HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (10-18-11)
Has Justin Bieber Already Spent $1 Million on Selena Gomez?
Guys, what's the most you ever spent on a girlfriend? Was it anywhere near A MILLION BUCKS? --Because that's supposedly what JUSTIN BIEBER has already spent on SELENA GOMEZ . . . from helicopter rides to buying out an entire flower shop on Valentine's Day and beyond. --And his friends are starting to worry about it. A source says, quote, "Each date is a production, from bodyguards to flowers, private jets to catered meals. Plus, he buys her major gifts. It's all adding up pretty quickly."
Somebody Wants to Kill Selena Gomez:
SELENA GOMEZ got a restraining order against a 46-year-old man who threatened to kill her. --Apparently, this guy was picked up for a mental evaluation last month on an unrelated matter, and that's when he told a shrink he'd had conversations with God about killing Selena.
And Now . . . Here's Justin Bieber's New Song "Mistletoe":
On RYAN SEACREST'S radio show yesterday, JUSTIN BIEBER debuted his new song, "Mistletoe". It's the first single off his Christmas album, "Under the Mistletoe", which hits stores on November 1st. (--You can listen to it on RyanSeacrest.com.) --Justin told Ryan, quote, "Even though it's a Christmas album, it's probably my best album yet . . . I got a lot of different genres on there, so I think it works for everybody." --At the very least, it should "work" for fans of JASON MRAZ . . . since "Mistletoe" sounds a lot like his hit "I'm Yours", which came out in 2008. (--Here's "I'm Yours", for comparison.)
Ronnie Wood from the Rolling Stones Bought a Date with Scarlett Johansson:
At a British charity auction over the weekend, ROLLING STONES guitarist RONNIE WOOD bought a dinner date with SCARLETT JOHANSSON for $41,000. --He actually got into a bidding war with another guy for it, and in the end, even though Ronnie won, the two men decided to SPLIT the cost and make it a three-way. --If you care, the money goes to breast cancer research. (--And while Scarlett probably WOULD nail Ronnie, there's nothing to suggest she'd hop into bed with both of these guys at the same time.)
Karina Smirnoff and Brad Penny Have Postponed Their Wedding . . . But They're Still Together:
"Dancing With the Stars" minx KARINA SMIRNOFF and Detroit Tigers pitcher BRAD PENNY have postponed their wedding. But they have NOT broken up. --A so-called "source" says they're just having trouble planning the wedding because of conflicting schedules. --Karina and Brad were originally planning to get married in Mexico this coming January. (--Until recently, Brad and the Tigers were still alive in the American League playoffs. And Karina is still one of the frontrunners on "Dancing With the stars with her partner, J.R. MARTINEZ.)
George Clooney and Stacy Keibler Are Still Going Strong:
Just in case you were curious: GEORGE CLOONEY is still nailing former pro rasslin' minx STACY KEIBLER. He even brought her to a movie premiere over the weekend. (--Check out some pics here.) (D-Listed)
Check Out a Picture of Ryan Gosling Kissing Eva Mendes in a Car:
If there were any doubts that RYAN GOSLING is nailing EVA MENDES, this should put them to rest: Ryan and Eva were in a car together in Hollywood on Sunday . . . and Ryan used a red light as an opportunity to get to FIRST BASE with her. (--Check out the pics here.) (E! Online)
Jessica Biel Has a Sexy Little Dove Tattooed Above Her Beltline:
Did you know that JESSICA BIEL has a sexy little tattoo of a dove just above her beltline on the right side of her stomach? --She showed it off by wearing a short, white T-shirt while walking her pitbull Tina in Brentwood yesterday. (--Check out some pics here.) (Daily Mail)
Demi Moore Just Keeps Getting Thinner:
It seems impossible to argue that DEMI MOORE has gotten TOO SKINNY. Is it depression due to ASHTON KUTCHER'S cheating? We don't know. But it's pretty obvious that she's NOT EATING. --Demi showed up at a movie premiere over the weekend looking like a SKELETON. But we should probably note that she was still wearing her wedding ring. (--Here are some pics . . . along with an older photo for comparison.) (Daily Mail)
Did Sara Leal Take Two Pregnancy Tests After Sleeping With Ashton Kutcher?
Sara Leal says she had UNPROTECTED sex with ASHTON KUTCHER twice in one night. And a friend claims she took TWO pregnancy tests because she's not on birth control. Luckily, both tests came out negative. --The friend says, quote, "There is no way she would want a kid . . . even if it was Ashton's . . . I mean, she would be set for life, but there's no way she would deal with a kid or any of that [crap]." --He adds, quote, "Sara's not as innocent as she came off to be in 'Us Weekly'. She said it was her first one night stand, which is definitely not true . . . It doesn't happen all the time, but she does do it."
Is Paris Jackson Playing Flag Football?
This probably wouldn't be happening if MICHAEL JACKSON were still alive: TMZ says Michael's 13-year-old daughter PARIS is playing FLAG FOOTBALL at her private school in Los Angeles. (--I hate to say this, but it seems like these kids are thriving in ways they wouldn't have if Michael hadn't died. Of course, that's not to say they wouldn't have thrived in other ways under his guidance.) (--But I think we can all agree that they have a much better chance of being NORMAL now.)
The Conrad Murray Trial is On Hold Until Tomorrow:
DR. CONRAD MURRAY'S manslaughter trial was off Friday, and will remain in recess until TOMORROW . . . due to the death of the father of the prosecution's final witness. --Also, the judge granted a request by the defense for more time to prepare a response to some evidence the prosecution raised. --The defense plans to call about 15 witnesses, with testimony running through either this Friday or next Monday.
"Hannah Montana" Star Mitchel Musso Got a DUI . . . And He's Only 20:
MITCHEL MUSSO . . . who played MILEY CYRUS' friend Oliver on "Hannah Montana" . . . was arrested for DRIVING DRUNK on Sunday in Burbank. --And here's the icing on the cake: He's only 20 years old. --A police spokesman says, quote, "An officer was directing traffic and Musso failed to slow down when coming to the intersection. He didn't obey instructions and was pulled over. --"A DUI investigation was held and he was given a field sobriety test. Musso is 20 years old so any alcohol in his system is illegal. He was well over the 0.08 limit." --Musso was arrested at about 3:45 A.M. Sunday. He spent a few hours drying out and was released without having to pay bail because, quote, "he had no warrants or anything like that." (--For some reason, police are NOT releasing his mugshot. But here's a picture of him, for those of you who are over 14 and don't have any daughters that age or younger.) (E! Online) --"Hannah Montana" may be over, but Musso is still suckling off the Disney teat. He now has his own Disney sitcom called "Pair of Kings", and he also hosts another Disney show called "PrankStars".
Giuliana Rancic Has Breast Cancer:
E! News host GIULIANA RANCIC announced yesterday that she has early stage breast cancer . . . and she's only 36. --She made the announcement on the "Today" show, saying the cancer was caught back in August while she was preparing to try to get pregnant through in vitro fertilization. --Her doctor insisted she get a mammogram as a precaution because pregnancy hormones could accelerate cancer . . . if she had it. --She said, quote, "I wasn't prepared to get a mammogram until I was 40 years old. I never in my wildest dreams expected anything to be wrong." --But she added, quote, "I will be okay, because I found it early. I'm doing surgery this coming week, and then I go to radiation for six and a half weeks." --Giuliana . . . who's married to the very first "Apprentice" winner BILL RANCIC . . . also said she still plans to have a baby . . . and even though it hasn't even been conceived yet, she says that baby has already SAVED HER LIFE. (--Check out video of the interview here. Meanwhile, tons of celebrities Tweeted their support for Giuliana. You can read several of their messages here.)
Justin Timberlake and Ashley Judd Pay Tribute to Late Indy Driver Dan Wheldon:
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and ASHLEY JUDD paid tribute yesterday to Indy driver DAN WHELDON . . . who died in a major crash Sunday at the Las Vegas Indy 300. --Wheldon was sponsored by Justin's clothing line, William Rast. And Justin said, quote, "I was deeply saddened to hear the news on Dan Wheldon's unfortunate and untimely death. --"He was a great driver and a strong supporter of William Rast Racing. My thoughts and prayers are with his family in their time of loss." --Meanwhile, Ashley was actually AT the race, because her husband, DARIO FRANCHITTI, was in it. --She Tweeted, quote, "Hardest parts, Thinking about [Wheldon's wife and two children]. Seeing my husband grieve. Nights are so awful at first. Poor woman. Such pain." (--She also Tweeted a poem in Wheldon's memory. You can read it here.)
Did Shia LaBeouf Get Into a Drunken Bar Fight Last Week?
SHIA LABEOUF apparently still enjoys being a DRUNKEN A-HOLE. RadarOnline.com says Shia was involved in a drunken bar fight in Vancouver early Friday morning. --It all started at a bar called the Cinema Public House, when Shia got into it with a much bigger guy named Mike. They were pulled off each other and kicked out of the bar. --But outside on the street, "Mike" ripped off his shirt and jumped Shia. Radar says Mike, quote, "ran up to Shia hitting him to the ground with at least three punches to his head before bystanders came to his aid." --When one guy tried to calm Shia down, Shia went after HIM and had to be restrained. --A source says, quote, "The guy had to tell him something like 'calm down or I'll have to lay you out'. Then Shia just put his hands up and gave up."
Rooney Mara Pierced her Nipple for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo":
You have to love a woman who'll defile her breasts for her art. ROONEY MARA actually got her NIPPLE PIERCED for her role as Lisbeth Salander in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo". She also got piercings in her brow, nose and lip. --And that's not all she did. She tells the new issue of "Vogue" magazine, quote, "[They] cut my hair, shaved the sides, bleached the eyebrows, then dyed my hair black. --"Then we went and did the piercings . . . all in one day. I went in looking like Erica Albright and I came out like this." (--Erica Albright was the chick who dumped Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Rooney played her in "The Social Network". There's a pretty big difference between Erica and Lisbeth.) (--Check out pictures of Rooney as each character here.) (CNN, Ology.com) --In the same interview, director DAVID FINCHER reveals that he fought for Rooney, even though they looked at several more famous actresses for the part of Lisbeth . . . including SCARLETT JOHANSSON. --He says, quote, "Look, we saw some amazing people. Scarlett Johansson was great. It was a great audition, I'm telling you. But the thing with Scarlett is, you can't wait for her to take her clothes off." --"I keep trying to explain this. Salander should be like E.T. If you put E.T. dolls out before anyone had seen the movie, they would say, 'What is this little squishy thing?' --"Well, you know what? When he hides under the table and he grabs the Reese's Pieces, you love him! It has to be like that." --In order to convince the producers that Rooney was right for the part, Fincher made her go out and get HAMMERED the night before meeting with them, to prove that she could look "strung out." --Rooney says, quote, "And I did it! Threw up all night!"
The Second Season Premiere of "The Walking Dead" Attracted a Huge Audience:
"The Walking Dead" finally returned to AMC on Sunday night . . . and it was a gigantic success in the ratings. In fact, it "shattered" some basic cable records, which sounds pretty impressive, right? --7.3 million people tuned in for the scheduled premiere. But AMC also aired two encores . . . and if you add the numbers from all three, it totals 11 million viewers. --It was bigger than any of last season's episodes. The previous-best was the first season finale last December, which had 6 million viewers. The series premiere drew 5.4 million viewers last October. (--The basic cable records it "shattered" . . . if you care . . . are not in total viewers, but in advertiser-friendly demographics.) --"The Walking Dead" had 4.8 million viewers between the ages of 18 and 49, and 4.2 million between the ages of 25 and 54. Those are record numbers for a single drama telecast in the history of basic cable.)
Jaleel White Wants to Be Known as a "Versatile Actor," Not Just as the Guy Who Played Steve Urkel:
JALEEL WHITE is 34 years old now . . . but he says he still gets recognized everywhere he goes because of his role as Steve Urkel on "Family Matters". --And he's cool with that . . . but he'd like to be known for more than just that one role. --Jaleel says, quote, "I don't [miss playing Urkel]. I really don't. I'm not trying to get away from it or anything like that, but I don't miss the role at all . . . really. I just want to work. I want my daughter to say, 'I know what Daddy does,' not 'what Daddy did.'" --"I'm very versatile, but somehow I didn't earn the tag of being called a versatile actor. I'm still chasing that one 'Vanity Fair' tag that says, 'This guy's a versatile actor.' --"I accept it. It's fine. But for me, it's like what do I have to do to get that [acknowledgement]? . . . I just want people to know I haven't gone anywhere. The passion was gone for awhile, but I've got my mojo back." (--I don't want to bust on Jaleel . . . he seems like a nice guy . . . but I don't understand the point he's trying to make here.) (--It sounds like he's a little bitter that his Urkel role is overshadowing a diverse résumé, but that isn't really the case. Aside from "Family Matters", Jaleel hasn't really done ANYTHING.) (--Recently, he's had some bit parts in a few movies, like "Dreamgirls", and he's popped up on TV here and there . . . but nothing particularly notable.) (--That said, here's the last thing I remember seeing Jaleel in . . . dancing and lip-synching in Cee Lo's "Cry Baby" video.)
Tuesday TV Reminders: (--Check your local listings.)
--"Sesame Street" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. on PBS. (--Mark Ruffalo and the Harlem Globetrotters are guests for a play date.)
--"90210" . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on the CW. (--Kellie Pickler guest stars and Naomi competes with her during a charity event.)
--"The X Factor" . . . 8:00 to 9:30 P.M. on Fox. (--Another night of mentoring in the judges' homes as they finalize their lists for the Top 16.)
--"Man Up!" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 8:30 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC. (--A new sitcom about three men who refuse to grow up. It stars Teri Polo from "Meet the Parents" as one of their wives, and the hairy and hilarious Dan Fogler as her brother.)
--"Dancing with the Stars" [Results Show] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC. (--DELICIOUS AUDIO ALERT: Grab all your performance show clips here.)
--"Scream Awards 2011" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Spike TV. (--The Scream awards cover Fantasy, Horror and Sci-Fi films and TV shows. This year's nominees include "Game of Thrones", "The Walking Dead", and "True Blood".)
(--The ceremony was taped on Saturday. If you want to spoil it for yourself, you'll find all the results here.)
--"Parenthood" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on NBC. (--Cee Lo Green guest stars when Crosby and Adam try signing him as their first major client.)
--"Reed Between The Lines" . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on BET. (--Ron Artest guests.)
--"Flashpoint" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ION.
--"Gene Simmons Family Jewels" [6th Season Finale] . . . 11:30 P.M. to Midnight on A&E.
NEW VIDEO GAMES OUT TODAY
"Batman: Arkham City" . . . Here's What You Need to Know:
--"Batman: Arkham City" (T) . . . on Xbox360 and PS3. This takes place a year after the events of "Arkham Asylum". The former warden of Arkham took credit for stopping the Joker and has since gotten himself elected as the new mayor of Gotham City. Now he's closed down the Asylum, and turned the city's slums into an open-air prison named Arkham City, where the petty criminals are mixed in with the criminally insane. And the guy running the joint has figured out Batman is Bruce Wayne. (Launch Trailer) The game features a huge cast of villains, including the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler, Mr. Freeze, and Two Face . . . who intends to execute Catwoman. Alfred supports Batman by radio as he enters the prison to rescue her. Batman's also armed with new gadgets like smoke pellets, ice grenades, and a sniper-like taser gun. Catwoman is a playable character for her own set of missions. You'll be able to get separate downloadable packs that add Nightwing and Robin as playable characters in a few weeks. (--People who preordered from Best Buy will get Robin for free.) (--A few more Bat-Trailers for you . . .) (No Place For a Hero) (Die Here Tonight)
--"Rocksmith" (T) . . . on Xbox360 and PS3. This title is similar to the "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero" games, but you can actually plug in ANY real guitar to play. The difficulty adjusts to your personal skill level, so you can progress at your own pace. Check out the track list here. (Trailer)
--"Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One" (E10+) . . . on PS3. For the first time in this ten game series, the focus is on multiplayer game play. Up to four players can players can drop in and out of co-op games both locally and online. Some weapons making their debut in this game included the Frost Cannon, Plasma Bomb Launcher and Warmonger. (Trailer)
NEW ON VIDEO THIS WEEK
--"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" - Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush are back as Jack Sparrow and Barbosa on a quest to find the Fountain of Youth. Penelope Cruz is Jack's love interest . . . and Ian McShane is Blackbeard. --A Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack is out today, but you'll have to wait another month until November 15th if you want just the DVD alone.)
--"Monte Carlo" Selena Gomez is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress who looks just like her, and then pretends to be that chick after getting a taste of what it's like to be rich. Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy are the two friends vacationing with her, and "Glee's" Cory Monteith plays Katie's boyfriend, who follows them to Europe.
--"Bad Teacher" - Cameron Diaz is a foul-mouthed, irresponsible teacher trying to sink her gold-digging claws into Justin Timberlake, a substitute teacher with a rich family. Jason Segel is also in it as a gym teacher who has a crush on her.
--"Beats, Rhymes, & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest" - A documentary about hip hop pioneers A Tribe Called Quest. It's directed by actor Michael Rapaport, who traveled with the band during their 2008 reunion tour. For the uninitiated, Tribe is made up of Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Jarobi White.
TV Series On DVD:
--"Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Season Three" . . . a four-disc DVD set.
--"V: The Complete Second Season" . . . a three-disc set of the final season.
--"Gigolos: Season 1" . . . a single-disc DVD set of the Showtime series.
--"Little House On The Prairie: The Complete Series" . . . a 55-disc DVD set. (--It ran for nine seasons.)
--"Pawn Stars: The Complete Third Season" . . . a single-disc DVD set.
NEW MUSIC OUT THIS WEEK
This Week's CD Releases:
--"The Great Escape Artist", Jane's Addiction (--This is their fourth album, and their first new disc since reuniting in 2008. (--On the title, singer Perry Farrell has said, quote, "I love being able to escape my past, even though my past was great. I just love the future even more.") (--Bassist Eric Avery initially reunited with the band, but left again last year. Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan was brought in to take his place . . . but he left after six months. Dave Sitek from TV on the Radio took over for him.)
--"Songs of the Ungrateful Living", Everlast
--"Soul Punk", former Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump (--This is his solo debut.)
--"Beyond the Sun", Chris Isaak (--This is a covers disc with the Elvis songs "It's Now or Never" and "Can't Help Falling in Love", the Johnny Cash songs "Ring of Fire" and "I Walk the Line", and the Jerry Lee Lewis hit "Great Balls of Fire".)
-"Best of 25 Years", Sting
--"Rebels on the Run", Montgomery Gentry (--It includes the single, "Where I Come From". One lucky person will win a "One-of-a-Kind Demented Chopper" that Montgomery Gentry helped design if they find the ticket hidden in a special CD.)
--"Blessed Assurance", Randy Travis
--"Dixie Lullabies", The Kentucky Headhunters
30 Seconds to Mars Are About to Set a World Record for Most Shows Played During a Single Album Cycle:
JARED LETO'S band 30 SECONDS TO MARS are about to score a place in the "Guinness Book of World Records" . . . for, quote, "Most Shows Performed During a Single Album Cycle." --The band released its last album "This Is War" in December of 2009, and they've been touring extensively ever since. That run will total 300 shows when they end their tour on December 7th in New York City. --And apparently, those 300 shows will mark a new Guinness World Record. --The band released a statement saying, quote, "We have been on the road for an incredible and insane two years and thought what better way to celebrate the end of this phenomenal journey than with a week of special shows in New York City. --"We thought documenting this for posterity with the 'Guinness Book of World Records' would be fun especially as we aren't any good at growing our fingernails very long or cultivating the world's largest squash." (--It's unclear what the previous record was, or if this is the first time this distinction was tracked and awarded. To me, the band's comment makes it seem like they asked "Guinness" to bless this as a brand new record. (--The definition of "a single album cycle" is also vague. There are plenty of artists that have toured for YEARS . . . if not DECADES . . . without releasing anything new.) (--Even within a two-year window, 300 shows is a LOT . . . and definitely not typical . . . but it hardly seems like something that's NEVER been done before.)
A Coldplay / Rihanna Collaboration Has Leaked Online:
A COLDPLAY / RIHANNA collaboration has hit the Internet. It's a song called "Princess of China" . . . and it'll be on Coldplay's new album "Mylo Xyloto", which hits stores next week. (--You can find the song on SoundCloud.com.) (--Coldplay and Rihanna may seem like a strange combination at first . . . but once you hear it, it makes sense. And it actually works pretty well.)
Lars Ulrich Could've Scored "Kill Bill, Volume One", but He Turned It Down Because He Didn't "Get It":
METALLICA drummer LARS ULRICH says QUENTIN TARANTINO approached him about contributing music to the score of "Kill Bill, Volume One" . . . but he ultimately turned Quentin down, because he didn't "get" the script. --Lars tells "Newsweek", quote, "[Reading the script] page by page, I realized that most of this was written in a language that was outside of my realm of understanding. --"I had never encountered a narrative like this, set in, to me, a very foreign culture of martial arts and Asian myths. I just couldn't wrap my thick Danish head around it. --"I championed [Quentin's] movies, loved him as a person, but at the end of the 180 pages, I sat there somewhat bewildered and felt very uncool for not getting it. I wasn't capable of appreciating its brilliance. --"Then I started over-thinking it. 'Do it, do it,' my gut screamed, but my head was confused. Cautious. I experienced a rare inability to pull the trigger. --"Over the next few weeks the whole thing fizzled out as I continued not trusting my instincts. In the end, I never got back to him. Probably the single biggest mistake I've made in the creative department. --"Of course 'Kill Bill' turned out to be above and beyond brilliant, as have [Quentin's] subsequent movies, which have all been a significant part of my life in the 2000s." (--RZA from the WU-TANG CLAN ended up scoring "Kill Bill". It's unclear if he was hired after Lars balked . . . or if they both would've been part of it.)
TUESDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
For some reason, KATY PERRY would like you to know that baked beans make her gassy. (Full Story)
Some moron is suing the producers of "The Hangover 2", claiming it rips off a script he wrote based on his own real-life experiences. (Full Story)
AARON ECKHART will play BEACH BOYS drummer DENNIS WILSON in a movie called "The Drummer". Wilson is the Beach Boy who very ironically DROWNED in 1983. (Full Story)
NICKI MINAJ and PITBULL will host the "American Music Awards" on November 20th. They will also be performing, along with Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Kelly Clarkson, LMFAO, Jennifer Lopez, Maroon 5, Christina Aguilera, David Guetta and Usher. (Full Story)
RANDOM STUFF
THIS SUCKS
64% of Children Aged Four to 11 Show Signs of Recent Exposure To Secondhand Smoke . . . and Other Depressing Facts You Should Know:
Yeah, this stuff sucks. But it's stuff you should know:
• Shaken baby syndrome is responsible for about 1,500 infant deaths a year in the U.S. And men are responsible for 80% of shaken baby syndrome cases.
• The number of assaults against the homeless is rising. In 2005, 73 homeless people were assaulted nationwide, and 13 died.
• The U.S. Administration on Aging estimates that one out of four seniors in the U.S. has an inadequate diet.
• One out of every six children in America lives in poverty.
• Veterans account for nearly one-third of all homeless men in America, even though they only comprise 13% of adult men in the country.
• One in five children ten to 17 years old receive unwanted sexual solicitations online.
• Alcohol abuse kills about 75,000 Americans each year, and shortens their lives by an average of 30 years.
• 64% of children aged four to 11 have cotinine in their blood. (--Cotinine is a marker of recent exposure to secondhand smoke. It's also an anagram for Nicotine.)
• There are about 542,000 foster care children in the United States, and 126,000 of them are waiting to be adopted.
• Of those people seeking emergency food relief, more than a third . . .36% . . .had to choose between buying food or paying for housing.
(CharityNavigator.org)
Movie Character Costumes are 1,000% More Popular This Halloween Than Political Costumes:
Maybe it's because none of the Republican presidential candidates have a distinctive look, or maybe the economy's so bad that dressing up as Obama isn't REMOTELY funny . . . but NO ONE'S wearing political costumes this Halloween. --According to a new survey sponsored by Blockbuster, costumes inspired by pop culture are almost 1,000% more popular this year than politically-inspired costumes. --They found that one in four Americans who are going to dress up will be wearing a movie or TV-themed costume. --Of that group, about one in three will dress up as an action hero or adventure star. About one-quarter of ADULTS will dress up as an animated character. --The survey also found that 70% of adults plan to watch a scary movie at some point in the next two weeks. --29% will watch at least five. (MarketWatch)
Seven Fast Food Items You Can't Get in the U.S. . . . Including the Burger King Meat Monster and Subway's Roasted Cottage Cheese Sandwich:
We've got a list of seven fast food chain items you can only get in other countries. And two or three sound AMAZING . . . but as for the others, NO RUSH to bring them to America, guys. Check 'em out . . .
--Burger King's Meat Monster. In Japan, Burger King serves a double bacon cheeseburger with a grilled chicken breast on top. All on one bun. This is one of those items that NEEDS to immigrate to the U.S.
--McDonald's McVeggie. In India, where Hindus don't eat beef, McDonald's doesn't serve hamburgers. Their McVeggie features a patty made out of bread, potato, peas, carrots, and Indian spices.
--McDonald's McZuri. In Switzerland, McDonald's offers a patty made entirely out of VEAL. It's covered with mushrooms and caramelized onions.
--Subway's Paneer Tikka Sub. In India, Subway offers a sub that's basically ROASTED COTTAGE CHEESE. They take cottage cheese, marinate it in barbecue sauce, roast it into slices, and put it on a sandwich.
--KFC's Krushers. In Germany, Australia, South Africa, and other countries, KFC serves thick milkshakes called Krushers. They have flavors like mango, strawberry, and Kit Kat, and they look REALLY good.
--McDonald's Bubur Ayam McD. In Malaysia, McDonald's serves a dish that features chicken strips, ginger, and shallots in a chicken broth porridge.
--Burger King's Trio Supremo. In Brazil, BK serves a combo of onion rings, chicken nuggets, AND fries smothered in cheese and bacon bits. It's an absolute mystery how this hasn't made it to the U.S. (Yahoo) (--Here are photos of all seven items.)
Americans are Still Eating Out a Ton . . . But It's More McDonald's and Domino's Than Chili's and Cheesecake Factory:
No matter how bad the economy gets, you are NOT going to see the American people start cooking dinners at home. Come on. We might accidentally consume some vitamins. --According to the Bloomberg U.S. Quick Service Restaurant Index, Americans are still eating out as much as ever . . . but to adjust to the economy, we've changed which restaurants we're visiting for our daily plumping. --By the latest numbers, fast food eating has gone up 4% this year . . . that's eating at places like McDonald's, Subway, and Domino's. --And to compensate, eating at slightly more expensive full-service restaurants . . . like Chili's, Cheesecake Factory, and Olive Garden . . . has gone down 9% this year. (Bloomberg)
Most Parents are Distracted by Cell Phones While Teaching Their Teenagers How to Drive:
A new survey by State Farm Insurance found that most parents don't set a good example for their kids when teaching them how to drive. --Three out of five teenagers say their parents have been distracted by their cell phone or other electronic device WHILE they were giving them a driving lesson. --Three in ten teenagers also say their parents are distracted on a regular basis while teaching them to drive.--And the parents admitted it too. More than half said they've been distracted while their child was behind the wheel, and one in six say it happens regularly. --More than half of teenagers say they've seen their parents use a cell phone while behind the wheel on a regular basis, and two in five parents admit it. --One in four parents also say they aren't spending enough time teaching their kids to drive, and one in three teenagers said they didn't think they were getting enough practice time. (Multivu.com)
The New iPhone Has Broken Up Its First Marriage:
This seems a little too-good-to-be-true . . . but supposedly the new iPhone has already broken up its first marriage. --Here's how. The new iPhone has an optional feature called "Find My Friends" . . . which is really just a STALKING app. If your friends have it installed and give you permission, you can view their GPS location on a map at all times. --Well . . . a guy from New York City whose online screenname is "ThomasMetz" suspected his wife was cheating on him. So he bought her a new iPhone 4S last week and installed Find My Friends on it . . . without telling her.--Then, late Saturday night, she told him she was going to a friend's place. But her GPS location from Find My Friends showed she was at a different location . . . at a guy friend's place in a different part of the city. --Thomas had already suspected that she was having an affair with the guy . . . and now he had his proof. When he texted her, she lied and pretended she was at her girl friend's place. --ThomasMetz posted this story on a message board, complete with screenshots. He wrote, quote, "Thank you Apple, thank you App Store . . . these screenshots [are] going to play well when I meet her [a**] at the lawyer's office in a few weeks." --Yeah, it's a little suspicious that his first instinct after catching his wife cheating was to post on an Internet message board . . . which is why we suspect this MIGHT be made up . . . but it's still a good story. (Gawker)
A New App Helps You Alert Your Friends, Family, and Lawyer When You Get Arrested:
Next time you're planning to go commit a crime, might as well download this app beforehand. You know, just in case. The app is called "I'm Getting Arrested" and it sends a mass text to your friends, family, and lawyer. --All you have to do is get your hands free long enough to fire up the app, then hit the big bull's-eye right in the middle of the screen. Right now it's only available for the Android, and it's free. (Android.com)
Here are the Eight Secrets to Spotting a Liar:
Pamela Meyer is an expert on LYING. She's studied people for DECADES to find the main signs that they're not telling the truth. And she put together this list of the eight secrets of spotting someone who might be lying to you. Check it out . . .
#1.) Liars distance themselves from the subject. Like, for example, how BILL CLINTON said "I did not have sexual relations with THAT WOMAN." Saying "that woman" was a way to distance himself.
#2.) Liars use qualifying language. Things like "to tell you the truth" or "if I'm being honest."
#3.) Liars look you in the eye TOO much. They also don't fidget, and freeze their upper body.
#4.) Liars offer up too many details.
#5.) Liars who are trying to avoid punishment are more likely to suggest strict punishments. For example, OJ'S hunt for the real killers.
#6.) Liars put barrier objects between themselves and the person questioning them. Even little barriers, like picking up a pillow, or putting a coffee mug on the table.
#7.) Liars repeat questions before answering them.
#8.) Liars point their feet toward an exit.
(Lifehacker)
68% of Us Have Seen a Coworker Use the Bathroom and Not Wash Their Hands:
Almost no one will admit they use the bathroom without washing their hands. But we've all SEEN people do it. Sometimes on a daily basis. --According to a new survey, 68% of office workers say they've seen a coworker use the bathroom and not wash their hands. Men see it more than women, 75% to 61%. --Of the people surveyed who admitted to using the bathroom without washing their hands, 69% said they don't always wash because their hands aren't really dirty. --8% say they don't have time . . . 4% say they skipped it because the bathroom was out of soap or towels . . . and 3% skip it because NO ONE'S WATCHING. --Even among the people who DO say they wash their hands every time, 20% say sometimes they just give their hands a quick rinse without soap. (MarketWatch)
MEATBALL CRIMINALS
A Woman is Charged With Domestic Battery for Pelting Her Husband With Cupcakes?
Just because something is sweet, frosted, and delicious, doesn't mean it's not a WEAPON. --On Saturday night, 56-year-old Arturo Montesdeoca of Chicago got into a fight with his 60-year-old wife Dawn. They started yelling at each other, then it escalated and became physical. --And by "physical," we mean "tasty." -Dawn grabbed a BOX OF CUPCAKES . . . and started throwing them at her husband, one-by-one. As she pelted him with cupcakes, he called the cops. --When they got there, Arturo told them he FEARED FOR HIS SAFETY. And when the cops saw smudges of frosting on his head and shirt, that was enough for them. --Dawn was arrested for one misdemeanor count of DOMESTIC BATTERY. (Chicago Tribune)
One in Ten American Adults Has Been Falsely Accused of Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, or Sexual Assault:
A new survey by an anti-abuse organization found that a large number of Americans have been FALSELY accused of some of the worst crimes. --According to an organization called SAVE . . . Stop Abusive and Violent Environments . . . one in 10 Americans has been falsely accused of sexual abuse, domestic violence, or child abuse. --Men are much more likely to be the victim of a false accusation. Three out of every four phony claims are made against men, and seven in ten accusers in those cases are female. --The most common false charge is child abuse. Twice as many people have been falsely accused of that compared to domestic violence or a sex crime. --One quarter of the time, the false claim of child abuse comes as a result of a child custody case. --Claims of domestic violence often come out of divorce proceedings. In divorces with child custody at stake, domestic violence is claimed 55% of the time. Three out of every five claims, quote, "could not be substantiated as true." --Obviously, a false accusation of any of those three crimes usually ends up with social services getting involved. The report estimated that fake claims cost welfare and public help $20 billion a year. (MarketWatch)
NOT-SO-STUPID NEWS
Kids Who Watch TV Shows With Lots of Swearing are More Likely to Be Physically Aggressive:
A study out of Brigham Young University found that kids who watch TV shows with a lot of bad language are more likely to use that language themselves . . . and also more likely to be physically aggressive. --That includes actual violence like hitting, kicking, and punching classmates, and also stuff like gossiping and making up stories to hurt their classmates' reputations. --Professor Sarah Coyne talked to middle-schoolers in the Midwest, and found a link between hearing cursing on TV and video games and the level of aggression kids exhibit. --The researchers used a two-step process to link swearing to behavior. First, they showed that seeing characters swear made kids more likely to use similar language. Then they found that kids who curse are more aggressive. --Sarah said, quote, "It's not like you hear profanity in the media and go punch somebody. It's more of a trickle-down effect. It represents a lack of respect for parents." --Profanity on TV and games is almost as powerful as violence when it comes to predicting aggressive behavior in kids. (Time / Salt Lake Tribune)
RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS
Random News Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
According to a new study, one in four kids mistake medicine for candy. (Full Story)
A guy in Michigan had his nine-year-old daughter drive him to the store using a booster seat, because he was drunk. (Full Story)
According to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive drinking costs society $2 per drink. That includes, quote, "lost work productivity, property damage from car crashes, expenditures for liver cirrhosis and other alcohol-associated medical problems, and money spent on incarceration of drunk drivers and criminals using alcohol." (Full Story)
You can buy a special new collector's edition of Barbie where she has a tattoo running up her arm and across her chest. (Full Story)
A high school in Pennsylvania is raising revenue by selling ad space in its hallways. (Full Story)
69% of employees say they don't expect any kind of holiday reward this year. 55% say a $25 gift card would meet their expectations. 84% would be happy with $100. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) A Two-Year-Old in China Got Run Over by Two Cars . . . and it Took Ten Minutes Until Someone Stopped to Help:
People in China are outraged over security footage from last Thursday. It shows a van running over a TWO-YEAR-OLD GIRL. The driver stops for a few seconds, but drives off, and runs her over AGAIN with one of the back tires. --And a second driver . . . who probably didn't see her in the road . . . ran her over AGAIN. It's even MORE shocking because about twenty people saw the girl lying on the ground bleeding, and didn't help. --Finally . . . about 10 minutes later . . . a woman collecting bottles and cans from the trash saw the girl and got help. According to reports yesterday, the girl is in a military hospital in critical condition. --CNN reported that the first driver called the girl's dad after the video went viral, and offered to give the family money. But he wouldn't turn himself in. Luckily, the drivers of both cars were eventually tracked down by police. (--Search for "Girl Toddler Struck by 2 Trucks and Left for Dead." She gets run over at :19 and 1:02, and the woman stops to help at 1:35.) (--WARNING: Obviously the video includes fairly disturbing footage of a small child being run over by two cars.)
#2.) Check Out Herman Cain 20 Years Ago, Singing About Pizza to the Tune of John Lennon's "Imagine":
Before HERMAN CAIN was a Republican presidential candidate, he was the president and CEO of Godfather's Pizza. --And someone tracked down a video of Cain at an event in Omaha, Nebraska 20 years ago . . . singing about pizza to the tune of the John Lennon song "Imagine". --It's kind of embarrassing, since it's such an iconic song, and the lyrics are about things like "mozzarella" and "anchovies on the side." But Cain's definitely got some pipes.
(--Search for "Herman Cain Imagine There's No Pizza.")
#3.) A Base Jumper's Parachute Didn't Open . . . But He Somehow Survived an 876-Foot Belly Flop Into a River:
On Saturday, a 27-year-old base jumper named Christopher Brewer somehow survived an 876-foot fall when his parachute didn't open, after jumping off a bridge in Fayetteville, West Virginia. --He was wearing a wing suit, which slowed him down to about 70 miles an hour before he hit the river under the bridge. But there's a video of it, and it basically looks like a 900-foot belly flop. --According to the Associated Press, he suffered a fractured pelvis, and injuries to his lungs and his spine. But he's in stable condition. --It happened during a base-jumping event called Bridge Day, and it's the only day of the year when it's legal to base jump from that particular bridge. (--Search for "Bridge Day 2011 Accident." He jumps at :35.)
#4.) The Newest "Bad Lip Reading" Follows Mitt Romney on the Campaign Trail:
The guys who do the "Bad Lip Reading" series are back with a new video featuring MITT ROMNEY on the campaign trail. --According to the footage, Romney hasn't actually been talking about America . . . he's been taking about "spiders," "badgers," "Madonna," and "Wynonna Ryder." (--Search for "Mitt Romney A BLR Soundbite.") (--WARNING: This video includes the word "pis*ed" and bleeped profanity.)
#5.) Scientists in Tel-Aviv Have Figured Out "Quantum Levitation" . . . And It Makes Hoverboards Suddenly Seem Much More Realistic:
According to "Back to the Future Part II", we're supposed to have hoverboards by 2015. And we might be a lot closer thanks to scientists at Tel-Aviv University in Israel. --There's a new video on YouTube where they show off something called "quantum levitation." Basically, they figured out how to use super-magnets to make a frozen disc of special material FLOAT in mid air. --But it doesn't just float there. They can tilt it, and it stays locked in that position. And they can even put it on a circular track, and it make it float around. (--Search for "Quantum Levitation." He starts tilting it at :12, and spins it at :31. Then he puts it on a little race track at 1:04.)
Here are the Five Most Unhealthy Halloween Candies:
We see these lists every year, but if you're picking out your Halloween candy this week, "Reader's Digest" has a list of the unhealthiest Halloween candies you can buy. Obviously, ALL candy is bad for you, but here are the top five. --And remember, the recommended daily limit for processed sugar in a 2,000 calorie diet is about 40 grams, or between 100 and 150 calories. That's about eight teaspoons.
#1.) Twizzlers. They don't have much fat, but they're basically just sugar . . . which turns to fat in your body if you don't burn it off. And one Twizzler has about 35 calories and five grams of sugar.
#2.) Fun-Sized Butterfingers. Each one has 45 calories, and two grams of fat. So if you have four of them and weigh 150 pounds, you'd have to walk about 30 minutes to burn it off.
#3.) Fun-Sized Baby Ruth. Just one has upwards of 80 calories, four grams of fat, and 10 grams of sugar. It's mostly because of the chocolate-and-peanuts combo.
#4.) Fun-Sized Mounds. They're dark chocolate and have coconut filling, which might SOUND healthier. But one bar has 4.5 grams of fat, 7 grams of sugar, and 80 calories.
#5.) Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins. They're the Halloween version of Peanut Butter Cups, and they're probably the worst. --Instead of two small pieces, you get one big one that has 180 calories, 16 grams of sugar, and 11 grams of fat. --The peanut butter is the main reason it's so bad. And just to put it in perspective, if you eat two of them, that's 60 more calories than a McDonald's cheeseburger.
(Reader's Digest / Hersheys.com)
Guys, what's the most you ever spent on a girlfriend? Was it anywhere near A MILLION BUCKS? --Because that's supposedly what JUSTIN BIEBER has already spent on SELENA GOMEZ . . . from helicopter rides to buying out an entire flower shop on Valentine's Day and beyond. --And his friends are starting to worry about it. A source says, quote, "Each date is a production, from bodyguards to flowers, private jets to catered meals. Plus, he buys her major gifts. It's all adding up pretty quickly."
Somebody Wants to Kill Selena Gomez:
SELENA GOMEZ got a restraining order against a 46-year-old man who threatened to kill her. --Apparently, this guy was picked up for a mental evaluation last month on an unrelated matter, and that's when he told a shrink he'd had conversations with God about killing Selena.
And Now . . . Here's Justin Bieber's New Song "Mistletoe":
On RYAN SEACREST'S radio show yesterday, JUSTIN BIEBER debuted his new song, "Mistletoe". It's the first single off his Christmas album, "Under the Mistletoe", which hits stores on November 1st. (--You can listen to it on RyanSeacrest.com.) --Justin told Ryan, quote, "Even though it's a Christmas album, it's probably my best album yet . . . I got a lot of different genres on there, so I think it works for everybody." --At the very least, it should "work" for fans of JASON MRAZ . . . since "Mistletoe" sounds a lot like his hit "I'm Yours", which came out in 2008. (--Here's "I'm Yours", for comparison.)
Ronnie Wood from the Rolling Stones Bought a Date with Scarlett Johansson:
At a British charity auction over the weekend, ROLLING STONES guitarist RONNIE WOOD bought a dinner date with SCARLETT JOHANSSON for $41,000. --He actually got into a bidding war with another guy for it, and in the end, even though Ronnie won, the two men decided to SPLIT the cost and make it a three-way. --If you care, the money goes to breast cancer research. (--And while Scarlett probably WOULD nail Ronnie, there's nothing to suggest she'd hop into bed with both of these guys at the same time.)
Karina Smirnoff and Brad Penny Have Postponed Their Wedding . . . But They're Still Together:
"Dancing With the Stars" minx KARINA SMIRNOFF and Detroit Tigers pitcher BRAD PENNY have postponed their wedding. But they have NOT broken up. --A so-called "source" says they're just having trouble planning the wedding because of conflicting schedules. --Karina and Brad were originally planning to get married in Mexico this coming January. (--Until recently, Brad and the Tigers were still alive in the American League playoffs. And Karina is still one of the frontrunners on "Dancing With the stars with her partner, J.R. MARTINEZ.)
George Clooney and Stacy Keibler Are Still Going Strong:
Just in case you were curious: GEORGE CLOONEY is still nailing former pro rasslin' minx STACY KEIBLER. He even brought her to a movie premiere over the weekend. (--Check out some pics here.) (D-Listed)
Check Out a Picture of Ryan Gosling Kissing Eva Mendes in a Car:
If there were any doubts that RYAN GOSLING is nailing EVA MENDES, this should put them to rest: Ryan and Eva were in a car together in Hollywood on Sunday . . . and Ryan used a red light as an opportunity to get to FIRST BASE with her. (--Check out the pics here.) (E! Online)
Jessica Biel Has a Sexy Little Dove Tattooed Above Her Beltline:
Did you know that JESSICA BIEL has a sexy little tattoo of a dove just above her beltline on the right side of her stomach? --She showed it off by wearing a short, white T-shirt while walking her pitbull Tina in Brentwood yesterday. (--Check out some pics here.) (Daily Mail)
Demi Moore Just Keeps Getting Thinner:
It seems impossible to argue that DEMI MOORE has gotten TOO SKINNY. Is it depression due to ASHTON KUTCHER'S cheating? We don't know. But it's pretty obvious that she's NOT EATING. --Demi showed up at a movie premiere over the weekend looking like a SKELETON. But we should probably note that she was still wearing her wedding ring. (--Here are some pics . . . along with an older photo for comparison.) (Daily Mail)
Did Sara Leal Take Two Pregnancy Tests After Sleeping With Ashton Kutcher?
Sara Leal says she had UNPROTECTED sex with ASHTON KUTCHER twice in one night. And a friend claims she took TWO pregnancy tests because she's not on birth control. Luckily, both tests came out negative. --The friend says, quote, "There is no way she would want a kid . . . even if it was Ashton's . . . I mean, she would be set for life, but there's no way she would deal with a kid or any of that [crap]." --He adds, quote, "Sara's not as innocent as she came off to be in 'Us Weekly'. She said it was her first one night stand, which is definitely not true . . . It doesn't happen all the time, but she does do it."
Is Paris Jackson Playing Flag Football?
This probably wouldn't be happening if MICHAEL JACKSON were still alive: TMZ says Michael's 13-year-old daughter PARIS is playing FLAG FOOTBALL at her private school in Los Angeles. (--I hate to say this, but it seems like these kids are thriving in ways they wouldn't have if Michael hadn't died. Of course, that's not to say they wouldn't have thrived in other ways under his guidance.) (--But I think we can all agree that they have a much better chance of being NORMAL now.)
The Conrad Murray Trial is On Hold Until Tomorrow:
DR. CONRAD MURRAY'S manslaughter trial was off Friday, and will remain in recess until TOMORROW . . . due to the death of the father of the prosecution's final witness. --Also, the judge granted a request by the defense for more time to prepare a response to some evidence the prosecution raised. --The defense plans to call about 15 witnesses, with testimony running through either this Friday or next Monday.
"Hannah Montana" Star Mitchel Musso Got a DUI . . . And He's Only 20:
MITCHEL MUSSO . . . who played MILEY CYRUS' friend Oliver on "Hannah Montana" . . . was arrested for DRIVING DRUNK on Sunday in Burbank. --And here's the icing on the cake: He's only 20 years old. --A police spokesman says, quote, "An officer was directing traffic and Musso failed to slow down when coming to the intersection. He didn't obey instructions and was pulled over. --"A DUI investigation was held and he was given a field sobriety test. Musso is 20 years old so any alcohol in his system is illegal. He was well over the 0.08 limit." --Musso was arrested at about 3:45 A.M. Sunday. He spent a few hours drying out and was released without having to pay bail because, quote, "he had no warrants or anything like that." (--For some reason, police are NOT releasing his mugshot. But here's a picture of him, for those of you who are over 14 and don't have any daughters that age or younger.) (E! Online) --"Hannah Montana" may be over, but Musso is still suckling off the Disney teat. He now has his own Disney sitcom called "Pair of Kings", and he also hosts another Disney show called "PrankStars".
Giuliana Rancic Has Breast Cancer:
E! News host GIULIANA RANCIC announced yesterday that she has early stage breast cancer . . . and she's only 36. --She made the announcement on the "Today" show, saying the cancer was caught back in August while she was preparing to try to get pregnant through in vitro fertilization. --Her doctor insisted she get a mammogram as a precaution because pregnancy hormones could accelerate cancer . . . if she had it. --She said, quote, "I wasn't prepared to get a mammogram until I was 40 years old. I never in my wildest dreams expected anything to be wrong." --But she added, quote, "I will be okay, because I found it early. I'm doing surgery this coming week, and then I go to radiation for six and a half weeks." --Giuliana . . . who's married to the very first "Apprentice" winner BILL RANCIC . . . also said she still plans to have a baby . . . and even though it hasn't even been conceived yet, she says that baby has already SAVED HER LIFE. (--Check out video of the interview here. Meanwhile, tons of celebrities Tweeted their support for Giuliana. You can read several of their messages here.)
Justin Timberlake and Ashley Judd Pay Tribute to Late Indy Driver Dan Wheldon:
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and ASHLEY JUDD paid tribute yesterday to Indy driver DAN WHELDON . . . who died in a major crash Sunday at the Las Vegas Indy 300. --Wheldon was sponsored by Justin's clothing line, William Rast. And Justin said, quote, "I was deeply saddened to hear the news on Dan Wheldon's unfortunate and untimely death. --"He was a great driver and a strong supporter of William Rast Racing. My thoughts and prayers are with his family in their time of loss." --Meanwhile, Ashley was actually AT the race, because her husband, DARIO FRANCHITTI, was in it. --She Tweeted, quote, "Hardest parts, Thinking about [Wheldon's wife and two children]. Seeing my husband grieve. Nights are so awful at first. Poor woman. Such pain." (--She also Tweeted a poem in Wheldon's memory. You can read it here.)
Did Shia LaBeouf Get Into a Drunken Bar Fight Last Week?
SHIA LABEOUF apparently still enjoys being a DRUNKEN A-HOLE. RadarOnline.com says Shia was involved in a drunken bar fight in Vancouver early Friday morning. --It all started at a bar called the Cinema Public House, when Shia got into it with a much bigger guy named Mike. They were pulled off each other and kicked out of the bar. --But outside on the street, "Mike" ripped off his shirt and jumped Shia. Radar says Mike, quote, "ran up to Shia hitting him to the ground with at least three punches to his head before bystanders came to his aid." --When one guy tried to calm Shia down, Shia went after HIM and had to be restrained. --A source says, quote, "The guy had to tell him something like 'calm down or I'll have to lay you out'. Then Shia just put his hands up and gave up."
Rooney Mara Pierced her Nipple for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo":
You have to love a woman who'll defile her breasts for her art. ROONEY MARA actually got her NIPPLE PIERCED for her role as Lisbeth Salander in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo". She also got piercings in her brow, nose and lip. --And that's not all she did. She tells the new issue of "Vogue" magazine, quote, "[They] cut my hair, shaved the sides, bleached the eyebrows, then dyed my hair black. --"Then we went and did the piercings . . . all in one day. I went in looking like Erica Albright and I came out like this." (--Erica Albright was the chick who dumped Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Rooney played her in "The Social Network". There's a pretty big difference between Erica and Lisbeth.) (--Check out pictures of Rooney as each character here.) (CNN, Ology.com) --In the same interview, director DAVID FINCHER reveals that he fought for Rooney, even though they looked at several more famous actresses for the part of Lisbeth . . . including SCARLETT JOHANSSON. --He says, quote, "Look, we saw some amazing people. Scarlett Johansson was great. It was a great audition, I'm telling you. But the thing with Scarlett is, you can't wait for her to take her clothes off." --"I keep trying to explain this. Salander should be like E.T. If you put E.T. dolls out before anyone had seen the movie, they would say, 'What is this little squishy thing?' --"Well, you know what? When he hides under the table and he grabs the Reese's Pieces, you love him! It has to be like that." --In order to convince the producers that Rooney was right for the part, Fincher made her go out and get HAMMERED the night before meeting with them, to prove that she could look "strung out." --Rooney says, quote, "And I did it! Threw up all night!"
The Second Season Premiere of "The Walking Dead" Attracted a Huge Audience:
"The Walking Dead" finally returned to AMC on Sunday night . . . and it was a gigantic success in the ratings. In fact, it "shattered" some basic cable records, which sounds pretty impressive, right? --7.3 million people tuned in for the scheduled premiere. But AMC also aired two encores . . . and if you add the numbers from all three, it totals 11 million viewers. --It was bigger than any of last season's episodes. The previous-best was the first season finale last December, which had 6 million viewers. The series premiere drew 5.4 million viewers last October. (--The basic cable records it "shattered" . . . if you care . . . are not in total viewers, but in advertiser-friendly demographics.) --"The Walking Dead" had 4.8 million viewers between the ages of 18 and 49, and 4.2 million between the ages of 25 and 54. Those are record numbers for a single drama telecast in the history of basic cable.)
Jaleel White Wants to Be Known as a "Versatile Actor," Not Just as the Guy Who Played Steve Urkel:
JALEEL WHITE is 34 years old now . . . but he says he still gets recognized everywhere he goes because of his role as Steve Urkel on "Family Matters". --And he's cool with that . . . but he'd like to be known for more than just that one role. --Jaleel says, quote, "I don't [miss playing Urkel]. I really don't. I'm not trying to get away from it or anything like that, but I don't miss the role at all . . . really. I just want to work. I want my daughter to say, 'I know what Daddy does,' not 'what Daddy did.'" --"I'm very versatile, but somehow I didn't earn the tag of being called a versatile actor. I'm still chasing that one 'Vanity Fair' tag that says, 'This guy's a versatile actor.' --"I accept it. It's fine. But for me, it's like what do I have to do to get that [acknowledgement]? . . . I just want people to know I haven't gone anywhere. The passion was gone for awhile, but I've got my mojo back." (--I don't want to bust on Jaleel . . . he seems like a nice guy . . . but I don't understand the point he's trying to make here.) (--It sounds like he's a little bitter that his Urkel role is overshadowing a diverse résumé, but that isn't really the case. Aside from "Family Matters", Jaleel hasn't really done ANYTHING.) (--Recently, he's had some bit parts in a few movies, like "Dreamgirls", and he's popped up on TV here and there . . . but nothing particularly notable.) (--That said, here's the last thing I remember seeing Jaleel in . . . dancing and lip-synching in Cee Lo's "Cry Baby" video.)
Tuesday TV Reminders: (--Check your local listings.)
--"Sesame Street" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. on PBS. (--Mark Ruffalo and the Harlem Globetrotters are guests for a play date.)
--"90210" . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on the CW. (--Kellie Pickler guest stars and Naomi competes with her during a charity event.)
--"The X Factor" . . . 8:00 to 9:30 P.M. on Fox. (--Another night of mentoring in the judges' homes as they finalize their lists for the Top 16.)
--"Man Up!" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 8:30 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC. (--A new sitcom about three men who refuse to grow up. It stars Teri Polo from "Meet the Parents" as one of their wives, and the hairy and hilarious Dan Fogler as her brother.)
--"Dancing with the Stars" [Results Show] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC. (--DELICIOUS AUDIO ALERT: Grab all your performance show clips here.)
--"Scream Awards 2011" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Spike TV. (--The Scream awards cover Fantasy, Horror and Sci-Fi films and TV shows. This year's nominees include "Game of Thrones", "The Walking Dead", and "True Blood".)
(--The ceremony was taped on Saturday. If you want to spoil it for yourself, you'll find all the results here.)
--"Parenthood" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on NBC. (--Cee Lo Green guest stars when Crosby and Adam try signing him as their first major client.)
--"Reed Between The Lines" . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on BET. (--Ron Artest guests.)
--"Flashpoint" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ION.
--"Gene Simmons Family Jewels" [6th Season Finale] . . . 11:30 P.M. to Midnight on A&E.
NEW VIDEO GAMES OUT TODAY
"Batman: Arkham City" . . . Here's What You Need to Know:
--"Batman: Arkham City" (T) . . . on Xbox360 and PS3. This takes place a year after the events of "Arkham Asylum". The former warden of Arkham took credit for stopping the Joker and has since gotten himself elected as the new mayor of Gotham City. Now he's closed down the Asylum, and turned the city's slums into an open-air prison named Arkham City, where the petty criminals are mixed in with the criminally insane. And the guy running the joint has figured out Batman is Bruce Wayne. (Launch Trailer) The game features a huge cast of villains, including the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler, Mr. Freeze, and Two Face . . . who intends to execute Catwoman. Alfred supports Batman by radio as he enters the prison to rescue her. Batman's also armed with new gadgets like smoke pellets, ice grenades, and a sniper-like taser gun. Catwoman is a playable character for her own set of missions. You'll be able to get separate downloadable packs that add Nightwing and Robin as playable characters in a few weeks. (--People who preordered from Best Buy will get Robin for free.) (--A few more Bat-Trailers for you . . .) (No Place For a Hero) (Die Here Tonight)
--"Rocksmith" (T) . . . on Xbox360 and PS3. This title is similar to the "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero" games, but you can actually plug in ANY real guitar to play. The difficulty adjusts to your personal skill level, so you can progress at your own pace. Check out the track list here. (Trailer)
--"Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One" (E10+) . . . on PS3. For the first time in this ten game series, the focus is on multiplayer game play. Up to four players can players can drop in and out of co-op games both locally and online. Some weapons making their debut in this game included the Frost Cannon, Plasma Bomb Launcher and Warmonger. (Trailer)
NEW ON VIDEO THIS WEEK
--"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" - Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush are back as Jack Sparrow and Barbosa on a quest to find the Fountain of Youth. Penelope Cruz is Jack's love interest . . . and Ian McShane is Blackbeard. --A Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack is out today, but you'll have to wait another month until November 15th if you want just the DVD alone.)
--"Monte Carlo" Selena Gomez is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress who looks just like her, and then pretends to be that chick after getting a taste of what it's like to be rich. Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy are the two friends vacationing with her, and "Glee's" Cory Monteith plays Katie's boyfriend, who follows them to Europe.
--"Bad Teacher" - Cameron Diaz is a foul-mouthed, irresponsible teacher trying to sink her gold-digging claws into Justin Timberlake, a substitute teacher with a rich family. Jason Segel is also in it as a gym teacher who has a crush on her.
--"Beats, Rhymes, & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest" - A documentary about hip hop pioneers A Tribe Called Quest. It's directed by actor Michael Rapaport, who traveled with the band during their 2008 reunion tour. For the uninitiated, Tribe is made up of Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Jarobi White.
TV Series On DVD:
--"Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Season Three" . . . a four-disc DVD set.
--"V: The Complete Second Season" . . . a three-disc set of the final season.
--"Gigolos: Season 1" . . . a single-disc DVD set of the Showtime series.
--"Little House On The Prairie: The Complete Series" . . . a 55-disc DVD set. (--It ran for nine seasons.)
--"Pawn Stars: The Complete Third Season" . . . a single-disc DVD set.
NEW MUSIC OUT THIS WEEK
This Week's CD Releases:
--"The Great Escape Artist", Jane's Addiction (--This is their fourth album, and their first new disc since reuniting in 2008. (--On the title, singer Perry Farrell has said, quote, "I love being able to escape my past, even though my past was great. I just love the future even more.") (--Bassist Eric Avery initially reunited with the band, but left again last year. Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan was brought in to take his place . . . but he left after six months. Dave Sitek from TV on the Radio took over for him.)
--"Songs of the Ungrateful Living", Everlast
--"Soul Punk", former Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump (--This is his solo debut.)
--"Beyond the Sun", Chris Isaak (--This is a covers disc with the Elvis songs "It's Now or Never" and "Can't Help Falling in Love", the Johnny Cash songs "Ring of Fire" and "I Walk the Line", and the Jerry Lee Lewis hit "Great Balls of Fire".)
-"Best of 25 Years", Sting
--"Rebels on the Run", Montgomery Gentry (--It includes the single, "Where I Come From". One lucky person will win a "One-of-a-Kind Demented Chopper" that Montgomery Gentry helped design if they find the ticket hidden in a special CD.)
--"Blessed Assurance", Randy Travis
--"Dixie Lullabies", The Kentucky Headhunters
30 Seconds to Mars Are About to Set a World Record for Most Shows Played During a Single Album Cycle:
JARED LETO'S band 30 SECONDS TO MARS are about to score a place in the "Guinness Book of World Records" . . . for, quote, "Most Shows Performed During a Single Album Cycle." --The band released its last album "This Is War" in December of 2009, and they've been touring extensively ever since. That run will total 300 shows when they end their tour on December 7th in New York City. --And apparently, those 300 shows will mark a new Guinness World Record. --The band released a statement saying, quote, "We have been on the road for an incredible and insane two years and thought what better way to celebrate the end of this phenomenal journey than with a week of special shows in New York City. --"We thought documenting this for posterity with the 'Guinness Book of World Records' would be fun especially as we aren't any good at growing our fingernails very long or cultivating the world's largest squash." (--It's unclear what the previous record was, or if this is the first time this distinction was tracked and awarded. To me, the band's comment makes it seem like they asked "Guinness" to bless this as a brand new record. (--The definition of "a single album cycle" is also vague. There are plenty of artists that have toured for YEARS . . . if not DECADES . . . without releasing anything new.) (--Even within a two-year window, 300 shows is a LOT . . . and definitely not typical . . . but it hardly seems like something that's NEVER been done before.)
A Coldplay / Rihanna Collaboration Has Leaked Online:
A COLDPLAY / RIHANNA collaboration has hit the Internet. It's a song called "Princess of China" . . . and it'll be on Coldplay's new album "Mylo Xyloto", which hits stores next week. (--You can find the song on SoundCloud.com.) (--Coldplay and Rihanna may seem like a strange combination at first . . . but once you hear it, it makes sense. And it actually works pretty well.)
Lars Ulrich Could've Scored "Kill Bill, Volume One", but He Turned It Down Because He Didn't "Get It":
METALLICA drummer LARS ULRICH says QUENTIN TARANTINO approached him about contributing music to the score of "Kill Bill, Volume One" . . . but he ultimately turned Quentin down, because he didn't "get" the script. --Lars tells "Newsweek", quote, "[Reading the script] page by page, I realized that most of this was written in a language that was outside of my realm of understanding. --"I had never encountered a narrative like this, set in, to me, a very foreign culture of martial arts and Asian myths. I just couldn't wrap my thick Danish head around it. --"I championed [Quentin's] movies, loved him as a person, but at the end of the 180 pages, I sat there somewhat bewildered and felt very uncool for not getting it. I wasn't capable of appreciating its brilliance. --"Then I started over-thinking it. 'Do it, do it,' my gut screamed, but my head was confused. Cautious. I experienced a rare inability to pull the trigger. --"Over the next few weeks the whole thing fizzled out as I continued not trusting my instincts. In the end, I never got back to him. Probably the single biggest mistake I've made in the creative department. --"Of course 'Kill Bill' turned out to be above and beyond brilliant, as have [Quentin's] subsequent movies, which have all been a significant part of my life in the 2000s." (--RZA from the WU-TANG CLAN ended up scoring "Kill Bill". It's unclear if he was hired after Lars balked . . . or if they both would've been part of it.)
TUESDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
For some reason, KATY PERRY would like you to know that baked beans make her gassy. (Full Story)
Some moron is suing the producers of "The Hangover 2", claiming it rips off a script he wrote based on his own real-life experiences. (Full Story)
AARON ECKHART will play BEACH BOYS drummer DENNIS WILSON in a movie called "The Drummer". Wilson is the Beach Boy who very ironically DROWNED in 1983. (Full Story)
NICKI MINAJ and PITBULL will host the "American Music Awards" on November 20th. They will also be performing, along with Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Kelly Clarkson, LMFAO, Jennifer Lopez, Maroon 5, Christina Aguilera, David Guetta and Usher. (Full Story)
RANDOM STUFF
THIS SUCKS
64% of Children Aged Four to 11 Show Signs of Recent Exposure To Secondhand Smoke . . . and Other Depressing Facts You Should Know:
Yeah, this stuff sucks. But it's stuff you should know:
• Shaken baby syndrome is responsible for about 1,500 infant deaths a year in the U.S. And men are responsible for 80% of shaken baby syndrome cases.
• The number of assaults against the homeless is rising. In 2005, 73 homeless people were assaulted nationwide, and 13 died.
• The U.S. Administration on Aging estimates that one out of four seniors in the U.S. has an inadequate diet.
• One out of every six children in America lives in poverty.
• Veterans account for nearly one-third of all homeless men in America, even though they only comprise 13% of adult men in the country.
• One in five children ten to 17 years old receive unwanted sexual solicitations online.
• Alcohol abuse kills about 75,000 Americans each year, and shortens their lives by an average of 30 years.
• 64% of children aged four to 11 have cotinine in their blood. (--Cotinine is a marker of recent exposure to secondhand smoke. It's also an anagram for Nicotine.)
• There are about 542,000 foster care children in the United States, and 126,000 of them are waiting to be adopted.
• Of those people seeking emergency food relief, more than a third . . .36% . . .had to choose between buying food or paying for housing.
(CharityNavigator.org)
Movie Character Costumes are 1,000% More Popular This Halloween Than Political Costumes:
Maybe it's because none of the Republican presidential candidates have a distinctive look, or maybe the economy's so bad that dressing up as Obama isn't REMOTELY funny . . . but NO ONE'S wearing political costumes this Halloween. --According to a new survey sponsored by Blockbuster, costumes inspired by pop culture are almost 1,000% more popular this year than politically-inspired costumes. --They found that one in four Americans who are going to dress up will be wearing a movie or TV-themed costume. --Of that group, about one in three will dress up as an action hero or adventure star. About one-quarter of ADULTS will dress up as an animated character. --The survey also found that 70% of adults plan to watch a scary movie at some point in the next two weeks. --29% will watch at least five. (MarketWatch)
Seven Fast Food Items You Can't Get in the U.S. . . . Including the Burger King Meat Monster and Subway's Roasted Cottage Cheese Sandwich:
We've got a list of seven fast food chain items you can only get in other countries. And two or three sound AMAZING . . . but as for the others, NO RUSH to bring them to America, guys. Check 'em out . . .
--Burger King's Meat Monster. In Japan, Burger King serves a double bacon cheeseburger with a grilled chicken breast on top. All on one bun. This is one of those items that NEEDS to immigrate to the U.S.
--McDonald's McVeggie. In India, where Hindus don't eat beef, McDonald's doesn't serve hamburgers. Their McVeggie features a patty made out of bread, potato, peas, carrots, and Indian spices.
--McDonald's McZuri. In Switzerland, McDonald's offers a patty made entirely out of VEAL. It's covered with mushrooms and caramelized onions.
--Subway's Paneer Tikka Sub. In India, Subway offers a sub that's basically ROASTED COTTAGE CHEESE. They take cottage cheese, marinate it in barbecue sauce, roast it into slices, and put it on a sandwich.
--KFC's Krushers. In Germany, Australia, South Africa, and other countries, KFC serves thick milkshakes called Krushers. They have flavors like mango, strawberry, and Kit Kat, and they look REALLY good.
--McDonald's Bubur Ayam McD. In Malaysia, McDonald's serves a dish that features chicken strips, ginger, and shallots in a chicken broth porridge.
--Burger King's Trio Supremo. In Brazil, BK serves a combo of onion rings, chicken nuggets, AND fries smothered in cheese and bacon bits. It's an absolute mystery how this hasn't made it to the U.S. (Yahoo) (--Here are photos of all seven items.)
Americans are Still Eating Out a Ton . . . But It's More McDonald's and Domino's Than Chili's and Cheesecake Factory:
No matter how bad the economy gets, you are NOT going to see the American people start cooking dinners at home. Come on. We might accidentally consume some vitamins. --According to the Bloomberg U.S. Quick Service Restaurant Index, Americans are still eating out as much as ever . . . but to adjust to the economy, we've changed which restaurants we're visiting for our daily plumping. --By the latest numbers, fast food eating has gone up 4% this year . . . that's eating at places like McDonald's, Subway, and Domino's. --And to compensate, eating at slightly more expensive full-service restaurants . . . like Chili's, Cheesecake Factory, and Olive Garden . . . has gone down 9% this year. (Bloomberg)
Most Parents are Distracted by Cell Phones While Teaching Their Teenagers How to Drive:
A new survey by State Farm Insurance found that most parents don't set a good example for their kids when teaching them how to drive. --Three out of five teenagers say their parents have been distracted by their cell phone or other electronic device WHILE they were giving them a driving lesson. --Three in ten teenagers also say their parents are distracted on a regular basis while teaching them to drive.--And the parents admitted it too. More than half said they've been distracted while their child was behind the wheel, and one in six say it happens regularly. --More than half of teenagers say they've seen their parents use a cell phone while behind the wheel on a regular basis, and two in five parents admit it. --One in four parents also say they aren't spending enough time teaching their kids to drive, and one in three teenagers said they didn't think they were getting enough practice time. (Multivu.com)
The New iPhone Has Broken Up Its First Marriage:
This seems a little too-good-to-be-true . . . but supposedly the new iPhone has already broken up its first marriage. --Here's how. The new iPhone has an optional feature called "Find My Friends" . . . which is really just a STALKING app. If your friends have it installed and give you permission, you can view their GPS location on a map at all times. --Well . . . a guy from New York City whose online screenname is "ThomasMetz" suspected his wife was cheating on him. So he bought her a new iPhone 4S last week and installed Find My Friends on it . . . without telling her.--Then, late Saturday night, she told him she was going to a friend's place. But her GPS location from Find My Friends showed she was at a different location . . . at a guy friend's place in a different part of the city. --Thomas had already suspected that she was having an affair with the guy . . . and now he had his proof. When he texted her, she lied and pretended she was at her girl friend's place. --ThomasMetz posted this story on a message board, complete with screenshots. He wrote, quote, "Thank you Apple, thank you App Store . . . these screenshots [are] going to play well when I meet her [a**] at the lawyer's office in a few weeks." --Yeah, it's a little suspicious that his first instinct after catching his wife cheating was to post on an Internet message board . . . which is why we suspect this MIGHT be made up . . . but it's still a good story. (Gawker)
A New App Helps You Alert Your Friends, Family, and Lawyer When You Get Arrested:
Next time you're planning to go commit a crime, might as well download this app beforehand. You know, just in case. The app is called "I'm Getting Arrested" and it sends a mass text to your friends, family, and lawyer. --All you have to do is get your hands free long enough to fire up the app, then hit the big bull's-eye right in the middle of the screen. Right now it's only available for the Android, and it's free. (Android.com)
Here are the Eight Secrets to Spotting a Liar:
Pamela Meyer is an expert on LYING. She's studied people for DECADES to find the main signs that they're not telling the truth. And she put together this list of the eight secrets of spotting someone who might be lying to you. Check it out . . .
#1.) Liars distance themselves from the subject. Like, for example, how BILL CLINTON said "I did not have sexual relations with THAT WOMAN." Saying "that woman" was a way to distance himself.
#2.) Liars use qualifying language. Things like "to tell you the truth" or "if I'm being honest."
#3.) Liars look you in the eye TOO much. They also don't fidget, and freeze their upper body.
#4.) Liars offer up too many details.
#5.) Liars who are trying to avoid punishment are more likely to suggest strict punishments. For example, OJ'S hunt for the real killers.
#6.) Liars put barrier objects between themselves and the person questioning them. Even little barriers, like picking up a pillow, or putting a coffee mug on the table.
#7.) Liars repeat questions before answering them.
#8.) Liars point their feet toward an exit.
(Lifehacker)
68% of Us Have Seen a Coworker Use the Bathroom and Not Wash Their Hands:
Almost no one will admit they use the bathroom without washing their hands. But we've all SEEN people do it. Sometimes on a daily basis. --According to a new survey, 68% of office workers say they've seen a coworker use the bathroom and not wash their hands. Men see it more than women, 75% to 61%. --Of the people surveyed who admitted to using the bathroom without washing their hands, 69% said they don't always wash because their hands aren't really dirty. --8% say they don't have time . . . 4% say they skipped it because the bathroom was out of soap or towels . . . and 3% skip it because NO ONE'S WATCHING. --Even among the people who DO say they wash their hands every time, 20% say sometimes they just give their hands a quick rinse without soap. (MarketWatch)
MEATBALL CRIMINALS
A Woman is Charged With Domestic Battery for Pelting Her Husband With Cupcakes?
Just because something is sweet, frosted, and delicious, doesn't mean it's not a WEAPON. --On Saturday night, 56-year-old Arturo Montesdeoca of Chicago got into a fight with his 60-year-old wife Dawn. They started yelling at each other, then it escalated and became physical. --And by "physical," we mean "tasty." -Dawn grabbed a BOX OF CUPCAKES . . . and started throwing them at her husband, one-by-one. As she pelted him with cupcakes, he called the cops. --When they got there, Arturo told them he FEARED FOR HIS SAFETY. And when the cops saw smudges of frosting on his head and shirt, that was enough for them. --Dawn was arrested for one misdemeanor count of DOMESTIC BATTERY. (Chicago Tribune)
One in Ten American Adults Has Been Falsely Accused of Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, or Sexual Assault:
A new survey by an anti-abuse organization found that a large number of Americans have been FALSELY accused of some of the worst crimes. --According to an organization called SAVE . . . Stop Abusive and Violent Environments . . . one in 10 Americans has been falsely accused of sexual abuse, domestic violence, or child abuse. --Men are much more likely to be the victim of a false accusation. Three out of every four phony claims are made against men, and seven in ten accusers in those cases are female. --The most common false charge is child abuse. Twice as many people have been falsely accused of that compared to domestic violence or a sex crime. --One quarter of the time, the false claim of child abuse comes as a result of a child custody case. --Claims of domestic violence often come out of divorce proceedings. In divorces with child custody at stake, domestic violence is claimed 55% of the time. Three out of every five claims, quote, "could not be substantiated as true." --Obviously, a false accusation of any of those three crimes usually ends up with social services getting involved. The report estimated that fake claims cost welfare and public help $20 billion a year. (MarketWatch)
NOT-SO-STUPID NEWS
Kids Who Watch TV Shows With Lots of Swearing are More Likely to Be Physically Aggressive:
A study out of Brigham Young University found that kids who watch TV shows with a lot of bad language are more likely to use that language themselves . . . and also more likely to be physically aggressive. --That includes actual violence like hitting, kicking, and punching classmates, and also stuff like gossiping and making up stories to hurt their classmates' reputations. --Professor Sarah Coyne talked to middle-schoolers in the Midwest, and found a link between hearing cursing on TV and video games and the level of aggression kids exhibit. --The researchers used a two-step process to link swearing to behavior. First, they showed that seeing characters swear made kids more likely to use similar language. Then they found that kids who curse are more aggressive. --Sarah said, quote, "It's not like you hear profanity in the media and go punch somebody. It's more of a trickle-down effect. It represents a lack of respect for parents." --Profanity on TV and games is almost as powerful as violence when it comes to predicting aggressive behavior in kids. (Time / Salt Lake Tribune)
RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS
Random News Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
According to a new study, one in four kids mistake medicine for candy. (Full Story)
A guy in Michigan had his nine-year-old daughter drive him to the store using a booster seat, because he was drunk. (Full Story)
According to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive drinking costs society $2 per drink. That includes, quote, "lost work productivity, property damage from car crashes, expenditures for liver cirrhosis and other alcohol-associated medical problems, and money spent on incarceration of drunk drivers and criminals using alcohol." (Full Story)
You can buy a special new collector's edition of Barbie where she has a tattoo running up her arm and across her chest. (Full Story)
A high school in Pennsylvania is raising revenue by selling ad space in its hallways. (Full Story)
69% of employees say they don't expect any kind of holiday reward this year. 55% say a $25 gift card would meet their expectations. 84% would be happy with $100. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) A Two-Year-Old in China Got Run Over by Two Cars . . . and it Took Ten Minutes Until Someone Stopped to Help:
People in China are outraged over security footage from last Thursday. It shows a van running over a TWO-YEAR-OLD GIRL. The driver stops for a few seconds, but drives off, and runs her over AGAIN with one of the back tires. --And a second driver . . . who probably didn't see her in the road . . . ran her over AGAIN. It's even MORE shocking because about twenty people saw the girl lying on the ground bleeding, and didn't help. --Finally . . . about 10 minutes later . . . a woman collecting bottles and cans from the trash saw the girl and got help. According to reports yesterday, the girl is in a military hospital in critical condition. --CNN reported that the first driver called the girl's dad after the video went viral, and offered to give the family money. But he wouldn't turn himself in. Luckily, the drivers of both cars were eventually tracked down by police. (--Search for "Girl Toddler Struck by 2 Trucks and Left for Dead." She gets run over at :19 and 1:02, and the woman stops to help at 1:35.) (--WARNING: Obviously the video includes fairly disturbing footage of a small child being run over by two cars.)
#2.) Check Out Herman Cain 20 Years Ago, Singing About Pizza to the Tune of John Lennon's "Imagine":
Before HERMAN CAIN was a Republican presidential candidate, he was the president and CEO of Godfather's Pizza. --And someone tracked down a video of Cain at an event in Omaha, Nebraska 20 years ago . . . singing about pizza to the tune of the John Lennon song "Imagine". --It's kind of embarrassing, since it's such an iconic song, and the lyrics are about things like "mozzarella" and "anchovies on the side." But Cain's definitely got some pipes.
(--Search for "Herman Cain Imagine There's No Pizza.")
#3.) A Base Jumper's Parachute Didn't Open . . . But He Somehow Survived an 876-Foot Belly Flop Into a River:
On Saturday, a 27-year-old base jumper named Christopher Brewer somehow survived an 876-foot fall when his parachute didn't open, after jumping off a bridge in Fayetteville, West Virginia. --He was wearing a wing suit, which slowed him down to about 70 miles an hour before he hit the river under the bridge. But there's a video of it, and it basically looks like a 900-foot belly flop. --According to the Associated Press, he suffered a fractured pelvis, and injuries to his lungs and his spine. But he's in stable condition. --It happened during a base-jumping event called Bridge Day, and it's the only day of the year when it's legal to base jump from that particular bridge. (--Search for "Bridge Day 2011 Accident." He jumps at :35.)
#4.) The Newest "Bad Lip Reading" Follows Mitt Romney on the Campaign Trail:
The guys who do the "Bad Lip Reading" series are back with a new video featuring MITT ROMNEY on the campaign trail. --According to the footage, Romney hasn't actually been talking about America . . . he's been taking about "spiders," "badgers," "Madonna," and "Wynonna Ryder." (--Search for "Mitt Romney A BLR Soundbite.") (--WARNING: This video includes the word "pis*ed" and bleeped profanity.)
#5.) Scientists in Tel-Aviv Have Figured Out "Quantum Levitation" . . . And It Makes Hoverboards Suddenly Seem Much More Realistic:
According to "Back to the Future Part II", we're supposed to have hoverboards by 2015. And we might be a lot closer thanks to scientists at Tel-Aviv University in Israel. --There's a new video on YouTube where they show off something called "quantum levitation." Basically, they figured out how to use super-magnets to make a frozen disc of special material FLOAT in mid air. --But it doesn't just float there. They can tilt it, and it stays locked in that position. And they can even put it on a circular track, and it make it float around. (--Search for "Quantum Levitation." He starts tilting it at :12, and spins it at :31. Then he puts it on a little race track at 1:04.)
Here are the Five Most Unhealthy Halloween Candies:
We see these lists every year, but if you're picking out your Halloween candy this week, "Reader's Digest" has a list of the unhealthiest Halloween candies you can buy. Obviously, ALL candy is bad for you, but here are the top five. --And remember, the recommended daily limit for processed sugar in a 2,000 calorie diet is about 40 grams, or between 100 and 150 calories. That's about eight teaspoons.
#1.) Twizzlers. They don't have much fat, but they're basically just sugar . . . which turns to fat in your body if you don't burn it off. And one Twizzler has about 35 calories and five grams of sugar.
#2.) Fun-Sized Butterfingers. Each one has 45 calories, and two grams of fat. So if you have four of them and weigh 150 pounds, you'd have to walk about 30 minutes to burn it off.
#3.) Fun-Sized Baby Ruth. Just one has upwards of 80 calories, four grams of fat, and 10 grams of sugar. It's mostly because of the chocolate-and-peanuts combo.
#4.) Fun-Sized Mounds. They're dark chocolate and have coconut filling, which might SOUND healthier. But one bar has 4.5 grams of fat, 7 grams of sugar, and 80 calories.
#5.) Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins. They're the Halloween version of Peanut Butter Cups, and they're probably the worst. --Instead of two small pieces, you get one big one that has 180 calories, 16 grams of sugar, and 11 grams of fat. --The peanut butter is the main reason it's so bad. And just to put it in perspective, if you eat two of them, that's 60 more calories than a McDonald's cheeseburger.
(Reader's Digest / Hersheys.com)
posted by Nazzy @ 5:58 AM
0 Comments
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home