HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (07-06-11)
THE CASEY ANTHONY VERDICT
Casey Anthony is Found Not Guilty of the Murder of Her Two-Year-Old Daughter . . . Here are the 10 Things You Need to Know:
Yesterday, after only two days of deliberating, the jury in the CASEY ANTHONY trial came back with their verdict. And it shocked most legal experts. They found her NOT GUILTY of murdering her two-year-old daughter. -Here are the 10 things you need to know to be fully caught up on the case.
#1.) In June of 2008, when Casey Anthony was only 22, her two-year-old daughter Caylee disappeared in Florida. Anthony was eventually arrested for child neglect, and when chloroform was found in her car, she was charged with murder.
#2.) Six months later, Caylee's bones were found in the woods near their home. She had been covered in duct tape.
#3.) ALL evidence pointed to Anthony. The most damning were computer records showing she'd Googled terms like "neck breaking" and "how to make chloroform." And a heart-shaped sticker was found on the duct tape on Caylee.
#4.) The trial lasted for seven weeks. The prosecution believed Anthony had suffocated her daughter, then driven around with her and finally buried her in the woods.
#5.) The defense tried to prove that all the evidence was circumstantial. They said Caylee drowned and Anthony panicked and covered up the death, burying her daughter in the backyard.
#6.) Legal experts believed Anthony would be found guilty of murdering her daughter. If so, prosecutors planned to seek the death penalty.
#7.) The jury of seven women and five men returned a verdict of not guilty for murder, not guilty of aggravated child abuse, and not guilty of aggravated manslaughter. Under double jeopardy laws she cannot be tried for those again.
#8.) They did find Anthony guilty of four misdemeanor counts of providing false information to a law enforcement officer. She could get up to one year in jail for each count and will be sentenced tomorrow.
#9.) None of the jurors spoke with the media yesterday but it's believed that they'll say the prosecution didn't meet the burden of proof.
#10.) After the verdict was delivered, the Internet EXPLODED . . . at one point, nine of the 10 trending topics on Twitter were about the trial . . . with the overwhelming majority of people absolutely SHOCKED and DISGUSTED at the result. (Time / CNN)
Entenmann's Makes a Gigantic Twitter Blunder and Uses the Casey Anthony Verdict to Try to Push Their Baked Goods:
After CASEY ANTHONY was found not guilty of murdering her two-year-old daughter yesterday, one of the big trending topics on Twitter was the phrase "not guilty." (--Technically it was the hashtag #notguilty.) --Someone who runs the Twitter account for the pastry company Entenmann's saw that trending topic and apparently didn't realize it was connected to the Anthony trial . . . or didn't have the sense not to use it for marketing purposes. --So they tweeted, quote, "Who's #notguilty about eating all the tasty treats they want?!" --After people were outraged that they tied a marketing slogan into a two-year-old's death, they pulled the tweet and frantically apologized. In the apology, they said it was unintentional and they hadn't checked WHY "not guilty" was trending. (Huffington Post)
CASEY ANTHONY: THE STARS REACT
Kim Kardashian Is Outraged at the Casey Anthony Verdict . . . Even Though Her Dad Helped Get O.J. Simpson Acquitted of Murder Charges in 1995:
EVERYONE has an opinion on CASEY ANTHONY being found NOT GUILTY yesterday in the death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee . . . including KIM KARDASHIAN. --After the verdict yesterday, Kim Tweeted, quote, "WHAT!!!!???!!!! CASEY ANTHONY FOUND NOT GUILTY!!!! I am speechless!!!" --MASSIVE IRONY ALERT: Kim's late father, ROBERT KARDASHIAN, was part of the defense team that got O.J. SIMPSON acquitted of murder charges in 1995. A lot of people are comparing yesterday's verdict to the outcome of the O.J. trial. --Maybe Kim didn't understand the irony . . . but her Twitter followers did. After some of them called her out on it, she had this to say . . . --"Reading the comments here & it's nuts, people think just [because] I was close to the OJ trial I can't have my own opinion on the Casey Anthony case? --Kim's sister KHLOE also expressed her displeasure over the verdict. Her first Tweet was simply this . . . quote, "WHAT THE [EFF]!!!! I am disgusted." --Then she added, quote, "Nancy Grace is about to go HAM about this verdict! Let loose the dogs Mrs Nancy Grace!! . . . guilty or not guilty she's going 2have a tough time in life. God is the ultimate person to judge her."
More Celebrities React to Casey Anthony's Not Guilty Verdict:
--CARSON DALY: "That jury better get into hiding."
--DAVID BOREANAZ: "Anthony Cleared in Daughters Death. Media Assassination? This case is over. No winners here. Wonder what Nancy Grace is doing right now?"
--MINDY KALING (--From "The Office"): "Anyone else hoping Casey Anthony is stupid enough to sue herself for millions in a civil court?"
--RAINN WILSON: "Dear Florida, THANK YOU for freeing Casey! She's now available for partying and babysitting!"
--PIERS MORGAN: "Astonishing verdict. No other way to describe it."
--FRANKIE MUNIZ: "I called that she would be found not guilty weeks ago... everyone said I was wrong..."
--FRED SAVAGE: "I guess OJ has a new friend now. Disgusting."
--MARLON WAYANS: "Casey Anthony a.k.a. WHITE O.J."
--MANDY MOORE: "Woah! Shocked about the verdict in the Casey Anthony trial! Thought she was guilty for sure! Either way, tragic story...."
--KATHY GRIFFIN: "Wow. Ok, now this case has my attn. Not guilty? Really? I just assumed..."
--ASHTON KUTCHER re-Tweeted someone else's message that said, quote, "OJ Simpson finds this verdict outrageous."
--DEMI MOORE re-Tweeted the hashtag #StillNoJusticeforCaylee.
--SHARON OSBOURNE: "Casey Anthony not guilty??.....it's a disgrace. She'll probably get her own reality show now."
--ROSEANNE: "Casey-you were so smart to hide the body in the swamp! You got away with killing your baby!" --Roseanne then added, quote, "Idiots must never again be allowed on juries--smart people must begin to serve their country before idiots kill us all!"
--LEANN RIMES: "Shocking this trial!" (--Apparently, LeAnn Rimes has become either Yoda or Sean Penn's character from "I Am Sam".) (???)
--JASON BIGGS: "I guess the glove didn't fit."
--STAR JONES: "I believe in the jury system & accept verdict...but I can't take smiles from #CaseyAnthony right now. She may be NG...but her baby is dead!"
--Acting legend SCOTT BAIO: "You may have been found NOT guilty by the People, but GOD will have final judgment for what happened to Caylee. That poor little baby!!!!"
--BENJI MADDEN from GOOD CHARLOTTE: "Casey Anthony looks Crazy man. like real Crazy. like street rat Krazy. Kray Kray. 100$ says she moves to LA in 30 days or less."
--JOY BEHAR: "I am shocked by the #caseyanthonyverdict. Though I can't say this is the first time Florida screwed up on an important vote. #HLN" (--Here's video of CNN's NANCY GRACE disgustedly announcing the verdict.)
Is A-Rod Making a Play for Christie Brinkley?
As far as we know, ALEX RODRIGUEZ and CAMERON DIAZ are still together. They were all over each other at a 4th of July party Sunday night. But last Wednesday, A-Rod allegedly made a play for CHRISTIE BRINKLEY. --Christie was Alex's guest at Yankee Stadium for their game against the Brewers . . . and sources say he was definitely putting the moves on. He even told her he was, quote, "UNATTACHED". --Older women seem to be A-Rod's thing since he divorced his wife. There was MADONNA, who's 52, and then Cameron, who'll be 39 in August. Brinkley is 57. A-Rod is 35. --But a source says Alex and Christie are JUST FRIENDS, and that Alex, quote, "has people join him at the game all the time."
Rihanna Says She's a "Hunter" . . . Just Like Men Are:
When it comes to romance, RIHANNA prefers to be the HUNTER, not the hunted. She says, quote, "Men are like hunters, they like the chase, so you have to keep 'em guessing. I'm like that too. --"I get bored fast. So if someone can make me laugh, that's the best." --But she adds that finding a man who's not intimidated by her success is difficult . . . quote, "It's really hard to find a guy who doesn't care about that stuff. Right now, it's easier just having my career to focus on."
THE HIGHEST-PAID ACTRESSES
Angelina Jolie and Sarah Jessica Parker Are the Highest-Paid Actresses in Hollywood:
Forbes.com released its list yesterday of the Highest-Paid Actresses in Hollywood. And this year, there were TWO winners. --ANGELINA JOLIE and SARAH JESSICA PARKER tied for first, because both made $30 million over the past year. There are two more ties at the top of the list.
--Here it is . . .
#1.) (tie) ANGELINA JOLIE and SARAH JESSICA PARKER, $30 million
#3.) (tie) JENNIFER ANISTON and REESE WITHERSPOON, $28 million
#5.) (tie) JULIA ROBERTS and KRISTEN STEWART, $20 million
#7.) KATHERINE HEIGL, $19 million
#8.) CAMERON DIAZ, $18 million
#9.) SANDRA BULLOCK, $15 million
#10.) MERYL STREEP, $10 million
(--For more info on where these ladies made their money, check out the slideshow.)
Pink Named Her Baby Willow After a Tree:
Celebrities give their kids stupid names. It's a fact. --PINK and CAREY HART kind of bucked that trend. They named their daughter Willow Sage, which isn't that outrageous. And the inspiration behind it is actually pretty cool. --She's basically named after a tree . . . but a really strong tree. Pink says, quote, "The willow is my favorite tree. I grew up near one. It's the most flexible tree in nature and nothing can break it . . . no wind, no elements. --"It can bend and withstand anything. I love that sentiment. I want that for her." -She adds, quote, "Sage is cleansing and sacred. And it sounded great together. It doesn't hurt that her last name is Hart . . . flexible cleansed heart." --Pink also says everything is going smoothly so far . . . despite a little chaos right at the beginning . . . quote, "We had one major meltdown the first night home. Carey couldn't figure out who to comfort first. It was pretty funny, actually. Poor guy. --"[Willow's] been amazing. Everyone gives you this terrifying picture of no sleep at all, bickering which leads to divorce . . . they made it sound like waterboarding. --"It's not that bad! I think I've cried more than she has and that's just because I'm emotional and a little nuts."
Christopher Walken Will Play Zeus in a Movie Called "Gods Behaving Badly":
CHRISTOPHER WALKEN is going to play Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, in a comedy called "Gods Behaving Badly". It's based on a novel of the same name by British author Marie Phillips. --Here's the plot in a nutshell: The Greek gods are REAL . . . but their powers are waning and they live in a rundown apartment building in New York City and work crappy jobs. --For instance, Apollo is a TV psychic, while Aphrodite works as a PHONE SEX OPERATOR. --That being said, they cast the right person for Aphrodite: Sharon Stone. The rest of the cast is pretty interesting, too . . . "Cosby Show" mom Phylicia Rashad is Demeter . . . John Turturro plays Hades, the lord of the Underworld . . . --Edie Falco plays Artemis . . . Oliver Platt is Apollo . . . and Rosie Perez plays Persephone. --ALICIA SILVERSTONE also stars as a mortal woman who gets involved with the gods and their petty rivalries and jealousies. --Somehow, chaos ensues that threatens mankind's very existence.
Comedy Central Will Roast Charlie Sheen . . . on the Same Night as Ashton Kutcher's "Two and a Half Men" Debut:
Comedy Central's next roast victim will be CHARLIE SHEEN. The roast will tape September 10th, and will air on September 19th, which just happens to be the same night that ASHTON KUTCHER makes his debut on "Two and a Half Men". --Obviously, this is NOT a coincidence. --The prospect of stealing some attention away from the season premiere of the new "Two and a Half Men" MUST have played a role in Charlie's decision to do the roast . . . but at least for now, he isn't admitting to it. --In the press release, Charlie said, quote, "You could say I've been providing kindling for this Roast for a while. It's time to light it up. It's going to be epic." --For what it's worth, Comedy Central has added this tease: Quote, "Charlie has assured us that nothing will be off limits in this roast, which scares even us." (--Yeah, that's nice. But the REAL challenge for the roasters . . . who haven't been announced yet . . . is coming up with fresh jokes about Charlie Sheen, who's been ridiculed by everyone everywhere for the past six months.) (--Charlie replaces KID ROCK, who was supposed to be Comedy Central's next target. He had to back out because of a scheduling conflict.)
TV REMINDERS
Wednesday TV Reminders: (--Check your local listings.)
--"So You Think You Can Dance" [Performance] . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Fox.
--"State of Georgia" . . . 8:30 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC Family. (--"Knight Rider's" Justin Bruening plays a yogurt shop owner who has a crush on Georgia.)
--"America's Got Talent" [Results] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on NBC. (--The top 48 contestants are chosen.)
--"Franklin & Bash" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on TNT. (--Jason Alexander guest stars as a wealthy CEO who becomes one of Franklin & Bash's newest clients.)
--"Flipping Out" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Bravo.
--"Haunted Collector" [1st Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Syfy.
--"Hot in Cleveland" . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on TV Land. (--Valerie Bertinelli talks the girls into helping her compete in a battle of the bands.)
--"Behind the Music" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on VH1. (--Ice Cube is profiled.)
--"Men of A Certain Age" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on TNT.
--"Louie Anderson Presents" . . . 10:00 to 11:15 P.M. on Showtime. (--Comedians Lukas Seely, Chuck Roy, Jon Wilson and Al Jackson perform.)
--"Cee-Lo Green: Talking to Strangers" . . . 11:00 to 11:30 P.M. on Fuse. (--Train performs and is interviewed by Cee-Lo Green.)
Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli Is Attempting Another Comeback:
FAB MORVAN . . . the surviving member of '90s lip-synchers MILLI VANILLI . . . is attempting another comeback, this time with the help of THE ALCHEMIST. He's a DJ and hip-hop producer who frequently works with EMINEM. --It's unclear what the scope of the project will be. --All we know is that Alchemist told TMZ that he's, quote, "working on a joint with Vanilli." (--We're assuming he's talking about a song . . . not a REAL joint . . . although that would make more sense.) --And to be clear, Alchemist insisted that he isn't playing around. He described their collaboration as, quote, "real [crap] dude . . . Alchemist-Vanilli." --Fab's rep confirmed the comeback, and said he's "definitely" serious about it. (--So in other words, he isn't just providing LIP SERVICE. HI-YO!) --Supposedly, Fab will be using his REAL voice on this project, although that hasn't worked well for him in the past. (--After the dust settled in the Milli Vanilli scandal, the guys released an album called "Rob & Fab", which featured their actual voices. The album only sold 2,000 copies . . . or roughly 6 MILLION LESS than they did as Milli Vanilli.) (--The other half of Milli Vanilli, ROB PILATUS, was found dead of a drug overdose in 1998. His death was ruled accidental.)
Justin Bieber's "Vanity Fair" Is the Worst-Selling Issue in 12 Years:
JUSTIN BIEBER'S rabid fan base of teenage girls will throw money at almost ANYTHING related to Justin . . . but not EVERYTHING. --For example, there's Justin's issue of "Vanity Fair", which came out in February. --According to some new numbers released yesterday, it's on track to sell 246,000 copies, which would make it the worst-selling issue in 12 YEARS. For comparison, "Vanity Fair" has averaged 342,000 in sales per issue this year. (--Even though the issue came out back in February, the final numbers haven't been confirmed yet. That's why it's still "on track" to be the worst in 12 years.) --And it's sold the third-fewest copies since 1992. The two that fared worse were: A WILL SMITH cover in July of 1999, which sold 202,701 copies . . . and a HARRISON FORD cover in July of 1993 that sold 243,000 copies. --A "Vanity Fair" spokesman joked about Justin's numbers . . . saying, quote, "Who knew 12-year-olds didn't buy magazines?" --Here are some more numbers to chew on: Justin's October 2010 issue of "Teen Vogue" was down 12% from the magazine's average sales last year . . . and an issue of "People" that he covered in April of last year was down 25% from normal. (--The "Teen Vogue" numbers are surprising, since it's actually targeted at teen girls. I mean, I think "J-14" magazine puts Justin on every one of their covers, so clearly it doesn't seem to be negatively affecting their sales.) (--But here's the takeaway: Justin may seem untouchable now, but as he gets older he's going to have to find a way to appeal to a more diverse audience . . . or he'll find himself headed to wherever the JONAS BROTHERS are now.)
Nick Jonas Covered "Edge of Glory" . . . and Lady Gaga Approves:
NICK JONAS did an acoustic version of LADY GAGA'S "The Edge of Glory" at a show in L.A. over the weekend . . . and Lady Gaga is a fan. --She linked to a video of the performance on Twitter, and said, quote, "Swoon! Nick Jonas singing 'The Edge of Glory' . . . So dreamy!" (--Here's the video.) --And Nick Tweeted this back: Quote, "The pleasure is all mine. That is a beautiful song. Keep inspiring the world."
Lady Gaga Is a Member of the LGBT Community . . . As "the 'B' Letter":
LADY GAGA was recently accused of "using" the gay community to sell albums . . . and while she's already denied that, she continues to assert her case in the August issue of "The Advocate". --First off, Lady Gaga would like to remind everyone that she's not only an LGBT supporter, she's also a MEMBER. When asked if she considered herself an actual part of the community, she says, quote, "Yes . . . the 'B' letter." (--Bisexual.) --And Gaga wants to set the record straight with the LGBT-Q-and-sometimes-A community. (--That's Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender, Questioning and Ally . . . or, a straight person who supports gay rights.) --She explains, quote, "To say that I would use the gay community to sell records is probably one of the most ridiculous statements anyone can make about me. --"I would say the top thing I think about every single day of my life, other than my fans, loving the music, and my family being healthy, is social justice and equality." --Not that it's necessary, but Lady Gaga backs herself up by talking about a gay serviceman in his 20s that she met at Best Buy the night before the interview. --She explains, quote, "He was afraid that he'd be discharged and that he'd be judged or found out. [He said] that the fight in America against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and the fight for equality made him feel stronger and made him feel safe . . . --"And he gave me his service jacket . . . and we just held each other and cried. Anyone who says that I'm not genuine is not interested in overcoming this fight. --"That was such a pure and wonderful moment that we shared, and I remember thinking, 'There's no album sale, no #1, that could compete with this moment.' --"That's what the [eff] it's all about. What the [eff] it's all about is if I can write one song that could change one person's life." --Lady Gaga also confirms speculation that she killed a deal with Target over the company's feeling on the gay community, which she perceived as, well, lukewarm. --She says, quote, "You're either going to try and change or you're not. Taking an ambiguous stance is not what I'm about, obviously. I like to go right for the ass-kicker. You're either in or you're out. --"I'm from New York. I know [B.S.]. I can smell it from a mile away."
Lady Gaga Says There's "No Drama" Between Her and Madonna:
For better or worse, the argument can be made that LADY GAGA has borrowed a lot of her act from MADONNA. --But Lady Gaga insists things are ALL good between her and her veiny idol. --She tells "The Advocate", quote, "There's no drama, there's no jealousy, there's no competition. They're just happy to see other women winning. I just feel so connected to Madonna in a lot of ways . . . --"And I feel connected to Barbra [Streisand], and I feel connected to Cher and Blondie and all of the women who came before me." --She adds, quote, "I believe I was destined to be an artist. At the end of the day, I could be rolling around in Rolls-Royces, buying mansions for myself, making records, and dancing around in my underwear. --"But to be honest, I'm not interested in doing that at all. --"I'd rather be at rallies with the fans . . . being a part of their voice . . . helping to mobilize and enforce change. If people don't believe me, they don't have to be a part of it."
Lenny Kravitz Named a Song After the Word They Use for "Ass" in the Bahamas:
LENNY KRAVITZ'S next album "Black and White America" has a song called "Boongie Drop", which features JAY-Z and someone named DJ MILITARY. Since the word "boongie" might not be in your daily vocabulary, here's Lenny's explanation: --Quote, "'Boongie' is a Bahamian word for 'ass' . . . but it's not just an ass-shaking song. There's a place down the street from where I live, and on Sunday nights, people come down there and dance . . . --"The thing I found beautiful was that you have these really full-figured Bahamian women showing up there, they know they're beautiful, and they're not buying into the lie, the stereotype of what media says is beautiful. --"They exude this pride, and the song's about that." (--I think you get what he means. "Black and White America" comes out on August 30th.)
Eminem's "Recovery" Has Become the First Album to Sell 1 Million Digital Copies:
Well, here's a victory for music's new era. EMINEM'S last album "Recovery" has become the first album EVER to sell 1 million DIGITAL copies. (--There's no word on how many it's sold overall . . . but as of December of 2010, it had sold 3.4 million copies in the U.S. and 5.7 million worldwide.)
WEDNESDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
The guy who trespassed at PARIS HILTON'S Hollywood Hills home last October, then tried to assault her then-boyfriend CY WAITS this past April, has been arrested YET AGAIN for bothering Paris. This time, he was found loitering around her Malibu beach house. (Full Story)
MARIAH CAREY might be brought in to mentor contestants on SIMON COWELL'S "X-Factor". (Full Story)
I don't know about you, but I would DEFINITELY tune in for this: DINA LOHAN says she's in talks to appear on "Dancing With the Stars". (Full Story)
DURAN DURAN has been forced to cancel an entire U.K. tour because singer SIMON LE BON is having vocal problems. (Full Story)
Tastebuds.fm . . . a website that hooks people up based on their taste in music . . . says that ADELE fans seem to have the most luck finding love on their site. KINGS OF LEON and ARCTIC MONKEYS fans are right up there, too. (Full Story)
RANDOM STUFF
Bad Ringtones are Named the Least Sexy Cell Phone Accessory . . . Even Ahead of Bluetooth Headsets:
Believe it or not, adults shouldn't download ringtones. Even if you think nothing would make you happier than hearing a few seconds of KESHA every time you get an important business call. --According to a new survey by Zoosk.com about dating and cell phones, bad ringtones were named the LEAST SEXY cell phone accessory. They even beat Bluetooth headsets, which came in second. --Wearing a cell phone belt clip came in third. Putting an ugly faceplate on your phone came in fourth. Here are some more findings from the survey . . .
--86% of people say that constantly glancing at your cell phone is the most offensive phone behavior on a date. That beat out sending a text or taking a call.
--33% of people have left a date early because the other person was too obsessed with their cell phone. But 25% say they actually don't mind if their date checks his or her cell phone every once in a while.
--25% of women have dumped someone via text versus 15% of men.
--73% prefer to set up a date on a phone call rather than through text.
--68% say you shouldn't check-in on Facebook, Foursquare, or Yelp when you arrive at a date. (PR Newswire)
Want to Have Relations Tonight? Let a Woman Beat You at Scrabble:
If you take someone on a date that involves some kind of game . . . bowling, mini-golf, whatever . . . you KNOW the right thing to do is to tone down your raging competitive side and let the woman win. --Well . . . don't just let her win so you don't come off like a hypercompetitive a-hole. According to a new study, if you let her win, it's more likely that she'll GET-IT-ON with you. --Psychologists found that when a woman wins something . . . no matter how minor it is . . . her testosterone spikes enough to get her TURNED ON and in the mood for relations. --For people married or in long-term relationships, this works for you too . . . so if you want to get-it-on tonight, propose a game of Scrabble and lose on purpose. (Men's Health)
Half of Americans Have Worked for a Terrible Boss . . . And Most of the Time, We Just Kinda Suck It Up and Take It:
At some point, about half of the people in this country say they've worked for an awful boss. That's sad, but not the saddest part. No, the saddest part is that the majority of us felt like our only choice was to suck it up and take the abuse. --In a new survey by the staffing service OfficeTeam, 46% of Americans say they've worked for a terrible boss. And 59% of those people stayed in their jobs and just took it. --Only 11% quit without another job already lined up. 27% actively tried to line up a new job and quit once they had one. --OfficeTeam also has some tips for how to handle different kinds of bosses in case you're one of the three-fifths who stays in a bad situation . . .
--MICROMANAGER. Build trust. Never miss deadlines, be obsessive about details, and keep your boss posted on your step-by-step progress.
--BULLY. Stand up for yourself. When they shoot down a good idea, try to calmly explain your rationale. They could react positively to a voice of reason.
--BAD COMMUNICATOR. Try to schedule regular check-ins so you can make sure you ask the right questions and take care of all the necessary details.
--UNPREDICTABLE. Don't take mood swings personally. And when your boss is going through a bad mood, keep your communication limited to urgent issues. (PR Newswire)
More Than 1,400 Kinds of Bacteria May Live in Your Belly Button . . . Including 662 Species that are "New to Science":
I love when scientists travel to remote rainforests and the bottom of the ocean to find new species. But they might feel stupid after hearing this. --A group of scientists discovered 662 new species of bacteria . . . in people's belly buttons. --The researchers are working on something called the Belly Button Biodiversity project. They've taken samples from about 100 people to see what's living in their navels. --The results could not be any nastier: They've found 1,400 different strains of bacteria, including 662 they couldn't classify. According to project leader Jiri Hulcr, that, quote, "strongly suggests that they are new to science." --They decided to look at belly buttons because they're a relatively isolated part of the human body . . . and few people bother to wash theirs regularly. --Even though they found a huge number of different species, a small group of 40 strains of bacteria made up about 80% of all bacteria in there. (Washington Post)
The First Person Who'll Live to Be 150 is Alive Right Now:
The next time you pass a playground or an elementary school, think about this: You might be looking at the first person who'll live until they're 150. --According to a researcher in human longevity, the first 150-year-old has already been born. --Dr. Aubrey De Grey runs the SENS Foundation in California. (--It stands for Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence . . . whatever that means.) --He claims that doctors will have all the tools they need to control aging within 25 years. --But that means the kid who'll live to 150 shouldn't get too cocky: According to Dr. De Grey, the first human who'll live to the age of 1,000 will be born within the next 20 years. --As for WHY, he says stem cell research will help cure disease, stop organs from failing, and repair damaged brains and hearts. --If you think this all sounds sketchy, you're not alone. The medical establishment doesn't agree with Dr. De Grey, and a group of leading doctors called his work "pseudo science." --Still, M.I.T. offered a $20,000 reward to anyone who could discredit Dr. De Grey's work back in 2005, and so far no one has collected. --In Dr. De Grey's defense, average life expectancy increases by about three months every year, and the number of 100-year-olds is increasing by a lot. But doctors warn that the obesity epidemic might cancel out any medical advances. (Daily Mail)
A 58-Year-Old Man in South Carolina was Struck By Lightning for the Sixth Time:
Maybe, just maybe, the next time there's a massive thunderstorm, this guy WON'T go running around outside. Just hang in the house and watch TV, man. --Last week, 58-year-old Melvin Roberts of Seneca, South Carolina was struck by lightning . . . FOR THE SIXTH TIME. And he survived for the sixth time. And as much as we hate to blame the victim . . . he had SOME participation in it happening. --Last week, it started pouring and he went outside to cover up his lawnmower. A lightning bolt hit him and knocked him over, causing burns and blisters on his legs and feet. --The last time he was struck by lightning was in 2007. That time it started pouring and he went outside to cover up his chickens. That bolt of lightning put him in a wheelchair for a year. --Now, after the sixth time, it's finally occurred to Melvin that maybe he needs to stop going outside in thunderstorms and tempting fate. Quote, "I ain't saying be afraid of it, but I'm going to have to learn to give it a little respect." --Experts say the odds of being struck by lightning six times are almost incalculable. There's a one-in-nine million chance of being struck TWICE . . . they haven't figured out the odds beyond that. --For what it's worth, Melvin also racks up big numbers when it comes to WIVES . . . he's been married FIVE times. He says he isn't planning to divorce his current wife and remarry to keep his wedding total and lightning total equal. (Huffington Post)
Divorces in Japan Have Tripled Since the Earthquake and Tsunami in March:
I suppose if you survive a major disaster, it really makes you take a long, hard look at your life. That's clearly what's happening with the people in Japan who survived the earthquake and tsunami back in March. --Because it seems a LOT of them took a step back, assessed their marriages . . . and decided, yeah, this ain't working. --According to reports, divorces have TRIPLED in Japan since March. -And many of the couples are participating in the hot . . . but strange . . . Japanese trend of holding a DIVORCE PARTY where they invite friends, smash their wedding rings, and make a clean break. (Reuters)
The Final U.S. Army Draftee Has Finally Retired:
The U.S. military hasn't held a draft since the Vietnam War. But, believe it or not, until last week . . . there was one draftee who was still serving. --He's 58-year-old Command Sergeant Jeff Mellinger. He was drafted in 1972, during Vietnam, and was sent to an Army office in Germany. He liked working for the Army. So . . . he's been there ever since. --And he hasn't just been behind a desk. He was recruited into the Army Rangers and did more than 3,700 parachute jumps. He even served in Iraq a few years ago, and survived 27 roadside bombings. --Finally, last week, he retired after 39 years. That means there's not a single person who was drafted still serving in the military. --Mellinger had been serving at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, working for the Army Material Command. His job was to encourage female troops to try out for Special Forces assignments. (Yahoo News)
A Hazmat Crew Shut Down a Taco Bell Because the Soda Made a Kid Sick . . . and People Lined Up When it Reopened:
What will it take to slow our relentless march to chubbiness? Warning labels on junk food? Listing nutritional information at fast food joints? If you think that'll help us make better choices, listen to what went down at a Taco Bell in Long Island yesterday. --A ten-year old boy, his father, and his grandfather were eating at a Taco Bell in Merrick, New York (--about 30 miles east of New York City). The kid said his soda smelled funny and tasted bad . . . and it made him nauseous. --The father took the soda to a nearby police station, and a cop who examined the drink immediately became ill . . . just from SMELLING it. --A Hazmat crew was called in, and the restaurant was closed for several hours. They sanitized all the counters and determined that it wasn't a dangerous situation. --So the restaurant re-opened at 7:00 P.M. and a line of people formed inside and at the drive-thru . . . despite the fact that a HAZMAT TEAM had just cleared the premises. --The Health Department is going to continue to test the store's soda supplier, although they didn't say what got the kid and cop sick.
(CBS 2)
STUPID CRIMINALS
A Woman Leaves a Conjugal Visit . . . And is Caught Trying to Smuggle Her Husband Out of Prison in a Suitcase:
You've got to love a woman this loyal. Stays with you while you're in prison . . . provides you with sweet, sweet conjugal visits . . . AND takes her own risks to try to help you escape. We should all be so lucky. --On Saturday, 19-year-old Maria del Mar Arjona of Quintana Roo, Mexico went to visit her common law husband in prison. His name is Juan Ramirez Tijerina, and he's currently doing 20 years for illegal weapons possession. --Maria met Juan in a special conjugal visit room. After it was over, the guards saw her wheeling out a bulky suitcase and looking nervous. No matter HOW many marital aids she brought, they couldn't have made the suitcase that bulky . . . so they stopped her and questioned her. --When they looked through the suitcase, they found out why she was nervous . . . Juan was curled up in the fetal position inside. He was NAKED and only wearing socks. --He was thrown back in his cell and Maria was arrested. Charges are pending. (Houston Chronicle)
A Man in Oregon Shoots Up His Workplace . . . Because His Co-Workers Mocked Him For Not Getting Called Up During the Rapture:
And you thought we were done having stories about the fallout from the RAPTURE not happening back in May like predicted. WRONG. -39-year-old Dale O'Callaghan of Eugene, Oregon was one of the people who believed in HAROLD CAMPING, the evangelist who guaranteed the Rapture would happen on May 21st. --O'Callaghan made it known to his co-workers at LHM Hydraulics that he fully expected to be called up during the Rapture. --Obviously, that didn't happen. And apparently, some of his co-workers gave him a hard time about it. --Clearly, they pushed him too far . . . and back on Friday morning, O'Callaghan showed up to work with a gun and started SHOOTING. --He hit one co-worker, 33-year-old Jerry Andrews of Eugene . . . and, thankfully, only got him in the shoulder. Jerry needed to be hospitalized, but he survived. --O'Callaghan was arrested and charged with first-degree assault. B(Eugene Register-Guard)
Random News Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
A cop in England did an emergency stop when a driver threw a KFC bone out the window . . . and caused a four-car chain reaction pile-up. (Full Story)
If you want to have a baby . . . floss regularly? Poor oral hygiene delays conception by about two months . . . which is about the same effect as obesity. (Full Story)
According to a new study, the products most likely to break down are side-by-side refrigerators (--where the fridge and the freezer are next to each other) . . . laptops, and riding lawn mowers. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) Is This What a Woman Looks Like Wearing a Year's Worth of Make-Up?
Women know how annoying it is to put on make-up before they go out, but imagine applying a YEAR'S worth of make-up all at once. A website called Nowness.com did exactly that to one lucky lady: They did her make-up 365 times in a row. --They used foundation, lip gloss, and cream-based blush and eyeshadow . . . not a ton of scary, outrageous eye makeup. So at the end, she basically looked like she had a lot of flesh-covered goo on her face. --It's supposed to be a comment on 'natural' beauty. They say they, quote, "wanted to apply 365 layers of make-up in one day to see how much is needed to go from a natural look to an outrageous one." So . . . mission accomplished. --The whole ordeal took about nine hours. But the video is a slightly more tolerable three minutes. (--Search for "Nowness.com Presents Natural Beauty." They start at :22, by 1:49, you can't even see her eyebrows, and they reveal the finished product at 2:28.)
#2.) A Spectator Leaned Onto the Course at the Tour de France and Caused a Massive Pile-Up:
The 2011 Tour de France started on Saturday, and a female spectator caused a huge pile-up when she clipped a rider on the side of the pack. A rider from Kazahkstan ran into her, then dozens of other cyclists went down. (--Search YouTube for "Tour de France Crash 2011." It shows the replay at :55.)
#3.) Jean-Claude Van Damme Talks About "Frozen Pants" in a New Coors Light Ad Airing in the UK:
A weird Coors Light ad is airing in Britain right now. It stars JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME standing on a snowy mountain, talking about the time his pants FROZE and got even tighter than they USUALLY are. --He says he walked the way a, quote, "man penguin walks after an intense mating season." Then adds that even wearing "rock solid" frozen pants wasn't as refreshing as a Coors Light. (--Search YouTube for "Jean Claude Van Damme Coors Light Commercial.")
Three Household Remedies That Work . . . And Three Surprising Ones That Don't:
"Real Simple" magazine has an article about household remedies you should and shouldn't try. And the ones you SHOULDN'T try are the most interesting, because a lot of people think they work . . . even though they don't.
--First, here are the three that DO work:
#1.) Chicken Soup for a Cold. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help if you have a sore throat or a stuffy nose.
#2.) A Cucumber Compress to Relieve Headaches. It tightens blood vessels, which restricts blood flow to the area and relieves pressure.
#3.) Green Tea If You Have Bad Breath. It inhibits the growth of bacteria, which is one of the things that causes bad breath. And it'll also mask the smell of garlic and onions.
--Now, here are the three remedies you SHOULDN'T try, because they either don't work, or they can make things worse.
#1.) Hemorrhoid Cream for Puffy Eyes. Some celebrities use it before they go on camera because it makes the bags under their eyes go down. And the reason it works is because it shrinks the blood vessels under the skin. --But over time, it actually makes MORE blood vessels form, and causes more swelling. And using it all the time can damage the sensitive skin under your eyes.
#2.) Sucking Venom From a Snakebite. This one you probably know already, but just to make sure: You're NOT supposed to suck venom out of a snakebite, because it can make the bite infected. --If your friend gets bitten, just make them keep the affected area below their heart . . . which is easy if it's their leg. And get them to the hospital as quickly as possible.
#3.) Urine to Treat a Jellyfish Sting. You'll be glad to know this one doesn't work either. In fact, it can make the stingers release MORE venom, and make the sting more painful. --Instead, just rinse the sting with salt water, and it'll deactivate the barbs that are still in your skin. (Real Simple)
Casey Anthony is Found Not Guilty of the Murder of Her Two-Year-Old Daughter . . . Here are the 10 Things You Need to Know:
Yesterday, after only two days of deliberating, the jury in the CASEY ANTHONY trial came back with their verdict. And it shocked most legal experts. They found her NOT GUILTY of murdering her two-year-old daughter. -Here are the 10 things you need to know to be fully caught up on the case.
#1.) In June of 2008, when Casey Anthony was only 22, her two-year-old daughter Caylee disappeared in Florida. Anthony was eventually arrested for child neglect, and when chloroform was found in her car, she was charged with murder.
#2.) Six months later, Caylee's bones were found in the woods near their home. She had been covered in duct tape.
#3.) ALL evidence pointed to Anthony. The most damning were computer records showing she'd Googled terms like "neck breaking" and "how to make chloroform." And a heart-shaped sticker was found on the duct tape on Caylee.
#4.) The trial lasted for seven weeks. The prosecution believed Anthony had suffocated her daughter, then driven around with her and finally buried her in the woods.
#5.) The defense tried to prove that all the evidence was circumstantial. They said Caylee drowned and Anthony panicked and covered up the death, burying her daughter in the backyard.
#6.) Legal experts believed Anthony would be found guilty of murdering her daughter. If so, prosecutors planned to seek the death penalty.
#7.) The jury of seven women and five men returned a verdict of not guilty for murder, not guilty of aggravated child abuse, and not guilty of aggravated manslaughter. Under double jeopardy laws she cannot be tried for those again.
#8.) They did find Anthony guilty of four misdemeanor counts of providing false information to a law enforcement officer. She could get up to one year in jail for each count and will be sentenced tomorrow.
#9.) None of the jurors spoke with the media yesterday but it's believed that they'll say the prosecution didn't meet the burden of proof.
#10.) After the verdict was delivered, the Internet EXPLODED . . . at one point, nine of the 10 trending topics on Twitter were about the trial . . . with the overwhelming majority of people absolutely SHOCKED and DISGUSTED at the result. (Time / CNN)
Entenmann's Makes a Gigantic Twitter Blunder and Uses the Casey Anthony Verdict to Try to Push Their Baked Goods:
After CASEY ANTHONY was found not guilty of murdering her two-year-old daughter yesterday, one of the big trending topics on Twitter was the phrase "not guilty." (--Technically it was the hashtag #notguilty.) --Someone who runs the Twitter account for the pastry company Entenmann's saw that trending topic and apparently didn't realize it was connected to the Anthony trial . . . or didn't have the sense not to use it for marketing purposes. --So they tweeted, quote, "Who's #notguilty about eating all the tasty treats they want?!" --After people were outraged that they tied a marketing slogan into a two-year-old's death, they pulled the tweet and frantically apologized. In the apology, they said it was unintentional and they hadn't checked WHY "not guilty" was trending. (Huffington Post)
CASEY ANTHONY: THE STARS REACT
Kim Kardashian Is Outraged at the Casey Anthony Verdict . . . Even Though Her Dad Helped Get O.J. Simpson Acquitted of Murder Charges in 1995:
EVERYONE has an opinion on CASEY ANTHONY being found NOT GUILTY yesterday in the death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee . . . including KIM KARDASHIAN. --After the verdict yesterday, Kim Tweeted, quote, "WHAT!!!!???!!!! CASEY ANTHONY FOUND NOT GUILTY!!!! I am speechless!!!" --MASSIVE IRONY ALERT: Kim's late father, ROBERT KARDASHIAN, was part of the defense team that got O.J. SIMPSON acquitted of murder charges in 1995. A lot of people are comparing yesterday's verdict to the outcome of the O.J. trial. --Maybe Kim didn't understand the irony . . . but her Twitter followers did. After some of them called her out on it, she had this to say . . . --"Reading the comments here & it's nuts, people think just [because] I was close to the OJ trial I can't have my own opinion on the Casey Anthony case? --Kim's sister KHLOE also expressed her displeasure over the verdict. Her first Tweet was simply this . . . quote, "WHAT THE [EFF]!!!! I am disgusted." --Then she added, quote, "Nancy Grace is about to go HAM about this verdict! Let loose the dogs Mrs Nancy Grace!! . . . guilty or not guilty she's going 2have a tough time in life. God is the ultimate person to judge her."
More Celebrities React to Casey Anthony's Not Guilty Verdict:
--CARSON DALY: "That jury better get into hiding."
--DAVID BOREANAZ: "Anthony Cleared in Daughters Death. Media Assassination? This case is over. No winners here. Wonder what Nancy Grace is doing right now?"
--MINDY KALING (--From "The Office"): "Anyone else hoping Casey Anthony is stupid enough to sue herself for millions in a civil court?"
--RAINN WILSON: "Dear Florida, THANK YOU for freeing Casey! She's now available for partying and babysitting!"
--PIERS MORGAN: "Astonishing verdict. No other way to describe it."
--FRANKIE MUNIZ: "I called that she would be found not guilty weeks ago... everyone said I was wrong..."
--FRED SAVAGE: "I guess OJ has a new friend now. Disgusting."
--MARLON WAYANS: "Casey Anthony a.k.a. WHITE O.J."
--MANDY MOORE: "Woah! Shocked about the verdict in the Casey Anthony trial! Thought she was guilty for sure! Either way, tragic story...."
--KATHY GRIFFIN: "Wow. Ok, now this case has my attn. Not guilty? Really? I just assumed..."
--ASHTON KUTCHER re-Tweeted someone else's message that said, quote, "OJ Simpson finds this verdict outrageous."
--DEMI MOORE re-Tweeted the hashtag #StillNoJusticeforCaylee.
--SHARON OSBOURNE: "Casey Anthony not guilty??.....it's a disgrace. She'll probably get her own reality show now."
--ROSEANNE: "Casey-you were so smart to hide the body in the swamp! You got away with killing your baby!" --Roseanne then added, quote, "Idiots must never again be allowed on juries--smart people must begin to serve their country before idiots kill us all!"
--LEANN RIMES: "Shocking this trial!" (--Apparently, LeAnn Rimes has become either Yoda or Sean Penn's character from "I Am Sam".) (???)
--JASON BIGGS: "I guess the glove didn't fit."
--STAR JONES: "I believe in the jury system & accept verdict...but I can't take smiles from #CaseyAnthony right now. She may be NG...but her baby is dead!"
--Acting legend SCOTT BAIO: "You may have been found NOT guilty by the People, but GOD will have final judgment for what happened to Caylee. That poor little baby!!!!"
--BENJI MADDEN from GOOD CHARLOTTE: "Casey Anthony looks Crazy man. like real Crazy. like street rat Krazy. Kray Kray. 100$ says she moves to LA in 30 days or less."
--JOY BEHAR: "I am shocked by the #caseyanthonyverdict. Though I can't say this is the first time Florida screwed up on an important vote. #HLN" (--Here's video of CNN's NANCY GRACE disgustedly announcing the verdict.)
Is A-Rod Making a Play for Christie Brinkley?
As far as we know, ALEX RODRIGUEZ and CAMERON DIAZ are still together. They were all over each other at a 4th of July party Sunday night. But last Wednesday, A-Rod allegedly made a play for CHRISTIE BRINKLEY. --Christie was Alex's guest at Yankee Stadium for their game against the Brewers . . . and sources say he was definitely putting the moves on. He even told her he was, quote, "UNATTACHED". --Older women seem to be A-Rod's thing since he divorced his wife. There was MADONNA, who's 52, and then Cameron, who'll be 39 in August. Brinkley is 57. A-Rod is 35. --But a source says Alex and Christie are JUST FRIENDS, and that Alex, quote, "has people join him at the game all the time."
Rihanna Says She's a "Hunter" . . . Just Like Men Are:
When it comes to romance, RIHANNA prefers to be the HUNTER, not the hunted. She says, quote, "Men are like hunters, they like the chase, so you have to keep 'em guessing. I'm like that too. --"I get bored fast. So if someone can make me laugh, that's the best." --But she adds that finding a man who's not intimidated by her success is difficult . . . quote, "It's really hard to find a guy who doesn't care about that stuff. Right now, it's easier just having my career to focus on."
THE HIGHEST-PAID ACTRESSES
Angelina Jolie and Sarah Jessica Parker Are the Highest-Paid Actresses in Hollywood:
Forbes.com released its list yesterday of the Highest-Paid Actresses in Hollywood. And this year, there were TWO winners. --ANGELINA JOLIE and SARAH JESSICA PARKER tied for first, because both made $30 million over the past year. There are two more ties at the top of the list.
--Here it is . . .
#1.) (tie) ANGELINA JOLIE and SARAH JESSICA PARKER, $30 million
#3.) (tie) JENNIFER ANISTON and REESE WITHERSPOON, $28 million
#5.) (tie) JULIA ROBERTS and KRISTEN STEWART, $20 million
#7.) KATHERINE HEIGL, $19 million
#8.) CAMERON DIAZ, $18 million
#9.) SANDRA BULLOCK, $15 million
#10.) MERYL STREEP, $10 million
(--For more info on where these ladies made their money, check out the slideshow.)
Pink Named Her Baby Willow After a Tree:
Celebrities give their kids stupid names. It's a fact. --PINK and CAREY HART kind of bucked that trend. They named their daughter Willow Sage, which isn't that outrageous. And the inspiration behind it is actually pretty cool. --She's basically named after a tree . . . but a really strong tree. Pink says, quote, "The willow is my favorite tree. I grew up near one. It's the most flexible tree in nature and nothing can break it . . . no wind, no elements. --"It can bend and withstand anything. I love that sentiment. I want that for her." -She adds, quote, "Sage is cleansing and sacred. And it sounded great together. It doesn't hurt that her last name is Hart . . . flexible cleansed heart." --Pink also says everything is going smoothly so far . . . despite a little chaos right at the beginning . . . quote, "We had one major meltdown the first night home. Carey couldn't figure out who to comfort first. It was pretty funny, actually. Poor guy. --"[Willow's] been amazing. Everyone gives you this terrifying picture of no sleep at all, bickering which leads to divorce . . . they made it sound like waterboarding. --"It's not that bad! I think I've cried more than she has and that's just because I'm emotional and a little nuts."
Christopher Walken Will Play Zeus in a Movie Called "Gods Behaving Badly":
CHRISTOPHER WALKEN is going to play Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, in a comedy called "Gods Behaving Badly". It's based on a novel of the same name by British author Marie Phillips. --Here's the plot in a nutshell: The Greek gods are REAL . . . but their powers are waning and they live in a rundown apartment building in New York City and work crappy jobs. --For instance, Apollo is a TV psychic, while Aphrodite works as a PHONE SEX OPERATOR. --That being said, they cast the right person for Aphrodite: Sharon Stone. The rest of the cast is pretty interesting, too . . . "Cosby Show" mom Phylicia Rashad is Demeter . . . John Turturro plays Hades, the lord of the Underworld . . . --Edie Falco plays Artemis . . . Oliver Platt is Apollo . . . and Rosie Perez plays Persephone. --ALICIA SILVERSTONE also stars as a mortal woman who gets involved with the gods and their petty rivalries and jealousies. --Somehow, chaos ensues that threatens mankind's very existence.
Comedy Central Will Roast Charlie Sheen . . . on the Same Night as Ashton Kutcher's "Two and a Half Men" Debut:
Comedy Central's next roast victim will be CHARLIE SHEEN. The roast will tape September 10th, and will air on September 19th, which just happens to be the same night that ASHTON KUTCHER makes his debut on "Two and a Half Men". --Obviously, this is NOT a coincidence. --The prospect of stealing some attention away from the season premiere of the new "Two and a Half Men" MUST have played a role in Charlie's decision to do the roast . . . but at least for now, he isn't admitting to it. --In the press release, Charlie said, quote, "You could say I've been providing kindling for this Roast for a while. It's time to light it up. It's going to be epic." --For what it's worth, Comedy Central has added this tease: Quote, "Charlie has assured us that nothing will be off limits in this roast, which scares even us." (--Yeah, that's nice. But the REAL challenge for the roasters . . . who haven't been announced yet . . . is coming up with fresh jokes about Charlie Sheen, who's been ridiculed by everyone everywhere for the past six months.) (--Charlie replaces KID ROCK, who was supposed to be Comedy Central's next target. He had to back out because of a scheduling conflict.)
TV REMINDERS
Wednesday TV Reminders: (--Check your local listings.)
--"So You Think You Can Dance" [Performance] . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Fox.
--"State of Georgia" . . . 8:30 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC Family. (--"Knight Rider's" Justin Bruening plays a yogurt shop owner who has a crush on Georgia.)
--"America's Got Talent" [Results] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on NBC. (--The top 48 contestants are chosen.)
--"Franklin & Bash" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on TNT. (--Jason Alexander guest stars as a wealthy CEO who becomes one of Franklin & Bash's newest clients.)
--"Flipping Out" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Bravo.
--"Haunted Collector" [1st Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Syfy.
--"Hot in Cleveland" . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on TV Land. (--Valerie Bertinelli talks the girls into helping her compete in a battle of the bands.)
--"Behind the Music" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on VH1. (--Ice Cube is profiled.)
--"Men of A Certain Age" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on TNT.
--"Louie Anderson Presents" . . . 10:00 to 11:15 P.M. on Showtime. (--Comedians Lukas Seely, Chuck Roy, Jon Wilson and Al Jackson perform.)
--"Cee-Lo Green: Talking to Strangers" . . . 11:00 to 11:30 P.M. on Fuse. (--Train performs and is interviewed by Cee-Lo Green.)
Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli Is Attempting Another Comeback:
FAB MORVAN . . . the surviving member of '90s lip-synchers MILLI VANILLI . . . is attempting another comeback, this time with the help of THE ALCHEMIST. He's a DJ and hip-hop producer who frequently works with EMINEM. --It's unclear what the scope of the project will be. --All we know is that Alchemist told TMZ that he's, quote, "working on a joint with Vanilli." (--We're assuming he's talking about a song . . . not a REAL joint . . . although that would make more sense.) --And to be clear, Alchemist insisted that he isn't playing around. He described their collaboration as, quote, "real [crap] dude . . . Alchemist-Vanilli." --Fab's rep confirmed the comeback, and said he's "definitely" serious about it. (--So in other words, he isn't just providing LIP SERVICE. HI-YO!) --Supposedly, Fab will be using his REAL voice on this project, although that hasn't worked well for him in the past. (--After the dust settled in the Milli Vanilli scandal, the guys released an album called "Rob & Fab", which featured their actual voices. The album only sold 2,000 copies . . . or roughly 6 MILLION LESS than they did as Milli Vanilli.) (--The other half of Milli Vanilli, ROB PILATUS, was found dead of a drug overdose in 1998. His death was ruled accidental.)
Justin Bieber's "Vanity Fair" Is the Worst-Selling Issue in 12 Years:
JUSTIN BIEBER'S rabid fan base of teenage girls will throw money at almost ANYTHING related to Justin . . . but not EVERYTHING. --For example, there's Justin's issue of "Vanity Fair", which came out in February. --According to some new numbers released yesterday, it's on track to sell 246,000 copies, which would make it the worst-selling issue in 12 YEARS. For comparison, "Vanity Fair" has averaged 342,000 in sales per issue this year. (--Even though the issue came out back in February, the final numbers haven't been confirmed yet. That's why it's still "on track" to be the worst in 12 years.) --And it's sold the third-fewest copies since 1992. The two that fared worse were: A WILL SMITH cover in July of 1999, which sold 202,701 copies . . . and a HARRISON FORD cover in July of 1993 that sold 243,000 copies. --A "Vanity Fair" spokesman joked about Justin's numbers . . . saying, quote, "Who knew 12-year-olds didn't buy magazines?" --Here are some more numbers to chew on: Justin's October 2010 issue of "Teen Vogue" was down 12% from the magazine's average sales last year . . . and an issue of "People" that he covered in April of last year was down 25% from normal. (--The "Teen Vogue" numbers are surprising, since it's actually targeted at teen girls. I mean, I think "J-14" magazine puts Justin on every one of their covers, so clearly it doesn't seem to be negatively affecting their sales.) (--But here's the takeaway: Justin may seem untouchable now, but as he gets older he's going to have to find a way to appeal to a more diverse audience . . . or he'll find himself headed to wherever the JONAS BROTHERS are now.)
Nick Jonas Covered "Edge of Glory" . . . and Lady Gaga Approves:
NICK JONAS did an acoustic version of LADY GAGA'S "The Edge of Glory" at a show in L.A. over the weekend . . . and Lady Gaga is a fan. --She linked to a video of the performance on Twitter, and said, quote, "Swoon! Nick Jonas singing 'The Edge of Glory' . . . So dreamy!" (--Here's the video.) --And Nick Tweeted this back: Quote, "The pleasure is all mine. That is a beautiful song. Keep inspiring the world."
Lady Gaga Is a Member of the LGBT Community . . . As "the 'B' Letter":
LADY GAGA was recently accused of "using" the gay community to sell albums . . . and while she's already denied that, she continues to assert her case in the August issue of "The Advocate". --First off, Lady Gaga would like to remind everyone that she's not only an LGBT supporter, she's also a MEMBER. When asked if she considered herself an actual part of the community, she says, quote, "Yes . . . the 'B' letter." (--Bisexual.) --And Gaga wants to set the record straight with the LGBT-Q-and-sometimes-A community. (--That's Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender, Questioning and Ally . . . or, a straight person who supports gay rights.) --She explains, quote, "To say that I would use the gay community to sell records is probably one of the most ridiculous statements anyone can make about me. --"I would say the top thing I think about every single day of my life, other than my fans, loving the music, and my family being healthy, is social justice and equality." --Not that it's necessary, but Lady Gaga backs herself up by talking about a gay serviceman in his 20s that she met at Best Buy the night before the interview. --She explains, quote, "He was afraid that he'd be discharged and that he'd be judged or found out. [He said] that the fight in America against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and the fight for equality made him feel stronger and made him feel safe . . . --"And he gave me his service jacket . . . and we just held each other and cried. Anyone who says that I'm not genuine is not interested in overcoming this fight. --"That was such a pure and wonderful moment that we shared, and I remember thinking, 'There's no album sale, no #1, that could compete with this moment.' --"That's what the [eff] it's all about. What the [eff] it's all about is if I can write one song that could change one person's life." --Lady Gaga also confirms speculation that she killed a deal with Target over the company's feeling on the gay community, which she perceived as, well, lukewarm. --She says, quote, "You're either going to try and change or you're not. Taking an ambiguous stance is not what I'm about, obviously. I like to go right for the ass-kicker. You're either in or you're out. --"I'm from New York. I know [B.S.]. I can smell it from a mile away."
Lady Gaga Says There's "No Drama" Between Her and Madonna:
For better or worse, the argument can be made that LADY GAGA has borrowed a lot of her act from MADONNA. --But Lady Gaga insists things are ALL good between her and her veiny idol. --She tells "The Advocate", quote, "There's no drama, there's no jealousy, there's no competition. They're just happy to see other women winning. I just feel so connected to Madonna in a lot of ways . . . --"And I feel connected to Barbra [Streisand], and I feel connected to Cher and Blondie and all of the women who came before me." --She adds, quote, "I believe I was destined to be an artist. At the end of the day, I could be rolling around in Rolls-Royces, buying mansions for myself, making records, and dancing around in my underwear. --"But to be honest, I'm not interested in doing that at all. --"I'd rather be at rallies with the fans . . . being a part of their voice . . . helping to mobilize and enforce change. If people don't believe me, they don't have to be a part of it."
Lenny Kravitz Named a Song After the Word They Use for "Ass" in the Bahamas:
LENNY KRAVITZ'S next album "Black and White America" has a song called "Boongie Drop", which features JAY-Z and someone named DJ MILITARY. Since the word "boongie" might not be in your daily vocabulary, here's Lenny's explanation: --Quote, "'Boongie' is a Bahamian word for 'ass' . . . but it's not just an ass-shaking song. There's a place down the street from where I live, and on Sunday nights, people come down there and dance . . . --"The thing I found beautiful was that you have these really full-figured Bahamian women showing up there, they know they're beautiful, and they're not buying into the lie, the stereotype of what media says is beautiful. --"They exude this pride, and the song's about that." (--I think you get what he means. "Black and White America" comes out on August 30th.)
Eminem's "Recovery" Has Become the First Album to Sell 1 Million Digital Copies:
Well, here's a victory for music's new era. EMINEM'S last album "Recovery" has become the first album EVER to sell 1 million DIGITAL copies. (--There's no word on how many it's sold overall . . . but as of December of 2010, it had sold 3.4 million copies in the U.S. and 5.7 million worldwide.)
WEDNESDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
The guy who trespassed at PARIS HILTON'S Hollywood Hills home last October, then tried to assault her then-boyfriend CY WAITS this past April, has been arrested YET AGAIN for bothering Paris. This time, he was found loitering around her Malibu beach house. (Full Story)
MARIAH CAREY might be brought in to mentor contestants on SIMON COWELL'S "X-Factor". (Full Story)
I don't know about you, but I would DEFINITELY tune in for this: DINA LOHAN says she's in talks to appear on "Dancing With the Stars". (Full Story)
DURAN DURAN has been forced to cancel an entire U.K. tour because singer SIMON LE BON is having vocal problems. (Full Story)
Tastebuds.fm . . . a website that hooks people up based on their taste in music . . . says that ADELE fans seem to have the most luck finding love on their site. KINGS OF LEON and ARCTIC MONKEYS fans are right up there, too. (Full Story)
RANDOM STUFF
Bad Ringtones are Named the Least Sexy Cell Phone Accessory . . . Even Ahead of Bluetooth Headsets:
Believe it or not, adults shouldn't download ringtones. Even if you think nothing would make you happier than hearing a few seconds of KESHA every time you get an important business call. --According to a new survey by Zoosk.com about dating and cell phones, bad ringtones were named the LEAST SEXY cell phone accessory. They even beat Bluetooth headsets, which came in second. --Wearing a cell phone belt clip came in third. Putting an ugly faceplate on your phone came in fourth. Here are some more findings from the survey . . .
--86% of people say that constantly glancing at your cell phone is the most offensive phone behavior on a date. That beat out sending a text or taking a call.
--33% of people have left a date early because the other person was too obsessed with their cell phone. But 25% say they actually don't mind if their date checks his or her cell phone every once in a while.
--25% of women have dumped someone via text versus 15% of men.
--73% prefer to set up a date on a phone call rather than through text.
--68% say you shouldn't check-in on Facebook, Foursquare, or Yelp when you arrive at a date. (PR Newswire)
Want to Have Relations Tonight? Let a Woman Beat You at Scrabble:
If you take someone on a date that involves some kind of game . . . bowling, mini-golf, whatever . . . you KNOW the right thing to do is to tone down your raging competitive side and let the woman win. --Well . . . don't just let her win so you don't come off like a hypercompetitive a-hole. According to a new study, if you let her win, it's more likely that she'll GET-IT-ON with you. --Psychologists found that when a woman wins something . . . no matter how minor it is . . . her testosterone spikes enough to get her TURNED ON and in the mood for relations. --For people married or in long-term relationships, this works for you too . . . so if you want to get-it-on tonight, propose a game of Scrabble and lose on purpose. (Men's Health)
Half of Americans Have Worked for a Terrible Boss . . . And Most of the Time, We Just Kinda Suck It Up and Take It:
At some point, about half of the people in this country say they've worked for an awful boss. That's sad, but not the saddest part. No, the saddest part is that the majority of us felt like our only choice was to suck it up and take the abuse. --In a new survey by the staffing service OfficeTeam, 46% of Americans say they've worked for a terrible boss. And 59% of those people stayed in their jobs and just took it. --Only 11% quit without another job already lined up. 27% actively tried to line up a new job and quit once they had one. --OfficeTeam also has some tips for how to handle different kinds of bosses in case you're one of the three-fifths who stays in a bad situation . . .
--MICROMANAGER. Build trust. Never miss deadlines, be obsessive about details, and keep your boss posted on your step-by-step progress.
--BULLY. Stand up for yourself. When they shoot down a good idea, try to calmly explain your rationale. They could react positively to a voice of reason.
--BAD COMMUNICATOR. Try to schedule regular check-ins so you can make sure you ask the right questions and take care of all the necessary details.
--UNPREDICTABLE. Don't take mood swings personally. And when your boss is going through a bad mood, keep your communication limited to urgent issues. (PR Newswire)
More Than 1,400 Kinds of Bacteria May Live in Your Belly Button . . . Including 662 Species that are "New to Science":
I love when scientists travel to remote rainforests and the bottom of the ocean to find new species. But they might feel stupid after hearing this. --A group of scientists discovered 662 new species of bacteria . . . in people's belly buttons. --The researchers are working on something called the Belly Button Biodiversity project. They've taken samples from about 100 people to see what's living in their navels. --The results could not be any nastier: They've found 1,400 different strains of bacteria, including 662 they couldn't classify. According to project leader Jiri Hulcr, that, quote, "strongly suggests that they are new to science." --They decided to look at belly buttons because they're a relatively isolated part of the human body . . . and few people bother to wash theirs regularly. --Even though they found a huge number of different species, a small group of 40 strains of bacteria made up about 80% of all bacteria in there. (Washington Post)
The First Person Who'll Live to Be 150 is Alive Right Now:
The next time you pass a playground or an elementary school, think about this: You might be looking at the first person who'll live until they're 150. --According to a researcher in human longevity, the first 150-year-old has already been born. --Dr. Aubrey De Grey runs the SENS Foundation in California. (--It stands for Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence . . . whatever that means.) --He claims that doctors will have all the tools they need to control aging within 25 years. --But that means the kid who'll live to 150 shouldn't get too cocky: According to Dr. De Grey, the first human who'll live to the age of 1,000 will be born within the next 20 years. --As for WHY, he says stem cell research will help cure disease, stop organs from failing, and repair damaged brains and hearts. --If you think this all sounds sketchy, you're not alone. The medical establishment doesn't agree with Dr. De Grey, and a group of leading doctors called his work "pseudo science." --Still, M.I.T. offered a $20,000 reward to anyone who could discredit Dr. De Grey's work back in 2005, and so far no one has collected. --In Dr. De Grey's defense, average life expectancy increases by about three months every year, and the number of 100-year-olds is increasing by a lot. But doctors warn that the obesity epidemic might cancel out any medical advances. (Daily Mail)
A 58-Year-Old Man in South Carolina was Struck By Lightning for the Sixth Time:
Maybe, just maybe, the next time there's a massive thunderstorm, this guy WON'T go running around outside. Just hang in the house and watch TV, man. --Last week, 58-year-old Melvin Roberts of Seneca, South Carolina was struck by lightning . . . FOR THE SIXTH TIME. And he survived for the sixth time. And as much as we hate to blame the victim . . . he had SOME participation in it happening. --Last week, it started pouring and he went outside to cover up his lawnmower. A lightning bolt hit him and knocked him over, causing burns and blisters on his legs and feet. --The last time he was struck by lightning was in 2007. That time it started pouring and he went outside to cover up his chickens. That bolt of lightning put him in a wheelchair for a year. --Now, after the sixth time, it's finally occurred to Melvin that maybe he needs to stop going outside in thunderstorms and tempting fate. Quote, "I ain't saying be afraid of it, but I'm going to have to learn to give it a little respect." --Experts say the odds of being struck by lightning six times are almost incalculable. There's a one-in-nine million chance of being struck TWICE . . . they haven't figured out the odds beyond that. --For what it's worth, Melvin also racks up big numbers when it comes to WIVES . . . he's been married FIVE times. He says he isn't planning to divorce his current wife and remarry to keep his wedding total and lightning total equal. (Huffington Post)
Divorces in Japan Have Tripled Since the Earthquake and Tsunami in March:
I suppose if you survive a major disaster, it really makes you take a long, hard look at your life. That's clearly what's happening with the people in Japan who survived the earthquake and tsunami back in March. --Because it seems a LOT of them took a step back, assessed their marriages . . . and decided, yeah, this ain't working. --According to reports, divorces have TRIPLED in Japan since March. -And many of the couples are participating in the hot . . . but strange . . . Japanese trend of holding a DIVORCE PARTY where they invite friends, smash their wedding rings, and make a clean break. (Reuters)
The Final U.S. Army Draftee Has Finally Retired:
The U.S. military hasn't held a draft since the Vietnam War. But, believe it or not, until last week . . . there was one draftee who was still serving. --He's 58-year-old Command Sergeant Jeff Mellinger. He was drafted in 1972, during Vietnam, and was sent to an Army office in Germany. He liked working for the Army. So . . . he's been there ever since. --And he hasn't just been behind a desk. He was recruited into the Army Rangers and did more than 3,700 parachute jumps. He even served in Iraq a few years ago, and survived 27 roadside bombings. --Finally, last week, he retired after 39 years. That means there's not a single person who was drafted still serving in the military. --Mellinger had been serving at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, working for the Army Material Command. His job was to encourage female troops to try out for Special Forces assignments. (Yahoo News)
A Hazmat Crew Shut Down a Taco Bell Because the Soda Made a Kid Sick . . . and People Lined Up When it Reopened:
What will it take to slow our relentless march to chubbiness? Warning labels on junk food? Listing nutritional information at fast food joints? If you think that'll help us make better choices, listen to what went down at a Taco Bell in Long Island yesterday. --A ten-year old boy, his father, and his grandfather were eating at a Taco Bell in Merrick, New York (--about 30 miles east of New York City). The kid said his soda smelled funny and tasted bad . . . and it made him nauseous. --The father took the soda to a nearby police station, and a cop who examined the drink immediately became ill . . . just from SMELLING it. --A Hazmat crew was called in, and the restaurant was closed for several hours. They sanitized all the counters and determined that it wasn't a dangerous situation. --So the restaurant re-opened at 7:00 P.M. and a line of people formed inside and at the drive-thru . . . despite the fact that a HAZMAT TEAM had just cleared the premises. --The Health Department is going to continue to test the store's soda supplier, although they didn't say what got the kid and cop sick.
(CBS 2)
STUPID CRIMINALS
A Woman Leaves a Conjugal Visit . . . And is Caught Trying to Smuggle Her Husband Out of Prison in a Suitcase:
You've got to love a woman this loyal. Stays with you while you're in prison . . . provides you with sweet, sweet conjugal visits . . . AND takes her own risks to try to help you escape. We should all be so lucky. --On Saturday, 19-year-old Maria del Mar Arjona of Quintana Roo, Mexico went to visit her common law husband in prison. His name is Juan Ramirez Tijerina, and he's currently doing 20 years for illegal weapons possession. --Maria met Juan in a special conjugal visit room. After it was over, the guards saw her wheeling out a bulky suitcase and looking nervous. No matter HOW many marital aids she brought, they couldn't have made the suitcase that bulky . . . so they stopped her and questioned her. --When they looked through the suitcase, they found out why she was nervous . . . Juan was curled up in the fetal position inside. He was NAKED and only wearing socks. --He was thrown back in his cell and Maria was arrested. Charges are pending. (Houston Chronicle)
A Man in Oregon Shoots Up His Workplace . . . Because His Co-Workers Mocked Him For Not Getting Called Up During the Rapture:
And you thought we were done having stories about the fallout from the RAPTURE not happening back in May like predicted. WRONG. -39-year-old Dale O'Callaghan of Eugene, Oregon was one of the people who believed in HAROLD CAMPING, the evangelist who guaranteed the Rapture would happen on May 21st. --O'Callaghan made it known to his co-workers at LHM Hydraulics that he fully expected to be called up during the Rapture. --Obviously, that didn't happen. And apparently, some of his co-workers gave him a hard time about it. --Clearly, they pushed him too far . . . and back on Friday morning, O'Callaghan showed up to work with a gun and started SHOOTING. --He hit one co-worker, 33-year-old Jerry Andrews of Eugene . . . and, thankfully, only got him in the shoulder. Jerry needed to be hospitalized, but he survived. --O'Callaghan was arrested and charged with first-degree assault. B(Eugene Register-Guard)
Random News Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
A cop in England did an emergency stop when a driver threw a KFC bone out the window . . . and caused a four-car chain reaction pile-up. (Full Story)
If you want to have a baby . . . floss regularly? Poor oral hygiene delays conception by about two months . . . which is about the same effect as obesity. (Full Story)
According to a new study, the products most likely to break down are side-by-side refrigerators (--where the fridge and the freezer are next to each other) . . . laptops, and riding lawn mowers. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) Is This What a Woman Looks Like Wearing a Year's Worth of Make-Up?
Women know how annoying it is to put on make-up before they go out, but imagine applying a YEAR'S worth of make-up all at once. A website called Nowness.com did exactly that to one lucky lady: They did her make-up 365 times in a row. --They used foundation, lip gloss, and cream-based blush and eyeshadow . . . not a ton of scary, outrageous eye makeup. So at the end, she basically looked like she had a lot of flesh-covered goo on her face. --It's supposed to be a comment on 'natural' beauty. They say they, quote, "wanted to apply 365 layers of make-up in one day to see how much is needed to go from a natural look to an outrageous one." So . . . mission accomplished. --The whole ordeal took about nine hours. But the video is a slightly more tolerable three minutes. (--Search for "Nowness.com Presents Natural Beauty." They start at :22, by 1:49, you can't even see her eyebrows, and they reveal the finished product at 2:28.)
#2.) A Spectator Leaned Onto the Course at the Tour de France and Caused a Massive Pile-Up:
The 2011 Tour de France started on Saturday, and a female spectator caused a huge pile-up when she clipped a rider on the side of the pack. A rider from Kazahkstan ran into her, then dozens of other cyclists went down. (--Search YouTube for "Tour de France Crash 2011." It shows the replay at :55.)
#3.) Jean-Claude Van Damme Talks About "Frozen Pants" in a New Coors Light Ad Airing in the UK:
A weird Coors Light ad is airing in Britain right now. It stars JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME standing on a snowy mountain, talking about the time his pants FROZE and got even tighter than they USUALLY are. --He says he walked the way a, quote, "man penguin walks after an intense mating season." Then adds that even wearing "rock solid" frozen pants wasn't as refreshing as a Coors Light. (--Search YouTube for "Jean Claude Van Damme Coors Light Commercial.")
Three Household Remedies That Work . . . And Three Surprising Ones That Don't:
"Real Simple" magazine has an article about household remedies you should and shouldn't try. And the ones you SHOULDN'T try are the most interesting, because a lot of people think they work . . . even though they don't.
--First, here are the three that DO work:
#1.) Chicken Soup for a Cold. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help if you have a sore throat or a stuffy nose.
#2.) A Cucumber Compress to Relieve Headaches. It tightens blood vessels, which restricts blood flow to the area and relieves pressure.
#3.) Green Tea If You Have Bad Breath. It inhibits the growth of bacteria, which is one of the things that causes bad breath. And it'll also mask the smell of garlic and onions.
--Now, here are the three remedies you SHOULDN'T try, because they either don't work, or they can make things worse.
#1.) Hemorrhoid Cream for Puffy Eyes. Some celebrities use it before they go on camera because it makes the bags under their eyes go down. And the reason it works is because it shrinks the blood vessels under the skin. --But over time, it actually makes MORE blood vessels form, and causes more swelling. And using it all the time can damage the sensitive skin under your eyes.
#2.) Sucking Venom From a Snakebite. This one you probably know already, but just to make sure: You're NOT supposed to suck venom out of a snakebite, because it can make the bite infected. --If your friend gets bitten, just make them keep the affected area below their heart . . . which is easy if it's their leg. And get them to the hospital as quickly as possible.
#3.) Urine to Treat a Jellyfish Sting. You'll be glad to know this one doesn't work either. In fact, it can make the stingers release MORE venom, and make the sting more painful. --Instead, just rinse the sting with salt water, and it'll deactivate the barbs that are still in your skin. (Real Simple)
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