HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (01-04-12)
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver are Wearing Rings Again . . . Are They Back Together:
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER and MARIA SHRIVER have put their rings back on . . . but nobody's saying whether that means they're getting back together. --Arnold was spotted with his wedding ring on the other day . . . and then yesterday, Maria had something on HER wedding ring finger. It's not clear if it was her actual wedding ring, though. Paparazzi photos are kind of inconclusive. (--Check out photos of both of them with their rings on here.) (The Superficial) --TMZ claims Maria is having second thoughts about a divorce because of her Catholic faith.
Rachel McAdams Used to Work at McDonald's:
There's a McDonald's somewhere in Canada where thousands of people, without their knowledge, were waited on by RACHEL MCADAMS. --Of course, they didn't recognize her because it was years before she would star in "The Notebook", "Wedding Crashers" or the "Sherlock Holmes" movies. --Growing up north of the border, Rachel did a three-year tour with the Golden Arches . . . as did her brother and sister. But if you're looking for smack talk about Mickey D's, you won't get it from Rachel. --She says, quote, "It was a great place to work, but I had a little bit of an OCD thing with hand washing and just didn't have time. They were like, 'Hey, the drive-through's backing up. Stop washing your hands.' --"I was not a great employee; I broke the orange juice machine one day." (--Here's a gallery of celebrities and their embarrassing, pre-fame jobs. I LOVE the fact that AMY ADAMS was a Hooters girl . . . and that EVA MENDES worked for Hot Dog on a Stick.)
Conrad Murray Is Being Asked to Turn Over His California Medical License:
CONRAD MURRAY is one step closer to not being referred to as "DOCTOR Conrad Murray" anymore. The California Medical Board has suspended his license . . . which is automatic when someone is convicted of a felony. --Murray, as you know, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in MICHAEL JACKSON'S death. He was sentenced to four years behind bars.
There's a Steve Jobs Action Figure in the Works . . . But His Family Might Block Its Release:
A Japanese company has produced a STEVE JOBS action figure. It features Steve's signature round glasses, black turtleneck and New Balance sneakers. (--Not to mention a Kung-fu grip . . . ON YOUR WALLET. HI-YO! Too soon?) --The figure is a foot tall, and will set you back $99. Which is expensive for an action figure . . . but cheaper than most Apple products. --It's supposed to come out in February, but there's a good chance it won't come out at all. Because it's NOT an officially licensed Apple product . . . and it's likely the Jobs family will block its release. (--Here's a picture of the face. The likeness is pretty good.) (Entertainment Weekly)
TEBOW TIME
Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens Bashed Tim Tebow:
Baltimore Ravens linebacker TERRELL SUGGS has no reason to bash Denver Broncos quarterback TIM TEBOW. --Their teams are both in the playoffs, but the chances that they'll meet are almost NIL. For starters, the Broncos would have to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers this coming weekend . . . which nobody is giving them a chance to do. (--Although I hesitate to say it would be a MIRACLE for the Broncos to do it because, well . . . you know.) --But that didn't stop Suggs from bashing Tebow and his Christian faith on ESPN's "First Take" yesterday. --He said, quote, "With all due respect we don't need God on our sidelines. Once again God had to save Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos. --"He couldn't even give them two drives? Seven to three?" --Seven to three was the score Denver lost to the Kansas City Chiefs by on Sunday. "Two drives" could have conceivably resulted in two field goals for the Broncos, and a nine to seven win. --But the seven to three loss meant that Denver needed HELP to win the AFC West title and get into the playoffs. --What they needed was for the San Diego Chargers to beat the Oakland Raiders. That did indeed happen, allowing Denver to back its way into the postseason. --Apparently, God was too lazy to help the Broncos win . . . so instead, he made the Raiders lose. (--Listen to Terrell's comments here. Terrell joins the show at about the 46:30 mark. He's on the show until about the one-minute mark, and there's Tebow stuff sprinkled throughout his interview.)
Is Michele Bachmann Comparing Herself to Tim Tebow?
A political action committee was running a pro-MICHELE BACHMANN ad before the caucuses in Iowa yesterday. And the gist of the ad was that Michele is a lot like TIM TEBOW. --Why? Because the "establishment sports guys" love to hate Tebow the same way the Republican establishment loves to hate Michele. (--Check it out here.) (--The ad didn't help. Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum tied for first, with about 25% each, although Santorum had a slight lead. Michele finished 6th with about 5%.)
Snooki Wants to Get Some Work Done on Her Boobs:
SNOOKI has lost some weight recently . . . and now, she wants to get some work done on her boobs. But she isn't looking to make them any bigger. --She recently told E! Online, quote, "[I'm going to do it] very soon . . . I hope in the next couple of months." --Then, while cupping and lifting her breasts, she added, quote, "They're a good size now, but I want them like this when I'm not wearing a bra." --Ultimately, Snooki says she wants, quote, "knockers" like JWOWW'S . . . and JWoww is going to help her out. She said, quote, "I'm definitely taking her to my doctor. I'll go in and get mine re-done to make her feel better."
"X Factor" Winner Melanie Amaro Has Signed Her Record Deal:
It's official: "X Factor" winner MELANIE AMARO signed her contract with Epic Records. Melanie also won the opportunity to star in a Pepsi commercial . . . oh, and there's also that $5 MILLION. --"X Factor" judge L.A. REID is the Chairman and CEO of Epic Records. (--The press release announcing Melanie's signing didn't say when she'll be dropped from the label . . . but I'm setting the over-under at 14 months.)
NBC's Super Bowl Ads Went for a Record Price of $3.5 Million Apiece:
NBC's Super Bowl ad spots are officially sold out. The network scored an average price of $3.5 million per 30-second spot, which is a record. The most expensive spot went for $4 million. (--No one is saying who bought that one.) --You could see this coming. Last year's Super Bowl was the most watched TV program OF ALL TIME . . . and the second-most-watched program of all time is the previous year's Super Bowl. --Last year, Fox got roughly $3 million per 30-second spot. --NBC is also streaming the game live online. This is the first time that's been done, and it allowed the network to sell digital ads as well. Those are also sold out. There's no word how much those spots went for. --This year's Super Bowl is set for February 5th.
Wednesday TV Reminders:
--"I Get That A Lot" . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on CBS. Pamela Anderson, Pauley Perrette from "NCIS", Jerry Springer, Apolo Ohno, Ty Pennington and Dr. Drew Pinsky trick unsuspecting people by taking ordinary jobs.
--"Dog the Bounty Hunter" [8th Season Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 9:30 P.M. on A&E.
--"Modern Family" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC. Benjamin Bratt returns as Manny's dad when he treats him to a day at the races.
--"Not My Mama's Meals" [Series Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on the Cooking Channel. Chef Bobby Deen removes the calories from his mother Paula's meals.
--"Behind the Scenes with Real Time" . . . 9:45 to 10:00 P.M. on HBO. A look at the making of "Real Time with Bill Maher".
--"Hot in Cleveland" . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on TV Land. While waiting to use a restroom the girls tell Elka how they met.
--"Steven Seagal: Lawman" [3rd Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on A&E.
--"Moonshiners" [1st Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Discovery.
--"Brad Meltzer's Decoded" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on the History Channel.
--"Toddlers & Tiaras" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on TLC.
--"The Exes" . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on TV Land. Judith Light guest stars as Holly's mom.
Lady Gaga Left a Blood-Like Liquid in the Bathtub of a Hotel . . . and Apparently That Surprised Some People:
A report surfaced yesterday claiming that LADY GAGA once left "large amounts" of a blood-like liquid in the bathtub of a London hotel. Okay. That's not really NEWS. --But this is: Apparently, some people were SHOCKED by it. --A housekeeper freaked and alerted the concierge . . . but the concierge told her to forget it. --The housekeeper then took her story to the blogosphere, where . . . naturally . . . someone picked it up. The housekeeper said Lady Gaga could've been, quote, "bathing in blood as part of a Satanic ritual." --Another "source" told Britain's "Sun" tabloid, quote, "All of the hotel's staff are convinced she was bathing in it or, at the very least, using it as part of one of her new costumes or weird stage routines." --It's a fun guessing game . . . sure . . . but no one is sure if it was real blood or if it was just something that LOOKED like blood. (--Assuming this actually happened . . . I think there's a 90% chance it was a blood-like liquid that Lady Gaga was using for one of her OUTRAGEOUS stunts.) (--But even if it was real blood, can anyone really say with a straight face that they'd be surprised? Now, if this was SARAH MCLACHLAN . . . all right. But don't we expect this out of Lady Gaga?)
The-Dream Scored "About $15 Million" for Co-Writing Rihanna's "Umbrella":
THE-DREAM claims he made, quote, "around $15 million" for writing "Umbrella" . . . the song that made us all love RIHANNA. (--And then hate her.) --Amazingly, The-Dream was just one of FOUR people with a writing credit on "Umbrella". The other three are: Jay-Z, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and songwriter Kuk Harrell. --It's unclear if they all got an even cut, or if The-Dream had a bigger chunk.
Van Halen's New Single Is Titled "Tattoo":
The first single off VAN HALEN'S next album is reportedly titled "Tattoo". It's expected to debut next Tuesday, when the band begins selling tickets for their tour. Word has it the album will be out February 7th. (--We'd heard the dates were supposed to be announced yesterday, but that didn't happen. We did see an unofficial note saying the tour will begin in Louisville, Kentucky, next month.)
Justin Bieber and Jaden Smith Have Released a New Year's Track:
JUSTIN BIEBER has unleashed a New Year's Eve track called "Happy New Year" . . . and it features 13-year-old JADEN SMITH. --The song has an R&B vibe. It begins with Jaden laying down some rhymes . . . before Justin comes in, showing off his suddenly deeper-sounding voice. Jaden's voice also sounds more mature. --At one point, Justin says, quote, "2012 is the year to be better, stronger and closer to the people around you. So grab someone special, and just, you know." --Justin Tweeted a link to the song at Midnight on New Year's Eve . . . so if there's someone with Bieber Fever in your house, you may have already heard it. (--If not, here's the link.)
Check Out D'Angelo Singing Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun":
A demo has surfaced online, which features D'ANGELO performing the SOUNDGARDEN classic "Black Hole Sun". It isn't a full-on cover, but he does sing the chorus several times. --Initially, this was thought to be a NEW recording . . . but now there's word that it's actually about a decade old. (--Which makes sense. D'Angelo doing Soundgarden seems REALLY dated.) (--The track is low-quality, but you can check it out on Soundcloud.com.)
50 Cent Isn't Suicidal . . . Despite Tweeting That He "Doesn't Think He's Going to Live Much Longer":
50 CENT would like you to know that he's NOT suicidal . . . despite all of the weird stuff he Tweeted on Monday. --He'd Tweeted, quote, "I'll be honest I don't think I'm gonna live much longer. That's why I started my Street King movement. I want to mean more in other people's lives." --And then it got even MORE bizarre. 50 went on, quote, "This morning I was looking out the window. I saw a bird fly right on to the ledge. It felt like he was looking right at me. --"I hit the window [but] he just looked at me like he knew I couldn't do anything through the glass. I was tripping . . . he sat there a minute then flew off. I'd like to be a bird so I could fly and [crap] on the world. Then you all could say 50 [crapped] on me. --"That's luck right? Then don't wipe the [crap] off." (???) --Apparently, some of 50's followers were worried that he was losing his mind . . . because yesterday he reassured everyone that he's OK. --He Tweeted, quote, "To be conscious that life is short is not suicidal . . . I'm good if I die tonight. I've taken care of the people who took care of me when I couldn't take care myself." (--If anything, 50 sounds a little disillusioned. Over the past few months, he's talked about how he's been having issues with his label Interscope over his new music and his next album.) (--Money may not buy happiness, but 50 needs to chill. Forbes.com says he's made $216 million over the past five years. That should be enough to take care of his bird problem, or whatever.)
WEDNESDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
HALLE BERRY was spotted wearing what looks like an engagement ring. She's dating French film actor OLIVIER MARTINEZ. (Full Story)
There's a rumor going around that RICKY MARTIN is preparing to gay marry his boyfriend. It's not true. (Full Story)
ADELE'S new boyfriend looks kind of like ZACH GALIFIANAKIS. (Photos)
Check out the five NBA teams with the hottest celebrity fans. (Full Story)
ASHLEY TISDALE is dating some guy TAYLOR SWIFT used to date. (Full Story)
CLINT EASTWOOD has befriended a squirrel that wanders into his office on the Warner Brothers lot. He even named it Lola. (Full Story)
JAMES FRANCO has sold his first novel. It's a "fictionalized version of [his] experiences as an actor." (Full Story)
The World Wildlife Fund says KHLOE KARDASHIAN is helping to save tigers by encouraging her Twitter followers to text donations. (Full Story)
7.7 million people watched the 16th season premiere of "The Bachelor" on Monday night. That's not good. It's the show's lowest rated premiere. The last season of "The Bachelor" opened to 9 million viewers. (Full Story)
LIZA MINNELLI will guest star on an upcoming episode of "Hot in Cleveland". She's playing WENDIE MALICK'S character's agent. There's no airdate yet. (Full Story)
KIM KARDASHIAN will guest star on an upcoming episode of TIM ALLEN'S new sitcom, "Last Man Standing". She's playing herself. The episode will air sometime next month. (Full Story)
A Les Paul guitar that PETER FRAMPTON lost in a plane crash in the Caribbean more than 30 years ago has been found and returned. Frampton used the guitar on his classic "Frampton Comes Alive" album. (Full Story)
JOHN FOGERTY recently said he'd be open to a reunion of CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL. But bassist STU COOK and drummer DOUG CLIFFORD say there's no way it'll happen. They HATE Fogerty. (Full Story)
BEN GIBBARD from DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE is a pretty serious runner. He's even featured in an issue of "Runner's World" magazine. (Full Story with Video)
RANDOM STUFF
60% of People Make New Year's Resolutions Knowing They're Going to Break Them:
I thought the point of a New Year's resolution was to make a major life change and just MAYBE find the strength to pull it off. Apparently I'm naïve. --According to a new survey, 60% of Americans who make New Year's resolutions admit they KNOW they're going to break it at some point during the year. In other words . . . they make the resolutions even though they KNOW they'll fail.
--Here are some other findings from the survey . . .
--Only 32% of people surveyed said they made a New Year's resolution. Probably because there's no point in making them when the majority of people go in thinking they'll break them.
--Of the people who resolved to lose weight, 94% said they want to go through the process solo. Only 6% said they want to lose weight with a partner.
--And people who were married were even LESS likely to want to lose weight with a partner . . . meaning that married people who want to lose weight think it would be BETTER and SMOOTHER to do it WITHOUT their husband or wife's support.
--Only 3% of people surveyed thought the best way to lose weight is to completely deprive themselves. (PR Newswire)
Want to Improve Your Workouts? Watch Porno Before You Hit the Gym:
"Getting in better shape" is the most popular New Year's resolution in the country. And we've got a KILLER tip to help you achieve that. --According to a new study, you'll get the most out of your workouts if you WATCH PORNO before you hit the gym. --Researchers in the U.K. figured it out by having professional rugby players watch different types of video before their training sessions. --After watching an EROTIC clip or an AGGRESSIVE clip . . . like a UFC fight . . . the players reported stronger training sessions. Funny or motivational clips helped too, but not as much. --Watching sad clips had a negative effect on the workouts. --The researchers only tested this on men, so they can't say whether watching porno will lead to better workouts for women. --But remember, this is about building up testosterone . . . so when you watch the porno, you HAVE to keep your hands off yourself, or else you won't get the proper effect. (TruthDive)
A New Study Finds Men are Most Likely to Hit on Blondes . . . But They Find Brunettes More Attractive:
We've seen plenty of studies in the past few years about how men now seem to prefer BROWN HAIR to BLONDE HAIR. Well here's another study on hair color that finds the same thing . . . with a TWIST. --Men find brunettes more attractive . . . but when they want to get laid, they go for blondes. --Researchers at the University of Westminster in England had a woman go to different clubs in London. She'd go to each club three times . . . once with her hair dyed brown, once blonde, and once red. --The researchers counted how many times men approached the woman with each hair color. Then, they went back to the bars later and had men rate her on attractiveness and intelligence. --They found that men were most likely to approach and hit on the woman when she's blonde . . . but rated her most attractive and intelligent when she was a brunette. Red hair bottomed out in every category. --The researchers believe that men were most likely to hit on the blonde because, quote, "Men were more likely to assume sexual intent on the part of our [woman] when she was blonde." --So when men want to get laid, they go for blondes . . . when they're looking to settle down with someone attractive and intelligent, they go for brunettes . . . and they never go for redheads. You're welcome. (Daily Mail)
Kevin and Mandy are the Least-Attractive Names . . . Jacob and Charlotte are the Most Attractive:
I love studies like this . . . they give you an effortless new way to rag on your friends for something totally beyond their control. -Psychologists at Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany wanted to figure out the LEAST and MOST ATTRACTIVE NAMES. --So they ran a test on more than 47,000 people dating online to get their reactions JUST to people's names. No photos, no biography info . . . just names. And here's what they found . . .
--The least attractive male name is . . . KEVIN. Guys named Kevin got the fewest clicks based on their name alone. Other male names that made the unattractive list are Justin, Marvin, and Dennis.
--The least attractive female name is . . . MANDY. Other female names on the unattractive list are Celina, Chantal, and Jacqueline.
--The most attractive male name is . . . JACOB. Other attractive male names are Alexander, Max, Peter, and Mark.
--The most attractive female name is . . . CHARLOTTE. The other female names on the attractive list are Emma, Hannah, and Marie.
(ANI)
Facebook is Now Involved in One Out of Every Three Divorces:
One of the underrated side effects of Facebook is that it's a HOMEWRECKER. And its homewrecking powers just keep growing. --In December of 2010, a study found that Facebook was cited in one out of every FIVE divorces. Now, about a year later, it's increased to one in every THREE divorces. --There are three main ways Facebook plays into divorce proceedings . . .
#1.) Someone catches their spouse sending inappropriate Facebook messages to someone else.
#2.) One person posts negative comments about their soon-to-be-ex-spouse on Facebook.
#3.) The spouses defriend each other as their divorce is going on . . . and their friends report back to them about their spouse's behavior on Facebook.
(Forbes)
BMW Drivers are the Most Likely to Use Their Horns . . . and Nissan Drivers are the Least Likely:
Who would've guessed that BMW drivers are obnoxious? I'm just kidding, BMW drivers. You're great. And I'm sure you have enormous genitalia. This isn't jealousy talking.-According to a new survey, BMW drivers admit they honk their horns more than any other drivers.--Overall, 18% of drivers say they honk their horn at least once every time they're in the car. --For BMW drivers, it's almost TRIPLE that, at 53%. More than HALF of BMW drivers honk at someone EVERY TIME they drive. --Jaguar drivers are second-most likely to use their horns. Fiat drivers are third, Audi drivers are fourth, and Saab drivers are fifth. --Nissan drivers are the least likely to honk at people. Only 5% use their horns every time they drive. --The main reason people give for using their horn is when another driver is about to pull in front of them. The second-most common reason is when someone doesn't go at a green light. (Joe.ie)
Ohio Had the Most People Move Away in 2011 . . . Washington, D.C. Had the Most People Move In:
Atlas Van Lines just released their annual study on migration patterns in the U.S. Basically, they analyze their state-to-state moves to figure out which states people are leaving, and which states people are moving to.
--And the big finding is . . . people are getting the hell out of the Midwest.
--Ohio had the biggest percentage difference in people moving out versus people moving in. Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas also had more than 55% of their moves go outbound.
--On the other end, Washington, D.C. had the highest percentage difference in people moving in versus people moving out.
--Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Alaska also had big positive swings.
--California had the most total people move out, at 6,758 . . . but they ALSO had the most people move in, at 7,803. They're one of 24 states that saw a pretty balanced ratio of inbound-versus-outbound moves. (Atlas Van Lines) (--You can see a full interactive map that shows your state's migration patterns here. It also includes Canada, although there's much less data.)
2% of Americans Believe Mitt Romney's Real First Name is "Mittens":
Apparently, one out of every 50 people in this country thinks MITT ROMNEY is a cat. --According to a new survey by "Vanity Fair" and "60 Minutes", a full 2% of the U.S. population thinks that "Mitt" is actually short for . . . "Mittens." They believe his full legal name is Mittens Romney. --Another 2% believe his real first name is Gromit. --Granted, this was SORT OF a trick question . . . his real first name is Willard. Only 6% of the people surveyed knew that. --The most popular answer was that Mitt isn't short for anything, at 20%. 18% thought Mitt was short for Mitchell, and 8% thought it was short for Milton. 44% of people admitted they didn't know. --The survey also found that 23% of Americans wouldn't go back to school for more education even if it was free . . . 28% believe one billion people live in the U.S. (--it's about 313 million) . . . and 11% would kill their pet for $1 MILLION. Good times, man. Good times. (Vanity Fair)
Your Overpriced Starbucks Coffee Just Got More Overpriced:
Bad news, Starbucks addicts of America. Your overpriced coffee just got slightly more overpriced. --Starbucks is raising its prices by about 1% in various regions of the country . . . the Northeast, South, and Southwest are first . . . because of, quote, "high costs for things like coffee, milk, and fuel." --1% doesn't sound like much, but look at it this way. If your $4 daily Starbucks now costs $4.04, that's almost $15 extra this year. Little things add up, ya know. (Reuters)
Here are the Five Best Values in Public Colleges:
Kiplinger released their annual list of the top values in public colleges. But they tinkered with the formula this year. --Since states are cutting funding and federal stimulus money has run out, even the best-valued colleges have to raise tuition. So Kiplinger added more weight to academic measures like freshman dropouts and four-year graduation rate. --The new formula didn't change the top of the rankings. For the eleventh year in a row, the University of North Carolina was the top value in public universities. --The top five all cost less than half the average for a private school. They are:
#1.) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: They were also number one in value for out-of-state students, who don't get a break on tuition like in-state residents.
#2.) University of Florida at Gainesville.
#3.) University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
#4.) College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
#5.) New College of Florida in Sarasota. (Kiplinger)
(--Another list ranked colleges whose graduates with the lowest level of student debt. Alice Lloyd College in Kentucky was first, and PRINCETON finished second. The average Princeton grad owes $4,385.)
Pepsi Says There's No Way a Guy Could Have Found a Mouse in His Mountain Dew . . . Because the Soda Would Have Dissolved It:
In early 2009, Ronald Ball bought a can of Mountain Dew from the vending machine where he worked, at Marathon Oil in Wood River, Illinois. (--Wood River is on the border with Missouri, about 20 miles north of St. Louis.) --He became violently ill as soon as he started drinking it. And he claims it's because there was a DEAD MOUSE in the can. --Naturally, Ronald filed a lawsuit against Pepsi, since they make Mountain Dew, as well as the company that made the vending machine. He's looking for a total of $350,000 in damages. --The trial was supposed to begin this past November, but Pepsi is trying to get the lawsuit dismissed . . . using one of the more disgusting defenses we've heard. --They say that the can of Mountain Dew was bottled in August of 2008, several months before Ronald bought and opened it. And if a mouse spent that much time in their soda, it would have been COMPLETELY DISSOLVED. --So Ronald wouldn't have known he was drinking a mouse, other than a, quote, "jelly like substance" at the bottom of the can. --Ronald says he sent the body of the mouse to Pepsi, and they destroyed it. Pepsi's looking to have their motion heard in court next week. (Madison Record)
MEATBALL CRIMINALS
A Prisoner Got To Serve His Sentence at a Monastery . . . But Said Prison Was Easier and Asked to Be Sent Back:
31-year-old David Catalano is an Italian who was recently convicted for stealing. And this past November, near the end of his sentence, he was sent to a monastery to serve out the rest of his time. --That's not unheard of in Italy: The Capuchin monks in Sicily run a halfway house, and have housed 60 prisoners at their monastery over the last 12 years. --But not long after he arrived at the monastery, David escaped. Police found him and took him back to the monks. --Then on Monday, he escaped AGAIN, for the second time in six weeks. But this time, he went straight to a police station and asked authorities to send him BACK to PRISON . . . because he hated the monastery life so much. --The monks take a vow of austerity, simplicity, and poverty. That means there are no modern conveniences or luxuries of any kind, they aren't allowed to own property, they beg for food, and they get up and go to bed extremely early. --Police fulfilled David's request, and he's now back behind bars. (Daily Mail)
RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS
Random News Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
The county Medical Examiner's office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is posting photos of unidentified corpses online, hoping someone will recognize them and help solve cold cases. (Full Story)
A drunk guy passed out in the drive thru of a Chicago McDonald's on New Year's Day, and was busted for DUI. It didn't help that he gave the cops a fake name . . . which turned out to be the name of a registered sex offender. (Full Story)
Should they put nutrition labels on alcohol? Some experts think it might make people drink less . . . because they'll be more concerned about calories. (Full Story)
40% of women say they never feel sexual desire, and 60% say they're satisfied with their sex life . . . even if they're not having sex. (Full Story)
A woman in Charlton, Massachusetts is angry that her local library sent a cop to remind her five-year-old daughter about overdue library books. (Full Story)
Researchers looked at 50 failed companies, including Enron and WorldCom, and came up with the Seven Habits of Unsuccessful Executives, including: They think they dominate their industry . . . they don't look out for change . . . they identify too closely with the company . . . and they think they have all the answers. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) A Weatherman in Wisconsin Pulled a Ron Burgundy, and Read Exactly What Was on the Teleprompter . . . "I Love Lamp":
If you've seen the movie "Anchorman", you know Will Ferrell's character Ron Burgundy will read ANYTHING they put on the teleprompter. --Well, apparently a meteorologist in Green Bay named Brian Niznansky has the same problem. And to prove it, his news director slipped in one of Steve Carell's lines from the movie. On live TV, Niznansky said, quote, "I love lamp." (--Search for "A Ron Burgundy Moment NBC26." He says it at :22.)
#2.) Someone Paired Audio from the "Dark Knight Rises" Trailer with Clips from "The Lion King" . . . and It Totally Works!
The new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises", doesn't hit theaters until July. But someone synched the audio from the trailer with clips from "The Lion King" . . . and it totally works. As you'd expect, it makes Disney look a LOT darker. (--Search for "The Lion King Rises.")
#3.) Here's What It Looks Like to Walk on a Frozen Lake . . . When You're Under the Ice and Upside Down:
You've heard of ice fishing, but I bet you've never heard of THIS: Someone in Finland uploaded a video to the website Vimeo.com called "Fishing Under Ice". At first it looks like two guys are just walking on the bottom of a frozen lake in scuba gear. --But then you eventually realize they're UPSIDE DOWN, and they're "walking" on the underside of the ice itself. (--Don't miss the part where they "pour" a bucket of air into a wheelbarrow at :59.)
The Top Four Tips for Getting Out of a Ticket:
Just about everyone has gotten a parking ticket or a speeding ticket at some point. So "Men's Health" talked to experts and came up with a guide to help you get out of your NEXT one. Here are their top four tips.
If You Get a Parking Ticket:
#1.) Make Sure It's 100% Accurate. Some people don't realize that even if one small piece of information is wrong, it can make a ticket invalid. --Here are the specific things you need to check: The make of the vehicle, the license plate number, the time and date, and the address they wrote down. --If any of those are wrong . . . or if the officer forgot to sign the ticket . . . you can probably challenge it and win.
#2.) Challenge It, Even If You're in the Wrong. Traffic courts are always busy, and they want to keep as many people from showing up as possible. --So even if they don't dismiss the entire ticket, they'll most likely lower the fine.
If You Get Pulled Over for Speeding:
#1.) Don't Try to Cry Your Way Out of It. If you're a guy, you obviously shouldn't even ATTEMPT it. If you're a woman, don't do it unless you're sure you can pull it off. --Sometimes crying works, but most of the time the cop knows you're just trying to manipulate him. And if that's the case, you'll DEFINITELY get a ticket.
#2.) If You Were Speeding, Admit It. Cops hear the same excuses all the time, and they're really good at spotting a liar. So if you WERE speeding, just fess up. -They hear so many lies, it's actually refreshing when someone's honest, so they might let you off with a warning. Whatever you do, don't argue . . . even if you're SURE you weren't speeding. It won't do any good. -But it does help to be as prepared as possible. For example, cops hate it when they have to stand there and wait because you can't find your registration. So in the interest of not annoying him, make sure you know where it is.
--Just don't put him on edge by reaching in your glove box before he gets to the car. Instead, keep your hands on the steering wheel, and if it's dark out, turn on your light. -He'll appreciate the fact that you're being considerate, and he might go easy on you. (MensHealth.com)
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER and MARIA SHRIVER have put their rings back on . . . but nobody's saying whether that means they're getting back together. --Arnold was spotted with his wedding ring on the other day . . . and then yesterday, Maria had something on HER wedding ring finger. It's not clear if it was her actual wedding ring, though. Paparazzi photos are kind of inconclusive. (--Check out photos of both of them with their rings on here.) (The Superficial) --TMZ claims Maria is having second thoughts about a divorce because of her Catholic faith.
Rachel McAdams Used to Work at McDonald's:
There's a McDonald's somewhere in Canada where thousands of people, without their knowledge, were waited on by RACHEL MCADAMS. --Of course, they didn't recognize her because it was years before she would star in "The Notebook", "Wedding Crashers" or the "Sherlock Holmes" movies. --Growing up north of the border, Rachel did a three-year tour with the Golden Arches . . . as did her brother and sister. But if you're looking for smack talk about Mickey D's, you won't get it from Rachel. --She says, quote, "It was a great place to work, but I had a little bit of an OCD thing with hand washing and just didn't have time. They were like, 'Hey, the drive-through's backing up. Stop washing your hands.' --"I was not a great employee; I broke the orange juice machine one day." (--Here's a gallery of celebrities and their embarrassing, pre-fame jobs. I LOVE the fact that AMY ADAMS was a Hooters girl . . . and that EVA MENDES worked for Hot Dog on a Stick.)
Conrad Murray Is Being Asked to Turn Over His California Medical License:
CONRAD MURRAY is one step closer to not being referred to as "DOCTOR Conrad Murray" anymore. The California Medical Board has suspended his license . . . which is automatic when someone is convicted of a felony. --Murray, as you know, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in MICHAEL JACKSON'S death. He was sentenced to four years behind bars.
There's a Steve Jobs Action Figure in the Works . . . But His Family Might Block Its Release:
A Japanese company has produced a STEVE JOBS action figure. It features Steve's signature round glasses, black turtleneck and New Balance sneakers. (--Not to mention a Kung-fu grip . . . ON YOUR WALLET. HI-YO! Too soon?) --The figure is a foot tall, and will set you back $99. Which is expensive for an action figure . . . but cheaper than most Apple products. --It's supposed to come out in February, but there's a good chance it won't come out at all. Because it's NOT an officially licensed Apple product . . . and it's likely the Jobs family will block its release. (--Here's a picture of the face. The likeness is pretty good.) (Entertainment Weekly)
TEBOW TIME
Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens Bashed Tim Tebow:
Baltimore Ravens linebacker TERRELL SUGGS has no reason to bash Denver Broncos quarterback TIM TEBOW. --Their teams are both in the playoffs, but the chances that they'll meet are almost NIL. For starters, the Broncos would have to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers this coming weekend . . . which nobody is giving them a chance to do. (--Although I hesitate to say it would be a MIRACLE for the Broncos to do it because, well . . . you know.) --But that didn't stop Suggs from bashing Tebow and his Christian faith on ESPN's "First Take" yesterday. --He said, quote, "With all due respect we don't need God on our sidelines. Once again God had to save Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos. --"He couldn't even give them two drives? Seven to three?" --Seven to three was the score Denver lost to the Kansas City Chiefs by on Sunday. "Two drives" could have conceivably resulted in two field goals for the Broncos, and a nine to seven win. --But the seven to three loss meant that Denver needed HELP to win the AFC West title and get into the playoffs. --What they needed was for the San Diego Chargers to beat the Oakland Raiders. That did indeed happen, allowing Denver to back its way into the postseason. --Apparently, God was too lazy to help the Broncos win . . . so instead, he made the Raiders lose. (--Listen to Terrell's comments here. Terrell joins the show at about the 46:30 mark. He's on the show until about the one-minute mark, and there's Tebow stuff sprinkled throughout his interview.)
Is Michele Bachmann Comparing Herself to Tim Tebow?
A political action committee was running a pro-MICHELE BACHMANN ad before the caucuses in Iowa yesterday. And the gist of the ad was that Michele is a lot like TIM TEBOW. --Why? Because the "establishment sports guys" love to hate Tebow the same way the Republican establishment loves to hate Michele. (--Check it out here.) (--The ad didn't help. Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum tied for first, with about 25% each, although Santorum had a slight lead. Michele finished 6th with about 5%.)
Snooki Wants to Get Some Work Done on Her Boobs:
SNOOKI has lost some weight recently . . . and now, she wants to get some work done on her boobs. But she isn't looking to make them any bigger. --She recently told E! Online, quote, "[I'm going to do it] very soon . . . I hope in the next couple of months." --Then, while cupping and lifting her breasts, she added, quote, "They're a good size now, but I want them like this when I'm not wearing a bra." --Ultimately, Snooki says she wants, quote, "knockers" like JWOWW'S . . . and JWoww is going to help her out. She said, quote, "I'm definitely taking her to my doctor. I'll go in and get mine re-done to make her feel better."
"X Factor" Winner Melanie Amaro Has Signed Her Record Deal:
It's official: "X Factor" winner MELANIE AMARO signed her contract with Epic Records. Melanie also won the opportunity to star in a Pepsi commercial . . . oh, and there's also that $5 MILLION. --"X Factor" judge L.A. REID is the Chairman and CEO of Epic Records. (--The press release announcing Melanie's signing didn't say when she'll be dropped from the label . . . but I'm setting the over-under at 14 months.)
NBC's Super Bowl Ads Went for a Record Price of $3.5 Million Apiece:
NBC's Super Bowl ad spots are officially sold out. The network scored an average price of $3.5 million per 30-second spot, which is a record. The most expensive spot went for $4 million. (--No one is saying who bought that one.) --You could see this coming. Last year's Super Bowl was the most watched TV program OF ALL TIME . . . and the second-most-watched program of all time is the previous year's Super Bowl. --Last year, Fox got roughly $3 million per 30-second spot. --NBC is also streaming the game live online. This is the first time that's been done, and it allowed the network to sell digital ads as well. Those are also sold out. There's no word how much those spots went for. --This year's Super Bowl is set for February 5th.
Wednesday TV Reminders:
--"I Get That A Lot" . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on CBS. Pamela Anderson, Pauley Perrette from "NCIS", Jerry Springer, Apolo Ohno, Ty Pennington and Dr. Drew Pinsky trick unsuspecting people by taking ordinary jobs.
--"Dog the Bounty Hunter" [8th Season Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 9:30 P.M. on A&E.
--"Modern Family" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC. Benjamin Bratt returns as Manny's dad when he treats him to a day at the races.
--"Not My Mama's Meals" [Series Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on the Cooking Channel. Chef Bobby Deen removes the calories from his mother Paula's meals.
--"Behind the Scenes with Real Time" . . . 9:45 to 10:00 P.M. on HBO. A look at the making of "Real Time with Bill Maher".
--"Hot in Cleveland" . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on TV Land. While waiting to use a restroom the girls tell Elka how they met.
--"Steven Seagal: Lawman" [3rd Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on A&E.
--"Moonshiners" [1st Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Discovery.
--"Brad Meltzer's Decoded" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on the History Channel.
--"Toddlers & Tiaras" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on TLC.
--"The Exes" . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on TV Land. Judith Light guest stars as Holly's mom.
Lady Gaga Left a Blood-Like Liquid in the Bathtub of a Hotel . . . and Apparently That Surprised Some People:
A report surfaced yesterday claiming that LADY GAGA once left "large amounts" of a blood-like liquid in the bathtub of a London hotel. Okay. That's not really NEWS. --But this is: Apparently, some people were SHOCKED by it. --A housekeeper freaked and alerted the concierge . . . but the concierge told her to forget it. --The housekeeper then took her story to the blogosphere, where . . . naturally . . . someone picked it up. The housekeeper said Lady Gaga could've been, quote, "bathing in blood as part of a Satanic ritual." --Another "source" told Britain's "Sun" tabloid, quote, "All of the hotel's staff are convinced she was bathing in it or, at the very least, using it as part of one of her new costumes or weird stage routines." --It's a fun guessing game . . . sure . . . but no one is sure if it was real blood or if it was just something that LOOKED like blood. (--Assuming this actually happened . . . I think there's a 90% chance it was a blood-like liquid that Lady Gaga was using for one of her OUTRAGEOUS stunts.) (--But even if it was real blood, can anyone really say with a straight face that they'd be surprised? Now, if this was SARAH MCLACHLAN . . . all right. But don't we expect this out of Lady Gaga?)
The-Dream Scored "About $15 Million" for Co-Writing Rihanna's "Umbrella":
THE-DREAM claims he made, quote, "around $15 million" for writing "Umbrella" . . . the song that made us all love RIHANNA. (--And then hate her.) --Amazingly, The-Dream was just one of FOUR people with a writing credit on "Umbrella". The other three are: Jay-Z, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and songwriter Kuk Harrell. --It's unclear if they all got an even cut, or if The-Dream had a bigger chunk.
Van Halen's New Single Is Titled "Tattoo":
The first single off VAN HALEN'S next album is reportedly titled "Tattoo". It's expected to debut next Tuesday, when the band begins selling tickets for their tour. Word has it the album will be out February 7th. (--We'd heard the dates were supposed to be announced yesterday, but that didn't happen. We did see an unofficial note saying the tour will begin in Louisville, Kentucky, next month.)
Justin Bieber and Jaden Smith Have Released a New Year's Track:
JUSTIN BIEBER has unleashed a New Year's Eve track called "Happy New Year" . . . and it features 13-year-old JADEN SMITH. --The song has an R&B vibe. It begins with Jaden laying down some rhymes . . . before Justin comes in, showing off his suddenly deeper-sounding voice. Jaden's voice also sounds more mature. --At one point, Justin says, quote, "2012 is the year to be better, stronger and closer to the people around you. So grab someone special, and just, you know." --Justin Tweeted a link to the song at Midnight on New Year's Eve . . . so if there's someone with Bieber Fever in your house, you may have already heard it. (--If not, here's the link.)
Check Out D'Angelo Singing Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun":
A demo has surfaced online, which features D'ANGELO performing the SOUNDGARDEN classic "Black Hole Sun". It isn't a full-on cover, but he does sing the chorus several times. --Initially, this was thought to be a NEW recording . . . but now there's word that it's actually about a decade old. (--Which makes sense. D'Angelo doing Soundgarden seems REALLY dated.) (--The track is low-quality, but you can check it out on Soundcloud.com.)
50 Cent Isn't Suicidal . . . Despite Tweeting That He "Doesn't Think He's Going to Live Much Longer":
50 CENT would like you to know that he's NOT suicidal . . . despite all of the weird stuff he Tweeted on Monday. --He'd Tweeted, quote, "I'll be honest I don't think I'm gonna live much longer. That's why I started my Street King movement. I want to mean more in other people's lives." --And then it got even MORE bizarre. 50 went on, quote, "This morning I was looking out the window. I saw a bird fly right on to the ledge. It felt like he was looking right at me. --"I hit the window [but] he just looked at me like he knew I couldn't do anything through the glass. I was tripping . . . he sat there a minute then flew off. I'd like to be a bird so I could fly and [crap] on the world. Then you all could say 50 [crapped] on me. --"That's luck right? Then don't wipe the [crap] off." (???) --Apparently, some of 50's followers were worried that he was losing his mind . . . because yesterday he reassured everyone that he's OK. --He Tweeted, quote, "To be conscious that life is short is not suicidal . . . I'm good if I die tonight. I've taken care of the people who took care of me when I couldn't take care myself." (--If anything, 50 sounds a little disillusioned. Over the past few months, he's talked about how he's been having issues with his label Interscope over his new music and his next album.) (--Money may not buy happiness, but 50 needs to chill. Forbes.com says he's made $216 million over the past five years. That should be enough to take care of his bird problem, or whatever.)
WEDNESDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
HALLE BERRY was spotted wearing what looks like an engagement ring. She's dating French film actor OLIVIER MARTINEZ. (Full Story)
There's a rumor going around that RICKY MARTIN is preparing to gay marry his boyfriend. It's not true. (Full Story)
ADELE'S new boyfriend looks kind of like ZACH GALIFIANAKIS. (Photos)
Check out the five NBA teams with the hottest celebrity fans. (Full Story)
ASHLEY TISDALE is dating some guy TAYLOR SWIFT used to date. (Full Story)
CLINT EASTWOOD has befriended a squirrel that wanders into his office on the Warner Brothers lot. He even named it Lola. (Full Story)
JAMES FRANCO has sold his first novel. It's a "fictionalized version of [his] experiences as an actor." (Full Story)
The World Wildlife Fund says KHLOE KARDASHIAN is helping to save tigers by encouraging her Twitter followers to text donations. (Full Story)
7.7 million people watched the 16th season premiere of "The Bachelor" on Monday night. That's not good. It's the show's lowest rated premiere. The last season of "The Bachelor" opened to 9 million viewers. (Full Story)
LIZA MINNELLI will guest star on an upcoming episode of "Hot in Cleveland". She's playing WENDIE MALICK'S character's agent. There's no airdate yet. (Full Story)
KIM KARDASHIAN will guest star on an upcoming episode of TIM ALLEN'S new sitcom, "Last Man Standing". She's playing herself. The episode will air sometime next month. (Full Story)
A Les Paul guitar that PETER FRAMPTON lost in a plane crash in the Caribbean more than 30 years ago has been found and returned. Frampton used the guitar on his classic "Frampton Comes Alive" album. (Full Story)
JOHN FOGERTY recently said he'd be open to a reunion of CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL. But bassist STU COOK and drummer DOUG CLIFFORD say there's no way it'll happen. They HATE Fogerty. (Full Story)
BEN GIBBARD from DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE is a pretty serious runner. He's even featured in an issue of "Runner's World" magazine. (Full Story with Video)
RANDOM STUFF
60% of People Make New Year's Resolutions Knowing They're Going to Break Them:
I thought the point of a New Year's resolution was to make a major life change and just MAYBE find the strength to pull it off. Apparently I'm naïve. --According to a new survey, 60% of Americans who make New Year's resolutions admit they KNOW they're going to break it at some point during the year. In other words . . . they make the resolutions even though they KNOW they'll fail.
--Here are some other findings from the survey . . .
--Only 32% of people surveyed said they made a New Year's resolution. Probably because there's no point in making them when the majority of people go in thinking they'll break them.
--Of the people who resolved to lose weight, 94% said they want to go through the process solo. Only 6% said they want to lose weight with a partner.
--And people who were married were even LESS likely to want to lose weight with a partner . . . meaning that married people who want to lose weight think it would be BETTER and SMOOTHER to do it WITHOUT their husband or wife's support.
--Only 3% of people surveyed thought the best way to lose weight is to completely deprive themselves. (PR Newswire)
Want to Improve Your Workouts? Watch Porno Before You Hit the Gym:
"Getting in better shape" is the most popular New Year's resolution in the country. And we've got a KILLER tip to help you achieve that. --According to a new study, you'll get the most out of your workouts if you WATCH PORNO before you hit the gym. --Researchers in the U.K. figured it out by having professional rugby players watch different types of video before their training sessions. --After watching an EROTIC clip or an AGGRESSIVE clip . . . like a UFC fight . . . the players reported stronger training sessions. Funny or motivational clips helped too, but not as much. --Watching sad clips had a negative effect on the workouts. --The researchers only tested this on men, so they can't say whether watching porno will lead to better workouts for women. --But remember, this is about building up testosterone . . . so when you watch the porno, you HAVE to keep your hands off yourself, or else you won't get the proper effect. (TruthDive)
A New Study Finds Men are Most Likely to Hit on Blondes . . . But They Find Brunettes More Attractive:
We've seen plenty of studies in the past few years about how men now seem to prefer BROWN HAIR to BLONDE HAIR. Well here's another study on hair color that finds the same thing . . . with a TWIST. --Men find brunettes more attractive . . . but when they want to get laid, they go for blondes. --Researchers at the University of Westminster in England had a woman go to different clubs in London. She'd go to each club three times . . . once with her hair dyed brown, once blonde, and once red. --The researchers counted how many times men approached the woman with each hair color. Then, they went back to the bars later and had men rate her on attractiveness and intelligence. --They found that men were most likely to approach and hit on the woman when she's blonde . . . but rated her most attractive and intelligent when she was a brunette. Red hair bottomed out in every category. --The researchers believe that men were most likely to hit on the blonde because, quote, "Men were more likely to assume sexual intent on the part of our [woman] when she was blonde." --So when men want to get laid, they go for blondes . . . when they're looking to settle down with someone attractive and intelligent, they go for brunettes . . . and they never go for redheads. You're welcome. (Daily Mail)
Kevin and Mandy are the Least-Attractive Names . . . Jacob and Charlotte are the Most Attractive:
I love studies like this . . . they give you an effortless new way to rag on your friends for something totally beyond their control. -Psychologists at Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany wanted to figure out the LEAST and MOST ATTRACTIVE NAMES. --So they ran a test on more than 47,000 people dating online to get their reactions JUST to people's names. No photos, no biography info . . . just names. And here's what they found . . .
--The least attractive male name is . . . KEVIN. Guys named Kevin got the fewest clicks based on their name alone. Other male names that made the unattractive list are Justin, Marvin, and Dennis.
--The least attractive female name is . . . MANDY. Other female names on the unattractive list are Celina, Chantal, and Jacqueline.
--The most attractive male name is . . . JACOB. Other attractive male names are Alexander, Max, Peter, and Mark.
--The most attractive female name is . . . CHARLOTTE. The other female names on the attractive list are Emma, Hannah, and Marie.
(ANI)
Facebook is Now Involved in One Out of Every Three Divorces:
One of the underrated side effects of Facebook is that it's a HOMEWRECKER. And its homewrecking powers just keep growing. --In December of 2010, a study found that Facebook was cited in one out of every FIVE divorces. Now, about a year later, it's increased to one in every THREE divorces. --There are three main ways Facebook plays into divorce proceedings . . .
#1.) Someone catches their spouse sending inappropriate Facebook messages to someone else.
#2.) One person posts negative comments about their soon-to-be-ex-spouse on Facebook.
#3.) The spouses defriend each other as their divorce is going on . . . and their friends report back to them about their spouse's behavior on Facebook.
(Forbes)
BMW Drivers are the Most Likely to Use Their Horns . . . and Nissan Drivers are the Least Likely:
Who would've guessed that BMW drivers are obnoxious? I'm just kidding, BMW drivers. You're great. And I'm sure you have enormous genitalia. This isn't jealousy talking.-According to a new survey, BMW drivers admit they honk their horns more than any other drivers.--Overall, 18% of drivers say they honk their horn at least once every time they're in the car. --For BMW drivers, it's almost TRIPLE that, at 53%. More than HALF of BMW drivers honk at someone EVERY TIME they drive. --Jaguar drivers are second-most likely to use their horns. Fiat drivers are third, Audi drivers are fourth, and Saab drivers are fifth. --Nissan drivers are the least likely to honk at people. Only 5% use their horns every time they drive. --The main reason people give for using their horn is when another driver is about to pull in front of them. The second-most common reason is when someone doesn't go at a green light. (Joe.ie)
Ohio Had the Most People Move Away in 2011 . . . Washington, D.C. Had the Most People Move In:
Atlas Van Lines just released their annual study on migration patterns in the U.S. Basically, they analyze their state-to-state moves to figure out which states people are leaving, and which states people are moving to.
--And the big finding is . . . people are getting the hell out of the Midwest.
--Ohio had the biggest percentage difference in people moving out versus people moving in. Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas also had more than 55% of their moves go outbound.
--On the other end, Washington, D.C. had the highest percentage difference in people moving in versus people moving out.
--Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Alaska also had big positive swings.
--California had the most total people move out, at 6,758 . . . but they ALSO had the most people move in, at 7,803. They're one of 24 states that saw a pretty balanced ratio of inbound-versus-outbound moves. (Atlas Van Lines) (--You can see a full interactive map that shows your state's migration patterns here. It also includes Canada, although there's much less data.)
2% of Americans Believe Mitt Romney's Real First Name is "Mittens":
Apparently, one out of every 50 people in this country thinks MITT ROMNEY is a cat. --According to a new survey by "Vanity Fair" and "60 Minutes", a full 2% of the U.S. population thinks that "Mitt" is actually short for . . . "Mittens." They believe his full legal name is Mittens Romney. --Another 2% believe his real first name is Gromit. --Granted, this was SORT OF a trick question . . . his real first name is Willard. Only 6% of the people surveyed knew that. --The most popular answer was that Mitt isn't short for anything, at 20%. 18% thought Mitt was short for Mitchell, and 8% thought it was short for Milton. 44% of people admitted they didn't know. --The survey also found that 23% of Americans wouldn't go back to school for more education even if it was free . . . 28% believe one billion people live in the U.S. (--it's about 313 million) . . . and 11% would kill their pet for $1 MILLION. Good times, man. Good times. (Vanity Fair)
Your Overpriced Starbucks Coffee Just Got More Overpriced:
Bad news, Starbucks addicts of America. Your overpriced coffee just got slightly more overpriced. --Starbucks is raising its prices by about 1% in various regions of the country . . . the Northeast, South, and Southwest are first . . . because of, quote, "high costs for things like coffee, milk, and fuel." --1% doesn't sound like much, but look at it this way. If your $4 daily Starbucks now costs $4.04, that's almost $15 extra this year. Little things add up, ya know. (Reuters)
Here are the Five Best Values in Public Colleges:
Kiplinger released their annual list of the top values in public colleges. But they tinkered with the formula this year. --Since states are cutting funding and federal stimulus money has run out, even the best-valued colleges have to raise tuition. So Kiplinger added more weight to academic measures like freshman dropouts and four-year graduation rate. --The new formula didn't change the top of the rankings. For the eleventh year in a row, the University of North Carolina was the top value in public universities. --The top five all cost less than half the average for a private school. They are:
#1.) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: They were also number one in value for out-of-state students, who don't get a break on tuition like in-state residents.
#2.) University of Florida at Gainesville.
#3.) University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
#4.) College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
#5.) New College of Florida in Sarasota. (Kiplinger)
(--Another list ranked colleges whose graduates with the lowest level of student debt. Alice Lloyd College in Kentucky was first, and PRINCETON finished second. The average Princeton grad owes $4,385.)
Pepsi Says There's No Way a Guy Could Have Found a Mouse in His Mountain Dew . . . Because the Soda Would Have Dissolved It:
In early 2009, Ronald Ball bought a can of Mountain Dew from the vending machine where he worked, at Marathon Oil in Wood River, Illinois. (--Wood River is on the border with Missouri, about 20 miles north of St. Louis.) --He became violently ill as soon as he started drinking it. And he claims it's because there was a DEAD MOUSE in the can. --Naturally, Ronald filed a lawsuit against Pepsi, since they make Mountain Dew, as well as the company that made the vending machine. He's looking for a total of $350,000 in damages. --The trial was supposed to begin this past November, but Pepsi is trying to get the lawsuit dismissed . . . using one of the more disgusting defenses we've heard. --They say that the can of Mountain Dew was bottled in August of 2008, several months before Ronald bought and opened it. And if a mouse spent that much time in their soda, it would have been COMPLETELY DISSOLVED. --So Ronald wouldn't have known he was drinking a mouse, other than a, quote, "jelly like substance" at the bottom of the can. --Ronald says he sent the body of the mouse to Pepsi, and they destroyed it. Pepsi's looking to have their motion heard in court next week. (Madison Record)
MEATBALL CRIMINALS
A Prisoner Got To Serve His Sentence at a Monastery . . . But Said Prison Was Easier and Asked to Be Sent Back:
31-year-old David Catalano is an Italian who was recently convicted for stealing. And this past November, near the end of his sentence, he was sent to a monastery to serve out the rest of his time. --That's not unheard of in Italy: The Capuchin monks in Sicily run a halfway house, and have housed 60 prisoners at their monastery over the last 12 years. --But not long after he arrived at the monastery, David escaped. Police found him and took him back to the monks. --Then on Monday, he escaped AGAIN, for the second time in six weeks. But this time, he went straight to a police station and asked authorities to send him BACK to PRISON . . . because he hated the monastery life so much. --The monks take a vow of austerity, simplicity, and poverty. That means there are no modern conveniences or luxuries of any kind, they aren't allowed to own property, they beg for food, and they get up and go to bed extremely early. --Police fulfilled David's request, and he's now back behind bars. (Daily Mail)
RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS
Random News Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
The county Medical Examiner's office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is posting photos of unidentified corpses online, hoping someone will recognize them and help solve cold cases. (Full Story)
A drunk guy passed out in the drive thru of a Chicago McDonald's on New Year's Day, and was busted for DUI. It didn't help that he gave the cops a fake name . . . which turned out to be the name of a registered sex offender. (Full Story)
Should they put nutrition labels on alcohol? Some experts think it might make people drink less . . . because they'll be more concerned about calories. (Full Story)
40% of women say they never feel sexual desire, and 60% say they're satisfied with their sex life . . . even if they're not having sex. (Full Story)
A woman in Charlton, Massachusetts is angry that her local library sent a cop to remind her five-year-old daughter about overdue library books. (Full Story)
Researchers looked at 50 failed companies, including Enron and WorldCom, and came up with the Seven Habits of Unsuccessful Executives, including: They think they dominate their industry . . . they don't look out for change . . . they identify too closely with the company . . . and they think they have all the answers. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) A Weatherman in Wisconsin Pulled a Ron Burgundy, and Read Exactly What Was on the Teleprompter . . . "I Love Lamp":
If you've seen the movie "Anchorman", you know Will Ferrell's character Ron Burgundy will read ANYTHING they put on the teleprompter. --Well, apparently a meteorologist in Green Bay named Brian Niznansky has the same problem. And to prove it, his news director slipped in one of Steve Carell's lines from the movie. On live TV, Niznansky said, quote, "I love lamp." (--Search for "A Ron Burgundy Moment NBC26." He says it at :22.)
#2.) Someone Paired Audio from the "Dark Knight Rises" Trailer with Clips from "The Lion King" . . . and It Totally Works!
The new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises", doesn't hit theaters until July. But someone synched the audio from the trailer with clips from "The Lion King" . . . and it totally works. As you'd expect, it makes Disney look a LOT darker. (--Search for "The Lion King Rises.")
#3.) Here's What It Looks Like to Walk on a Frozen Lake . . . When You're Under the Ice and Upside Down:
You've heard of ice fishing, but I bet you've never heard of THIS: Someone in Finland uploaded a video to the website Vimeo.com called "Fishing Under Ice". At first it looks like two guys are just walking on the bottom of a frozen lake in scuba gear. --But then you eventually realize they're UPSIDE DOWN, and they're "walking" on the underside of the ice itself. (--Don't miss the part where they "pour" a bucket of air into a wheelbarrow at :59.)
The Top Four Tips for Getting Out of a Ticket:
Just about everyone has gotten a parking ticket or a speeding ticket at some point. So "Men's Health" talked to experts and came up with a guide to help you get out of your NEXT one. Here are their top four tips.
If You Get a Parking Ticket:
#1.) Make Sure It's 100% Accurate. Some people don't realize that even if one small piece of information is wrong, it can make a ticket invalid. --Here are the specific things you need to check: The make of the vehicle, the license plate number, the time and date, and the address they wrote down. --If any of those are wrong . . . or if the officer forgot to sign the ticket . . . you can probably challenge it and win.
#2.) Challenge It, Even If You're in the Wrong. Traffic courts are always busy, and they want to keep as many people from showing up as possible. --So even if they don't dismiss the entire ticket, they'll most likely lower the fine.
If You Get Pulled Over for Speeding:
#1.) Don't Try to Cry Your Way Out of It. If you're a guy, you obviously shouldn't even ATTEMPT it. If you're a woman, don't do it unless you're sure you can pull it off. --Sometimes crying works, but most of the time the cop knows you're just trying to manipulate him. And if that's the case, you'll DEFINITELY get a ticket.
#2.) If You Were Speeding, Admit It. Cops hear the same excuses all the time, and they're really good at spotting a liar. So if you WERE speeding, just fess up. -They hear so many lies, it's actually refreshing when someone's honest, so they might let you off with a warning. Whatever you do, don't argue . . . even if you're SURE you weren't speeding. It won't do any good. -But it does help to be as prepared as possible. For example, cops hate it when they have to stand there and wait because you can't find your registration. So in the interest of not annoying him, make sure you know where it is.
--Just don't put him on edge by reaching in your glove box before he gets to the car. Instead, keep your hands on the steering wheel, and if it's dark out, turn on your light. -He'll appreciate the fact that you're being considerate, and he might go easy on you. (MensHealth.com)
posted by Nazzy @ 5:57 AM
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