings.)

--"American Idol" [Auditions Show] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Fox.

--"[Bleep] My Dad Says" . . . 8:30 to 9:00 P.M. on CBS. (--Tila Tequila guest stars as Ting-Ting, the trophy wife of one of Ed's neighbors.)

--"The Office" . . . 9:00 to 9:30 P.M. on NBC. (--Andy tries to boost his slumping sales by organizing a business seminar that transforms into an improv contest for Michael and Holly.)

--"Nikita" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on the CW. (--"The Young & the Restless'" Thad Luckinbill guest stars as Alex's new neighbor.)

--"The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" [Reunion Show Part 1 of 2] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Bravo.

--"Winter X Games" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ESPN 2. (--Highlights from the 15th annual extreme sports competition in Aspen, Colorado.)

--"Archer" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on FX.
Jimmy Buffett Fell Off a Stage in Australia . . . But He Is OK:

JIMMY BUFFETT was hospitalized after falling off the stage during a concert in Australia Tuesday night. It was a nasty fall, but apparently he's OK. --Jimmy was in the middle of singing when he suddenly fell. There was a gap in-between the stage and the crowd . . . and he dropped into it, hitting his head. He lay on the ground for five to 10 minutes before paramedics helped him up. --It's unclear what caused Jimmy to fall . . . but a source tells TMZ that there were some bright, flashing stage lights that may have temporarily blinded him. (--TMZ has video of the fall. You can't see much . . . but you can see him fall, and the security guys swarm in to assist him. Check it out, here.) --Jimmy was then taken to the hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. --His rep released this statement: "The doctors say he is doing well and will be released tomorrow. More info as we get it, and thank you for all of your well-wishes!" And as expected, he was released yesterday. --He's next scheduled to perform this Saturday in New Zealand. As of late last night, it was unclear whether he'd be able to make it.


Is Lady Gaga Creating a Scent That Smells Like Blood and Man-Juice?

Like a lot of celebrities, LADY GAGA is getting her own fragrance, and like a lot of celebrities, she'll probably have LITTLE to ZERO input in its creation . . . regardless of what anyone says. It'll just have her picture on the box or whatever. -That's OK, because we're better off WITHOUT these celebrities being in the lab . . . mixing the chemicals and stuff. And that's especially the case with Lady Gaga. --That's because, according to Fashionista.com, Lady Gaga wants her fragrance to smell like blood and man-juice. (--And yeah, that would be "semen.")


It's Official: Vince Neil Is Doing 15 Days in Prison:

As expected, MOTLEY CRUE singer VINCE NEIL accepted a plea deal in his DUI case, which will send him to prison for 15 days. He must begin his term on or before February 15th. (--TMZ has video from the courtroom. Check it out, here.)


"The Big 4" One-Off Concert COULD Still Become a Tour:

Earlier this week, "The Big Four" . . . METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX . . . announced that they'd be doing ONE concert together on April 23rd in California. But there's still a chance for a full-on tour. (--They did a brief, seven-date tour together in Europe last year, and fans were hoping for a similar run in the U.S. this year. But instead, they just announced ONE show . . . and TWO more in Europe this summer.) --Metallica drummer LARS ULRICH says more Big Four shows COULD happen . . . quote, "Most of the egos and sandbox issues from the '80s and '90s have dissipated. --"We actually enjoy each others' company and are comfortable celebrating the past while continuing our path into the future. It's cool. --"I'm not saying this is the last one. But I don't want this to turn into something that overtakes everybody's schedules for the next couple years. If we keep it special, it's better than to overstay your welcome . . . let's see what happens." --Special or not, SLAYER guitarist KERRY KING is down for it. He says, quote, "I'm chomping at the bit to do a full-blown tour at stadiums across the country."


Elton John Calls Seeing Kanye West or Eminem in the Studio a "Phenomenon":

ELTON JOHN is always preaching tolerance. And he puts his money where his mouth is when it comes to music. Elton is into everything . . . including rap. --He said, quote, "I never dismiss any form of music. I listen to everything. […] People who mock rap, and say, 'I don't like it,' they should go check out Kanye [WEST] in the studio rapping. Or Eminem when he's in the studio. --"It's a phenomenon. Don't knock it until you've seen it. It may not be your cup of tea, but don't ridicule. I find that so many of my peers of my age don't listen to anything new. I love the new." (--And he supports "the new," too. Elton appears on Kanye's new disc, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" . . . and he's on the new ALICE IN CHAINS album.)


Nas Owes $6.4 Million in Taxes:

NAS has some big time debt collectors NOT named KELIS. --Nas owes the IRS $6.5 million in back taxes. That's the total of three tax liens that Nas has been hit with over the past three years. (--He also owes his ex-wife Kelis $25,000-a-month in spousal and child support.)
SHOWBIZ EXTRAS


A supermarket in Arkansas has drawn the ire of gay rights activists for obscuring the cover of the "People" magazine issue that featured ELTON JOHN, his partner and their adopted son. (Full Story)


MICHAEL VICK has scored his first post-prison endorsement deal . . . although it's "only" with Unequal Technologies . . . a company that makes football pads. It's a two-year deal. There's no word how much it's worth. (Full Story)


Cincinnati Bengals receiver CHAD OCHOCINCO has announced that he's changing his last name back to JOHNSON. He also says he doesn't want to leave Cincinnati. (Full Story)


Rumors that JENNIFER ANISTON is adopting a kid are, once again, untrue. (Full Story)


MTV is now canceling "Skins", despite rumors to the contrary. (Full Story)


Ratings for PRESIDENT OBAMA'S State of the Union Address were down from last year. (Full Story)


LORI LAUGHLIN is being dropped from the cast of "90210" at the end of the season. (Full Story)


WILL.I.AM is the new "Director of Creative Innovation" for Intel. He'll assist in the development of devices such as laptops, smart phones and tablets. (Full Story)


JUSTIN BIEBER will be on "Letterman" twice next week. On Monday, he'll be a regular guest . . . then he'll be back on Friday to present the Top 10 List. (Full Story)


DIDDY will guest star on an episode of "Hawaii Five-O" sometime this spring. He'll play a detective who's on a personal mission to hunt down some men responsible for a crime against his family. (Full Story)


NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF

The Best Way To Keep Your Marriage Together Is . . . Refusing To Forgive Your Spouse for Their Mistakes:

Next time your husband or wife does something that makes you furious, here's the best thing you can do for the marriage. Confront them . . . scream at them . . . and then flat-out REJECT their apology and hold a permanent grudge. --According to a new study from the University of Tennessee, when you forgive your spouse for doing something bad, it doesn't make your marriage better . . . it makes it WORSE. --The reason? You're sending the message that bad behavior is forgivable. By holding an eternal grudge, you show that what they did is NEVER ok and is never going to be ok. --In the study, researchers found that people who forgave their spouse for doing something wrong were TWICE as likely to have their spouses do it again. --And this ranged from mild bad behavior . . . like moodiness, nagging, or being inconsiderate . . . all the way up to horrific bad behavior . . . like abuse or cheating. --James McNulty led the study. He says the reason you shouldn't be too quick to forgive is, quote, "It may simply be that negatively behaving partners realize their negative behaviors have implications for them [like] anger and loneliness." (Time)
A Man Files for Police Protection . . . Because of His Wife's Insane Appetite for Sex:

See . . . it SEEMS like it's a good idea to marry a woman who's insatiably randy and wants it all the time. That's hot for a while. Then a few years pass, and some nights you just want to relax, watch TV, and go to sleep without having to perform. --That's what happened to a guy in Waiblingen, Germany. On Tuesday, he went to the police and asked for some protection from his wife . . . because of her insane appetite for sexual relations. --The man told the police that he'd been sleeping on the couch for the past four years to try to escape from his wife. They've been together 18 years and have two children. --The police told him they couldn't really intervene, so he decided his only choice was to end the marriage. --The police released a statement saying, quote, "Now he has decided to get a divorce and move out in the hope of finally getting some rest. --"At this moment, this is impossible, because he says his wife keeps coming into the living room demanding that he perform his marital duties. He asked for police help in getting some sleep at night." (FOX News)


If Your Ex-Boyfriend Keeps Popping Up In Your Sex Dreams, Don't Freak Out:

Here's some good news: If your ex-boyfriend keeps popping up in your sex dreams, it ISN'T a sign you want to get back together with him. It's totally innocent. BUT . . . you still probably shouldn't tell your current boyfriend or husband. -According to a group of researchers, it just means you're approaching ovulation. The longer you've been in your current relationship, the more your subconscious is going to wander during that time each month when you're randiest. --But the dreams don't really mean anything, and they aren't a sign that you should dump your boyfriend or husband and go back to your ex. It's just basic biological nature for your mind to wander to previous sexual partners. (Psychology Today)


A Good Way for a Woman To Get Promoted Is . . . Act Manly:

Hey, let's set the women's movement back four or five decades, how 'bout it? According to a new study at George Mason University, one of the best ways for women to get promoted at work is . . . to act like a man. --Researchers found that women who show traditional masculine workplace traits . . . like dominance and self-confidence . . . tend to get more promotions than other women. And they also get promoted faster than MEN. --But before you go into work and start smacking your male co-workers on the butt and calling them "Toots" or "Jiggles", there's a catch. --The researchers say the key here is monitoring yourself. So that when you're being confident and assertive, you also need to constantly gauge your co-workers' reactions and make sure you stay LIKEABLE. (ABC News)


Google's Next Mission Is . . . Becoming a Go-To Source For Internet Pornography:

Google's become the most powerful company in the world by redefining the way we look at web searching, email, maps, and pretty much everything else online. Now, they're targeting the final Internet frontier. --Google wants to become your go-to source for online porno. --On Tuesday, Google was issued a patent for a new image search technology that will help figure out whether you're searching for porno or regular content . . . and give you what you're looking for in either case. --Basically, they'd monitor which searches lead to people clicking on porno sites and images, and which searches are for people who want to click on real, non-sexual content. --Then, based on what you search for, they'd know whether or not to give you porno . . . and using their infinite supply of data, they'd be able to put the best, most relevant, targeted porno right in front of you. --This would also help your non-sexual searches return even better results . . . but we're more focused on the other side of the coin. --There's no word on when Google might start implementing this new search technology. (Thinq)


Check Out the Best Time of Day to Hit the Gym, Make a Doctor's Appointment, Call Tech Support . . . and Ten Other Things:

We've got a list here from "Woman's Day" magazine that has all the best times of day to do different things. It's usually the times when no one else is doing them. --And yes, we do see the problem in sharing a list of off-peak times . . . which could, in theory, lead to those times becoming the peak times. But let's just pretend that's not the case.

--Go to the gym before 8:00 A.M. If you put off exercising until later in the day, there's a much greater chance you'll skip it. Plus the gym is less crowded in the mornings than it is after work.

--Place orders online before 9:00 A.M. That way you have the best chance they'll be shipped out that same day.

--Call customer service just after 9:00 A.M. It's early, but a little bit after they've opened, so the people there will be done handling overnight messages and be able to focus on you.

--The best time to hit the DMV and the post office is . . . before 11:00 A.M. Most people will try to squeeze those in before work or during lunch, not during the mid-morning.

--Make restaurant reservations after 11:00 A.M. If you want to make reservations, do it close to lunch. By then, a manager or maitre d' will be at the restaurant and you can deal with them directly.

--The best time for a business lunch is before noon. By getting there before the rush, you'll get the best table and more attention from the staff.

--You should set up doctor's and dentist's appointments after 1:00 P.M. In the morning, they're usually dealing with emergencies, and get backed up until lunch. After lunch they're less busy and have a clean slate.

--If you want to talk to an executive, try after 5:00 P.M. Your best bet is to try calling after their assistant has left for the day. Executives tend to work later, so calling after regular business hours gives you the best chance of getting through directly.

--Fill up your gas tank after 6:00 P.M. In the morning, there are usually lines. After 6:00, there shouldn't be any waiting.

--The best time to buy groceries is after 9:00 P.M. There are fewer people there at night . . . and fewer kids running around.

--If you need to call tech support, do it in the middle of the night. Later at night gives you a better shot of only sitting on hold for an hour, instead of six hours. Since a lot of tech support lines are 24-hours, take advantage of the off-peak time (Woman's Day)


Americans Think Southern Accents Make You Sound Nice . . . British Accents Make You Sound Smart . . . And New York Accents Make You Sound Rude:

Harris Interactive just released the results of a nationwide survey asking people what they think of when they hear different accents. And it shows that good old American stereotyping is alive and well. Check this out . . .

--A Southern accent was associated with being nice . . . and uneducated. It was least associated with being rude or sophisticated.

--A British accent was associated with being sophisticated and well-educated. It was least associated with being uneducated or dishonest.

--A New York accent was associated with being RUDE and dishonest. It was least associated with being nice or honest. 51% of people associated the New York accent with rudeness, which was the highest percentage in the entire survey.

--A Midwest accent (--pronounced aaaaaaccent) was associated with being nice and honest. It was least associated with being rude or dishonest.

--And a New England accent was associated with being well-educated and intelligent. It was least associated with being uneducated or sophisticated.

--Across the board, people tended to give the best associations to the accent from their region. Like . . . Southern people were most likely to trust Southern accents, New Yorkers were most likely to trust New York accents, and so on.

(PR Newswire) (--You can see specifics on how each accent ranked here.)
The Color-Coded Terror Alert System Will Be Gone By April:

I don't know about you, but the first thing I do every morning is check Homeland Security to see what color the terror level is for the day. And it's always orange. Looks like I'm going to have to start changing my routine. -The Department of Homeland Security is announcing today that they're phasing out the color-coded terror warning system. It will be completely gone by April 27th. --In other words: Next time you're at the airport, you won't hear a recording of a woman's voice telling you that the current threat level is orange. --Homeland Security will take the next three months to roll out a replacement, which will be called the National Terrorism Advisory System. Instead of colors, it will notify the public by talking about specific threats, and how they're being handled. --Under the current system, there were five color-coded alerts to describe the different level of a threat: Green, blue, yellow, orange, and red. The government hasn't changed the alert level from orange in more than four years. --Representative Bennie Thompson is a Democrat from Mississippi who helped come up with the new system. Quote, "The old BUSH color-coded system taught Americans to be scared, not prepared. --"Every time the threat level was raised, very rarely did the public know the reason, how to proceed, or for how long to be on alert." (Associated Press)


Website of the Day: A Dating Site for Sea Captains Only:

I guess there's a dating site for EVERY niche at this point . . . no matter how ridiculous it seems. The newest one is called SeaCaptainDate.com . . . which matches up men or women with the sea captain of their dreams. --They say that they have more than 10,000 sea captains signed up already. No word on how many non-sea captains have signed up.


MEATBALL CRIMINALS

A Woman Runs Down Her Cousin With a Minivan . . . Over a Facebook Friend Request From a Guy:

One of the BIG problems with Facebook is that it's a very, very public way of finding out the love of your life is exploring someone else's genitalia. That happened to a woman on Long Island, New York. And the results were NOT good. --This weekend, 20-year-old Melanie Spanopoulous of Franklin Square, New York found out that her cousin, 21-year-old Giselle Penagos was dating a guy she liked. --And she found out because the guy accepted Giselle's Facebook friend request, but not hers. -So she responded by getting in her minivan . . . and RUNNING OVER her cousin in the middle of the street. Then, once her cousin was knocked down and trying to get up, Melanie threw the van in reverse and hit her again. --A man saw what was going on and ran over to help. Melanie offered him $20 to take her cousin to her father's house in Queens . . . and then drove off. --The man refused the money and drove Giselle to her father's anyway. Her father took her to the hospital, where doctors worked on her broken pelvis and broken leg. --Melanie was charged with assault. (New York Post)


A High Speed Chase In Washington Ends When a Woman Accidentally Runs Herself Over With Her Car:

On Monday, 40-year-old Jona Zeigler of Moses Lake, Washington was driving in her truck when the cops tried to pull her over for an outstanding felony warrant. --And Jona made the snap decision to BOLT. --She ended up leading the cops on a brief high-speed chase through some local neighborhoods . . . then got out of her truck to take off on foot. --But Jona made two major mistakes. One, she got out of her truck without throwing it into park. And two, as she got out of the moving vehicle she tripped . . . fell . . . and was RUN OVER by her own truck. --It ended up crashing into a chain link fence and coming to a stop. --She was taken to the hospital with undisclosed injuries. Once she's stable, she'll be arrested for her warrant, and for a new charge of felony evading. (Columbia Basin Herald)


Police Report To an Elementary School After a Substitute Teacher Drunkenly Passes Out In Front of Her Students:

I remember how my classes used to react when we had a substitute teacher . . . so I can completely empathize with a sub needing to DRINK to deal with horrible, horrible children. Just wait until AFTER school, not before. --Last week, a 46-year-old woman was substitute teaching a sixth-grade class at Pope Elementary School in Puyallup, Washington. --The sheriff's department got a call around 12:30 P.M. Apparently, the teacher was swearing and screaming at her students . . . and then started passing out at her desk. --When the police got there, they found her slumped down at the desk. --She told the deputies she'd taken some medication the night before . . . and put down a few glasses of wine before she came to school. --The cops found a flask in her purse. --No children were hurt, and the teacher wasn't arrested . . . but she was suspended by the school district while they investigate. (Seattle Times)


RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS

There's an insurance company called American Family Insurance that now offers parents a DriveCam . . . a spy camera in the car to let them spy on their teenage drivers. (Full Story)

Wal-Mart . . . now offering a line of makeup for 8- to 12-year-olds. (Full Story)

Girl Scouts selling cookies in Florida lost $100 . . . in a drive-by robbery. (Full Story)

And now . . . indoor heating may cause obesity too. A new study says that being exposed to milder temperatures means our bodies don't need to work as hard to regulate our own body temperatures . . . so we burn less energy. (Full Story)


NAZZY’S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) Here's an Old Guy with Bad Teeth Professing His Love for Selena Gomez:

There's a weird older guy with gray hair and brown teeth who's been posting YouTube videos about his love for 18-year-old SELENA GOMEZ. And despite the creepiness factor, the videos are pretty funny. --One of them begins with the guy saying, quote, "Selena Gomez: Totally in control of me? Yes." And in another video, he talks about how much young women are attracted to him. (--Search for "Selena Gomez Total Control" and "The Gossip About Me and Selena Gomez")


#2.) A Guy Peeled Out In His Classic Car, and Left Flames on the Road Like in "Back to the Future":

Some guy at a classic car event peeled out so hard, his tires left two flaming skid marks on the road, just like in "Back to the Future". (--Search for "Classic Car Leaves Flames on Road." See the flames at :25.)


#3.) Ben Stiller's Parents Have Their Own Web Series . . . And in the Latest Episode They Make Fun of the Kardashians:

BEN STILLER'S parents, JERRY STILLER and ANNE MEARA, have their own web series on Yahoo where they talk about pop culture. And in the latest episode, they go after the Kardashians and BRUCE JENNER'S plastic surgery.
(--WARNING: This video includes the word "ass".)
(--Search for "Stiller & Meara Episode 17")


The Seven Strangest Things People are Allergic To:

Over 50 million Americans suffer from allergies, usually triggered by things like pollen, pet dander, and peanuts. But you can be allergic to just about anything, and here's proof. These are seven of the strangest allergies ever documented.

#1.) Water. Since the human body is made up of about 60% water, it seems impossible. But 40 people worldwide have been diagnosed with water allergies, also known as "aquagenic urticaria" (--aqua-jenn-ic er-tah-CARRY-uh) --It causes your skin to break out in hives when it comes into contact with water. And in severe cases, your throat can swell up if you drink any. --A woman in the U.K. who suffers from it can only drink Diet Coke. For some reason, her body can tolerate it even though it contains carbonated water.

#2.) Everything But Water. It's so rare, there isn't even a name for it. But there are documented cases of children who have such bad allergies, water is the only thing they can safely consume. --One of the most severe cases is a 6-year-old boy in Australia who can only have water, ice, and one brand of lemonade. If he eats anything else, he gets ulcers and has severe stomach aches. So he has to eat through a feeding tube instead.

#3.) Cold Weather. Some people develop hives if their skin is exposed to cold air, even for a few seconds. --So going outside in cold would obviously cause a reaction, but so can walking through the frozen food aisle at the grocery store. And swimming in cold water can be deadly.
#4.) Heat. People with heat allergies develop red, itchy, swollen skin and welts if they're exposed to temperatures above 109 degrees. Things like exercise, hot showers, saunas, heavy blankets, and spicy food can all cause a reaction.

#5.) Touch. It's called dermatographia (--pronounced der-ma-toe-GRAPH-ee-uh). And in severe cases, even a slight brush against the person's skin creates an itchy, red rash. --It's also called "skin writing disease" because words and designs can easily be scratched on the person's skin. And after a few minutes, it swells up and almost looks like it was branded there. --Two to five percent of the population is thought to have at least a mild form of it.

#6.) Cell Phones. Dermatologists are seeing more and more of what they call "cell phone rashes" on the sides of people's faces. And it's usually because the patient is allergic to nickel, which is used in a lot of cell phone parts. --Only about 3% of men have an allergic reaction to nickel. But 17% of women do, because the more contact you have with nickel, the more likely you are to be allergic to it. And nickel is found in a lot of earrings.

#7.) Sex. Well, not the act ITSELF, but the end result. Between 20,000 and 40,000 American women are thought to experience something called "human seminal plasma hypersensitivity". In other words, they're allergic to a guy's seed. --And since it can cause burning sensations, rashes, and welts, the allergic reaction is often misdiagnosed as an STD. (MNN.com)