HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (07-01-11)

LOHAN LUNACY

Lindsay Lohan Went Out Wednesday Night . . . And Almost Fell Leaving a Bar. Was She Drunk?

LINDSAY LOHAN spent her first night of freedom at a bar, not surprisingly. And on her way out, she stumbled and almost fell while wading through a sea of paparazzi scumbags. --Lindsay spent several hours at the Lexington Social House for some kind of going away party for a friend. Actors EMILE HIRSCH and LYNDSY FONSECA were there, too. --There's no word how much drinking Lindsay was or wasn't doing. One source says that she had a cocktail at the very least. Another says she chain-smoked and drank soda all night. --A witness says, quote, "She was in a good mood. She definitely seemed happy to be free and out celebrating with friends." --The paparazzi situation waiting for her outside when she left the joint at 1:30 in the morning was INSANE. And when she stumbled, one of them shouted, quote, "She's drunk!" --Yesterday, Lindsay Tweeted, quote, "If anyone caused me to nearly fall it was the psychotic paparazzi." (--Here's video. There's nothing in it to suggest Lindsay was intoxicated. In fact, if you look at her face at the end of the clip, where she and her friends are in their SUV, I'd say she DOESN'T look drunk.)


We Won't See Any Naked Pregnant Pics of Victoria Beckham:

You can decide for yourself if this is a good thing or a bad thing: We won't be seeing any nude pregnant pics of VICTORIA BECKHAM . . . because she doesn't roll that way. --She says, quote, "I'm not really one of these people that likes to go out and pose and flaunt being pregnant. Not like there's anything wrong in that. --"I'm so proud to be pregnant and I feel so blessed and so happy, I really do. But I'm just not that kind of person. --"So, no, I won't be taking my clothes off. I don't think anyone needs to see that, other than my husband."


Heidi Klum Still Tans Naked:

Here's a pleasant image to take with you over the long weekend: HEIDI KLUM still prefers to tan naked. And she thinks ALL women should feel free to do the same. --She says, quote, "I love tanning my body and I don't love tan lines necessarily. I don't think too much about what other people think or if they think this woman is too old to wear just a bikini or a bikini bottom. --"I come from Europe so I'm not American." --She adds, quote, "It is very different here than it is German or Italy. I grew up with men wearing Speedos on the beach and topless women on the beach at any age." (--Heidi is 38 years old . . . although to be fair, her body really doesn't show it. So it's pretty easy for her not to care how little clothing she wears in public.) (--For the rest of us, showing the world what we look like beneath our clothing can be far more traumatic.)


Jonathan Rhys Meyers Was Hospitalized After an Alleged Suicide Attempt:

JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS . . . who stars as King Henry the 8th on the Showtime series "The Tudors" . . . was rushed to a London hospital Tuesday night after what some are calling a suicide attempt. --Rhys Meyers was found on the floor of his home Tuesday night by paramedics answering an emergency call. He refused treatment, so police were called . . . and he was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. --He was discharged early yesterday morning. It's not clear who called the paramedics in the first place. --Rhys Meyers apparently took some kind of pills, but we don't know what they were. He's been battling alcohol and drug problems for years. He's been to rehab FIVE times, including twice this year. --At least one source is calling this a drug relapse, but NOT a suicide attempt. --Rhys Meyers has yet to comment.


Tobey Maguire Says He Didn't Mean To Play Illegal Poker:

TOBEY MAGUIRE'S attorney is fighting back against that lawsuit over his winnings in supposedly illegal, high-stakes poker games. --In court papers released yesterday, Tobey's attorney says that he didn't knowingly play illegal games. In addition, he wasn't involved in the Ponzi scheme at the center of the lawsuit. --His attorney says that Tobey, quote, "unconditionally denies having engaged in any conduct whatsoever in violation of law and further categorically denies having knowingly or intentionally participated in any fraudulent scheme." --The court papers also state that if the games WERE illegal, Tobey didn't know it. As far as he knew, they were not, quote, "controlled games", which require the host to have a license. --To him, it was just guys getting together and playing cards. And he denies there was, quote, "a regular roster of players consisting of wealthy celebrities, entrepreneurs, attorneys and businessmen." (--There are various rules regarding what constitutes a legal poker game in the state of California. I won't bore you with the details.) --Tobey and several other players are being sued for money they won from a guy named Bradley Ruderman. The plaintiffs are people Ruderman ripped off in a Ponzi scheme. They say Ruderman paid his poker losses with THEIR money. -Tobey is being sued for over $300,000.-Tobey's lawyer also notes that Tobey LOST $168,500 to Ruderman. So if he DOES end up having to pay, the amount should be reduced.


"Macho Man" Randy Savage Died of Heart Disease:

The coroner's report on RANDY "MACHO MAN" SAVAGE is in, and the official cause of death is HEART DISEASE. --The coroner says Savage had an enlarged heart, and suffered a serious "cardiac event" while driving last month on a Florida highway. In other words, he had a heart attack behind the wheel. --As you probably recall, Savage crashed his car into a tree, but it was the heart attack that killed him. His wife was also in the car, and she suffered only minor injuries. --There's no evidence Savage was taking heart medication, which means he may not have known he was sick.


Ewan McGregor and His Wife Have Adopted Another Child:

EWAN MCGREGOR and his wife Eve have adopted another baby girl. All we know about her is that she's four months old. There's no word on her name or nationality. --Ewan and Eve adopted a baby girl from Mongolia five years ago. They also have two biological daughters, who are 15 and 9 years old.


Tom Hanks' Son "Chet Haze" Has Released A New Video:

TOM HANKS' 20-year-old son Chester . . . whom you probably know better as WHITE RAPPER SUPREME CHET HAZE . . . has released a music video. --It's pretty low-concept. It's just Chet performing onstage, while people in the audience wave glow sticks. The song is called "Another Chance". (--Check it out here. Now, I'm definitely not the right guy to judge, but to me, this didn't sound like a horrible song. Am I wrong?)


NEW MOVIES THIS WEEKEND

The New "Transformers" Movie Will Compete With Tom Hanks and Selena Gomez at the Box Office . . . But It's Playing in Nearly Twice As Many Theaters:

#1.) "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (PG-13) (Opened Wednesday)

Shia LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwicky, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley replaces Megan Fox as his love interest. The plot for the third movie reveals that the entire space race of the '60s was a response to a crash landing on the moon.

--Leonard Nimoy does the voice of Sentinel Prime. He's the pilot of the crashed ship that Neil Armstrong and his Apollo 11 crew discover during their secret lunar mission. The Decepticons use the cargo from the crash site to launch an assault back on Earth and tear apart Chicago in the process.

--Hugo Weaving is back as Megatron, and Peter Cullen is Optimus Prime . . . just like he has been ever since the original animated series. The human cast includes Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Patrick Dempsey and John Malkovich. (Trailer) (Teaser)


#2.) "Larry Crowne" (PG-13)

Tom Hanks loses his job and goes back to school at the local community college. Julia Roberts is his disinterested teacher. It's a romantic comedy that he co-wrote with Nia Vardalos from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". Tom Hanks is also the director. He previously costarred with Julia Roberts in the movie "Charlie Wilson's War". (Trailer)


#3.) "Monte Carlo" (PG) Selena Gomez is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress who looks just like her, and then pretends to be that chick after getting a taste of what it's like to be rich. Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy are the two friends vacationing with her, and "Glee's" Cory Monteith plays Katie's boyfriend, who follows them to Europe. (Trailer)
Check Out This Awesome Mashup Of "Friends With Benefits" and "No Strings Attached":

This year marks the release of two very similar movies. --In January, we had ASHTON KUTCHER and NATALIE PORTMAN in "No Strings Attached" . . . a movie about a man and a woman who decide to become FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS. --And next month, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and MILA KUNIS hit theaters in "Friends With Benefits" . . . a movie about a man and a woman who decide to have a sexual relationship with NO STRINGS ATTACHED. --Confused? Of course you are. And someone out there in cyberspace decided to muddy the waters even more, but in a most HI-larious way . . . by mashing up the two trailers to show just how IDENTICAL these movies are. (--Check it out here.)


A "Thor" Sequel Will Be Out in 2013:

A "Thor" sequel has been green-lit AND given a release date. You can expect it in theaters in July of 2013. CHRIS HEMSWORTH will return to play the title character, but director KENNETH BRANAGH won't be back. --There's no word on any other cast members. (--Thor's next big-screen appearance is in "The Avengers", which comes out next May.)


MSNBC Analyst Mark Halperin Called President Obama a D-Word on Live TV:

MSNBC political analyst MARK HALPERIN referred to PRESIDENT OBAMA as a naughty word live on "Morning Joe" yesterday. --Mark was talking about Obama's demeanor during his press conference Wednesday on the economy. That's when he dropped the D-word . . . the part of the male anatomy that rhymes with STICK. --He said, quote, "I thought he was kind of a [D-word] yesterday." --As inappropriate as that is, in retrospect it's actually pretty amusing . . . if you consider the total COMEDY OF ERRORS that happened before and after his comment that allowed this to happen. --It all started when Mark asked co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika BrzezinskI, if the show was on a seven-second delay. In other words, this was a premeditated comment, and he wanted to see if they could censor him. --They egged him on. Mika said, quote, "We have it, we can use it, right?" --Then she and Joe said things like, quote, "Yeah, sure . . . come on . . . go for it . . . take a chance . . . yeah, let's see what happens . . . I'm behind you, you fall down, I'll catch you." (???) And so Mark dropped the bomb. --Apparently, they didn't think Mark would actually say something like that, because immediately afterwards, Joe said, quote, "Oh my God. Delay that! Delay that! What are you doing? I can't believe you- I was joking! Don't do that. Did we delay that?" --And the answer to that question is: No. No, they didn't. And that's because they just happened to have a new producer at the knobs, who DIDN'T KNOW HOW to use the seven-second delay button. --Later, when they found out the comment was NOT censored, the producer explained that he got confused by all the buttons. And Mika responded, quote, "You're supposed to actually know how to do the job before you get the job." --Joe added, quote, "I'd tell you what I think of you, but you don't know what button to push." (--You can find video, here. WARNING: The D-word is UNCENSORED.) --Mark apologized on the air . . . saying, quote, "Joking aside, this is an absolute apology . . . I became part of the joke, but that's no excuse. I'm sorry, and I shouldn't have said it. I apologize to the president and the viewers who heard me say that." (--You can find video of the apology, here. WARNING: The D-word is also UNCENSORED in this clip. The apology begins 15 seconds in.)


MSNBC Has Suspended Mark Halperin Indefinitely:

MSNBC has suspended political analyst Mark Halperin indefinitely for "characterizing" PRESIDENT OBAMA as a D-word LIVE on "Morning Joe" yesterday. --The network issued a statement saying: Quote, "Mark Halperin's comments were completely inappropriate and unacceptable . . . we strive for a high level of discourse and comments like these have no place on our air." --Mark responded with his own statement in AGREEMENT. He said, quote, "I completely agree . . . I believe that the step they are taking in response is totally appropriate . . . my remark was unacceptable, and I deeply regret it." --Mark is also an editor at "Time" magazine. They're NOT suspending him . . . however they did say Mark's comments were, quote, "inappropriate and in no way reflective of 'Time's' views."


Mark Halperin Previously Called Obama a Part of a *Woman's* Anatomy:

MSNBC analyst Mark Halperin is an equal opportunity naughty-word user . . . when referring to PRESIDENT OBAMA. In a 2008 radio interview, he called Obama the P-word . . . the part of the female anatomy that rhymes with WUSSY. --This time, he wasn't talking about his own thoughts, he was "characterizing" the feelings of JOHN EDWARDS. --Here's Mark's exact quote: "[John] kinda thinks Obama is . . . he thinks Obama is kind of a [P-word] . . . he has real questions about Obama's toughness, his readiness for the office."


Christina Aguilera Will Be Back on "The Voice" Next Season, Along with the Other Three Coaches:

It's official: All four celebrity coaches will be back on "The Voice" for Season Two, which will begin sometime early next year. --There was some speculation online that CHRISTINA AGUILERA might not be back, but yesterday NBC confirmed that she would. -Obviously, the CRAZY money NBC is throwing at her was part of her decision. According to reports, she pulls down $225,000 PER EPISODE, which is three-times what the guys are getting. --CEE-LO GREEN, ADAM LEVINE and BLAKE SHELTON reportedly make $75,000 an episode.


WEEKEND TV REMINDERS
(--Check your local listing for times in your area.)
Friday TV Reminders:

--"Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Nickelodeon. (--A new sitcom for your kids. It's about two surf-loving high school kids living in a southern California beach town.)

--"Dual Survival" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Discovery.

--"My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" [1st Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on TLC.

Saturday TV Reminders:

--"Biography: Tom Hanks" . . . 7:00 to 8:00 A.M. on A&E. (--His new movie "Larry Crowne" hits theaters today.)

--"Wimbledon: Women's Final" . . . 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Eastern on NBC.

--"98th Tour de France" [Stage 1] . . . 2:00 to 3:30 P.M. Eastern on NBC.

--"NASCAR Racing: Sprint Cup in Daytona Beach" . . . 7:30 to 11:00 P.M. Eastern on TNT.

--"Grand Ole Opry Live" . . . 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. on GAC. (--Steve Wariner, Jimmy Wayne, Joe Diffie and Troy Olsen perform.)

--"Austin City Limits" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on PBS. (--Robert Earl Keen and Hayes Carll perform.) (REPEAT)

Saturday TV Reminders:

--"Saturday Night Live" . . . 11:30 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. on NBC. (--Helen Mirren guest hosts and Foo Fighters are the musical guest.) (REPEAT)

Sunday TV Reminders:

--"Wimbledon: Men's Final" . . . 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Eastern on NBC.

--"98th Tour de France" [Stage 2] . . . 3:00 to 4:30 P.M. Eastern on NBC.

--"PGA Tour Golf: AT&T National" [Final Round] . . . 3:00 to 6:30 P.M. Eastern on CBS.

--"Christopher Titus: Neverlution" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Comedy Central. (--Comedian Christopher Titus performs at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido, California.)

--"The Marriage Ref" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on NBC. (--Tracy Morgan, Susie Essman and Regis Philbin listen to married couples disputes.)

--"Treme" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:30 P.M. on HBO. (--The finale is set at the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2007. Performances include The Iguanas, Wanda Rouzan, Donald Harrison Jr. and Lucinda Williams.)

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


--"Yankee Doodle Dandy" . . . 8:00 to 10:30 P.M. Eastern on TCM. (--Conan O'Brien hosts this classic James Cagney musical. Cagney plays George M. Cohen, the guy who wrote the patriotic anthems, "Over There" and "You're a Grand Old Flag".)

(--You may not have known this, but Cagney was actually a fantastic tap dancer. You can watch him singing and dancing to the title song from the movie, here. Skip ahead to 1:20 for the song. The dancing gets good at the 2:00 mark.) (--Years later, Cagney played Cohen one more time for a scene in a Bob Hope movie called "The Seven Little Foys". The two of them did a great tap dance routine together, which you can check out here.)

--"Single Ladies" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on VH1. (--Queen Latifah guest stars.)

--"Rupaul's Drag U" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Logo. (--"Glee's" coach Beiste . . . Dot Marie Jones guest judges.)

--"Citizen U.S.A.: A 50-State Road Trip" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on HBO. (--Nancy Pelosi's daughter, Alexandra Pelosi, visits naturalization ceremonies in every state to interview our country's newest citizens.)

FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS:

--"A Capitol Fourth" . . . 8:00 to 9:30 P.M. on PBS. (--Jimmy Smits hosts, with performances by Josh Groban, "Glee's" Matthew Morrison, "American Idol's" Jordin Sparks, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, and Little Richard.)


--"Macy's 4th Of July Fireworks Spectacular 2011" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on NBC. (--Nick Lachey hosts. Performers include Beyoncé and Brad Paisley.)


--"Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on CBS. (--Lionel Richie performs with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Michael Chiklis hosts.)


Justin Bieber Called a BET Awards Doorman a D-Bag for Not Letting His Security Enter with Him:

JUSTIN BIEBER was a presenter at the BET Awards last Sunday . . . but before he got onstage, he had to first get in the building. And apparently, that was an ordeal. --Justin was stopped at the door because a member of his entourage didn't have a ticket to get in. The doorman was holding his ground, and both sides were arguing. And that's when Justin lost his cool. (CAREFUL) --Justin said, quote, "I need to bring my security with me! This guy's a [D-bag]." (--Only he said the actual word "douche bag".) (--Fortunately, this moment was actually caught on video. Here's the link. WARNING: "Douche bag" is UNCENSORED. Justin's comment begins 32 seconds in.) --Eventually, all of Justin's people got inside. -Justin's rep says he was merely standing up for his crew. And a rep for BET downplayed the situation . . . quote, "It's our standard policy to make sure everyone has their tickets or credential upon arrival. Justin had the proper credentials." --By the way, Google has produced a commercial for its Chrome browser that celebrates Justin Bieber's YouTube success story. (--You can check it out, here.)


Beyoncé Led a Dance Party for the Harlem Boys and Girls Club:

This is pretty cool: BEYONCÉ made a surprise appearance at a Harlem Boys and Girls Club event yesterday. It actually took place at a local Target store. --Beyoncé's choreographer was teaching the kids a dance lesson. According to TMZ, Beyoncé showed up onstage out of the blue . . . and "led an impromptu dance party." --Not surprisingly, the kids were going ballistic. (--Here's video.)


Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Is Promoting . . . the Smashing Pumpkins?

Did you know the SMASHING PUMPKINS had another album in the works? Or, did you even know the Smashing Pumpkins were still a band? Well, would you believe it if you heard it from NBA legend KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR? --As strange as it is, Kareem appears in a video promo for the Pumpkins, in which he smashes a pumpkin . . . by DUNKING it . . . and says, quote, "Check out the new Smashing Pumpkins album 'Oceania', it's coming soon." (???) (--Here it is.) (--Last I heard, BILLY CORGAN and his NON-classic Pumpkins lineup were recording 44 songs that they were releasing for free online. Well this album is apparently part of that project. There's no release date for "Oceania" yet.)
Paul McCartney's Old Road Manager Told Him to Retire at Age 50:

Some former road manager once advised PAUL MCCARTNEY to retire at age 50 . . . which means he would've been done 19 YEARS AGO, in 1992. --Paul tells "Mojo" magazine, quote, "One of my old guys who I used to have as my manager, I was knocking 50 and he said, 'I think it's time you retired.' I thought, 'I know what you mean, but I don't really feel like it. --"'And if I'm really enjoying this, why retire?' So I decided against it, and got rid of him. I wonder what he thinks today. Perhaps that he was right, but hopefully not."


Will Jay-Z and Kanye West's "Watch the Throne" Collaboration Hit on the Fourth of July?

There's a groundswell on the hip-hop sites online suggesting that JAY-Z and KANYE WEST will release their "Watch the Throne" collaboration on Monday . . . the Fourth of July. Since this would be a surprise release, it'd be for digital retailers only. --But then again, we've been hearing about this thing coming out since January.


FRIDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS


Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:


ASHTON KUTCHER is involved in a huge Twitter war with "The Village Voice" . . . because they accused him of using incorrect child prostitution statistics in his anti-sex trafficking campaign. (Full Story)



JULIA ROBERTS says that if she weren't an actress, she would have been a home economics teacher. (Full Story)



Check out pictures of BRADLEY COOPER in blonde dreadlocks, holding a baby tiger. All we know is that he was filming, quote, "a new project directed by DAX SHEPARD." (Us Weekly) (People)



AMY WINEHOUSE'S website was hacked and vandalized by some guys who called themselves, quote, "a team of homosexual Negroes" who where, quote, "taking back the Internet from the white devil." (Full Story)



Here we go again: The Octomom is once again close to losing her house. (Full Story)



BEN STILLER and VINCE VAUGHN will appear together in "Neighborhood Watch" . . . a movie about a bunch of guys who set up a neighborhood watch just to get some time away from their families every night . . . but end up uncovering a plot to destroy the world. (Full Story)

The "X Factor" judges inadvertently made arrangements to stay at a HAUNTED HOTEL while in Dallas this week. PAULA ABDUL was spooked by the bathroom faucets turning on and off, but SIMON COWELL was supposedly "happy with the ghosts." (Full Story)



The final episode of GLENN BECK'S Fox News show aired yesterday. Among other things, he said, quote, "As a guy who has traded my soul before, I will not trade it again. Never want anything too much. Never. It will destroy you." (Video)



SHIA LABEOUF is filming a documentary on the making of MARILYN MANSON'S next album. (Full Story)



AdWeek.com has put together an epic list of the 50 Gayest Ads Ever . . . from all over the world. Oh, and that's gay in the GOOD way, of course. (List, with videos.)



"Call of Duty: Black Ops" multiplayer gaming will get another Double XP weekend for the Fourth of July holiday. It starts today at 10:00 A.M. Pacific and ends on July 5th. That's straight from Treyarch's community manager. (Tweet)



"Red Dead Redemption" is having a QUADRUPLE XP weekend for the holiday. It starts at 9:00 A.M. today. (Full Story)


RANDOM STUFF

Eight Random Facts About July 4th:

#1.) Americans spend $111 MILLION on popsicles and charcoal for July 4th weekend.

#2.) Americans spend $203 MILLION just on CONDIMENTS for July 4th. That's more than the $193 MILLION we spend on hamburger patties.

#3.) No July 4th spending compares to FIREWORKS . . . we spend at least $600 MILLION on 'em nationwide.

#4.) Over 80% of the American flags in the U.S. were made in China.

#5.) When America became an independent nation in 1776, it had a population of 2.5 million. Now the population is over 311 million.

#6.) Last year, New York City had the largest fireworks display in the U.S. It included 22 tons of fireworks . . . about the same weight as six elephants.

#7.) Last year there were 11,000 firework-related injuries . . . more than half of which were minor burns on the hands. There was only one death . . . and that was a guy balancing a mortar shell in a tube on his head.

#8.) The 4th of July is the biggest holiday for beer sales, with approximately 68.3 MILLION cases of beer sold. The rest of the top five, in order are: Labor Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day (--awesome), and Christmas. (This Blog Rules)

One Out of Six People Would Demand to Bring their Laptop or iPad Along on Their Honeymoon:

Nothing says "romance" like having relations with your new husband or wife in an oceanfront cabana in Bora Bora . . . and then rolling off of them to check your email. --According to a new Harris poll, one out of six people say they would DEMAND to bring their laptop or iPad along on their honeymoon. --There's more. 48% of people say they're unhappy when they're in bed without a computer, smartphone, or tablet. 36% need one when they go shopping with their spouse. 29% need one at a sporting event. --And 11% don't like being away from their devices when they're on a DATE. --Two out of three people surveyed say they use more than one computer, smartphone, or tablet every week. --15% use four or more. (Business News Daily)


It Costs a Damn Fortune to Be Someone's Bridesmaid:

So one of your friends just got engaged and she didn't ask you to be one of her bridesmaids. Your correct response should be . . . oh dear Lord, thank you. --According to a new survey by WeddingChannel.com, the average cost for you when you're asked to be in a wedding party is . . . $1,695. --That's what it costs these days to travel to the wedding, stay at a hotel, buy a dress, buy a gift, go to a bachelorette party, and cover other random expenses. --The survey also found most women don't realize they've spent that much. There's usually a good year-and-a-half between an engagement and a wedding, so the money kinda leaks out . . . and suddenly, you're down nearly two grand. (Daily Mail)


Burger King, KFC, McDonald's, and Taco Bell Share the Honor of Being the Worst Fast Food Chains in the U.S.:

Yesterday, "Consumer Reports" released the results of a survey about fast food. And basically, the bigger the chain . . . the more people hate it. --Burger King, KFC, McDonald's, and Taco Bell scored the worst of the 53 major U.S. fast food chains. And just ahead of them were some more big ones: Arby's, Quiznos, Domino's, and Pizza Hut. --The main knocks against them were uninspiring food and service. They all scored well in price, though . . . they're some of the cheapest fast food chains in the U.S. --In-N-Out Burger had the highest scores of any fast-food chain in the country. It finished just ahead of Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, and Papa Murphy's. --Here are a few more random findings from the survey . . . --KFC, Popeyes, and Pizza Hut got ranked as having the slowest service. --In-N-Out Burger, Papa Murphy's, and CiCi's Pizza got the highest rankings for value . . . good quality at a low price. Sbarro, Round Table Pizza, and KFC got the worst value rankings. --And only 13% of people say they ordered a "healthy" meal during their last trip to a fast food restaurant. (Consumer Reports)


Is Your Shampoo Making You Chubby?

I'm all about finding things to blame chubbiness on other than the fact that my body is, at all times, about 40% gravy. So this is a GREAT one. --According to Paula Baillie-Hamilton, who's an expert on metabolism and toxins at Stirling University in Scotland, your SHAMPOO could be making you chubby. --A lot of shampoos apparently contain chemicals like Bisphenol A, phthalates, PCBs, and even traces of pesticides. --Those can actually mess with our natural hormone responses and the built-in weight control systems in our bodies . . . and that makes them like, quote, "chemical calories." --She says that you can potentially cut down on weight gain by switching to organic shampoos. --Other people in the scientific world aren't as fully convinced, of course . . . but there HAVE been lab tests that showed lab rats exposed to those chemicals have 10% more fat cells than normal lab rats. (Grist.org)


A Man Finds $17,000, Returns It Like a Good Human Being . . . And Ends Up Getting Fined $500 For Lying About Where He Found It:

THIS is why if I ever find a giant sack of cash, I'm going to ignore my conscience and keep the money. -On June 6th, 54-year-old Robert Adams of Arlington Heights, Illinois, found a Chase Bank bag of cash near an ATM in a Walgreens. The bag contained almost $17,000. --Robert is a good person with a soul. So he drove to a Chase Bank nearby and turned the bag over to them. --The police investigated how the cash ended up just sitting there. When they talked to Robert, for no particular reason, he told them he found the bag at a newspaper stand near the bank, not at the Walgreens. --The bank traced the money back to the ATM at the Walgreens, though . . . and when the cops watched surveillance footage, they saw Robert pick it up there. --Robert was promptly charged with filing a false report and was fined $500 . . . which means that his conscience cost him $17,500 total. --He says he doesn't know why he lied about the bag, quote, "It was a hot day, I just wanted to get home. I wasn't looking for a reward. I'm very sorry about this whole thing." (Chicago Tribune)
Seven People Make an Amazing Escape From Their Burning House:

On Wednesday, around 6:30 A.M., 21-year-old Allana Hudson of Galesburg, Illinois, woke up when she smelled smoke. Turned out the stove had caught fire . . . and the house was going up in flames. --And that's when Allana and her six family members and friends inside the house sprang into action . . . and made an absolutely THRILLING escape. Here's how it went down. #1.) Her cousin, 25-year-old George Hudson, jumped out of an upstairs window, bounced off an awning, and landed safely on the concrete outside.
#2.) Allana and her friend, Kristan Cooper, dropped Allana's two babies down to George. The babies are a one-year-old and a two-month-old. George safely caught both babies.
#3.) Allana jumped from the upstairs window. She fractured her foot.
#4.) A roofing truck happened to drive by and the driver saw what was going on. He ran over with his ladder, which Kristan climbed down to escape.
#5.) Allana's uncle, William Hudson, was trapped in the basement. George kicked in a side door to help him escape.
#6.) Then William went back in to carry Allana's 70-year-old grandmother, Ester Hammond, out of the house.
--All of that took less than three minutes . . . which was how long it took the fire department to get there. The babies and grandma were hospitalized but were all okay. (ABC 8 - Quad Cities)


RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS

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


Check out a list of the ten dirtiest beaches in America. And no, they're not all in Jersey. (Full Story)


Illinois is keeping its beaches clean using . . . Border Collies? The dogs chase and harass seagulls, to keep them from pooping on the beach and contaminating the water. (Full Story)


A woman in Boise, Idaho claims she's been banned from every Wal-Mart in America . . . for extreme couponing. (Full Story)


These days, hackers like to front that they're anarchist cyber-sleuths. Sounds sexy . . . but we all know they're annoying nerds. Then they go and do something like this, and I'm willing to give them a golf clap: Sometime in the past few days, unknown hackers went after Al Qaeda's online communications network and brought the whole thing down. (Full Story)


NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) Happy Fourth of July! Enjoy Some Fireworks in Super Slow-Motion:

Before you set off fireworks in your back yard in REAL time, there's a video online that shows them exploding in super slow-motion, and taking out an egg, some jello, a jar of mayo, and a bag of flour. (--Search for "Fourth of July Ultra Slow-Motion.")


#2.) A Guy Grabbed the French President by His Coat and Yanked . . . Then Got Tackled by Security:

Politicians walk around shaking hands all the time . . . and most people HATE politicians. So it's amazing this doesn't happen more often: --Yesterday, French President NICOLAS SARKOZY was glad-handing people in southwest France. And some guy reached out, grabbed him by his lapel, and yanked him into a metal barricade. Then security tackled the guy. --It's not clear what the guy was planning to do, if anything. All we know is he's 32 and works at a local music school. (--Search for "Man Yanks Sarkozy by Shoulder.")
#3.) A Video of a Male Chinese Cheerleader in a Girl's Cheerleading Outfit Is a Hit on YouTube:

A video of a male Chinese cheerleader is a hit on YouTube right now. If you think male cheerleading is lame, this guy takes it to a different level: The main difference is . . . he's in the same skirt and top the GIRLS are wearing. --He does all the same moves too, and he does them perfectly. The only time he screws up is when he slips after he does the splits. (--Search online for "Chinese Male Cheerleader Brings It On." He does the splits at :27.)


#4.) Check Out James Brown in an Old Japanese Ad for Miso Soup:

If there's one thing you associate most with JAMES BROWN . . . it's probably not miso soup. But in 1992, the Godfather of Soul shot two commercials for Nissin Cup Noodle that aired in Japan. --Both ads show him standing behind a steaming cup of delicious noodles, dancing to the song, "Sex Machine". (--Search Break.com for "James Brown Miso Soup." It shows both ads back-to-back.)


Four Fourth of July Tips for Dog Owners:

Independence Day is a loud holiday, which means it's not great for dogs. So here's a quick list of four tips to keep your dog happy and safe this Fourth of July.

#1.) Make Sure Your Dog Is Wearing Its Collar. This is the most important one, because if it gets spooked by fireworks, it might run away. So make sure the collar is on, and the tags have the right contact info.

#2.) Keep Your Dog in a Quiet Room. If it really starts freaking out, draw the blinds, and turn on the TV or the radio to drown out the noise.

#3.) Don't Console Your Dog If It Gets Scared. It seems weird, but most dog experts agree that if you comfort your dog when it's scared, it reinforces the idea that it SHOULD be scared. --You're supposed to just ignore the barking, and hopefully it'll calm down.

#4.) Don't Bring Your Dog to a Fireworks Show. They usually take place at parks or next to a body of water. . . which are two places you might NORMALLY bring your dog. --But don't do it on the Fourth of July, because if he gets scared and runs off in an area he doesn't know, it's an even bigger headache. And you also have to worry about all the traffic. (PetsBest.com)


Five Mobile Apps for Dating:

Everybody's got a smartphone these days, so it's only natural that we'd start using them to hook up. Today we've got five mobile apps you can use for everything from making dinner reservations to coming up with pickup lines.

#1.) Date Smart. It's a GPS-enabled app that finds romantic spots and fun things to do nearby. It's also got tips on WHAT you should do together, like if you're looking for something cultural like a museum, or something crazy like skydiving.

#2.) Date Escape. This is for when the date SUCKS and you need to make a quick exit. It sends fake calls and texts to your phone so you can end a bad date early.

#3.) OpenTable. This one lets you to make dinner reservations without having to talk to anyone. All you have to do is enter the time you want to have dinner, and it displays available tables that meet your criteria.

#4.) iFlirt. It's an app gives you access to millions of pick-up lines, so you'll never be at a loss for words when trying to approach someone. But let's face it . . . if you need an app like this you're already screwed.

#5.) Jimmy the Bartender. This app is from "Men's Health" advice columnist Jimmy the Bartender, and it's got helpful info for single guys. --It comes with a GPS-enabled guide to good bars, tips for approaching women, and drink recipes for when you're spending the night in. There's even an "Instant Wingman" app, which suggests how to approach women when you're out by yourself. (Match.com)
Seven Affordable Fourth of July Date Ideas:

The 4th of July is on Monday. If you still don't have any plans, here are seven AFFORDABLE things you can do this weekend . . .

#1.) Outdoor Concert. There are always free 4th of July concerts and firework shows, so check out what's going on near you.

#2.) Barbeque. A barbeque is totally inexpensive to host if you make it a potluck.

#3.) Something Historic. Google your city to find out what local American memorials or museums are nearby.

#4.) A Rooftop Bar. Find a cool outdoor bar with a good happy hour. You'll get to enjoy cocktails in the summer weather, and you might be able to see a nearby fireworks show.

#5.) Get Wet. If you can't hit up a beach, find a friend with a pool.

#6.) Bonfire. Get some friends together and have a bonfire. And bring some sparklers to get into the spirit.

#7.) Movie Night. If you just feel like staying in, have a 4th of July-themed movie night with stuff like "Independence Day", "The Patriot" or . . . yeah, one of those. (Cosmopolitan)


Celebrating July 4th Safely

New data by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows that last year, during the 30 days surrounding July 4th, fireworks sent about 1,900 injured Americans to emergency rooms. CPSC’s statistics show that in all of 2010 about 8,600 consumers ended up in hospital emergency rooms due to injuries involving legal and illegal fireworks. CPSC’s annual death and injury report on fireworks also indicates that approximately 40% of estimated injuries occurred to children younger than 15 years of age. CPSC also received reports of three fatalities related to fireworks. Consumers who decide to purchase legal fireworks are urged to take these safety steps:

•Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.

•Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.

•Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don’t realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.

•Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.

•Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.

•Never point or throw fireworks at another person.

•Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.

•Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.

•Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.

•After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.

•Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (06-30-11)

Selena Gomez Finally Met Her Crush, Shia LaBeouf:

If I were JUSTIN BIEBER, I might be a little jealous of this: SELENA GOMEZ apparently has a MAJOR crush on SHIA LABEOUF. And she recently met him for the first time backstage at some TV studio. And she FREAKED. --Selena's friends actually set her up. They told her she was going to meet a fan of hers, but it turned out to be Shia instead. -Selena must not be worried about Justin's reaction, though, because she posted video of the encounter on YouTube. (--Check it out here.) --In the video, Selena is pretty shocked when she walks into a room and sees Shia sitting there. He tells her, quote, "Thanks for being so sweet to me. You're really sweet to me." And then they pose for a picture. --Back in her own dressing room, Selena is still visibly starstruck. She tells her friends, quote, "He's so cute . . . Oh my gosh, he's so handsome."


That 16-Year-Old Girl Who Married a 51-Year-Old Guy Really Is 16:

Remember COURTNEY STODDEN . . . the 16-year-old girl who married 51-year-old actor DOUG HUTCHISON earlier this month? --Well, a lot of people don't believe she's really 16, because she looks like she could pass for TWICE that. --So E! Online dug up her birth certificate, and it turns out she really IS 16. She'll be 17 on August 29th. (--You can see it here.) (--Although maybe we should question its authenticity, since it's only a "certificate of live birth". What would Trump do?) (--Also, what's with the cheesy font? I hate to turn into a BIRTHER, but this doesn't look like the most official document, does it?)


Elisabetta Canalis is "Down in the Dumps" After Breaking Up with George Clooney:

We still don't know who initiated the split between ELISABETTA CANALIS and GEORGE CLOONEY . . . but Elisbetta isn't handling it well. --Her mom tells the Italian edition of "Vanity Fair", quote, "She's very down in the dumps. I've spoken to her, and she is very sad, but these things happen." --Her father adds, quote, "[George] certainly would have made a good son-in-law, but it's my daughter who has to decide."


Chris Hansen . . . The "To Catch a Predator" Guy . . . Has Been Caught Cheating On His Wife:

Remember CHRIS HANSEN? He's the guy who nailed tons of wannabe pedophiles for the "To Catch a Predator" episodes of "Dateline NBC". --Well, the "National Enquirer" set up an undercover sting on HIM . . . and they caught him cheating on his wife. Somewhat ironically, the other woman is a lot younger than him. But don't get the wrong idea: She's very much an adult. --Hansen has apparently been having an affair for about four months with Kristyn Caddell . . . a 30-year-old reporter for WPTV in West Palm Beach, Florida. Hansen is 51. --Last week, the "Enquirer" secretly filmed him on a date with Kristyn at the Ritz-Carlton in Manalapan, Florida . . . after which they spent the night at her apartment. They also filmed the two of them leaving the apartment the next morning. --Hansen lives in Connecticut with his 53-year-old wife Mary. They have two sons. --He's been spending time in South Florida lately investigating the mysterious disappearance of a boater off the coast five years ago. (--If you're interested, you can read more about that case here.)


Lindsay Lohan is Free:

LINDSAY LOHAN is a free woman. She was released from house arrest yesterday at about 10:20 A.M., after serving 35 days. --Lindsay was originally sentenced to 120 days in jail . . . but she got a much sweeter deal due to prison overcrowding in L.A. and the fact that she's a nonviolent offender. (--Authorities swear she didn't get any special treatment because she's a celebrity.) --TMZ got video of Lindsay leaving her home for the first time in over a month . . . (--not counting court appearances) . . . and she told them, quote, "I'm excited to start community service and focus on my life." (--Check it out here.) --Lindsay has to complete 360 hours of community service at a women's shelter . . . some of which she's already done . . . and 120 hours doing janitorial work at the L.A. County Morgue. (--After her release, Lindsay went right back to work at the shelter. Here's a pic.) (TMZ) --She also has to continue court-ordered psychological counseling and complete a program called Shoplifters Alternative. --Lindsay turns 25 on Saturday . . . and rumor has it she'll be celebrating at a private party in the Hamptons.

Does the Octomom Hate Her Kids?

"Octomom" NADYA SULEMAN has said some ridiculous things, but this might top them all . . . --In an interview with "In Touch Weekly", Nadya says she HATES her octuplets . . . and trashes her other six kids, too. --She says, quote, "I hate the babies, they disgust me. My older six are animals, getting more and more out of control because I have no time to properly discipline them." --Then she takes it back . . . SORT OF. She says, quote, "Obviously I love them . . . but I absolutely wish I had not had them." --Not surprisingly, Nadya is in HELL . . . and she's even contemplated SUICIDE. -She says, quote, "The only way I can cope is to lock myself in the bathroom and cry. Sometimes I sit there for hours and even eat my lunch sitting on the bathroom floor. Anything to get peace and quiet. --"Some days I have thought about killing myself. I cannot cope." --She's also broke . . . quote, "My bank account is overdrawn by $300 and I have no money to pay for the children's school, food or the mortgage."


The Octomom Had Her Boxing Match Last Night:

"Octomom" NADYA SULEMAN actually went through with that boxing match of hers last night in Bellmawr, New Jersey. She fought a local radio personality. (--Jen Posner of the "John Debella Show" on WMGK out of Philly.) --The two ladies wore RIDICULOUSLY oversized gloves and went four rounds. While the judges favored Nadya's opponent, the organizers ruled the match a draw.--Nadya wouldn't say how much she was paid, but she said it was enough to buy a week's worth of groceries for her and her kids. (--Here's a news report on the fight, including video of some of the action.)


Justin Timberlake Has Purchased a Stake in MySpace:

After appearing in "The Social Network" . . . a movie about the invention of Facebook . . . JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE'S latest project is to revitalize MySpace. In fact, he even bought a stake in it. --But it sounds like competing with Facebook is low on his list of priorities. He says, quote, "There's a need for a place where fans can go to interact with their favorite entertainers, listen to music, watch videos, share and discover cool stuff and just connect. --"MySpace has the potential to be that place. Art is inspired by people and vice versa, so there's a natural social component to entertainment. --"I'm excited to help revitalize MySpace by using its social media platform to bring artists and fans together in one community."


Jada Pinkett Is Worried That Her Kids Are Too Insulated:

WILL SMITH and JADA PINKETT didn't have it easy growing up. Which is why Jada wants to make sure that their kids, JADEN and WILLOW SMITH, know the world beyond the fantasy land they live in. --Claiming that she and Will grew up, quote, "in a house with drugs in a war zone," Jada says, quote, "It still makes me nervous that they're part of something that isn't totally real. But it's up to Will and me to teach them what's real and what's not."


The "Teen Choice" Nominees Have Been Announced:

Nominees for this year's "Teen Choice Awards" were announced yesterday . . . and there are TONS of them. --This show has 66 categories, covering everything from movies to TV to music . . . plus fashion, sports and even Twitter. (???) --Not surprisingly, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" leads the nominees with 11 . . . while "Glee" and "The Vampire Diaries" picked up NINE each. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" got FIVE. --Individual nominees include the stars of all those movies and TV shows, obviously . . . plus Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Shia LaBeouf, Zach Galifianakis . . . --Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and TONS more. (--Did I mention there are 66 FREAKIN' CATEGORIES???) (--Check out the complete . . . and completely exhausting . . . list of nominees here.) --The show airs live August 7th on Fox.


Aaron Carter Claims Michael Jackson Gave Him Drugs When He Was 15:

MICHAEL JACKSON has been dead for two years now. So it's pretty safe to make unsubstantiated claims about him . . . which is exactly what AARON CARTER is doing. --Aaron . . . who has previously denied that anything inappropriate took place during his friendship with Michael . . . now says Michael gave him wine and cocaine when he was 15 --He tells the Australian version of "OK!" magazine, quote, "I never talked about it . . . This is the first time . . . I miss Michael . . . --"I have spent such incredible times with him. I did things with him that nobody else did . . . But I was also troubled about what he did to me." --He adds, quote, "He gave me wine. I mean, I could have refused, but I was 15. He gave me cocaine. I felt weird about that and other stuff . . . We spoke afterwards, hours and hours, on the phone. --"I admired Michael, but his behavior bothered me a lot. Then my mother called the police."


Denise Richards Has Adopted a Baby Girl:

You'd think DENISE RICHARDS already has enough on her plate dealing with CHARLIE SHEEN. But apparently not, because she just adopted a newborn baby girl. --She's only a few weeks old, and she was born in this country. Denise named her Eloise Joni. --Denise has two daughters with Charlie, 7-year-old Sam and 6-year-old Lola. --"Joni" was the name of Denise's mother, who died of cancer four years ago. Denise, Sam and Lola chose the name "Eloise". We assume they got it from the children's character of the same name. --Interesting trivia: It was in the Eloise Suite of the Plaza Hotel in New York City that Charlie freaked out, trashed his room and locked a porno star in the bathroom last year. --Charlie, Denise and the girls were in New York to see "Mary Poppins" on Broadway. (--The "Eloise" books are about a little girl who lives at the Plaza Hotel. The original series was written by Kay Thompson in the 1950s, and the title character MAY have been based on Thompson's goddaughter, LIZA MINNELLI.)


Charlie Sheen Took Steroids to Prepare for "Major League":

When CHARLIE SHEEN gets into character, he goes all out. Charlie tells "Sports Illustrated" that he took STEROIDS while filming the 1989 comedy "Major League". --He says, quote, "Let's just say that I was enhancing my performance a little bit. It was the only time I ever did steroids. --"I did them for like six or eight weeks. You can print this, I don't give a [eff]. My fastball went from 79 [miles-per-hour] to like 85." --He was also getting into a lot of fights at the time. But only part of that was due to 'roid rage. The other part was the teasing he took because of his character's lightning bolt haircut. --He says, quote, "I didn't like the haircut because it generated so many comments in bars. I've got enough of that already. Add that to the mix, and it's a recipe for a fistfight." (--You can see Charlie's haircut in this promo clip for the movie.)


NEW MOVIES THIS WEEKEND

The New "Transformers" Movie Will Compete With Tom Hanks and Selena Gomez at the Box Office . . . But It's Playing in Nearly Twice As Many Theaters:

#1.) "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (PG-13) (Opened Wednesday)

Shia LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwicky, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley replaces Megan Fox as his love interest. The plot for the third movie reveals that the entire space race of the '60s was a response to a crash landing on the moon. --Leonard Nimoy does the voice of Sentinel Prime. He's the pilot of the crashed ship that Neil Armstrong and his Apollo 11 crew discover during their secret lunar mission. The Decepticons use the cargo from the crash site to launch an assault back on Earth and tear apart Chicago in the process. --Hugo Weaving is back as Megatron, and Peter Cullen is Optimus Prime . . . just like he has been ever since the original animated series. The human cast includes Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Patrick Dempsey and John Malkovich. (Trailer) (Teaser)

#2.) "Larry Crowne" (PG-13)

Tom Hanks loses his job and goes back to school at the local community college. Julia Roberts is his disinterested teacher. It's a romantic comedy that he co-wrote with Nia Vardalos from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". Tom Hanks is also the director. He previously costarred with Julia Roberts in the movie "Charlie Wilson's War". (Trailer)

#3.) "Monte Carlo" (PG) Selena Gomez is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress who looks just like her, and then pretends to be that chick after getting a taste of what it's like to be rich. Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy are the two friends vacationing with her, and "Glee's" Cory Monteith plays Katie's boyfriend, who follows them to Europe. (Trailer)
Harrison Ford Says He Called Shia LaBeouf a "[Effing] Idiot" for Dissing the Fourth "Indiana Jones" Movie:

HARRISON FORD says he had choice words for SHIA LABEOUF after Shia trashed "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". --Ford says, quote, "I think I told him he was a [effing] idiot." --He added, quote, "As an actor, I think it's my obligation to support the film without making a complete ass of myself. Shia is ambitious, attentive and talented . . . and he's learning how to deal with a situation which is very unique and difficult."


The Biggest Movie Flops of 2011 So Far:

The "Hollywood Reporter" has put together a list of the 10 Biggest Movie Flops of the Year So Far. --They are: "Mars Needs Moms", "Your Highness", "Arthur", "Prom", "Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer" . . . --"Green Lantern", "Priest", "Sucker Punch", "Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil" and "The Beaver". (--For details on just how badly these movies flopped, hit up the following link.)


Javier Colon Is the First Winner of "The Voice":

JAVIER COLON won the first season of "The Voice" last night. He was on ADAM LEVINE'S team. DIA FRAMPTON of BLAKE SHELTON'S team was the runner-up. Javier edged Dia by just 2% of the vote. --For winning, Javier received $100,000 and a contract with Universal Records. --Before the results were read, each finalist performed a duet with one of their idols. Javier sang "Landslide" with STEVIE NICKS . . . Dia did "House That Built Me" with MIRANDA LAMBERT. (--That's her coach Blake Shelton's wife.) --BEVERLY MCCLELLAN did "Good Life" with RYAN TEDDER of ONEREPUBLIC . . . and VICCI MARTINEZ sang "Drops of Jupiter" with PAT MONAHAN of TRAIN.


It's Official: Brad Womack and Emily Maynard Are Done:

Six months ago, the most recent "Bachelor" BRAD WOMACK said he was in love with "every bone in his body" and that the chances he'd be married by the end of the year were, quote, "damn good." --But of course, that isn't happening . . . at least not with anyone from the show. --His Chosen One EMILY MAYNARD has confirmed the obvious: That she and Brad are FINISHED. Emily tells "People" magazine that they are "no longer engaged." --She added that she still has feelings for Brad, which is to be expected after a whirlwind . . . 10-week . . . single-elimination . . . televised tournament of love! (--Are these people not completely hopeless?) --She says, quote, "Just because we love each other doesn't mean we're right for each other." For his part, Brad says, quote, "The demise of our relationship was completely my fault." (--I wonder if he means that with "every bone in his body.") --It's unclear when they split, but we've been hearing that they were doomed since March . . . the day after Emily said their relationship, quote, "certainly wasn't all roses" on the "After the Final Rose" special. --They insisted they were still engaged at the time. --Emily says she's going on the record about it now because of "all the media speculation" and she hopes that by coming clean, she and her six-year-old daughter will be able to, quote, "move on and get back to normal." --At least until she gets a call to do "The Bachelorette" or "Bachelor Pad". --In the meantime, Emily will be talking about her failed relationship with Brad in an interview with host CHRIS HARRISON that will air on the July 11th episode of "The Bachelorette".


Al Roker Hates Coconut, Horror Movies, Running and Impolite People:

Would you like to know more about AL ROKER, the "Today" show's weather superstar? Well, good news . . . he's filled out one of "Us" magazine's "25 Things You Don't Know About Me" lists. Here are the highlights . . .

--"I am extremely shy."

--"I am an animation freak and own more than 100 original cels."

--"I don't like coconut."

--"I hate when you hold a door open and people don't say 'thank you.'"

--"I refuse to go to horror movies."

--"I love riding trains."

--"Even though I lost 140 pounds, I still think of myself as fat."

--"I like pie."

--"I hate running."

--"I run so I can eat pie."

--"I can still fly into a rage when, in broad daylight, wearing a suit, I get passed up by a cabdriver."

(--You can check out Al's complete list, here.)


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

--"So You Think You Can Dance" [Results Show] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Fox. (--Kristin Chenoweth guest judges and AXIS Dance Company performs.) (Video)

--"50 Super Epic TV Moments" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on E! (--The 50 most outrageous TV moments since 2005 are counted down.)

--"Love Bites" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on NBC. (--"Saturday Night Live" veteran Chris Parnell guest stars as a real-estate agent when Colleen and Judd go house hunting.)

--"Ugly Americans" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on Comedy Central.


Bono Gave Joe Jonas Advice on His Solo Career:

BONO took some time out of his busy schedule helping third-world countries to give some advice to JOE JONAS . . . who talent-wise is the 'third-world' Jonas Brother. --Joe says, quote, "I met Bono like a year and a half ago and I asked him for advice . . . if you're going to meet Bono, you got to ask him for advice. --"He was like, 'Just write music that is brutally honest . . . look at [U2], we're a band and we have countries that are mad at us because we write stuff that's honest and gets people really mad.'" (--Papua New Guinea, for instance, is still furious with U2 over the honesty in "With or Without You".) --Bono also told Joe, quote, "Take your relationships or whatever you're going through and just really try to make it a point to write honestly." (--Joe had already learned that lesson from TAYLOR SWIFT, but I'm sure he nodded politely anyway.) --By the way, the video for Joe's single "See No More" hit the Internet last night. It's very melodramatic . . . there's intense gazing, wincing, slow-motion body movements, and Joe spends the second half of the video meandering through a nasty house fire. (--You can check it out, here. Personally, my favorite parts are the dramatic garage door-opening shot 52 seconds in, and the random wall that explodes at the 3:08 mark. It's even more amusing on repeat viewings.)


Tommy Lee Says People Don't "Ingest" Full Albums Anymore . . . But He Doesn't Think That's a Bad Thing:

MOTLEY CRUE drummer TOMMY LEE has a unique take on the Digital Music Era: He's not bothered by the fact that it seems to be killing the full-on ALBUM. --He tells the "St. Petersburg Times", quote, "No one really buys records anymore. You can look at sales and do that math real quick. Unfortunately, it's fast food in the music industry. People don't ingest full records anymore. --"They buy song to song, something that blows their skirt up. --"So for [an artist] to sit there . . . rip your hair out . . . and put six [to] eight months into making a full record for someone to buy one song from, that is stupid." --But Tommy doesn't necessarily think that's a bad thing. He explains, quote, "I think it's actually cool. What it will do is, force people to make better songs at a time, instead of making an album with nine [crappy] filler tracks and two good songs. --"I think it's nice. I think it's going to be wonderful, to tell you the truth." (--I wouldn't say that I disagree, but I do think this is a "chicken or the egg" debate . . . and I don't think it began with the artists responding to the fans.)

Music Videos: James Franco, Coldplay and Greyson Chance:

#1.) JAMES FRANCO is putting out an EP with a drag queen performance artist named KALUP LINZY. It's called "Turn It Up", and it'll be out on July 12th. And just in case you had any doubt, it's going to be weird. --They've released a video for a song called "Rising", and it's a trip. (--Here it is.) (--I'm sure it's brilliant and whatnot . . . but it looks like something that a kid made while screwing around with the editing software at an Apple store.)


#2.) COLDPLAY has released the video for "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". It's a live-action, stop-motion extravaganza, with a ton of colorful, glow-in-the-dark paint. --It's probably not going to approach the threshold of blowing your mind, but it's inventive, which for Coldplay is always a good thing. (--You can check it out, here.)


#3.) Remember GREYSON CHANCE? He's the 13-year-old who parlayed a performance of LADY GAGA'S "Paparazzi" at a school talent show into a record deal with ELLEN DEGENERES. These are crazy times. --Well, he just unleashed his "Unfriend You" video this morning. (--Here it is.)



Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:

LA TOYA JACKSON says MICHAEL was murdered, and his kids have been left with NOTHING. (Full Story)



JAKE BUSEY says he went to rehab because, quote, "Doctors told me I would die if I drank again." (Video)


Check out GWYNETH PALTROW topless . . . but covering her little boobs with her arms. (Full Story)



ROBERT PATTINSON took a pie to the face while filming the new DAVID CRONENBERG movie, "Cosmopolis". (Full Story)



Disney is doing a movie based on the Matterhorn ride. (Full Story)



Check out a preview of JAKE GYLLENHAAL'S appearance on "Man vs. Wild". (Video)



One of the original reality TV villains, PUCK from "The Real World", was arrested for domestic violence. (Full Story)



Republican presidential candidate MICHELE BACHMANN might still be using "American Girl" . . . despite TOM PETTY'S disapproval. (Full Story)
RANDOM STUFF

Women "Do Almost Everything Better" Than Men . . . Because They're Willing to Admit They Aren't Geniuses:

According to a new article in the "Wall Street Journal", women, quote, "do almost everything better" than men. The article cites a study that shows women are better investors than men. They're better at management. They're better at politics. And it all comes down to one basic reason. --Women are willing to admit they're not geniuses. Men aren't. --Quote, "A lot of research suggests that men think they know what they're doing, even when they really don't." --That overconfidence makes men take much bigger risks. And while those will work out for some men . . . and give them the MOST wealth and success of anyone in the world . . . it makes countless men crash and burn. --Women have less overconfidence so, overall, they're on a steadier course. In the study, women's returns on investments beat men's by 1% . . . which is a huge amount in the investment world. (Time)


Only 1% of Men . . . and 4% of Women . . . Think the Woman Should Be In Charge of Buying a Car:

In a new survey, 99% of men say that a woman should NOT be in charge of making the final decision on a car for the family. And normally that would be a good jumping off point for talking about how sexism is still alive and well in 2011. --Only it's not. Because women AGREE. --In the survey, 96% of women also said that someone of their own gender shouldn't be the one who decides on a new car. --51% of men and 40% of women said the man should make the decision singlehandedly. 48% of men and 56% of women said it should be a shared decision. 1% of men and 4% of women said the woman should make the choice. --And now, for the other side. The survey ALSO asked the same question when it comes to making child care decisions for the family. And the answers were basically reversed. --53% of women and 40% of men said that women should make the decisions singlehandedly. --46% of women and 50% of men said it should be a shared decision. --And less than 1% of women and 10% of men said that men should handle it. (Globalnews.ca)


Bad Grooming is Named the Most Annoying Office Behavior . . . Selling Your Kid's Girl Scout Cookies is Least Annoying:

Here's some good work advice from a new survey. Your coworkers might not like your odor. They might think you're obnoxious on the phone. They might hate your mere existence. But they will ALWAYS be happy if you offer them desserts. --In the survey, people were asked to name the most annoying office behavior. And here are the top five responses . . .

#1.) Sloppy grooming, 40%
#2.) Too many loud personal calls, 29%
#3.) Messy work areas, 9%
#4.) Smelling like cigarettes, 8%
#5.) Selling Girl Scout Cookies and other kids' fundraisers, 1%
--That's right: Even though you might THINK it's annoying to go around selling your kids' cookies, candy bars, sausage samplers, and popcorn tins . . . it's not. Your coworkers are hungry. (AOL Small Business)


A Man Quits His Job to Go to a Lottery Drawing . . . And Wins $250,000:

On Monday, David Becker of Wyoming, Michigan was part of a big state lottery drawing. He and four other people had won a promotion where they were entered in a drawing with a grand prize of $250,000 and consolation prizes of $5,000. --There was only one problem. David had to be in Detroit to be present for the drawing. He works as a forklift operator for a company in Grand Rapids, Michigan . . . and they wouldn't give him the day off. --So David weighed his options and decided to . . . QUIT HIS JOB to attend the drawing. He told his bosses, quote, "It's a chance of a lifetime." --And it really was. With his one-in-five odds, David DID win the $250,000 grand prize. He collected $176,000 after taxes. --He says, quote, "I can live on that, can't you?" --He plans on buying himself a Harley motorcycle and then using the rest of the money to pay bills. --David says he WOULD return to his job if his company asked . . . because he needs SOMETHING to do. (NBC 4 - Detroit)
Almost Half of the Teenagers in the U.S. Smoke, Drink, or Use Drugs:

Someone sound the parent alarm! Today's teenagers smoke! Today's teenagers drink! Today's teenagers do drugs! Turns out today's teenagers are . . . just as badly behaved as we were. --According to a new study from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 46% of American teenagers smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, and/or use drugs. Here are some other findings . . . --About 75% of current high school students say they've tried tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, or cocaine. --Alcohol is the most popular among teenagers, followed by cigarettes, then marijuana. --72.5% have tried alcohol, 46.3% have smoked cigarettes, 37% have tried marijuana, 15% have misused prescription drugs . . . and 65% have tried more than one of those. --The study also found that about 25% of Americans who start using addictive substances before age 18 become addicted, versus 4% who start using them after 21. --If you have three or more of these symptoms, you're considered an addict: Your tolerance increases, you go through withdrawal, you have trouble controlling use, experience negative consequences, neglect activities, spend time or energy on use, and have a desire to cut down. (U.S. News & World Report)


Can Text Messaging Help You Beat Smoking?

According to a new study, MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF TEXTING can actually help you beat smoking. And it's not just because your hands won't be free to hold a cigarette because they'll constantly be typing texts. --In a new study from the medical journal "The Lancet", researchers found that smokers who received encouraging text messages were more likely to quit smoking than people who didn't get those texts. --The smokers in the study received five texts a day for the first five weeks and three per week for the next six months. The texts said things like, quote, "This is it!" and "Today is the start of being [smoke-free] forever, you can do it!" --The smokers could also text the words "crave" or "lapse" at any point when they were feeling the addiction creeping up, and they'd get a message back like "Cravings last less than five minutes. Try sipping a drink slowly until it's over." --After six months, 10.7% of the people who got the text messages had quit for good, versus 4.9% of a control group that didn't receive any texts. (Yahoo News)


Word of the Day: Pyrophile:

pyrophile (noun) /pie roh fyle/ - a person who loves fire or fireworks. --Example: July 4th is the greatest holiday for my pyrophile friends. First we cook flame-broiled burgers, then we watch fireworks, then we burn an effigy of King George.


MySpace Has Been Sold For $35 Million . . . Back in 2005, It Was Purchased for $580 Million:

Believe it or not, social media is more popular than ONLINE PORNO. It's true, and it has been since 2008. More people now view social media sites than porno sites. --Except for MySpace. No one goes there anymore. --Yesterday, a company called Specific Media bought MySpace from News Corp., which is the company that owns FOX. --Specific Media paid $35 MILLION for MySpace. When News Corp. bought it back in 2005, they paid $580 MILLION. Meaning that in six years, it lost 94% of its value. --News Corp. was initially hoping to get $100 MILLION. --As part of the sale, MySpace will be laying off more than half of its 450 employees. We're not entirely sure what those 450 employees were doing there, but that's not the point. --Specific Media has said they plan to, quote, "rebuild and reinvigorate" MySpace and try to make it a place where people can watch media and interact with entertainers. Specific Media's main business is selling online ads. (Wall Street Journal)


WTF? A Woman Drowns in a Public Pool and People Keep Swimming Around Her Dead Body . . . For Two Days:

Something in this story doesn't add up. It CAN'T add up. --On Sunday, 36-year-old Marie Joseph went with some friends and their kids to the Veteran's Memorial Pool in Fall River, Massachusetts. Marie didn't know how to swim, but when she was supervising a nine-year-old, she fell down a waterslide. --Marie drowned. The lifeguards on duty didn't notice. When the nine-year-old tried to tell them, they allegedly ignored him. --For some reason, Marie's friends left the pool without her. None of them realized that her DEAD BODY was now floating in the pool. --And no one else realized it either. FOR TWO ENTIRE DAYS. --Tons of other people swam in the pool, around the body. There were lifeguards on duty. They opened the pool in the morning and closed it at night. And somehow, no one noticed the dead body. Again, this just doesn't add up. --Finally, on Tuesday night, when the pool closed at 10:00 P.M., someone realized there was a DAMN DEAD BODY in there and called the police. --They're launching a full investigation into how the hell this happened. (NBC 10 - Providence)
A Doctor Giving a Talk on Heart Disease Saves a Life . . . When a Guy in the Audience Has a Heart Attack on the Spot:

Ok . . . so you never necessarily WANT to have a heart attack. But if you're gonna have one, there aren't many luckier places than this. --On Tuesday, Dr. William Phillips of Lewiston, Maine was giving a lecture on heart disease to a crowd of about 100 people at the Central Maine Medical Center. He was discussing bypass surgery versus stenting. --As he talked about heart attacks, a man in the crowd raised his hand and said, "I'm having one right now." --The man's name and age weren't released. --Dr. Phillips and three cardiac nurses in the room immediately started helping the guy. They used a defibrillator to get his heart beating, then passed him off to some paramedics who took him to the ER. --The man survived the heart attack and he's recovering now. The immediate medical attention was a big contribution to him surviving. --Meanwhile, after the paramedics took the guy out of the room, Dr. Phillips finished his lecture. (Lewiston Sun-Journal)


MEATBALL CRIMINALS

An 89-Year-Old Woman Dents a Robber's Car With Her Cane . . . Which Helps the Police Solve the Case:

Over the weekend, an 89-year-old woman and 82-year-old woman in New Castle, Pennsylvania were about to walk into a pizza place for dinner when a silver car pulled up next to them. --A young PUNK got out and grabbed the 82-year-old woman's purse. Then he got back in the car. --Before he could drive off, though, the 89-year-old started SLAMMING HER CANE into the trunk of the car. She left a decent-sized dent. --When the ladies called the police, they described the car . . . and talked about the brand new dents in the trunk. --The police searched the area and found the car parked less than a mile away. And they were able to match the dent marks perfectly to the woman's cane. --They arrested 27-year-old Jerry Brown Junior and a woman who was in the car, 21-year-old Tatiana Vargas, for robbery, theft, conspiracy, and receiving stolen property. (NBC 11 - Pittsburgh)


A 55-Year-Old Liquor Store Owner and Her Groin-Biting Dog Fight Off a Robber With a Knife:

55-year-old Eve Watson of Torquay, Devon, England owns a liquor store with a fantastic name: Eve's Bargain Booze. On Saturday, she was working the counter at the store when a younger man in a hooded sweatshirt walked in with a KNIFE. --He demanded that Eve open the cash register. She refused. He threatened her with the knife. She still refused. So he jumped over the counter to break into the register himself. --And that's when he learned that Eve is TOUGH. --She started hitting him, and grabbing at his hood to reveal his face. Then her six-year-old bull terrier joined in . . . and started BITING THE ROBBER'S GROIN. --In the surveillance video, you can see the robber TRYING to open the register while Eve beats him and the dog bites him . . . but eventually he gives up and runs away, empty handed. --The police are searching for him. Eve wasn't injured during the fight. (The Sun) (--Here's the surveillance video of this entire battle.)


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


Flights were delayed for half an hour at JFK Airport in New York yesterday . . . because 150 turtles were crossing the tarmac. And actually, they do it every year when they look for beaches to lay their eggs. Airport crews were working from 6:45 A.M. onward to clear them. (Full Story)


According to a new study, 46% of Americans will pay no Federal income tax this year. But before you get in an uproar . . . it's because they don't make enough money to be taxed in the first place. (Full Story)

NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) The Self-Proclaimed "World's Strongest Redneck" Trimmed His Hedges by Swinging a Chainsaw Around on a Long Cord:

Some guy on YouTube named Steve McGranahan calls himself the "World's Strongest Redneck." And he posted a video of himself trimming his hedges by turning on a chainsaw, and swinging it around on a long cord. Somehow, he didn't kill himself. (--Search Break.com for "Chainsaw Hedge Trimming Stunt." He starts swinging it at :24, but you get a better view at :52.)


#2.) A Baseball Player Spit in His Own Helmet . . . Then Hit a Walk-Off Home Run:

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder WILY MO PENA hit a walk-off home run to beat the Indians on Tuesday. And after the game, the MLB Network pointed out something weird: Right before he hit the home run, Pena took off his batting helmet and SPIT in it. (--Search YouTube for "Wily Mo Pena Spitting in His Helmet." He spits at :14.)


#3.) And Now . . . The Best Gymnastics Fails From YouTube:

If you like watching people hurt themselves doing gymnastics, you're in luck. A website called Uncoached.com has a list of the best from YouTube. (--Search for "A Great Collection of Gymnastics Fails.")


The Five Easiest Ways to Cool Off Without Air Conditioning:

If you need to cool down this weekend, but you want to save money OR save the planet, the website PlanetGreen.com has a list of the five easiest, eco-friendly ways to cool off without air conditioning. None of these are NEW ideas, but they all work.

#1.) Keep a Spray Bottle in the Fridge. Then just spray yourself when you get too hot. You can also improve your complexion if you fill the bottle with weak green tea instead of water. The antioxidants help keep your skin clear.

#2.) Hold an Ice Cube on Your Pulse Points. Put it in a washcloth first. Then hold it on the inside of your wrist, or near the middle of your neck where you can feel your pulse. Supposedly, it can lower your body temperature by three degrees.

#3.) Put a Cold Washcloth on Your Neck. If you're REALLY hot, wet it, then put it in the freezer for a few minutes. Just don't forget about it, or it'll freeze to the inside.

#4.) Soak Your Feet in Cold Water. Obviously, when you're at the pool you can cool down by just dangling your feet in the water. But you can also accomplish the same thing in your living room with a bucket of cold water.

#5.) Wear a Wet Bandana. You can wear it on your head. Or if you don't want to look like Bret Michaels, it works just as well if you tie it around your neck. (PlanetGreen.com)

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (06-29-11)

Shia LeBeouf Admits that He Hooked Up With Megan Fox During the "Transformers" Movies:

If there's one question SHIA LABEOUF has been asked more than any other, it's probably this: Why are you such a giant D-bag? --Running a close second, though, would be this question: Did you ever have sex with MEGAN FOX during the making of the "Transformers" movies? --And finally, after all these years, Shia has answered that question: And the answer is YES. He dropped the bomb in an interview with "Details" magazine. --Asked if he hit that, Shia NODDED, then said, quote, "Look, you're on the set for six months, with someone who's rooting to be attracted to you, and you're rooting to be attracted to them." --He added, quote, "I never understood the separation of work and life in that situation. But the time I spent with Megan was our own thing, and I think you can see the chemistry onscreen." --Shia didn't say WHEN it happened, but "Details" asked him what Megan's status with her longtime boyfriend, BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN was at the time. And that got him pretty flustered. --He replied, quote, "I don't know, man, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know." He then said "I don't know" EIGHT more times, for a grand total of 12, before adding, quote, "It was what it was." --There's been no word yet from Megan or Brian. Megan's rep simply says, quote, "We have no comment." --But to be fair, her roll with Shia could have happened during a "break". She and Brian have been together for a long time, but there have supposedly been some "off" periods. --Meanwhile, Shia also admits to, quote, "philandering around" with ISABEL LUCAS from the second "Transformers" movie . . . even though she was in a relationship with "Entourage" star ADRIAN GRENIER. --And he says he once went out with HILARY DUFF, on what he calls, quote, "probably the worst date either of us have ever had." (--Elsewhere in the interview, Shia talks about his crappy childhood, how he got his first big break on the Disney Channel show "Even Stevens", his movie career, why he's an easy target for dudes who want to pick fights and a whole lot more.) (--You can read the whole thing here.)


Hugh Hefner Says, "A New Girlfriend Is the Only Logical Response to Heartbreak":

HUGH HEFNER has at least two . . . and possibly FOUR . . . new girlfriends just WEEKS after his breakup with fiancée CRYSTAL HARRIS. And even some of his followers on Twitter think that's kind of sleazy. But Hugh is sticking to his guns. --He responded to one angry Tweeter by saying, quote, "A new girlfriend is the only logical response to heartbreak." --Hef just recently christened his newest girlfriend, SHERA BECHARD. And one of Hugh's Twitter followers asked if Crystal left because of his relationship with Shera. --He said, quote, "You have it backwards. The interest in Shera came after the stunner from Crystal." --One follower took a pretty hard shot at Hef, saying, quote, "It kind of shows you really treat women as nothing when you get a new girlfriend just days after you and Crystal broke up." --But Hef replied, quote, "What's your remedy for a broken heart?" --Then he added, quote, "How can I feel badly about dealing with what has been a truly devastating experience? I'm grateful for the support."


America Ferrera Is Married:

Former "Ugly Betty" star AMERICA FERRERA got married to her longtime boyfriend Ryan Piers Williams over the weekend. (--Here's a wedding photo.) (People) --Two of America's former cast mates made big contributions to the wedding: It took place at VANESSA WILLIAMS' home in New York, and JUDITH LIGHT officiated the ceremony. --Other celebrities in attendance included another "Ugly Betty" star, REBECCA ROMIJN, along with her husband JERRY O'CONNELL. --Also on hand were her co-stars from "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants", ALEXIS BLEDEL, AMBER TAMBLYN and BLAKE LIVELY. (--No, Blake didn't bring Leonardo DiCaprio.)


David Duchovny and Tea Leoni Are Separated:

TEA LEONI and DAVID DUCHOVNY have separated again. Sources say they have not decided whether to make the split permanent. --Tea and David also split back in 2008, after David admitted he's a SEX ADDICT. They've been married for 14 years and have two kids . . . a 12-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son.


Linda Hogan Says Hulk Physically Abused Her:

LINDA HOGAN has a new biography called "Wrestling the Hulk: My Life Against the Ropes". And she uses that book to reveal, for the first time, that HULK HOGAN physically abused her. --She writes, quote, "He tore my shirt. He threw lamps. He held me down on the bed with his hands around my throat during arguments, slamming doors, pounding walls. I was always afraid he would kill me in one of his rages." --On yesterday's "Today" show, Linda said she was worried Hulk would go all O.J. SIMPSON on her. She said, quote, "He did not feel remorse, and to this day he's never apologized for any of actions. --"That is something that scared me. I did not want to be a statistic like NICOLE SIMPSON." (--It's funny she'd use that analogy, because in 2009, Hulk got some bad press for saying he could "totally understand" how O.J. flipped out and killed his wife. --Linda says she kept quiet about the abuse because she didn't want to sabotage Hulk's career . . . quote, "I don't know what my kids would have done. They were little at the time." --Linda thinks drugs could have had something to do with Hulk's rages . . . quote, "Drugs were always around . . . prescribed. [Wrestlers have] always got injuries. --"There was a constant flow of pain pills, anti-inflammatories, steroids . . . a lot of them did take steroids. Combined? It makes somebody . . . you don't know what you're dealing with." (--Here's video.) --Meanwhile, Hulk called onto a radio show yesterday . . . (--"The Bubba the Love Sponge Show") . . . calling Linda, quote, "delusional." --He said he's never laid a hand on her, and called her allegations, quote, "a cold, blatant lie." --He also compared her to the ULTIMATE WARRIOR and the IRON SHEIK . . . two former wrestlers who he claims are trying to get publicity by slamming him. (--Here's audio of Hulk's interview.)


Thomas Jane Says He Was Fired from a Sylvester Stallone Movie Because He's White:

"Punisher" star THOMAS JANE was all set to co-star with SYLVESTER STALLONE in an upcoming action flick called "Headshot" . . . until he got fired for being WHITE. --At least that's his side of the story. He says, quote, "Well, Joel Silver came onboard [as a producer] and said that he has a quote-unquote 'formula' for these quote-unquote 'buddy movies' and it has to be a white guy and a quote-unquote 'ethnic guy.' --"And they relieved me of duty and basically paid me off, which I was really upset about, you know?" -Jane was replaced by Asian-American actor SUNG KANG . . . who was in "Fast Five" and some of the other "Fast and the Furious" movies. --Jane is also upset that Stallone didn't go to bat for him. So upset that he insults the size of his manhood. --He says, quote, "I didn't get a call from Stallone. I was a little upset about that. Maybe they didn't want anybody on the movie with a bigger [penis] than him." (--Joel Silver is a BIG TIME Hollywood producer. Some of his titles that exploit the white guy / ethnic guy dynamic include "48 Hours", "Exit Wounds", "The Last Boy Scout" and the "Lethal Weapon" movies.)


Check Out "Newsweek's" Bizarre New Cover with a Digitally-Aged Princess Diana Walking with Kate Middleton:

The new issue of "Newsweek" magazine sports a rather bizarre cover featuring a digitally-aged PRINCESS DIANA walking with her new daughter-in-law, KATE MIDDLETON. (--Check it out here.) (D-Listed) --This coming Friday would have been Diana's 50th birthday, so that's how old she's supposed to look. --They also imagined what Diana's FACEBOOK PAGE might look like if she were still with us. (--I kid you not. You'll find it here.) --Her friends include J.K. ROWLING, BONO, and CHELSEA CLINTON, and one of her posts reads, quote, "Sitting with Beckhams front-row at Burberry. Love the shoes!" --There's also a notification that Diana has become friends with CAMILLA PARKER BOWLES . . . and PRINCE CHARLES "liked" it. --"Newsweek" Editor TINA BROWN wrote the cover story, in which she predicts that Diana would have moved to New York, stayed young-looking with Botox and had 10 million Twitter followers. --As for the cover, Brown says, quote, "We wanted to bring the memory of Diana alive in a vivid image that transcends time and reflects my piece."


Haley Joel Osment Will Star in a New Take on "Frankenstein":

HALEY JOEL OSMENT will star in a new take on "Frankenstein". It's called "Wake the Dead", and it's based on a series of graphic novels. (--For the uninitiated, "graphic novel" is what people who don't want to admit they read comic books call comic books.) --Osment will play Victor Franklin, a college student whose experiments in life and death go horribly wrong. (--We haven't seen Haley in a while, but he's 23 now and he recently filmed two comedies: "Sassy Pants" and "Montana Amazon". There's no word yet on a release date for either.)


Check Out a Trailer for the New "Mission: Impossible":

A new trailer for "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" hit the web yesterday, and it's every bit as action-packed as you'd expect. For those who've lost track, it's the fourth movie in the series. It comes out in December. (--Here's the trailer. And keep in mind, some of those clips of Tom climbing that building are REAL. That's the world's tallest building: The Burj Khalifa in Dubai. And Tom did some of his own stunts.)
Larry King Returns to CNN For a One-Hour "Harry Potter" Special:

LARRY KING returns to CNN on Sunday, July 10th for a one-hour "Harry Potter" special. --Larry will interview several cast members, including DANIEL RADCLIFFE, RUPERT GRINT and EMMA WATSON . . . along with Tom Felton, Helena Bonham Carter and Robbie Coltrane. --They'll also show never-before-seen footage from "Deathly Hallows: Part 2" and behind-the-scenes stuff from the making of the movie. (--The movie opens five days after the special airs . . . on Friday, July 15th.)


Emma Watson's Very First Crush Was: Draco Malfoy:

In the new issue of "Seventeen" magazine, "Harry Potter" minx EMMA WATSON reveals her very first crush. It was TOM FELTON . . . who plays Draco Malfoy. --She says, quote, "For the first two movies, I had a huge crush on Tom Felton. He was my first crush. --"He totally knows. We talked about it . . . we still laugh about it. We are really good friends now, and that's cool."


Martin Short Will Appear in Multiple Episodes of "How I Met Your Mother" Next Season:

"New York" magazine reports that comedian MARTIN SHORT will guest star in "multiple" episodes of "How I Met Your Mother" next season. --He'll play "the boss of an environmental law firm where Jason Segel's character Marshall Eriksen works." --It's similar to the role DAVE FOLEY played on the season finale. In fact, the producers initially wanted Dave to continue, but he couldn't because he's starring in a new CBS sitcom this fall called "How to Be a Gentleman". --It's unclear if Martin will take over Dave's role, or if he's playing a different character.


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

--"The Voice" [1st Season Finale] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on NBC. (--Tonight's winner gets $100,000 and a recording contract. Your final four are . . . Dia Frampton, Javier Colon, Vicci Martinez and Beverly McClellan.)

--"So You Think You Can Dance" [Performance] . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Fox.

--"State of Georgia" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 8:30 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC Family. (--Raven-Symoné plays Georgia, a chick who moves to New York with her best friend to become an actress. The friend is played by Majandra Delfino from "Roswell".)

--"America's Got Talent" [Auditions] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on NBC.

--"Royal Pains" [3rd Season Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on USA.

--"Mythbusters" [9th Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Discovery.

--"Hot in Cleveland" . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on TV Land. (--The ladies all play matchmaker for each other with hit-and-miss date nights.)

--"Love in the Wild" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on NBC. (--Twenty singles go on dates in the jungles of Costa Rica, while competing in random challenges like raft-building and navigating crocodile-infested waters.)

--"Behind the Music" [4th Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on VH1. (--Missy Elliott is the first artist to be profiled this season.)

--"Necessary Roughness" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:15 P.M. on USA. (--A psychotherapist takes a new job counseling a local football team's players.)

--"Cee-Lo Green: Talking to Strangers" . . . 11:00 to 11:30 P.M. on Fuse. (--Keri Hilson performs and is interviewed by Cee-Lo Green.)

Tom Petty Has Warned Michele Bachmann Not to Use "American Girl":

Now that the 2012 Presidential Campaign has begun, it's once again time for Republican candidates to tick off liberal musicians by using their songs at their rallies and in their campaign ads. --First up is Republican Tea Party candidate MICHELE BACHMANN, who tossed her hat into the ring on Monday in her hometown of Waterloo, Iowa. --Michele blared the TOM PETTY song "American Girl" after her announcement . . . and less than 24 hours later, Tom's people sent her a cease-and-desist letter. --Neither Tom nor Michele have commented . . . but the usual protocol is for the campaign to issue an empty apology, the artist to make some sort of agitated political statement, and for Michele to find another musician to annoy. (--Check out video of Michele Bachman walking off to "American Girl", here.) --Obviously, Tom's issue is all about POLITICS. --Tom allowed HILLARY CLINTON to use "American Girl" during her presidential campaign in 2008 . . . but back in 2000, he stopped GEORGE W. BUSH from using "I Won't Back Down".


New Republican Candidates: You Might Not Want to Play Rock Songs:

You can't really blame MICHELE BACHMANN for ticking off TOM PETTY, because she's new to this, and hasn't learned the rule that JOHN MCCAIN and SARAH PALIN learned. (--Assuming they did eventually GET IT.) --It's this: Republicans, you may not want to play rock songs. At all. --Why? Because every rocker except TED NUGENT is a liberal . . . or at least, doesn't want to be connected to the Republican Party or politics in general. And that's no exaggeration. --The quick list of musicians that kindly asked the Republicans to stop using their songs in the 2008 election includes: Heart, Jackson Browne, John Mellencamp, Jon Bon Jovi, Survivor, Don Henley, Rush, the Foo Fighters, Boston and Van Halen. -If you're a Republican just stick with the Ted Nugent catalog . . . or go country. You should be fine with most everyone except the DIXIE CHICKS.


Can an Artist Really Sue a Candidate for Using Their Songs in a Campaign?

Since this question is bound to come up again and again throughout the 2012 campaign, I thought I'd go ahead and address it from the get-go: --When candidates use an artist or group's songs without permission, the artist threatens to SUE if they don't stop. But can they really sue? The short answer is: Yes. And the longer answer is: Maybe. --There's actually no real legal precedent on the books because these cases never make it to court. They're usually resolved with an apology . . . or a settlement. --Technically, a candidate would be able to purchase a license from the publisher in order to play the song at their event. Anyone can do that . . . that's how songs are able to be played at sports stadiums and arenas. --The licenses are non-discriminatory, so the artist would not have to sign off on each one. If the candidate does that, they're probably clear to use what they want. --Conservative politicians are probably trying to operate under this idea, because they know that if they ask a rock act to use a song, they'll probably be rejected. --However, the artist COULD argue that by playing the song, it's implied that they're ENDORSING the candidate, and that notion could open a whole new can of worms. --There is one no-no though. Candidates seem to get in more hot water if they use songs, without an artist's permission in a political ad on TV.


Total Mental Breakdown Watch: Counting Crows Singer Adam Duritz Is Aggressively Weening Himself Off His Meds:

If COUNTING CROWS singer ADAM DURITZ has a crazy BRITNEY SPEARS-like mental breakdown sometime in the near future, here's why: --Adam was diagnosed with a mental disorder a few years back, and now he's cutting back on the mood stabilizing medications he's taking . . . and he admits that he's doing it more AGGRESSIVELY than he should. --In a borderline CRAZY rant on the Counting Crows Facebook page, Adam says, quote, "I was [effing] crazy. I needed meds. I took meds. Now I'm less crazy. I need less meds. I'm stopping meds. That's it. --"These meds just happen to have some freaking vicious withdrawal symptoms when you stop so u can't do it all at once." --Adam said his doctors have cleared him to cut his Lithium dosage in half, but apparently, he's not handling that very well. He continues, quote, "[Eff] me . . . not so good now. Gotta keep pushing / get off this [crap]. --"Going faster than I should but it still takes too long. All my friends say how clear & present I am. 'Clear & present.' Horror. Not mutually exclusive." -Adam is NOT doing this to lead a "sober life." He explains, quote, "These are not drug addiction problems . . . I like drinking. A lot. Sober = not for me." --Instead, he's doing it so he can work. He explains, quote, "I stopped dropping the meds dosages for recording. Couldn't shake uncontrollably & sing at the same time. Forgivable." --In 2008, Adam told "Men's Health" magazine, quote, "I have a form of dissociative disorder that makes the world seem like it's not real, as if things aren't taking place. It's hard to explain, but you feel un-tethered." (--If Adam can safely cut down on his medications, it might be a PLUS if he can record a little crazy. Maybe we'll get another album like "August and Everything After". Remember "Mr. Jones"?)




And Now, Lady Gaga Is a Panda:

LADY GAGA has worn a lot of ridiculous costumes . . . and now she can take "dressing up like a panda" off her bucket list. --Lady Gaga did the panda thing on a Japanese TV show recently. She called it, quote, "GagaPanda," and said she's been "eating a lot of bamboo this week." --In addition to black and white clothing, she had her hair done up in Princess Leia side-buns, and had black circles painted around both of her eyes. (--Here's video. She appears 20 seconds in, and shows off her painted eyes 51 seconds in.)


Video of Linkin Park Covering Adele's "Rolling in the Deep":

CHESTER BENNINGTON and MIKE SHINODA from LINKIN PARK recently did an impromptu, unplugged version of ADELE'S "Rolling in the Deep". It's actually pretty awesome. (--You can check it out, here.)


Check Out Patrick Stump's New Single, Which Features Lupe Fiasco:

Former FALL OUT BOY singer PATRICK STUMP has released a solo single called "This City", which features rapper LUPE FIASCO. The "city" it's about is Chicago . . . the hometown of both Patrick and Lupe. --It'll be on Patrick's upcoming album, "Soul Punk", which will be out later this year. There's no release date yet. (--You can listen to "This City", here.)


The Son of Green Day Singer Billie Joe Armstrong Is in a Band . . . and Here's What They Sound Like:

16-year-old JOEY ARMSTRONG . . . the son of GREEN DAY singer BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG . . . plays drums in a punk band called EMILY'S ARMY, and their first album came out two weeks ago. (CAREFUL!) It's called "Don't Be a D**k". --Billie Joe produced the disc, and they sound pretty good. You can listen to their single "Broadcast This" at RollingStone.com. (--The entire band looks pretty young. It's cute . . . although I doubt that's what they're going for.)


A Picture of Justin Bieber Holding a Gigantic Spider:

If you're a 14-year-old girl who LOVES JUSTIN BIEBER . . . but lives in SHEER TERROR of gigantic spiders, you should check out this picture. (--And let us know which one of your emotions comes out on top. This should be amusing.) --It's Justin . . . carrying a tarantula . . . while walking out of a doctor's office in L.A. (???) The spider is probably fake . . . but either way, we don't know what he's doing with it. (--Here are a couple pictures.)


WEDNESDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS

Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:


BAM MARGERA spoke with E! News about RYAN DUNN'S death. Obviously, he's still nowhere near over it. (Full Story)



JOSH DUHAMEL'S childhood home in Minot, North Dakota is almost completely underwater due to all the flooding. (Full Story)



CHARLIE SHEEN still gets money every month from Warner Brothers for "Two and a Half Men" . . . but he's about to start getting a little less. A judge yesterday ordered Charlie's wages to be garnished to cover his monthly, $55,000 child support payment to ex-wife BROOKE MUELLER. (Full Story)



KATE and PIPPA MIDDLETON are distant relatives of JANE AUSTEN. For those of you who don't know, Jane Austen is the co-author of the best-selling book "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies". (???) (Full Story)



MEL GIBSON and his ex-wife Robyn have reached a divorce settlement. There's no word on the terms. (Full Story)


HALLE BERRY was back in court yesterday trying to prove that GABRIEL AUBRY is a bad dad, and that their daughter isn't safe when she's with him. (Full Story)



Former "Sister, Sister" actress TIA MOWRY had her baby yesterday. (Full Story)



The "National Enquirer" says MARIA SHRIVER has vowed to "completely destroy" ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER in divorce court. (Full Story)



Earlier this month, an NBC affiliate in Utah refused to air NBC's new drama "The Playboy Club", because they thought it would be too racy for their audience. But Utah will not be deprived of the show, because another local channel has stepped in and agreed to air it. (Full Story)



U2 will sell the giant "claw" structure that they used on their 360 Tour, with the hope that someone will recycle it and create a permanent venue out of it. (Full Story)


RANDOM STUFF

A New Study Proves that Radio Makes People Happier Than TV or the Internet:

Occasionally I forget that I am a GOD OF HAPPINESS, making the world a better place every day with merely the power of my voice. So it's nice when a study like this reminds me. --According to a scientific study, listening to the radio makes people happier than watching TV or surfing the Internet. YOU'RE WELCOME. --In the study, people felt a 100% boost in their happiness and a 300% boost in their energy levels when they were listening to the radio versus not consuming any type of media. --TV and the Internet also boosted people's happiness, but only about HALF as much as radio. --Mark Barber of Britain's Radio Advertising Bureau explained the results. Quote, "Radio plays an important emotional role in people's lives. People use radio as a lifestyle support system." --Damn straight. (The Telegraph)


About One in Eight Men Wears Underwear at Least Twice Before Washing It:

Just checking and . . . yep. Men, in general, are still wallowing in their own filth as much as ever. --Clorox Bleach just released the results of a nationwide survey which found that about one out of eight men wear their underwear AT LEAST TWICE before they wash it. And that's just the number who ADMIT to doing that. --Here are some more of their findings . . . --About half of men use the "sniff test" to figure out if their clothes are fresh enough to wear again without washing. --An average man wears jeans at least four or five times before washing them. --About a quarter of men age 18 to 29 only wash their sheets once a month . . . the majority of women in that age range wash their sheets at least once a week. --Single women are more than twice as likely as married women to BUY CLOTHES to avoid laundry. --More than one-third of single women own more than 20 pairs of underwear. --Only 29% of married women say their husband helps out equally with the laundry. (PR Newswire)


The Average Woman Says 13 Negative Things About Her Body Every Day:

Ladies, no matter how many bad things people say about you, there's NO WAY they're harsher on you than you are on yourself. -According to a study of more than 2,000 women, 97% of women say THIRTEEN negative things about their body every single day. --Only 3% of women say that a day sometimes goes by when they don't have a negative feeling about their body. --The survey also found that 90% of women 15 to 64 want to change at least one thing about their appearance. And their weight was number one. (DNA)


Um . . . Whoever Left Four Pairs of Shoes Containing $107,000 Worth of Cocaine at JFK Airport, Please Go Pick Them Up:

According to airport officials at JFK International Airport in New York, they were recently going through some abandoned luggage and found a hell of a score: Four pairs of shoes STUFFED with cocaine. --All together, the four pairs of shoes contained five pounds of cocaine . . . that's a street value of about $107,000. The shoes were in a suitcase that arrived from the Dominican Republic, and so far, they haven't tracked down the owner. (Gizmodo) (--Here's a photo of the shoes.)


How High Would the Vet Bill Have to Be For You to Stop Treatment on Your Pet?

All pet owners know that vet bills are no joke. But we love our pets, so we cough it up . . . no matter what. Theoretically though: How high would they have to get for you to say, "I love Rusty and all, but I can't fix his knee if it costs more than my Kia"? --According to the Veterinary Pet Insurance Company, the average tipping point where people decide to stop treatment is . . . $1,451. --The thing is . . . while that's a lot of money, it's not THAT high. Some pretty common pet injuries and illnesses cost at least that much to treat. --When a dog or cat tears cartilage in its knee, the surgery is more than $1,500. A foreign object in the intestine or stomach can cost $1,500 to $2,000 to remove. --Treating tumors costs more than $1,600. And treatment for disc injuries can cost around $3,200. So you might need to reevaluate. (PR Newswire)


And Now, Three New Things to Worry About:

#1.) Diet Coke Makes You Chubby. Just because Diet Coke doesn't have any calories, it's still screwing with you. Two new studies have found the artificial sweetener still messes with your insulin levels and makes you put on weight. --In the studies, people who drank diet soda had a 70% greater increase in their waist sizes over 10 years, versus people who didn't drink soda. And people who drank two or more diet sodas a day had a 500% greater increase. (ScienceDaily)

#2.) Your Teenager Has Almost Been in a Horrible Car Accident. In a new study, 68% of teenage drivers admitted that they've narrowly avoided a car accident. And more than half have had more than one close call in the past year. --55% of the teenagers who just missed having horrible wrecks blamed other drivers or the weather . . . even though 30% were speeding at the time, 21% were texting, and 20% were talking to their passengers. (USA Today)

#3.) Lightning Hates Men. Between 1995 and 2008, there were 648 people who were killed by lightning. And 82% of those were MEN. --An expert from the National Weather Service says it isn't because lightning hates men and seeks them out . . . but that men take WAY more risks during massive storms than women. (Orlando Sentinel)


Here are Seven Random Facts About Vanity License Plates:

Since clearly you woke up today saying, "Hey! I'm so curious about vanity license plates. I sure hope someone tells me all about them" . . . your dream has come true. Here are seven random facts about vanity plates.

#1.) About 9.3 million vehicles in the U.S. have customized vanity license plates.

#2.) The 46 states that offer vanity license plates only made $177 MILLION off the fees . . . or an average of about $19 per plate.

#3.) Texas is the first state to start auctioning off the best one-word vanity plates. The plate reading "FERRARI" recently sold for $15,000, "PORSCHE" went for $7,500, and "AMERICA" went for $3,000.

#4.) The most expensive vanity plate ever sold was in Abu Dhabi in 2008 . . . someone paid $14.3 MILLION for a plate with the number "1" only.

#5.) Virginia has the most drivers with vanity plates, at 16%. It's followed by New Hampshire and Illinois.

#6.) Texas has the fewest vanity plates at 0.56%.

#7.) Studies have found that people with vanity plates and bumper stickers have more of a "territory marker" mentality . . . and are more likely to honk at other drivers, tailgate, and experience ROAD RAGE. (Yahoo Finance)


Harlingen, Texas is Named the Cheapest City in the U.S.:

"BusinessWeek" just released a list of the CHEAPEST CITIES in the U.S. Cheapest to live in, that is. Not the home of the cheapest people. Although there probably is some overlap. --And the cheapest city in the U.S. is . . . Harlingen, in south Texas. It's 18% cheaper than the U.S. average. The average house payment is $847, a loaf of bread is 90 cents, and a gallon of gas averages $2.65. --Compared to Manhattan, New York, which is the most expensive area in the country, house payments are five times higher at $4,686 . . . bread is 150% more at $2.23 for a loaf . . . and gas is 19% more at $3.15 a gallon. --But . . . wages are also much lower in Harlingen. The average household income is $31,797 and 30.4% of residents are below the poverty line. --Pueblo, Colorado was named the second-cheapest city in the U.S. . . . Pryor Creek, Oklahoma is third . . . McAllen, Texas is fourth . . . Cookeville, Tennessee is fifth . . . Commerce, Texas is sixth . . --Brownsville, Texas is seventh . . . Fort Smith, Arkansas is eighth . . . Muskogee, Oklahoma is ninth . . . and Springfield, Illinois is tenth. (BusinessWeek)


A New Survey Determines That We're All Rude at the Pool and the Beach . . . and These are the Worst Things We Do:

As you may've noticed, everyone at the pool and beach is rude except you. You're perfect. It's so rude how they talk so loudly that you can't hear the music you're blasting, which ruins your drunken good time, you know? --According to a new survey of about 1,100 Americans by TripAdvisor, 74% of us think that other people are rude at the pool and the beach. --They didn't ask how many people felt that they THEMSELVES were rude . . . but I'd venture a guess that it's closer to 1% than 74%. --People rated blasting music as the rudest beach behavior, followed by public drunkenness and littering. Blasting music was also the rudest pool behavior, followed by hogging the chairs and smoking. --New Yorkers were named the worst behaved people at the pool and beach, followed by people from New Jersey and Florida. Miami Beach got ranked as the site of the worst beach etiquette overall in the country. --79% of people said it's not acceptable for a stranger to ask for your help putting on lotion. --31% felt their personal space ALWAYS gets invaded on the beach by other people. --And finally, 78% say that it's okay for women to go topless at a nude beach . . . and 6% think it's okay for a woman to go topless at ANY beach. (TripAdvisor)


The Pope Has Sent His Very First Tweet:

You know how trends stop being cool when parents latch on to them? How uncool does something become when the Holy Father latches on? --Yesterday afternoon, THE POPE sent his very first TWEET. It's on the Vatican's account, @news_va_en. Quote, "Dear Friends, I just launched News.va. Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! With my prayers and blessings, Benedictus XVI." (???) --And just to push his technological savvy even more, he sent it from an iPad. So far, the account only has about 23,000 followers. But now that the Pope's involved, it'll probably go up. (Time)


The North Korean Women's World Cup Team Loses to the Evil U.S. and Blames It On . . . Lightning?

Yesterday, the North Korean women's World Cup soccer team lost to the U.S. two-to-nothing. That always happens with North Korean teams . . . they're just not as athletic as the other evil countries. --And as you'd expect, their coach went for a CRAZY EXCUSE to save face . . . and quite possibly, his life. He blamed the loss on LIGHTNING. --It wasn't raining in the stadium or anything. No . . . he says that when they were practicing a few weeks back, lightning struck and made five of his players too injured to properly train, practice, or perform. Possibly ever again. --While that's fairly unlikely, at least it's more likely than KIM JONG-IL'S claim back in 2004, that in his first-ever round of golf he had five holes-in-one and shot a 38 under par. (--True story, he really said that.) (FOX Sports)
A Couple Got Married in the Hospital After the Groom Fell Down a Flight of Stairs the Morning of Their Wedding:

On Saturday, 26-year-old Derek and 21-year-old Cassy McBride of Erie, Pennsylvania, were set to be married on the beach. Instead they got married at the hospital. Here's why . . . --On Friday night, Derek and some members of the wedding party were at the reception hall preparing until about 2:30 A.M. When Derek got home, he was walking up the stairs of his house in the dark, like he always does. --Only this time, he slipped and fell down about 15 stairs. --Fortunately, one of his friends was staying at the house and heard the fall. He rushed Derek to the hospital. Turns out Derek broke THREE RIBS and punctured his right lung . . . which made it collapse. --Cassy didn't find out that Derek was in the hospital until about 5:00 A.M. First, she says she freaked out. Then, the family started making contingency plans. --With the help of the nurses and hospital staff, they decorated the hospital room . . . they brought in flowers . . . and Derek even put on his tuxedo over his hospital gown. And in front of all their guests, Derek and Cassy were married in the hospital room. --Derek is still in the hospital recovering . . . and Cassy has been spending her nights there. They hadn't planned a honeymoon so . . . uh . . . guess this counts? (Erie Times-News)



Don’t Burn The House Down This 4th Of July

While Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day see the most cooking related smoke and fire claims for State Farm, the Fourth of July isn’t far behind. According to State Farm claims data, nearly 3,000 fire and smoke related claims happen in the month of July. To help ensure your grilling plans don’t go up in flames, State Farm offers these tips:

Location, Location, Location: Move your grill away from flammable objects, including the house. Nearly 30% of home grilling fires start on a balcony or open patio.

Flame On: Only use charcoal starter fluid to start a charcoal grill. Never use lighter fluid or any other fire accelerant on an open flame. Gasoline or lighter fluid is a factor in almost one-quarter of the charcoal grill burns seen in emergency rooms.

Adult Supervision Required: Never leave the grill unattended when cooking. Radiating heat from the grill and grease flare-ups can lead to a home fire very quickly if a grill is left unsupervised.

In the Zone: Keep kids and pets away from a hot grill. Maintain a safe zone of at least three feet around the grilling area to prevent children or pets from touching a hot grill.

Keep It Clean: Clean and maintain your grill. Check the valves and hoses for cracks or leaks. Leaks or hose breaks are the leading factor contributing to gas-fueled grill fires.

Put It Out: Properly extinguish a charcoal grill by closing the grill lid. This will smother the fire by depriving it of oxygen. When the briquettes have cooled down, transfer them into a metal container with long tongs or immerse them in water. Warm charcoal can easily re-ignite and start a fire while your family is away or asleep.


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

You know how kids love to see who can hold their breath underwater the longest? Yeah . . . that's now forbidden at most public pools. It's because kids might suffer "shallow water blackout" and drown. (Full Story)


Over 20 states are proposing laws that would make it illegal for people under age 18 to go to tanning beds, even with parental permission. Obviously the tanning industry isn't happy. They say they'll lose 10% of their business. (Full Story)


So, yeah . . . remember the woman in Rochester, New York who was arrested for videotaping the police from her front lawn, while they were making a traffic stop? And then when there was a rally to support her, the cops ticketed all the cars? If you've been following this . . . the case has been dismissed. (Full Story)


An anthropologist wants to open Shakespeare's grave . . . to see if he used marijuana? (Full Story)


NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) There's a Parody of "The Exorcist" in a Recent Dirt Devil Commercial:

If you haven't seen it, there's a pretty good ad online that parodies the "Exorcist" . . . but you'd never guess what it's for: An old priest visits a scary house and finds a girl crawling on the ceiling . . . all because the neighbor above is using a Dirt Devil vaccum. (--Search for "Exorcist Haunts Commercial for Devilish Product." The product is revealed at 1:13.)


#2.) A Performer from Cirque du Soleil Did a Crazy Flip When He Threw Out the First Pitch at a Baseball Game:

In case you missed it, a guy from Cirque du Soleil threw out the first pitch at a game between the San Diego Padres and the Kansas City Royals on Monday. He did a crazy spinning flip on the pitcher's mound, then landed and threw a strike. (--Search MLB.com for "Cirque du Soleil First Pitch.")


#3.) Some Idiot Filled a Balloon With Flammable Gas and Tried to Use It Like a Flame-Thrower . . . And It Exploded:

There's a video online of some moron who thought it was a fun idea to fill a balloon with flammable gas, then try to use it like a flame-thrower. As you can probably guess, it exploded. Luckily, it was pretty small, and it doesn't look like he got hurt. (--Search YouTube for "Balloon of Fire KingToke01.") (--WARNING: This video includes the F-word.)
Four Common Health Myths People Still Believe:

Okay, you're probably seen a bunch of these, but The Oprah Magazine "O" has a list of health myths you shouldn't believe. And there are a couple you might not know about.

Myth #1.) Hand Dryers in Public Bathrooms Are More Sanitary Than Paper Towels. It makes sense, because you can dry your hands without touching anything. --But it's a myth, because a study found that jet dryers make your hands dirtier because of bacteria INSIDE the machine. And they make the entire bathroom dirtier too, because the air can blow germs more than six feet.

Myth #2.) Sitting Too Close to the TV Will Hurt Your Eyes. You probably know this one's not true. But what you might NOT know is that it USED to be true . . . kind of. --When TVs started getting popular in the 1950's, they gave off 100,000 times more radiation than modern TVs do. So sitting too close to the television WAS bad for your health. But not specifically for your eyes.

Myth #3.) Warm Milk Will Help You Sleep. It could in theory, because it has tryptophan, the same stuff that's in turkey, and every other meat. --But milk only has trace amounts of it, and eggs and cheese even have more. Still, you'd have to eat about seven egg-and-cheese sandwiches before you'd start feeling tired. So if warm milk DOES help you sleep, it's only because of the placebo effect.

Myth #4.) Hydrogen Peroxide Is Good for Cleaning Cuts. If your mom used it when you were a kid, you probably hated it because it stung. And it turns out you didn't need to go through all that pain. --Because according to a study in "The Journal of Trauma", hydrogen peroxide slows down the healing process, because it inhibits the growth of new tissue. Instead, you're supposed to wash cuts with soap and water, then use an antibiotic like Neosporin. (Oprah.com)