HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (08-29-11)

THE MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS

Lady Gaga Spent the Entire "VMAs" As a Man:

Whether you like LADY GAGA or not, you have to give her this: She really believes in her "art", and she's willing to go all the way for it. --Last night, she kicked off the "MTV Video Music Awards" by performing as her male alter-ego, JO CALDERONE. --And she STAYED IN CHARACTER for the rest of the night . . . even when accepting the award for Best Female Video near the end of the show. --Mr. Calderone started the night with a little speech about Gaga, then launched into "You and I". BRIAN MAY from QUEEN jumped in for the guitar solo, then stayed until the end of the song. (--You can see the video here.) (--It's kind of hammy, but again, you have to give Gaga props for really going for it. Most people glam it up as much as possible for these shows. But Gaga is willing to do the entire show with absolutely ZERO SEX APPEAL.) --Elsewhere on the performance front, a PREGNANT BEYONCÉ bared her growing belly at the end of "Love on Top". She'd announced her pregnancy just before the ceremony. (--You can see video of that here. And here's Beyoncé's entire performance . . . which she started off by saying, quote, "Tonight I want you to stand up on your feet. I want you to feel the love that's growing inside of me.") --CHRIS BROWN'S performance included some wire work. Although it was nowhere near as impressive as PINK'S when she did "Glitter in the Air" at last year's ceremony. (--Brown did a dance routine to several songs, including "Yeah x3" and Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Here's his performance. And here's Pink from last year.)

--You can watch all the night's performances here.

--And here's a collection of what MTV thinks were the Most Talked about Moments.
(--They did NOT include the moment where Britney Spears and the male Lady Gaga PRETENDED they were going to make out.) (--But they did include the skit featuring Joe Jonas and REBECCA BLACK IN A DINOSAUR COSTUME. Check that one out here.)

(--Check out some other photos from the show below, including Nicki Minaj wearing a surgical mask, and Katy Perry with a giant yellow block on her head. You can check out more photos from MTV, here.)


The Complete VMA Winners List:

--Video of the Year: Katy Perry, "Firework"

--Best Collaboration: Katy Perry featuring Kanye West, "E.T."

--Best Female Video: Lady Gaga, "Born This Way"

--Best Male Video: Justin Bieber, "U Smile"

--Best New Artist: Tyler, The Creator, "Yonkers"

--Best Pop Video: Britney Spears, "Till the World Ends"

--Best Hip Hop Video: Nicki Minaj, "Super Bass"

--Best Rock Video: Foo Fighters, "Walk"

--Best Video with a Message: Lady Gaga, "Born This Way"

--Best Choreography: Beyoncé, "Run the World (Girls)"

--Best Direction: Adele, "Rolling in the Deep"

--Best Art Direction: Adele, "Rolling in the Deep"

--Best Cinematography: Adele, "Rolling in the Deep"

--Best Editing: Adele, "Rolling in the Deep"

--Best Visual Effects: Katy Perry featuring Kanye West, "E.T."


Beyoncé is Pregnant:

BEYONCÉ and JAY-Z are expecting their first child. Beyoncé showed off her baby bump last night on the "black carpet" of the "MTV Video Music Awards". (--Here's a picture.) (People) --Beyoncé went on to perform "Love on Top" at the "VMAs". At the end of her performance, she opened her jacket, threw out her belly and rubbed it. In the audience, KANYE WEST laughed and grabbed Jay's shoulders. (--You can see video of that here. That weird guy throwing a fist in the air at the end of the clip is LADY GAGA. She spent the entire night as her male alter-ego, Jo Calderone.) (--And here's Beyoncé's entire performance . . . which she started off by saying, quote, "Tonight I want you to stand up on your feet. I want you to feel the love that's growing inside of me.")


Jim Carrey Says His Declaration of Love for Emma Stone Was a Joke . . . Kind Of:

JIM CARREY has admitted that his video declaration of love for EMMA STONE was a joke . . . kind of. --He Tweeted, quote, "Yes, my msg to Emma Stone was a comedy routine and the funniest part is that everything i said is tru . . . People often ask me if i'm being funny or serious. The answer is 'YES'. ?;^]"


Jennifer Aniston Has Moved in With Justin Theroux:

JENNIFER ANISTON has moved in with her boyfriend JUSTIN THEROUX. They're renting a two-bedroom house in Hollywood while they look for something more permanent. Although they could end up staying right where they are. --A source says, quote, "It is a really romantic house with great views and a warm feeling in every room. If they decide they like it, it's also for sale. They're really excited about it." --Jennifer recently sold her Beverly Hills mansion for $38 million. (--You can see some pictures of Jennifer and Justin's new place here.)


Does Madonna's Daughter Lourdes Have a Boyfriend?

MADONNA treated the family . . . plus 24-year-old boyfriend Brahim Zaibat . . . to a vacation in France. And it would appear that Madonna's 14-year-old daughter LOURDES brought a man along with her, too. --We don't really know if Lourdes has a BOYFRIEND . . . but she did seem pretty close to this guy. They even did some jet-skiing together. (--Check out some pics here. Lourdes turns 15 in October.) (Radar Online)


Chaz Bono is Working Out . . . Is He Getting Ready for "Dancing With the Stars"?

CHAZ BONO AND HIS WONDERFUL BEARD were spotted leaving the gym on Saturday. (--Here's a picture of this sexy beast.) (Radar Online) --Is Chaz preparing for what would surely be the most AWESOME season of "Dancing With the Stars" ever? There's still no word if he's doing it. The entire cast will be announced tonight, during the season finale of "Bachelor Pad". (--And the pairings of those celebrities with their professional dance partners will be revealed during tomorrow morning's "Good Morning America".)


Is Mariah Carey Already Buying Her Kids Diamonds?

Not surprisingly, MARIAH CAREY and NICK CANNON'S kids already have more than you. According to "In Touch Weekly", Mariah has given their 4-month-old twins Moroccan and Monroe some serious bling. --A source says, quote, "Mariah bought diamond earrings for her daughter, and she's hoping to have her ears pierced soon. Plus, both kids have diamond-encrusted diaper pins. --"She bought each twin loose diamonds that she put in a vault, to give to them when they can appreciate it." (--Meanwhile, Mariah Tweeted a picture of herself jogging with her five Jack Russell terriers . . . whose names are Cha Cha, Jackie Lambchops, Jill E. Beans, Squeak E. Beans and JJ. Here's the pic.) (Twitpic)
SPORT SHORTS

Former Washington Wizard Javaris Crittenton is Wanted for Murder:

Former Washington Wizard JAVARIS CRITTENTON is wanted for the murder of an Atlanta woman. --The FBI says Crittenton shot 22-year-old Jullian Jones in the hip during a drive-by shooting on August 19th. Jones, a mother of four, died during surgery. --Jullian wasn't even Crittenton's intended target. He was going after someone who had allegedly robbed him. --As of last night, Crittenton hadn't been apprehended. --You may remember Crittenton from a 2009 incident in which he and teammate GILBERT ARENAS pulled guns on each other in the Wizards locker room during a dispute over a gambling debt. --Both men were suspended by the NBA, and while Arenas eventually rejoined the team, Crittenton was cut. --He was signed by the Charlotte Bobcats in 2010, but released three weeks later. Late last year, he played five games for a team in China. --Then earlier this year, he joined the Dakota Wizards of the NBA's Developmental League. He played 21 games for them.


Brad Pitt Saved a Woman From a Zombie Stampede on the Set of "World War Z":

BRAD PITT saved an extra from a STAMPEDE OF THE UNDEAD on the set of his zombie movie, "World War Z". --About 700 extras were running through George Square in Glasgow, Scotland, when a woman slipped and went down. Brad rushed to the rescue. --A source on the set says, quote, "It was total chaos as 700 extras were trying to get down the street . . . they were banging into moving cars, cameras and military who were carrying heavy machine guns. --"Lots of people hurt themselves, and Brad came to the rescue of a woman who slipped. I don't think she could believe it when Brad picked her up. --"He didn't have time to speak to her as it was mid-shoot. But she said afterwards how grateful she was, despite having a badly-grazed knee." --Apparently, a lot of people got banged up during the big zombie chase. One guy even got hit by a moving car, but he wasn't seriously hurt. --The source says, quote, "Loads of extras suffered bumps and scrapes during the battle scene. There was no training or choreography before the chase."


"The Help" is #1 for a Second Week in a Row:

"The Help" is the #1 movie in America for the second week in a row. It topped this weekend's box office with $14.3 million, bringing its 3-week total to $96.6 million. --It beat the ZOE SALDANA assassin movie "Colombiana", which made $10.3 million in second place. "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" was 3rd with $8.7 million, and the PAUL RUDD comedy "Our Idiot Brother" finished 6th with $6.6 million. --With Hurricane Irene causing theater closures in major markets like New York, this weekend's box office numbers were 23% lower than the same weekend a year ago.

1.) "The Help", $14.3 million. Up to $96.6 million in its 3rd week.

2.) (NEW) "Colombiana", $10.3 million.

3.) (NEW) "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark", $8.69 million.


Leah Remini Has Been Booted from "The Talk" . . . and Kim Kardashian's Mother Might Be Added as a Permanent Co-Host:

LEAH REMINI has been booted from "The Talk". Over the weekend, she Tweeted, quote, "It is official: I am sorry to say that I have NOT been asked back on the show. Sorry to my fans . . . [I] don't know what went wrong. No answer." --There had been reports that the producers were dumping Leah and HOLLY ROBINSON PEETE . . . but we haven't heard why. There's no official word yet on Holly. She Tweeted, quote, "Still under contract, but have not been picked up yet." --This should be sorted out soon. The second season premieres NEXT TUESDAY. --Meanwhile, comedienne SHERYL UNDERWOOD will join the show, alongside returning panelists SARA GILBERT and JULIE CHEN. (--Sheryl hosted BET's "Comic View", and has been a regular on STEVE HARVEY'S radio show.) --SHARON OSBOURNE will also be back . . . eventually. Last month, she said she's taking a break to spend time with her husband OZZY OSBOURNE, who's coming off of an 18-month tour next month. It's unclear how long she'll be away. --KIM KARDASHIAN'S mother KRIS JENNER will guest host for the first two weeks next month. Some sources say she's in the mix for a permanent spot on the show . . . but there's nothing official on that either. --Leah is the second co-host to leave "The Talk". Marissa Jaret Winokur left halfway through the first season. At the time, producers said it was, quote, "a mutual decision based on time, not talent."

Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds Are Doing a New Animated Show for Fox:

Deadline.com reports that SANDRA BULLOCK and RYAN REYNOLDS are co-starring in a new Fox animated series called "And Then There Was Gordon". --It's about "an ordinary child surrounded by his extraordinary siblings and his brilliant but neurotic mother." Sandra and Ryan are in line to voice the "lead characters," but that's all we know at this point. --Sandra and Ryan co-starred in the 2009 romantic comedy "The Proposal", and recently, the tabloids have been trying desperately to hook them up. Last week, the "Star" claimed they were ENGAGED . . . but there's a good chance that's bogus.


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

--"Basketball Wives LA" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on VH1. (--A reality series based in Los Angeles with NBA players' wives, girlfriends and exes including Imani Showalter, Draya Michele, Kimsha Artest and Malaysia Pargo.)

--"American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Discovery. (--The lawsuit between father and son is settled and OCC begins a build for Hard Rock while PJD begins a bike build for FIST Enterprises.)

--"Hoarders" [4th Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on A&E.

--"Rupaul's Drag U" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Logo. (--Lynda Carter is the guest judge.)

--"HGTV Design Star" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on HGTV. (--Nate Berkus is the guest judge.)

--"Carfellas" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Discovery. (--A reformed ex-con named Mike DeLucia tries to make an honest living selling used cars with his pals in Long Island.)

--"Ridiculousness" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on MTV. (--Rob Dyrdek hosts the most outrageous viral videos found on the Web.)

--"Death Valley" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on MTV. (--A new horror-comedy in which an elite group of LAPD's Undead Task Force hunts down and battles monsters on the streets of San Fernando Valley.)

--"Cuff'd" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 11:00 to 11:30 P.M. on MTV. (--A documentary series that shows what happens to teens after they're arrested.)


VIDEO GAME QUICK HITS

The New "Madden" Game is Out Tomorrow:

"Madden NFL 12" (E) . . . on Xbox360, PS3, PSP and Wii. The new features for this year's game include a revamped pregame presentation, a new collision system with over 100 new tackle animations and 40 new gang tackle animations, plus player's attributes that change dramatically depending on their performance during a game. --The franchise mode was also updated with the ability to bid auction style for free agents in the off season, a full 75-man roster where players will have to be cut during each week of the preseason, and future drafts picks can now be traded for. --It also features concussion awareness, meaning players who get concussions during the game won't be allowed to return to the field. (Gameplay) (Trailer)


Video Game Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:

#1.) The ESPN app for Xbox 360 now uses picture-in-picture to allow you to watch two sporting events simultaneously. (Full Story)

#2.) Is this the best proposal ever? A guy recruited the developers of "Portal 2" to create three custom levels, with new voice acting and art work, to propose to his girlfriend. The final level, with the proposal, starts at the 6:50 mark. (--And here's an unrelated fan film that takes homemade video game cinema to the next level.)


#3.) Check out these incredibly customized "Batman: Arkham City" Xbox 360s. You can visit Xbox's official Facebook page for details on how you can win one. (Full Story)

#4) Downloadable content for "The Eldor Scrolls V: Skyrim" will be exclusive to the Xbox 360 for the first month of its release. The game drops on 11/11/11. (Full Story)

#5.) Here's a bizarre video where voice actor Nolan North unboxes the collector's edition of "Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception". Nolan is the voice of Nathan Drake in the "Uncharted" games, but you also know him as Desmond in the "Assassin's Creed" games, and he plays Mr. Freeze in the upcoming "Batman" game.


NEW ON VIDEO THIS WEEK

--"Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family" - Tyler Perry once again plays Madea. In this one, he/she helps a niece knock some sense into her children, whose lives are all out of control. One of them is played by Bow Wow . . . and the sexy Lauren London plays Bow Wow's hot girlfriend. The Old Spice guy Isaiah Mustafa is in it too. --Lauren played T.I.'s girlfriend, "New New", in "ATL", and she's also been in a lot of hip hop videos, including Pharrell's "That Girl", Snoop's "Drop It Like It's Hot", and Ne-Yo's "Miss Independent".

--"Wrecked" - Adrien Brody wakes up at the bottom of a ravine with no idea where he is, or even who he is. As he frees himself from his wrecked car, he discovers a gun and stolen money, and he starts having flashes of an armed robbery gone wrong.

--"Prom" - A Disney flick about a group of teenagers getting ready for their high school prom. It doesn't star anyone whose name you'd recognize, except maybe Aimee Teegarden. She played Julie Taylor, one of the cute girls on "Friday Night Lights".

--"Bereavement" - A horror flick about a boy who was kidnapped and raised by a psychotic madman. It's a prequel to the 2005 horror film "Malevolence", and it's told from the perspective of a girl who comes to live with her uncle in Pennsylvania, then meets the boy at a nearby farm. --She's 24-year-old Alexandra Daddario, who you'd remember as the hot blue-eyed brunette from "Percy Jackson & The Olympians". Her uncle is played by Michael Biehn, a.k.a. Kyle Reese from the first "Terminator", and Corporal Hicks in "Aliens".

TV Series On DVD:

--"House, M.D.: Season Seven" . . . a five-disc DVD set.

--"Desperate Housewives: The Complete Seventh Season" . . . a five-disc DVD set.

--"The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season" . . . a five-disc DVD set.

--"90210: The Third Season" . . . a six-disc DVD set.

--"Sons of Anarchy: Season Three" . . . a three-disc DVD set.

--"Cougar Town: The Complete Second Season" . . . a three-disc DVD set.

--"Detroit 1-8-7: The Complete First Season" . . . a four-disc DVD set.

--"The Defenders: The DVD Edition" . . . the complete series. It ran for one season.

--"Mad Love: The DVD Edition" . . . the complete series. It ran for one season.

--"Meet the Browns: Season One" . . . a three-disc DVD set.

--"Nikita: The Complete First Season" . . . a five-disc DVD set.

--"Parenthood: Season 2" . . . a five-disc DVD set.

--"Running Wilde: Season One" . . . a two-disc DVD set.

--"iCarly: The Complete 3rd Season" . . . a two-disc DVD set.

--"Hell's Kitchen: Season 5" . . . a four-disc DVD set.

--"Storage Wars: Season 1" . . . a three-disc DVD set.


NEW MUSIC OUT THIS WEEK

This Week's CD Releases:

--"Tha Carter IV", Lil Wayne (--It has his singles "6 Foot 7 Foot", "How to Love", "John" featuring Rick Ross and "She Will" featuring Drake. Other guests include Jadakiss, John Legend and T-Pain. The album is available online NOW.)

--"I'm With You", Red Hot Chili Peppers (--It's their first album since "Stadium Arcadium" in 2006, and their first album without guitarist John Frusciante since 1995's "One Hot Minute". Dave Navarro was the guitarist on that album, and a guy named Josh Klinghoffer is the axeman on this one.)

--"Nothing But the Beat", David Guetta (--A double album . . . the first disc features collaborations with artists and the second disc is just instrumental tracks. His guests include Flo-Rida, Nicki Minaj, Taio Cruz, Ludacris, Will.I.Am, Usher, Snoop Dogg, Akon, and Timbaland.)

--"Black and White America", Lenny Kravitz

--"Night Shades", Cobra Starship (--It includes the single "You Make Me Feel…".)

--"Barefoot Blue Jean Night", Jake Owen (--This is his third studio album. The title track is fastest rising single of Jake's career . . . and that really IS Jake waterskiing on the "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" video. Check it out.)

--"Ghost on the Canvas", Glen Campbell (--This has been called his "farewell album" ever since Glen went public about his Alzheimer's diagnosis. It features collaborations with Jakob Dylan, Chris Isaak, Billy Corgan, Brian Setzer, the Dandy Warhols, Paul Westerberg, Dick Dale, and others.)


Olivia Newton-John Almost Didn't Release "Physical" Because It Was "Too Cheeky":

It's been almost 30 years since OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN released "Physical" . . . and in a new interview, she says she almost decided NOT to put it out because it was so naughty. --Olivia says, quote, "I had a bit of a panic session. I went, 'Oh my God! I can't put this out. It's way too radical! What are people going to think of me?' --"I said to my manager, 'You've got to pull it. It's too cheeky.' And he said, 'It's too late, it's gone to radio.' Of course, it went to #1 in like four weeks. I've learned to live with it." (--Here's the workout-themed "Physical" video. Which is truly NOTHING by today's standards.)


Listen to Justin Bieber's Remix of Drake's "Trust Issues":

JUSTIN BIEBER just released a "remix" of DRAKE'S single "Trust Issues". Technically, it's a "cover" and not a remix, since Justin didn't change anything other than the vocals. --Anyway, Justin tweaked the lyrics that HE sang to make them more family-friendly. -For example, instead of the lyric: "I'mma sip until I feel it, I'mma smoke it till it's done" . . . Justin sings, quote, "I'mma sing until I feel it, I'mma go till it's done." And later in the track, Justin replaced "B-words" with "women." (--You can check out Justin's remix, here. WARNING: It still contains uncensored PROFANITY. Even though Justin's part is clean . . . he left in some of Drake's verses from the original, and those are NOT clean.)

Taylor Swift Probably Wrote a Song With Justin Bieber . . . And She May Have Been "Punk'd" By Him Too:

Last year we heard that ASHTON KUTCHER'S old show "Punk'd" was being brought back to life on MTV . . . with Ashton behind the scenes as executive producer and JUSTIN BIEBER taking over as host. --Well, a source told "Access Hollywood" that the new version will have a different host each week. Justin Bieber already had his turn, which he filmed on Friday. And his victim, according to the source, was TAYLOR SWIFT. That's all we know. --Okay, so here's the weird part. A record producer you've never heard of named Kuk Harrell Tweeted on Saturday that Justin and Taylor had written a song together. --Here's his Tweet, quote, "Wow!! Got to see @justinbieber & @taylorswift13 write a song together last night!! SMASH!!!! SMASH!!! SMASH!!! Let's do it again Yall!!! --And then Bieber re-tweeted that post . . . --So, according to the timeline . . . Justin Bieber "Punk'd" Taylor Swift on Friday . . . and then wrote a song with her . . . on Friday. Or wrote with her first and then Punk'd her.


MONDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS


Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:


Director SOFIA COPPOLA got married in Italy to Thomas Mars, who's the lead singer of the band Phoenix. They already have two kids together. Sofia's dad, FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA, walked her down the aisle. (Full Story)



MATT DAMON'S wife calls him "Red Alert" because he's an overprotective parent. He says, quote, "I sometimes check to see if the kids are breathing." (Full Story)



KATIE HOLMES was photographed with a wrist tattoo. It wasn't real. (Full Story)



MEL GIBSON and OKSANA GRIGORIEVA have settled their financial and child custody issues. (Full Story)



MICHAEL LOHAN is angry at DINA for drinking with LINDSAY. (Full Story)



Could there be a remake of "Romancing the Stone" . . . starring KATHERINE HEIGL? (Full Story)



One guy you didn't see at last night's "MTV Video Music Awards" was ADAM LEVINE from MAROON 5. Instead of attending, he decided to start a Twitter war with MTV by saying, quote, "The VMAs [are the] one day a year when MTV pretends to still care about music. I'm drawing a line in the sand. [Eff] you, VMAs." (Full Story)



TOM JONES had to cancel a concert on Saturday night due to, quote, "severe exhaustion." In a message on his website, Tom denied British tabloid reports that he'd been hospitalized with a "heart scare." (Tom's website)



A KORN fan site claims their next album will have a "dub step" feel because the band is collaborating "with a number of dub step producers." The site also says the album is called "The Path to Totality", and that it hits stores on November 15th. (Full Story)



DMX is threatening to sue to the police for harassment. He was arrested for speeding and driving on a suspended license last week. The cops say he was clocked at 102 miles per hour . . . and DMX says, quote, "I was going 85 miles per hour . . . I know for a fact I didn't go more than 90 . . . I constantly look at the speedometer when I'm driving." (???) (Full Story)


HURRICANE IRENE

Here are the Four Things You Need to Know About Hurricane Irene:


#1.) After all the hype, Hurricane Irene wasn't quite as DEVASTATING as the media had us expecting. There was flooding and at least $3 BILLION in damage . . . but this wasn't exactly "Katrina meets Manhattan."


#2.) So far, 21 deaths have been reported up and down the East Coast. Many have been from people swept away in the flood, or falling trees landing on homes. Some trees also landed on power lines, which caused fires and electrocutions.


--There were also deaths like the man in North Carolina who had a heart attack putting up plywood before the storm . . . and a man in Pennsylvania who was camping in a tent and was crushed by a falling tree.


--Not to minimize the deaths, because each one is obviously tragic . . . but the hurricane could've been MUCH more devastating.


#3.) The three major New York-area airports are reopening today. Almost 10,000 flights were canceled . . . and there will be HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of people looking to get rebooked on new flights.


#4.) Yesterday, Irene was downgraded from Hurricane Irene to Tropical Storm Irene, and then late last night was downgraded again. So the worst SHOULD be over.


--That being said . . . there's still a ton of damage in its wake, widespread flooding, and millions who could be without power for weeks to come.


How To Help Victims Of Hurricane Irene


Several organizations are helping victims of Hurricane Irene. Here’s how you can help:


The American Red Cross: You can use your cellphone to send donations of $10 via text message to the agency. Text the word REDCROSS to 90999. Find out more at www.redcross.org.

The Salvation Army: Text the word “STORM” to 80888 to make a $10 donation via cellphone. Or donate online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by phone, 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

The Humane Society of the United States: The Humane Society is on Twitter with up-to-date info on pet and animal assistance, including shelters that are available in areas affected by Irene. You can donate by visiting www.humanesociety.org.

AmeriCares: AmeriCares, which provides emergency medicine and supplies, accepts donations on its website, www.americares.org. Phone: 1.800.486.4357.

Habitat for Humanity: Habitat for Humanity, which helps rebuild homes, accepts donations on its website, www.habitat.org.

Feeding America: Feeding America is seeking volunteers to work in food banks. You can also donate money and learn more about volunteering at http://feedingamerica.org.

Operation USA: Operation USA accepts online donations at https://donate.opusa.org/?. You can also make a $10 donation by sending a text message with the word AID to 50555. Phone: 1.800.678.7255.

Direct Relief: Direct Relief, which provides “Hurricane Preparation Packs” of medicine and medical supplies, is accepting donations at www.directrelief.org. Phone: 805.964.4767.

Charity Navigator: Charity Navigator is a non-profit organization that has information on more than 5,000 charities and evaluates the groups’ financial health. Find out more at www.charitynavigator.org.
RANDOM STUFF

At Least One in Five Couples Spend More Time in Bed Looking at Their Laptops Than Looking at Each Other:

Remember back when people used to worry that having a TV in the bedroom would make a couple waste their intimate moments? At least they were watching the television TOGETHER. --According to a new study out of England, at least 20% of couples, or one in five, now spend more time looking at their laptop or iPad screens in bed than they do looking at EACH OTHER. --More and more people are taking their computers with them into bed at night . . . and those provide a MAJOR distraction. --Experts recommend, ya know, NOT using your laptop right up until you go to sleep. Not only can it hurt your marriage if you focus on your computer and not your husband or wife, but it can also affect your ability to fall asleep. (Daily Mail)


Half of the People in the U.S. are Now on a Social Network:

Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are continuing their relentless attempt to TAKE OVER THE WORLD. --According to a new survey by the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project, as of right now, 50% of the adults in the U.S. now use social networks. --Considering social networks have been around for less than 10 years, that's INSANELY FAST. Six years ago, in 2005, only 8% of people were on social networking sites. --That 50% covers all Americans, whether they have Internet access or not. Among just the adults who use the Internet, 65% are on social networks. --Female Internet users are more likely to be on social networks than male Internet users, 69% to 60%. --Adults age 18 to 29 are most likely to use social networking . . . 83% of those Internet users are on at least one site. For 30-to-49-year-olds it's 70% . . . for 50-to-64-year-olds it's 51% . . . and for people over 65 it's 33%. --Even with those numbers, social networks are just the third most common Internet activity. 61% of adults use email daily . . . 59% use a search engine . . . and 43% visit a social network on any given day. (The Province)


The Best Way to Keep Your Kids From Drinking Is to Be Warm and Loving Until Age Ten . . . Then Get Tough:

A new study found that one of the strongest influences on how children approach alcohol as teenagers is the way they were raised. --A think tank called Demos looked at 15,000 British kids and found that bad parenting made kids eight times more likely to drink at age 16, and twice as likely to binge drink as adults. --So if your kid gets caught drinking, it's probably your fault. Here's what you should do to prevent it: --The study found that the parenting approach that worked best was to be loving and affectionate with your children until they turn ten years old . . . then start cracking the whip. --In other words, "tough love" parenting is the best way to make sure your kids behave responsibly toward alcohol. Begin mixing in the stiff discipline with your ten-year old, and then, when they turn 15, make sure you give them a lot of supervision. -Kids who ate dinner regularly with their family at a young age were less likely to drink. And parents who knew where their kids were as teenagers also had less of a problem with their kids drinking. --Another way to prevent teen drinking is to make sure they don't have easy access to alcohol in your home. And don't get drunk in front of them. (BBC)


People Get Twice as Drunk at a New Bar Than They Do at a Bar They've Been to Before:

Next time you're headed out to a new bar, try to remember this story . . . and plan on taking a cab. --A study out of the University of Birmingham in England found that the average person got TWICE AS DRUNK their first time at a new bar, than they did at a bar where they'd been before. --There were two reasons, a social one and a biological one. The social reason: People felt less comfortable at the new bar and would overcompensate by drinking more. --The biological reason: When people went to a familiar bar, their body anticipated the alcohol and actually countered some of the effects, so they got less drunk. (Times of India)


40% of People Would Walk Out of a Dealership if They Didn't Have a Car in the Right Color:

Earlier this month, we told you about a survey which found that most people don't consider car color an important reason in choosing what car to buy. But apparently, in a lot of case, people DO think it's important. --According to a study commissioned by Ford, 40% of car buyers say they'd actually walk out of a dealership if it didn't have the car in the color they wanted. --The survey also found . . . --Silver is still the most popular car color. It's followed by black, blue, red, white, green, gold, and orange. And one in nine people has a color other than those listed. --People are more likely to choose an unconventional color . . . like orange . . . when they hit middle age. --Women are more likely than men to buy a red car, and men are more likely than women to buy a black car. --Single people and rich people are also more likely to buy black cars. --They didn't find any connection between car color and theft rates. --In Turkey, the most popular color is white . . . in France and Italy it's cream . . . in Norway, Portugal, Germany, and Russia it's black . . . and in the Czech Republic it's blue. (Toronto Sun)
AT&T Has Started Charging Land-Line Customers Two Dollars a Month . . . If They DON'T Use Long Distance:

Today's d-bags of the day are the good folks at AT&T. In addition to making sure your iPhone drops calls, they're sticking it to landline customers now too. --It's because more and more people save money by using their cell phone for long-distance calls, rather than pay for a long-distance plan on their home phone. --But instead of cutting prices or giving people incentives to call long distance from home, starting in July, AT&T has started charging a two dollar "minimum use" fee. --In other words, AT&T is charging you two bucks for NOT calling long-distance from your home phone. --That's true even for customers who don't have an AT&T long distance plan because they use their AT&T Wireless plan to call long distance. --A company spokeswoman explained that an easy way customers can avoid the fee . . . is by making at least two dollars' worth of long distance calls every month. --You can also buy the cheapest AT&T long distance plan . . . which is nine dollars a month. Or you can ask AT&T to block long-distance access for your land line . . . which comes with a one-time nine dollar fee. (Cleveland.com)


STUPID CRIMINALS

A 400-Pound Guy Had His Robbery Conviction Overturned . . . Because Police Couldn't Find Enough Tall, Huge, African-American Guys for a Lineup:

There were two robberies in lower Manhattan on the same morning back in 2007, and 48-year-old Eric Kenley allegedly drove the getaway car both times. --He stuck in the mind of eyewitnesses because he's six-foot-four, and over 400 pounds. Different people described him as, quote, "a real big, real huge black guy" . . . "a huge, big, fat, black guy" . . . and, quote, "very heavyset and large." --Police were able to find Eric pretty quickly, and a jury convicted him on two counts of robbery. --But an appeals court just threw out Eric's conviction, because police couldn't find enough 400-pound black guys to give him a fair lineup. --Believe it or not, police have tricks they use to help with lineups of obese suspects. They found the biggest African-American guys they could, then had them all sit down to minimize the difference in weight. -The appeals court looked at photos of the lineup and decided it wasn't close enough. They threw out the convictions and also said that any evidence gathered from the illegal lineup couldn't be used if they decide to try Eric again. --The court also advised the police that they should stockpile large people to use in lineups of heavy suspects in the future, or find some way to cover up the bodies of large suspects. (NY Post) (--Here's Eric's mugshot. Unfortunately it's only from the neck up.)


RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS

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


Police in Sacramento, California put out a 'bait car' to nail prospective car thieves. And it was taken by . . . a ten-year-old girl. (Full Story)


A prison in New Zealand has successfully encouraged its male inmates to take up . . . knitting? (Full Story)


A 77-year-old farmer in Iowa was accidentally crushed in a ditch by his John Deere tractor last Thursday. And according to his son, quote, "This is the way he wanted to go." (Full Story)


The U.S. has set a record with its 10th billion-dollar event in weather disaster spending so far this year. (Full Story)


A woman fishing on a Minnesota lake caught the prosthetic leg of a woman who lost it swimming three years ago. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) (NC-17) A Guy Went Streaking in the Middle of a Report on Hurricane Irene:

In the wake of Hurricane Irene, a bunch of hilarious news reports have popped up online. But here's the most REVEALING one. --In Virginia Beach, a bunch of idiots ran through the middle of a Weather Channel report. And one of them pulled down his pants, and started jumping around. --It's not clear if the reporter saw the guy whip out his junk or not, but viewers definitely did. (--Search YouTube for "Weather Channel Streaker." It happens at :33. WARNING: This video includes full-frontal nudity.)


#2.) The Nastiest Hurricane Irene Footage Shows a Weatherman Doing His Report . . . Covered in a Mysterious Foam that Might Be Raw Sewage:

A weatherman from D.C. named Tucker Barnes did his report on Hurricane Irene from the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland, and he was covered in a mysterious brown foam. --Now, here's where it gets nasty: Barnes said it was, quote, "organic material," and thought it might be plankton, mixed with sand and salt. But in reality, it was more likely sand and salt mixed with RAW SEWAGE.--And while he was trying to figure out what it was, Barnes spit on the ground and said, quote, "It doesn't taste great." (--Search for "Reporter Gives Update Covered in Sea Foam." He spits at :44 and starts describing the foam. And he gets hit by a bunch of it at 3:10.)


#3.) A Drunk Girl Walked Into a Hurricane Report . . . and Told People to Be Responsible and Stay Indoors:

A woman on the street in Baltimore . . . who'd obviously been drinking . . . decided to walk up next to a reporter while he was doing a report on the hurricane . . . and it was clear he didn't want to talk to her. --He even yanked the cord out of his microphone when she walked up . . . like he thought she might try to grab it. --But she just stood there, so he gave her a chance and asked what she was doing. And as expected, her answer was, quote, "I'm getting drunk tonight!" Then she told people to be responsible and stay indoors . . . and ran off. (--Search for "Drunk Girl on CBS News Affiliate in Baltimore.")


#4.) A Reporter in New Jersey Dropped Her Mic and Ran From a Wave . . . That Wasn't That Big:

We're not trying to make light of the damage caused by Hurricane Irene, but there's a video on YouTube that sums up the hysterical nature of a lot of the reporting. --It's a local correspondent in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and when a wave washes up over the boardwalk behind her, she starts jogging off and says to her crew, quote, "Let's get out of here . . . grab the mic!" Then she drops her mic in the water. --But her cameraman just stands there laughing, and lets the wave recede. (--Search for "New Jersey Reporter runs from Irene".)


The Six Most Annoying Work Habits That Can Get You Fired:

People do annoying things all the time at work, and it usually doesn't get them fired. But you definitely want to avoid doing the things on this list. Here are the top six annoying things people do at work.

#1.) Using the Speakerphone When You Dial. If you hit speakerphone, punch in the number, wait to hear a dial tone, THEN pick it up and start talking . . . don't be surprised if your co-workers hate you. --Listening to it 20 times a day, five days a week is almost like torture. So unless you're in a private room or on a group call, there's no reason to use the speakerphone at work. --And talking too loud on the phone in general is another thing people in offices complain about the most.

#2.) Checking Your Phone During a Meeting. Even if you're waiting on an important work email, your boss doesn't know that. It just looks like you're not paying attention. So don't do it. --But if it's something so important that you HAVE to check on it, just make sure you talk to your boss before the meeting starts, and explain what's up.

#3.) Not Responding to Emails in a Timely Fashion. If you have to deal with 50 or 100 emails every day, you might not have time to respond to every single one in detail. But at least reply and let the person know you're on it. --Otherwise, they'll get annoyed and think you forgot, or you're blowing them off. Either way, it makes you look unprofessional.
#4.) Always Complaining About How Busy You Are. Chances are, EVERYONE is busy. So you just look like a whiner. Plus, it might make your boss think you can't handle a bigger workload. In other words, it might cost you a promotion.

#5.) Talking Yourself Up. Don't talk about your accomplishments in a meeting, or in a room with a bunch of co-workers. It'll make them resent you and think you're a brown-noser. --You do have to promote yourself if you want a promotion, but it's better if you're subtle about it when you're in a one-on-one conversation with your boss. Not when everyone else is there.

#6.) Not Cleaning Up After Yourself. After you use the kitchen, don't leave dirty dishes in the sink, or old food in the fridge. --You might get away with a dirty coffee cup once or twice. But if the food in the fridge has your NAME on it, the person who ends up throwing it away will remember you as the lazy slob in the office. --That person might be clean-up staff . . . or it might be your boss. (TheNest.com)