HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (12-08-11)

Lindsay Lohan Was in Love with Heath Ledger:

There's been talk that LINDSAY LOHAN was seeing HEATH LEDGER when he died. Even if that's NOT true, it sounds like Lindsay wanted it to be --The "Star" claims it has one of Lindsay's private journals, and here's what she supposedly wrote after his death . . . quote, "Today Heath died. I'm in love with him . . . He was the love of my life. --"He taught me so much, and he was everything I've ever wanted and more. I want to hear him laugh and hold me. I crave his touch and care." --She also said, quote, "When a person dies the world stops. I'm numb. There's an emptiness. And a desire to feel loved. A need to be held in the arms of someone who understands. But what do you do when the one who understands is gone?" --Then Lindsay got all philosophical, and compared life to JENGA. (???) She said, quote, "It's like a game of Jenga, and when one piece slips, it all falls apart. --"One pill, one slip and it goes down the slope, crashes and burns and it's over. Why? I ask myself over and over. Cry is all I can do." --About 10 days after Heath died, Lindsay wrote something that could easily apply to her own life . . . quote, "Heath is a prime example of what this industry can do to someone. It craves to see someone fail. --"It brings enjoyment to us to watch one die. The tragedy and cravings for it can kill. And will."


Kris Humphries is Getting a Man Cave . . . on TV:

Who says KRIS HUMPHRIES can't milk his newly-single status for a little publicity and some extra cash? Yesterday, Kris taped an episode of the DIY Network series "Man Caves". --Host Jason Cameron and NFL analyst TONY SIRAGUSA helped Kris design and build his very own man cave in his Minnesota home. There's no word yet on an airdate for the episode.


END OF THE YEAR LIST-OMANIA

The Celebrity Couples of the Year:


E! Online has released a list of the Celebrity Couples of the Year. Here they are . . .


#1.) Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber


#2.) Kate Middleton and Prince William


#3.) Beyoncé and Jay-Z


#4.) Victoria and David Beckham


#5.) Stacy Keibler and George Clooney


#6.) Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux


#7.) Nikki Reed and Paul McDonald


#8.) Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock (--Ryan and Sandra are really just friends . . . but Ryan and Blake are TOTALLY DOING IT.)


#9.) Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig


#10.) Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield


"Rolling Stone's" 50 Best Albums of the Year:

As part of a series of End of the Year lists, "Rolling Stone" has unleashed their annual list of the 50 Best Albums of 2011. Here are the Top 20:


1.) "21", Adele

2.) "Watch the Throne", Jay-Z and Kanye West

3.) "So Beautiful or So What", Paul Simon

4.) "Helplessness Blues", Fleet Foxes

5.) "The King of Limbs", Radiohead

6.) "Born This Way", Lady Gaga

7.) "The King Is Dead", The Decemberists

8.) "The Whole Love", Wilco

9.) "Wild Flag", Wild Flag

10.) "How to Become Clairvoyant", Robbie Robertson

11.) "Circuital", My Morning Jacket

12.) "El Camino", The Black Keys

13.) "Whokill", Tune-Yards

14.) "Hot Sauce Committee Part Two", Beastie Boys

15.) "Thank You Happy Birthday", Cage the Elephant

16.) "Collapse Into Now", R.E.M.

17.) "Nine Types of Light", TV on the Radio

18.) "Metals", Feist

19.) "Chief", Eric Church

20.) "Wasting Light", Foo Fighters


(--You can find the complete Top 50 . . . along with write-ups on each album . . . at RollingStone.com.)



"Rolling Stone's" 50 Best Singles of the Year:

"Rolling Stone" has (also) released their annual list of the 50 Best Singles of 2011. Here are the Top 20:


1.) "Rolling in the Deep", Adele

2.) "[N-words] in Paris", Jay-Z and Kanye West

3.) "Till the World Ends", Britney Spears

4.) "These Days", Foo Fighters

5.) "Rewrite", Paul Simon

6.) "Lotus Flower", Radiohead

7.) "Edge of Glory", Lady Gaga

8.) "Countdown", Beyoncé

9.) "Six Foot Seven Foot", Lil Wayne featuring Cory Gunz

10.) "Don't Carry It All", The Decemberists

11.) "Pumped Up Kicks", Foster the People

12.) "Dedication to My Ex (Miss That)", Lloyd with Andre 3000 and Lil Wayne

13.) "Circuital", My Morning Jacket

14.) "Get It Daddy", Sleeper Agent

15.) "You", TV on the Radio

16.) "Lorelai", Fleet Foxes

17.) "I Might", Wilco

18.) "Little Black Submarines", The Black Keys

19.) "Blessed", Lucinda Williams

20.) "Welcome to the Jungle", Jay-Z and Kanye West

(--You can find the complete Top 50 . . . along with write-ups on each single . . . at RollingStone.com.)


"Rolling Stone's" 10 Best Movies of the Year:

"Rolling Stone" has (also) released a list of the 10 Best Movies of 2011.

--Here they are:

1.) "Drive", starring Ryan Gosling

2.) "The Artist", the French-American black-and-white movie about Old Hollywood

3.) "The Descendants", starring George Clooney

4.) "Moneyball", starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill

5.) "Midnight in Paris", the Woody Allen movie starring Owen Wilson

6.) "Hugo", the Martin Scorsese family movie about a runaway boy

7.) "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", the Cold War spy movie starring Gary Oldman

8.) "Margin Call", the Wall Street movie starring Kevin Spacey and Jeremy Irons

9.) "The Tree of Life", the Terrence Malick movie starring Brad Pitt

10.) A three-way tie between so-called "crowd-pleasers": "War Horse", "The Help" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2".

(--You can find mini write-ups on each movie at RollingStone.com.)


American Airlines Calls Out Alec Baldwin for Being a Jerk . . . And Alec Blames the Incident on 9/11:

On Tuesday, an American Airlines pilot kicked ALEC BALDWIN off a plane for throwing a fit when a flight attendant asked him to turn off his phone. Apparently, he was too engrossed in a very important game of Words With Friends. --Baldwin then went on a TWITTER TIRADE, targeting both American and the offending flight attendant. --After it happened, it sounded like the airline wanted to make peace with Alec. But yesterday, they said it was ALL HIS FAULT . . . and called him RUDE in the process. --That's according to a statement on the American Airlines Facebook page. It said that Alec was asked to turn his phone off at, quote, "the appropriate time", and he refused. --Then, quote, "[He] ultimately stood up (with the seat belt light still on for departure) and took his phone into the plane's lavatory. --"He slammed the lavatory door so hard, the cockpit crew heard it and became alarmed, even with the cockpit door closed and locked. --"They immediately contacted the cabin crew to check on the situation. The passenger was extremely rude to the crew, calling them inappropriate names and using offensive language." --"Given the facts above, the passenger was removed from the flight and denied boarding." (--Here's the American Airlines statement.) --Alec didn't respond on Twitter, because he DELETED HIS ACCOUNT. But he did reply with an essay on the Huffington Post. He apologized to his fellow passengers, but NOT to the airline or the flight attendant. --He said he was "singled out" and made an example of, while other passengers who were on their phones were, quote, "left undisturbed." --Then he took a shot at the airline industry . . . and blamed the problem on 9/11. He said, quote, "Airlines in the US are struggling with fuel costs, labor costs, bankruptcies, you name it. --"It's no secret that the level of service on U.S. carriers has deteriorated to a point that would make Howard Hughes red-faced. --"Filthy planes, barely edible meals, cuts in jet service to less-traveled locations. One of the big changes, in my time, is in the increase of the post-9/11, paramilitary bearing of much of the air travel business. --"September 11th was a horrific day in the airline industry, yet in the wake of that event, I believe carriers and airports have used that as an excuse to make the air travel experience as inelegant as possible." (--You can read his full rant here.) (--During said tirade, Alec also called the ordeal a "Greyhound bus experience". And that pissed off Greyhound. Here's their response.)


Daniel Radcliffe is the Entertainer of the Year . . . According to "Entertainment Weekly":

"Entertainment Weekly" has named DANIEL RADCLIFFE its Entertainer of the Year. --Obviously, "Harry Potter" was a big factor in their decision. But Daniel also did "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" on Broadway. Up next is a horror flick called "The Woman in Black", which hits theaters in February.

--Other honorees this year include . . .

--Adele

--The cast of "Bridesmaids"

--Hugh Jackman

--"South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone

--Viola Davis from "The Help"

--"Game of Thrones" author George R. R. Martin

(--The "Entertainers of the Year" issue hits newsstands tomorrow.)


NEW MOVIES THIS WEEKEND

Jonah Hill's "The Sitter" is Up Against the "New Year's Eve" Ensemble:

#1.) "New Year's Eve" (PG-13) (Trailer)

Hilary Swank is responsible for coordinating the ball drop in Times Square, and she panics when there are last minute problems with its propulsion mechanism. Plus her opening act's backup singer, Lea Michele, is stuck in an elevator with Ashton Kutcher. --It's directed by Garry Marshall, who also directed "Valentine's Day". --Just like its predecessor, this romantic comedy has a huge ensemble cast which also includes Ludacris, Jon Bon Jovi, Zac Efron, Jessica Biel, Halle Berry, Katherine Heigl, Sofia Vergara, Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sarah Jessica Parker, Abigail Breslin, Josh Duhamel, and "SNL's" Seth Meyers. --Joey McIntyre from New Kids on the Block also makes a cameo appearance, along with Common, Alyssa Milano, Jim Belushi, and Ryan Seacrest as himself. --You may remember that Ashton Kutcher and Jessica Biel were also in "Valentine's Day", but they played entirely different characters. That one was based in L.A. "New Year's Eve" obviously showcases New York City.)


#2.) "The Sitter" (R) (Trailer) (Red Band Trailer)

Jonah Hill plays a lazy college student who takes a job babysitting three kids. When his girlfriend lures him out of the house with the promise of sex, he takes the kids with him, and they eventually end up being chased around town by two drug dealers. (--That sounds suspiciously like a remake of the 1987 comedy "Adventures in Babysitting". You can watch Elizabeth Shue sing "Babysitting Blues", which essentially recaps the entire plot of that movie, here.) --There's a phone number for Jonah Hill's character on a flyer for the movie, and a lot of people have called to leave him voice messages. Supposedly he may even pick up and talk to you. The number is 917-409-7838. You can find some of the messages on YouTube. (--Here's one featuring a chick who's totally wasted.) (Voicemail)


The First Trailer for the "Three Stooges" Movie is Out . . . and People are Hating It:

The first trailer for the "Three Stooges" movie hit the web yesterday . . . and it looks pretty faithful to the classic "Stooges" comedies. --But that seems to be a problem, because pretty much all the commentary I'm seeing around the web is NEGATIVE. Very negative. (--Check out the trailer here and judge for yourself. At 1:33, Moe pokes SNOOKI in the eyes. Yes, the REAL Snooki. The movie hits theaters on April 13th.) (--The movie stars Will Sasso from "Mad TV" as Curly, Sean Hayes from "Will & Grace" as Larry and some guy named Chris Diamantopoulos as Moe. And they all seem PERFECT in their roles.) (--And it's hard to believe this movie won't be funny, because it's by the Farrelly Brothers. They're the dudes responsible for "There's Something About Mary", "Dumb & Dumber", "Kingpin" and "Me, Myself & Irene".) (--They WERE comedy from the mid-'90s through the early part of this century. They were basically the Judd Apatow of their day.) (--Judging by the trailer, I would say that anyone who likes the Stooges should like this movie. Maybe people DON'T like the Stooges anymore?) (--Maybe slapstick humor that doesn't involve bodily fluids or genitalia getting caught in zippers . . . both of which the Farrellys can take credit for introducing into the comedy mainstream, by the way . . . just doesn't impress anymore?)
Horrifying News: E! Could Do *Four* More Shows with the Kardashians:

Someone out there is HOPING for FOUR MORE reality shows following the KARDASHIAN family. But that's not the bad news. --The bad news is: That person is Bonnie Hammer, and she's the entertainment chairman for NBC Universal, which owns the E! network . . . the channel that has taken the Kardashian family and CREATED A MONSTER. --Specifically, Hammer says her vision for the future of E! includes, quote, "two, three, even four new Kardashian [spinoffs]." She went on to call the Kardashians a "beautiful, interesting" family. --Thankfully, this is just talk for now, and there are no new Kardashian shows in the works yet . . . at least, that we know of. --So far, there have been four Kardashian shows: "Keeping Up with the Kardashians"; "Kourtney and Kim Take New York", "Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami", and "Khloe and Lamar", with Khloe and her husband LAMAR ODOM. --There have also been several specials, including the notorious "Kim's Fairytale Wedding" . . . in which "fairytale" turned out to be more literal than we thought. --According to someone's random educated guess, future Kardashian shows could focus on: Kim's newly single life, a series about brother Rob Kardashian who was just on "Dancing with the Stars", a show about Kourtney's second pregnancy, and a show about younger sisters Kylie and Kendall.


Is Ryan Seacrest in Talks to Replace Matt Lauer?

Is RYAN SEACREST in line to take over for MATT LAUER on the "Today" show? --Maybe. The "Wall Street Journal" reports that Ryan met with NBC execs and "Today" show producers on Tuesday to kick the can on some ideas for the future. --NBC is supposedly DROOLING over the possibility of having Ryan join the "Today" show, even though it's unclear what Matt's deal is. --Matt has been with the "Today" show since 1997, and is signed through next year . . . but after MEREDITH VIEIRA left earlier this year, there was talk that Matt was planning on walking away once his contract is up. (--That rumor actually had nothing to do with Meredith . . . it had to do with KATIE COURIC leaving the "CBS Evening News" around the same time. The thinking was that Matt wanted to reunite with Katie on a NEW talk show.) (--Matt later denied that he was leaving "Today" . . . sort of. He vaguely said, quote, "I'm going to be here for a long period of time." And that was that.) --And now, here are the caveats: The "Journal" cautions that these negotiations are "preliminary," and the "Hollywood Reporter" described the meeting as part of, quote, "continued discussions," whatever that means. --There's no official word from NBC, Ryan's people or Matt's people.


NBC Has Punished Questlove . . . with Micro-Management:

NBC has punished QUESTLOVE of THE ROOTS for playing the FISHBONE song "Lyin' Ass [B-word]" as MICHELE BACHMANN walked on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" last month. --His punishment is: More micro-management. -Questlove used to be able to choose whatever music he wanted, but now he must clear every song with three different NBC execs. He was also banned from Tweeting about the incident. --In an interview with "Rolling Stone", JIMMY FALLON joked, quote, "It was a real bummer. We don't want to censor anyone, but . . . I don't know. Maybe Questlove is a Romney guy."


The Girls for the Next Season of "The Bachelor" Have Been Revealed:

The 16th season of "The Bachelor" begins on January 2nd. So, we're less than a month away from watching Ben Flajnik slowly whittle a group of 25 ladies down to the one lucky woman . . . who he will ultimately share a bitter break-up with. (--You can scout out the candidates for Ben's temporary affection at ABC.com. Which one would YOU like to share some questionably sincere moments with? My vote is for the ELDERLY contestant Sheryl, because like her bio says, "Age is just a number.") (--And here's a video preview, which premiered on "Good Morning America".)


Former "M*A*S*H" Star Harry Morgan Has Passed Away:

HARRY MORGAN, who played Colonel Sherman T. Potter on "M*A*S*H", died yesterday. He was 96. There's no official cause of death, but he had been suffering from pneumonia. (--And again, he was 96.) --"M*A*S*H" was Harry's biggest gig. He first showed up in Season Four, and continued playing Colonel Potter up through the series finale . . . and on the short-lived spin-off, "AfterMASH". --But that was far from his only role. --In the late '60s, Harry played JACK WEBB'S partner Detective Bill Gannon on "Dragnet" . . . and he also played the character in the 1987 movie "Dragnet", which starred Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks. --Throughout his career, the "New York Times" says Harry was "in more than 100 movies . . . playing Western bad guys, characters with names like Rocky and Shorty, loyal sidekicks, judges, sheriffs, soldiers, thugs and police chiefs."


Thursday TV Reminders:

--"The X Factor" [Results Show] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Fox. Mary J. Blige and Lenny Kravitz perform.


--"Winter Wipeout: Deck the Balls" . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC. Vanessa Lachey is your new co-host, though you may know her better as Vanessa Minnillo.


--"The Office" . . . 9:00 to 9:30 P.M. on NBC. Andy tries to grant everyone their holiday wish.


--"Bones" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Fox. Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top guest stars as Angela's rocker dad who babysits her new baby boy.


--"The First 48" [12th Season Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on A&E.


--"Whitney" . . . 9:30 to 10:00 P.M. on NBC. Jane Kaczmarek and Peter Gallagher guest star as Whitney's parents.


--"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on FX. "Revenge's" Nick Wechsler and "Grimm's" Sasha Roiz guest star when Mac and the gang return for their high school class reunion in this first of a two-part episode.


--"The Great Big American Auction" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ABC. Ty Pennington helps people discover the value of their rare collectibles before they are put up for auction.


--"Gigolos" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 11:00 to 11:30 P.M. on Showtime.


--"Dave's Old Porn" [1st Season Finale] . . . 11:30 P.M. to Midnight on Showtime. Comedian Greg Fitzsimmons and mattress actress Sharon Kane guest.


Gene Simmons Doesn't Think Madonna Should Be Performing at the Super Bowl:

GENE SIMMONS of KISS has something to say about the decision to have MADONNA perform this year's Super Bowl halftime show, which isn't surprising since Gene has an opinion on EVERYTHING. --When the paparazzi asked him for his take, Gene said, quote, "I don't think it's appropriate." He added that he thought they'd be better off with a, quote, "real band." --But Gene doesn't necessarily have anything against Madonna . . . who he calls, quote, "terrific" . . . he just doesn't like performers who LIP-SYNC at events like the Super Bowl. --He said, quote, "I love all karaoke singers, I like all the girl singers who get up and sing with tapes . . . shame on you! You've got to have some integrity . . . be real . . . OR full disclosure before the fact . . . --"Hold up a sign and say '70% of what you hear is fake. It's a tape, I'm a karaoke singer' . . . I hate dancers, I hate tapes." (--TMZ has video of Gene's comments.) (--Unfortunately, I've got to agree with Gene here. No matter how common or expected lip-syncing is during some televised events . . . I can't get interested in watching someone "sing" along to a pre-recorded track.) (--That being said, it might not always be up to the performer. I wouldn't be surprised if the producers of the Super Bowl halftime show PREFER an artist to lip-sync.) (--They only have a few moments to set that stage up . . . and if the artist is performing live, they must rely on every piece of equipment being set up perfectly in order for the show to go off without a hitch.)

Check Out McLovin's "Garage Band": The Young Rapscallions:

Here's something you may not have known: CHRISTOPHER MINTZ-PLASSE . . . McLovin from "Superbad" . . . has a rock band with his childhood friends. They call themselves THE YOUNG RAPSCALLIONS. --The band formed four years ago, after Christopher bought a drum set with his first paycheck from "Superbad". He says they're a real garage-rock band because, quote, "We play rock music out of [my parents'] garage." --Their debut album, "Everything Vibrates" is for sale on iTunes. (--You can also check out some of their songs on their Facebook page. They have some tour dates coming up, but they're all in the Western U.S.)


Michael Buble's Christmas Album Topped the "Billboard" Chart Again:

It was a slow week on the "Billboard" chart. The highest debut came from TREY SONGZ, whose new album "Inevitable" moved 27,000 copies way down at #23. --That allowed MICHAEL BUBLE to claim the #1 spot for a second week in a row. His album "Christmas" sold another 293,000 copies this week, pushing its total sales to just over 1 million.


THURSDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS

Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:


JASON SUDEIKIS from "Saturday Night Live" might be dating OLIVIA WILDE. (Full Story)



KRISTEN WIIG might be dating STROKES drummer FABRIZIO MORETTI . . . who used to date DREW BARRYMORE. (Full Story)



"Sex and the City" author CANDACE BUSHNELL has filed for divorce from her husband of nine years. She says he had an affair with a ballerina. (--He's a ballerina, too.) (Full Story)



Check out a God-awful TIM TEBOW thigh tattoo . . . on a guy. (Photo)



BROOKE MUELLER is going to "vigorously defend" herself against cocaine possession charges in Aspen, Colorado, in the hope of having all the charges dropped. And by the way . . . her lawyer is the guy who defended CHARLIE SHEEN when he attacked and choked Brooke in Aspen two years ago. (Full Story)



An Indian newspaper reported that 200 people were paid $3 and a free lunch to erupt into cheers when TOM CRUISE arrived in the city of Mumbai. Tom's people say it's not true. (Full Story)


M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN says that WILL SMITH calls him M. NEEZIE. (Full Story)



15-year-old ABIGAIL BRESLIN made $65,000 for FOUR HOURS of work on an animated movie. (Full Story)



LAUREN SCRUGGS . . . the model who walked into an airplane propeller on Saturday . . . was up and walking yesterday with some help from a physical therapist. She still doesn't have vision in her left eye. (Full Story)



The people who bought the house in Utah that was built to look like the house in the Pixar movie "Up" might have to paint it because of neighborhood homeowners association rules. (Full Story)



Would you like to see PAMELA ANDERSON play the Virgin Mary in a skit from a Canadian comedy special? (Video)



On MTV, women trash-talk and insult each other more than men do. (Full Story)



Nothing is definite yet, but the guys in QUEEN are considering some live dates with former "American Idol" finalist ADAM LAMBERT.


RANDOM STUFF

Here Are the Year's Most Popular Stories from Different News Organizations . . . and They're Not What You'd Think:

Here are the most popular stories from the websites of different news organizations in 2011, based on the number of page views. And most of them aren't what you'd think . . .


--"New York Times". Their most popular story was NOT real news . . . it was an essay published January 2nd called "Sustainable Love", about what makes up a happy marriage. (Link)


--"Wall Street Journal". Not a financial or business story. No . . . their most popular story was an excerpt from "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" called "Why Chinese Mothers are Superior". It helped launch that book to massive sales. (Link)


--"New York Daily News". Their biggest story of the year was about a Brooklyn Housing Authority worker who killed a giant rat with a pitchfork in August. (Link)


--FOX News. Their biggest story was from just a few days ago . . . a story about KIM KARDASHIAN being placed on Australia's immigration department watch list because of lies on her visa application. (Link)


--ESPN. With everything that went down in sports this year, somehow their most popular story was a random January 13th article where Antonio Cromartie, a cornerback for the New York Jets, lobbed insults at TOM BRADY. (Link)


--CNN and MSNBC both had their highest readership with stories about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. (CNN link, MSNBC link)

(WP Lucey)
Osama Bin Laden's Death was the Most Popular Facebook Topic This Year . . . and the Abbreviation "LMS" was the Most Common Acronym:

Facebook just released their most popular status update trends of the year, and there are a surprising amount of real news topics. Plus one video game. Here's the top 10 . . .


#1.) The death of OSAMA BIN LADEN

#2.) The Green Bay Packers winning the Super Bowl

#3.) CASEY ANTHONY found not guilty

#4.) CHARLIE SHEEN and his meltdown

#5.) The death of STEVE JOBS

#6.) The royal wedding

#7.) The death of AMY WINEHOUSE

#8.) The video game "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3"

#9.) The beginning of military operations in Libya

#10.) Hurricane Irene


--Facebook also revealed that the most common acronym in Facebook statuses this year was "LMS" . . . which stands for "like my status." Or, technically, "like mah status" is the way the kids pronounce it. Right. (Mashable)


(--Here's more from Facbeook including their most popular TV shows, athletes, celebrities, and more from 2011.)


One in Four Men Still Dream About Their Ex-Girlfriends:

Bad news, ladies. Your boyfriend or husband's SUBCONSCIOUS is totally cheating on you. --According to a new study out of England, 25% of men admit they regularly dream about EX-GIRLFRIENDS. --Fortunately, it doesn't mean they WANT to get back with those exes. The majority said they don't think about their exes when they're awake, and have high levels of satisfaction with their current relationships. --The study also found that men are more likely to dream about coworkers and even their mother-in-law than their current girlfriend. --For women, it's different. They're most likely to dream about their current partner or their close friends. Dreams about their parents and children are next-most likely. Dreams about their exes are rare. --One more note. Before you get mad at your husband or boyfriend for dreaming about his ex . . . most dream interpretation books say it's supposedly a GOOD THING. --When someone dreams about an ex, it's usually a sign that they've moved on and they're much happier now than they were before. (Daily Mail)


About One in Seven People Has Drunkenly Bought Something Online:

Here's one of the underrated dangers of getting drunk in this day and age: DRUNK SHOPPING.
--Before the Internet, when we all shopped in STORES, if you tried to shop hammered, they'd call the cops. Now, you're free to shop even though you can't see straight. --And we DO. A new survey found that about one in seven people says they've drunkenly bought something online they NEVER would've bought sober. --Clothes and shoes are the most common drunk online purchases. They're followed by DVDs, books, video games, tech products, and LINGERIE. --The majority of drunken purchases are made between 11:00 P.M. and 1:00 A.M., although about 20% of people admit they've made a drunk purchase as late as 5:00 A.M. --More than half of people say that when they woke up the next morning, they remembered what they'd purchased . . . but about 20% didn't realize it until sometime during the next day . . . and 7% had no recollection of buying anything. (AOL Lifestyle)


A Majority of People Will Use an Artificial Tree This Christmas:

Sacrilege! A survey by CouponCabin.com found that most Americans plan on using an ARTIFICIAL tree this Christmas. --54% of people say they'll use a fake tree instead of a real one this holiday season. --Of the people going artificial, 61% said it's because it's cheaper than buying a real tree every year. --And one in three said it's because fake trees are better for the environment . . . which isn't necessarily true. (PR Newswire)


Which is Better for the Environment . . . a Real Christmas Tree or a Fake One?

A majority of people are buying an artificial tree this Christmas, and a third of them say it's because they're better for the environment. Is that true? There's no easy answer, but we thought we'd check out both sides. --Part of the problem is that it's a little like someone on a diet choosing between cheesecake or donuts. Neither one is particularly GOOD. It's more a question of which does the least damage.

--Why you should choose a REAL tree:

--There are about 400 million Christmas trees growing on tree farms in the U.S. right now, and they're all taking in CO2 and generating oxygen. About 30 million are harvested each year. --Artificial trees are made of plastic and contain PVC, and making PVC creates cancer-causing byproducts. Your plastic tree itself is safe, but since most artificial trees are made in CHINA, the byproducts probably aren't disposed of safely. --And obviously, artificial trees aren't biodegradable. So when they eventually DO get thrown out, they'll probably end up in a landfill for centuries. --One study found that artificial trees have a carbon footprint THREE times larger than a real tree, and you'd have to keep an artificial tree TWENTY YEARS to make it as green as a real one.

--Why you should choose an ARTIFICIAL tree:

--In order to get a full-sized real Christmas tree, it needs to be GROWN. That means years of watering, and you're tying up land with giant Christmas tree farms. -Then you have to get the tree to your house. A study by the American Christmas Tree Association found that the biggest contribution to global warming in this whole debate came from transporting real trees from farms, to lots, to your home. --But keep in mind: The American Christmas Tree Association is actually the trade organization behind artificial Christmas trees. --Their study took into account the full life cycle of the tree, from sapling to the stand in your living room, and found that as long as you use an artificial tree for 10 years, it will be the greener option.
(NY Times, ChristmasTreeAssociation.org)


Planning Something for Your Employees Tahis Christmas? 72% Want a Cash Bonus . . . Only 4% Want a Party:

This makes me sad for the era of the company Christmas party. Those wonderful parties where alcohol flows amongst a group of people who are usually tightly-wound and professional, leading to a series of glorious embarrassments. --Yeah . . . no one wants them anymore. We'll take the cash. --In a pretty eye-opening new poll by Harris Interactive, only 4% of workers said a party . . . even one with an open bar . . . is one of their top three choices for a holiday perk from their employer. It lost to EVERYTHING . . .
--72% want a cash bonus.

--62% want a raise.

--32% want time off.

--23% would like a grocery gift card.

--14% would like to be able to work from home for a year.

--11% would like shares of stock in the company.

--10% would like a healthcare subsidy.

--8% would like a gym membership.

--And THEN 4% picked a holiday party. (LiveScience)


The School Where Obama's Daughters Go Served a Japanese-Inspired Lunch Menu on Pearl Harbor Day:

This is one of those controversies that's probably just an unfortunate coincidence. But we still want to help make a HUGE DEAL out of it. --Yesterday was the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Obviously, 70 years is a long time, and now we all eat sushi, buy Nintendos, and don't think twice about how the Japanese were once our bitter enemies. --And now for the controversy. Yesterday, an elite private school near Washington, D.C. called Sidwell Friends served a lunch menu filled with Asian-inspired items like Oriental Noodle Salad, Asian Mushroom Soup, and teriyaki chicken strips. --And on the school's lunch calendar they printed that entire menu . . . AND noted that it was Pearl Harbor Day. --And, just to make things worse . . . PRESIDENT OBAMA'S daughters, Sasha and Malia, both go to the school. --The school says it was just an unfortunate coincidence. --The contractor who does their lunches randomly picked that menu for that day, and the subcontractor who prints the menus automatically adds in holidays to the calendar, so they added the "Pearl Harbor Day" line. (Washington Post)


Some Kids' Breakfast Cereals Contain More Sugar Than a Twinkie . . . Here Are the Five That Have the Most:

Earlier this year, a group of nutritionists and marketing experts told Congress that kids' breakfast cereals contain too much sugar. --The group recommended that cereal shouldn't contain more than 24-to-26% sugar . . . but cereal makers aren't jumping to make any changes. --A nonprofit group called the Environmental Working Group found that 56 of the 84 most popular kids' cereals contain more than the recommended level of sugar. That means they have more sugar than two Oreo cookies.

--Here are the five cereals with the highest levels of sugar:

#1.) Honey Smacks: This cereal is 55.6% sugar by weight. It contains as much sugar as a Twinkie.


#2.) Golden Crisp: It's also more than half sugar, at 51.9%.


#3.) Froot Loops Marshmallow: 48.3% sugar.


#4.) Cap'n Crunch Oops All Berries: These are Crunch Berries without the little yellow non-berry cereal included. It's 46.9% sugar.


#5.) Honey Graham Oh's: This one kind of pretends it's a healthy cereal, but it's 44.4% sugar.


(Huffington Post)
Running Marathons May Cause Permanent Heart Damage:

Everything good for you is actually bad for you! There's nothing you can do to improve your health, so you might as well sit on the couch gorging on donuts until the day you die! --According to a new study out of the University of Melbourne in Australia, running marathons can cause PERMANENT HEART DAMAGE -In other words, getting your body into its best shape ever so you can run 26.2-mile marathons can put your heart at risk. Of course. --In the study, researchers examined 40 elite marathoners with no history of heart problems. They were tested right after the marathon, and the researchers found their hearts had changed shape. --The right ventricle stopped working properly, which can cause irregular heartbeats . . . or worse. --For most of the athletes, the right ventricle went back to functioning properly within a week . . . but in 12.5%, there were signs of permanent scarring. --Dr. Andre La Gerche led the study. He says, quote, "I don't believe the human body is designed to exercise at full stretch for as long as 11 hours a day, so damage to the heart is not implausible." (FOX News)


MEATBALL CRIMINALS

A Guy Tried to Rob Walmart . . . at the Same Time They Were Hosting "Shop With a Cop Day":

"Shop with a Cop" is a charity event that allows underprivileged kids to go Christmas shopping with police officers. --Several cities around the country host it, including Waldorf, Maryland, which held the event last Saturday. (--Waldorf is about 23 miles south of Washington, D.C.) --That would have been good for 22-year-old Timothy Randall Clark to know, because he picked the same day to shoplift from the Waldorf Walmart.--Timothy was spotted by Walmart loss prevention officers in the back of the store, opening video game packages and stuffing the games into his pants and sweatshirt. --But instead of confronting him, the security guards rounded up some of the 50 police officers shopping in the store at the time. --The police stopped Timothy in the parking lot. He had 26 games for PlayStation and Xbox, two controllers, and several other video game accessories. The value of the merchandise they recovered was $635.04. --He was arrested and charged with theft. (Fox DC)


RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS

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


MARK ZUCKERBERG's private photos got hacked on Facebook. But don't get excited . . . they're lame. (Full Story)


Meet Lulu, the competitive pole dancer from Maryland . . . who's 5'4" and 252 pounds. (Full Story)


Check out a stupid slideshow of the weirdest gifts on the Internet . . . including two-headed taxidermy? (Full Story)


Here's a list of six annoying Christmas gifts to give the kids of people you hate. (Full Story)


NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) Here's What the New Muppet Movie Would Be Like if It Was Written and Directed by the Makers of "Saw":

If you wish the new Muppet movie WASN'T so family friendly, someone made a fake trailer for a version that would be a LOT edgier. It's a cross between the Muppets . . . and the "Saw" horror movie franchise. --It starts with Grover from "Sesame Street" hanging from the ceiling, dead. While Gonzo wakes up strapped to a chair with a spiked metal torture device strapped to his head . . . just like the spring-loaded Venus flytrap "death mask" from "Saw 2". --And this time, Jigsaw's puppet is . . . Ms. Piggy. (--Search for "The Muppets: Saw Trailer." They show a sketch of the killer at :57 . . . and it's JASON SEGEL.)


#2.) And Now . . . A Guy with a Mullet and a Detroit Pistons Sweatshirt Whistles "Georgia on My Mind" with His Mouth Open:

We don't know if this is real or not . . . because it's so ridiculous. But someone posted a video on YouTube of a guy with a mullet on a talk show in the late '80s or early '90s. And he shows off his ridiculous talent . . . of whistling with his mouth open. --The talent itself is hilarious, but so is the guy. In addition to the outstanding mullet, he's wearing a Detroit Pistons sweatshirt, and his facial expressions are AMAZING. --The whistling itself is actually pretty good. He does "Georgia on My Mind" and goes nuts with it. (--Search for "Guy Whistles on Best Talk Show Ever." The whistling starts at :21.)


#3.) Was This Local News Anchor Drunk on the Air?

People tend to drink a little more around the holidays . . . and for good reason. But a news anchor in Minnesota may have gotten started a little early this year. --Annie Stensrud is an anchor for a CBS affiliate in Mankato, Minnesota (--about 80 miles southwest of Minneapolis). And on Sunday, her whole report was extremely slow, and very slurred. --We don't know if she was drunk or not, but she definitely ACTED drunk. Check out the video and decide for yourself. (--Search for "KEYC Mankato News Anchor Drunk on Air?" The most-slurred spots start at 1:25 and 2:25.)


Three Things You Don't Know About Mall Santas:

If you think being a mall Santa is easy, think about this: 73% of them say a child coughs or sneezes directly into their FACE at least once a day. --If that's not enough, they sometimes have to deal with 12-hour workdays, limited breaks, screaming kids, and cranky parents. And the busy ones have to listen to about 30,000 kids a year. --With that said, a mall Santa can easily make up to $15,000 in two months. And the best ones can pull in $80,000. Here are three more things you probably don't know about mall Santas.

#1.) Getting Into the Business Isn't Cheap. A good Santa suit can cost anywhere from $400 to $2,000. And a good wig and beard set . . . made out of YAK HAIR . . . can cost $1,500. --Plus, a lot of mall Santas have back-up suits in case a kid has an 'accident.' One-third of Santas say a child as peed on them.


#2.) Almost 90% of Mall Santas Have a College Degree. That's according to an annual survey from an actual organization called "The Kringle Group." --But going to college doesn't really prepare you for screaming kids who want EVERYTHING. So a lot of them get special training at professional 'Santa schools,' which can cost as much as $1,000.


#3.) They Have a Quota. The mall makes money off the photos Santa takes with kids. And a lot of mall Santas either get a bonus, or a cut of the photos fees if they see a certain number of kids each day. --That's one of the reasons children only get about 30 seconds each. --If you want MORE time with Santa, they charge anywhere from $50 to $300 an HOUR for private visits. Or just avoid the peak times at the mall, which means weekends, and obviously Christmas Eve. (SmartMoney.com)