HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (08-31-11)
Is This What Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Baby Will Look Like?
The way I see it, the child of JAY-Z and BEYONCÉ has a 50-50 chance of being good-looking. --A forensic artist who has worked as a consultant for the FBI has come up with a picture of what he THINKS the kid will look like. If it's a boy, anyway. Jay and Beyoncé haven't announced the gender yet. --He thinks the child will have Jay's features and Beyoncé's eyes. Even so, he doesn't look too bad. (--Here's the photo.) (TMZ)
Jennifer Aniston Says There's Not As Much Drama in Her Love Life As You Think:
JENNIFER ANISTON tells the new issue of "Glamour" magazine that there's not as much drama in her love life as you might think. --She says, quote, "There's not nearly as much stealing and obsessing and middle-of-the-night secret calls to ex-boyfriends and scheming and cheating (as they lead you to believe). Most of it's just bull(crap), however entertaining. --She also seems to give new boyfriend JUSTIN THEROUX some props . . . but without mentioning him by name. --She says, quote, "I would say I couldn't be in a relationship without equality, generosity, integrity, spirit, kindness and humor. And awesomeness!" (--Speaking of Jennifer . . . she co-directed a movie about women and cancer for Lifetime. It's called "Five", and it features five tales of women whose lives are affected by cancer.) (--The one common thread is JEANNE TRIPPLEHORN as the oncologist . . . who also has cancer, by the way.) --Jennifer directed one of the segments . . . as did DEMI MOORE and ALICIA KEYS. The other two were done by female directors whose names wouldn't mean anything to you.) (--The film premieres on October 10th. You can watch the trailer here.)
Julie Bowen Says She Didn't Want Twins:
"Modern Family" minx JULIE BOWEN gave birth to twin boys a little over two years ago. But she didn't want to. --She tells "More" magazine, quote, "I did not want twins as a second go-around. I should have been much more cautious. I should have had . . . half sex?" (--Julie and her husband also have a 4-year-old son.) --Obviously, Julie is happy with her twins now. But one thing she would like you to know about them is that they were NOT the result of fertility treatments. They were created the old-fashioned way. Julie says, quote, "Everybody asked me, 'How many did you put in?' and I'd be like, 'Just one penis. Thanks!'"
Jon Cryer Will Not Participate in the Charlie Sheen Roast:
As awesome as it would be, JON CRYER will NOT be participating in the CHARLIE SHEEN roast. According to "Entertainment Weekly", Jon won't have any part in the roast whatsoever . . . but he plans to DVR it, quote, "out of curiosity." --HOLLAND TAYLOR . . . who plays the mother of Jon and Charlie's characters on "Two and a Half Men" . . . also won't be there. (--Meanwhile, you can see two new promos for the show here.) (--I don't know . . . I'm getting less and less psyched for this roast as time goes by. It seems like NOBODY who's got an inside line on Charlie's life is getting anywhere near this thing.) (--So basically, it's going to be a night of people who don't even know him making crack and hooker jokes. Wouldn't you much rather see Jon Cryer, Denise Richards or some of Charlie's ex-goddesses up there? I would.) (--They'll probably get GINGER LYNN and / or HEIDI FLEISS on board. But that's such ancient history, who cares?) (--SPEAKING OF JON CRYER . . . he went to court trying to reduce the $8,000-a-month that he pays his ex-wife in child support for their 11-year-old son . . . but he lost. He's still on the hook for the whole amount.) (--Oh, and the kid's name is CHARLIE.)
Justin Bieber Was In a Minor Car Accident Yesterday . . . But He's Okay:
JUSTIN BIEBER was involved in a minor car accident in Los Angeles yesterday, but he's fine. --Police say Justin's black Ferrari was rear-ended by a Honda Civic. Nobody was injured, and there was no damage to either vehicle.
Angelina Jolie is Not Pregnant, Not Adopting and Not Planning a Wedding:
ANGELINA JOLIE clears up some rumors in the new issue of "Vanity Fair". --She says, quote, "I'm not pregnant. I'm not adopting at the moment . . . [and there's] no secret wedding." --What Angelina is consumed with right now is "In the Land of Blood and Honey" . . . the movie she wrote and directed herself. --She says BRAD PITT was extremely supportive throughout the process. After reading the script, he called Angelina and said, quote, "You know, honey, it's not that bad. --She adds, quote, "He'd come in and say what he liked or what he didn't understand. --"Like any woman, I would listen to most of it and fight a few things . . . It's hard to separate the person that loves you from the critic, so I don't think he's a fair judge." --Obviously, this is all new territory for Angelina. She says, quote, "I've never felt more exposed. My whole career, I've hidden behind other people's words. Now it's me talking. You feel ridiculous when you get something wrong."
Daryl Hannah Got Arrested in Front of the White House for Protesting a Planned Oil Pipeline:
DARYL HANNAH was among about 100 people who were arrested during a protest outside the White House yesterday. --They were protesting a proposed oil pipeline that's going to run from Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast . . . hitting Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas along the way. --Hannah and her fellow protesters were cuffed because they sat on the sidewalk near the White House and refused to move when U.S. Park Police told them to. --Before her arrest, Hannah told reporters, quote, "Sometimes it's necessary to sacrifice your freedom for a greater freedom. --"And we want to be free from the horrible death and destruction that fossil fuels cause, and have a clean energy future." --Daryl was arrested two years ago while protesting mountaintop coal mining in West Virginia . . . and three years before that, she was arrested for protesting the planned destruction of an urban farm in Los Angeles. (--Here's a picture of Daryl Hannah being arrested . . . and loving it.) (E! Online)
Joe Jonas is Producing and Starring In His Own Movie:
JOE JONAS will make his big-screen acting debut in a movie he's producing himself. There's no word on the title yet. Joe says it's about a young man who's, quote, "finding himself." --He adds, quote, "He has a specific dream that he wants to accomplish, and it's the good and the bad he has to go through to get there. It's going to be an older-feeling kind of movie."
Josh Brolin Will Star in the "Oldboy" Remake:
JOSH BROLIN will star in SPIKE LEE'S "Oldboy" . . . a remake of a 2003 Korean film of the same name. --It's hard to imagine an American version of this movie, because it's really brutal. It's about a man who's kidnapped and held captive for 15 years, without ever knowing why, or who his captors are. --When he's finally released, he goes looking for revenge . . . and that's when things really start to go haywire. --This movie is infamous for having possibly the most punishing and uncompromising twist ending of all time. I have a hard time believing the average American audience can handle it. But if Spike changes it in any way, he'll botch this remake completely. (--I won't spoil the ending for you, but if you must know what it is, you can read about it here. WARNING: If you're one of the many people who flip out at the twist, then the SECOND twist is gonna make your head explode.)
"DANCING WITH THE STARS" STUFF
Ron Artest Is Doing "Dancing with the Stars" for His Daughter, Who Survived Cancer:
RON ARTEST . . . of all people . . . actually has a pretty selfless reason for doing "Dancing with the Stars". He says he's doing it for his eight-year-old daughter, who battled cancer four years ago. --Artest explains, quote, "At first it was not appealing. I didn't want to do it. I don't dance and all of the dressing up and everything, but my daughter Diamond was like, 'Daddy, you should do it.' --"I had a chance to play basketball overseas and I had a chance to do 'Dancing with the Stars'. She asked me to do it, and I thought I could dance and raise some money for cancer research. I'm going to donate the profits." --The NBA is currently locking out its players . . . and there's a good chance the labor dispute could wipe out the entire season. (--The two sides have much bigger issues to deal with than the NFL did this summer.) --Artest seems to be under the assumption that at least part of the season is lost, because if it were starting on time, he'd have to report to training camp around the time of show's September 19th premiere. --As for the possibility of the NBA starting up while he's still on "Dancing", Artest says, quote, "I'll cross that bridge when it comes."
Is Chaz Bono's Appearance on "Dancing with the Stars" Going to Destroy American Families?
This was bound to happen: There's some "controversy" over CHAZ BONO'S invitation to do "Dancing with the Stars" . . . and no, it's not for a legitimate reason, like the fact that he's not really a "star." (--That argument wouldn't hold water anyway, since it's sort of a stretch to call ALL of this season's contestants "stars." And the show has always had a pretty generous definition of the word "stars.") --It's just because he's transgender. --The Media Research Center, which "seeks to bring balance to the news media and prevent liberal bias from undermining traditional American values" thinks Chaz doing "Dancing with the Stars" is going to RUIN YOUR FAMILY! --A spokesman says, quote, "Whether it's 'Glee' or 'Dancing with the Stars', this is part of Hollywood's insistence on tearing down traditional families. --"Parents now more than ever must realize they cannot let their kids watch television without supervision or risk advocating lifestyles that most families do not approve of."
Things That Go Without Saying - #1 - GLAAD Is Thrilled with the Latest "Dancing with the Stars" Cast:
GLAAD . . . the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation . . . is THRILLED that CHAZ BONO and former "Queer Eye" star CARSON KRESSLEY are a part of the new "Dancing with the Stars" cast. --GLAAD issued a statement saying, quote, "With both gay and transgender contestants represented on this upcoming season, ABC will send viewers a strong message about the diversity within the LGBT community. --"At a time when transgender representation in the media is sorely lacking, Chaz Bono joining the cast is a tremendous step forward for the public to recognize that transgender people are another wonderful part of the fabric of American culture." --Carson isn't the show's first openly gay competitor. LANCE BASS was on Season Seven, and pro dancer LOUIS VAN AMSTEL has appeared on eight seasons. (--Here's video of Chaz saying CHER thinks it's "cool" he's doing the show.)
Things That Go Without Saying - #2 - Nancy Grace Isn't Expecting Casey Anthony to Vote for Her on "Dancing with the Stars":
After NANCY GRACE'S participation in "Dancing with the Stars" was made official, the paparazzi asked her if she thought CASEY ANTHONY would vote for her. --And she replied, quote, "No, I do not think that 'Tot Mom' Casey Anthony is going to be voting for me, or any of her defense team. You know what, that's okay." (--You can find video of her comment, here.)
MTV's Record-Setting "Video Music Awards" Beat Every Other Show In This Week's Ratings:
Sunday night's "MTV Video Music Awards" was the most-watched show of the week . . . both on cable AND the free broadcast networks. That was also a record-breaking audience for MTV and the VMAs. --Since cable ratings are listed separately, the #1 show of the week was technically "America's Got Talent", but that still attracted almost half-a-million viewers less than the VMAs.
1.) Tuesday's "America's Got Talent", NBC, 12 million viewers
2.) Wednesday's "America's Got Talent", NBC, 11.1 million viewers
3.) "NCIS", CBS, 9.4 million viewers
TV REMINDERS
Wednesday TV Reminders: (--Check your local listings.)
--"Big Brother 13" [Power of Veto competition] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on CBS.
--"Melissa & Joey" [Back-to-back Episodes] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC Family. (--Joey Lawrence's brothers Matthew and Andy guest star. One plays his brother and the other is Ryder's teacher.)
--"America's Got Talent" [Results Show] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on NBC.
--"Royal Pains" [3rd Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on USA. (--Wilmer Valderrama plays an art collector who loses consciousness while purchasing a piece of art.)
--"Hot in Cleveland" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on TV Land. (--In this "Hangover"-type episode, the ladies wake up surrounded by young guys after Elka's bachelorette party, and Elka's missing.)
--"The Franchise: A Season with the San Francisco Giants" [1st Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on Showtime.
--"The Real World/Road Rules Challenge" [Reunion] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on MTV.
Aerosmith's New Album Is a "Raw, Nasty, Tough Rock Album":
Jack Douglas . . . the producer that's been working with AEROSMITH on their new album . . . has shared some details about the recording sessions on his blog. Here's what you need to know: --He says, quote, "For those who are asking, this album will be raw, nasty, tough rock with a good deal of the old Aerosmith 'tongue in cheek.' --"The new album should be out around May [of next year]. I know that's a long wait, but after the South American tour and Japan in October, November and December, we will just get back to work on it in mid-January." (--Not that it's a problem necessarily, but that's right about when STEVEN TYLER'S work with "American Idol" begins heating up again.)
Jason Aldean Believes The Best Years Of Our Lives Happen in High School:
If you've caught JASON ALDEAN on tour this summer then you probably saw him perform his new song, "Tattoos On This Town". It's about the mark you leave on your hometown . . . and the lasting impression that town leaves on you. --And according to Jason, most of that influence occurs during your high school years. He says, quote, "People don't realize in high school that those are some of the best times that you're ever gonna have. --"You don't realize it at the time, and the next phase comes along, and you get married and have kids and transition from teen to adult. But you always look back on those teenage years [and] you talk about them. --"When I get around my friends, we talk about, 'Remember when we did this?' --"You just don't worry about any consequences when you're a teenager, but at some point, you get smart and realize, 'I can't do those things anymore . . . but it was fun when I did it.'" (--You can listen to "Tattoos On This Town" on Jason's website. Click on the "Jukebox" heading.) (--A lot of people say high school was the best time of their lives. How about you? Did you peak DURING or AFTER high school?)
WEDNESDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
BILL O'REILLY may have pulled some strings at the Nassau County Police Department to have a detective investigated for SLEEPING WITH HIS WIFE. (Full Story)
The "National Enquirer" claims RIHANNA is adopting a kid from Haiti. (Full Story)
SELENA GOMEZ accidentally flashed her semi-granny panties during a gig in Connecticut. (Photos)
JULIANNE HOUGH'S camera was hacked and a ton of pictures ended up online. Nothing dirty, but there are several sexy bikini shots. (Photos)
Check out a gallery of celebrities and their real names. (Slideshow)
GEORGE CLOONEY has had to drop out of a movie version of the old TV series "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." because injuries he suffered during the making of the movie "Syriana" would make it impossible for him to do the stunts. (Full Story)
The 911 call that was made after RUSSELL ARMSTRONG'S body was found has hit the Internet. He's the guy who was married to TAYLOR ARMSTRONG from "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills". He committed suicide a few weeks ago. The man making the call is a friend . . . you can hear Taylor crying in the background. (Audio)
"Survivor" superstar RUPERT BONEHAM is thinking about running for Governor of Indiana. (Full Story)
Jaleel White . . . who of course played Urkel on "Family Matters" . . . will guest star on the October 3rd season premiere of "House". He's playing a prison inmate. (Full Story)
Here's a picture of JAMES FRANCO covered in fake blood on the set of "General Hospital". (Full Story)
RANDOM STUFF
Someone at a Church in Georgia Just Put an $80,000 Winning Lottery Ticket in a Collection Plate:
This next guy's not just angling to get into heaven, but to get a great room with a view in a quiet neighborhood once he gets there. -Last week, someone put a winning scratch-off lottery ticket in the collection plate at the Cathedral of Prayer church in Columbus, Georgia. No one knows who. --And the ticket was an $80,000 winner. --Gloria Rodgers handles the finances for the church. She says that they took it down to the local Georgia lottery office and claimed the ticket over the weekend. --She also says that they've received winning lottery tickets before, but this is the biggest one. --And it came at a good time. Three weeks ago, some burglars broke into the church and stole some copper wire . . . which knocked out their air conditioning. With this donation, the church can get it fixed. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
Amazing X-Ray! An 86-Year-Old Man Survives After He Falls on Gardening Shears and the Handle Goes Through His Eye Socket and Down His Throat:
It's a MIRACLE this guy survived this accident. And there's a 100% chance you'll agree when you see the X-ray. --Earlier this month, 86-year-old Leroy Luetscher of Green Valley, Arizona was working in the yard. He was using a small pair of gardening shears to prune some bushes, and he dropped them. They landed on the ground, handles pointing up. --When Leroy reached down to pick them up, he fell face-first. One of the handles went THROUGH HIS EYE SOCKET . . . behind his nose . . . and ended up mostly down his throat. The other side of the handle was still sticking out of his eye socket. --He was rushed to University Medical Center in Tucson. Surgeons there somehow managed to remove the shears, completely rebuild his eye area, AND save his vision. --It's been about four weeks since then, and Leroy still has bruising and some minor damage . . . but he can see out of the eye. (Arizona Star Net) (--Here's the X-ray that shows the shears half in his face, half out of his face..)
One Out of Ten Bosses Who Died on the Job in 2010 Died of Murder:
This is an absolutely incredible stat from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And also something that EVERY boss, manager, and executive in this country should PAY ATTENTION to. --According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one out of every ten bosses who died on the job in 2010 died of . . . MURDER. --Overall, 533 people in management capacities died on the job. And 10% of them died from HOMICIDES. --Overall, for all employees in the U.S., there were 4,547 total work deaths in 2010. --Transportation accidents were the most common, causing 39% of those deaths. Assaults . . . both homicides and suicides . . . caused 18%. Falls caused 14% . . . exposure to harmful substances caused 9% . . . and fires caused 4%. --Transportation and occupations where you move materials had the most deaths, with 1,115 on the job. Only 7% of those were homicides. --Texas had the most on-the-job deaths with 456 . . . New Hampshire had the fewest, with five. (Bureau of Labor Statistics) (--You can see the full breakdown for all worker deaths here. You can see the breakdown for management executives here. State-by-state rankings are here.)
Here are Five Legendary Quotes . . . That are Attributed to the Wrong Person:
#1.) "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." It's attributed to VOLTAIRE, but it's actually from a book called "The Friends of Voltaire" by an author named Evelyn Deatrice Hall.
#2.) "The only two certainties in life are death and taxes." It's credited to MARK TWAIN, but it actually showed up a CENTURY earlier. An author named Christopher Bullock wrote it in "The Cobler of Preston".
#3.) "I cannot tell a lie. It was I who chopped down the cherry tree." That's part of the whole GEORGE WASHINGTON thing, but it never happened. It was made up by a Washington biographer in the 1800s named Parson Weems.
#4.) "Only the dead have seen the end of war." It's attributed to PLATO. But it was actually written in the late 1800s by a Spanish philosopher named George Santayana.
#5.) "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us." It's credited to NELSON MANDELA, from his 1994 inaugural address. --But it's from a 1992 book called "A Return to Love" by an author named Marianne Williamson.
Melbourne, Australia is the World's Most Livable City . . . Honolulu is the Highest Ranked U.S. City at 26th:
"The Economist" just released the results of its annual study on the most livable cities in the world. And for the first time in almost a decade, Vancouver was NOT ranked number one. --Nope, the world's most livable city is now . . . Melbourne, Australia. --The list is ranked on about 30 factors which fall into five categories: Stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. --The highest ranking U.S. city is Honolulu . . . in 26TH PLACE. --Vancouver apparently ended up getting demoted from the top spot because of one SINGLE incident. Back in April, a fuel tanker crashed on one of its main highways and caused a 22-hour traffic jam. --That alone pushed down their overall commuting score, which was just enough for Melbourne to pass them. It also allowed Vienna, Austria to pass them, so Vancouver actually ended up in third place. --After Melbourne, Vienna, and Vancouver, the rest of the top 10 goes: Toronto . . . Calgary . . . Sydney, Australia . . . Helsinki, Finland . . . Perth, Australia . . . Adelaide, Australia . . . and Auckland, New Zealand. --Harare, Zimbabwe was ranked the least livable city in the world. It finished just below Dhaka, Bangladesh and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. (EIU)
An Astrophysicist Found a Way to Cut the Time It Takes to Board a Plane in Half:
Now that NASA has cut the space shuttle program, the greatest minds in the space program now have some free time to solve important problems here on earth . . . like boarding an airplane. --Dr. Jason Steffen is an astrophysicist at Fermilab, and he's found a better way for airlines to board passengers. --Most flights board from the back of the plane to the front, in groups of rows. And Dr. Steffen says that's pretty much the worst way to do it. Sending in all the passengers from one area of the plane at once guarantees that there'll be a bottleneck, since they all fight for space in the overhead bins. --In fact, Dr. Steffen ran a computer model that showed how letting people board whenever they want would actually be a faster way to fill the plane. But he found an even faster method. --People with window seats should board first, so that people in aisle seats don't have to keep getting up and clogging the aisle to let people in. --Odd rows on one side of the plane would board first, followed by the window seats on the other side. Then middle seats go, and finally aisle seats. Then they do it all over again for the even rows. --Everyone has plenty of room, and they're spread out all over the plane. And Dr. Steffen's computer says that airlines could cut boarding time in HALF by using his method. (PopSci) (--One the one hand, the back-to-front method is FAIR. People in the back have to sit next to the bathroom, and exit the plane last. Shouldn't they board first? On the other hand, why do they want to be on the plane even longer?)
Three Out of Four Teenagers Who Didn't Go to College Say a College Degree Is Essential:
If you've spent any time with teenagers, you know they're not always logical. Here's some more evidence of that. --The College Board surveyed members of the Class of 2010, one year after their high-school graduation. Not surprisingly, an overwhelming 86% of them said that a college degree is "essential" and worth the time and money. --And three out of four teenagers who are NOT currently ENROLLED in college agree with that statement. --They say the main reason they didn't go to college is that they couldn't afford it. That was listed as a key factor by 56% of the non-college students. About the same percentage of current college students said that paying for college is challenging. --Of the students that are in college now, more than half of them say that college courses are more difficult than they expected. That's surprising, considering that 24% of them had to take noncredit remedial courses their first year. (--Did you get that? ONE in FOUR college freshmen had to take remedial courses.) --If that's not depressing enough, how about this: 16% of the high school class of 2010 said they weren't able to complete their first year of college. (PR Newswire)
Stupid Photo of the Day: A Scrabble Word Puzzle in the Newspaper Accidentally Gets Naughty:
Every once in a while, something like this slips past a newspaper editor. And we're all over it. --Last Saturday, a Scrabble word jumble appeared in newspapers around the country. In the jumble, you have to unscramble seven letters to make a word. The correct answers to this one are "LEAKAGE" and "SUBTEXT." (--CAREFUL!) But if you're a pervert like I am, you can scramble the "SUBTEXT" letters differently . . . making the result "LEAKAGE" and "BUTTSEX." And that's a VERY naughty combination. (Gawker) (--Check out a photo of the word jumble. And if you like this kind of thing, here's a list of 11 Accidentally Inappropriate Puzzles and Games . . . which shows this isn't the first time BUTTSEX has made an appearance in a Scrabble jumble.)
MEARBALL CRIMINALS
Geriatric Car Chase! A 78-Year-Old Has Been Charged With Attempted Murder After a High-Speed Chase With His 82- and 83-Year-Old Siblings:
I love the concept of three ELDERLY PEOPLE in a high-speed car chase. Mostly because I wonder if it's really a high-speed chase when you're wearing giant BluBlocker sunglasses and there's a wooden beaded cushion on the driver's seat. --On Monday morning, 78-year-old Clyde White of Corbin, Kentucky got into some kind of argument with his two older siblings . . . 82-year-old Lawrence White and 83-year-old Dorothy Whitaker. --Police don't know what sparked the fight. They DO know that the fight quickly transitioned into a HIGH SPEED CHASE. --Lawrence and Dorothy hopped in a blue van and took off . . . and Clyde started chasing them in a white van. They got on Interstate 75, and the chase got so intense that their speeds clocked in at more than 100 miles-per-hour. --Clyde rammed his car into his siblings several times. He ultimately forced them off the road and they hit a DirecTV van. The driver of that van wasn't hurt, but Lawrence and Dorothy were . . . and were flown to a hospital for medical attention. --Meanwhile Clyde rammed into a tractor trailer, then tried to run away on foot. Police quickly caught up with him. --Clyde is facing two counts of ATTEMPTED MURDER and two counts of wanton endangerment. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
Here's Why You Don't Buy an iPad For 64% Off in a McDonald's Parking Lot From a Guy With a Gold Tooth:
We hate to blame a victim for anything . . . but HOW THE HELL did this woman not realize she was walking directly into a scam? -On Monday, 22-year-old Ashley McDowell of Spartanburg, South Carolina went to buy an iPad. But not from an Apple Store or a Best Buy. Or even someone on Craigslist. --No . . . she decided to buy her iPad from two guys in a McDonald's parking lot. THAT didn't make her suspicious. It also didn't make her suspicious when they showed up in a white Impala with no rims or tint. --It didn't make her suspicious when one of the men had a shiny gold tooth. And finally, it didn't make her suspicious when they wanted $300 for a brand new iPad that retails for $500 . . . or when they accepted her offer of $180 instead. --When Ashley got home, she opened the FedEx box they'd given her with her brand new iPad. And inside she found . . . a PIECE OF WOOD with an Apple logo sticker on the back, and a print out of a Best Buy sales tag on the other side. --Police are searching for the men with the rimless, tintless Impala and one gold tooth. (The Smoking Gun)
A Guy on a Plane in Arkansas Spotted Two Men Robbing His Home:
On Friday, Steven Lynn of Bay, Arkansas went on a plane ride for the very first time. He was on a small private Cessna, and during the flight, he asked the pilot to fly over his house so he could take a few photos. --As they flew over Steven's house to take those photos, he looked down and was SHOCKED to see two men ROBBING the place. --First, Steven called an uncle who lived nearby and asked him to drive over there. Then he called 911. --When the burglars saw Steven's uncle pull up, they unloaded all the stuff they'd stolen and took off. Steven had the pilot FOLLOW THEM IN THE PLANE . . . so he could guide the cops to them. --The police arrested the burglars, Roosevelt Smith the Third and Joseph Peel. Both are facing burglary and theft charges. --Most of the stolen items were recovered, but Steven says a $1,200 rifle is still missing. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS
Random News Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
A 28-year-old chemistry grad student at Dartmouth . . . remember, they're in the Ivy League . . . was arrested on Sunday for running a meth lab out of his off-campus apartment. And his mugshot is kinda funny. (Full Story)
In a survey of 1,000 car owners, 50% of respondents said their biggest fear on the road is: Being stuck with a smoking engine. But only 16% said they plan to add engine coolant on a hot day to prevent their vehicle from overheating. (Full Story)
According to a study out of Duke University, jogging is better than weightlifting at reducing belly fat. And just jogging was as effective as jogging AND weightlifting. (Full Story)
A funeral home in Florida has installed the first corpse-liquefying machine. It's a green alternative to burial and cremation. Have a great hump-day? (Full Story)
Not-So-Stupid News: An employee at one of Taiwan's best hospitals misheard some test results over the phone, and doctors accidentally harvested organs from an HIV-positive patient and transplanted them into five people. The patients will most likely contract HIV, and have to be treated for rejection of the new organs too. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) Best Beach Prank Ever?
It's almost Labor Day weekend, so get your beach pranks ready. And we've got one that's way better than writing "dork" on someone's chest in sunscreen. --There's a video on LiveLeak that shows a prank so good, I'm surprised we haven't seen it before. You just wait until somebody who's laying out goes for walk . . . dig a huge trench under their towel . . . put the towel back over it . . . then wait. --In the video, the kid goes to lie down on his back and completely eats it, because his friends dug a huge trench big enough for his whole body. The trick is to make sure the towel lies complete flat over the hole you dig. --And I guess you have to worry about someone getting hurt when they fall in. But that's the risk you take with an awesome prank. (--Search YouTube for "How to Prank Your Friend at the Beach.")
#2.) This Video is Really Gay:
There's a video on YouTube that's so gay, you have to see it. And I don't mean gay in a mean way . . . it's the video for a pop song by a gay singer named Matt Zarley. It's called "WTF", and it's all about how he gets cheated on by his boyfriend. --It's just funny how it's incredibly bad, it's incredibly cheesy, and it's NOT a parody: Although the video goes for some laughs, this is a serious attempt at a pop song. --Some people are calling it the older, gay equivalent of Rebecca Black's "Friday" . . . which isn't a bad description. (--Search for "Matt Zarley WTF Official Video.") (--WARNING: This song contains multiple f-bombs, and lots of half-naked muscular gay dudes cavorting.)
#3.) Please, Don't Ever Do This:
There's a new video online we gotta share with you . . . because it's appropriately titled, quote, "Indian Boy Lies on Tracks Under Train - Please Do NOT Try This Yourself." --And . . . that's pretty much what this kid does. He sets up a camera on the tracks, lies face down in front of the camera, then waits for the train to come barreling down over him. --Obviously, they somehow figured out beforehand that there was enough space beneath the train for someone to lie down on the tracks and fit. But that still makes this incredibly stupid. --It also makes "Jackass" look like child's play. And that's not a good thing.
Three Common Nutrition Mistakes Parents Make:
Kids are headed back to school, so here's a list to help make sure they head back healthy. You've probably heard one or two of these before, but here are three common nutrition mistakes that some parents make every day.
#1.) Too Many High-Calorie Drinks. One can of Coke has 155 calories. And if a young child has two, that's almost one fourth of the calories they're supposed to have in a whole day. And juice isn't much better. --The three drinks you SHOULD give your kids on a regular basis are water, milk, and unsweetened tea.
#2.) Letting Your Kids Eat Snacks Instead of Meals. Some parents let their kids snack all day . . . then wonder why they're not hungry at dinner --Snacks that are high in fiber are good . . . like fruit, carrots, and nuts . . . because they give kids a boost of energy, without all the empty calories. The problem is, most of the snacks they sell in the chip aisle are FULL of empty calories.
#3.) Portion Sizes. If you've ever read a food label, you know that the standard for adults is 2,000 calories a day. As you'd expect, small kids don't need that many. But some teenagers actually need MORE. --Preschoolers need about 1,000 calories a day. Elementary school kids need 1,400. And high schoolers need between 1,600 and 2,500, depending on how active they are. (Epicurious.com)
The way I see it, the child of JAY-Z and BEYONCÉ has a 50-50 chance of being good-looking. --A forensic artist who has worked as a consultant for the FBI has come up with a picture of what he THINKS the kid will look like. If it's a boy, anyway. Jay and Beyoncé haven't announced the gender yet. --He thinks the child will have Jay's features and Beyoncé's eyes. Even so, he doesn't look too bad. (--Here's the photo.) (TMZ)
Jennifer Aniston Says There's Not As Much Drama in Her Love Life As You Think:
JENNIFER ANISTON tells the new issue of "Glamour" magazine that there's not as much drama in her love life as you might think. --She says, quote, "There's not nearly as much stealing and obsessing and middle-of-the-night secret calls to ex-boyfriends and scheming and cheating (as they lead you to believe). Most of it's just bull(crap), however entertaining. --She also seems to give new boyfriend JUSTIN THEROUX some props . . . but without mentioning him by name. --She says, quote, "I would say I couldn't be in a relationship without equality, generosity, integrity, spirit, kindness and humor. And awesomeness!" (--Speaking of Jennifer . . . she co-directed a movie about women and cancer for Lifetime. It's called "Five", and it features five tales of women whose lives are affected by cancer.) (--The one common thread is JEANNE TRIPPLEHORN as the oncologist . . . who also has cancer, by the way.) --Jennifer directed one of the segments . . . as did DEMI MOORE and ALICIA KEYS. The other two were done by female directors whose names wouldn't mean anything to you.) (--The film premieres on October 10th. You can watch the trailer here.)
Julie Bowen Says She Didn't Want Twins:
"Modern Family" minx JULIE BOWEN gave birth to twin boys a little over two years ago. But she didn't want to. --She tells "More" magazine, quote, "I did not want twins as a second go-around. I should have been much more cautious. I should have had . . . half sex?" (--Julie and her husband also have a 4-year-old son.) --Obviously, Julie is happy with her twins now. But one thing she would like you to know about them is that they were NOT the result of fertility treatments. They were created the old-fashioned way. Julie says, quote, "Everybody asked me, 'How many did you put in?' and I'd be like, 'Just one penis. Thanks!'"
Jon Cryer Will Not Participate in the Charlie Sheen Roast:
As awesome as it would be, JON CRYER will NOT be participating in the CHARLIE SHEEN roast. According to "Entertainment Weekly", Jon won't have any part in the roast whatsoever . . . but he plans to DVR it, quote, "out of curiosity." --HOLLAND TAYLOR . . . who plays the mother of Jon and Charlie's characters on "Two and a Half Men" . . . also won't be there. (--Meanwhile, you can see two new promos for the show here.) (--I don't know . . . I'm getting less and less psyched for this roast as time goes by. It seems like NOBODY who's got an inside line on Charlie's life is getting anywhere near this thing.) (--So basically, it's going to be a night of people who don't even know him making crack and hooker jokes. Wouldn't you much rather see Jon Cryer, Denise Richards or some of Charlie's ex-goddesses up there? I would.) (--They'll probably get GINGER LYNN and / or HEIDI FLEISS on board. But that's such ancient history, who cares?) (--SPEAKING OF JON CRYER . . . he went to court trying to reduce the $8,000-a-month that he pays his ex-wife in child support for their 11-year-old son . . . but he lost. He's still on the hook for the whole amount.) (--Oh, and the kid's name is CHARLIE.)
Justin Bieber Was In a Minor Car Accident Yesterday . . . But He's Okay:
JUSTIN BIEBER was involved in a minor car accident in Los Angeles yesterday, but he's fine. --Police say Justin's black Ferrari was rear-ended by a Honda Civic. Nobody was injured, and there was no damage to either vehicle.
Angelina Jolie is Not Pregnant, Not Adopting and Not Planning a Wedding:
ANGELINA JOLIE clears up some rumors in the new issue of "Vanity Fair". --She says, quote, "I'm not pregnant. I'm not adopting at the moment . . . [and there's] no secret wedding." --What Angelina is consumed with right now is "In the Land of Blood and Honey" . . . the movie she wrote and directed herself. --She says BRAD PITT was extremely supportive throughout the process. After reading the script, he called Angelina and said, quote, "You know, honey, it's not that bad. --She adds, quote, "He'd come in and say what he liked or what he didn't understand. --"Like any woman, I would listen to most of it and fight a few things . . . It's hard to separate the person that loves you from the critic, so I don't think he's a fair judge." --Obviously, this is all new territory for Angelina. She says, quote, "I've never felt more exposed. My whole career, I've hidden behind other people's words. Now it's me talking. You feel ridiculous when you get something wrong."
Daryl Hannah Got Arrested in Front of the White House for Protesting a Planned Oil Pipeline:
DARYL HANNAH was among about 100 people who were arrested during a protest outside the White House yesterday. --They were protesting a proposed oil pipeline that's going to run from Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast . . . hitting Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas along the way. --Hannah and her fellow protesters were cuffed because they sat on the sidewalk near the White House and refused to move when U.S. Park Police told them to. --Before her arrest, Hannah told reporters, quote, "Sometimes it's necessary to sacrifice your freedom for a greater freedom. --"And we want to be free from the horrible death and destruction that fossil fuels cause, and have a clean energy future." --Daryl was arrested two years ago while protesting mountaintop coal mining in West Virginia . . . and three years before that, she was arrested for protesting the planned destruction of an urban farm in Los Angeles. (--Here's a picture of Daryl Hannah being arrested . . . and loving it.) (E! Online)
Joe Jonas is Producing and Starring In His Own Movie:
JOE JONAS will make his big-screen acting debut in a movie he's producing himself. There's no word on the title yet. Joe says it's about a young man who's, quote, "finding himself." --He adds, quote, "He has a specific dream that he wants to accomplish, and it's the good and the bad he has to go through to get there. It's going to be an older-feeling kind of movie."
Josh Brolin Will Star in the "Oldboy" Remake:
JOSH BROLIN will star in SPIKE LEE'S "Oldboy" . . . a remake of a 2003 Korean film of the same name. --It's hard to imagine an American version of this movie, because it's really brutal. It's about a man who's kidnapped and held captive for 15 years, without ever knowing why, or who his captors are. --When he's finally released, he goes looking for revenge . . . and that's when things really start to go haywire. --This movie is infamous for having possibly the most punishing and uncompromising twist ending of all time. I have a hard time believing the average American audience can handle it. But if Spike changes it in any way, he'll botch this remake completely. (--I won't spoil the ending for you, but if you must know what it is, you can read about it here. WARNING: If you're one of the many people who flip out at the twist, then the SECOND twist is gonna make your head explode.)
"DANCING WITH THE STARS" STUFF
Ron Artest Is Doing "Dancing with the Stars" for His Daughter, Who Survived Cancer:
RON ARTEST . . . of all people . . . actually has a pretty selfless reason for doing "Dancing with the Stars". He says he's doing it for his eight-year-old daughter, who battled cancer four years ago. --Artest explains, quote, "At first it was not appealing. I didn't want to do it. I don't dance and all of the dressing up and everything, but my daughter Diamond was like, 'Daddy, you should do it.' --"I had a chance to play basketball overseas and I had a chance to do 'Dancing with the Stars'. She asked me to do it, and I thought I could dance and raise some money for cancer research. I'm going to donate the profits." --The NBA is currently locking out its players . . . and there's a good chance the labor dispute could wipe out the entire season. (--The two sides have much bigger issues to deal with than the NFL did this summer.) --Artest seems to be under the assumption that at least part of the season is lost, because if it were starting on time, he'd have to report to training camp around the time of show's September 19th premiere. --As for the possibility of the NBA starting up while he's still on "Dancing", Artest says, quote, "I'll cross that bridge when it comes."
Is Chaz Bono's Appearance on "Dancing with the Stars" Going to Destroy American Families?
This was bound to happen: There's some "controversy" over CHAZ BONO'S invitation to do "Dancing with the Stars" . . . and no, it's not for a legitimate reason, like the fact that he's not really a "star." (--That argument wouldn't hold water anyway, since it's sort of a stretch to call ALL of this season's contestants "stars." And the show has always had a pretty generous definition of the word "stars.") --It's just because he's transgender. --The Media Research Center, which "seeks to bring balance to the news media and prevent liberal bias from undermining traditional American values" thinks Chaz doing "Dancing with the Stars" is going to RUIN YOUR FAMILY! --A spokesman says, quote, "Whether it's 'Glee' or 'Dancing with the Stars', this is part of Hollywood's insistence on tearing down traditional families. --"Parents now more than ever must realize they cannot let their kids watch television without supervision or risk advocating lifestyles that most families do not approve of."
Things That Go Without Saying - #1 - GLAAD Is Thrilled with the Latest "Dancing with the Stars" Cast:
GLAAD . . . the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation . . . is THRILLED that CHAZ BONO and former "Queer Eye" star CARSON KRESSLEY are a part of the new "Dancing with the Stars" cast. --GLAAD issued a statement saying, quote, "With both gay and transgender contestants represented on this upcoming season, ABC will send viewers a strong message about the diversity within the LGBT community. --"At a time when transgender representation in the media is sorely lacking, Chaz Bono joining the cast is a tremendous step forward for the public to recognize that transgender people are another wonderful part of the fabric of American culture." --Carson isn't the show's first openly gay competitor. LANCE BASS was on Season Seven, and pro dancer LOUIS VAN AMSTEL has appeared on eight seasons. (--Here's video of Chaz saying CHER thinks it's "cool" he's doing the show.)
Things That Go Without Saying - #2 - Nancy Grace Isn't Expecting Casey Anthony to Vote for Her on "Dancing with the Stars":
After NANCY GRACE'S participation in "Dancing with the Stars" was made official, the paparazzi asked her if she thought CASEY ANTHONY would vote for her. --And she replied, quote, "No, I do not think that 'Tot Mom' Casey Anthony is going to be voting for me, or any of her defense team. You know what, that's okay." (--You can find video of her comment, here.)
MTV's Record-Setting "Video Music Awards" Beat Every Other Show In This Week's Ratings:
Sunday night's "MTV Video Music Awards" was the most-watched show of the week . . . both on cable AND the free broadcast networks. That was also a record-breaking audience for MTV and the VMAs. --Since cable ratings are listed separately, the #1 show of the week was technically "America's Got Talent", but that still attracted almost half-a-million viewers less than the VMAs.
1.) Tuesday's "America's Got Talent", NBC, 12 million viewers
2.) Wednesday's "America's Got Talent", NBC, 11.1 million viewers
3.) "NCIS", CBS, 9.4 million viewers
TV REMINDERS
Wednesday TV Reminders: (--Check your local listings.)
--"Big Brother 13" [Power of Veto competition] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on CBS.
--"Melissa & Joey" [Back-to-back Episodes] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC Family. (--Joey Lawrence's brothers Matthew and Andy guest star. One plays his brother and the other is Ryder's teacher.)
--"America's Got Talent" [Results Show] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on NBC.
--"Royal Pains" [3rd Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on USA. (--Wilmer Valderrama plays an art collector who loses consciousness while purchasing a piece of art.)
--"Hot in Cleveland" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on TV Land. (--In this "Hangover"-type episode, the ladies wake up surrounded by young guys after Elka's bachelorette party, and Elka's missing.)
--"The Franchise: A Season with the San Francisco Giants" [1st Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on Showtime.
--"The Real World/Road Rules Challenge" [Reunion] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on MTV.
Aerosmith's New Album Is a "Raw, Nasty, Tough Rock Album":
Jack Douglas . . . the producer that's been working with AEROSMITH on their new album . . . has shared some details about the recording sessions on his blog. Here's what you need to know: --He says, quote, "For those who are asking, this album will be raw, nasty, tough rock with a good deal of the old Aerosmith 'tongue in cheek.' --"The new album should be out around May [of next year]. I know that's a long wait, but after the South American tour and Japan in October, November and December, we will just get back to work on it in mid-January." (--Not that it's a problem necessarily, but that's right about when STEVEN TYLER'S work with "American Idol" begins heating up again.)
Jason Aldean Believes The Best Years Of Our Lives Happen in High School:
If you've caught JASON ALDEAN on tour this summer then you probably saw him perform his new song, "Tattoos On This Town". It's about the mark you leave on your hometown . . . and the lasting impression that town leaves on you. --And according to Jason, most of that influence occurs during your high school years. He says, quote, "People don't realize in high school that those are some of the best times that you're ever gonna have. --"You don't realize it at the time, and the next phase comes along, and you get married and have kids and transition from teen to adult. But you always look back on those teenage years [and] you talk about them. --"When I get around my friends, we talk about, 'Remember when we did this?' --"You just don't worry about any consequences when you're a teenager, but at some point, you get smart and realize, 'I can't do those things anymore . . . but it was fun when I did it.'" (--You can listen to "Tattoos On This Town" on Jason's website. Click on the "Jukebox" heading.) (--A lot of people say high school was the best time of their lives. How about you? Did you peak DURING or AFTER high school?)
WEDNESDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
BILL O'REILLY may have pulled some strings at the Nassau County Police Department to have a detective investigated for SLEEPING WITH HIS WIFE. (Full Story)
The "National Enquirer" claims RIHANNA is adopting a kid from Haiti. (Full Story)
SELENA GOMEZ accidentally flashed her semi-granny panties during a gig in Connecticut. (Photos)
JULIANNE HOUGH'S camera was hacked and a ton of pictures ended up online. Nothing dirty, but there are several sexy bikini shots. (Photos)
Check out a gallery of celebrities and their real names. (Slideshow)
GEORGE CLOONEY has had to drop out of a movie version of the old TV series "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." because injuries he suffered during the making of the movie "Syriana" would make it impossible for him to do the stunts. (Full Story)
The 911 call that was made after RUSSELL ARMSTRONG'S body was found has hit the Internet. He's the guy who was married to TAYLOR ARMSTRONG from "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills". He committed suicide a few weeks ago. The man making the call is a friend . . . you can hear Taylor crying in the background. (Audio)
"Survivor" superstar RUPERT BONEHAM is thinking about running for Governor of Indiana. (Full Story)
Jaleel White . . . who of course played Urkel on "Family Matters" . . . will guest star on the October 3rd season premiere of "House". He's playing a prison inmate. (Full Story)
Here's a picture of JAMES FRANCO covered in fake blood on the set of "General Hospital". (Full Story)
RANDOM STUFF
Someone at a Church in Georgia Just Put an $80,000 Winning Lottery Ticket in a Collection Plate:
This next guy's not just angling to get into heaven, but to get a great room with a view in a quiet neighborhood once he gets there. -Last week, someone put a winning scratch-off lottery ticket in the collection plate at the Cathedral of Prayer church in Columbus, Georgia. No one knows who. --And the ticket was an $80,000 winner. --Gloria Rodgers handles the finances for the church. She says that they took it down to the local Georgia lottery office and claimed the ticket over the weekend. --She also says that they've received winning lottery tickets before, but this is the biggest one. --And it came at a good time. Three weeks ago, some burglars broke into the church and stole some copper wire . . . which knocked out their air conditioning. With this donation, the church can get it fixed. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
Amazing X-Ray! An 86-Year-Old Man Survives After He Falls on Gardening Shears and the Handle Goes Through His Eye Socket and Down His Throat:
It's a MIRACLE this guy survived this accident. And there's a 100% chance you'll agree when you see the X-ray. --Earlier this month, 86-year-old Leroy Luetscher of Green Valley, Arizona was working in the yard. He was using a small pair of gardening shears to prune some bushes, and he dropped them. They landed on the ground, handles pointing up. --When Leroy reached down to pick them up, he fell face-first. One of the handles went THROUGH HIS EYE SOCKET . . . behind his nose . . . and ended up mostly down his throat. The other side of the handle was still sticking out of his eye socket. --He was rushed to University Medical Center in Tucson. Surgeons there somehow managed to remove the shears, completely rebuild his eye area, AND save his vision. --It's been about four weeks since then, and Leroy still has bruising and some minor damage . . . but he can see out of the eye. (Arizona Star Net) (--Here's the X-ray that shows the shears half in his face, half out of his face..)
One Out of Ten Bosses Who Died on the Job in 2010 Died of Murder:
This is an absolutely incredible stat from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And also something that EVERY boss, manager, and executive in this country should PAY ATTENTION to. --According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one out of every ten bosses who died on the job in 2010 died of . . . MURDER. --Overall, 533 people in management capacities died on the job. And 10% of them died from HOMICIDES. --Overall, for all employees in the U.S., there were 4,547 total work deaths in 2010. --Transportation accidents were the most common, causing 39% of those deaths. Assaults . . . both homicides and suicides . . . caused 18%. Falls caused 14% . . . exposure to harmful substances caused 9% . . . and fires caused 4%. --Transportation and occupations where you move materials had the most deaths, with 1,115 on the job. Only 7% of those were homicides. --Texas had the most on-the-job deaths with 456 . . . New Hampshire had the fewest, with five. (Bureau of Labor Statistics) (--You can see the full breakdown for all worker deaths here. You can see the breakdown for management executives here. State-by-state rankings are here.)
Here are Five Legendary Quotes . . . That are Attributed to the Wrong Person:
#1.) "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." It's attributed to VOLTAIRE, but it's actually from a book called "The Friends of Voltaire" by an author named Evelyn Deatrice Hall.
#2.) "The only two certainties in life are death and taxes." It's credited to MARK TWAIN, but it actually showed up a CENTURY earlier. An author named Christopher Bullock wrote it in "The Cobler of Preston".
#3.) "I cannot tell a lie. It was I who chopped down the cherry tree." That's part of the whole GEORGE WASHINGTON thing, but it never happened. It was made up by a Washington biographer in the 1800s named Parson Weems.
#4.) "Only the dead have seen the end of war." It's attributed to PLATO. But it was actually written in the late 1800s by a Spanish philosopher named George Santayana.
#5.) "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us." It's credited to NELSON MANDELA, from his 1994 inaugural address. --But it's from a 1992 book called "A Return to Love" by an author named Marianne Williamson.
Melbourne, Australia is the World's Most Livable City . . . Honolulu is the Highest Ranked U.S. City at 26th:
"The Economist" just released the results of its annual study on the most livable cities in the world. And for the first time in almost a decade, Vancouver was NOT ranked number one. --Nope, the world's most livable city is now . . . Melbourne, Australia. --The list is ranked on about 30 factors which fall into five categories: Stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. --The highest ranking U.S. city is Honolulu . . . in 26TH PLACE. --Vancouver apparently ended up getting demoted from the top spot because of one SINGLE incident. Back in April, a fuel tanker crashed on one of its main highways and caused a 22-hour traffic jam. --That alone pushed down their overall commuting score, which was just enough for Melbourne to pass them. It also allowed Vienna, Austria to pass them, so Vancouver actually ended up in third place. --After Melbourne, Vienna, and Vancouver, the rest of the top 10 goes: Toronto . . . Calgary . . . Sydney, Australia . . . Helsinki, Finland . . . Perth, Australia . . . Adelaide, Australia . . . and Auckland, New Zealand. --Harare, Zimbabwe was ranked the least livable city in the world. It finished just below Dhaka, Bangladesh and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. (EIU)
An Astrophysicist Found a Way to Cut the Time It Takes to Board a Plane in Half:
Now that NASA has cut the space shuttle program, the greatest minds in the space program now have some free time to solve important problems here on earth . . . like boarding an airplane. --Dr. Jason Steffen is an astrophysicist at Fermilab, and he's found a better way for airlines to board passengers. --Most flights board from the back of the plane to the front, in groups of rows. And Dr. Steffen says that's pretty much the worst way to do it. Sending in all the passengers from one area of the plane at once guarantees that there'll be a bottleneck, since they all fight for space in the overhead bins. --In fact, Dr. Steffen ran a computer model that showed how letting people board whenever they want would actually be a faster way to fill the plane. But he found an even faster method. --People with window seats should board first, so that people in aisle seats don't have to keep getting up and clogging the aisle to let people in. --Odd rows on one side of the plane would board first, followed by the window seats on the other side. Then middle seats go, and finally aisle seats. Then they do it all over again for the even rows. --Everyone has plenty of room, and they're spread out all over the plane. And Dr. Steffen's computer says that airlines could cut boarding time in HALF by using his method. (PopSci) (--One the one hand, the back-to-front method is FAIR. People in the back have to sit next to the bathroom, and exit the plane last. Shouldn't they board first? On the other hand, why do they want to be on the plane even longer?)
Three Out of Four Teenagers Who Didn't Go to College Say a College Degree Is Essential:
If you've spent any time with teenagers, you know they're not always logical. Here's some more evidence of that. --The College Board surveyed members of the Class of 2010, one year after their high-school graduation. Not surprisingly, an overwhelming 86% of them said that a college degree is "essential" and worth the time and money. --And three out of four teenagers who are NOT currently ENROLLED in college agree with that statement. --They say the main reason they didn't go to college is that they couldn't afford it. That was listed as a key factor by 56% of the non-college students. About the same percentage of current college students said that paying for college is challenging. --Of the students that are in college now, more than half of them say that college courses are more difficult than they expected. That's surprising, considering that 24% of them had to take noncredit remedial courses their first year. (--Did you get that? ONE in FOUR college freshmen had to take remedial courses.) --If that's not depressing enough, how about this: 16% of the high school class of 2010 said they weren't able to complete their first year of college. (PR Newswire)
Stupid Photo of the Day: A Scrabble Word Puzzle in the Newspaper Accidentally Gets Naughty:
Every once in a while, something like this slips past a newspaper editor. And we're all over it. --Last Saturday, a Scrabble word jumble appeared in newspapers around the country. In the jumble, you have to unscramble seven letters to make a word. The correct answers to this one are "LEAKAGE" and "SUBTEXT." (--CAREFUL!) But if you're a pervert like I am, you can scramble the "SUBTEXT" letters differently . . . making the result "LEAKAGE" and "BUTTSEX." And that's a VERY naughty combination. (Gawker) (--Check out a photo of the word jumble. And if you like this kind of thing, here's a list of 11 Accidentally Inappropriate Puzzles and Games . . . which shows this isn't the first time BUTTSEX has made an appearance in a Scrabble jumble.)
MEARBALL CRIMINALS
Geriatric Car Chase! A 78-Year-Old Has Been Charged With Attempted Murder After a High-Speed Chase With His 82- and 83-Year-Old Siblings:
I love the concept of three ELDERLY PEOPLE in a high-speed car chase. Mostly because I wonder if it's really a high-speed chase when you're wearing giant BluBlocker sunglasses and there's a wooden beaded cushion on the driver's seat. --On Monday morning, 78-year-old Clyde White of Corbin, Kentucky got into some kind of argument with his two older siblings . . . 82-year-old Lawrence White and 83-year-old Dorothy Whitaker. --Police don't know what sparked the fight. They DO know that the fight quickly transitioned into a HIGH SPEED CHASE. --Lawrence and Dorothy hopped in a blue van and took off . . . and Clyde started chasing them in a white van. They got on Interstate 75, and the chase got so intense that their speeds clocked in at more than 100 miles-per-hour. --Clyde rammed his car into his siblings several times. He ultimately forced them off the road and they hit a DirecTV van. The driver of that van wasn't hurt, but Lawrence and Dorothy were . . . and were flown to a hospital for medical attention. --Meanwhile Clyde rammed into a tractor trailer, then tried to run away on foot. Police quickly caught up with him. --Clyde is facing two counts of ATTEMPTED MURDER and two counts of wanton endangerment. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
Here's Why You Don't Buy an iPad For 64% Off in a McDonald's Parking Lot From a Guy With a Gold Tooth:
We hate to blame a victim for anything . . . but HOW THE HELL did this woman not realize she was walking directly into a scam? -On Monday, 22-year-old Ashley McDowell of Spartanburg, South Carolina went to buy an iPad. But not from an Apple Store or a Best Buy. Or even someone on Craigslist. --No . . . she decided to buy her iPad from two guys in a McDonald's parking lot. THAT didn't make her suspicious. It also didn't make her suspicious when they showed up in a white Impala with no rims or tint. --It didn't make her suspicious when one of the men had a shiny gold tooth. And finally, it didn't make her suspicious when they wanted $300 for a brand new iPad that retails for $500 . . . or when they accepted her offer of $180 instead. --When Ashley got home, she opened the FedEx box they'd given her with her brand new iPad. And inside she found . . . a PIECE OF WOOD with an Apple logo sticker on the back, and a print out of a Best Buy sales tag on the other side. --Police are searching for the men with the rimless, tintless Impala and one gold tooth. (The Smoking Gun)
A Guy on a Plane in Arkansas Spotted Two Men Robbing His Home:
On Friday, Steven Lynn of Bay, Arkansas went on a plane ride for the very first time. He was on a small private Cessna, and during the flight, he asked the pilot to fly over his house so he could take a few photos. --As they flew over Steven's house to take those photos, he looked down and was SHOCKED to see two men ROBBING the place. --First, Steven called an uncle who lived nearby and asked him to drive over there. Then he called 911. --When the burglars saw Steven's uncle pull up, they unloaded all the stuff they'd stolen and took off. Steven had the pilot FOLLOW THEM IN THE PLANE . . . so he could guide the cops to them. --The police arrested the burglars, Roosevelt Smith the Third and Joseph Peel. Both are facing burglary and theft charges. --Most of the stolen items were recovered, but Steven says a $1,200 rifle is still missing. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS
Random News Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
A 28-year-old chemistry grad student at Dartmouth . . . remember, they're in the Ivy League . . . was arrested on Sunday for running a meth lab out of his off-campus apartment. And his mugshot is kinda funny. (Full Story)
In a survey of 1,000 car owners, 50% of respondents said their biggest fear on the road is: Being stuck with a smoking engine. But only 16% said they plan to add engine coolant on a hot day to prevent their vehicle from overheating. (Full Story)
According to a study out of Duke University, jogging is better than weightlifting at reducing belly fat. And just jogging was as effective as jogging AND weightlifting. (Full Story)
A funeral home in Florida has installed the first corpse-liquefying machine. It's a green alternative to burial and cremation. Have a great hump-day? (Full Story)
Not-So-Stupid News: An employee at one of Taiwan's best hospitals misheard some test results over the phone, and doctors accidentally harvested organs from an HIV-positive patient and transplanted them into five people. The patients will most likely contract HIV, and have to be treated for rejection of the new organs too. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) Best Beach Prank Ever?
It's almost Labor Day weekend, so get your beach pranks ready. And we've got one that's way better than writing "dork" on someone's chest in sunscreen. --There's a video on LiveLeak that shows a prank so good, I'm surprised we haven't seen it before. You just wait until somebody who's laying out goes for walk . . . dig a huge trench under their towel . . . put the towel back over it . . . then wait. --In the video, the kid goes to lie down on his back and completely eats it, because his friends dug a huge trench big enough for his whole body. The trick is to make sure the towel lies complete flat over the hole you dig. --And I guess you have to worry about someone getting hurt when they fall in. But that's the risk you take with an awesome prank. (--Search YouTube for "How to Prank Your Friend at the Beach.")
#2.) This Video is Really Gay:
There's a video on YouTube that's so gay, you have to see it. And I don't mean gay in a mean way . . . it's the video for a pop song by a gay singer named Matt Zarley. It's called "WTF", and it's all about how he gets cheated on by his boyfriend. --It's just funny how it's incredibly bad, it's incredibly cheesy, and it's NOT a parody: Although the video goes for some laughs, this is a serious attempt at a pop song. --Some people are calling it the older, gay equivalent of Rebecca Black's "Friday" . . . which isn't a bad description. (--Search for "Matt Zarley WTF Official Video.") (--WARNING: This song contains multiple f-bombs, and lots of half-naked muscular gay dudes cavorting.)
#3.) Please, Don't Ever Do This:
There's a new video online we gotta share with you . . . because it's appropriately titled, quote, "Indian Boy Lies on Tracks Under Train - Please Do NOT Try This Yourself." --And . . . that's pretty much what this kid does. He sets up a camera on the tracks, lies face down in front of the camera, then waits for the train to come barreling down over him. --Obviously, they somehow figured out beforehand that there was enough space beneath the train for someone to lie down on the tracks and fit. But that still makes this incredibly stupid. --It also makes "Jackass" look like child's play. And that's not a good thing.
Three Common Nutrition Mistakes Parents Make:
Kids are headed back to school, so here's a list to help make sure they head back healthy. You've probably heard one or two of these before, but here are three common nutrition mistakes that some parents make every day.
#1.) Too Many High-Calorie Drinks. One can of Coke has 155 calories. And if a young child has two, that's almost one fourth of the calories they're supposed to have in a whole day. And juice isn't much better. --The three drinks you SHOULD give your kids on a regular basis are water, milk, and unsweetened tea.
#2.) Letting Your Kids Eat Snacks Instead of Meals. Some parents let their kids snack all day . . . then wonder why they're not hungry at dinner --Snacks that are high in fiber are good . . . like fruit, carrots, and nuts . . . because they give kids a boost of energy, without all the empty calories. The problem is, most of the snacks they sell in the chip aisle are FULL of empty calories.
#3.) Portion Sizes. If you've ever read a food label, you know that the standard for adults is 2,000 calories a day. As you'd expect, small kids don't need that many. But some teenagers actually need MORE. --Preschoolers need about 1,000 calories a day. Elementary school kids need 1,400. And high schoolers need between 1,600 and 2,500, depending on how active they are. (Epicurious.com)
posted by Nazzy @ 5:56 AM
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