Friday, September 30, 2011

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (09-30-11)

MICHAEL JACKSON MADNESS

A Security Guard Testified that Dr. Conrad Murray Made Him Put Medicine Vials Into a Bag Before Calling 911:

Yesterday in DR. CONRAD MURRAY'S manslaughter trial, one of MICHAEL JACKSON'S security guards testified that Murray instructed him to put vials of propofol into a bag BEFORE calling 911. --ALBERTO ALVAREZ said he was in the security trailer when he got a call from Michael's assistant telling him to get to the house. --When he got there, he saw Murray heading to Michael's bedroom. He told Alvarez, quote, "Come, come quick." In the bedroom, he saw Murray giving Michael chest compressions with one hand, while Michael was still on the bed. --Alvarez said Michael was on his back with his hands extended to the sides, palms up. His mouth and eyes were open. --Alvarez noticed that Michael's daughter Paris was behind him. She was crying and screaming, "Daddy!" . . . and Michael's face was turned toward her. --Murray yelled, quote, "Don't let them see their dad that way." So Alvarez moved Paris and her brother Prince out of the room. -With Michael either dying or already dead, Murray's next act was NOT to call 911. It was to HIDE DRUGS. Alvarez said he grabbed a handful of vials, handed them to Alvarez and told him to put them in a bag. --Alvarez held open a plastic bag and Murray put the vials in it. Then he told Alvarez to put the plastic bag into a brown bag . . . and then put the brown bag into a blue bag. He did. --It was only then that Murray instructed Alvarez to call 911 . . . which he did. --Asked why he didn't question Dr. Murray, he said, quote, "In my personal experience, I believed Dr. Murray had the best intentions for Mr. Jackson. I didn't question his authority." (--You can see video of Alvarez's testimony and listen to the 911 call here.) --Also on the stand yesterday was Michael's chef, KAI CHASE. She testified that Dr. Murray was "nervous" and "frantic" . . . and that he was shouting, quote, "Get help, get security, get Prince!" --There was also drama outside the courtroom again, when a woman approached Dr. Murray in a hallway chanting, quote, "murderer" and "judgment day is coming." She was escorted away.


The Most Awesome Video of the Day: William Shatner Recording His Version of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man"!

Some things are so awesome, they're nearly beyond the understanding of mere mortals. What you are about to see reaches that level, at the very least. --It's a video of WILLIAM SHATNER in the recording studio, laying down the vocals for his version of the BLACK SABBATH classic "Iron Man". (--Check it out here.) --This is for Shatner's upcoming album, "Seeking Major Tom" . . . in which he covers an interesting variety of songs from the '70s and '80s, including David Bowie's "Space Oddity", Deep Purple's "Space Truckin'" . . . --Elton John's "Rocket Man", Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me with Science", Golden Earring's "Twilight Zone", Steve Miller's "Space Cowboy" and "Walking on the Moon" by the Police. --Obviously, there's a SPACE theme here. The disc is also loaded with guest stars, including Ritchie Blackmore, Peter Frampton, Sheryl Crow, Lyle Lovett, Steve Miller, Brad Paisley, Johnny Winter and Zakk Wylde. (--Check out the cover art and SAMPLES OF EVERY SONG here.)


Ashton Kutcher May Have Been Photographed with His Alleged Mistress in June:

Photos surfaced yesterday of ASHTON KUTCHER with someone who looks a lot like SARA LEAL . . . .the woman he allegedly had sex with last weekend. But these photos were taken in JUNE. (--Check 'em out here.) (Daily Mail) --Meanwhile, Ashton made his first Twitter statement about this scandal yesterday. First, he posted a link to the PUBLIC ENEMY song "Don't Believe the Hype". --Then he added, quote, "When you ASSUME to know that which you know nothing of you make an ASS out of U and ME." (--And here's a Tweet from Demi from earlier this week. Does it mean anything? Who knows.)


Mike Myers is a Dad:

MIKE MYERS is a dad for the first time. His wife Kelly Tisdale gave birth to a baby boy two weeks ago. They named him Spike. (--Which kind of falls within the realm of obnoxious celebrity baby names. But at the same time, there's a certain charm to it.)


Lindsay Lohan Made Out With Some Fashion Designer in Italy the Other Day:

You may have heard that LINDSAY LOHAN was recently hired to do an ad campaign for a German fashion designer by the name of Philipp Plein. Well, the other night in Italy, Lindsay returned the favor . . . by MAKING OUT WITH HIM. (--Check out some pics here. And we've also included some shots of Lindsay holding hands with ANOTHER GUY the following night in Paris.) (--But this guy might have just been a helper or security guy. They're holding hands, yes, but there's no real indication of romance.) (Egotastic, Celebuzz)

Taylor Lautner Doesn't Know When Girls Like Him . . . or Just His "Twilight" Character:

Poor TAYLOR LAUTNER. He can get all the girls he wants . . . but he never knows if they love him for himself . . . or for his "Twilight" character Jacob. --He says, quote, "You definitely have to deal with whether girls are interested in me or Jacob. Sometimes it's hard. Time always lets you know what a person is really like. --"The fans love the characters and they would love anyone who was playing those characters. I'm just the guy who was able to bring Jacob to life." (--Yeah, I'll take "Problems I'd KILL to Have" for $500, Alex.)


Rihanna Needed an "Emergency Bikini Wax":

RIHANNA almost had to postpone that video shoot in Ireland earlier this week, when she had trouble finding an around-the-clock BIKINI WAXER. --Rihanna didn't get to her hotel until 2:00 A.M. Monday morning . . . and she was desperately in need of some landscaping, because the shoot was scheduled for early that morning. --A source says, quote, "Her assistants got on the case quickly and called some beauticians after finding a directory on the web. It was relief all round when they finally managed to find someone."


Showbiz Photo of the Day: George Lopez Grabbing Justin Timberlake's Butt:

GEORGE LOPEZ provided us with our Showbiz Photo of the Day . . . by grabbing JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE'S butt. It happened during Justin's charity golf tournament, the Shriner's Hospital for Children Open. (--Here's the pic.) (E! Online)


Now There's a Civil War-Era Photo of a Guy Who Looks Like John Travolta . . . But That One Disappeared From E-Bay, Too:

Remember that Civil War-era photo of the guy who looked almost exactly like NICOLAS CAGE? Well, there's one of JOHN TRAVOLTA, too. --The likeness isn't nearly as perfect this time around, but there are enough similarities to make it amusing. --Here's an interesting coincidence: Like the Cage pic, the Travolta photo was for sale on eBay . . . but the listing DISAPPEARED for some reason. --The seller was only asking 50-grand for this one. The Cage photo was going for $1 million before it was taken down. (--Check out the photo, along with a screen cap of the eBay listing while it was active, here.) (New York Daily News)


Tom Brady Cut His Hair:

TOM BRADY is no longer a JUSTIN BIEBER clone. He cut his hair. (--Check out a pic here.) (New York Daily News)


The Reason Jessica Alba Named Her Daughter Haven Is Kind of Gross:

Some kids have great stories about how they got their names. JESSICA ALBA'S daughter Haven has a pretty unique one . . . but it's actually kind of gross. --Jessica says, quote, "When I delivered Haven she was born still inside the amniotic sac, which is rare. --"The doctor grabbed the nurse and said: 'Look at this!' I was in the middle of pushing and he told me to hold on a minute and not to push! He was wearing basketball shorts and a T-shirt and said: 'Oh I have to get my scrubs on for this!' --"The sac burst on its own after she came out. It was a trip.--"When I was in recovery we still hadn't chosen her name. [My husband] Cash picked her up and said she came into the world in her 'safe haven' and it clicked right then for both of us."
Kim Kardashian Says She and Her Sisters are "The Biggest Trannies":

KIM KARDASHIAN says she and her sisters are TRANNIES . . . and the fault lies with their father, the late ROBERT KARDASHIAN, who hired a professional makeup artist to teach them how to apply makeup when they were kids. --She says, quote, "He said, 'My daughters are going to start to wear makeup and I want you guys to look at least presentable,' which I thought was really cool. And we've turned out to be the biggest trannies because of it." --KHLOE adds, quote, "We joke and say we are like trannies because we love hair and makeup." --The girls claim they could stop if they wanted to . . . but their public demands it. Kim says, quote, "We had like publicists and people who would tell us, 'Girls, tone it down. Stop wearing all the makeup.' --"But then we would read on our blogs . . . like in the comments and everything . . . and everyone was like, 'What lipstick is this, what mascara do you use?' We were like, 'We love makeup, so why try and be what we are not?'" (--Two things Robert Kardashian is at least partially responsible for: O.J. Simpson being acquitted of murder and Kim, Khloe and Kourtney. What a legacy.)


NEW MOVIES THIS WEEKEND

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Has Cancer . . . Daniel Craig Might be a Murderer . . . and Anna Faris is Desperate to Hook Up with Her Exes . . . on Film At Least:

#1.) "Dream House" (PG-13)

This one will mess with you. First Daniel Craig discovers his house was once a murder scene. Then he finds out his life with his wife and daughters might not even be real . . . and that he was in a mental institution for supposedly killing them. Rachel Weisz is his wife, and Naomi Watts is a neighbor helping to separate fantasy from reality. (Trailer)


#2.) "50/50" (R)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a guy coming to terms with cancer, and the diagnosis that he only has a 50/50 chance of surviving it. Seth Rogen plays his best friend, Anjelica Houston is his mom, Bryce Dallas Howard plays his girlfriend, and Anna Kendrick is his sexy but inexperienced therapist. (Trailer)


#3.) "What's Your Number" (R)

Anna Faris reads that women who've had more than 20 lovers are stuck being single . . . and freaks out because she's already been with 20 guys. So she vows to take another look at her exes before sleeping with anyone else. --Chris Evans is the neighbor who helps track them down, and the men from her past include Andy Samberg, "Reno 911's" Tom Lennon, and "Star Trek's" Zachary Quinto. (Trailer)


Check Out a Scene From the Movie "Butter" Where Jennifer Garner Apologizes for Being Tall, White, and Pretty:

JENNIFER GARNER is in a new movie called "Butter" that comes out three weeks from now. It's about a small town in Iowa where she and others are competing in a BUTTER SCULPTURE competition. -There's a scene from the movie on YouTube now where Garner's character is giving a speech and gives a classic quote, apologizing for being born TALL, WHITE, AND PRETTY. (--Check it out here.) --The movie also features Hugh Jackman, Olivia Wilde, and Ty Burrell from "Modern Family".


Here's How Much Different "American Pie" Cast Members Were Paid to Star in the New Movie "American Reunion":

After the third "American Pie" movie, "American Wedding", Universal started making direct-to-DVD movies under the "American Pie" banner with almost none of the original cast. The videos made some money, but they're not very good. --So Universal decided to get the entire original cast from "American Pie" back together to make a fourth theatrical film . . . called "American Reunion". And now we know how much they had to PAY all the actors to come back.

--Jason Biggs and Seann William Scott are getting paid the most, at $5 MILLION each, plus a small piece of the gross.

--Alyson Hannigan and Eugene Levy are next, getting about $3 MILLION.

--The actors who haven't gotten more famous since "Pie" . . . Chris Klein, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Natasha Lyonne, Jennifer Coolidge, Mena Suvari, and Shannon Elizabeth . . . will get $500,000 to $750,000.

--And finally, Tara Reid . . . who was once, arguably, the biggest name in the cast . . . has fallen so far that she'll get the LOWEST salary, at around $250,000.

--The film centers around all of the characters getting back together for their 10-year high school reunion. It's set to open on April 6th of next year.


The Host of "The X Factor" Stormed Off the Set of "Piers Morgan Tonight":

It seems like the only time anyone talks about "Piers Morgan Tonight" is when someone storms off "Piers Morgan Tonight". Well . . . last night, someone stormed off "Piers Morgan Tonight". So we're gonna talk about it. --STEVE JONES, the host of "The X Factor", stormed off after Piers started asking him about the different women he's been linked to . . . from Hayden Panettiere to Pamela Anderson to Halle Berry. How awful to have THAT reputation, huh? --The show will air tonight. The last person to storm off the "Piers Morgan Tonight" set was CHRISTINE O'DONNELL . . . last month, she was upset when Piers grilled her on gay marriage and her views on abstinence.


"The X Factor" Sees a Ratings Drop in its Second Week . . . Which is a Problem, Since They Weren't Happy With the Ratings the First Week:

Before "The X Factor" debuted in the U.S., SIMON COWELL said that anything less than 20 million viewers would be a FAILURE. Last week it premiered to about 12.5 million. Which, by definition, Simon must've considered a failure.--So he's really not going to be happy with this. Wednesday night's "X Factor" actually drew FEWER eyeballs than the previous week's . . . with 11.5 million total. --While those numbers aren't going to make the people behind the show very happy . . . and they're nowhere CLOSE to "American Idol" numbers . . . they're still solid enough that "The X Factor" isn't in any danger of being cancelled.


Rob Kardashian Says Married Celebrities are Hooking Up With Their "Dancing with the Stars" Pros . . . We Try to Figure Out Which Ones:

"Dancing with the Stars" has had plenty of celebrities and their professional partners hook up. They spend a LOT of time together during the season, and at least, like, 15% of that time rubbing against each other. --Yesterday, ROB KARDASHIAN said that's already happening this season. Quote, "I know some of the couples on the show, some of the celebrities that are married . . . that are having an affair with their partner." He didn't say which ones. --So now . . . it's time to SPECULATE. --Rob is out, since he's not married. Same with Kristin Cavallari, Elisabetta Canalis, Hope Solo, Ron Artest, Ricki Lake, and, yep, Chaz Bono. Carson Kressley is out, because he wouldn't want to have an affair with an icky girl. --We're also going to rule out David Arquette, because he has a new girlfriend and he and Courteney Cox are friends again . . . he wouldn't want to blow that. And J.R. Martinez has been through WAY too much for anyone to gossip about him. --That leaves us with Chynna Phillips cheating on her husband, Billy Baldwin . . . or Nancy Grace cheating on her husband, David Linch. And no matter how many nipples Nancy Grace flashes, the Chynna Phillips scenario seems more likely. --But in both cases . . . we're calling B.S. on Rob Kardashian.
WEEKEND TV REMINDERS


Friday TV Reminders:


--"Jessie" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 9:30 P.M. on Disney Channel. (--Debby Ryan from "The Suite Life on Deck" stars as a country girl who finds herself working as a nanny for an unconventional family in New York City.)


--"Say Yes To The Dress: Atlanta" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 9:30 P.M. on TLC.


--"CSI: New York" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on CBS. (--Aly Michalka, from Aly & AJ and "Hellcats", guest stars as a punk rocker whose teenage stalker ends up dead.)


--"Hugh Laurie: Let Them Talk - A Celebration of New Orleans Blues" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on PBS. (--Hugh Laurie performs with Tom Jones and some other less famous musicians in New Orleans.)


--"Haven" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Syfy.


Saturday TV Reminders:


--"Grand Ole Opry Live" . . . 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. on GAC. (--James Wesley, Jason Jones, Sarah Darling and Laura Bell Bundy perform.)


--"Austin City Limits" [37th Season Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on PBS. (--Mumford & Sons and Flogging Molly perform.)


--"'Weird Al' Yankovic Live! - The Alpocalypse Tour" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Comedy Central. (--"Weird Al" performs songs from his "Alpocalypse" album.)


--"Celine: 3 Boys and A New Show" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on OWN. (--Celine Dion has cameras follow her as she performs in Vegas and cares for her family.)


--"Celebrity Nightmares Decoded" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Bio. (--Adrianne Curry, Lark Voorhies and Stephen Baldwin examine their dreams.)


--"That Metal Show" . . . 11:00 P.M. to Midnight on VH1 Classic. (--Ratt lead singer Stephen Pearcy and Judas Priest lead singer Tim "Ripper" Owens guest.)


--"Saturday Night Live" . . . 11:30 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. on NBC. (--Melissa McCarthy guest hosts and Lady Antebellum is the musical guest.)


Sunday TV Reminders:


--"Sunday Night Football" . . . 8:20 to 11:20 P.M. Eastern on NBC. (--The Baltimore Ravens host the New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.)


--"America's Funniest Home Videos" [22nd Season Premiere] . . . 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. on ABC.


--"Day Jobs" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on GAC. (--This show reunites country stars with their pre-fame jobs. In the first episode, Trace Adkins returns to his oil-rig days.)


--"Prohibition" [Part 1 of 3] . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on PBS. (--Filmmaker Ken Burns examines the prohibition era of 1920-1933 in this three part documentary.)


--"Tough Love" [3rd Season Premiere] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on VH1.


--"Family Guy" . . . 9:00 to 9:30 P.M. on Network. (--"Ringer's" Ioan Gruffudd is your guest voice narrator when a hurricane keeps the Griffins housebound.)


--"The Good Wife" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on CBS. (--Eddie Izzard guest stars as the Queen's councilman when Alicia goes up against him regarding a civil case in a British court room via satellite.)


--"Dexter" [6th Season Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Showtime.


--"100 Moments That Changed TV" [Parts 1 & 2] . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on TV Guide. (--A five-part series that counts down the landmark events of television which include Dick Clark taking over "American Bandstand", Janet Jackson's Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction, and the Nixon-Kennedy presidential debates.)

(--Part 3 will air next Sunday. You can watch two clips from the show here.)


--"Hung" [3rd Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on HBO.


--"How To Make It In America" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on HBO.


--"Homeland" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Showtime. (--Claire Danes plays a CIA agent obsessed with proving that a rescued POW (played by Damian Lewis) has become a terrorist. Mandy Patinkin plays her mentor.)


--"South Park Documentary" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Comedy Central. (--A visit to South Park Studios to see how the show is made.)


--"Around the World in 80 Ways" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on the History Channel. (--"Boston Rob" Mariano and Dennis Anderson attempt to use every mode of transportation available as they journey around the world.)


Simon Cowell Says He was Misquoted . . . He Never Called Lady Gaga and Beyoncé Boring:

Yesterday, a quote was circling around from SIMON COWELL, where he said, "If you only ever heard Lady Gaga, she's the most boring singer in the world. You've got to see her . . . you need TV. Same with Beyoncé. Or Katy Perry." --Well . . . Simon says he was MISQUOTED. His rep says, quote, "This was completely misreported. It's the complete opposite, in fact. --"Simon is a massive fan of both [Gaga and Beyoncé] and he always refers to them amongst the artists he most admires. He thinks they are two of the most interesting, talented and relevant artists today." (--We're thinking he left out Katy Perry because he was asked about Simon's comments on Gaga and Beyoncé . . . NOT as an intentional slight to Katy Perry. That seems against the spirit of this rebuttal.)


Check Out Snoop's 12-Year-Old Daughter Performing Her First Single:

SNOOP DOGG'S 12-year-old daughter, Cori B, is trying to launch a music career, and here's a video of her singing her first single, called "Do My Thing". --She's INCREDIBLY shy in an interview before she sings and the single has a REBECCA BLACK vibe . . . also, we're not sure if Cori B can actually sing well or not, because this thing has some CRAZY auto-tuning. (--Here's the video.)


Motorhead, Warrant, and Ratt Have All Released Their Own Brands of Wine?

I'm REALLY not sure if MOTORHEAD fans drink wine . . . they seem more like Miller High Life and peppermint schnapps people to me . . . but here ya go. Motorhead just launched their own brand of wine, called Motorhead Shiraz. --It's a red wine that's described as having a fruity aroma with vanilla, blackberry, plum, and licorice flavors. --LEMMY KILMISTER says, quote, "Approach it with caution. I mean, wine is deceptive. Anything can happen." --The Motorhead wine is selling online, out of the U.K., and will run $135 for a case of six bottles. (--You can buy it here.) --RATT and WARRANT are also jumping into the wine business. --Ratt has a white wine, a chardonnay, called "Body Talk" . . . and a red wine, a cabernet, called "Slip of the Lip." --Warrant had previously released a wine called Warrant Red . . . it sold out and even apparently won some taste awards from the "San Francisco Chronicle". They have a new version of Warrant Red coming out in December. (--You can buy the Ratt and Warrant wines for $20- to $25-a-bottle here.)


Scientists Have Determined That Queen's "We are the Champions" is the Catchiest Pop Song of All Time:

QUEEN and the VILLAGE PEOPLE are CONTAGIOUS. And that's not an off-color gay sex joke. It's a scientific fact. --A team from Goldsmiths University in London created a formula to figure out the CATCHIEST pop songs of all time. And both of those bands had the two songs at the top. --The formula analyzed everything from the pitch and harmony to the length and complexity of the musical phrasing and the quality of the singing. And it determined that "We are the Champions" by Queen is THE catchiest pop song of all time. --"YMCA" by the Village People was second . . . "Fat Lip" by SUM 41 was third . . . and "The Final Countdown" by EUROPE was fourth. --Other songs that made the list include "Brown Eyed Girl" by VAN MORRISON and "Livin' on a Prayer" by BON JOVI. --In general, the two constants that kept coming up are that the catchiest songs have a MALE vocalist . . . with a higher-pitched voice.


FRIDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS

Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:


In case you missed this, SETH ROGEN was on "Conan" Wednesday night . . . and he revealed that he's a BEAR ICON in the gay community. In fact, he showed off some NUDE PICTURES of himself that one of his admirers drew. (Video)



A government agency in Brazil wants a lingerie ad featuring GISELE BUNDCHEN taken off the air . . . because it's sexist. (Full Story)



Everyone's claiming that JASON DERULO and JORDIN SPARKS are a couple. But Jason says they're NOT. (Full Story)




Check out some pictures of PINK with her adorable baby girl. (Photos)



KESHA walked through an airport in Brazil with a plush hammerhead shark tied to her face. (Photos)



The METALLICA and LOU REED collaboration album called "Lulu" will be released November 1st in the U.S. and October 31st in the rest of the world. (Full Story)



Listen to SUSAN BOYLE covering "Enjoy the Silence" by DEPECHE MODE . . . this will be on her new album that comes out November 1st. (Full Story)


DARYL HALL says that he and JOHN OATES aren't going to be working together again, quote, "We're pretty much on to our own thing now." (Full Story)



Yesterday morning, T.I. became a FREE MAN when he was released from a halfway house in Atlanta. (Full Story)



DMX says that if he goes to prison for 20 years and gets out when he's 60, he'll still be in good shape. (Full Story)



SAMUEL L. JACKSON ended up with a Jheri curl in "Pulp Fiction" instead of an afro because a production assistant bought the wrong wig from a wig store. (Full Story)


RANDOM STUFF

Americans' Biggest Office Pet Peeve Is . . . People Stealing Their Food From the Office Fridge:

The social networking site LinkedIn surveyed members around the world to find out their biggest pet peeves at work. --And, worldwide, the thing that office workers hate more than anything else is . . . when coworkers don't take ownership for their actions. --The next four biggest pet peeves are: People who complain all the time, dirty common areas, meetings that start late or run long, and people who don't respond to email. --There were big differences by country. Like the nation of deliciously chubby people that we are, two in three Americans complained about people stealing their food from the office fridge. That was about 13% higher than the rest of the world. --One in three people worldwide hate overly revealing clothes in the office. Twice as many women as men listed revealing clothes as a pet peeve. --Japanese workers were twice as likely as the rest of the world to complain about office pranks. Employees in India were 23% more annoyed by their coworkers' ringtones than the rest of the planet. --In general, Indian workers were the grumpiest. Of the 38 behaviors listed, the average Indian worker complained about 19 of them. Italian workers were the most laid back. On average, they only listed 15 pet peeves. (Huffington Post)

Half of All People Need Coffee During the Workday . . . and Scientists and Lab Techs Drink the Most:

Yesterday was National Coffee Day. To celebrate, Dunkin' Donuts and CareerBuilder released the results of their annual survey on coffee drinkers at work. --Nearly half of all U.S. workers say they're less productive on the job if they don't have coffee. 46% said they needed a cup to get started. And 34% say they need a cup to "get through the day." --61% of coffee drinkers said that one cup wasn't enough and they needed at least two cups a day. 28% drink three cups a day. --Younger people drink coffee for a different reason than older workers. Workers aged 18 to 24 said that coffee has helped their career, because it gives them an opportunity to network with other coworkers at the coffee pot. --Scientists and lab techs drink more coffee than other professions, making them the most coffee-dependent job. They finished ahead of marketing people, public relations professionals, and teachers. --Hotel workers, attorneys, and judges are the professions most likely to take their coffee black. HR people are most likely to take cream and sugar. Editors, writers, and government workers are the most likely to add flavor to their coffee. (DunkinDonuts.com)


The Average Person Feels "Rich" At $80,000-a-Year:

Here's some good news. You don't need to be a millionaire to feel rich. You don't even need to be a hundred-thousandaire. Basically, you just need enough money so that all your bills are paid and you have some left over. --A new study found that the threshold where the average person said they felt "rich" was making $80,000-a-year. -People who made between $39,000 and $80,000 didn't classify themselves as "rich" . . . in fact, 44% said they were POOR. Only 1% of people making over $80,000 considered themselves poor. --Interestingly enough, people making under $39,000 were more likely to say they're living COMFORTABLY than people making $39,000 to $80,000 . . . probably because they've done a better job adjusting to life within their means. (Daily Mail)


The Banks are About to Start Screwing You With a $5 Fee Just to Use Your Debit Card . . . Here's What You Need to Know:

Looks like it's time to start storing all your cash in your mattress again. Remember those banks we bailed out? They still want to hold your money for you . . . but now when you take some OUT, they want to keep a piece for themselves. --The latest? Bank of America . . . the largest bank in the country . . . just announced that starting next year, they'll charge a $5 monthly fee for you to use your debit card. --That's right: If you use your debit card for anything other than taking money out of an ATM, a $5 charge will be added to your account that month. --And they're not alone. Other giant banks, like Chase and Wells Fargo, are testing debit card fees and could roll them out soon. Other smaller banks have already started instituting them. This is the airline baggage fees all over again. --The banks say the fees are to make up for new federal limits on how much they can charge merchants for taking credit cards. Did I mention we BAILED THESE GUYS OUT!?! --New rules say that a bank will only be able to charge a merchant up to 24 cents each time you buy something with a debit card. The current average is 44 cents. --A study by Bankrate.com found that only 45% of checking accounts in the U.S. are free with no strings attached. They also found that 66% of people said they'd strongly consider not using their debit card if their bank charged a fee. (Wall Street Journal)


A Study Finds the Age When People are Most Likely to Succeed on a Diet:

According to a new study, the AGE when people are most likely to succeed on a diet is . . . 28. So, um, sorry if you really want to lose some weight and you're older than that. Embrace your chubbiness. Lord knows I'D like to embrace it. --Researchers say that 28 is the perfect sweet spot for dieting. You have enough money to eat right . . . enough time to hit the gym . . . your metabolism is still strong . . . you're still totally vain . . . and you probably don't have multiple kids. --The researchers found people in their early 20s don't have the discipline to lose weight . . . people in their 30s are too busy . . . and people in their 40s and 50s don't have the same motivation to get a leaner body. (ANI)


The Only Group That Uses Twitter More than 18-to-29-Year-Olds Is . . . Congress:

Most people don't think of Congress as being hip or cutting-edge, but a new survey found that they're more plugged in than people in their 20s. --According to an Associated Press survey, 441 members of Congress have Facebook profiles. That's five out of every six members. And it's 8% more than the percentage of young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 who are on Facebook. --When it comes to Twitter, our Congressional representatives are way cooler than the millennial generation: 433 members are on Twitter, or four out of every five. Only 18% of adults under 30 have Twitter accounts. --Republicans are more active tweeters than Democrats. 86% of House Republicans are on Twitter, compared to 75% of Democrats. 87% of Republican Senators have Twitter accounts, compared to 80% of Democrats. --Of course, just because they're ON social networks doesn't mean they really know how to use them. The study found that most of the tweets and status updates from Congress are dry policy talking points. --One third of 18-to-29-year-olds have tried to contact government officials online, so according to the study, if Congress was more interactive on social networks, they might be able to reach their younger followers. (Associated Press)


Website of the Day: Search 500 Million Tweets to See When People Tweet About Being Drunk, Hungry, or Tired:

Sociologists at Cornell University have been doing research on how people's moods change throughout the week. To do it, they collected 500 million Tweets from 2.4 million Twitter users. --And now they've made their database available to everyone. You can go to the website Timeu.se and search any word or phrase to see when people are most likely to use it on Twitter. --For instance, people are most likely to include the word "drunk" in their Tweets at about 2:00 A.M. on Sunday morning. -"Sex" hits its peak at about 1:00 A.M. on Thursdays. Strangely, a common term for oral sex peaks a day earlier, at 1:00 A.M. Wednesday. A crude term for self-pleasure is used most often early on Saturday mornings. --In fact, if you compare graphs on Twitter's usage of "drunk" and "sex", you'll see that they both hit peaks and valleys at about the same time every day. Also, "drunk" Tweets peak about 6 hours earlier than "hung over" does. --People tend to Tweet about "eating" about an hour before "crying" for some reason. --Just about every common curse word peaks each day shortly after midnight, with just after midnight on Sunday having the highest usage. --People Tweet about being "sick" at about 7:00 A.M. Monday morning. (Gawker)


A New Warner Brothers Show Will Only Air on Facebook . . . and Will Use Photos and Music From Your Profile:

Warner Brothers is in the process of developing a show called "Aim High", which is about a kid who's also a spy. --The show will star Jackson Rathbone, who played Jasper in the "Twilight" movies, and Aimee Teegarden, who played Coach Taylor 's daughter Julie on "Friday Night Lights". --Why should this get you excited? Well, aside from the potential for zany hijinks from a secret agent kid, there's the fact that this show won't air on television. --Instead, Warner Brothers is planning to make "Aim High" the first show to air exclusively on Facebook. -Not only that, but if you download their app, the show could use your Facebook profile to help with some of the background. For instance, if you mention that you like a certain song, the show might have that song playing in the background. --Even creepier than that, the show might use YOUR PHOTOS for set dressing. Pictures on people's desks will be actual photos users uploaded. During student council elections at the spy kid's school, your photo might be used as someone's campaign poster. --The show is scheduled to premiere on October 18th. (ZD Net) (--You can check out the show's Facebook page here.)


People Who Get Embarrassed Easily Are More Generous, and More Likely to Be Faithful to Their Partner:

If you often feel flustered in social situations and always seem to say the wrong thing . . . it means you're a pretty good person. According to a new study, anyway. --Researchers from Berkeley found that the more often a person felt embarrassed, the more generous they were, and the more faithful they were in relationships. --Psychologist Robb Willer ran the study. He explained that embarrassment is a, quote, "sort of social apology. [As in,] 'I didn't mean to do that. I'm actually a very social person, very reliable, someone you can trust.'" --The researchers watched college students and volunteers talk about embarrassing moments, like breaking wind in public and mistaking a heavy woman for being pregnant. --The volunteers who blushed the most and made the most ashamed gestures were most likely to share their rewards in a game that measured levels of altruism. --In other words, the people who were most likely to be embarrassed were also the most generous. --Volunteers who were most easily embarrassed were also more likely to be monogamous in relationships, and were the most social with an actor who pretended to be another volunteer. (Toronto Star)


This Year's "Ig Nobel" Award Winners Include a Wasabi Fire Alarm, a Study on Beetles Having Sex With Beer Bottles, and Doomsday Predictors:


For the past 21 years, the "Ig Nobel" prizes have been handed out to the strangest, most ridiculous, and yeah, usually DUMBEST advances in science. The 2011 awards were presented at Harvard last night . . . here are some of the winners.


--Physiology. A study that determined, quote, "no evidence of contagious yawning in the red-footed tortoise."


--Chemistry. A Japanese team who created a fire alarm that wakes people up by releasing WASABI.


--Medicine. A study that looked at the effects of holding in pee. Turns out needing to pee and holding it in affects your ability to make decisions as much as being slightly DRUNK or being awake for 24 hours straight.


--Literature. A theory by an author named John Perry on procrastination. He determined that to be a high achiever, you should always work on something important . . . as a way of avoiding work on something even more important.


--Biology. A study that found beetles try to mate with some types of beer bottles.


--Physics. A study trying to figure out why discus throwers get dizzy but hammer throwers don't.


--Mathematics. The award went to doomsday predictors throughout history . . . including the Mayans and the guy this year who thought the world was ending in May . . . and told them to be more careful when they make calculations. (CBS News)


Here are America's Top 10 Most Mustache-Friendly Cities . . . Really:

There is such a thing as the American Mustache Institute. We know that now because they just published the results of a TWO-YEAR STUDY . . . to determine which U.S. cities are the most MUSTACHE FRIENDLY. --And while the study is clearly tongue-in-cheek . . . it could be really useful info if you're thinking of relocating AND growing a killer handlebar mustache. --The study bases a city's mustache friendliness on things like the number of restaurants serving Miller Lite on tap, and the number of monster trucks, motorcycles, and ATVs per capita. Here are the top 10:

#1.) Chicago

#2.) Houston

#3.) Pittsburgh

#4.) Oklahoma City

#5.) Detroit

#6.) Milwaukee

#7.) Cleveland

#8.) New York

#9.) Huntsville, Alabama

#10.) Tampa-St. Petersburg

--Of the 100 cities included in the study, Los Angeles came in dead last as the least mustache-friendly city. (The Consumerist) (--Here's the full top 100.)
A Baseball Website Crunched the Numbers . . . and Says You Should Root For the Arizona Diamondbacks:

Baseball playoffs start today, and the website Beyond the Box Score created a mathematical model to help you pick a team, assuming yours didn't make it. --The site's run by the kind of baseball stat nerds you'd see in the movie "Moneyball". (--That's the Brad Pitt movie out right now, where the broke Oakland A's build a winning team using statistical analysis.) --They created something called the 'Rootability of Other Teams', or ROOT for short. It's based on the fact that people love underdogs. So teams like the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Milwaukee Brewers get points, because they've improved a lot since last year. --Teams that came from behind to win a spot in the playoffs, like the Cardinals and Rays, get even more points. --And teams that hire economists instead of ex-players, and make lots of decisions based on stats, get points too. It's something the site calls a Nerd Score. --Finally, teams with obnoxious fans, like the Yankees, lose points just for being unlikeable. --Based on the results of their score, the team you should adopt for the playoffs is . . . the Arizona Diamondbacks. In the American League, you should pull for the Tampa Bay Rays. --The teams that scored the worst are the Yankees and Phillies. (--Which was a little unfair, since one of the calculations was "subtract 10 points if the team is the Yankees." Without that, they would've been in the middle of the pack.) (Beyond the Box Score)


A Vegetarian Dating Site is in Trouble with an Advertising Watchdog Group . . . Because Too Many of Their Members Eat Meat:

A British dating site got in trouble with an advertising watchdog group, because it was marketed as a way to meet fellow vegetarians . . . even though most of its members ate meat. --The home page for VeggieDates.co.uk has a picture of a woman feeding a man a slice of pepper and promises to help people, quote, "Find Veggie Dates." --The page used to also say you could, quote, "Meet single vegetarian men and women looking for love." But that line had to be changed, because the site was censured by Britain's Advertising Standards Authority. --The trouble started when one member complained to the Authority that most of the profiles were for people who ate meat. Fifty member profiles were studied, and only two of them said they were vegetarian or vegan. --VeggieDates' parent company, Global Personals, runs about 6,000 dating and friendship sites, and they all share the same database of profiles. The site originally planned to allow members to limit their search to vegetarians, but that was, quote, "not possible." --The site claimed that they never used the word "only" when referring to vegetarians. The Advertising Standards Authority didn't buy it. They said VeggieDates was still misleading and had to change. --The site now claims it will match you with other people who, quote, "lead a healthy lifestyle." (Guardian)


RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS

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


Photo of the Day: A British guy went swimming at a beach in South Africa that was closed because of three shark sightings . . . and a great white bit off his right leg below the knee. (Full Story)


An insurance company launched a program to protect pizza delivery drivers called "Safety, Loss, Insurance, Coverage, Expertise" . . . or SLICE. (Full Story)


Finally a college admissions program that makes sense: Seton Hall is offering a 66% discount . . . for smart applicants. (Full Story)


"The Onion" pulled off a pretty good hoax yesterday, using articles, videos, Twitter, and Facebook to talk about how Congressional leaders were holding people hostage . . . literally. But some people weren't amused by the satire. (Full Story)


According to survey of CFOs, here are the most common reason why new hires don't work out at a company, including a mismatched skill set, unclear performance expectations, personality conflicts, and failure to fit in. (Full Story)


The best city for senior citizens is . . . Minneapolis. Followed by Boston, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. The ratings were based on healthcare, economy, social life, and longevity. (Full Story)


A new dating site called NumberforLove.com helps you find your match using numerology. (Full Story)


A year after an 87-year-old English woman died there, the hospital sent her family a letter . . . offering her penis extension surgery. (Full Story)


A school board member in Massachusetts is in trouble for opening a meeting with a magic trick . . . where he made it look like he removed another member's bra. (Full Story)


NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY - 1 of 3

#1.) Andy Rooney's Random Comments . . . Without Any Context:

This Sunday is ANDY ROONEY'S last episode of "60 Minutes", so HolyTaco.com posted a montage on YouTube called "Andy Rooney Out of Context". It's just random comments from Rooney. But without any context, they're even more ridiculous.
-Here are just a few of the things he says: He thinks the staple remover is a better invention than the staple . . . he wishes telephones made a different sound . . . and he likes roasting marshmallows, but rarely has access to a fire. #2.) The Gay Soldier Who Came Out to His Dad on YouTube Also Called His Mom . . . But She Didn't Take the News as Well: Remember the soldier who called his dad from Germany to tell him he's gay? He did it the day 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' ended. Well, it turns out he called his mom 30 minutes later, and she didn't take the news quite as well. He posted the video yesterday. --She's obviously a lot more religious than the dad is, and basically says she's worried he'll go to hell. But she also says she still loves him, and always will. --The video is over 20 minutes long, but he breaks the news to her about two-and-a-half minutes in. (--Search for "Telling Mom I'm Gay Live.")


#3.) A Drunk Guy at a Carnival Got Stuck in a Spinning Tunnel:

Have you ever been to a fair with a funhouse that had one of those spinning tunnels? They're hard enough to walk through when you're sober. But there's a video on YouTube of a guy trying to do it. And according to the video, he's WASTED. --He just keeps standing up and falling down for a full minute. (--Search for "Wasted Man's Nightmare Stuck in a Funhouse.")


#4.) If You Think the Shake Weight Ads Don't Have Enough Sexual Innuendo . . . Check Out a New Ad for the "Free Flexor":

First, we had the Shake Weight . . . which is probably the most sexual piece of workout equipment in history. But now there's a new one called the "Free Flexor," and the ad says it's specially designed for men. --Basically, it's a flexible dumbbell. And instead of doing curls, you hold it out in front of your body and swing the ends around. And it's impossible to watch the ad without thinking of a guy pleasuring himself. (--Search for "Free Flexor Official Video Ad.")


#5.) "Toddlers and Tiaras" 20 Years from Now . . . with Ashley Tisdale:

"Toddlers and Tiaras" is that annoying show on TLC about little girls in beauty pageants. And a girl named Makenzie is the most famous one, because at age four, she was already a total primadonna. --And there's a new parody on FunnyOrDie.com with ASHLEY TISDALE from "High School Musical" playing Makenzie in 20 years. And she's still EXACTLY the same . . . and still competes in pageants against five-to-seven-year-olds. --LEAH REMINI plays the mom, who says Makenzie has been in 5,000 pageants, and won over 3,000 of them. Oh, and at age 25, she still can't live without her pacifier. (--Search for "Toddlers and Tiaras with Ashley Tisdale.")


#6.) Check Out a Guy Riding a Buffalo, Fighting an Indian, and Being Attacked by a Mountain Lion . . . All Set to a Ridiculous Song:

There's a horrible movie from 1978 you've probably never heard of called "Buffalo Rider" . . . and the main character is a half-cowboy, half-hippie who rides around on a buffalo looking for adventure. --I'm only mentioning this because someone found the footage on YouTube, and wrote a ridiculous song about it called "Guy on a Buffalo". --There are two videos, with two different versions of the song: In the first one, the guy rides around on the buffalo, chases a bear, and beats up an Indian --But the second one is even better: He finds a baby in a field, tries to ride the buffalo across a river, then goes hunting and randomly gets attacked by a mountain lion. (--Search for "Guy on a Buffalo Episode 1" and "Guy on a Buffalo Episode 2." In the second one, the mountain lion attacks at 1:24.)


#7.) Bad Lip Reading . . . The Rick Perry Edition:

If you haven't heard of it, there's a website called Bad Lip Reading that takes songs and speeches and dubs in nonsense, like messing with one of President Obama's debt speeches, and making "Boom Boom Pow" by the Black Eyed Peas a song about poop. --But their best video is their newest one, where Rick Perry announces his campaign for the Republican Presidential nomination . . . and talks about how he wants to "save a pretzel for the gas jets." (???) (--Search for "Rick Perry - A BLR Soundbite".)



Five More Things Guys Immediately Notice About a Woman:

We've had lists like this before, but apparently guys are more perceptive than you might think. Here's an article from "Cosmo" on five things men immediately notice about a woman.

#1.) How Thick Her Hair Is. "Cosmo" says it dates back to cavemen. And guys like women with thick hair because it's a sign they're healthy . . . a.k.a. "shaggable."


#2.) If Her Smile Looks Genuine. If it does, you'll look relaxed and fun. If it doesn't, you'll look fake. --In fact, fakeness is also on the list. They say guys immediately notice things like fake eyelashes and hair extensions. And they make you seem high-maintenance. --With that said, a lot of guys are attracted to that high-maintenance look. They just might not want to get into a serious relationship.


#3.) How High or Low Her Voice Is. Studies have shown men are attracted to slightly higher voices, probably because it's a subconscious sign of youth and fertility.


#4.) Her Hip-to-Waist Ratio. Once again, it has to do with evolution. As if you didn't know, men tend to like women with hips that are noticeably wider than their waists. It's a primal thing that has to do with your child-bearing hips being able to give them kids.


--Obviously, there's not much you can do about your hip-to-waist ratio other than lose a little weight. But "Cosmo" suggests wearing a wide belt to emphasize the hourglass shape guys like.


#5.) Her Eyes. "Cosmo" says guys notice your eyes more than anything else. And dramatic eye makeup makes them zero in on your eyes even more. (Cosmopolitan)


Five Tips for Meeting Your Girlfriend's Friends:

If you've been dating your girlfriend for a while, and you're dreading the day she's going to make you meet her friends, we're here to help. --We've got five tips from "Ask Men" on what to do when you meet your girlfriend's friends for the first time. And really, this is just good advice for when you meet people in general, so listen up . . .


#1.) Remember Their Names. Make sure you get every one of her friends' names when you're introduced. A lot of people are too nervous or distracted when they're meeting people to pull this one off. --Then, make sure you address her friends by name at least once while you're talking to them for the first time. It'll make an impression on them, and help you to remember. Just don't do it too much, or you'll sound like a car salesman.


#2.) Offer to Buy a Round of Drinks. It's just a nice thing to do, and it goes a long way when you're trying to impress someone.


#3.) Lay Off the PDA: If you're all up on your girl in front of her friends, it's going to send the WRONG message. Kissing her on the cheek or holding her hand is fine, but anything more than that and you might come off as sleazy.


#4.) Talk to Each Person Equally. If you're out with a few people, try to interact with everyone equally. Ask them individually about their interests, what they do for a living, and how they met your girlfriend. That way no one feels left out.


#5.) Be Chivalrous. The goal is to put your best foot forward, without it looking FORCED. So hold the door open and just generally be polite . . . it's not really rocket-science. (Ask Men)

Thursday, September 29, 2011

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (09-29-11)

MICHAEL JACKSON MADNESS

Michael Jackson's Two Eldest Kids Saw Him Die:

Yesterday in the manslaughter trial of DR. CONRAD MURRAY, we learned a very sad fact: MICHAEL JACKSON'S two eldest children, Prince and Paris, saw their father die. --Michael's head of security, Faheem Muhammad, testified that Prince and Paris watched as Murray desperately tried to resuscitate their father. --He said Paris was, quote, "on the ground, balled up crying" . . . while Prince was, quote, "shocked and slowly crying." --Michael's personal assistant, Michael Amir Williams, also took the stand. He said that Michael was in good spirits on the evening of June 24th, 2009 . . . and his performance that night was, quote, "amazing." Michael died the next morning. --Williams testified about receiving a frantic message from Dr. Murray at 12:13 P.M. on the 25th, saying, quote, "Call me right away, please. Please call me right away. Thank you." (--You can listen to it here.) --When he called back, Murray told him, quote, "Get here right away. Mr. Jackson had a bad reaction. Get someone up here right away." --Both Williams and Muhammad testified that after Michael's death, Dr. Murray was very concerned about, quote, "some cream Michael wouldn't want the world to know about." --Murray wanted to be taken back to the house to retrieve this cream . . . but Williams and Muhammad decided NOT to let him back in. --Also on the stand yesterday was Paul Gongaware. He's one of the CEOs of AEG Live, the company that was producing Michael's concerts. He said Dr. Murray originally asked for $5 million to be Michael's doctor. --That didn't fly, but Michael wanted Murray . . . so they hired him for $150,000 a month. --AEG attorney Kathy Jorrie testified that Dr. Murray demanded a CPR machine for Michael. When she asked why he needed it, Murray said there was nothing wrong with Michael . . . it was just a precaution. --Jorrie also spoke with Dr. Murray the night before Michael's death . . . and he told her that Michael was fine. --She said, quote, "Dr. Murray told me repeatedly that Michael Jackson was 'perfectly healthy, in excellent condition, don't worry about it, he's great.'"


Did Demi Moore Tweet Something Last Friday that Suggested There Was Trouble in Her Marriage?

There's still no word from ASHTON KUTCHER and DEMI MOORE about the status of their marriage . . . even on Twitter. Obviously, that's doing nothing to dispel the breakup rumors, since these two normally Tweet EVERYTHING. --Neither of them have been very active on Twitter over the past week, and most of their Tweets have been work-related. --The last thing of interest on either of their accounts was a Tweet Demi posted last Friday. It was a quote from a Greek philosopher named Epictetus. --It said, quote, "When we are offended at any man's fault, turn to yourself & study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger." --That was the day before Ashton and Demi's 6th anniversary, which they spent apart . . . and which Ashton allegedly spent nailing a sexy, 23-year-old blonde. --The woman's name is Sara Leal . . . and she has reportedly hired a lawyer and gone into hiding. (--There are pictures of her all over the web. Check some out here.) (Global Grind) --Ashton reportedly told Sara that he and Demi are separated, but the public just doesn't know it yet. --Last year, Ashton was accused of slipping the stones to a 21-year-old chick on his couch while Demi was out of town. --And that may not be where the story ends. A source says, quote, "It was definitely a long time coming, but they're finally done for good. Ashton was a serial cheater, and Demi just couldn't take it anymore. She didn't deserve to live that way. It's a painful time for Demi." --The only thing left to figure out is how to divvy up their supposed $290 million fortune.


Tyrese Gibson Got Kicked Out of a Radio Station . . . For Suggesting that Liquor Stores Shouldn't be Near Schools:

"Transformers" actor TYRESE GIBSON got kicked out of a radio station during an interview . . . because he suggested that liquor stores shouldn't be near elementary schools. (???) (--It was on 101.7-WJKS in Wilmington, Delaware.) --Tyrese was doing the interview to promote his new album, when he mentioned that he saw a liquor store across the street from a school on his way to the station. And he didn't like that. --He said, quote, "Get them cats out of here . . . selling alcohol right across from your kids school, homie . . . put the pressure on them homie . . . you know how to put pressure on dudes selling in your hood." (--Here's audio.) --When the show went to commercial, the program director called and told the jock not to let Tyrese back on the air. And the owner of the station tells TMZ it was indeed because of his rant. --The guy felt that Tyrese was, quote, "disrespecting" the local community. --Tyrese later Tweeted, quote, "I just kicked out of a radio station from a [program director] who had a problem w/ me speaking on liquor stores that are by elementary schools in Delaware." --"If you don't STAND for something . . . you will damn near fall for Anything." (--Here's audio of Tyrese explaining in detail to TMZ what happened. WARNING!!! This clip contains bleeped profanity.)
Jason Alexander Comes Clean About His Hairpiece:

JASON ALEXANDER came clean about his hairpiece yesterday . . . and yes, it's a hairpiece, not a hair transplant. So why, after decades of baldness, did Jason decide to do something about it? --In an online post, he explained that it was for, quote, "a combination of professional and practical reasons." --He added, quote, "The way my hair has receded in the last two years was best defined as 'dorky' . . . most recently, the look lost any kind of impression other than purely comical. --"I'm happy to be able to sport that kind of look for characters but I didn't want it to be the only kind of characters I could be considered for." --So what exactly is on Jason's head? He called it a, quote, "semi-permanent hairpiece" . . . which means he can, quote, "wear it constantly for weeks at a time, if I so choose . . . or I can take it off any time of any day I choose." --Jason also explained why he didn't give himself a full head of hair . . . quote, "I challenged my designer to make me a piece that would look very similar to the way I did 10 years ago. --"So, it looks like a guy who is losing his hair and isn't an artificial mop of hair that I never had." (--Jason's full message is a LOT longer. You can read the whole thing here.)


Angelina Jolie Took Her Daughters Shiloh and Zahara to Get Their Ears Pierced . . . But Shiloh Chickened Out:

ANGELINA JOLIE took two of her daughters to get their ears pierced: 5-year-old Shiloh and 6-year-old Zahara. But only Zahara went through with it, because Shiloh CHICKENED OUT. --It was actually Zahara's fault, because she, quote, "screamed and then burst into tears" when she got hers done, which freaked Shiloh out. (--Here's a picture of Zahara with her ears pierced.) (Us Weekly)


Former L.A. Dodger Milton Bradley Was Arrested for Swinging a Bat at His Wife:

Major League Baseball star MILTON BRADLEY was arrested Tuesday afternoon for allegedly going after his wife with a BAT. --Bradley's wife called 911, claiming he was chasing her and taking swings at her. (--He missed.) He was arrested, booked on a felony assault charge and released on $30,000 bail. --Bradley was arrested back in January on a charge of making criminal threats to his wife. --In 2004, Bradley was arrested for confronting a cop during a traffic stop. In 2005, the Dodgers traded him to Oakland after he threw a plastic water bottle at fans at Dodger Stadium and had a clubhouse confrontation with a reporter. --He last played for the Seattle Mariners, but was released a few months ago.


NEW MOVIES THIS WEEKEND

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Has Cancer . . . Daniel Craig Might be a Murderer . . . and Anna Faris is Desperate to Hook Up with Her Exes . . . on Film At Least:

#1.) "Dream House" (PG-13)

This one will mess with you. First Daniel Craig discovers his house was once a murder scene. Then he finds out his life with his wife and daughters might not even be real . . . and that he was in a mental institution for supposedly killing them. Rachel Weisz is his wife, and Naomi Watts is a neighbor helping to separate fantasy from reality. (Trailer)


#2.) "50/50" (R)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a guy coming to terms with cancer, and the diagnosis that he only has a 50/50 chance of surviving it. Seth Rogen plays his best friend, Anjelica Houston is his mom, Bryce Dallas Howard plays his girlfriend, and Anna Kendrick is his sexy but inexperienced therapist. (Trailer)


#3.) "What's Your Number" (R)

Anna Faris reads that women who've had more than 20 lovers are stuck being single . . . and freaks out because she's already been with 20 guys. So she vows to take another look at her exes before sleeping with anyone else. --Chris Evans is the neighbor who helps track them down, and the men from her past include Andy Samberg, "Reno 911's" Tom Lennon, and "Star Trek's" Zachary Quinto. (--According to Mr. Skin, a body double was used for her nudity. Sorry.) (Trailer)


Check Out the New Trailer for "Paranormal Activity 3":

There's a new trailer for "Paranormal Activity 3", and this one makes it pretty obvious that subtlety is completely OUT THE WINDOW. (--Check it out here.) --If you follow the franchise, then this will probably mean something to you: The movie takes place in 1988, 18 years before the first two . . . back when Katie and Kristi were kids. The movie comes out October 21st.


Here's a New Trailer for "New Year's Eve":

Check out the new trailer for the insanely star-studded romantic comedy "New Year's Eve" . . . which hits theaters in December. (--You'll find it here.) --This is the follow-up to "Valentine's Day" . . . in that it stars a ton of celebrities in various stories that take place on New Year's Eve. -The cast includes Jessica Biel, Halle Berry, Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Robert De Niro, Katherine Heigl, Abigail Breslin, Hilary Swank, Sarah Jessica Parker, Zac Efron, Sofia Vergara, Michelle Pfeiffer, Josh Duhamel . . . --Sienna Miller, Julie Andrews, Ice-T, John Lithgow, John Stamos, Ludacris and Seth Meyers . . . to name a few.


GLAAD Has Put Together a Chart of All the Gay Characters on TV:

GLAAD . . . the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation . . . has released the results of its annual "Where We Are on TV" study, which reports on the number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender . . . or "LGBT" . . . characters. --It seems like they put out 5,000 of these reports a year . . . but this time they even put together a fascinating chart of all the LGBT characters on TV, which you can find at GLAAD.org. (--And here's a cool slideshow of TV's LGBT characters.) -GLAAD reviewed all the shows on tap for this year . . . the 2011 - 2012 season . . . and found that the number of LGBT characters has decreased from last year. --There are now 19 LGBT characters that are considered "regulars" on the broadcast networks. That's out of a total of 647regulars. So 2.9% are LGBT. That's down from 3.9% last year, and 3% in 2009 . . . but up from 2.6% in 2008, and 1.1% in 2007. --Of the broadcast networks, Fox is making GLAAD the happiest . . . with eight gay regulars (or 6.8%). ABC is next with 3.4%. NBC has 1.9%, the CW has 1.5%, and only one of 134 characters on CBS is an LGBT character, which is good for 0.7%. --The percentage of LGBT series regulars on "mainstream cable" is essentially the same as last year. Not surprisingly, HBO and Showtime have the most. (--If you have a few hours to soak in the entire report, which includes a comprehensive breakdown of the gender, ethnicity and specific sexuality of the LGBT characters throughout the TV landscape, you can dive in, here.)


And Now . . . Google Will Tell You If a Celebrity Is Gay!

Have you ever wanted to know if a celebrity is gay . . . INSTANTLY . . . without spending several precious minutes digging through Internet search results? Well, Google has your back. (???) --Now, if you Google something like: "Is NEIL PATRICK HARRIS gay?" . . . your answer will be served up within a fraction of a second! --It appears at the top of the page . . . ahead of all the search results . . . in a line that reads, quote, "Best guess for Neil Patrick Harris Sexual orientation is Gay." And then they toss out a few links that back it up. --It's the same feature that Google has had before, for searches like: "How old is JUSTIN BIEBER?" . . . or "How tall is SNOOKI?" Google digs through various sources and lists the most common result to answer your question. --Google's gaydar doesn't always work. It seems like it only works for A- or B-list celebrities . . . and they have to have gone on record about their sexuality multiple times. And even then, sometimes nothing comes up. --When we played around with it, Google "informed" us that: Elton John, Ricky Martin, Lance Bass and Clay Aiken are gay . . . Rosie O'Donnell and Jodie Foster are lesbians . . . Lindsay Lohan, Anna Paquin and David Bowie are bisexual . . . --And Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, James Franco, and . . . randomly . . . Britney Spears are listed as straight. --Sadly, there was no response when we tried it with Lady Gaga, Queen Latifah, Anderson Cooper, Kevin Spacey, Oprah Winfrey and Chaz Bono.

TV's Highest Paid Actresses:

The unstoppable list-makers at Forbes.com have struck again! This time, they've unleashed a list of TV's Highest Paid Actresses. --That's "actresses," so talk show hosts and reality TV personalities aren't included. And neither were voice actresses . . . like "The Simpsons'" NANCY CARTWRIGHT and YEARDLEY SMITH. --The numbers include their salaries, syndication checks, and endorsement deals in the year between May of 2010 and this past May. --Here's the Top 10, along with their estimated earnings:


1.) Tina Fey and Eva Longoria, $13 million


3.) Marcia Cross, Mariska Hargitay and Marg Helgenberger, $10 million


6.) Teri Hatcher and Felicity Huffman, $9 million


8.) Courteney Cox and Ellen Pompeo, $7 million


10.) Juliana Margulies, $6 million


A Suspicious Letter with White Powder Was Delivered to "Dancing with the Stars" . . . Is Someone Trying to Attack Our Beloved Chaz Bono?!?

There was a major freak out at CBS Studios in Hollywood yesterday, when a suspicious letter was discovered in the mailroom . . . that contained a "white powder." --There aren't many specifics, but reports say the letter was "intended" for "Dancing with the Stars". (--The show is filmed at CBS Studios, despite being on ABC.) --All kinds of emergency vehicles were deployed to the studio . . . but when they arrived, the authorities determined that the white powder was not anthrax, or any other harmful substance. There's no word what it actually was. --Last year, the same studio had a similar issue when someone discovered white powder in a letter addressed to BRISTOL PALIN, who was competing on "Dancing". And last month, there was another one addressed to CRAIG FERGUSON. --It's unclear if the letter was addressed to any one person in particular this time.


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

--"The X Factor" [Final Auditions] . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Fox.

--"Charlie's Angels" . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC. (--Isaiah Mustafa guest stars.)

--"The Latino List" . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on HBO. (--Gloria Estefan, Eva Longoria and rapper Pitbull are among Latino personalities profiled through a series of video vignettes.)

--"How To Be A Gentleman" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 8:30 to 9:00 P.M. on CBS. (--David Hornsby plays an uptight etiquette writer for an upscale men's magazine who befriends an obnoxious gym trainer played by Kevin Dillon.)

--"The Office" . . . 9:00 to 9:30 P.M. on NBC. (--James Spader delivers a motivational speech to his employees and challenges them to double their sales.)

--"Grey's Anatomy" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC. (--The fifth-year residents perform their first solo surgeries.)

--"Private Practice" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ABC.

--"Home Takeover with Simon & Tomas" [1st Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on OWN.

--"Archer" [3rd Season Finale] . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on FX.
Tony Bennett Just Scored His First #1 Album . . . and is the Oldest Living Person to Ever Top the Chart:

85-year-old TONY BENNETT just scored his first #1 album EVER. His disc "Duets 2" . . . which features duets with artists like Lady Gaga, Carrie Underwood, and Amy Winehouse . . . sold 179,000 copies in its first week of release to take the top spot. --That makes Bennett the oldest living artist to ever top the chart. The previous record-holder was BOB DYLAN, whose "Together Through Life" album debuted at #1 in 2009 when he was 67 years old. Here's the rest of this week's Top 10 . . .

1.) (NEW) "Duets 2", Tony Bennett (179,000 copies)

2.) "Own the Night", Lady Antebellum (125,000 copies)

3.) "21", Adele (117,000 copies)

4.) (NEW) "Unbroken", Demi Lovato (96,000 copies)

5.) "Tha Carter IV", Lil Wayne (84,000 copies)

6.) (NEW) "The Reckoning", NeedToBreathe (49,000 copies)

7.) (NEW) "#1 Girl", Mindless Behavior (36,000 copies)

8.) (NEW) "Sweeter", Gavin DeGraw (34,000 copies)

9.) "Watch the Throne", Jay-Z and Kanye West (31,000 copies)

10.) (NEW) "Pearl Jam Twenty", Pearl Jam (27,000 copies)


Justin Bieber Has Released an Acoustic Remix of Lil Wayne's "How to Love":

JUSTIN BIEBER has released an acoustic remix of LIL WAYNE'S "How to Love". --Justin produced his version . . . played all the instruments on it . . . and even RAPPED a few lines. Sort of. Here's his verse: --"I just want to take my time / I just want to do my thing / Maybe we press rewind / Maybe I buy that ring / We could grow old together / Just share our souls together / Find how to love, kiss and hug / How to roll together . . . --"I just need you by my side / Maybe we could be all right / I just want to hold you right / We can go into the night / You're the one I need." --There's no word if Justin plans on formally releasing his remix . . . but it sounds like he just did it for Wayne. When Justin dropped the song on Twitter, he wished Wayne a happy birthday. (--Lil Wayne turned 29 on Tuesday.) (--You can listen to Justin's "How to Love" remix, here. The rap verse is at the 1:15 mark. And here's Wayne's "How to Love" video for comparison.) --By the way, it sounds like Justin's upcoming Christmas album will come out on November 1st. Yesterday, he Tweeted, quote, "Christmas is coming early this year. #Nov1st." There's no official release date yet.


Simon Cowell Says Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and Katy Perry are "Boring" Singers:

SIMON COWELL is not much of a LADY GAGA fan. --In an interview with Britain's "Mirror" tabloid, Simon said Lady Gaga may be fascinating to SEE . . . but she isn't all that interesting to HEAR. And he lumps BEYONCÉ and KATY PERRY into the same boat. --Simon explains, quote, "If you only ever heard Lady Gaga, she's the most boring singer in the world. You've got to see her . . . you need TV. Same with Beyoncé. Or Katy Perry." --So, he's looking for a more COMPLETE artist on "X Factor". --Simon says, "We're all about image. You have to have that 'X' factor." (--Yeah . . . this coming from the guy who has brought us such chart heavyweights as TAYLOR HICKS and LEE DEWYZE.) (--I'm not saying that the singing prowess of Lady Gaga and Beyoncé is the second coming of greats like Aretha Franklin and old-school WHITNEY HOUSTON . . . I'm just saying Simon struggles to "discover" anyone better.)
THURSDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS


Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:


NICOLE SCHERZINGER shut SIMON COWELL down last night on "X-Factor". (Video)



"Us Weekly" says JESSICA SIMPSON has put her wedding on hold because, quote, "she can't figure out what kind of day she wants." But some think she might be getting cold feet. (Full Story)



SHANNEN DOHERTY is getting married two weeks from Saturday. Her husband-to-be is a photographer named Kurt Iswarienko. (Full Story)



In honor of Oktoberfest, here's a slideshow of celebrities drinking beer. (Slideshow)



MARK BALLAS filled out one of "Us" magazine's "25 Things You Don't Know About Me" surveys. He reveals that his grandpa invented the Weed Eater . . . that he was an extra in the first "Harry Potter" movie . . . and that one of his pinkie toes, quote, "looks like a cashew nut." (???) (Full Story)



DANE COOK is developing a sitcom for NBC. For now, all we know is that it wouldn't premiere until next fall . . . and that college kids will find it a lot funnier than you will. (Full Story)



KIM, KOURTNEY and KHLOE KARDASHIAN . . . along with KRIS and BRUCE JENNER . . . will co-host the fourth hour of the "Today" show all next week! But not all together. A different Kardashian will join "Today's" HODA KOTB each day.
(Full Story)
RANDOM STUFF


The Average Woman Spends $779 Reinventing Her Image After Being Dumped:


Just in case getting DUMPED doesn't take enough of a toll on you emotionally and mentally . . . according to a new study, it also takes a pretty significant toll on you FINANCIALLY.


--Turns out women spend an average of $779 on REINVENTING themselves after being dumped. Here's how that breaks down . . .


--$144 on a new hairdo.

--$62 on tanning.

--$192 on new clothes.

--$96 on new shoes.

--$76 on new make-up.

--$81 on manicures and pedicures.

--And $128 on a gym membership, boot camp, and other attempts to get into shape.

--On top of that, the average woman also spends $109 a week going out once they're single. And 11% immediately buy an online dating membership.

--Finally, the study also found that 6% of women say they've spent around $829 on PLASTIC SURGERY and BOTOX after being dumped.
(Daily Mail)


2% of All Online Daters Have Been Victims of a Scam:

Here's another reminder that no matter how mainstream online dating gets, it will ALWAYS be a MAGNET for THE most sketchy and sometimes dangerous people out there. --A new study has found that approximately 2% of people who've done online dating have been the victims of a scam. Basically, that means you've got a one-in-50 chance of it happening to you. --The scams are almost always financial . . . you meet someone online, develop a relationship, eventually they ask for money, you loan it to them . . . and then they disappear forever. --It's happened to people of both genders and all ages, and the losses ranged anywhere from $75 to $375,000. (The Guardian)


Over Half of Us Use Social Media to Tell Companies When They Screw Up:

We'll say this for social media: It may be a HUGE time waster . . . but it sure does make STALKING and COMPLAINING easier than ever. --Nielsen just released the results of a huge survey on social media use. And that's the main takeaway: Stalking and complaining. That's what we like. --The survey found THE most popular thing to do with Facebook, Twitter, and other social media is to stalk . . . or as they put it, "find and maintain" old friendships. 89% of people use social media for that. --We were also surprised to see that more than HALF of us, 51%, use social media to COMPLAIN and give NEGATIVE FEEDBACK to products and businesses. --And we should . . . publicly complaining on Facebook and Twitter really DOES seem to get better results than making a phone call or sending an email that will get some generic response. --The survey also found that 70% of people use social media to find new friends . . . 48% use it for business contacts . . . 58% use it to get coupons . . . 47% use it for gaming . . . and 35% use it to follow what their favorite celebrities are doing. --Finally, the least common use . . . at least of the options in the survey . . . is dating, at 16%. (Nielsen)
A High School Football Team Has to Vacate Three Wins . . . Because a Mom Posted About Her Kids' Messy Room on Facebook?

Here's yet another reason why PARENTS and FACEBOOK will NEVER mix. --The football team from Perry County High School in Tennessee just had to vacate THREE of their wins so far this season . . . all because one mom posted about her kids' messy rooms on Facebook. --The kids are Rodney and Ryan Belasic. They both play offensive line for Perry High. -And their mom recently posted on Facebook, quote, "How can two boys mess up their room as badly as they do when they're only here on Saturday and Sunday?" --That status update got passed along to the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association. They'd been suspicious that the Belasic boys didn't actually live in Perry County . . . and after the Facebook update they investigated further. --And they found their suspicions were correct . . . the Belasic family actually lives in a different county, Henry County, and the boys just travel to Perry County during the week to go to school. --So technically they were ineligible to play for the team . . . and the team had to vacate three wins. They kept two wins where the Belasics didn't play. But now instead of being 5-and-0, they're 2-and-3. (Yahoo Rivals)


The Average Time it Takes to Find Parking in a Big City is 20 Minutes . . . and One in Four Drivers Has Argued Over a Parking Spot in the Past Year:

IBM conducted a survey in 20 cities around the world and found that . . . it's hard to park in big cities. --Worldwide, the average time it takes to find a spot is about 20 minutes. And it's estimated that 30% of traffic in cities is from drivers looking for parking. --In fact, six out of ten city drivers said that at least once in the last year, they've had to abandon a trip and go home because they couldn't find a parking spot. --The cities where it's hardest to find a spot are Shenzhen, China . . . Beijing, China . . . and Nairobi, Kenya. So, uh . . . yeah: You can all stop looking for parking there now. --People had the least trouble finding parking in Toronto, Montreal, and Stockholm, Sweden. -One in four drivers have gotten into an argument with another driver over a parking space in the last year. Three in five drivers in New Delhi have argued over a spot. And Chicago drivers are the least likely to fight over parking. --Drivers get the most parking tickets in Bangalore, India . . . Moscow . . . and Paris. And you're least likely to get ticketed in Madrid, Spain . . . Johannesburg, South Africa . . . and Chicago. --Overall, New Delhi scored the worst on the parking index, followed by Bangalore and Beijing. Chicago was the friendliest parking city, followed by Los Angeles and Toronto. --Over the last year, drivers in one 15-block section of Los Angeles drove 950,000 miles and used 47,000 gallons of gas looking for a spot. (PR Newswire) (--You can find the Parking Index rankings of the 20 cities here.)


ATM Fees Set a Record High . . . For the Seventh Year in a Row:

Banks now charge an average of $2.40 for non-customers to use their ATMs, which is a record high for ATM fees. --That's a 3% increase from last year, when the $2.33 average fee was a record high. In fact, ATM fees have hit a record high each of the last SEVEN years. --Ten years ago, the average fee was more than a dollar lower, at $1.36. --The ATM fees that banks charge their own customers was unchanged, at $1.41. But that means that if you use an out-of-network ATM, you get hit with BOTH fees, for a total of $3.81. --The city that charges the most to use an ATM is Denver, Colorado. Non-customer fees are 35 cents higher than the average, at $2.75. --San Diego isn't far behind at $2.70, and neither is Houston, at $2.69. The top five is rounded out by Seattle, at $2.63 and New York, at $2.60. --The best place to use an ATM is the Midwest: Four of the five cheapest ATM fees are there. --Cleveland, at $2.06, is 34 cents below the national average. Minneapolis, at $2.15, is next. --Tampa's ATMs charge an average of $2.19. Chicago charges $2.20, and Cincinnati is at $2.22. (Bankrate)


You Yawn More Often in the Winter Than in the Summer . . . Here's Why:

Scientists have found that people YAWN more often during the winter than they do during the summer. So as you find yourself yawning constantly over the next few months . . . here's a theory about WHY that's happening. --An evolutionary biologist from Princeton University believes that one of the main purposes of yawning is to COOL OFF YOUR BRAIN. --When you yawn, you take in air. And it makes sense for your body to yawn in the winter, because you can take in cooler air, which cools down your brain and keeps it at its optimal temperature. --If you yawn in the summer, you take in warm air, which doesn't do your brain any good. (MSNBC)

Most Modern Men Can't Do Even the Most Basic Home Improvement Tasks:

Remember back when you were a kid and you'd watch your father fixing the pipes under the sink, or changing the insulation? And you just kinda assumed one day when you were a dad, you'd suddenly wake up knowing how to do all that too? --Well . . . you don't. And most other guys don't either. --In a new survey, 72% of men said they could handle VERY basic home repair or improvement stuff, but for anything that requires even SLIGHT skill . . . like replacing a broken tile . . . they'd call in a professional.

--40% of men say they either CAN'T do ANYTHING around the home or they probably could, but they'd choose to call a handyman anyway.

--14% of men say that their pride won't let them call a repairman . . . no matter how unqualified they are to make the repairs themselves.

--Changing a fuse is the task that the most men believe they can do, at 70%. Stripping wallpaper and painting the house tied for second, at 61% . . . fitting a curtain rod is fourth, at 53% . . . and unclogging a toilet is fifth, at 51%.

--Installing a brand new kitchen is the skill the fewest men believe they have, at 14% . . . laying new carpet or putting up a deck tied for second-fewest, at 22% . . . installing a sink, laying vinyl floor, and removing a radiator tied for fourth, at 24%. (Daily Mail)


RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS

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


Supposedly the lousy economy has resulted in more food banks for pets. (Full Story)


Remember those Reebok shoes that promised to tone your butt just by wearing them? Yeah, they've been ordered to pay $25 million in customer refunds for deceptive advertising. (Full Story)


A high school football coach in upstate New York is in trouble for having players lay on cemetery graves after a loss . . . to make a point about how the people buried there would give anything to trade places with them. (Full Story)


To advertise the release of "Star Wars" on Blu-ray, train cars in Japan installed lightsaber handrails in some cars. (Full Story)


A guy camping in Canada thought he heard a bear trying to break into the tent where he and his buddy were sleeping, and opened fire with a shotgun . . . shooting his buddy in the face. (Full Story)


A couple in the UK just had their third kid born on September 20th. The other two kids are six and three, and have the exact same birthday. The odds of it happening are 133,590 to one. (Full Story)


There's going to be a new scratch & sniff book for kids called "New York, Phew York" featuring the smells of pizza, hotdogs, garbage, and horse manure. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) "Mike Hunt" Signed Up to Speak at a City Council Meeting in LA:

At an L.A. City Council Meeting on Tuesday, someone in the crowd signed up to speak, but used a fake name. And I can't say the first and last name together, but the first name was "Mike," and the last name was "Hunt." --But the guy calling people to the podium DID say both names together . . . four times in ten seconds. (--Search for "LA City Council Mike Hunt Moment.")


#2.) Anderson Cooper Tried Coffee for the First Time . . . And Hated It:

On Tuesday's episode of ANDERSON COOPER'S new talk show, he claimed that he had never tried COFFEE before. He also said he'd never tried spinach or Brussels sprouts. So he tried all three . . . and hated them. --He seemed to hate spinach the most. And said he just doesn't see the point of drinking coffee. (--Search for "Anderson Tries Spinach for the First Time." He tries coffee at :11, spinach at :29, and Brussels sprouts at :56.)


#3.) Joseph Gordon-Levitt Sang Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" . . . As Axl Rose:

In case you missed it, JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT did an outstanding Axl Rose impression on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" on Tuesday. He sang a karaoke version of the Kelly Clarkson song "Since U Been Gone". (--Search for "Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Axl Rose.")


Four Foods That Aren't as Bad for You as You Think:

According to a new article from "Reader's Digest", some of the foods people avoid aren't as unhealthy as you might think. Here are the top four.

#1.) Processed Cheese. The word "processed" sounds nasty. But here's something worse you probably don't think about: A lot of REAL cheese includes 'natural enzymes' that come from a cow's STOMACH. --They help form curds, which are pressed and aged with the help of bacteria. But the processed variety doesn't use bacteria at all. And in the end, the main ingredient is still cheese.

#2.) Microwaved Food. It's gotten a lot of bad press for destroying nutrients. But some studies have shown it's not as bad as people think. For example, microwaved broccoli retains up to 80% of its vitamin C.

#3.) Fat. Believe it or not, your brain is mostly MADE of fat. And fat is the single most important nutrient for preserving brain function. So a low-fat diet can actually make you dumber. --But obviously, not ALL fat is good. Your brain mostly needs omega-3 fats, which are found in things like seafood, beans, spinach, and broccoli.

#4.) Artificial Flavors. If you had to choose between something with "artificial flavors" and something with "natural flavors," you'd almost definitely go with natural, right? Well, according to "Scientific American", "natural flavors" aren't always what you think. --For example, if a drink has natural coconut flavors, sometimes it's not coconut at all. It's from the bark of a tree that grows in Malaysia that just TASTES like coconut. (Reader's Digest)


Countdown to Upcoming Events
• 32 days to Halloween
• 56 days to Thanksgiving
• 87 days to Christmas
• 94 days left in 2011
• 109 days to Martin Luther King Day
• 479 days left of "Hope and Change" :)