HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (06-30-11)
Selena Gomez Finally Met Her Crush, Shia LaBeouf:
If I were JUSTIN BIEBER, I might be a little jealous of this: SELENA GOMEZ apparently has a MAJOR crush on SHIA LABEOUF. And she recently met him for the first time backstage at some TV studio. And she FREAKED. --Selena's friends actually set her up. They told her she was going to meet a fan of hers, but it turned out to be Shia instead. -Selena must not be worried about Justin's reaction, though, because she posted video of the encounter on YouTube. (--Check it out here.) --In the video, Selena is pretty shocked when she walks into a room and sees Shia sitting there. He tells her, quote, "Thanks for being so sweet to me. You're really sweet to me." And then they pose for a picture. --Back in her own dressing room, Selena is still visibly starstruck. She tells her friends, quote, "He's so cute . . . Oh my gosh, he's so handsome."
That 16-Year-Old Girl Who Married a 51-Year-Old Guy Really Is 16:
Remember COURTNEY STODDEN . . . the 16-year-old girl who married 51-year-old actor DOUG HUTCHISON earlier this month? --Well, a lot of people don't believe she's really 16, because she looks like she could pass for TWICE that. --So E! Online dug up her birth certificate, and it turns out she really IS 16. She'll be 17 on August 29th. (--You can see it here.) (--Although maybe we should question its authenticity, since it's only a "certificate of live birth". What would Trump do?) (--Also, what's with the cheesy font? I hate to turn into a BIRTHER, but this doesn't look like the most official document, does it?)
Elisabetta Canalis is "Down in the Dumps" After Breaking Up with George Clooney:
We still don't know who initiated the split between ELISABETTA CANALIS and GEORGE CLOONEY . . . but Elisbetta isn't handling it well. --Her mom tells the Italian edition of "Vanity Fair", quote, "She's very down in the dumps. I've spoken to her, and she is very sad, but these things happen." --Her father adds, quote, "[George] certainly would have made a good son-in-law, but it's my daughter who has to decide."
Chris Hansen . . . The "To Catch a Predator" Guy . . . Has Been Caught Cheating On His Wife:
Remember CHRIS HANSEN? He's the guy who nailed tons of wannabe pedophiles for the "To Catch a Predator" episodes of "Dateline NBC". --Well, the "National Enquirer" set up an undercover sting on HIM . . . and they caught him cheating on his wife. Somewhat ironically, the other woman is a lot younger than him. But don't get the wrong idea: She's very much an adult. --Hansen has apparently been having an affair for about four months with Kristyn Caddell . . . a 30-year-old reporter for WPTV in West Palm Beach, Florida. Hansen is 51. --Last week, the "Enquirer" secretly filmed him on a date with Kristyn at the Ritz-Carlton in Manalapan, Florida . . . after which they spent the night at her apartment. They also filmed the two of them leaving the apartment the next morning. --Hansen lives in Connecticut with his 53-year-old wife Mary. They have two sons. --He's been spending time in South Florida lately investigating the mysterious disappearance of a boater off the coast five years ago. (--If you're interested, you can read more about that case here.)
Lindsay Lohan is Free:
LINDSAY LOHAN is a free woman. She was released from house arrest yesterday at about 10:20 A.M., after serving 35 days. --Lindsay was originally sentenced to 120 days in jail . . . but she got a much sweeter deal due to prison overcrowding in L.A. and the fact that she's a nonviolent offender. (--Authorities swear she didn't get any special treatment because she's a celebrity.) --TMZ got video of Lindsay leaving her home for the first time in over a month . . . (--not counting court appearances) . . . and she told them, quote, "I'm excited to start community service and focus on my life." (--Check it out here.) --Lindsay has to complete 360 hours of community service at a women's shelter . . . some of which she's already done . . . and 120 hours doing janitorial work at the L.A. County Morgue. (--After her release, Lindsay went right back to work at the shelter. Here's a pic.) (TMZ) --She also has to continue court-ordered psychological counseling and complete a program called Shoplifters Alternative. --Lindsay turns 25 on Saturday . . . and rumor has it she'll be celebrating at a private party in the Hamptons.
Does the Octomom Hate Her Kids?
"Octomom" NADYA SULEMAN has said some ridiculous things, but this might top them all . . . --In an interview with "In Touch Weekly", Nadya says she HATES her octuplets . . . and trashes her other six kids, too. --She says, quote, "I hate the babies, they disgust me. My older six are animals, getting more and more out of control because I have no time to properly discipline them." --Then she takes it back . . . SORT OF. She says, quote, "Obviously I love them . . . but I absolutely wish I had not had them." --Not surprisingly, Nadya is in HELL . . . and she's even contemplated SUICIDE. -She says, quote, "The only way I can cope is to lock myself in the bathroom and cry. Sometimes I sit there for hours and even eat my lunch sitting on the bathroom floor. Anything to get peace and quiet. --"Some days I have thought about killing myself. I cannot cope." --She's also broke . . . quote, "My bank account is overdrawn by $300 and I have no money to pay for the children's school, food or the mortgage."
The Octomom Had Her Boxing Match Last Night:
"Octomom" NADYA SULEMAN actually went through with that boxing match of hers last night in Bellmawr, New Jersey. She fought a local radio personality. (--Jen Posner of the "John Debella Show" on WMGK out of Philly.) --The two ladies wore RIDICULOUSLY oversized gloves and went four rounds. While the judges favored Nadya's opponent, the organizers ruled the match a draw.--Nadya wouldn't say how much she was paid, but she said it was enough to buy a week's worth of groceries for her and her kids. (--Here's a news report on the fight, including video of some of the action.)
Justin Timberlake Has Purchased a Stake in MySpace:
After appearing in "The Social Network" . . . a movie about the invention of Facebook . . . JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE'S latest project is to revitalize MySpace. In fact, he even bought a stake in it. --But it sounds like competing with Facebook is low on his list of priorities. He says, quote, "There's a need for a place where fans can go to interact with their favorite entertainers, listen to music, watch videos, share and discover cool stuff and just connect. --"MySpace has the potential to be that place. Art is inspired by people and vice versa, so there's a natural social component to entertainment. --"I'm excited to help revitalize MySpace by using its social media platform to bring artists and fans together in one community."
Jada Pinkett Is Worried That Her Kids Are Too Insulated:
WILL SMITH and JADA PINKETT didn't have it easy growing up. Which is why Jada wants to make sure that their kids, JADEN and WILLOW SMITH, know the world beyond the fantasy land they live in. --Claiming that she and Will grew up, quote, "in a house with drugs in a war zone," Jada says, quote, "It still makes me nervous that they're part of something that isn't totally real. But it's up to Will and me to teach them what's real and what's not."
The "Teen Choice" Nominees Have Been Announced:
Nominees for this year's "Teen Choice Awards" were announced yesterday . . . and there are TONS of them. --This show has 66 categories, covering everything from movies to TV to music . . . plus fashion, sports and even Twitter. (???) --Not surprisingly, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" leads the nominees with 11 . . . while "Glee" and "The Vampire Diaries" picked up NINE each. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" got FIVE. --Individual nominees include the stars of all those movies and TV shows, obviously . . . plus Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Shia LaBeouf, Zach Galifianakis . . . --Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and TONS more. (--Did I mention there are 66 FREAKIN' CATEGORIES???) (--Check out the complete . . . and completely exhausting . . . list of nominees here.) --The show airs live August 7th on Fox.
Aaron Carter Claims Michael Jackson Gave Him Drugs When He Was 15:
MICHAEL JACKSON has been dead for two years now. So it's pretty safe to make unsubstantiated claims about him . . . which is exactly what AARON CARTER is doing. --Aaron . . . who has previously denied that anything inappropriate took place during his friendship with Michael . . . now says Michael gave him wine and cocaine when he was 15 --He tells the Australian version of "OK!" magazine, quote, "I never talked about it . . . This is the first time . . . I miss Michael . . . --"I have spent such incredible times with him. I did things with him that nobody else did . . . But I was also troubled about what he did to me." --He adds, quote, "He gave me wine. I mean, I could have refused, but I was 15. He gave me cocaine. I felt weird about that and other stuff . . . We spoke afterwards, hours and hours, on the phone. --"I admired Michael, but his behavior bothered me a lot. Then my mother called the police."
Denise Richards Has Adopted a Baby Girl:
You'd think DENISE RICHARDS already has enough on her plate dealing with CHARLIE SHEEN. But apparently not, because she just adopted a newborn baby girl. --She's only a few weeks old, and she was born in this country. Denise named her Eloise Joni. --Denise has two daughters with Charlie, 7-year-old Sam and 6-year-old Lola. --"Joni" was the name of Denise's mother, who died of cancer four years ago. Denise, Sam and Lola chose the name "Eloise". We assume they got it from the children's character of the same name. --Interesting trivia: It was in the Eloise Suite of the Plaza Hotel in New York City that Charlie freaked out, trashed his room and locked a porno star in the bathroom last year. --Charlie, Denise and the girls were in New York to see "Mary Poppins" on Broadway. (--The "Eloise" books are about a little girl who lives at the Plaza Hotel. The original series was written by Kay Thompson in the 1950s, and the title character MAY have been based on Thompson's goddaughter, LIZA MINNELLI.)
Charlie Sheen Took Steroids to Prepare for "Major League":
When CHARLIE SHEEN gets into character, he goes all out. Charlie tells "Sports Illustrated" that he took STEROIDS while filming the 1989 comedy "Major League". --He says, quote, "Let's just say that I was enhancing my performance a little bit. It was the only time I ever did steroids. --"I did them for like six or eight weeks. You can print this, I don't give a [eff]. My fastball went from 79 [miles-per-hour] to like 85." --He was also getting into a lot of fights at the time. But only part of that was due to 'roid rage. The other part was the teasing he took because of his character's lightning bolt haircut. --He says, quote, "I didn't like the haircut because it generated so many comments in bars. I've got enough of that already. Add that to the mix, and it's a recipe for a fistfight." (--You can see Charlie's haircut in this promo clip for the movie.)
NEW MOVIES THIS WEEKEND
The New "Transformers" Movie Will Compete With Tom Hanks and Selena Gomez at the Box Office . . . But It's Playing in Nearly Twice As Many Theaters:
#1.) "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (PG-13) (Opened Wednesday)
Shia LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwicky, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley replaces Megan Fox as his love interest. The plot for the third movie reveals that the entire space race of the '60s was a response to a crash landing on the moon. --Leonard Nimoy does the voice of Sentinel Prime. He's the pilot of the crashed ship that Neil Armstrong and his Apollo 11 crew discover during their secret lunar mission. The Decepticons use the cargo from the crash site to launch an assault back on Earth and tear apart Chicago in the process. --Hugo Weaving is back as Megatron, and Peter Cullen is Optimus Prime . . . just like he has been ever since the original animated series. The human cast includes Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Patrick Dempsey and John Malkovich. (Trailer) (Teaser)
#2.) "Larry Crowne" (PG-13)
Tom Hanks loses his job and goes back to school at the local community college. Julia Roberts is his disinterested teacher. It's a romantic comedy that he co-wrote with Nia Vardalos from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". Tom Hanks is also the director. He previously costarred with Julia Roberts in the movie "Charlie Wilson's War". (Trailer)
#3.) "Monte Carlo" (PG) Selena Gomez is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress who looks just like her, and then pretends to be that chick after getting a taste of what it's like to be rich. Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy are the two friends vacationing with her, and "Glee's" Cory Monteith plays Katie's boyfriend, who follows them to Europe. (Trailer)
Harrison Ford Says He Called Shia LaBeouf a "[Effing] Idiot" for Dissing the Fourth "Indiana Jones" Movie:
HARRISON FORD says he had choice words for SHIA LABEOUF after Shia trashed "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". --Ford says, quote, "I think I told him he was a [effing] idiot." --He added, quote, "As an actor, I think it's my obligation to support the film without making a complete ass of myself. Shia is ambitious, attentive and talented . . . and he's learning how to deal with a situation which is very unique and difficult."
The Biggest Movie Flops of 2011 So Far:
The "Hollywood Reporter" has put together a list of the 10 Biggest Movie Flops of the Year So Far. --They are: "Mars Needs Moms", "Your Highness", "Arthur", "Prom", "Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer" . . . --"Green Lantern", "Priest", "Sucker Punch", "Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil" and "The Beaver". (--For details on just how badly these movies flopped, hit up the following link.)
Javier Colon Is the First Winner of "The Voice":
JAVIER COLON won the first season of "The Voice" last night. He was on ADAM LEVINE'S team. DIA FRAMPTON of BLAKE SHELTON'S team was the runner-up. Javier edged Dia by just 2% of the vote. --For winning, Javier received $100,000 and a contract with Universal Records. --Before the results were read, each finalist performed a duet with one of their idols. Javier sang "Landslide" with STEVIE NICKS . . . Dia did "House That Built Me" with MIRANDA LAMBERT. (--That's her coach Blake Shelton's wife.) --BEVERLY MCCLELLAN did "Good Life" with RYAN TEDDER of ONEREPUBLIC . . . and VICCI MARTINEZ sang "Drops of Jupiter" with PAT MONAHAN of TRAIN.
It's Official: Brad Womack and Emily Maynard Are Done:
Six months ago, the most recent "Bachelor" BRAD WOMACK said he was in love with "every bone in his body" and that the chances he'd be married by the end of the year were, quote, "damn good." --But of course, that isn't happening . . . at least not with anyone from the show. --His Chosen One EMILY MAYNARD has confirmed the obvious: That she and Brad are FINISHED. Emily tells "People" magazine that they are "no longer engaged." --She added that she still has feelings for Brad, which is to be expected after a whirlwind . . . 10-week . . . single-elimination . . . televised tournament of love! (--Are these people not completely hopeless?) --She says, quote, "Just because we love each other doesn't mean we're right for each other." For his part, Brad says, quote, "The demise of our relationship was completely my fault." (--I wonder if he means that with "every bone in his body.") --It's unclear when they split, but we've been hearing that they were doomed since March . . . the day after Emily said their relationship, quote, "certainly wasn't all roses" on the "After the Final Rose" special. --They insisted they were still engaged at the time. --Emily says she's going on the record about it now because of "all the media speculation" and she hopes that by coming clean, she and her six-year-old daughter will be able to, quote, "move on and get back to normal." --At least until she gets a call to do "The Bachelorette" or "Bachelor Pad". --In the meantime, Emily will be talking about her failed relationship with Brad in an interview with host CHRIS HARRISON that will air on the July 11th episode of "The Bachelorette".
Al Roker Hates Coconut, Horror Movies, Running and Impolite People:
Would you like to know more about AL ROKER, the "Today" show's weather superstar? Well, good news . . . he's filled out one of "Us" magazine's "25 Things You Don't Know About Me" lists. Here are the highlights . . .
--"I am extremely shy."
--"I am an animation freak and own more than 100 original cels."
--"I don't like coconut."
--"I hate when you hold a door open and people don't say 'thank you.'"
--"I refuse to go to horror movies."
--"I love riding trains."
--"Even though I lost 140 pounds, I still think of myself as fat."
--"I like pie."
--"I hate running."
--"I run so I can eat pie."
--"I can still fly into a rage when, in broad daylight, wearing a suit, I get passed up by a cabdriver."
(--You can check out Al's complete list, here.)
Thursday TV Reminders: (--Check your local listings.)
--"So You Think You Can Dance" [Results Show] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Fox. (--Kristin Chenoweth guest judges and AXIS Dance Company performs.) (Video)
--"50 Super Epic TV Moments" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on E! (--The 50 most outrageous TV moments since 2005 are counted down.)
--"Love Bites" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on NBC. (--"Saturday Night Live" veteran Chris Parnell guest stars as a real-estate agent when Colleen and Judd go house hunting.)
--"Ugly Americans" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on Comedy Central.
Bono Gave Joe Jonas Advice on His Solo Career:
BONO took some time out of his busy schedule helping third-world countries to give some advice to JOE JONAS . . . who talent-wise is the 'third-world' Jonas Brother. --Joe says, quote, "I met Bono like a year and a half ago and I asked him for advice . . . if you're going to meet Bono, you got to ask him for advice. --"He was like, 'Just write music that is brutally honest . . . look at [U2], we're a band and we have countries that are mad at us because we write stuff that's honest and gets people really mad.'" (--Papua New Guinea, for instance, is still furious with U2 over the honesty in "With or Without You".) --Bono also told Joe, quote, "Take your relationships or whatever you're going through and just really try to make it a point to write honestly." (--Joe had already learned that lesson from TAYLOR SWIFT, but I'm sure he nodded politely anyway.) --By the way, the video for Joe's single "See No More" hit the Internet last night. It's very melodramatic . . . there's intense gazing, wincing, slow-motion body movements, and Joe spends the second half of the video meandering through a nasty house fire. (--You can check it out, here. Personally, my favorite parts are the dramatic garage door-opening shot 52 seconds in, and the random wall that explodes at the 3:08 mark. It's even more amusing on repeat viewings.)
Tommy Lee Says People Don't "Ingest" Full Albums Anymore . . . But He Doesn't Think That's a Bad Thing:
MOTLEY CRUE drummer TOMMY LEE has a unique take on the Digital Music Era: He's not bothered by the fact that it seems to be killing the full-on ALBUM. --He tells the "St. Petersburg Times", quote, "No one really buys records anymore. You can look at sales and do that math real quick. Unfortunately, it's fast food in the music industry. People don't ingest full records anymore. --"They buy song to song, something that blows their skirt up. --"So for [an artist] to sit there . . . rip your hair out . . . and put six [to] eight months into making a full record for someone to buy one song from, that is stupid." --But Tommy doesn't necessarily think that's a bad thing. He explains, quote, "I think it's actually cool. What it will do is, force people to make better songs at a time, instead of making an album with nine [crappy] filler tracks and two good songs. --"I think it's nice. I think it's going to be wonderful, to tell you the truth." (--I wouldn't say that I disagree, but I do think this is a "chicken or the egg" debate . . . and I don't think it began with the artists responding to the fans.)
Music Videos: James Franco, Coldplay and Greyson Chance:
#1.) JAMES FRANCO is putting out an EP with a drag queen performance artist named KALUP LINZY. It's called "Turn It Up", and it'll be out on July 12th. And just in case you had any doubt, it's going to be weird. --They've released a video for a song called "Rising", and it's a trip. (--Here it is.) (--I'm sure it's brilliant and whatnot . . . but it looks like something that a kid made while screwing around with the editing software at an Apple store.)
#2.) COLDPLAY has released the video for "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". It's a live-action, stop-motion extravaganza, with a ton of colorful, glow-in-the-dark paint. --It's probably not going to approach the threshold of blowing your mind, but it's inventive, which for Coldplay is always a good thing. (--You can check it out, here.)
#3.) Remember GREYSON CHANCE? He's the 13-year-old who parlayed a performance of LADY GAGA'S "Paparazzi" at a school talent show into a record deal with ELLEN DEGENERES. These are crazy times. --Well, he just unleashed his "Unfriend You" video this morning. (--Here it is.)
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
LA TOYA JACKSON says MICHAEL was murdered, and his kids have been left with NOTHING. (Full Story)
JAKE BUSEY says he went to rehab because, quote, "Doctors told me I would die if I drank again." (Video)
Check out GWYNETH PALTROW topless . . . but covering her little boobs with her arms. (Full Story)
ROBERT PATTINSON took a pie to the face while filming the new DAVID CRONENBERG movie, "Cosmopolis". (Full Story)
Disney is doing a movie based on the Matterhorn ride. (Full Story)
Check out a preview of JAKE GYLLENHAAL'S appearance on "Man vs. Wild". (Video)
One of the original reality TV villains, PUCK from "The Real World", was arrested for domestic violence. (Full Story)
Republican presidential candidate MICHELE BACHMANN might still be using "American Girl" . . . despite TOM PETTY'S disapproval. (Full Story)
RANDOM STUFF
Women "Do Almost Everything Better" Than Men . . . Because They're Willing to Admit They Aren't Geniuses:
According to a new article in the "Wall Street Journal", women, quote, "do almost everything better" than men. The article cites a study that shows women are better investors than men. They're better at management. They're better at politics. And it all comes down to one basic reason. --Women are willing to admit they're not geniuses. Men aren't. --Quote, "A lot of research suggests that men think they know what they're doing, even when they really don't." --That overconfidence makes men take much bigger risks. And while those will work out for some men . . . and give them the MOST wealth and success of anyone in the world . . . it makes countless men crash and burn. --Women have less overconfidence so, overall, they're on a steadier course. In the study, women's returns on investments beat men's by 1% . . . which is a huge amount in the investment world. (Time)
Only 1% of Men . . . and 4% of Women . . . Think the Woman Should Be In Charge of Buying a Car:
In a new survey, 99% of men say that a woman should NOT be in charge of making the final decision on a car for the family. And normally that would be a good jumping off point for talking about how sexism is still alive and well in 2011. --Only it's not. Because women AGREE. --In the survey, 96% of women also said that someone of their own gender shouldn't be the one who decides on a new car. --51% of men and 40% of women said the man should make the decision singlehandedly. 48% of men and 56% of women said it should be a shared decision. 1% of men and 4% of women said the woman should make the choice. --And now, for the other side. The survey ALSO asked the same question when it comes to making child care decisions for the family. And the answers were basically reversed. --53% of women and 40% of men said that women should make the decisions singlehandedly. --46% of women and 50% of men said it should be a shared decision. --And less than 1% of women and 10% of men said that men should handle it. (Globalnews.ca)
Bad Grooming is Named the Most Annoying Office Behavior . . . Selling Your Kid's Girl Scout Cookies is Least Annoying:
Here's some good work advice from a new survey. Your coworkers might not like your odor. They might think you're obnoxious on the phone. They might hate your mere existence. But they will ALWAYS be happy if you offer them desserts. --In the survey, people were asked to name the most annoying office behavior. And here are the top five responses . . .
#1.) Sloppy grooming, 40%
#2.) Too many loud personal calls, 29%
#3.) Messy work areas, 9%
#4.) Smelling like cigarettes, 8%
#5.) Selling Girl Scout Cookies and other kids' fundraisers, 1%
--That's right: Even though you might THINK it's annoying to go around selling your kids' cookies, candy bars, sausage samplers, and popcorn tins . . . it's not. Your coworkers are hungry. (AOL Small Business)
A Man Quits His Job to Go to a Lottery Drawing . . . And Wins $250,000:
On Monday, David Becker of Wyoming, Michigan was part of a big state lottery drawing. He and four other people had won a promotion where they were entered in a drawing with a grand prize of $250,000 and consolation prizes of $5,000. --There was only one problem. David had to be in Detroit to be present for the drawing. He works as a forklift operator for a company in Grand Rapids, Michigan . . . and they wouldn't give him the day off. --So David weighed his options and decided to . . . QUIT HIS JOB to attend the drawing. He told his bosses, quote, "It's a chance of a lifetime." --And it really was. With his one-in-five odds, David DID win the $250,000 grand prize. He collected $176,000 after taxes. --He says, quote, "I can live on that, can't you?" --He plans on buying himself a Harley motorcycle and then using the rest of the money to pay bills. --David says he WOULD return to his job if his company asked . . . because he needs SOMETHING to do. (NBC 4 - Detroit)
Almost Half of the Teenagers in the U.S. Smoke, Drink, or Use Drugs:
Someone sound the parent alarm! Today's teenagers smoke! Today's teenagers drink! Today's teenagers do drugs! Turns out today's teenagers are . . . just as badly behaved as we were. --According to a new study from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 46% of American teenagers smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, and/or use drugs. Here are some other findings . . . --About 75% of current high school students say they've tried tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, or cocaine. --Alcohol is the most popular among teenagers, followed by cigarettes, then marijuana. --72.5% have tried alcohol, 46.3% have smoked cigarettes, 37% have tried marijuana, 15% have misused prescription drugs . . . and 65% have tried more than one of those. --The study also found that about 25% of Americans who start using addictive substances before age 18 become addicted, versus 4% who start using them after 21. --If you have three or more of these symptoms, you're considered an addict: Your tolerance increases, you go through withdrawal, you have trouble controlling use, experience negative consequences, neglect activities, spend time or energy on use, and have a desire to cut down. (U.S. News & World Report)
Can Text Messaging Help You Beat Smoking?
According to a new study, MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF TEXTING can actually help you beat smoking. And it's not just because your hands won't be free to hold a cigarette because they'll constantly be typing texts. --In a new study from the medical journal "The Lancet", researchers found that smokers who received encouraging text messages were more likely to quit smoking than people who didn't get those texts. --The smokers in the study received five texts a day for the first five weeks and three per week for the next six months. The texts said things like, quote, "This is it!" and "Today is the start of being [smoke-free] forever, you can do it!" --The smokers could also text the words "crave" or "lapse" at any point when they were feeling the addiction creeping up, and they'd get a message back like "Cravings last less than five minutes. Try sipping a drink slowly until it's over." --After six months, 10.7% of the people who got the text messages had quit for good, versus 4.9% of a control group that didn't receive any texts. (Yahoo News)
Word of the Day: Pyrophile:
pyrophile (noun) /pie roh fyle/ - a person who loves fire or fireworks. --Example: July 4th is the greatest holiday for my pyrophile friends. First we cook flame-broiled burgers, then we watch fireworks, then we burn an effigy of King George.
MySpace Has Been Sold For $35 Million . . . Back in 2005, It Was Purchased for $580 Million:
Believe it or not, social media is more popular than ONLINE PORNO. It's true, and it has been since 2008. More people now view social media sites than porno sites. --Except for MySpace. No one goes there anymore. --Yesterday, a company called Specific Media bought MySpace from News Corp., which is the company that owns FOX. --Specific Media paid $35 MILLION for MySpace. When News Corp. bought it back in 2005, they paid $580 MILLION. Meaning that in six years, it lost 94% of its value. --News Corp. was initially hoping to get $100 MILLION. --As part of the sale, MySpace will be laying off more than half of its 450 employees. We're not entirely sure what those 450 employees were doing there, but that's not the point. --Specific Media has said they plan to, quote, "rebuild and reinvigorate" MySpace and try to make it a place where people can watch media and interact with entertainers. Specific Media's main business is selling online ads. (Wall Street Journal)
WTF? A Woman Drowns in a Public Pool and People Keep Swimming Around Her Dead Body . . . For Two Days:
Something in this story doesn't add up. It CAN'T add up. --On Sunday, 36-year-old Marie Joseph went with some friends and their kids to the Veteran's Memorial Pool in Fall River, Massachusetts. Marie didn't know how to swim, but when she was supervising a nine-year-old, she fell down a waterslide. --Marie drowned. The lifeguards on duty didn't notice. When the nine-year-old tried to tell them, they allegedly ignored him. --For some reason, Marie's friends left the pool without her. None of them realized that her DEAD BODY was now floating in the pool. --And no one else realized it either. FOR TWO ENTIRE DAYS. --Tons of other people swam in the pool, around the body. There were lifeguards on duty. They opened the pool in the morning and closed it at night. And somehow, no one noticed the dead body. Again, this just doesn't add up. --Finally, on Tuesday night, when the pool closed at 10:00 P.M., someone realized there was a DAMN DEAD BODY in there and called the police. --They're launching a full investigation into how the hell this happened. (NBC 10 - Providence)
A Doctor Giving a Talk on Heart Disease Saves a Life . . . When a Guy in the Audience Has a Heart Attack on the Spot:
Ok . . . so you never necessarily WANT to have a heart attack. But if you're gonna have one, there aren't many luckier places than this. --On Tuesday, Dr. William Phillips of Lewiston, Maine was giving a lecture on heart disease to a crowd of about 100 people at the Central Maine Medical Center. He was discussing bypass surgery versus stenting. --As he talked about heart attacks, a man in the crowd raised his hand and said, "I'm having one right now." --The man's name and age weren't released. --Dr. Phillips and three cardiac nurses in the room immediately started helping the guy. They used a defibrillator to get his heart beating, then passed him off to some paramedics who took him to the ER. --The man survived the heart attack and he's recovering now. The immediate medical attention was a big contribution to him surviving. --Meanwhile, after the paramedics took the guy out of the room, Dr. Phillips finished his lecture. (Lewiston Sun-Journal)
MEATBALL CRIMINALS
An 89-Year-Old Woman Dents a Robber's Car With Her Cane . . . Which Helps the Police Solve the Case:
Over the weekend, an 89-year-old woman and 82-year-old woman in New Castle, Pennsylvania were about to walk into a pizza place for dinner when a silver car pulled up next to them. --A young PUNK got out and grabbed the 82-year-old woman's purse. Then he got back in the car. --Before he could drive off, though, the 89-year-old started SLAMMING HER CANE into the trunk of the car. She left a decent-sized dent. --When the ladies called the police, they described the car . . . and talked about the brand new dents in the trunk. --The police searched the area and found the car parked less than a mile away. And they were able to match the dent marks perfectly to the woman's cane. --They arrested 27-year-old Jerry Brown Junior and a woman who was in the car, 21-year-old Tatiana Vargas, for robbery, theft, conspiracy, and receiving stolen property. (NBC 11 - Pittsburgh)
A 55-Year-Old Liquor Store Owner and Her Groin-Biting Dog Fight Off a Robber With a Knife:
55-year-old Eve Watson of Torquay, Devon, England owns a liquor store with a fantastic name: Eve's Bargain Booze. On Saturday, she was working the counter at the store when a younger man in a hooded sweatshirt walked in with a KNIFE. --He demanded that Eve open the cash register. She refused. He threatened her with the knife. She still refused. So he jumped over the counter to break into the register himself. --And that's when he learned that Eve is TOUGH. --She started hitting him, and grabbing at his hood to reveal his face. Then her six-year-old bull terrier joined in . . . and started BITING THE ROBBER'S GROIN. --In the surveillance video, you can see the robber TRYING to open the register while Eve beats him and the dog bites him . . . but eventually he gives up and runs away, empty handed. --The police are searching for him. Eve wasn't injured during the fight. (The Sun) (--Here's the surveillance video of this entire battle.)
Random News Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
Flights were delayed for half an hour at JFK Airport in New York yesterday . . . because 150 turtles were crossing the tarmac. And actually, they do it every year when they look for beaches to lay their eggs. Airport crews were working from 6:45 A.M. onward to clear them. (Full Story)
According to a new study, 46% of Americans will pay no Federal income tax this year. But before you get in an uproar . . . it's because they don't make enough money to be taxed in the first place. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) The Self-Proclaimed "World's Strongest Redneck" Trimmed His Hedges by Swinging a Chainsaw Around on a Long Cord:
Some guy on YouTube named Steve McGranahan calls himself the "World's Strongest Redneck." And he posted a video of himself trimming his hedges by turning on a chainsaw, and swinging it around on a long cord. Somehow, he didn't kill himself. (--Search Break.com for "Chainsaw Hedge Trimming Stunt." He starts swinging it at :24, but you get a better view at :52.)
#2.) A Baseball Player Spit in His Own Helmet . . . Then Hit a Walk-Off Home Run:
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder WILY MO PENA hit a walk-off home run to beat the Indians on Tuesday. And after the game, the MLB Network pointed out something weird: Right before he hit the home run, Pena took off his batting helmet and SPIT in it. (--Search YouTube for "Wily Mo Pena Spitting in His Helmet." He spits at :14.)
#3.) And Now . . . The Best Gymnastics Fails From YouTube:
If you like watching people hurt themselves doing gymnastics, you're in luck. A website called Uncoached.com has a list of the best from YouTube. (--Search for "A Great Collection of Gymnastics Fails.")
The Five Easiest Ways to Cool Off Without Air Conditioning:
If you need to cool down this weekend, but you want to save money OR save the planet, the website PlanetGreen.com has a list of the five easiest, eco-friendly ways to cool off without air conditioning. None of these are NEW ideas, but they all work.
#1.) Keep a Spray Bottle in the Fridge. Then just spray yourself when you get too hot. You can also improve your complexion if you fill the bottle with weak green tea instead of water. The antioxidants help keep your skin clear.
#2.) Hold an Ice Cube on Your Pulse Points. Put it in a washcloth first. Then hold it on the inside of your wrist, or near the middle of your neck where you can feel your pulse. Supposedly, it can lower your body temperature by three degrees.
#3.) Put a Cold Washcloth on Your Neck. If you're REALLY hot, wet it, then put it in the freezer for a few minutes. Just don't forget about it, or it'll freeze to the inside.
#4.) Soak Your Feet in Cold Water. Obviously, when you're at the pool you can cool down by just dangling your feet in the water. But you can also accomplish the same thing in your living room with a bucket of cold water.
#5.) Wear a Wet Bandana. You can wear it on your head. Or if you don't want to look like Bret Michaels, it works just as well if you tie it around your neck. (PlanetGreen.com)
If I were JUSTIN BIEBER, I might be a little jealous of this: SELENA GOMEZ apparently has a MAJOR crush on SHIA LABEOUF. And she recently met him for the first time backstage at some TV studio. And she FREAKED. --Selena's friends actually set her up. They told her she was going to meet a fan of hers, but it turned out to be Shia instead. -Selena must not be worried about Justin's reaction, though, because she posted video of the encounter on YouTube. (--Check it out here.) --In the video, Selena is pretty shocked when she walks into a room and sees Shia sitting there. He tells her, quote, "Thanks for being so sweet to me. You're really sweet to me." And then they pose for a picture. --Back in her own dressing room, Selena is still visibly starstruck. She tells her friends, quote, "He's so cute . . . Oh my gosh, he's so handsome."
That 16-Year-Old Girl Who Married a 51-Year-Old Guy Really Is 16:
Remember COURTNEY STODDEN . . . the 16-year-old girl who married 51-year-old actor DOUG HUTCHISON earlier this month? --Well, a lot of people don't believe she's really 16, because she looks like she could pass for TWICE that. --So E! Online dug up her birth certificate, and it turns out she really IS 16. She'll be 17 on August 29th. (--You can see it here.) (--Although maybe we should question its authenticity, since it's only a "certificate of live birth". What would Trump do?) (--Also, what's with the cheesy font? I hate to turn into a BIRTHER, but this doesn't look like the most official document, does it?)
Elisabetta Canalis is "Down in the Dumps" After Breaking Up with George Clooney:
We still don't know who initiated the split between ELISABETTA CANALIS and GEORGE CLOONEY . . . but Elisbetta isn't handling it well. --Her mom tells the Italian edition of "Vanity Fair", quote, "She's very down in the dumps. I've spoken to her, and she is very sad, but these things happen." --Her father adds, quote, "[George] certainly would have made a good son-in-law, but it's my daughter who has to decide."
Chris Hansen . . . The "To Catch a Predator" Guy . . . Has Been Caught Cheating On His Wife:
Remember CHRIS HANSEN? He's the guy who nailed tons of wannabe pedophiles for the "To Catch a Predator" episodes of "Dateline NBC". --Well, the "National Enquirer" set up an undercover sting on HIM . . . and they caught him cheating on his wife. Somewhat ironically, the other woman is a lot younger than him. But don't get the wrong idea: She's very much an adult. --Hansen has apparently been having an affair for about four months with Kristyn Caddell . . . a 30-year-old reporter for WPTV in West Palm Beach, Florida. Hansen is 51. --Last week, the "Enquirer" secretly filmed him on a date with Kristyn at the Ritz-Carlton in Manalapan, Florida . . . after which they spent the night at her apartment. They also filmed the two of them leaving the apartment the next morning. --Hansen lives in Connecticut with his 53-year-old wife Mary. They have two sons. --He's been spending time in South Florida lately investigating the mysterious disappearance of a boater off the coast five years ago. (--If you're interested, you can read more about that case here.)
Lindsay Lohan is Free:
LINDSAY LOHAN is a free woman. She was released from house arrest yesterday at about 10:20 A.M., after serving 35 days. --Lindsay was originally sentenced to 120 days in jail . . . but she got a much sweeter deal due to prison overcrowding in L.A. and the fact that she's a nonviolent offender. (--Authorities swear she didn't get any special treatment because she's a celebrity.) --TMZ got video of Lindsay leaving her home for the first time in over a month . . . (--not counting court appearances) . . . and she told them, quote, "I'm excited to start community service and focus on my life." (--Check it out here.) --Lindsay has to complete 360 hours of community service at a women's shelter . . . some of which she's already done . . . and 120 hours doing janitorial work at the L.A. County Morgue. (--After her release, Lindsay went right back to work at the shelter. Here's a pic.) (TMZ) --She also has to continue court-ordered psychological counseling and complete a program called Shoplifters Alternative. --Lindsay turns 25 on Saturday . . . and rumor has it she'll be celebrating at a private party in the Hamptons.
Does the Octomom Hate Her Kids?
"Octomom" NADYA SULEMAN has said some ridiculous things, but this might top them all . . . --In an interview with "In Touch Weekly", Nadya says she HATES her octuplets . . . and trashes her other six kids, too. --She says, quote, "I hate the babies, they disgust me. My older six are animals, getting more and more out of control because I have no time to properly discipline them." --Then she takes it back . . . SORT OF. She says, quote, "Obviously I love them . . . but I absolutely wish I had not had them." --Not surprisingly, Nadya is in HELL . . . and she's even contemplated SUICIDE. -She says, quote, "The only way I can cope is to lock myself in the bathroom and cry. Sometimes I sit there for hours and even eat my lunch sitting on the bathroom floor. Anything to get peace and quiet. --"Some days I have thought about killing myself. I cannot cope." --She's also broke . . . quote, "My bank account is overdrawn by $300 and I have no money to pay for the children's school, food or the mortgage."
The Octomom Had Her Boxing Match Last Night:
"Octomom" NADYA SULEMAN actually went through with that boxing match of hers last night in Bellmawr, New Jersey. She fought a local radio personality. (--Jen Posner of the "John Debella Show" on WMGK out of Philly.) --The two ladies wore RIDICULOUSLY oversized gloves and went four rounds. While the judges favored Nadya's opponent, the organizers ruled the match a draw.--Nadya wouldn't say how much she was paid, but she said it was enough to buy a week's worth of groceries for her and her kids. (--Here's a news report on the fight, including video of some of the action.)
Justin Timberlake Has Purchased a Stake in MySpace:
After appearing in "The Social Network" . . . a movie about the invention of Facebook . . . JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE'S latest project is to revitalize MySpace. In fact, he even bought a stake in it. --But it sounds like competing with Facebook is low on his list of priorities. He says, quote, "There's a need for a place where fans can go to interact with their favorite entertainers, listen to music, watch videos, share and discover cool stuff and just connect. --"MySpace has the potential to be that place. Art is inspired by people and vice versa, so there's a natural social component to entertainment. --"I'm excited to help revitalize MySpace by using its social media platform to bring artists and fans together in one community."
Jada Pinkett Is Worried That Her Kids Are Too Insulated:
WILL SMITH and JADA PINKETT didn't have it easy growing up. Which is why Jada wants to make sure that their kids, JADEN and WILLOW SMITH, know the world beyond the fantasy land they live in. --Claiming that she and Will grew up, quote, "in a house with drugs in a war zone," Jada says, quote, "It still makes me nervous that they're part of something that isn't totally real. But it's up to Will and me to teach them what's real and what's not."
The "Teen Choice" Nominees Have Been Announced:
Nominees for this year's "Teen Choice Awards" were announced yesterday . . . and there are TONS of them. --This show has 66 categories, covering everything from movies to TV to music . . . plus fashion, sports and even Twitter. (???) --Not surprisingly, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" leads the nominees with 11 . . . while "Glee" and "The Vampire Diaries" picked up NINE each. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" got FIVE. --Individual nominees include the stars of all those movies and TV shows, obviously . . . plus Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Shia LaBeouf, Zach Galifianakis . . . --Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and TONS more. (--Did I mention there are 66 FREAKIN' CATEGORIES???) (--Check out the complete . . . and completely exhausting . . . list of nominees here.) --The show airs live August 7th on Fox.
Aaron Carter Claims Michael Jackson Gave Him Drugs When He Was 15:
MICHAEL JACKSON has been dead for two years now. So it's pretty safe to make unsubstantiated claims about him . . . which is exactly what AARON CARTER is doing. --Aaron . . . who has previously denied that anything inappropriate took place during his friendship with Michael . . . now says Michael gave him wine and cocaine when he was 15 --He tells the Australian version of "OK!" magazine, quote, "I never talked about it . . . This is the first time . . . I miss Michael . . . --"I have spent such incredible times with him. I did things with him that nobody else did . . . But I was also troubled about what he did to me." --He adds, quote, "He gave me wine. I mean, I could have refused, but I was 15. He gave me cocaine. I felt weird about that and other stuff . . . We spoke afterwards, hours and hours, on the phone. --"I admired Michael, but his behavior bothered me a lot. Then my mother called the police."
Denise Richards Has Adopted a Baby Girl:
You'd think DENISE RICHARDS already has enough on her plate dealing with CHARLIE SHEEN. But apparently not, because she just adopted a newborn baby girl. --She's only a few weeks old, and she was born in this country. Denise named her Eloise Joni. --Denise has two daughters with Charlie, 7-year-old Sam and 6-year-old Lola. --"Joni" was the name of Denise's mother, who died of cancer four years ago. Denise, Sam and Lola chose the name "Eloise". We assume they got it from the children's character of the same name. --Interesting trivia: It was in the Eloise Suite of the Plaza Hotel in New York City that Charlie freaked out, trashed his room and locked a porno star in the bathroom last year. --Charlie, Denise and the girls were in New York to see "Mary Poppins" on Broadway. (--The "Eloise" books are about a little girl who lives at the Plaza Hotel. The original series was written by Kay Thompson in the 1950s, and the title character MAY have been based on Thompson's goddaughter, LIZA MINNELLI.)
Charlie Sheen Took Steroids to Prepare for "Major League":
When CHARLIE SHEEN gets into character, he goes all out. Charlie tells "Sports Illustrated" that he took STEROIDS while filming the 1989 comedy "Major League". --He says, quote, "Let's just say that I was enhancing my performance a little bit. It was the only time I ever did steroids. --"I did them for like six or eight weeks. You can print this, I don't give a [eff]. My fastball went from 79 [miles-per-hour] to like 85." --He was also getting into a lot of fights at the time. But only part of that was due to 'roid rage. The other part was the teasing he took because of his character's lightning bolt haircut. --He says, quote, "I didn't like the haircut because it generated so many comments in bars. I've got enough of that already. Add that to the mix, and it's a recipe for a fistfight." (--You can see Charlie's haircut in this promo clip for the movie.)
NEW MOVIES THIS WEEKEND
The New "Transformers" Movie Will Compete With Tom Hanks and Selena Gomez at the Box Office . . . But It's Playing in Nearly Twice As Many Theaters:
#1.) "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (PG-13) (Opened Wednesday)
Shia LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwicky, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley replaces Megan Fox as his love interest. The plot for the third movie reveals that the entire space race of the '60s was a response to a crash landing on the moon. --Leonard Nimoy does the voice of Sentinel Prime. He's the pilot of the crashed ship that Neil Armstrong and his Apollo 11 crew discover during their secret lunar mission. The Decepticons use the cargo from the crash site to launch an assault back on Earth and tear apart Chicago in the process. --Hugo Weaving is back as Megatron, and Peter Cullen is Optimus Prime . . . just like he has been ever since the original animated series. The human cast includes Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Patrick Dempsey and John Malkovich. (Trailer) (Teaser)
#2.) "Larry Crowne" (PG-13)
Tom Hanks loses his job and goes back to school at the local community college. Julia Roberts is his disinterested teacher. It's a romantic comedy that he co-wrote with Nia Vardalos from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". Tom Hanks is also the director. He previously costarred with Julia Roberts in the movie "Charlie Wilson's War". (Trailer)
#3.) "Monte Carlo" (PG) Selena Gomez is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress who looks just like her, and then pretends to be that chick after getting a taste of what it's like to be rich. Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy are the two friends vacationing with her, and "Glee's" Cory Monteith plays Katie's boyfriend, who follows them to Europe. (Trailer)
Harrison Ford Says He Called Shia LaBeouf a "[Effing] Idiot" for Dissing the Fourth "Indiana Jones" Movie:
HARRISON FORD says he had choice words for SHIA LABEOUF after Shia trashed "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". --Ford says, quote, "I think I told him he was a [effing] idiot." --He added, quote, "As an actor, I think it's my obligation to support the film without making a complete ass of myself. Shia is ambitious, attentive and talented . . . and he's learning how to deal with a situation which is very unique and difficult."
The Biggest Movie Flops of 2011 So Far:
The "Hollywood Reporter" has put together a list of the 10 Biggest Movie Flops of the Year So Far. --They are: "Mars Needs Moms", "Your Highness", "Arthur", "Prom", "Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer" . . . --"Green Lantern", "Priest", "Sucker Punch", "Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil" and "The Beaver". (--For details on just how badly these movies flopped, hit up the following link.)
Javier Colon Is the First Winner of "The Voice":
JAVIER COLON won the first season of "The Voice" last night. He was on ADAM LEVINE'S team. DIA FRAMPTON of BLAKE SHELTON'S team was the runner-up. Javier edged Dia by just 2% of the vote. --For winning, Javier received $100,000 and a contract with Universal Records. --Before the results were read, each finalist performed a duet with one of their idols. Javier sang "Landslide" with STEVIE NICKS . . . Dia did "House That Built Me" with MIRANDA LAMBERT. (--That's her coach Blake Shelton's wife.) --BEVERLY MCCLELLAN did "Good Life" with RYAN TEDDER of ONEREPUBLIC . . . and VICCI MARTINEZ sang "Drops of Jupiter" with PAT MONAHAN of TRAIN.
It's Official: Brad Womack and Emily Maynard Are Done:
Six months ago, the most recent "Bachelor" BRAD WOMACK said he was in love with "every bone in his body" and that the chances he'd be married by the end of the year were, quote, "damn good." --But of course, that isn't happening . . . at least not with anyone from the show. --His Chosen One EMILY MAYNARD has confirmed the obvious: That she and Brad are FINISHED. Emily tells "People" magazine that they are "no longer engaged." --She added that she still has feelings for Brad, which is to be expected after a whirlwind . . . 10-week . . . single-elimination . . . televised tournament of love! (--Are these people not completely hopeless?) --She says, quote, "Just because we love each other doesn't mean we're right for each other." For his part, Brad says, quote, "The demise of our relationship was completely my fault." (--I wonder if he means that with "every bone in his body.") --It's unclear when they split, but we've been hearing that they were doomed since March . . . the day after Emily said their relationship, quote, "certainly wasn't all roses" on the "After the Final Rose" special. --They insisted they were still engaged at the time. --Emily says she's going on the record about it now because of "all the media speculation" and she hopes that by coming clean, she and her six-year-old daughter will be able to, quote, "move on and get back to normal." --At least until she gets a call to do "The Bachelorette" or "Bachelor Pad". --In the meantime, Emily will be talking about her failed relationship with Brad in an interview with host CHRIS HARRISON that will air on the July 11th episode of "The Bachelorette".
Al Roker Hates Coconut, Horror Movies, Running and Impolite People:
Would you like to know more about AL ROKER, the "Today" show's weather superstar? Well, good news . . . he's filled out one of "Us" magazine's "25 Things You Don't Know About Me" lists. Here are the highlights . . .
--"I am extremely shy."
--"I am an animation freak and own more than 100 original cels."
--"I don't like coconut."
--"I hate when you hold a door open and people don't say 'thank you.'"
--"I refuse to go to horror movies."
--"I love riding trains."
--"Even though I lost 140 pounds, I still think of myself as fat."
--"I like pie."
--"I hate running."
--"I run so I can eat pie."
--"I can still fly into a rage when, in broad daylight, wearing a suit, I get passed up by a cabdriver."
(--You can check out Al's complete list, here.)
Thursday TV Reminders: (--Check your local listings.)
--"So You Think You Can Dance" [Results Show] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Fox. (--Kristin Chenoweth guest judges and AXIS Dance Company performs.) (Video)
--"50 Super Epic TV Moments" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on E! (--The 50 most outrageous TV moments since 2005 are counted down.)
--"Love Bites" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on NBC. (--"Saturday Night Live" veteran Chris Parnell guest stars as a real-estate agent when Colleen and Judd go house hunting.)
--"Ugly Americans" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on Comedy Central.
Bono Gave Joe Jonas Advice on His Solo Career:
BONO took some time out of his busy schedule helping third-world countries to give some advice to JOE JONAS . . . who talent-wise is the 'third-world' Jonas Brother. --Joe says, quote, "I met Bono like a year and a half ago and I asked him for advice . . . if you're going to meet Bono, you got to ask him for advice. --"He was like, 'Just write music that is brutally honest . . . look at [U2], we're a band and we have countries that are mad at us because we write stuff that's honest and gets people really mad.'" (--Papua New Guinea, for instance, is still furious with U2 over the honesty in "With or Without You".) --Bono also told Joe, quote, "Take your relationships or whatever you're going through and just really try to make it a point to write honestly." (--Joe had already learned that lesson from TAYLOR SWIFT, but I'm sure he nodded politely anyway.) --By the way, the video for Joe's single "See No More" hit the Internet last night. It's very melodramatic . . . there's intense gazing, wincing, slow-motion body movements, and Joe spends the second half of the video meandering through a nasty house fire. (--You can check it out, here. Personally, my favorite parts are the dramatic garage door-opening shot 52 seconds in, and the random wall that explodes at the 3:08 mark. It's even more amusing on repeat viewings.)
Tommy Lee Says People Don't "Ingest" Full Albums Anymore . . . But He Doesn't Think That's a Bad Thing:
MOTLEY CRUE drummer TOMMY LEE has a unique take on the Digital Music Era: He's not bothered by the fact that it seems to be killing the full-on ALBUM. --He tells the "St. Petersburg Times", quote, "No one really buys records anymore. You can look at sales and do that math real quick. Unfortunately, it's fast food in the music industry. People don't ingest full records anymore. --"They buy song to song, something that blows their skirt up. --"So for [an artist] to sit there . . . rip your hair out . . . and put six [to] eight months into making a full record for someone to buy one song from, that is stupid." --But Tommy doesn't necessarily think that's a bad thing. He explains, quote, "I think it's actually cool. What it will do is, force people to make better songs at a time, instead of making an album with nine [crappy] filler tracks and two good songs. --"I think it's nice. I think it's going to be wonderful, to tell you the truth." (--I wouldn't say that I disagree, but I do think this is a "chicken or the egg" debate . . . and I don't think it began with the artists responding to the fans.)
Music Videos: James Franco, Coldplay and Greyson Chance:
#1.) JAMES FRANCO is putting out an EP with a drag queen performance artist named KALUP LINZY. It's called "Turn It Up", and it'll be out on July 12th. And just in case you had any doubt, it's going to be weird. --They've released a video for a song called "Rising", and it's a trip. (--Here it is.) (--I'm sure it's brilliant and whatnot . . . but it looks like something that a kid made while screwing around with the editing software at an Apple store.)
#2.) COLDPLAY has released the video for "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". It's a live-action, stop-motion extravaganza, with a ton of colorful, glow-in-the-dark paint. --It's probably not going to approach the threshold of blowing your mind, but it's inventive, which for Coldplay is always a good thing. (--You can check it out, here.)
#3.) Remember GREYSON CHANCE? He's the 13-year-old who parlayed a performance of LADY GAGA'S "Paparazzi" at a school talent show into a record deal with ELLEN DEGENERES. These are crazy times. --Well, he just unleashed his "Unfriend You" video this morning. (--Here it is.)
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
LA TOYA JACKSON says MICHAEL was murdered, and his kids have been left with NOTHING. (Full Story)
JAKE BUSEY says he went to rehab because, quote, "Doctors told me I would die if I drank again." (Video)
Check out GWYNETH PALTROW topless . . . but covering her little boobs with her arms. (Full Story)
ROBERT PATTINSON took a pie to the face while filming the new DAVID CRONENBERG movie, "Cosmopolis". (Full Story)
Disney is doing a movie based on the Matterhorn ride. (Full Story)
Check out a preview of JAKE GYLLENHAAL'S appearance on "Man vs. Wild". (Video)
One of the original reality TV villains, PUCK from "The Real World", was arrested for domestic violence. (Full Story)
Republican presidential candidate MICHELE BACHMANN might still be using "American Girl" . . . despite TOM PETTY'S disapproval. (Full Story)
RANDOM STUFF
Women "Do Almost Everything Better" Than Men . . . Because They're Willing to Admit They Aren't Geniuses:
According to a new article in the "Wall Street Journal", women, quote, "do almost everything better" than men. The article cites a study that shows women are better investors than men. They're better at management. They're better at politics. And it all comes down to one basic reason. --Women are willing to admit they're not geniuses. Men aren't. --Quote, "A lot of research suggests that men think they know what they're doing, even when they really don't." --That overconfidence makes men take much bigger risks. And while those will work out for some men . . . and give them the MOST wealth and success of anyone in the world . . . it makes countless men crash and burn. --Women have less overconfidence so, overall, they're on a steadier course. In the study, women's returns on investments beat men's by 1% . . . which is a huge amount in the investment world. (Time)
Only 1% of Men . . . and 4% of Women . . . Think the Woman Should Be In Charge of Buying a Car:
In a new survey, 99% of men say that a woman should NOT be in charge of making the final decision on a car for the family. And normally that would be a good jumping off point for talking about how sexism is still alive and well in 2011. --Only it's not. Because women AGREE. --In the survey, 96% of women also said that someone of their own gender shouldn't be the one who decides on a new car. --51% of men and 40% of women said the man should make the decision singlehandedly. 48% of men and 56% of women said it should be a shared decision. 1% of men and 4% of women said the woman should make the choice. --And now, for the other side. The survey ALSO asked the same question when it comes to making child care decisions for the family. And the answers were basically reversed. --53% of women and 40% of men said that women should make the decisions singlehandedly. --46% of women and 50% of men said it should be a shared decision. --And less than 1% of women and 10% of men said that men should handle it. (Globalnews.ca)
Bad Grooming is Named the Most Annoying Office Behavior . . . Selling Your Kid's Girl Scout Cookies is Least Annoying:
Here's some good work advice from a new survey. Your coworkers might not like your odor. They might think you're obnoxious on the phone. They might hate your mere existence. But they will ALWAYS be happy if you offer them desserts. --In the survey, people were asked to name the most annoying office behavior. And here are the top five responses . . .
#1.) Sloppy grooming, 40%
#2.) Too many loud personal calls, 29%
#3.) Messy work areas, 9%
#4.) Smelling like cigarettes, 8%
#5.) Selling Girl Scout Cookies and other kids' fundraisers, 1%
--That's right: Even though you might THINK it's annoying to go around selling your kids' cookies, candy bars, sausage samplers, and popcorn tins . . . it's not. Your coworkers are hungry. (AOL Small Business)
A Man Quits His Job to Go to a Lottery Drawing . . . And Wins $250,000:
On Monday, David Becker of Wyoming, Michigan was part of a big state lottery drawing. He and four other people had won a promotion where they were entered in a drawing with a grand prize of $250,000 and consolation prizes of $5,000. --There was only one problem. David had to be in Detroit to be present for the drawing. He works as a forklift operator for a company in Grand Rapids, Michigan . . . and they wouldn't give him the day off. --So David weighed his options and decided to . . . QUIT HIS JOB to attend the drawing. He told his bosses, quote, "It's a chance of a lifetime." --And it really was. With his one-in-five odds, David DID win the $250,000 grand prize. He collected $176,000 after taxes. --He says, quote, "I can live on that, can't you?" --He plans on buying himself a Harley motorcycle and then using the rest of the money to pay bills. --David says he WOULD return to his job if his company asked . . . because he needs SOMETHING to do. (NBC 4 - Detroit)
Almost Half of the Teenagers in the U.S. Smoke, Drink, or Use Drugs:
Someone sound the parent alarm! Today's teenagers smoke! Today's teenagers drink! Today's teenagers do drugs! Turns out today's teenagers are . . . just as badly behaved as we were. --According to a new study from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 46% of American teenagers smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, and/or use drugs. Here are some other findings . . . --About 75% of current high school students say they've tried tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, or cocaine. --Alcohol is the most popular among teenagers, followed by cigarettes, then marijuana. --72.5% have tried alcohol, 46.3% have smoked cigarettes, 37% have tried marijuana, 15% have misused prescription drugs . . . and 65% have tried more than one of those. --The study also found that about 25% of Americans who start using addictive substances before age 18 become addicted, versus 4% who start using them after 21. --If you have three or more of these symptoms, you're considered an addict: Your tolerance increases, you go through withdrawal, you have trouble controlling use, experience negative consequences, neglect activities, spend time or energy on use, and have a desire to cut down. (U.S. News & World Report)
Can Text Messaging Help You Beat Smoking?
According to a new study, MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF TEXTING can actually help you beat smoking. And it's not just because your hands won't be free to hold a cigarette because they'll constantly be typing texts. --In a new study from the medical journal "The Lancet", researchers found that smokers who received encouraging text messages were more likely to quit smoking than people who didn't get those texts. --The smokers in the study received five texts a day for the first five weeks and three per week for the next six months. The texts said things like, quote, "This is it!" and "Today is the start of being [smoke-free] forever, you can do it!" --The smokers could also text the words "crave" or "lapse" at any point when they were feeling the addiction creeping up, and they'd get a message back like "Cravings last less than five minutes. Try sipping a drink slowly until it's over." --After six months, 10.7% of the people who got the text messages had quit for good, versus 4.9% of a control group that didn't receive any texts. (Yahoo News)
Word of the Day: Pyrophile:
pyrophile (noun) /pie roh fyle/ - a person who loves fire or fireworks. --Example: July 4th is the greatest holiday for my pyrophile friends. First we cook flame-broiled burgers, then we watch fireworks, then we burn an effigy of King George.
MySpace Has Been Sold For $35 Million . . . Back in 2005, It Was Purchased for $580 Million:
Believe it or not, social media is more popular than ONLINE PORNO. It's true, and it has been since 2008. More people now view social media sites than porno sites. --Except for MySpace. No one goes there anymore. --Yesterday, a company called Specific Media bought MySpace from News Corp., which is the company that owns FOX. --Specific Media paid $35 MILLION for MySpace. When News Corp. bought it back in 2005, they paid $580 MILLION. Meaning that in six years, it lost 94% of its value. --News Corp. was initially hoping to get $100 MILLION. --As part of the sale, MySpace will be laying off more than half of its 450 employees. We're not entirely sure what those 450 employees were doing there, but that's not the point. --Specific Media has said they plan to, quote, "rebuild and reinvigorate" MySpace and try to make it a place where people can watch media and interact with entertainers. Specific Media's main business is selling online ads. (Wall Street Journal)
WTF? A Woman Drowns in a Public Pool and People Keep Swimming Around Her Dead Body . . . For Two Days:
Something in this story doesn't add up. It CAN'T add up. --On Sunday, 36-year-old Marie Joseph went with some friends and their kids to the Veteran's Memorial Pool in Fall River, Massachusetts. Marie didn't know how to swim, but when she was supervising a nine-year-old, she fell down a waterslide. --Marie drowned. The lifeguards on duty didn't notice. When the nine-year-old tried to tell them, they allegedly ignored him. --For some reason, Marie's friends left the pool without her. None of them realized that her DEAD BODY was now floating in the pool. --And no one else realized it either. FOR TWO ENTIRE DAYS. --Tons of other people swam in the pool, around the body. There were lifeguards on duty. They opened the pool in the morning and closed it at night. And somehow, no one noticed the dead body. Again, this just doesn't add up. --Finally, on Tuesday night, when the pool closed at 10:00 P.M., someone realized there was a DAMN DEAD BODY in there and called the police. --They're launching a full investigation into how the hell this happened. (NBC 10 - Providence)
A Doctor Giving a Talk on Heart Disease Saves a Life . . . When a Guy in the Audience Has a Heart Attack on the Spot:
Ok . . . so you never necessarily WANT to have a heart attack. But if you're gonna have one, there aren't many luckier places than this. --On Tuesday, Dr. William Phillips of Lewiston, Maine was giving a lecture on heart disease to a crowd of about 100 people at the Central Maine Medical Center. He was discussing bypass surgery versus stenting. --As he talked about heart attacks, a man in the crowd raised his hand and said, "I'm having one right now." --The man's name and age weren't released. --Dr. Phillips and three cardiac nurses in the room immediately started helping the guy. They used a defibrillator to get his heart beating, then passed him off to some paramedics who took him to the ER. --The man survived the heart attack and he's recovering now. The immediate medical attention was a big contribution to him surviving. --Meanwhile, after the paramedics took the guy out of the room, Dr. Phillips finished his lecture. (Lewiston Sun-Journal)
MEATBALL CRIMINALS
An 89-Year-Old Woman Dents a Robber's Car With Her Cane . . . Which Helps the Police Solve the Case:
Over the weekend, an 89-year-old woman and 82-year-old woman in New Castle, Pennsylvania were about to walk into a pizza place for dinner when a silver car pulled up next to them. --A young PUNK got out and grabbed the 82-year-old woman's purse. Then he got back in the car. --Before he could drive off, though, the 89-year-old started SLAMMING HER CANE into the trunk of the car. She left a decent-sized dent. --When the ladies called the police, they described the car . . . and talked about the brand new dents in the trunk. --The police searched the area and found the car parked less than a mile away. And they were able to match the dent marks perfectly to the woman's cane. --They arrested 27-year-old Jerry Brown Junior and a woman who was in the car, 21-year-old Tatiana Vargas, for robbery, theft, conspiracy, and receiving stolen property. (NBC 11 - Pittsburgh)
A 55-Year-Old Liquor Store Owner and Her Groin-Biting Dog Fight Off a Robber With a Knife:
55-year-old Eve Watson of Torquay, Devon, England owns a liquor store with a fantastic name: Eve's Bargain Booze. On Saturday, she was working the counter at the store when a younger man in a hooded sweatshirt walked in with a KNIFE. --He demanded that Eve open the cash register. She refused. He threatened her with the knife. She still refused. So he jumped over the counter to break into the register himself. --And that's when he learned that Eve is TOUGH. --She started hitting him, and grabbing at his hood to reveal his face. Then her six-year-old bull terrier joined in . . . and started BITING THE ROBBER'S GROIN. --In the surveillance video, you can see the robber TRYING to open the register while Eve beats him and the dog bites him . . . but eventually he gives up and runs away, empty handed. --The police are searching for him. Eve wasn't injured during the fight. (The Sun) (--Here's the surveillance video of this entire battle.)
Random News Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
Flights were delayed for half an hour at JFK Airport in New York yesterday . . . because 150 turtles were crossing the tarmac. And actually, they do it every year when they look for beaches to lay their eggs. Airport crews were working from 6:45 A.M. onward to clear them. (Full Story)
According to a new study, 46% of Americans will pay no Federal income tax this year. But before you get in an uproar . . . it's because they don't make enough money to be taxed in the first place. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) The Self-Proclaimed "World's Strongest Redneck" Trimmed His Hedges by Swinging a Chainsaw Around on a Long Cord:
Some guy on YouTube named Steve McGranahan calls himself the "World's Strongest Redneck." And he posted a video of himself trimming his hedges by turning on a chainsaw, and swinging it around on a long cord. Somehow, he didn't kill himself. (--Search Break.com for "Chainsaw Hedge Trimming Stunt." He starts swinging it at :24, but you get a better view at :52.)
#2.) A Baseball Player Spit in His Own Helmet . . . Then Hit a Walk-Off Home Run:
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder WILY MO PENA hit a walk-off home run to beat the Indians on Tuesday. And after the game, the MLB Network pointed out something weird: Right before he hit the home run, Pena took off his batting helmet and SPIT in it. (--Search YouTube for "Wily Mo Pena Spitting in His Helmet." He spits at :14.)
#3.) And Now . . . The Best Gymnastics Fails From YouTube:
If you like watching people hurt themselves doing gymnastics, you're in luck. A website called Uncoached.com has a list of the best from YouTube. (--Search for "A Great Collection of Gymnastics Fails.")
The Five Easiest Ways to Cool Off Without Air Conditioning:
If you need to cool down this weekend, but you want to save money OR save the planet, the website PlanetGreen.com has a list of the five easiest, eco-friendly ways to cool off without air conditioning. None of these are NEW ideas, but they all work.
#1.) Keep a Spray Bottle in the Fridge. Then just spray yourself when you get too hot. You can also improve your complexion if you fill the bottle with weak green tea instead of water. The antioxidants help keep your skin clear.
#2.) Hold an Ice Cube on Your Pulse Points. Put it in a washcloth first. Then hold it on the inside of your wrist, or near the middle of your neck where you can feel your pulse. Supposedly, it can lower your body temperature by three degrees.
#3.) Put a Cold Washcloth on Your Neck. If you're REALLY hot, wet it, then put it in the freezer for a few minutes. Just don't forget about it, or it'll freeze to the inside.
#4.) Soak Your Feet in Cold Water. Obviously, when you're at the pool you can cool down by just dangling your feet in the water. But you can also accomplish the same thing in your living room with a bucket of cold water.
#5.) Wear a Wet Bandana. You can wear it on your head. Or if you don't want to look like Bret Michaels, it works just as well if you tie it around your neck. (PlanetGreen.com)
posted by Nazzy @ 5:52 AM
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