HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (08-26-11)

Will and Jada are Fine . . . So Says Alfonso Ribeiro:

WILL SMITH and JADA PINKETT are doing fine, and we have that on good authority. Who is that authority? CARLTON!!! --ALFONSO RIBEIRO . . . who played Will's cousin Carlton on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" . . . tells TMZ, quote, "They're not getting a divorce. They're all good." (--Here's video.) --Meanwhile, TMZ claims to have spoken to multiple sources on the set of Jada's TV show "HawthoRNe", and they say there's no way Jada was hooking up with co-star MARC ANTHONY. --They also said that whenever Will visited the set, he and Jada looked very happy.


Selita Ebanks Says the Diamond-Studded Victoria's Secret Lingerie Scratched Her Lady Parts:

Every year, Victoria's Secret unveils a multimillion-dollar bra and panty set encrusted with diamonds and other jewels. And every year, they pick a model to wear it. --On the surface, it seems like it would be an honor to be chosen. But the truth is, the lady who gets that honor is in for a WORLD OF HURT. --In 2007, SELITA EBANKS was chosen to wear a $4.5 million bra and panties covered with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and yellow sapphires. And her MOST DELICATE LADY PART screamed in pain. --Selita says, quote, "I wasn't scared [about the value], it hurt. Yeah, diamonds hurt. I don't know about wearing diamonds on your crotch. It's like you're walking and scraping. --"This is not cohesive to get a man. No man wants a scratchy vagina. That's not sexy. Nobody wants bruises on their vagina."


Celebrity Cradle-Robbers: Larry David, Alec Baldwin and Sean Penn:

#1.) LARRY DAVID is reportedly nailing actress AMY LANDECKER. She played Jane, a BISEXUAL chick Larry went after on a recent episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm". Larry is 64 . . . Amy will be 42 next month. (--Here's a picture of Larry and Amy . . . but not together.) (Huffington Post) (--And here's the scene from "Curb" where Larry and ROSIE O'DONNELL realize they're fighting over Jane. WARNING!!! There's some FCC-Unfriendly language in it.)


#2.) 53-year-old ALEC BALDWIN has moved in with his girlfriend, a 27-year-old yoga instructor named Hilaria Thomas. A source says, quote, "He's really in love. He's even met her parents. He sees marriage in the near future." (--Here's a picture of them together.) (New York Post)


#3.) 51-year-old SEAN PENN is giving his business to a 26-year-old girl. Her name is Shannon Costello, and she's the former communications director of his J/P Haitian Relief Organization. --Sean's last girlfriend, SCARLETT JOHANSSON, is also 26. (--Here's a picture of Sean and Shannon together.) (People)


Check Out Some Kim Kardashian / Kris Humphries Honeymoon Pics:

KIM KARDASHIAN and KRIS HUMPHRIES didn't want E! cameras following them to Italy for their honeymoon. But they have no control over the paparazzi. --So somebody DID get pics of Kim and Kris kicking back . . . and not surprisingly, E! was among the websites that posted them. (--Check 'em out here.) (E! Online)


Derek Jeter and Minka Kelly Broke Up:

According to "People" magazine, DEREK JETER and MINKA KELLY have broken up, after three years together. --Her representative confirmed it, and another 'source' said, quote, "They care about each other and it was amicable. They're still friends." --That's really all we know for now. Jeter's 37, and Minka's 31. She's been in Miami shooting the new "Charlie's Angel's" for ABC, which premieres September 22nd.
Rose McGowan Grew Up in a Free-Love Cult:

Here's one more aspect of ROSE MCGOWAN'S bizarre upbringing. When she was born in Florence, Italy, her family was part of a CULT. --It was called the Children of God, and its followers believed in FREE LOVE and prepared for the second coming of Jesus. --Rose calls her early surroundings both "pastoral" and "idyllic". There was only one problem: Women were subservient to men . . . which Rose wasn't cool with even from an early age. --She says, quote, "I've always been who I am. I did not want to be like those women. They were basically there to serve the men sexually." --Women were actually being offered to men at a very young age, and Rose's dad eventually took his family and LEFT, because he was worried that Rose would be molested. --Rose says, quote, "My dad was strong enough to realize that this hippie love had gone south." --Rose was about 10 when her family moved from Italy to the U.S. And she recently revealed that at 13, she ran away and was raised by DRAG QUEENS. --She says, quote, "There are people who will read this story and think I had a strange existence. I think they've had a strange existence!"


Kate Winslet Returned to Richard Branson's Burned-Out Vacation Home . . . with Branson and His Mother:

KATE WINSLET returned to the charred remains of RICHARD BRANSON'S vacation home in the Caribbean. --She was with Branson and his 90-year-old mother Eve, whom Kate SAVED when a lightning strike caused a fire that burned the place to the ground earlier this week. (--Check out some pics here.) (Us Weekly) --You'll notice in the second photo that Branson is holding a tortoise. That's a family pet. His name is ET. He actually survived the fire, but reportedly suffered some shell-charring. --Branson says, quote, "None of us could understand how anything could have survived that inferno, and ET will have pride of place in the new Great House once it's built."
--Kate says, quote, "I'm just so glad that everyone is safe. And this very easily could not have been the case. --"I will never forget Richard placing his arms around both my children as we were watching the flames, and saying, 'At the end of the day, what you realize is that all that matters is the people that you love. Everything else is just stuff. And none of that stuff matters.'"


Chris Brown's Neighbors Say He Has Violated His Probation Numerous Times:

As far as the courts are concerned, CHRIS BROWN has been toeing the line ever since assaulting RIHANNA over two years ago. But his neighbors beg to differ. --One of the terms of Brown's probation in that case is that he can't break the law. But the homeowners' association at Brown's West Hollywood Condo plans to send a letter to his probation officer, saying he does so on a regular basis. --It sounds like mostly minor stuff. They say he blares music at all hours and vandalizes property. But their biggest complaint appears to be that he parks in handicapped spaces. He even racked up $15,000 in tickets for that. --But Brown's attorney says that was all a misunderstanding. He claims that Brown BOUGHT those spaces when he moved into the building . . . and they were MIS-MARKED as handicapped. --He added that the citations were all dismissed. --Either way, the judge has asked prosecutors to get more info on Brown's supposed probation violations.


If Britney Spears Weren't a Singer, She'd Be a Teacher:

You may not enjoy hearing BRITNEY SPEARS sing . . . but trust, me, it's for the best. --Because if she wasn't singing, Britney would be TEACHING OUR KIDS. She tells the website PopJustice.com that she probably would have gone into education if she hadn't become a star. --She says, quote, "I'd specialize in reading and history." And she says her favorite historical period is the 1920s. -She adds, quote, "I love kids, and even in what I do now one of my favorite parts of my day is getting to meet my fans before the show. Especially the little ones. They are always so cute." --Britney says that if either of her kids want to follow her into showbiz, she won't get in their way . . . quote, "I'd definitely keep an eye on them, but if that's what they wanted to do then I'd let them go after it. I'd just be very protective."


IT'S ON!!! Between Erik Estrada and George Lopez!

Today, there is no unity in the Latino community . . . because "CHiPs" stud ERIK ESTRADA is taking potshots at GEORGE LOPEZ over the cancellation of his talk show, "Lopez Tonight". --Erik says, quote, "His show was supposed to be canceled after the first season, but Conan wanted to keep it on. --"There's a lot of things people don't know about this guy . . . For me to talk about this guy, I'm wasting my time. The law of God, the law of Karma, is on him right now. He is doomed." --If all this has you shaking your head and saying, "Que?", you're not alone. I never knew there was heat between these guys. But apparently, there is. --"Latina" magazine says they've been feuding for years, because George likes to make fun of Erik's career in his standup act. --And Erik claims he once confronted George at a church carnival, but George was afraid to fight him.
SPORT SHORTS

"ESPN The Magazine" Ran a Picture of Michael Vick as a White Guy:

In the new issue of "ESPN The Magazine", there's an article titled "What If Michael Vick Were White?" --The whole point the author is trying to make in this piece is that it's IMPOSSIBLE to imagine Vick as a white guy. Flipping his race would change too many variables. He simply wouldn't be Michael Vick anymore. So the attempt itself is foolish. --So many people have tried to do it anyway . . . especially when Vick was arrested for dogfighting, and the question came up again and again: Would Vick have received such a harsh sentence if he were white? --Anyway . . . The MORONS at "ESPN the Magazine" obviously didn't get the point . . . because they ran a computer-generated image with the story of MICHAEL VICK AS A WHITE GUY. (--Check it out here.) (--You can also see the photo, along with the article, here.) --Not only does the photo run counter to the point of the article . . . it's also potentially OFFENSIVE. After some online outcry, ESPN took it off the web. But then they put it back up. --Even if they'd kept it off the web, the photo is already in the print edition, and it's too late to take it back.


NEW MOVIES THIS WEEKEND

This Week's New Movies Include: Zoe Saldana Kicking Ass . . . Paul Rudd Smoking Pot . . . and Katie Holmes Fighting Monsters:

#1.) "Colombiana" (PG-13)

Zoe Saldana plays an assassin who's looking for revenge on the mobster who ordered a hit on her parents when she was a little girl. And "Alias" stud Michael Vartan is the lucky guy who gets to sample her other talents. (Trailer) (Animated Teaser)


#2.) "Our Idiot Brother" (R)

Paul Rudd plays the pot-smoking brother of Elizabeth Banks, Emily Mortimer, and Zooey Deschanel. When his girlfriend kicks him out, they take turns letting him live with them. It also stars Rashida Jones as Zooey's lesbian life-partner. (--CAREFUL: There's a B-word at the 1:47 mark in the trailer.)


#3.) "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" (R)

Guillermo Del Toro directs this remake of a 1973 horror movie about a woman who inherits an old mansion, and accidentally releases creatures that whisper her name from the basement. In this one they're terrorizing a little girl. Her dad is played by "Memento's" Guy Pearce. And Katie Holmes plays his girlfriend. (Trailer) (Original)


Dan Aykroyd Says "Ghostbusters 3" Will Film Next Spring . . . With or Without Bill Murray:

The whole "Ghostbusters 3" will-it-or-won't-it-happen saga is getting a little tired. But this is worth noting: --DAN AYKROYD says the movie is filming next spring . . . WITH OR WITHOUT BILL MURRAY. --He says, quote, "What we have to remember is that 'Ghostbusters' is bigger than any one component, although Billy was absolutely the lead and contributive to it in a massive way, as was the director and Harold [Ramis], myself and Sigourney [Weaver]. --"The concept is much larger than any individual role and the promise of 'Ghostbusters 3' is that we get to hand the equipment and the franchise down to new blood." --But he added that they will "hopefully" have Murray onboard. (--There is an injustice here, and it has nothing to do with Bill Murray. It has to do with the fact that Dan noted the contributions of just about everyone else EXCEPT THE BLACK GHOSTBUSTER! -Did ERNIE HUDSON contribute NOTHING to the franchise??? ATTICA! NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE! Sit down right next to Rosa, Ernie, and don't give up that seat!!!
Johnny Depp Will Cameo as a Teacher in the "21 Jump Street" Movie:

"Life & Style" magazine claims to have the scoop on JOHNNY DEPP'S cameo in the "21 Jump Street" movie. --They say he'll play a TEACHER. --"Jump Street" was one of Johnny's earliest roles. He played a cop named Tom Hanson on the show from 1987 to 1990. --His character was part of a group of cops who masqueraded as teenagers in order to go undercover at high schools, colleges and other places were teens were causing trouble. --The movie stars JONAH HILL and CHANNING TATUM, and it's NOT a goof on the show. -While there's humor in it, Hill describes it as, quote, "An R-rated, insane, 'Bad Boys'-meets-John Hughes-type movie." It's due out next March.


The Latest "Dancing with the Stars" Rumor: David Arquette:

TMZ claims DAVID ARQUETTE will be on "Dancing with the Stars" this season . . . and that KYM JOHNSON is his partner. As usual, ABC won't comment. --David joins a long list of other rumored stars, including: Kim Kardashian's brother Rob, Christina Milian, Regis Philbin, Lindsay Lohan, Dina Lohan, Shaquille O'Neal, Nick Jonas, Donnie Wahlberg, Queen Latifah, Snooki . . . --Tiffani Thiessen, George Clooney's ex Elisabetta Canalis, Roseanne Barr and Chaz Bono. (--We still have our fingers crossed for Chaz! Some of these "stars" have denied that they're doing "Dancing" . . . but Chaz isn't one of them.) --The official cast will be revealed during Monday's episode of "Bachelor Pad". "Dancing with the Stars" premieres on September 19th.


You Can Watch 3,000 Hours of TV News from 9/11 Through One Site:

The 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks is coming up in a few weeks . . . and in tribute, a collection of 3,000 9/11-related videos from news stations all over the world has been archived online. --Technically, a version of this library has been online for a while, but it's just been organized and re-launched. You can check it out at http://www.archive.org/911.


WEEKEND TV REMINDERS

Friday TV Reminders:

--"Pre-Season Football" . . . 8:00 to 11:00 P.M. Eastern on CBS. (--The Indianapolis Colts host the Green Bay Packers at Lucas Oil Stadium.)

--"LFL Presents: Friday Night Football" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 P.M. to Midnight Eastern on MTV2. (--The Lingerie Football League returns with Green Bay Chill hosting Minnesota Valkyrie.)

--"Karaoke Battle USA" [Performance Show] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC.

--"Man vs. Wild" [7th Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Discovery.

--"Surviving the Cut" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Discovery.

Saturday TV Reminders:

--"Biography: Pink" . . . 7:00 to 8:00 A.M. on A&E.

--"NASCAR Sprint Cup Series" . . . 7:30 to 11:00 P.M. Eastern on ABC.

--"Pre-Season Football" . . . 8:00 to 11:00 P.M. Eastern on CBS. (--The Detroit Lions host the New England Patriots at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.)

--"Grand Ole Opry Live" . . . 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. on GAC. (--Clay Walker, Jimmy Wayne, Tommy Emmanuel and Sierra Hull perform.)


--"Austin City Limits" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on PBS. (--Cheap Trick performs.) (REPEAT)

--"William & Catherine: A Royal Romance" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on the Hallmark Channel. (--Victor Garber and Jean Smart star as Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles in this story of William and Kate's romance.)

--"Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on VH1 Classic. (--KISS band member Paul Stanley is the guest teacher / mentor.)

--"24/7: Mayweather/Ortiz" [12th Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on HBO. (--Boxers Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz prepare for their welterweight-title fight in Las Vegas this September.)

--"Godfrey: Black by Accident" . . . 11:00 P.M. to Midnight on Comedy Central. (--Comedian Godfrey performs in New York City at the Gramercy Theatre.)

--"That Metal Show" . . . 11:00 P.M. to Midnight on VH1 Classic. (--Warrant's Jani Lane, Stryper's Michael Sweet and Faster Pussycat's Taime Downe were the guests in this repeat episode. RIP Jani Lane.)

--"Saturday Night Live" . . . 11:30 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. on NBC. (--Paul Rudd guest hosts and Paul McCartney is the musical guest.) (REPEAT)

Sunday TV Reminders:

--"Pre-Season Football" . . . 8:00 to 11:00 P.M. Eastern on NBC. (--The Oakland Raiders host the New Orleans Saints at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.)

--"Madden NFL 12 Pigskin Pro-Am" . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on NBC. (--Celebrities and NFL stars face off in a flag-football game.)

--"Jerseylicious" . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Style. (--Kelly Ripa guests.)


--"2011 MTV Video Music Awards" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on MTV. (--Performers include Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Adele, Lil' Wayne, Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Pitbull, and Young the Giant.) (--Here are this year's nominees.)

--"Leverage" [4th Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on TNT.

--"Drop Dead Diva" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Lifetime. (--Teri's high school nemesis, played by "Millionaire Matchmaker's" Patti Stanger, sues her for slander.)

--"Vegas Strip" [1st Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on TruTV.

--"I Just Want My Pants Back" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 11:00 to 11:30 P.M. on MTV. (--A sitcom about a guy who lets a hookup steal his skinny jeans.)


BIEBER FEVER

Justin Bieber Is Putting Out a Christmas Album for Charity:

JUSTIN BIEBER is recording a Christmas album . . . and at least some of the proceeds will be going to charity. There's no word on a specific charity yet. (--It sounds like ALL the proceeds will be donated, but that's not 100% clear.) --All we know about the album is that it'll feature, quote, "some classics and some originals." There's no title or release date yet.


Olivia Munn's Character Calls Justin Bieber a "Billion Dollar Mistake" in Her New Movie . . . and Here's Why:

In the upcoming movie "I Don't Know How She Does It", Olivia Munn's character jokes that Justin Bieber is a, quote, "billion dollar mistake." --Olivia explains the joke to "Access Hollywood" . . . saying, quote, "Look, Justin Bieber was a mistake. Teenagers don't get pregnant on purpose, OK? However, that mistake turned into a billion dollar idea! --"So, I think teenagers around the world, load it up! Let's make some Biebers! The economy needs a little boost. Let's make some Biebers!" (--You can find that clip from the interview, here.) --Just to be clear, though, Olivia IS a fan. She says, quote, "I'm a Belieber, 100%." (--"I Don't Know How She Does It" hits theaters on September 16th.)


Pitbull Didn't Mean to Dis Lindsay Lohan on "Give Me Everything", and He Wants Her to Come to the "VMAs" with Him:

PITBULL is confused. LINDSAY LOHAN recently SUED HIM because he name-checked her on "Give Me Everything" . . . where he raps, quote, "Hustlers move in silence, so I'm tiptoein', to keep blowin' / I got it locked up like Lindsay Lohan." --Pitbull says he was "very surprised" when he heard about the lawsuit, because he wasn't trying to dis her, he was just trying to keep her relevant. (--Actually, THAT sounds like a dis, even though it's probably unintentional.) --He explains, quote, "I didn't look to [defame], degrade, or hurt someone's career. For me, mentioning it on a #1 record around the world, I thought it would be helping someone's career, and also keeping them relevant." --Pitbull also says a dis would be out of place . . . quote, "[It's] ironic, being that it's such a positive record . . . [I] support Lindsay's career, [I've] seen her go through everything she's gone through." --He says he doesn't know how the legal stuff will shake out . . . but he's willing to make amends on a personal level. He even invited Lindsay to come with him to the "MTV Video Music Awards" this Sunday. --There's no response from Lindsay, but that'd be interesting because Pitbull is PERFORMING "Give Me Everything" at the "VMAs". (--Here's video of Pitbull's comments.) (--Look . . . I'm no expert on Pitbull or anything, but he seems genuine to me. And let's be honest, the line about Lindsay was just wordplay. That's what rapping is all about. It wasn't a line that was meant to cut her down.) (--The lyric is about how he's got his rap game "locked down" . . . and he compares that to Lindsay being "locked up," which she WAS. That's a fact.) (--It's supposed to be fun, not slander . . . and it makes Lindsay look ridiculous for pretending that it's anything else. Lindsay is doing more harm to her image by trying to shake down Pitbull, than Pitbull did in name-checking her.) (--I hope Lindsay DOES take Pitbull up on his offer to go to the "VMAs", and maybe they even have some kind of onstage moment. That would surely end this frivolous lawsuit . . . not that it has any legs anyway.)


Kesha's Fans in Chicago Gave Her a Baby Tooth and Human Blood:

KESHA has it all: Top-shelf talent . . . a successful music career . . . an endearing personality . . . and a drop-dead gorgeous body. (???) So what do you give someone who has everything? --Weird stuff, obviously. --Some diehard Kesha fans in Chicago recently presented her with a beautiful necklace, which came with a BABY TOOTH AND A VIAL OF BLOOD. (--Here's a shot of Kesha wearing this thing.) --It's sorta messed up, but Kesha did request such a gift earlier this summer. Back in May, she was asking fans to send her their teeth . . . because she wanted to make a necklace out of them. --She Tweeted, quote, "Please send me your teeth. I'm dead serious. I need your teeth . . . I love my fans . . . Let me wear ur teeth." --And the vial of blood is actually sort of WEAK compared to some of Kesha's other necklaces. Like the one that includes remnants of her own placenta. --A while back, she explained, quote, "My favorite keepsake is my placenta. My mom found it in my basement, crushed it up, and made into a necklace that I wear every day to improve my psychic abilities." (???)


Video of Selena Gomez Busting Out a Nicki Minaj Rap:

SELENA GOMEZ recently showed off her RAP SKILLS. --During an interview with "Much Music", Selena launched into NICKI MINAJ'S "Super Bass" . . . and she wasn't bad. (--Here's video. Note: Selena tweaked some of the lyrics to make it more kid-friendly.)


Watch Joseph Gordon-Levitt Singing Nirvana's "Lithium":

JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT hopped onstage at some concert event in Seattle earlier this week, and performed the NIRVANA song "Lithium". He really got into it . . . and it was awesome. --In the middle of the performance, Joseph stopped to say, quote, "It seems like every time people bring up Nirvana, they want to talk about how Mr. Cobain killed himself . . . and I gotta say, it doesn't matter to me. --"It doesn't matter that he's dead. It doesn't matter how he died . . . his songs are [effing] awesome! That's what matters." (--There's video, here. WARNING: There are multiple S-words and F-bombs.) (--By the way, JON STEWART from "The Daily Show" is hosting a chat with surviving Nirvana members DAVE GROHL and KRIST NOVOSELIC on SiriusXM. This is happening on September 24th . . . the 20th anniversary of the day Nirvana released "Nevermind".)
FRIDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS


Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:


Inspired by JIM CARREY'S video declaration of love for EMMA STONE, KATHY GRIFFIN has recorded one for JUSTIN BIEBER. Hers is funnier, but only because she makes it pretty obvious that it's a joke. (Video)


The people who run the Hollywood Walk of Fame say they will NOT recognize reality TV stars. (Full Story)


Is ASHLEE SIMPSON drunk-dialing PETE WENTZ and begging him to take her back? (Full Story)


MARK and DONNIE WAHLBERG are partnering with their brother PAUL, who's a chef, to open a hamburger joint in Boston called Wahlburgers. But they had to actually buy the name from a restaurant owner in Rochester, New York named Tom Wahl. It wasn't the name of his restaurant, but he had it trademarked because he sold a sandwich called The Wahlburger. (Full Story)


DINA LOHAN is trying to produce a movie about a heroin addict, played by her son Michael Lohan Jr. According to a business plan she worked up to get financing, her casting wish list includes Dakota Fanning, Selena Gomez, Michael Cera, James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Tina Fey, Amanda Seyfried, Hayden Panettiere, Emma Stone and Mila Kunis. (Full Story)


On September 6th, iTunes will FINALLY get AEROSMITH'S old albums, including: their self-titled debut, "Get Your Wings", "Toys in the Attic", "Rocks", "Draw the Line", "Night in the Ruts" and "Rock in a Hard Place". (Full Story)


RANDOM STUFF

THE GOOD NEWS

The East Cost Earthquake Cured a 75-Year-Old Deaf Guy:

No one seems to know how this happened scientifically . . . so we're going to go ahead and call it DIVINE INTERVENTION. --75-year-old Robert Valderzak of Washington, D.C. lost his hearing when he fell on Father's Day this past June. --On Tuesday, he was at the Veteran's Affairs Hospital in D.C. when the earthquake hit. And somehow . . . it CURED HIS DEAFNESS. --The doctors at the hospital can't fully explain it. They say Robert's deafness was caused by problems with fluid or the bones in his ear, and somehow the earthquake shook things up and made them work again. --If that doesn't feel like a very medically-sound explanation, it shouldn't . . . basically, they don't know HOW the earthquake helped Robert hear again. --Robert says HE understands, though. Quote, "To me, it was a miracle, a blessing from God up above. Couldn't ask for a better day." (FOX 5 - Washington, D.C.)


A School Bus in Iowa Exploded On the First Day of School . . . But No One Was Hurt:

Now THIS is how you get a school year off to a memorable start. --On Tuesday afternoon, in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, 16 seventh and eighth graders were on a school bus, headed home from their first day of classes at Southeast Polk Junior High. --The driver was John Fothergill. He's been driving school busses for 10 years and knew something was wrong when he saw black smoke coming out of the hood. So he quickly shut off the bus. --When he did, FLAMES shot up from the engine compartment. He told the 16 kids onboard to evacuate . . . and they did quickly and calmly. John says, quote, "No pushing, no shoving, no screaming. They just did what they were told to do." --And that's a good thing. Because JUST as John and the kids got a safe distance away from the school bus . . . IT EXPLODED. --There were NO injuries. The fire department is examining how the fire happened. --The Southeast Polk school district practices school bus evacuation drills with students every year starting in kindergarten . . . and, clearly, THIS is why they do that. (CBS 8 - Des Moines)
People are Willing to Spend A Lot of Money on Love in This Economy . . . But Only During the First Three Months of a New Relationship:

Even in this economy, people are still willing to spend big money on falling in love. Once they've actually fallen in love, though . . . yeah, time to go back to putting that money toward paying the electric bill. --A new survey out of England has found that people are willing to extend themselves financially for the first three months of a new relationship. After that, though, they tighten up.

--In the first three months . . .

--75% are willing to spend big money on new clothes for a first date they're optimistic about.

--57% are willing to take the new person they're with out to an expensive meal.

--46% buy flowers.

--25% buy jewelry.

--And 20% pay for a romantic weekend away.

--Overall, 42% of people say they'd be willing to go INTO DEBT to impress someone new.

--But all of it comes with a warning: DON'T spend big early and then stop spending completely . . . 25% of people say they'd consider breaking things off with someone if they found out that person is extremely cheap. (PR Newswire)


The Ideal Woman is a Size 11 . . . with Black Hair and Blue Eyes:

We're basically trained from birth to believe there's NOTHING more attractive than a super-skinny blonde. According to a new survey from the social networking and dating site Badoo, that's ALL WRONG. --They surveyed men in the U.S., England, France, Spain, Italy, and Brazil, and asked their favorite woman's eye color, hair color, and body type. And both "skinny" and "blonde" came in THIRD. --The ideal woman has an "average" body type . . . size 10 to 12 . . . black hair, and blue eyes. --For body types, "average" came in first . . . curvy, size 12 to 16, came in second . . . skinny, size four to six, came in third . . . and full-figured, size 16 and up, came in fourth. --For eye color, blue dominated the list. Brown came in second, green is third, and hazel is fourth. --And for hair, black was first, brown was second, blonde was third, and red was a distant fourth. --Those results were the same in EVERY country with only a few exceptions. The French men are the only ones who picked "skinny" as their favorite body type . . . and British men preferred brown hair. Otherwise, it was the same across the board. (Daily Mail)


Women Have Shorter Commutes Than Men . . . But Commuting Bothers Them More:

This study was conducted in the U.K., but I'm SURE it would apply here in the U.S. as well. --Researchers from the University of Sheffield and the London School of Economics found that women have shorter commutes than men do . . . but they're more upset about it. --The average person's commute is 54 minutes a day, which is up six minutes from a decade ago. But women's average commute is four minutes shorter each way compared to men's. That means they get an extra 40 minutes a week at home. --Women also work only 29 hours a week, nine hours fewer than men. --But according to the study, long commutes stress women out more than men. The study said that women's, quote, "psychological health is adversely affected by commuting while men's, generally, is not." --The reason for that might be because women are usually the ones responsible for taking care of more of the chores at home . . . and time spent in the car was time they didn't have to cook, clean, or do laundry. --Women also usually combine their commute with other errands, like shopping for food or picking up kids from daycare, which makes a longer commute bother them even more. (WebMD)


One-Third of People Learned How to Drive From Their Fathers . . . But a Surprisingly High Number Taught Themselves:

A website called InsuranceQuotes.com asked drivers who taught them how to drive. And it turns out . . . at least when it comes to driving, a lot of people in this country are HOME-SCHOOLED.

--32% of men and 26% of women say they learned from their fathers, making that the most popular answer.

--20% of men and 28% of women learned from their mothers.

--25% of men and 23% of women learned to drive through driver's ed classes at their school.

--6% of men and 12% of women learned to drive from private driving instructors.

--And a SURPRISINGLY HIGH 13% of men and 5% of women TAUGHT THEMSELVES to drive. (--It didn't say how the remaining 4% of men and 6% of women learned to drive.) (InsuranceQuotes.com)


The Most Stolen Car Made in the Past Four Years is . . . the Cadillac Escalade:

The most commonly stolen cars are always like 1994 Honda Accords or Toyota Camrys . . . there are a ton of them on the road, they're easy to break into, and they're easy to hot-wire. And that's interesting and all. --But what about those of us who drive something that WASN'T manufactured 15 years ago? Now there's data on that too. --The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety just released data on insurance claims for 2008 to 2010 models. That includes car thefts and car break-ins. --And the most stolen vehicle is . . . the Cadillac Escalade. About 11 out of every 1,000 Escalade owners make an insurance claim on a theft or a break-in. And the average loss per claim is $10,555. --ALL of the 10 most stolen vehicles are big SUVs, cars, or pickups. After the Escalade is the Ford F-250 . . . the Chevy Silverado . . . the Ford F-450 . . . the GMC Sierra . . . the Chrysler 300 . . . the Ford F-350 . . . the Chevy Avalanche . . . the GMC Yukon . . . and the Chrysler 300 Hemi. --The Audi A6 and the Mercury Mariner SUV tied as the least-stolen cars . . . 0.5 claims per 1,000 vehicles. --The rest of the 10 least stolen are . . . The Chevy Equinox . . . the Volkswagen CC . . . the Chevy Equinox four-wheel drive . . . the Lexus RX 350 . . . the Saturn VUE . . . the Chevy Aveo . . . the BMW 5 Series . . . and the MINI Cooper Clubman. --Overall, for vehicles from the past three years, there's a theft claim on 1.7 out of every 1,000. The average claim is $6,767. (IIHS)


People in the South Are Most Likely to Get Divorced, and People in the Northeast are Least Likely:

The U.S. Census Bureau released a report on marital status, and found out that people in the South are the most likely to get divorced. --10 out of every 1,000 Southern men got divorced in 2009, and 11 out of every 1,000 women. By comparison, just over 7 out of 1,000 men and women in the Northeast got divorced. --The state where men were most likely to get divorced was Arkansas. Oklahoma, Alabama, and Kentucky were other Southern states in the top five. --On the other hand, the state where a man was least likely to get divorced was New Jersey. Washington, D.C., New York, and Connecticut were also in the top five. --Alaska had the highest divorce rate for women, but it was followed by Oklahoma, Alabama, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Women were least likely to divorce in New Jersey, followed by Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. --Some other interesting facts from the study: Three out of four children whose parents divorced in 2009 ended up living with their mother. --Kids whose parents divorced were 9% more likely to live in poverty and 17% more likely to live in a rented home. --The states where a husband was most likely to die and leave his wife a widow were Hawaii, Arkansas, and West Virginia. Wives were most likely to die in Wyoming, Delaware, and Alabama. (PR Newswire)


Someone Found a Way to Combine Beef Jerky and Potato Chips:

The word "genius" gets thrown around a lot these days . . . but in this case, it is ABSOLUTELY deserved. Because only a genius could find a way to combine two delicious snack foods as perfectly as this. --A company called Rowan Lane has invented CHERKEES . . . which are a hybrid of BEEF JERKY and POTATO CHIPS.--This isn't jerky-flavored potato chips, or thin crispy pieces of beef jerky. They've actually blended meat and potatoes and turned them into honest-to-god jerky potato chips. --Right now they've got two flavors: Cracked pepper and hot pepper. Teriyaki and barbecue are coming soon. --These things are actually healthier than regular potato chips . . . they're not deep fried, they're low fat, and they have 12 grams of protein per serving.--Unfortunately, as soon as these showed up online yesterday, people FLOODED the website to buy them at $5-a-bag, and Cherkees are temporarily sold out. --You can visit the website to be put on a mailing list that will let you know when more Cherkees are available. (Rowan Lane)
MEATBALL CRIMINALS

A Couple of Newlyweds in Pennsylvania are Arrested for Shoplifting $1,000 Worth of Groceries for Their Wedding Reception:

Last Thursday, 22-year-old Brittany Lurch and 32-year-old Arthur Phillips of Centre Hall, Pennsylvania got married. And they scheduled the reception for that Saturday afternoon. --And one of the first things that Brittany and Arthur did as husband and wife was . . . go to a Wegmans grocery store in State College, Pennsylvania and SHOPLIFT FOOD for their reception. --On Saturday, Brittany and Arthur were caught pushing two full shopping carts out of the store to their Hyundai, for their reception later that afternoon. They stole a total of $1,049.26 in merchandise. --That included a shrimp platter, two hams, a veggie tray, appetizer trays, eggs, a punch bowl, forks, spoons, soda, dinnerware for eight, toothbrushes, a polo shirt, and some Gillette Fusion razor blades. --They were both arrested and charged with misdemeanor theft and receiving stolen property. (Centre Daily Times / The Smoking Gun)


RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS

Random News Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:


According to a new study about why men don't talk about their feelings, it's NOT because they're worried about looking weak, or protecting their masculinity. It's because they consider conversation a useless way to solve problems. (Full Story)


Remember that giant Arizona wildfire that burned for six weeks straight this past spring? The one that JOHN MCCAIN suggested was caused by illegal immigrants? Federal authorities have determined that it was caused by . . . two white cousins in their 20s from southern Arizona, when they left their campfire unattended. (Full Story)


A sheriff's deputy in Arizona who grabbed a man's testicles to subdue him was using reasonable force, even though it was unorthodox . . . says an investigation by the sheriff. (Full Story)


According to scientists, modern humans improved their immune systems in important ways . . . by having sex with Neanderthals. (Full Story)


Gaddafi's a weird dude, no one doubts it. Any self-respecting crazed dictator has to be. So naturally, he had a special book of photos in his palace, dedicated to shots of . . . Condoleezza Rice? (Full Story)


The Associated Press looked at 325 of the 9/11 charities, to see what they've done with their money . . . and put some of them on a "shame list." One charity that raised $4 million can only account for $600,000, and uses the 'we're not crooks, just bad at managing money' defense. Another guy raised $700,000 for a memorial quilt . . . then paid himself a $175,000 salary. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) Check Out How Enormous Hurricane Irene Looks from the International Space Station:

The astronauts on the Space Station took a cool video of Hurricane Irene on Wednesday. It's up on YouTube. --There's no sound, and it's almost three minutes long. But at least watch the beginning of it, because the hurricane looks HUGE . . . which it is. It's about 500 miles across. --But it looks even bigger in the video, because you can see the curve of the Earth, and Irene STILL fills up the whole screen. (--Search for "HD Views of Hurricane Irene from the Space Station.")


#2.) A Little Kid Was So Tired, He Couldn't Stay Awake . . . but Refused to Stop Eating His Ice Cream Cone:

There's a video online of a kid trying to an eat ice cream cone WHILE he's falling asleep, and it's hilarious. Apparently it's been floating around for a while, but someone just found it, and now it's everywhere. --It's great because his eyes are shut, and he can't hold his head up. But he just keeps his tongue out and doesn't give up. (--Search for "Sleep Eating Ice Cream." It reminded us of this little girl who falls asleep with her face in a bowl of rice.)


#3.) And Now . . . a Dog Goes After a Cat and Regrets It:

If you had to put money on a fight between a cat and a dog, you'd almost always go with the dog, right? Well, there's a new video online of a cat and a dog in a stand-off. And it ends with the dog running away yelping . . . while the cat CHASES AFTER IT. --Granted, the dog is pretty small. But it's still a badass move by the cat. (--Search for "Cat vs. Dog Epic Standoff." Nothing much happens until 1:34.)


#4.) Some Idiot Ran in Front of a Train at the Last Minute . . . and Survived:

It's the very exciting "National Rail Safety Week" in South Australia, so the Department for Transport released footage from April showing a kid running in front of a train. --The closed circuit camera at the station shows him climbing onto the platform from the tracks RIGHT as the train almost takes off his legs. --And the camera on the train shows him running in front of the train right as it pulls into the station. It happened in a place called Mawson Lakes. The kid only suffered minor injuries, and was convicted of stopping and impeding the operation of a train. (--Search for "Boy Runs In Front Of Train At Mawson Lakes".)


The Five Most Important Things You Need to Survive a Hurricane:

Basically, the entire East Coast could get hit by Hurricane Irene. And you've probably heard this stuff before, but here's a recap on what you need to do to make sure you're ready. --It's supposed to be a category two when it hits, so it'll have winds between 96 and 110 miles an hour. That means some small trees might get knocked over, and you could lose power. --If it's a category three, that means winds between 111 and 130 miles an hour . . . damage to the exterior of buildings . . . big trees being uprooted . . . and power outages for days, or even weeks. --If it's a category FOUR, there could be STRUCTURAL damage to buildings . . . A LOT of trees being uprooted . . . and wind speeds between 131 and 155 miles an hour. --Experts don't think it'll reach category five status like Hurricane Katrina . . . which had winds up to 175 miles an hour. --Now, here are some of the most important things you should have on hand, according to the government's Ready.gov website:

#1.) Water. At least one gallon per person, per day. And you need enough for at least three days. So if you're a family of four, that's at least 12 gallons.

#2.) Food. Again, you need three days worth. And in case the power goes out, it should be stuff you don't have to keep in the fridge. --Also, make sure you have a can opener. And don't forget about your pets. They need extra food and water too.

#3.) A Pair of Pliers or a Wrench. It's in case you have to turn off a gas line or another utility.

#4.) A First-Aid Kit. Obviously, you need all the normal stuff, like band-aids and disinfectant. But if you take medication, or you need specific medical supplies for a condition, make sure you have enough.


#5.) A Flashlight. Your power will be the first thing to go, and you don't want to mess around with candles and open flames . . . then you could have a whole other mess on your hands. --So make sure you have at least one flashlight ready . . . WITH batteries.
(Reader's Digest)


Five Healthy Date Ideas:

You've only got a few weeks left to enjoy summer weather and skimpy clothing, so here's a list of five active, healthy dates you can do outside. Here we go . . .

#1.) Play a Sport. Play a game of tennis, volleyball, or mini-golf. It's active, it'll bring out your competitive side, and according to psychologists, when women win . . . they're more likely to hook up. It's science . . .


#2.) Walk for a Cause. If there's a cause that's important to you, like cancer or animal rights, see if there's a walk or run you can participate in together.


#3.) Visit a Vineyard. Go on a weekend trip to a vineyard, where you can take a walking tour and sample some red wine. Red wine has antioxidants which have been shown to protect your heart against disease.


#4.) Hit the Farmer's Market. Hit up your local farmer's market and buy some fresh vegetables. Then go make a healthy meal with what you bought.


#5.) Go Dancing. Dancing is a fun way to burn a TON of calories. If you're an awful dancer, take some lessons together. Then have a night out on the town. (Match.com)