HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (06-23-11)
Reggie Bush Is Dating a Girl Who Looks a Lot Like Kim Kardashian:
It's official: REGGIE BUSH has a type. And it's his ex-girlfriend, KIM KARDASHIAN. --Because Reggie is now dating a girl who looks A LOT like Kim. Her name is MELISSA MOLINARO, and she's an aspiring actress, singer, etc. We're not reaching here for sensationalistic effect, either. --The similarities are impossible to deny. (--Check out some pictures of Melissa here.) (MelissaMolinaro.org)
The Octomom Is Doing a Dating Show:
This is potentially stomach-turning: The Octomom, NADYA SULEMAN, will appear on a DATING SHOW. It's called "Celebridate", and it will air on the mighty HDNet. --She says, quote, "I was lucky enough to be invited to be a part of it. I have not watched TV in almost a decade, but I might just tune into this one! --"I don't perceive myself to be a celebrity, but I guess they do. To a certain degree, I am in the public eye." --Nadya . . . who's 34 . . . claims she's NEVER dated, and has only had one boyfriend. She says, quote, "I am painfully shy and anxious . . . that's just my personality. So it's difficult for me to interact and to have eye contact." --The premise of the show is simple: Three people try to win the heart of the celebrity. It debuts in October, and Nadya has already filmed her episode. (--It's not clear how successful Nadya was at finding love . . . but perhaps she found someone new who likes to dress up like a giant baby and get whipped.)
Check Out Pictures of Jennifer Aniston and the Guy She Stole:
A professional photographer took a couple nice shots of JENNIFER ANISTON and the man she stole . . . actor / screenwriter JUSTIN THEROUX. They look a lot happier than his ex-girlfriend probably is. (--Check out the pics here.) (Us Weekly) --Meanwhile . . . it sounds like Jennifer KNEW Justin was attached when she swooped in on him on the set of their upcoming movie "Wanderlust". --A source says, quote, "Jen went after him. She wanted Justin and it didn't matter that he was already with someone."
Pink Has Released an Official Photo of Her Baby:
PINK has released the first official photo of her new daughter Willow Sage. It's actually a family photo, featuring Willow, Pink and her husband CAREY HART. --Pink says, quote, "You hear people say it all the time, how life changes so drastically. But you can't possibly grasp how beautiful that is until you have your child." (Here's the pic.) (People)
George Clooney and His Italian Girlfriend Have Broken Up:
The second you heard ELISABETTA CANALIS say she expects to be married someday, you just HAD TO know it meant she and GEORGE CLOONEY were either headed for a breakup . . . or already broken up. --And now it's official. They issued a joint statement yesterday saying, quote, "We are not together anymore. It's very difficult and very personal, and we hope everyone can respect our privacy." --Elisabetta's rep added this statement . . . which makes it sound like the split wasn't her idea . . . quote, "It is a very personal and sad matter, and Elisabetta wants it to remain that way. --"She will be taking some time . . . and then will face the press. She has not authorized me to say when the split happened." --George and Elisabetta were just spotted having dinner last week in Lake Como, Italy . . . where George owns a home. It's not clear if they were still together at the time. --It was earlier this month that Elisabetta said, quote, "I am a firm believer in marriage, in the future I will be married." --Clooney . . . judging by what he's said in numerous interviews . . . is not nearly as firm a believer in marriage.
Hugh Hefner Might Have Another "Girlfriend":
HUGH HEFNER may have added a fourth woman to his harem. In addition to ANNA SOPHIA BERGLUND, Hugh has reportedly moved SHERA BECHARD into the Playboy Mansion. She was Miss November last year. (--Here are some pics of Shera.) (SheraBechard.com) --Sources say Shera is #2 in Hugh's rotation . . . even though he previously moved the SHANNON TWINS back. (--Speaking of the Shannon Twins: Karissa Shannon's ex-boyfriend, actor Sam Jones the Third, was sentenced yesterday to a YEAR in prison for dealing the painkiller oxycodone. Karissa broke up with Sam last week to move back in with Hef.)
Lifetime is Doing the Hugh Hefner Special After All:
The Lifetime network has decided to take all the footage they shot for the aborted TV special "Marrying Hef", and repackage it as something else. --Hef's former "Girls Next Door" castmates HOLLY MADISON and KENDRA WILKINSON were even at the Playboy Mansion filming scenes for the new special. There's no word on a title or airdate yet.
Ryan Dunn's Blood-Alcohol Level Was Two and a Half Times the Legal Limit When He Crashed . . . Partly Because He Was Doing "Pickleback" Shots:
So much for that four- to six-week waiting period. Police in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania know how drunk "Jackass" star RYAN DUNN was when he crashed his Porsche Monday morning, killing himself and a friend. --Turns out he was CRAZY drunk. His blood-alcohol content was .196%, which is TWO AND A HALF TIMES the legal state limit of .08. --West Goshen Police Chief Michael Carroll says no other substances were found in Dunn's bloodstream. --The police are also now saying that Dunn may have been going as fast as 140 miles per hour when he crashed. That's 10 miles an hour more than they said the day before. --Meanwhile . . . a friend who was drinking with Dunn and the other victim, Zachary Hartwell, in the hours before the crash says the whiskey was flowing. --Thaddeus Kalinoski was downing drinks with them at Barnaby's bar in West Chester for a good five hours. He says Dunn was drinking beer and "picklebacks" . . . which are whiskey shots chased by pickle juice. --He said, quote, "He was drinking quick. He ordered for the entire bar. The crowd was just pouring in. It was a massive party, with people everywhere, drinking." --State police say Dunn was served six shots and two beers over a four-hour period . . . and Barnaby's will NOT face any charges because he didn't appear intoxicated during that time. The bar even gave police surveillance video to prove it. --Police say some fans bought Dunn his final few drinks at the end of the night, and those were probably the ones that put him over the edge, so to speak.
Ryan Dunn Had Multiple Moving Violations . . . Including a DUI:
A guy who wrecks a Porsche going so fast that the car basically disintegrates is bound to have a history of moving violations. And "Jackass" star RYAN DUNN does indeed have a record. --Dunn has been nailed for 23 driving infractions over the past 13 years, including speeding and careless driving. He also got pinched for DUI in 2005 . . . but the charge was dismissed after he completed probation and lost his license for a year.
Did Lindsay Test Positive for Alcohol This Month?
LINDSAY LOHAN has been ordered back to court this morning so a judge can decide whether she violated her probation while serving house arrest. --Officially, we don't know what this is about. But both TMZ and RadarOnline.com are reporting that Lindsay tested positive for alcohol about a week and a half ago. --She reportedly took two tests . . . passing one and failing the other. She tested negative for drugs on both tests. At least one of the tests was administered after Lindsay's rooftop barbecue party. --The probation department is supposedly going to recommend she be yanked from home confinement and sent to jail.
Lindsay Lohan Told "Us Weekly" Last Weekend That Alcohol Is Not a Part of Her Life:
Given LINDSAY LOHAN'S current predicament, her interview in the new issue of "Us Weekly" is just a bit more interesting. Lindsay invited the magazine into her home (slash) prison last weekend, and spoke with them about how things are going. --Here's one thing she told them . . . quote, "When my friends come over, they're not drinking. Alcohol is not in my house, so it's just not a part of my life."
Lindsay's Rep Pulled the Plug on a "Today" Interview at the Last Minute:
LINDSAY LOHAN was supposed to do an interview Tuesday with MATT LAUER for the "Today" show. Matt even flew to L.A. from New York to do it . . . since Lindsay obviously couldn't travel. --But Lindsay's rep canceled the interview at the last minute . . . because of a, quote, "miscommunication." --Supposedly, Lindsay's camp was expecting this to be a quick, 15-minute interview for "Today". But it turned out they wanted to do a longer piece and air parts of it on "Dateline" as well. --Lindsay's rep says, quote, "Once they started setting up with Matt, I found out about what they wanted to do. So I pulled Lindsay aside and she said, 'What do you think I should do?' --"I told her I didn't think it was a good idea, and I ultimately told Matt Lauer we weren't doing it, not Lindsay. She felt very badly about it. But Matt was a perfect gentleman."
A Lawsuit Over High-Stakes Illegal Poker Games Involves Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and . . . Mr. Kotter!
There was a high-stakes, underground poker ring in Los Angeles a few years back, and it attracted some pretty big names. --Regular players included Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Paris Hilton's sex tape partner Rick Salomon, among others. --And we know this because Tobey and Rick are among a handful of players who are being SUED over their winnings. It's a convoluted story, but we'll give it to you as quickly and plainly as possible . . . --There's this guy by the name of Brad Ruderman, who used to be a regular at these games. He's also a scumbag. He's in prison now for running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of $25 million. --Well, it turns out that he was using his investors' money to pay up when he lost these poker games. And now, several of Ruderman's bilked investors are suing people who won money off him in order to get it back. --They say that, first of all, Ruderman had no right to use their money to gamble with. And secondly, the games were ILLEGAL, so the players who took Ruderman's money have no real claim to their winnings anyway. --They're suing Tobey for more than $311,000 he won from Ruderman . . . plus interest. --Two other celebrities are among those being sued: GABE KAPLAN and NICK CASSAVETES. --Gabe was, is and always will be Mr. Kotter from "Welcome Back Kotter". And, as you may have heard, he's also a MAJOR player on the legit poker circuit. --Nick Cassavetes directed "The Notebook" and played the Bangkok tattoo artist in "The Hangover Part 2". --For the record, no one is accusing these guys of being part of the Ponzi scheme. --Affleck, Damon and DiCaprio are not being sued. (--In case you care, a source says Affleck won a good deal of money, Damon NEVER won, and Leo was, quote, "a tight-ass" who would freak over losing as little as 50-grand.) --Even though these games were technically illegal, law enforcement sources say it's the kind of law that's rarely prosecuted . . . and nobody's under criminal investigation for taking part. At least not yet. The games ended in 2009. --But these games were seriously high-stakes. Buy-ins could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. And it's estimated that Tobey Maguire made up to a million bucks a month over a three-year period. (--If that's true, then he could have made up to $36 MILLION . . . from playing freakin' poker!) --Games would often take place at luxury hotels like the Four Seasons or the Beverly Hills Hotel. --Another popular spot for games was the Viper Room on Sunset Boulevard . . . which is where actor RIVER PHOENIX died of a drug overdose in 1993. --Games were sometimes played at Rick Salomon's house . . . a house he bought with the money he got from the Paris Hilton porno tape "One Night In Paris". --One source says there was so much money flying around that the doors to the room would be guarded by guys with guns and bullet-proof vests.
And Now . . . Chris Brown Is Accused of Being a Homophobe:
First it was TRACY MORGAN . . . then it was CEE-LO GREEN. Now CHRIS BROWN is accused of being a homophobe. --Chris was able to talk his way out of a parking ticket in Los Angeles on Tuesday. But as he was doing so, he accused paparazzi who were filming him of setting him up for the ticket just so they could get good video. --He said, quote, "Y'all [N-words] is weak. Did you all call them to try and film me? Y'all [N-words] is GAY." (--Here's video. WARNING!!! This clip contains bleeped profanity.) --Gay rights groups immediately condemned what he said . . . so he took to Twitter and issued the following non-apology: --"I have total respect for [the] gay community and my intention was not to insult anyone in it." (--Speaking of Chris, the almost-NEVER-reliable MediaTakeOut.com says Chris and RIHANNA might be SEXTING. And it's all because he sent her a message on Twitter that said, quote, "You got that pic I sent you?") (--Supposedly, it was meant to be a private message, but he sent it to all his followers. And Media Take Out is claiming, with no proof whatsoever, that he was referring to a NAKED photo.) (--You can read more about it here.)
NEW MOVIES THIS WEEKEND
"Cars 2" and "Bad Teacher" are This Week's New Choices at the Theater:
#1.) "Cars 2" (G)
Lightning goes overseas to compete in a set of races to determine the world's fastest car. His best friend Mater goes with him, and Mater's recruited by a British agent for a top secret mission after being mistaken for an undercover spy. --Owen Wilson does the voice of Lightning McQueen, Larry the Cable Guy returns as Mater, and that's Michael Caine doing the voice of British spy car Finn McMissile. --Disney good luck charm John Ratzenberger is also back as Mack, the truck who pulls Lightning's trailer to his races. You know Ratzenberger as Cliff Clavin on "Cheers" . . . and he's been in every Pixar movie since the first "Toy Story" movie back in 1995. (--Here are the Pixar characters John Ratzenberger's played so far, including . . . Hamm the Piggy Bank in all three "Toy Story" movies, the circus ring leader P.T. Flea in "A Bug's Life", the Abominable Snowman in "Monsters, Inc." . . .) (. . . the school of moonfish in "Finding Nemo", the Underminer in "The Incredibles", the waiter Mustafa in "Ratatouille", John in "WALL-E", and Tom the construction worker in "Up".) -By the way, that's Weezer singing the classic song "You Might Think" for the soundtrack. The original was sung by The Cars. (--You'll find the video for "You Might Think" on Weezer's VEVO page here.)
(Trailer) (Trailer #2) (Trailer #3)
#2.) "Bad Teacher" (R)
This is a raunchy comedy starring Cameron Diaz as a foul-mouthed teacher who doesn't care about teaching her class. She's simply killing time at her job until she can meet a rich guy to take care of her. That's when she tries to sink her gold-digging claws into Justin Timberlake, a substitute teacher who comes from a rich family. --His character likes ample-chested women, so she decides she needs a boob job . . . and the quickest way to get the cash is by winning the bonus given to the teacher whose class scores the best on the state exams. Jason Segel is also in it as a gym teacher who has a crush on her. (Trailer) (LeBron vs. Jordan) (--Justin and Cameron once dated in real life, and in the movie they have a sex scene that involves them DRY-HUMPING in a hotel room, with their clothes on.) (--At the New York premiere, Cameron described it by saying, quote, "We made a conscious effort to create the LEAST sexiest sex scene ever put on film. We had a lot of fun with just trying to make it as ridiculous as possible.")
"Pottermore" Might Be Some Kind of Web-Based Scavenger Hunt:
J.K. ROWLING is scheduled to announce TODAY what that "PotterMore" website is all about. But yesterday, a memo leaked that MIGHT have given it all away. --The memo reads, quote, "[Pottermore is] a sophisticated online game that contains clues to prizes that are hidden in the real world. --"These are an unstated number of magic wands secreted in Britain and America, and possibly other countries." --The thing we should point out is that nobody knows if this memo is legit. It first appeared in several British newspapers . . . which already makes it suspect. --Also, if it really did leak from the Rowling camp, it could just be a red herring to throw people off. --Then again, it may not have come from the Rowling camp at all. It could simply be bogus.
Aaron Sorkin . . . Who Wrote the Screenplay for "The Social Network" . . . Has Quit Facebook:
AARON SORKIN not only wrote the screenplay for "The Social Network", he won an Oscar for it. But try to find him on Facebook. You can't . . . because HE QUIT. --Sorkin signed up while making the movie, but quit sometime after he finished. He says, quote, "I have a lot of opinions on social media that make me sound like a grumpy old man sitting on the porch yelling at kids."
Jamie Foxx Will Be Quentin Tarantino's "Django":
JAMIE FOXX will star in "Django Unchained" . . . QUENTIN TARANTINO'S take on the "Spaghetti Western" genre. --Foxx will play the title character, a slave who is liberated by a German bounty hunter and learns the tricks of his trade. He then goes off in search of his wife, who's in the clutches of an evil ranch owner. --CHRISTOPH WALTZ . . . who won an Oscar for playing a Nazi in Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" . . . will play the bounty hunter . . . and LEONARDO DICAPRIO will play the ranch owner.
Some People Think Adam Levine Dissed Adam Lambert on "The Voice" . . . But Lambert Says It's All Good:
Fans of former "American Idol" runner-up ADAM LAMBERT thought that ADAM LEVINE dissed him on "The Voice" the other night. But Lambert says it's cool. --On Tuesday's episode, NAKIA performed Adam Lambert's song "Whataya Want from Me" . . . and Levine liked it, but he had no idea what it was. --He said, quote, "I'm not familiar with that song, but you just forced me to like it. I'm pretty sure . . . although I've never heard that song before . . . that you probably sang it better than the person that sang it originally. So, good job." --Here's video. Levine's comments begin at the 2:20 mark. For comparison, you can see Adam Lambert's original version here.) --Fans went crazy about it on Twitter, but Lambert wants everyone to chill out. --He Tweeted, quote, "Yeah Nakia! Saaaang boy!! Great performance. I think Adam might know who I am after this next album. Get ready for me, Levine. Hahah. But for the record, I'm def a Maroon 5 fan. Fans: There is NO reason to be angry . . . Thanks for being protective, but it's all good." --And here's what Levine Tweeted: Quote, "I had honestly never heard that song before. I thought that @Nakia made me like a song that would have otherwise fallen flat. I'm NOT sorry." --But he later added, quote, "No disrespect intended for @AdamLambert. I honesty had never heard the song before. I'm not one to take cheap shots like that." (--Nakia was eliminated from the competition last night.)
10 Shows That Started Out Great . . . But Went Bad:
The website FlavorWire.com has put together a list of 10 Shows That Started Out Great . . . But Went Bad. It only includes recent shows, and doesn't appear to be in any particular order. Here's the list:
--"The Killing" (AMC)
--"Weeds" (Showtime)
--"Lost" (ABC)
--"Gossip Girl" (The CW)
--"Project Runway" (Lifetime)
--"Glee" (Fox)
--"Desperate Housewives" (ABC)
--"Heroes" (NBC)
--"America's Next Top Model" (The CW)
--"The Simpsons" (Fox)
(--You can find a slideshow with their write-ups on each show, here.)
The Main Characters on "Glee" May Be Graduating . . . But There's a (Slim) Chance Some Won't Be Gone for Good:
"Glee" creator Ryan Murphy has always intended on limiting the show's main characters to within the show's natural time frame, which means that many of them will be leaving after next season. But there's a (slim) chance they won't be gone for good. --Murphy explains, quote, "The only way somebody could stay on the show is if they flunk, and that's always a possibility. I think Brittany is pulling straight Fs." (--Brittany is the dumb, but HILARIOUS, cheerleader played by Heather Morris.) --But he insists that there won't be any trickery to keep them around. For example, Puck won't sneak back onto the show by being hired as the assistant football coach. --However, there IS a possibility that the graduating seniors could eventually return on some sort of spin-off show. --Murphy says, quote, "It's an interesting idea. The questions are: 'How would we do it? And when would we do it?' It would have to be something I would talk about to [the executives at Fox]." --By the way, Murphy isn't concerned about losing the current stars, and bringing in new ones. He says, quote, "It's all about the stories and characters. It's our job to find new [stars] that people will love, but I never feel like we're replacing anybody. --"The [core] characters are irreplaceable."
Thursday TV Reminders: (--Check your local listings.)
--"So You Think You Can Dance" [Results Show] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Fox.
--"Burn Notice" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on USA.
--"Expedition Impossible" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC. (--The latest reality show from "Survivor" creator Mark Burnett features 13 teams competing on missions in harsh environments for a shot at $150,000 and an SUV.)
--"Wilfred" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on FX. (--Elijah Wood plays a suicidal man who befriends his neighbor's dog Wilfred. The dog appears to him as an Australian guy in a cheap dog suit.)
--"Louie" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on FX.
--"Rookie Blue" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ABC.
--"Futurama" [6th Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Comedy Central.
--"Suits" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:15 P.M. on USA. (--Gabriel Macht plays a lawyer who hires a hustler without a law degree to work for his firm.)
--"It Only Hurts When I Laugh" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on TruTV.
--"Childrens Hospital" . . . Midnight to 12:15 A.M. on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. (--Nick Offerman stars as Detective Briggs to share the screen once again with his real life wife Megan Mullally.)
Eminem and Royce Da 5'9" Grab the #1 Spot on the "Billboard" Chart:
The BAD MEETS EVIL collaboration between EMINEM and ROYCE DA 5'9" took the top spot on the "Billboard" chart this week. Their album "Hell: the Sequel" sold 171,000 copies. --11-year-old "America's Got Talent" sensation JACKIE EVANCHO, came in right behind them with 161,000 copies. Here's the rest of the Top 10 . . .
1.) (NEW) "Hell: the Sequel", Bad Meets Evil (171,000 copies)
2.) (NEW) "Dream With Me", Jackie Evancho (161,000 copies)
3.) "21", Adele (115,000 copies)
4.) "Born This Way", Lady Gaga (68,000 copies)
5.) "My Kinda Party", Jason Aldean (51,000 copies)
6.) (NEW) "All Things Bright and Beautiful", Owl City (48,000 copies)
7.) (NEW) "15 Minutes", Barry Manilow (36,000 copies)
8.) (NEW) "Pieces of Me", Ledisi (36,000 copies)
9.) "This Is Country Music", Brad Paisley (35,000 copies)
10.) The original Broadway cast recording of "The Book of Mormon" (34,000 copies)
Britney Spears' New "I Wanna Go" Video Is Pretty Awesome:
If you thought the ship had sailed on BRITNEY SPEARS putting out any more worthwhile music videos, you really need to see her new one, "I Wanna Go" . . . because it's a BIG, CRAZY BALL OF AWESOME. (--Here's the video.) --It begins with reporters asking Britney asinine questions at a press conference, like: Quote, "Is it true you banned junk food, smiles, candy, sunshine and laughter from your Femme Fatale Tour? . . .--"Britney, can you confirm reports that you're pregnant with BRAD PITT'S love child?" And, quote, "Is it true that you hate puppies?" Britney gives smart-ass responses, but that puppy one sent her over the edge. --Pointing to various reporters, she says, quote, "[Eff] you . . . [eff] you . . . [eff] you . . . you're cool . . . [eff] you . . . I'm out." --Then she saunters through the town, doing sassy things like: Grabbing a male autograph seeker's backside and flashing fans. A cop tries to arrest her . . . but she apparently DOES HIM in the street. --Then she takes on the paparazzi. She stands on top of a taxi and slays all the photographers by swinging a microphone at them. But then it turns out that they're cyborgs! And this is where things start to get a little weird. --The "cool" reporter from earlier saves her . . . and as they drive away, he pours milk all over himself. And then it's revealed that he's a cyborg. And then it turns out that it was all a dream, and Britney is still at the podium like she was in the beginning of the video. --But as the nice guy leads her out of the room, he turns back to the camera and his eyes flash red. HE'S STILL A CYBORG! (--Which appears to be a nod to the ending of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video.) --Another awesome moment in the video is when they show a theater marquee advertising a movie called "Crossroads 2: Cross Harder". (--Which is a nod to Britney's 2002 movie, "Crossroads".) (--This is as good as I can imagine a Britney Spears video being. It was just the right kind of SEXY for this stage in her career . . . It's not too explicit. It's smart-alecky, it's fun, and it's a little crazy. Just like Britney needs to be.)
THURSDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
SHIA LABEOUF says that being suspended in the air by a harness ravages a man's package. (Full Story)
The "Hollywood Reporter" says "American Idol" judge RANDY JACKSON is shopping a daytime talk show, which he would host. A source says, quote, "He wants to talk about things that will be hip next. He thinks he has his finger on the pulse." Randy's people haven't commented. (Full Story)
TRAIN is coming out with a wine named after their second album and its single, "Drops of Jupiter". It's a petite syrah . . . and it'll be available next week from Train's online wine club. (Full Story)
This will make you feel old: Come September, it'll have been 20 years since NIRVANA'S "Nevermind" came out. To celebrate, a deluxe reissue is hitting stores on September 19th . . . with rarities, B-sides, and unreleased recordings. It'll include FOUR CDs and a DVD, which will contain a whole concert. (Full Story)
LIMP BIZKIT has unleashed the video for "Gold Cobra", the title track off their new album, which comes out on Tuesday. (Video) (--WARNING: There's UNCENSORED language in the song. We're talkin' F-words, S-words and B-words.)
Well, isn't this fun: An EARTH, WIND & FIRE concert had to be canceled . . . because of a thunderstorm. (Full Story)
RANDOM STUFF
A New Study Figures Out How Much Different Foods and Behaviors Change Your Weight Over a Four-Year Period:
There's a new study on weight gain in the "New England Journal of Medicine" that doesn't exactly break new ground . . . its grand conclusion is that we need to eat more vegetables and less junk food. --But in the study, the researchers did break down exactly how much different food and lifestyle choices affect your weight over a four-year period . . . and that part's pretty interesting. --For foods, the WORST thing you can eat is . . . POTATO CHIPS. Eating chips daily or almost daily leads to a 1.69-pound gain over four years. Regularly eating other forms of potatoes, including fries, leads to a 1.28-pound gain over four years. --Sweets and desserts lead to weight gain but not quite as bad as potatoes. Eating dessert daily only leads to a 0.41-pound gain over four years, or about a tenth of a pound a year. --Drinking non-diet soda daily adds one pound every four years . . . and red meat adds 0.93 pounds a year. People who drink alcohol each day gain 0.41 pounds PER DRINK over four years. So having four drinks a day leads to about 1.6 pounds in weight gain. --The foods that are pest for you are: Yogurt, which causes a loss of 0.87 pounds in four years . . . nuts, which lead to a loss of 0.57 pounds . . . and fruits, which lead to a loss of 0.49 pounds. Vegetables lead to a 0.22-pound loss. --For behaviors, exercise is the best way to lose weight . . . no, really. People who regularly exercised lost 1.76 pounds in four years. --People who smoked gained 5.17 pounds in four years. People who watch TV gained 0.31 pounds PER HOUR of TV a day they watch in four years . . . so if you watch four hours of TV a day, that's about 1.2 pounds gained in four years. (Washington Post)
Car Thefts are Way Down Across the Country . . . Except in California:
According to the annual report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, car thefts are WAY down in the U.S. Except in California, where everyone's cars are being stolen RIGHT NOW. --Nationwide, thefts went down an incredible 7.2% between 2009 and 2010. But . . . of the top 10 metropolitan areas with the highest number of car thefts, EIGHT are in California. --The NICB says car thefts are high in California because cars there can be quickly moved to Mexico or shipped to Asia. Plus, since the state is completely broke, they've cut back on cops monitoring car thefts and prosecution against thieves. --Here's the full list of the top 10 cities for car thefts. --Fresno, California . . . Modesto, California . . . Bakersfield, California . . . Spokane, Washington . . . Vallejo, California . . . Sacramento, California . . . --Stockton, California . . . Visalia, California . . . San Francisco-Oakland, California . . . and Yakima, Washington. (Yahoo Autos) (--You can see rankings for every city here.)
US Airways Wouldn't Let a Black Football Player Fly With Sagging Pants . . . But They Let a White Drag Queen Fly In Women's Underwear?
Last week, a 20-year-old football player from the University of New Mexico named Deshon Marman was arrested at San Francisco International Airport. --He was sagging his pants down around his thighs . . . US Airways staff told him he couldn't fly like that . . . the police ended up getting involved . . . and he was ultimately arrested for trespassing. --At the time, it seemed like US Airways was taking a stand against the pants sagging trend, and lots of people applauded them. Now, people aren't really sure WHAT to make of their decision. Here's why . . . --It turns out that six days before Deshon was arrested, US Airways let a DRAG QUEEN fly on the plane . . . in just tight women's underwear and thigh-high stockings. --It was on a flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Phoenix, and another passenger on the flight took a photo of the guy. Because according to her, no one ever would've believed this guy was allowed on her flight without proof. --So why was this guy allowed to fly in just women's underwear, while Deshon was kicked off the flight because his pants were sagging and showing HIS underwear? --Well, the go-to angle seems to be . . . RACE. Deshon's black, the drag queen is white. Deshon's attorney said, quote, "A white man is allowed to fly in underwear, but my client was asked to pull up his pajama pants because they hung below his waist." --US Airways is saying that the reason Deshon ended up getting arrested was because he wouldn't comply with the employees who requested he pull up his pants. They say they don't have an official dress code policy. (San Francisco Chronicle) (--Here's the photo of the drag queen.)
About Half of Pregnant Women Have Tried Inducing Labor With Sex, Spicy Foods, Laxatives, Self-Love, and Other Fantastic Methods:
When a woman wants to get a baby out of her, she wants to get a baby out of her. I just didn't realize the kind of RIDICULOUS things women try to get that baby rolling. --According to a new survey by Ohio State University, about HALF of pregnant women have tried to induce labor . . . and they've used these techniques . . .
--Sex.
--Eating spicy foods.
--Acupuncture.
--Laxatives.
--Manually stimulating themselves to climax.
--Exercising.
--And finally, vigorous nipple fondling.
--Jonathan Schaffir led the study . . . and he says of all those techniques, the nipple touching thing is the only one that's actually got a prayer of working. That process releases oxytocin, which can cause contractions. --But he says, quote, "These contractions can be hard to control . . . it's just not something I recommend because there's no established safe protocol." (U.S. News & World Report)
Does the Government Want to Ban Flirting From College Campuses?
We're well aware that defining sexual harassment is a slippery slope . . . a slope that I would never, ever ask a woman to run down so I could watch her bounce and jiggle, mind you. But THIS fight against it seems almost TOO aggressive. --The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights recently sent a letter to all the colleges and universities in the U.S. And based on how you look at it . . . you MIGHT read it as them trying to ban all FLIRTING from college campuses. --In the letter, they instruct colleges to collect evidence whenever a sexual harassment claim is made, to determine whether it's sexual harassment or sexual assault . . . and to bring the person involved in front of a disciplinary board. --Disciplinary boards are no joke . . . but what the government is calling for is a LOT less proof than our court systems, where people are innocent until proven guilty. --In these cases, it seems as soon as a complaint is lodged, they're suggesting that the person is guilty . . . the school just needs to decide HOW guilty they are. --So . . . depending on how schools respond to this, and if students find themselves living in fear of getting brought in front of disciplinary boards . . . this could in theory be like a FLIRTING BAN on college campuses. --Schools are generally compelled to do what the Office of Civil Rights tells them . . . because an investigation by the OCR can cost colleges a fortune in federal funding. (Washington Examiner)
MEATBALL CRIMINALS
During a 16-Hour Standoff With the Police, a Man With a Hostage Regularly Updated His Facebook Status:
Apparently hostage standoffs with police and SWAT teams have entered the social networking era. --Over the weekend, 36-year-old Jason Valdez of Ogden, Utah was in a 16-hour overnight standoff with the police. He was in a hotel room with a female hostage. And throughout the 16 hours, Valdez was updating his FACEBOOK STATUS. --He posted status updates from his phone like, quote, "I'm currently in a stand off . . . kinda ugly but ready for whatever, I love u guys and if I don't make it out of here alive I'm in a better place and u were all great friends . . ." --At one point he posted a photo of him and the hostage. At another point, one of his friends posted on his wall that there was a sniper in the bushes so he should, quote, "stay low." He responded "Thank you, homey." --Some of his friends and family begged him to do the right thing and surrender . . . others told him to stay strong. --After the 16 hours the police finally busted through. The hostage was okay . . . but Valdez shot himself in the chest, and is in critical condition. --The police are analyzing all of Valdez's Facebook posts during the standoff . . . and considering criminal charges for the friend who fed him information about where the sniper was positioned. (ABC News)
Cops Let a Handcuffed Suspect Go . . . So They Could Arrest a Woman Who Was Filming Them?
This incident happened last month, but it's just coming to light now. --Back on May 12th, 28-year-old Emily Good of Rochester, New York, saw a man being handcuffed during a traffic stop on the street outside her home. It's not clear WHY, but she decided to start filming the incident. --The police officer who was making the arrest is named Mario Masic. And he wasn't happy with Emily making a video. So he asked her to stop recording and go inside, and then TOLD her to stop recording and go inside. --She didn't. And that's when Mario stopped worrying about the handcuffed suspect and let him go on his way . . . so he could arrest EMILY. --She was officially charged with second-degree obstructing governmental administration. --By the way, it's perfectly legal to film something going on in a public street . . . even an arrest . . . but the officer says that he felt THREATENED and UNSAFE with her on her lawn, recording him. --Emily is due in court on Monday to face the charge. The Rochester Police say they're reviewing the situation. (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) (--Here's a link to the video Emily made. It's fairly dark, but you can hear how everything went down.)
Follow-Up: The Bank Robber Who Wanted Free Prison Healthcare Was Only a Few Miles From Hospitals That Would've Treated Him For Free:
Earlier this week, a story came out about 59-year-old James Verone of Gastonia, North Carolina. He robbed a bank and got caught intentionally, because he said the only way he could afford healthcare was to get it for free in prison. --And we'll admit that, just like the rest of the media, we were all over this story. Well . . . a writer for "Investor's Business Daily" essentially put us all in our place with an editorial yesterday. --He writes, quote, "The story flew across the web . . . not surprising, since it fit perfectly into one of the media's cherished memes. 'The most expensive [care] in the world, and yet it forces people to take desperate acts to get treatment.'" --"There's just one little, inconvenient fact missing from all this coverage. Verone had access to free care outside of jail, and plenty of it." --Turns out the bank he robbed was just FIVE MILES from a free health clinic. Or he could've taken a bus to the University of North Carolina, where they, quote, "provide necessary healthcare to citizens, regardless of their ability to pay." --Overall, North Carolina provides around $700 MILLION in free healthcare to people in need every year . . . and other states do the same. Nationwide, about $34 BILLION goes into unpaid healthcare. --In other words: This bank robber might not have known about those options. But they're out there. And it was WEAK of the media to seize onto the story without reporting them. --So we apologize for falling into that trap, because we usually think of ourselves as being far, far better than the regular media. Won't happen again. (Investor's Business Daily)
Random News Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
According to the FDA, women can't keep their silicone breast implants for life. Basically, they'll need additional surgery within ten years to help prevent them from rupturing. (Full Story)
Worst pick-up line ever? An EMT in New York is accused of fondling a car crash victim . . . telling her she had a "beautiful body" while she was in the ambulance on the way to the hospital . . . taking down her cell phone number . . . and calling and texting her over the next few days to start a relationship. (Full Story)
A shocking new study has revealed that women like guys who wear expensive clothes and drive flashy cars . . . and that the men who have them are more successful at having flings and staying single. (Full Story)
A hospital in Wales has apologized for giving elderly patients tambourines and maracas when their call button system wasn't working. (Full Story)
Check out a botched mob hit caught on surveillance footage at a tire shop in Brooklyn. The owner of the shop survived . . . and the shooter was later taken out by police. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) Peyton and Eli Manning Star in a Violent New Trailer for a Fake TV Show Called "Football Cops":
PEYTON and ELI MANNING are in a new, somewhat graphic ad for DirecTV. It's a fake promo spot for a TV drama like called "Football Cops" . . . and instead of using guns, they kill criminals with deadly footballs. --It's not clear if there's more to come, but DirecTV is promoting it like there is. On the official website, it even lists the back stories of the characters. --It says, quote, "Both grew up together as orphans in a home for wayward boys. Both overcame the odds to become huge sports stars. Now both are the only hope for the rugged streets they once again call home." --Odds are, DirecTV is just planning to run mini-episodes leading up to the football season . . . if there is one. (--Search for "Football Cops Trailer DirecTV.") (--WARNING: This violence is somewhat graphic.)
#2.) The Calgary Zoo's New Ad Features a 'Breakdancing' Gorilla:
I'm guessing the Calgary Zoo might get more visitors this year than usual, because their new ad features a breakdancing gorilla. And since Friday, it's gotten about 800,000 views on YouTube. --It shows a gorilla named Zola spinning around in a puddle of water, and mostly just splashing its feet. Then they added in dance music. (--Search for "Break Dancing Gorilla at the Zoo.")
#3.) A Single Mother Ran Down Three Brothers Who Stole Beer from Wal-Mart . . . And Jumped on Their Car:
Three brothers in Houston tried to steal beer from a Wal-Mart on Sunday, but a single mother named Monique Lawless saw them while she was standing in line . . . then ran them down and JUMPED ON THEIR CAMARO. Security cameras got it all on video. --She jumped on the hood and stomped on the windshield, then wisely decided to jump off when the engine started. But then she tried to open the driver's side door as they sped off, and got thrown to the pavement. --She got a black eye, but she's okay. And she says she'd intervene again . . . and hopes other people would too. She just wouldn't jump on the car next time. --The video on CNN.com shows the footage and an interview with the woman. And it also shows helicopter footage of the cops catching one guy . . . by pinning him against a fence with a cop car. We're not sure how that last part's legal, since it's pretty intense. (--Search for "Woman Chases Alleged Beer Thieves." She jumps on the car at :33, and it shows the cop car pin one of the thieves against the fence at 1:04.)
(--Don't get me wrong, I respect this woman, but you have to be really serious about the law to be a SINGLE MOTHER and run three grown men stealing from one of the richest corporations in the world.)
#4.) Two Motorcycles Got Tangled Up After a Crash and Spun Around in Circles:
There's a new video on YouTube of a weird motorcycle crash that happened at a race in France. The two riders were fine, but the handlebars on their bikes got hung up on each other, and the bikes spun around in circles on the racetrack. --It's also funny how angry the one guy gets at the racer who caused it. (--Search for "An Unusual Crash for Two Race Bikes.")
#5.) Voluptuous Women Unleashing Their Assets on YouTube:
If Friday can't come fast enough, there's one guaranteed way to help get you through the week: Voluptuous women unleashing their assets on YouTube. (???) --For example, if you've never seen it, there's last year's wardrobe malfunction, when extremely well-chested Italian TV presenter Marika Fruscio accidentally exposed herself on a talk show. --Just search for "The beautiful Marika Fruscio shows her breasts on Italian TV." I mean . . . what else would you search for? Is it 'Safe For Work?' Not exactly. --In that same vein, there's also "Big boob jog" . . . aptly described on YouTube as "Woman with huge twins goes jogging." --Or perhaps you can learn something from the helpful do-it-yourself instructional video, "Self Breast Massage Technique - Lymphatic Breast Massage."
Five Ways to Prevent and Control Road Rage:
The magazine "Prevention" has a list of ways to prevent and control road rage. Here are the top five. Some of these are pretty stupid, but a few sound like they might be helpful.
#1.) Instead of a Pine-Scented Air Freshener, Go With Peppermint or Cinnamon. In one study researchers put college students in simulated driving scenarios. --And they found that the scent of peppermint or cinnamon decreased their frustration by 25%, increased alertness by 30%, and made the simulated ride seem 30% shorter. Peppermint also lowered anxiety and fatigue by 20%.
#2.) Drive in the Slow Lane. Driving in the fast lane generally cuts 10% off your commute, and the average commute in the U.S. is 25 minutes. So if you're an average driver, it only saves two or three minutes. --And if you stay in the slow lane instead, you'll be surrounded by less aggressive drivers.
#3.) Be Supportive. According to one expert, you just need to change the way you THINK of the other drivers. And instead of competing with them, you should try SUPPORTING them. --So if they want to move into your lane or pass you, just let them. Here's why this one's stupid: The expert says, quote, "When you're a supportive driver, not only does the stress vanish, but you also begin to ENJOY traffic."
#4.) Be Willing to Take Criticism. If a passenger says you're tailgating or doing something else wrong, don't get defensive. They might be right, and YOU might be the root cause of some of your road rage.
#5.) Get Silly. This one's weird too. If you're feeling tense behind the wheel, the editors of "Prevention" say you should, quote, "try making animal noises, machine sounds, or whatever you find amusing." (???) --Really, they just mean that if you laugh, you're less likely to get stressed out. But honestly . . . our show MUST be better than animal noises. (Prevention.com)
It's official: REGGIE BUSH has a type. And it's his ex-girlfriend, KIM KARDASHIAN. --Because Reggie is now dating a girl who looks A LOT like Kim. Her name is MELISSA MOLINARO, and she's an aspiring actress, singer, etc. We're not reaching here for sensationalistic effect, either. --The similarities are impossible to deny. (--Check out some pictures of Melissa here.) (MelissaMolinaro.org)
The Octomom Is Doing a Dating Show:
This is potentially stomach-turning: The Octomom, NADYA SULEMAN, will appear on a DATING SHOW. It's called "Celebridate", and it will air on the mighty HDNet. --She says, quote, "I was lucky enough to be invited to be a part of it. I have not watched TV in almost a decade, but I might just tune into this one! --"I don't perceive myself to be a celebrity, but I guess they do. To a certain degree, I am in the public eye." --Nadya . . . who's 34 . . . claims she's NEVER dated, and has only had one boyfriend. She says, quote, "I am painfully shy and anxious . . . that's just my personality. So it's difficult for me to interact and to have eye contact." --The premise of the show is simple: Three people try to win the heart of the celebrity. It debuts in October, and Nadya has already filmed her episode. (--It's not clear how successful Nadya was at finding love . . . but perhaps she found someone new who likes to dress up like a giant baby and get whipped.)
Check Out Pictures of Jennifer Aniston and the Guy She Stole:
A professional photographer took a couple nice shots of JENNIFER ANISTON and the man she stole . . . actor / screenwriter JUSTIN THEROUX. They look a lot happier than his ex-girlfriend probably is. (--Check out the pics here.) (Us Weekly) --Meanwhile . . . it sounds like Jennifer KNEW Justin was attached when she swooped in on him on the set of their upcoming movie "Wanderlust". --A source says, quote, "Jen went after him. She wanted Justin and it didn't matter that he was already with someone."
Pink Has Released an Official Photo of Her Baby:
PINK has released the first official photo of her new daughter Willow Sage. It's actually a family photo, featuring Willow, Pink and her husband CAREY HART. --Pink says, quote, "You hear people say it all the time, how life changes so drastically. But you can't possibly grasp how beautiful that is until you have your child." (Here's the pic.) (People)
George Clooney and His Italian Girlfriend Have Broken Up:
The second you heard ELISABETTA CANALIS say she expects to be married someday, you just HAD TO know it meant she and GEORGE CLOONEY were either headed for a breakup . . . or already broken up. --And now it's official. They issued a joint statement yesterday saying, quote, "We are not together anymore. It's very difficult and very personal, and we hope everyone can respect our privacy." --Elisabetta's rep added this statement . . . which makes it sound like the split wasn't her idea . . . quote, "It is a very personal and sad matter, and Elisabetta wants it to remain that way. --"She will be taking some time . . . and then will face the press. She has not authorized me to say when the split happened." --George and Elisabetta were just spotted having dinner last week in Lake Como, Italy . . . where George owns a home. It's not clear if they were still together at the time. --It was earlier this month that Elisabetta said, quote, "I am a firm believer in marriage, in the future I will be married." --Clooney . . . judging by what he's said in numerous interviews . . . is not nearly as firm a believer in marriage.
Hugh Hefner Might Have Another "Girlfriend":
HUGH HEFNER may have added a fourth woman to his harem. In addition to ANNA SOPHIA BERGLUND, Hugh has reportedly moved SHERA BECHARD into the Playboy Mansion. She was Miss November last year. (--Here are some pics of Shera.) (SheraBechard.com) --Sources say Shera is #2 in Hugh's rotation . . . even though he previously moved the SHANNON TWINS back. (--Speaking of the Shannon Twins: Karissa Shannon's ex-boyfriend, actor Sam Jones the Third, was sentenced yesterday to a YEAR in prison for dealing the painkiller oxycodone. Karissa broke up with Sam last week to move back in with Hef.)
Lifetime is Doing the Hugh Hefner Special After All:
The Lifetime network has decided to take all the footage they shot for the aborted TV special "Marrying Hef", and repackage it as something else. --Hef's former "Girls Next Door" castmates HOLLY MADISON and KENDRA WILKINSON were even at the Playboy Mansion filming scenes for the new special. There's no word on a title or airdate yet.
Ryan Dunn's Blood-Alcohol Level Was Two and a Half Times the Legal Limit When He Crashed . . . Partly Because He Was Doing "Pickleback" Shots:
So much for that four- to six-week waiting period. Police in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania know how drunk "Jackass" star RYAN DUNN was when he crashed his Porsche Monday morning, killing himself and a friend. --Turns out he was CRAZY drunk. His blood-alcohol content was .196%, which is TWO AND A HALF TIMES the legal state limit of .08. --West Goshen Police Chief Michael Carroll says no other substances were found in Dunn's bloodstream. --The police are also now saying that Dunn may have been going as fast as 140 miles per hour when he crashed. That's 10 miles an hour more than they said the day before. --Meanwhile . . . a friend who was drinking with Dunn and the other victim, Zachary Hartwell, in the hours before the crash says the whiskey was flowing. --Thaddeus Kalinoski was downing drinks with them at Barnaby's bar in West Chester for a good five hours. He says Dunn was drinking beer and "picklebacks" . . . which are whiskey shots chased by pickle juice. --He said, quote, "He was drinking quick. He ordered for the entire bar. The crowd was just pouring in. It was a massive party, with people everywhere, drinking." --State police say Dunn was served six shots and two beers over a four-hour period . . . and Barnaby's will NOT face any charges because he didn't appear intoxicated during that time. The bar even gave police surveillance video to prove it. --Police say some fans bought Dunn his final few drinks at the end of the night, and those were probably the ones that put him over the edge, so to speak.
Ryan Dunn Had Multiple Moving Violations . . . Including a DUI:
A guy who wrecks a Porsche going so fast that the car basically disintegrates is bound to have a history of moving violations. And "Jackass" star RYAN DUNN does indeed have a record. --Dunn has been nailed for 23 driving infractions over the past 13 years, including speeding and careless driving. He also got pinched for DUI in 2005 . . . but the charge was dismissed after he completed probation and lost his license for a year.
Did Lindsay Test Positive for Alcohol This Month?
LINDSAY LOHAN has been ordered back to court this morning so a judge can decide whether she violated her probation while serving house arrest. --Officially, we don't know what this is about. But both TMZ and RadarOnline.com are reporting that Lindsay tested positive for alcohol about a week and a half ago. --She reportedly took two tests . . . passing one and failing the other. She tested negative for drugs on both tests. At least one of the tests was administered after Lindsay's rooftop barbecue party. --The probation department is supposedly going to recommend she be yanked from home confinement and sent to jail.
Lindsay Lohan Told "Us Weekly" Last Weekend That Alcohol Is Not a Part of Her Life:
Given LINDSAY LOHAN'S current predicament, her interview in the new issue of "Us Weekly" is just a bit more interesting. Lindsay invited the magazine into her home (slash) prison last weekend, and spoke with them about how things are going. --Here's one thing she told them . . . quote, "When my friends come over, they're not drinking. Alcohol is not in my house, so it's just not a part of my life."
Lindsay's Rep Pulled the Plug on a "Today" Interview at the Last Minute:
LINDSAY LOHAN was supposed to do an interview Tuesday with MATT LAUER for the "Today" show. Matt even flew to L.A. from New York to do it . . . since Lindsay obviously couldn't travel. --But Lindsay's rep canceled the interview at the last minute . . . because of a, quote, "miscommunication." --Supposedly, Lindsay's camp was expecting this to be a quick, 15-minute interview for "Today". But it turned out they wanted to do a longer piece and air parts of it on "Dateline" as well. --Lindsay's rep says, quote, "Once they started setting up with Matt, I found out about what they wanted to do. So I pulled Lindsay aside and she said, 'What do you think I should do?' --"I told her I didn't think it was a good idea, and I ultimately told Matt Lauer we weren't doing it, not Lindsay. She felt very badly about it. But Matt was a perfect gentleman."
A Lawsuit Over High-Stakes Illegal Poker Games Involves Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and . . . Mr. Kotter!
There was a high-stakes, underground poker ring in Los Angeles a few years back, and it attracted some pretty big names. --Regular players included Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Paris Hilton's sex tape partner Rick Salomon, among others. --And we know this because Tobey and Rick are among a handful of players who are being SUED over their winnings. It's a convoluted story, but we'll give it to you as quickly and plainly as possible . . . --There's this guy by the name of Brad Ruderman, who used to be a regular at these games. He's also a scumbag. He's in prison now for running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of $25 million. --Well, it turns out that he was using his investors' money to pay up when he lost these poker games. And now, several of Ruderman's bilked investors are suing people who won money off him in order to get it back. --They say that, first of all, Ruderman had no right to use their money to gamble with. And secondly, the games were ILLEGAL, so the players who took Ruderman's money have no real claim to their winnings anyway. --They're suing Tobey for more than $311,000 he won from Ruderman . . . plus interest. --Two other celebrities are among those being sued: GABE KAPLAN and NICK CASSAVETES. --Gabe was, is and always will be Mr. Kotter from "Welcome Back Kotter". And, as you may have heard, he's also a MAJOR player on the legit poker circuit. --Nick Cassavetes directed "The Notebook" and played the Bangkok tattoo artist in "The Hangover Part 2". --For the record, no one is accusing these guys of being part of the Ponzi scheme. --Affleck, Damon and DiCaprio are not being sued. (--In case you care, a source says Affleck won a good deal of money, Damon NEVER won, and Leo was, quote, "a tight-ass" who would freak over losing as little as 50-grand.) --Even though these games were technically illegal, law enforcement sources say it's the kind of law that's rarely prosecuted . . . and nobody's under criminal investigation for taking part. At least not yet. The games ended in 2009. --But these games were seriously high-stakes. Buy-ins could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. And it's estimated that Tobey Maguire made up to a million bucks a month over a three-year period. (--If that's true, then he could have made up to $36 MILLION . . . from playing freakin' poker!) --Games would often take place at luxury hotels like the Four Seasons or the Beverly Hills Hotel. --Another popular spot for games was the Viper Room on Sunset Boulevard . . . which is where actor RIVER PHOENIX died of a drug overdose in 1993. --Games were sometimes played at Rick Salomon's house . . . a house he bought with the money he got from the Paris Hilton porno tape "One Night In Paris". --One source says there was so much money flying around that the doors to the room would be guarded by guys with guns and bullet-proof vests.
And Now . . . Chris Brown Is Accused of Being a Homophobe:
First it was TRACY MORGAN . . . then it was CEE-LO GREEN. Now CHRIS BROWN is accused of being a homophobe. --Chris was able to talk his way out of a parking ticket in Los Angeles on Tuesday. But as he was doing so, he accused paparazzi who were filming him of setting him up for the ticket just so they could get good video. --He said, quote, "Y'all [N-words] is weak. Did you all call them to try and film me? Y'all [N-words] is GAY." (--Here's video. WARNING!!! This clip contains bleeped profanity.) --Gay rights groups immediately condemned what he said . . . so he took to Twitter and issued the following non-apology: --"I have total respect for [the] gay community and my intention was not to insult anyone in it." (--Speaking of Chris, the almost-NEVER-reliable MediaTakeOut.com says Chris and RIHANNA might be SEXTING. And it's all because he sent her a message on Twitter that said, quote, "You got that pic I sent you?") (--Supposedly, it was meant to be a private message, but he sent it to all his followers. And Media Take Out is claiming, with no proof whatsoever, that he was referring to a NAKED photo.) (--You can read more about it here.)
NEW MOVIES THIS WEEKEND
"Cars 2" and "Bad Teacher" are This Week's New Choices at the Theater:
#1.) "Cars 2" (G)
Lightning goes overseas to compete in a set of races to determine the world's fastest car. His best friend Mater goes with him, and Mater's recruited by a British agent for a top secret mission after being mistaken for an undercover spy. --Owen Wilson does the voice of Lightning McQueen, Larry the Cable Guy returns as Mater, and that's Michael Caine doing the voice of British spy car Finn McMissile. --Disney good luck charm John Ratzenberger is also back as Mack, the truck who pulls Lightning's trailer to his races. You know Ratzenberger as Cliff Clavin on "Cheers" . . . and he's been in every Pixar movie since the first "Toy Story" movie back in 1995. (--Here are the Pixar characters John Ratzenberger's played so far, including . . . Hamm the Piggy Bank in all three "Toy Story" movies, the circus ring leader P.T. Flea in "A Bug's Life", the Abominable Snowman in "Monsters, Inc." . . .) (. . . the school of moonfish in "Finding Nemo", the Underminer in "The Incredibles", the waiter Mustafa in "Ratatouille", John in "WALL-E", and Tom the construction worker in "Up".) -By the way, that's Weezer singing the classic song "You Might Think" for the soundtrack. The original was sung by The Cars. (--You'll find the video for "You Might Think" on Weezer's VEVO page here.)
(Trailer) (Trailer #2) (Trailer #3)
#2.) "Bad Teacher" (R)
This is a raunchy comedy starring Cameron Diaz as a foul-mouthed teacher who doesn't care about teaching her class. She's simply killing time at her job until she can meet a rich guy to take care of her. That's when she tries to sink her gold-digging claws into Justin Timberlake, a substitute teacher who comes from a rich family. --His character likes ample-chested women, so she decides she needs a boob job . . . and the quickest way to get the cash is by winning the bonus given to the teacher whose class scores the best on the state exams. Jason Segel is also in it as a gym teacher who has a crush on her. (Trailer) (LeBron vs. Jordan) (--Justin and Cameron once dated in real life, and in the movie they have a sex scene that involves them DRY-HUMPING in a hotel room, with their clothes on.) (--At the New York premiere, Cameron described it by saying, quote, "We made a conscious effort to create the LEAST sexiest sex scene ever put on film. We had a lot of fun with just trying to make it as ridiculous as possible.")
"Pottermore" Might Be Some Kind of Web-Based Scavenger Hunt:
J.K. ROWLING is scheduled to announce TODAY what that "PotterMore" website is all about. But yesterday, a memo leaked that MIGHT have given it all away. --The memo reads, quote, "[Pottermore is] a sophisticated online game that contains clues to prizes that are hidden in the real world. --"These are an unstated number of magic wands secreted in Britain and America, and possibly other countries." --The thing we should point out is that nobody knows if this memo is legit. It first appeared in several British newspapers . . . which already makes it suspect. --Also, if it really did leak from the Rowling camp, it could just be a red herring to throw people off. --Then again, it may not have come from the Rowling camp at all. It could simply be bogus.
Aaron Sorkin . . . Who Wrote the Screenplay for "The Social Network" . . . Has Quit Facebook:
AARON SORKIN not only wrote the screenplay for "The Social Network", he won an Oscar for it. But try to find him on Facebook. You can't . . . because HE QUIT. --Sorkin signed up while making the movie, but quit sometime after he finished. He says, quote, "I have a lot of opinions on social media that make me sound like a grumpy old man sitting on the porch yelling at kids."
Jamie Foxx Will Be Quentin Tarantino's "Django":
JAMIE FOXX will star in "Django Unchained" . . . QUENTIN TARANTINO'S take on the "Spaghetti Western" genre. --Foxx will play the title character, a slave who is liberated by a German bounty hunter and learns the tricks of his trade. He then goes off in search of his wife, who's in the clutches of an evil ranch owner. --CHRISTOPH WALTZ . . . who won an Oscar for playing a Nazi in Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" . . . will play the bounty hunter . . . and LEONARDO DICAPRIO will play the ranch owner.
Some People Think Adam Levine Dissed Adam Lambert on "The Voice" . . . But Lambert Says It's All Good:
Fans of former "American Idol" runner-up ADAM LAMBERT thought that ADAM LEVINE dissed him on "The Voice" the other night. But Lambert says it's cool. --On Tuesday's episode, NAKIA performed Adam Lambert's song "Whataya Want from Me" . . . and Levine liked it, but he had no idea what it was. --He said, quote, "I'm not familiar with that song, but you just forced me to like it. I'm pretty sure . . . although I've never heard that song before . . . that you probably sang it better than the person that sang it originally. So, good job." --Here's video. Levine's comments begin at the 2:20 mark. For comparison, you can see Adam Lambert's original version here.) --Fans went crazy about it on Twitter, but Lambert wants everyone to chill out. --He Tweeted, quote, "Yeah Nakia! Saaaang boy!! Great performance. I think Adam might know who I am after this next album. Get ready for me, Levine. Hahah. But for the record, I'm def a Maroon 5 fan. Fans: There is NO reason to be angry . . . Thanks for being protective, but it's all good." --And here's what Levine Tweeted: Quote, "I had honestly never heard that song before. I thought that @Nakia made me like a song that would have otherwise fallen flat. I'm NOT sorry." --But he later added, quote, "No disrespect intended for @AdamLambert. I honesty had never heard the song before. I'm not one to take cheap shots like that." (--Nakia was eliminated from the competition last night.)
10 Shows That Started Out Great . . . But Went Bad:
The website FlavorWire.com has put together a list of 10 Shows That Started Out Great . . . But Went Bad. It only includes recent shows, and doesn't appear to be in any particular order. Here's the list:
--"The Killing" (AMC)
--"Weeds" (Showtime)
--"Lost" (ABC)
--"Gossip Girl" (The CW)
--"Project Runway" (Lifetime)
--"Glee" (Fox)
--"Desperate Housewives" (ABC)
--"Heroes" (NBC)
--"America's Next Top Model" (The CW)
--"The Simpsons" (Fox)
(--You can find a slideshow with their write-ups on each show, here.)
The Main Characters on "Glee" May Be Graduating . . . But There's a (Slim) Chance Some Won't Be Gone for Good:
"Glee" creator Ryan Murphy has always intended on limiting the show's main characters to within the show's natural time frame, which means that many of them will be leaving after next season. But there's a (slim) chance they won't be gone for good. --Murphy explains, quote, "The only way somebody could stay on the show is if they flunk, and that's always a possibility. I think Brittany is pulling straight Fs." (--Brittany is the dumb, but HILARIOUS, cheerleader played by Heather Morris.) --But he insists that there won't be any trickery to keep them around. For example, Puck won't sneak back onto the show by being hired as the assistant football coach. --However, there IS a possibility that the graduating seniors could eventually return on some sort of spin-off show. --Murphy says, quote, "It's an interesting idea. The questions are: 'How would we do it? And when would we do it?' It would have to be something I would talk about to [the executives at Fox]." --By the way, Murphy isn't concerned about losing the current stars, and bringing in new ones. He says, quote, "It's all about the stories and characters. It's our job to find new [stars] that people will love, but I never feel like we're replacing anybody. --"The [core] characters are irreplaceable."
Thursday TV Reminders: (--Check your local listings.)
--"So You Think You Can Dance" [Results Show] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Fox.
--"Burn Notice" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on USA.
--"Expedition Impossible" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC. (--The latest reality show from "Survivor" creator Mark Burnett features 13 teams competing on missions in harsh environments for a shot at $150,000 and an SUV.)
--"Wilfred" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on FX. (--Elijah Wood plays a suicidal man who befriends his neighbor's dog Wilfred. The dog appears to him as an Australian guy in a cheap dog suit.)
--"Louie" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on FX.
--"Rookie Blue" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ABC.
--"Futurama" [6th Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Comedy Central.
--"Suits" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:15 P.M. on USA. (--Gabriel Macht plays a lawyer who hires a hustler without a law degree to work for his firm.)
--"It Only Hurts When I Laugh" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on TruTV.
--"Childrens Hospital" . . . Midnight to 12:15 A.M. on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. (--Nick Offerman stars as Detective Briggs to share the screen once again with his real life wife Megan Mullally.)
Eminem and Royce Da 5'9" Grab the #1 Spot on the "Billboard" Chart:
The BAD MEETS EVIL collaboration between EMINEM and ROYCE DA 5'9" took the top spot on the "Billboard" chart this week. Their album "Hell: the Sequel" sold 171,000 copies. --11-year-old "America's Got Talent" sensation JACKIE EVANCHO, came in right behind them with 161,000 copies. Here's the rest of the Top 10 . . .
1.) (NEW) "Hell: the Sequel", Bad Meets Evil (171,000 copies)
2.) (NEW) "Dream With Me", Jackie Evancho (161,000 copies)
3.) "21", Adele (115,000 copies)
4.) "Born This Way", Lady Gaga (68,000 copies)
5.) "My Kinda Party", Jason Aldean (51,000 copies)
6.) (NEW) "All Things Bright and Beautiful", Owl City (48,000 copies)
7.) (NEW) "15 Minutes", Barry Manilow (36,000 copies)
8.) (NEW) "Pieces of Me", Ledisi (36,000 copies)
9.) "This Is Country Music", Brad Paisley (35,000 copies)
10.) The original Broadway cast recording of "The Book of Mormon" (34,000 copies)
Britney Spears' New "I Wanna Go" Video Is Pretty Awesome:
If you thought the ship had sailed on BRITNEY SPEARS putting out any more worthwhile music videos, you really need to see her new one, "I Wanna Go" . . . because it's a BIG, CRAZY BALL OF AWESOME. (--Here's the video.) --It begins with reporters asking Britney asinine questions at a press conference, like: Quote, "Is it true you banned junk food, smiles, candy, sunshine and laughter from your Femme Fatale Tour? . . .--"Britney, can you confirm reports that you're pregnant with BRAD PITT'S love child?" And, quote, "Is it true that you hate puppies?" Britney gives smart-ass responses, but that puppy one sent her over the edge. --Pointing to various reporters, she says, quote, "[Eff] you . . . [eff] you . . . [eff] you . . . you're cool . . . [eff] you . . . I'm out." --Then she saunters through the town, doing sassy things like: Grabbing a male autograph seeker's backside and flashing fans. A cop tries to arrest her . . . but she apparently DOES HIM in the street. --Then she takes on the paparazzi. She stands on top of a taxi and slays all the photographers by swinging a microphone at them. But then it turns out that they're cyborgs! And this is where things start to get a little weird. --The "cool" reporter from earlier saves her . . . and as they drive away, he pours milk all over himself. And then it's revealed that he's a cyborg. And then it turns out that it was all a dream, and Britney is still at the podium like she was in the beginning of the video. --But as the nice guy leads her out of the room, he turns back to the camera and his eyes flash red. HE'S STILL A CYBORG! (--Which appears to be a nod to the ending of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video.) --Another awesome moment in the video is when they show a theater marquee advertising a movie called "Crossroads 2: Cross Harder". (--Which is a nod to Britney's 2002 movie, "Crossroads".) (--This is as good as I can imagine a Britney Spears video being. It was just the right kind of SEXY for this stage in her career . . . It's not too explicit. It's smart-alecky, it's fun, and it's a little crazy. Just like Britney needs to be.)
THURSDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
SHIA LABEOUF says that being suspended in the air by a harness ravages a man's package. (Full Story)
The "Hollywood Reporter" says "American Idol" judge RANDY JACKSON is shopping a daytime talk show, which he would host. A source says, quote, "He wants to talk about things that will be hip next. He thinks he has his finger on the pulse." Randy's people haven't commented. (Full Story)
TRAIN is coming out with a wine named after their second album and its single, "Drops of Jupiter". It's a petite syrah . . . and it'll be available next week from Train's online wine club. (Full Story)
This will make you feel old: Come September, it'll have been 20 years since NIRVANA'S "Nevermind" came out. To celebrate, a deluxe reissue is hitting stores on September 19th . . . with rarities, B-sides, and unreleased recordings. It'll include FOUR CDs and a DVD, which will contain a whole concert. (Full Story)
LIMP BIZKIT has unleashed the video for "Gold Cobra", the title track off their new album, which comes out on Tuesday. (Video) (--WARNING: There's UNCENSORED language in the song. We're talkin' F-words, S-words and B-words.)
Well, isn't this fun: An EARTH, WIND & FIRE concert had to be canceled . . . because of a thunderstorm. (Full Story)
RANDOM STUFF
A New Study Figures Out How Much Different Foods and Behaviors Change Your Weight Over a Four-Year Period:
There's a new study on weight gain in the "New England Journal of Medicine" that doesn't exactly break new ground . . . its grand conclusion is that we need to eat more vegetables and less junk food. --But in the study, the researchers did break down exactly how much different food and lifestyle choices affect your weight over a four-year period . . . and that part's pretty interesting. --For foods, the WORST thing you can eat is . . . POTATO CHIPS. Eating chips daily or almost daily leads to a 1.69-pound gain over four years. Regularly eating other forms of potatoes, including fries, leads to a 1.28-pound gain over four years. --Sweets and desserts lead to weight gain but not quite as bad as potatoes. Eating dessert daily only leads to a 0.41-pound gain over four years, or about a tenth of a pound a year. --Drinking non-diet soda daily adds one pound every four years . . . and red meat adds 0.93 pounds a year. People who drink alcohol each day gain 0.41 pounds PER DRINK over four years. So having four drinks a day leads to about 1.6 pounds in weight gain. --The foods that are pest for you are: Yogurt, which causes a loss of 0.87 pounds in four years . . . nuts, which lead to a loss of 0.57 pounds . . . and fruits, which lead to a loss of 0.49 pounds. Vegetables lead to a 0.22-pound loss. --For behaviors, exercise is the best way to lose weight . . . no, really. People who regularly exercised lost 1.76 pounds in four years. --People who smoked gained 5.17 pounds in four years. People who watch TV gained 0.31 pounds PER HOUR of TV a day they watch in four years . . . so if you watch four hours of TV a day, that's about 1.2 pounds gained in four years. (Washington Post)
Car Thefts are Way Down Across the Country . . . Except in California:
According to the annual report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, car thefts are WAY down in the U.S. Except in California, where everyone's cars are being stolen RIGHT NOW. --Nationwide, thefts went down an incredible 7.2% between 2009 and 2010. But . . . of the top 10 metropolitan areas with the highest number of car thefts, EIGHT are in California. --The NICB says car thefts are high in California because cars there can be quickly moved to Mexico or shipped to Asia. Plus, since the state is completely broke, they've cut back on cops monitoring car thefts and prosecution against thieves. --Here's the full list of the top 10 cities for car thefts. --Fresno, California . . . Modesto, California . . . Bakersfield, California . . . Spokane, Washington . . . Vallejo, California . . . Sacramento, California . . . --Stockton, California . . . Visalia, California . . . San Francisco-Oakland, California . . . and Yakima, Washington. (Yahoo Autos) (--You can see rankings for every city here.)
US Airways Wouldn't Let a Black Football Player Fly With Sagging Pants . . . But They Let a White Drag Queen Fly In Women's Underwear?
Last week, a 20-year-old football player from the University of New Mexico named Deshon Marman was arrested at San Francisco International Airport. --He was sagging his pants down around his thighs . . . US Airways staff told him he couldn't fly like that . . . the police ended up getting involved . . . and he was ultimately arrested for trespassing. --At the time, it seemed like US Airways was taking a stand against the pants sagging trend, and lots of people applauded them. Now, people aren't really sure WHAT to make of their decision. Here's why . . . --It turns out that six days before Deshon was arrested, US Airways let a DRAG QUEEN fly on the plane . . . in just tight women's underwear and thigh-high stockings. --It was on a flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Phoenix, and another passenger on the flight took a photo of the guy. Because according to her, no one ever would've believed this guy was allowed on her flight without proof. --So why was this guy allowed to fly in just women's underwear, while Deshon was kicked off the flight because his pants were sagging and showing HIS underwear? --Well, the go-to angle seems to be . . . RACE. Deshon's black, the drag queen is white. Deshon's attorney said, quote, "A white man is allowed to fly in underwear, but my client was asked to pull up his pajama pants because they hung below his waist." --US Airways is saying that the reason Deshon ended up getting arrested was because he wouldn't comply with the employees who requested he pull up his pants. They say they don't have an official dress code policy. (San Francisco Chronicle) (--Here's the photo of the drag queen.)
About Half of Pregnant Women Have Tried Inducing Labor With Sex, Spicy Foods, Laxatives, Self-Love, and Other Fantastic Methods:
When a woman wants to get a baby out of her, she wants to get a baby out of her. I just didn't realize the kind of RIDICULOUS things women try to get that baby rolling. --According to a new survey by Ohio State University, about HALF of pregnant women have tried to induce labor . . . and they've used these techniques . . .
--Sex.
--Eating spicy foods.
--Acupuncture.
--Laxatives.
--Manually stimulating themselves to climax.
--Exercising.
--And finally, vigorous nipple fondling.
--Jonathan Schaffir led the study . . . and he says of all those techniques, the nipple touching thing is the only one that's actually got a prayer of working. That process releases oxytocin, which can cause contractions. --But he says, quote, "These contractions can be hard to control . . . it's just not something I recommend because there's no established safe protocol." (U.S. News & World Report)
Does the Government Want to Ban Flirting From College Campuses?
We're well aware that defining sexual harassment is a slippery slope . . . a slope that I would never, ever ask a woman to run down so I could watch her bounce and jiggle, mind you. But THIS fight against it seems almost TOO aggressive. --The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights recently sent a letter to all the colleges and universities in the U.S. And based on how you look at it . . . you MIGHT read it as them trying to ban all FLIRTING from college campuses. --In the letter, they instruct colleges to collect evidence whenever a sexual harassment claim is made, to determine whether it's sexual harassment or sexual assault . . . and to bring the person involved in front of a disciplinary board. --Disciplinary boards are no joke . . . but what the government is calling for is a LOT less proof than our court systems, where people are innocent until proven guilty. --In these cases, it seems as soon as a complaint is lodged, they're suggesting that the person is guilty . . . the school just needs to decide HOW guilty they are. --So . . . depending on how schools respond to this, and if students find themselves living in fear of getting brought in front of disciplinary boards . . . this could in theory be like a FLIRTING BAN on college campuses. --Schools are generally compelled to do what the Office of Civil Rights tells them . . . because an investigation by the OCR can cost colleges a fortune in federal funding. (Washington Examiner)
MEATBALL CRIMINALS
During a 16-Hour Standoff With the Police, a Man With a Hostage Regularly Updated His Facebook Status:
Apparently hostage standoffs with police and SWAT teams have entered the social networking era. --Over the weekend, 36-year-old Jason Valdez of Ogden, Utah was in a 16-hour overnight standoff with the police. He was in a hotel room with a female hostage. And throughout the 16 hours, Valdez was updating his FACEBOOK STATUS. --He posted status updates from his phone like, quote, "I'm currently in a stand off . . . kinda ugly but ready for whatever, I love u guys and if I don't make it out of here alive I'm in a better place and u were all great friends . . ." --At one point he posted a photo of him and the hostage. At another point, one of his friends posted on his wall that there was a sniper in the bushes so he should, quote, "stay low." He responded "Thank you, homey." --Some of his friends and family begged him to do the right thing and surrender . . . others told him to stay strong. --After the 16 hours the police finally busted through. The hostage was okay . . . but Valdez shot himself in the chest, and is in critical condition. --The police are analyzing all of Valdez's Facebook posts during the standoff . . . and considering criminal charges for the friend who fed him information about where the sniper was positioned. (ABC News)
Cops Let a Handcuffed Suspect Go . . . So They Could Arrest a Woman Who Was Filming Them?
This incident happened last month, but it's just coming to light now. --Back on May 12th, 28-year-old Emily Good of Rochester, New York, saw a man being handcuffed during a traffic stop on the street outside her home. It's not clear WHY, but she decided to start filming the incident. --The police officer who was making the arrest is named Mario Masic. And he wasn't happy with Emily making a video. So he asked her to stop recording and go inside, and then TOLD her to stop recording and go inside. --She didn't. And that's when Mario stopped worrying about the handcuffed suspect and let him go on his way . . . so he could arrest EMILY. --She was officially charged with second-degree obstructing governmental administration. --By the way, it's perfectly legal to film something going on in a public street . . . even an arrest . . . but the officer says that he felt THREATENED and UNSAFE with her on her lawn, recording him. --Emily is due in court on Monday to face the charge. The Rochester Police say they're reviewing the situation. (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) (--Here's a link to the video Emily made. It's fairly dark, but you can hear how everything went down.)
Follow-Up: The Bank Robber Who Wanted Free Prison Healthcare Was Only a Few Miles From Hospitals That Would've Treated Him For Free:
Earlier this week, a story came out about 59-year-old James Verone of Gastonia, North Carolina. He robbed a bank and got caught intentionally, because he said the only way he could afford healthcare was to get it for free in prison. --And we'll admit that, just like the rest of the media, we were all over this story. Well . . . a writer for "Investor's Business Daily" essentially put us all in our place with an editorial yesterday. --He writes, quote, "The story flew across the web . . . not surprising, since it fit perfectly into one of the media's cherished memes. 'The most expensive [care] in the world, and yet it forces people to take desperate acts to get treatment.'" --"There's just one little, inconvenient fact missing from all this coverage. Verone had access to free care outside of jail, and plenty of it." --Turns out the bank he robbed was just FIVE MILES from a free health clinic. Or he could've taken a bus to the University of North Carolina, where they, quote, "provide necessary healthcare to citizens, regardless of their ability to pay." --Overall, North Carolina provides around $700 MILLION in free healthcare to people in need every year . . . and other states do the same. Nationwide, about $34 BILLION goes into unpaid healthcare. --In other words: This bank robber might not have known about those options. But they're out there. And it was WEAK of the media to seize onto the story without reporting them. --So we apologize for falling into that trap, because we usually think of ourselves as being far, far better than the regular media. Won't happen again. (Investor's Business Daily)
Random News Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
According to the FDA, women can't keep their silicone breast implants for life. Basically, they'll need additional surgery within ten years to help prevent them from rupturing. (Full Story)
Worst pick-up line ever? An EMT in New York is accused of fondling a car crash victim . . . telling her she had a "beautiful body" while she was in the ambulance on the way to the hospital . . . taking down her cell phone number . . . and calling and texting her over the next few days to start a relationship. (Full Story)
A shocking new study has revealed that women like guys who wear expensive clothes and drive flashy cars . . . and that the men who have them are more successful at having flings and staying single. (Full Story)
A hospital in Wales has apologized for giving elderly patients tambourines and maracas when their call button system wasn't working. (Full Story)
Check out a botched mob hit caught on surveillance footage at a tire shop in Brooklyn. The owner of the shop survived . . . and the shooter was later taken out by police. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) Peyton and Eli Manning Star in a Violent New Trailer for a Fake TV Show Called "Football Cops":
PEYTON and ELI MANNING are in a new, somewhat graphic ad for DirecTV. It's a fake promo spot for a TV drama like called "Football Cops" . . . and instead of using guns, they kill criminals with deadly footballs. --It's not clear if there's more to come, but DirecTV is promoting it like there is. On the official website, it even lists the back stories of the characters. --It says, quote, "Both grew up together as orphans in a home for wayward boys. Both overcame the odds to become huge sports stars. Now both are the only hope for the rugged streets they once again call home." --Odds are, DirecTV is just planning to run mini-episodes leading up to the football season . . . if there is one. (--Search for "Football Cops Trailer DirecTV.") (--WARNING: This violence is somewhat graphic.)
#2.) The Calgary Zoo's New Ad Features a 'Breakdancing' Gorilla:
I'm guessing the Calgary Zoo might get more visitors this year than usual, because their new ad features a breakdancing gorilla. And since Friday, it's gotten about 800,000 views on YouTube. --It shows a gorilla named Zola spinning around in a puddle of water, and mostly just splashing its feet. Then they added in dance music. (--Search for "Break Dancing Gorilla at the Zoo.")
#3.) A Single Mother Ran Down Three Brothers Who Stole Beer from Wal-Mart . . . And Jumped on Their Car:
Three brothers in Houston tried to steal beer from a Wal-Mart on Sunday, but a single mother named Monique Lawless saw them while she was standing in line . . . then ran them down and JUMPED ON THEIR CAMARO. Security cameras got it all on video. --She jumped on the hood and stomped on the windshield, then wisely decided to jump off when the engine started. But then she tried to open the driver's side door as they sped off, and got thrown to the pavement. --She got a black eye, but she's okay. And she says she'd intervene again . . . and hopes other people would too. She just wouldn't jump on the car next time. --The video on CNN.com shows the footage and an interview with the woman. And it also shows helicopter footage of the cops catching one guy . . . by pinning him against a fence with a cop car. We're not sure how that last part's legal, since it's pretty intense. (--Search for "Woman Chases Alleged Beer Thieves." She jumps on the car at :33, and it shows the cop car pin one of the thieves against the fence at 1:04.)
(--Don't get me wrong, I respect this woman, but you have to be really serious about the law to be a SINGLE MOTHER and run three grown men stealing from one of the richest corporations in the world.)
#4.) Two Motorcycles Got Tangled Up After a Crash and Spun Around in Circles:
There's a new video on YouTube of a weird motorcycle crash that happened at a race in France. The two riders were fine, but the handlebars on their bikes got hung up on each other, and the bikes spun around in circles on the racetrack. --It's also funny how angry the one guy gets at the racer who caused it. (--Search for "An Unusual Crash for Two Race Bikes.")
#5.) Voluptuous Women Unleashing Their Assets on YouTube:
If Friday can't come fast enough, there's one guaranteed way to help get you through the week: Voluptuous women unleashing their assets on YouTube. (???) --For example, if you've never seen it, there's last year's wardrobe malfunction, when extremely well-chested Italian TV presenter Marika Fruscio accidentally exposed herself on a talk show. --Just search for "The beautiful Marika Fruscio shows her breasts on Italian TV." I mean . . . what else would you search for? Is it 'Safe For Work?' Not exactly. --In that same vein, there's also "Big boob jog" . . . aptly described on YouTube as "Woman with huge twins goes jogging." --Or perhaps you can learn something from the helpful do-it-yourself instructional video, "Self Breast Massage Technique - Lymphatic Breast Massage."
Five Ways to Prevent and Control Road Rage:
The magazine "Prevention" has a list of ways to prevent and control road rage. Here are the top five. Some of these are pretty stupid, but a few sound like they might be helpful.
#1.) Instead of a Pine-Scented Air Freshener, Go With Peppermint or Cinnamon. In one study researchers put college students in simulated driving scenarios. --And they found that the scent of peppermint or cinnamon decreased their frustration by 25%, increased alertness by 30%, and made the simulated ride seem 30% shorter. Peppermint also lowered anxiety and fatigue by 20%.
#2.) Drive in the Slow Lane. Driving in the fast lane generally cuts 10% off your commute, and the average commute in the U.S. is 25 minutes. So if you're an average driver, it only saves two or three minutes. --And if you stay in the slow lane instead, you'll be surrounded by less aggressive drivers.
#3.) Be Supportive. According to one expert, you just need to change the way you THINK of the other drivers. And instead of competing with them, you should try SUPPORTING them. --So if they want to move into your lane or pass you, just let them. Here's why this one's stupid: The expert says, quote, "When you're a supportive driver, not only does the stress vanish, but you also begin to ENJOY traffic."
#4.) Be Willing to Take Criticism. If a passenger says you're tailgating or doing something else wrong, don't get defensive. They might be right, and YOU might be the root cause of some of your road rage.
#5.) Get Silly. This one's weird too. If you're feeling tense behind the wheel, the editors of "Prevention" say you should, quote, "try making animal noises, machine sounds, or whatever you find amusing." (???) --Really, they just mean that if you laugh, you're less likely to get stressed out. But honestly . . . our show MUST be better than animal noises. (Prevention.com)
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