HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (01-10-12)

SHOWBIZ SEXY

Jay-Z Has Written a Song About His New Daughter Blue Ivy . . . And It Reveals That Beyoncé Had a Miscarriage:

JAY-Z has released a song in honor of his new daughter Blue Ivy. It's called "Glory featuring B.I.C." The B.I.C. stands for Blue Ivy Carter . . . who gets a credit because the track ends with some audio of her crying. --Not surprisingly, the song is about how beautiful and wonderful Blue is. But it also reveals that this was at least BEYONCÉ'S SECOND pregnancy . . . because she had an unsuccessful one previously. --Jay raps, quote, "Last time, the miscarriage was so tragic / We was afraid you disappeared, but nah, dear, you magic." He also talks about, quote, "False alarms and false starts," as well as, quote, "All the pain of the last time." --Jay also reveals that Blue was conceived in Paris.

--Then there's the chorus:

"The most amazing feeling I feel
Words can't describe what I'm feeling for real
Baby I paint the sky blue
My greatest creation was you"

(--Listen to the song and read the full lyrics at PopSugar.com. WARNING!!! Even though this is a tribute to his newborn baby girl, Jay had to make sure we know he's still all hard and stuff by including UNBLEEPED PROFANITY.)


Beyoncé's Baby Was Born Naturally:

Initial reports claimed that BEYONCÉ gave birth to her baby Blue Ivy by c-section. But Beyoncé and JAY-Z released a statement yesterday saying that Blue was delivered "naturally". --They said, quote, "Hello Hello Baby Blue! We are happy to announce the arrival of our beautiful daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, born on Saturday, January 7, 2012. --"Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful, we are in heaven. She was delivered naturally at a healthy 7 pounds and it was the best experience of both of our lives. We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support." --Beyoncé and Jay-Z didn't reveal how they chose the baby's name, but sources are saying the middle name "Ivy" was chosen because of the number 4 . . . which, in Roman numerals, is I-V. --It's a significant number for Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Her birthday is September 4th and his is December 4th. They were married on April 4th, or 4,4 . . . and Beyoncé's last album was called "4". --They reportedly have matching "IV" tattoos on their ring fingers. --As for "Blue" . . . people have pointed out that Jay-Z has released three albums titled "The Blueprint". (--By the way . . . Blue Ivy might be sleeping in a $3,500 crib made of LUCITE. Beyonce reportedly bought it back in November. Wanna see what that looks like? Here's a picture.) (Us Weekly)


That Chick Who Wrote the Jason Segel Song Went to An Award Show With Him . . . And She Brought Her Twin Sister:

Remember CHELSEA GILL . . . the girl who wrote that awesome song asking JASON SEGEL out for a drink? Well, she got her wish. --Jason's rep reached out to Chelsea, and it turns out that she's currently trying to launch an acting career in Chicago. And Jason just happened to have an award show to attend in Chicago this past Saturday. So he took her. --That was a nice surprise for Chelsea . . . but she had a surprise for him, too: She has a TWIN . . . and she brought her along. (--Here's a picture of Jason and the Gill twins . . . who are 23, by the way.) (Huffington Post) --There's no word whether Jason enjoyed some TWIN MAGIC with Chelsea and her sister. We'd like to think he DID . . . but it sounds like maybe things stayed on a PG level. --Chelsea says, quote, "He's so down to earth, he was so funny . . . he's absolutely everything he appears to be in interviews. --"I did not do this to try to get famous. I wanted to be really respectful. It was one of those things where I know I wrote this video and I'm so glad he liked it and we got along so well. --"But he's this busy guy doing his own thing and I'm so humbled and touched that he would take time out of his busy schedule just to get a drink with me."


Nick Cannon Is Out of the Hospital:

It turns out NICK CANNON was indeed released from the hospital over the weekend. --His rep issued a statement yesterday saying, quote, "Nick was released over the weekend to be with his family. He is resting and recovering at home and would like to thank everyone who has expressed concern, well wishes and prayer." --Cannon will return to his morning radio show on the 17th . . . which is next Tuesday. --Nick suffered what wife MARIAH CAREY called "mild kidney failure" last week. On Friday, he underwent surgery . . . but he didn't say what kind of procedure it was.

Will Lindsay Lohan Play Elizabeth Taylor?

LINDSAY LOHAN'S career isn't dead yet, but it might be moving off the big screen. Lindsay is in talks to play ELIZABETH TAYLOR in a Lifetime movie. --Lindsay was lined up to star in a theatrical film about "Deep Throat" star LINDA LOVELACE, but that fell through because of her legal troubles. And it's not clear if she's still attached to that JOHN GOTTI movie, either.


Some Religious Leaders In New England Are Rooting for the Patriots to Beat Tim Tebow:

A lot of people think God is working directly through TIM TEBOW. But do you know who's not buying that? Religious leaders in New England. At least a few of them, anyway. --Tebow's Denver Broncos take on the Patriots this Saturday, and the only quarterback they want God to bless is TOM BRADY. --Reverend Stephen Ayers from the Old North Church in Boston says, quote, "I'm not sure God is a huge football fan but Tim Tebow is more than welcome to come worship with us on Sunday morning . . . after hopefully losing to us." --And Reverend Amy Alletzhauser says that her Calvary United Methodist Church in Rhode Island is selling a Tebow sub sandwich at a fundraiser this weekend. --But it's a veggie sub . . . or, as Reverend Amy describes it . . . quote, "it's without meat, guts, or glory." --TMZ did find one who's backing Tebow. His name is Joseph Coppola, and he's pastor of the New England Baptist Church. --He says, quote, "I'll root for the Denver Broncos because I believe that Tim Tebow is a guy who . . . has a long way to go as far as being a quarterback. --"However, he's not going to give up until he has no chance . . . until somebody gives up on him. Because he's gonna continue to do the best he can, trust God to help him be what he really wants to be." (--Here's video.) (--By the way . . . Tebow and the Broncos' big win over the Steelers in overtime on Sunday was the highest-rated wild card game on CBS in 24 years. By the end of the game, about 42 MILLION people were watching.) (--One last note: ESPN says that Tebow earned an extra quarter of a million bucks on Sunday. Apparently, his contract calls for a $250,000 bonus for each playoff victory.)


Lady Gaga Says Tim Tebow is "What the [Eff] A Champion Looks Like":

LADY GAGA is loud and proud about her New York City roots . . . but even she has to admit there's something about that TIM TEBOW character. --After the Broncos beat the Steelers on Sunday, she Tweeted, quote, "Giants fan but wow. #Tebow. That's what the [eff] a champion looks like."


Melissa McCarthy Doesn't Think a "Bridesmaids" Sequel Without Kristen Wiig is a Good Idea:

KRISTEN WIIG says she's not interested in a "Bridesmaids" sequel. But given the movie's HUGE success, the studio that made it IS. And so, as we heard recently, they're considering making one WITHOUT Kristen. --Well, MELISSA MCCARTHY . . . who really had a career breakthrough thanks to the original . . . doesn't like that idea. --Asked if she'd do a sequel without Kristen, she said, quote, "God, I wouldn't want to. I would never want to. I think it's a terrible idea." --But she added that she's in the dark about the studio's plans . . . quote, "I don't [know] anything about it. But I know that nobody wants to do it unless it's great. If it is, I will show up wherever those ladies are."


Check Out the Trailer for the New Miley Cyrus / Demi Moore Movie:

The trailer for the new MILEY CYRUS / DEMI MOORE flick "LOL" hit the web yesterday. It's a coming-of-age comedy-drama-type-thing, in which Demi plays Miley's mom. --There's no release date yet, but it's due out sometime this year. (--Check out the trailer here.)


There's a Preview for Betty White's Senior Citizen Prank Show "Off Their Rockers" . . . and It Looks Awesome:

NBC has put out a preview for BETTY WHITE'S upcoming senior citizen prank show. It's called "Off Their Rockers", and it features seven senior citizens playing pranks on unsuspecting younger people. --Unfortunately, Betty isn't one of them . . . she's just the host. --The show premieres Sunday night. (--You can check out the trailer on NBC.com. It actually looks pretty awesome. Note: There's some mild language in the clip, so preview the audio before playing it over the air.) --By the way, Betty turns 90 years old next Tuesday.)

Katy Perry Will *Not* Appear at the People's Choice Awards:

KATY PERRY is NOT going to show up at the People's Choice Awards tomorrow night. Naturally, she would've been confronted with a lot of attention over her split from RUSSELL BRAND . . . and apparently she isn't ready for that. --Officially, she didn't give a reason for dropping out. She just Tweeted, quote, "Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the People's Choice Awards. I want to thank you all for voting for me, fingers crossed! #KATYCATS."


"Wizards of Waverly Place" Wrapped Up with a Record Audience:

SELENA GOMEZ'S Disney Channel show "Wizards of Waverly Place" finished its four-year run last Friday night . . . and it set a few records in the process. --It attracted an impressive audience of 9.8 million people. --That was not only the show's most-watched episode, it was also the highest-rated finale in the history of the Disney Channel . . . and the most-watched scripted cable show of the current TV season, which began last fall. (--Obviously, that excludes reality shows like MTV's "Jersey Shore".) --For comparison, "Wizards of Waverly Place" averaged around four million viewers an episode before this.


Tuesday TV Reminders:

--"Celebrity Wife Swap" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC. Flavor Flav and Twisted Sister's Dee Snider swap wives for a week.

--"Shipping Wars" [Series Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on A&E. Six independent cargo carriers are the focus of this new reality series about the drivers, haulers and handlers as they battle for transporting freight and precious cargo.

--"Dance Moms" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Lifetime.

--"The Game" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on BET. Brandy Norwood and Jennifer Coolidge guest star.

--"Tabatha Takes Over" [4th Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Bravo.

--"Swamp Loggers" [4th Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Discovery Channel.

--"Flip Men" [1st Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on Spike TV.

--"MTV2's Guy Code" [1st Season Finale] . . . 11:00 to 11:30 P.M. on MTV2.

--"Let's Stay Together" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 11:00 P.M. to Midnight on BET.


NEW ON VIDEO THIS WEEK

--"There Be Dragons" - A historical drama set during the Spanish Civil War, with two friends on opposite sides: One becomes a soldier and the other one becomes a priest. t's told in flashbacks as a modern journalist investigates the death of the priest, who was the founder of Opus Dei . . . which you'd probably never heard of before "The Da Vinci Code". It stars Charlie Cox, Wes Bentley, and Bond girl Olga Kurylenko.

--"Killer Elite" - Jason Statham is a former special ops agent who takes on a military organization after his mentor . . . Robert De Niro . . . is captured by Clive Owen.

--"Moneyball" - The true story of how the Oakland A's built a winning team with a small budget, using players the scouts rejected. Brad Pitt plays the general manager, Jonah Hill is his statistics expert, and Philip Seymour Hoffman is the A's dugout manager.

--"What's Your Number" - 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.


TV Series On DVD:

--"Boardwalk Empire: The Complete First Season" . . . a five-disc DVD set.

--"Hawaii Five-O: The 12th and Final Season" . . . a five-disc DVD set.


NEW MUSIC OUT THIS WEEK

--"Fallen Empires", the sixth album from Snow Patrol



(NC-17) Paul McCartney's Next Album Is Called "Kisses on the Bottom", But It Does *Not* Celebrate Anilingus:

PAUL MCCARTNEY'S next album is called "Kisses on the Bottom". --I know what you're thinking . . . the same thing occurred to me . . . but the title is NOT celebrating ANILINGUS, which of course is unfortunate. --Instead, "Kisses on the Bottom" was taken from the lyrics of the first track . . . a version of FATS WALLER'S 1935 hit "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter". --The lyric is: Quote, "I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter and make believe it came from you / I'm gonna write words oh so sweet / They're gonna knock me off of my feet / A lot of kisses on the bottom / I'll be glad I got 'em." (--OK. But it's still an odd choice for an album title.) --"Kisses on the Bottom" is a covers album, featuring some of Paul's favorite songs from when he was a kid. And interestingly enough, it's the first album in which Paul doesn't play any instruments. He just sings. --He's backed by DIANA KRALL'S band. There are also two original songs on the album: "My Valentine", which features ERIC CLAPTON . . . and "Only Our Hearts", which features STEVIE WONDER. --"Kisses on the Bottom" hits stores on February 7th. (--Just in time for Valentine's Day. So even though the album title doesn't celebrate anilingus . . . if the music inspires YOU to go there, well, I'm not going to talk you out of it.) (???)


U2 Is Working on Three Albums:

Over the past two decades, U2 has averaged one album release every FOUR years. Their last one "No Line on the Horizon" came out in 2009, which means we should be about a year away from the next one. --That may end up being right . . . but BONO says that the band has a LOT of new material on the way. --He says, quote, "We're working on three albums at the moment and we haven't decided what order we're going to put them out, but 'The Songs of Ascent' have the kind of beautiful intimacy that we're speaking of now. They fit into this moment." --Bono didn't elaborate on the other albums, and he didn't suggest when any of them may come out. So it's unclear if they'd come out around the same time . . . or if they'd space them out, and tour between them. --One thing's for sure: U2 doesn't seem to be in much of a hurry. Almost two years ago, Bono said that they had FOUR projects in the works . . . and only one has seen the light of day. --At the time, he said: "[We have] 'The Songs of Ascent', a meditative work that was meant to complement [2009's] 'No Line on the Horizon'. We've got a rock album. We also have a club-sounding album. --"And then we have the 'Spider-Man' stuff." (--Bono and The Edge co-wrote the music for the Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark". The album came out last summer.)


Tony Iommi Has Been Diagnosed with Cancer:

Sad news: BLACK SABBATH guitarist TONY IOMMI has been diagnosed with lymphoma, which is cancer of the immune cells. The cancer is in its early stages. --Black Sabbath posted a message on Facebook saying, quote, "[We] would like everyone to send positive vibes to [Tony] at this time. [He's] currently working with his doctors to establish the best treatment plan. --"The 'Iron Man' of Rock 'n' Roll remains upbeat and determined to make a full and successful recovery." --Back in November, Black Sabbath announced that the initial lineup . . . with Ozzy Osbourne . . . was reuniting for an album and a tour. --The band says the album is still happening . . . and it's scheduled to come out sometime this fall. There's no word if Tony's diagnosis and treatment will affect their tour plans. (--The Sabbath world tour is scheduled to kick off on May 18th in Russia. For now, there are only 18 dates . . . all of which are in Europe.) (--In November of 2009, former Sabbath singer RONNIE JAMES DIO announced he'd been diagnosed with stomach cancer. (--He died the following May, when he, Tony, GEEZER BUTLER and VINNY APPICE were preparing for a HEAVEN AND HELL tour. He was 67. Tony turns 64 next month.)
Several Musicians Have Sent Well-Wishes to Tony Iommi:

A good number of musicians have sent well-wishes to BLACK SABBATH guitarist TONY IOMMI, who has been diagnosed with an early stage of lymphoma.


--Here are a few of them:


--The band ANTHRAX: "This really does suck. GET WELL SOON TONY!"


--Slash: "Best wishes for a full recovery to Tony Iommi."


--Sebastian Bach from SKID ROW: "All hail the mighty Tony Iommi, and [EFF] YOU, Cancer."


--OZZY OSBOURNE'S former guitarist Zakk Wylde: "Big [BLACK LABEL SOCIETY] get well wishes out to Lord Iommi!!!"


--Former Sabbath singer Glenn Hughes: "Prayers please for my brother Tony Iommi . . . we all pray for a full, speedy recover from cancer . . . much love."


Justin Bieber Talks to God:

JUSTIN BIEBER is a busy guy. There probably aren't too many people that he can make time to talk to on a regular basis. There's his mom, the rest of his family, his manager, SELENA GOMEZ of course . . . oh, and God. --Justin tells "V" magazine, quote, "A lot of people who are religious, I think they get lost. They go to church just to go to church. I'm not trying to disrespect them, but for me, I focus more on praying and talking to him. I don't have to go to church." (--I'd be interested in what God thinks of Justin's new tattoo of Jesus' face on his calf. Not to be sacrilegious . . . and nothing against Jesus' mug . . . but I think it looks terrible.) (--I'd also like to know what God thinks of Justin's photo shoot for "V" magazine, which includes some pretty boy shots . . . and one where he's dolled up like a Greek god. You can find the pictures at TheJustinBieberShrine.com.)


Van Halen Released a New Song Called "Tattoo":

The new VAN HALEN album with DAVID LEE ROTH comes out four weeks from today, but they just released the first song online. (--The album's called "A Different Kind Of Truth" and it drops February 7th.) --It's called "Tattoo", and you can check out the video on YouTube. --It's a pretty straightforward mid-tempo rock song, so your first reaction might be: "That's what Dave and Eddie have come up with after all this time?" But the chorus is fairly catchy, and Eddie's solo two-and-half minutes in is classic Van Halen. (--The last Van Halen album with Roth was "1984" . . . 28 years ago. Although there were a couple tracks with Roth on 1996's "Best of Volume I".) --The video's just low budget, black and white footage of them performing the song on a small stage. Let's just say Diamond Dave's antics look a little dated after all this time. The whole thing seems kinda forced, not a lot of the old fun and chemistry is on display. --According to their producer, Ross Hogarth, quote, "You will not be disappointed. We made a rock record and it kicks ass. Trust me." (--You can check out the new album artwork on their Facebook page.) (--Van Halen performed a "new" song called "She's the Woman" last week at a small club gig in New York, but it was actually a song they wrote in the '70s and never put on an album.)


Snoop Dogg Has Been Busted for Pot Possession . . . Will That Hurt His Campaign to Legalize Marijuana?

SNOOP DOGG was busted for pot possession in Texas over the weekend. --Border Patrol agents stopped Snoop's tour bus at a checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, which is a small town just outside of El Paso. --It started off as a routine check . . . but eventually some drug-sniffing dogs were brought in, and a few joints were found. Snoop admitted that they were his. --Snoop has a medical marijuana license in California . . . but that doesn't mean anything in Texas, because he was cited for misdemeanor possession. --A court date was set for next Friday, the 20th . . . but Snoop can resolve the whole thing by agreeing to pay a $537 fine. It's unclear if he plans to go that route. --Coincidentally, WILLIE NELSON was busted in the exact same small town checkpoint in 2010. He also got off easy . . . only having to pay a similar $500 fine. --Snoop defended Willie after that incident, telling the paparazzi, quote, "They better leave Willie the [eff] alone . . . give the man respect, who's the mother[effer] who arrested him?" (--Here's video. It has CENSORED profanity.) -Here's another coincidence . . . --In a radio interview last week . .. . . Snoop said he'd like to change PRESIDENT OBAMA'S position on legalizing marijuana. (--Snoop was doing the interview along with WIZ KHALIFA.) --Snoop said, quote, "Before I even said 'Hi' to President Obama, I would change the aroma of the room . . . and then we could start conversing after we had that aroma change. You know what I'm talking about? --"We get that understanding that this is what needs to happen in order to make the world go 'round. You gotta be real superficial about certain laws. --"They legalized alcohol, they legalized tobacco. What is it gonna hurt to legalize this medicinal, medical marijuana that's used for purposes of cataracts." (--You can find the audio on SoundCloud.com.) (--For what it's worth, Snoop has claimed he got a medicinal marijuana license because he suffers from migraines and blurred vision.)


TUESDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS

Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:


There's a new "Star Wars" porno parody . . . and if the trailer is any indication, it's REALLY LAME. In fact, the only chick in it seems to be the one playing Princess Leia. Unless you count the two women in the Cantina scene . . . but we don't even know if they get down to any action. (Video)



EVAN RACHEL WOOD and "Billy Elliot" star JAMIE BELL were spotted out together in Hollywood on Saturday. And Evan was wearing an engagement ring. (Photo)



Does DEMI MOORE have a new guy? (Full Story)



SETH ROGEN told Howard Stern yesterday that he once peed into a Snapple bottle in TOM CRUISE'S driveway. (Full Story)



Remember the ShamWow and Slap Chop infomercial guy VINCE OFFER . . . who was arrested in 2009 for getting into a fight with a prostitute? Well, he's hyping a new product now. It's called the Schticky. (Video)



Tickets for "The Hunger Games" will go on sale a month before the movie opens . . . on February 22nd. (Full Story)



STEVEN TYLER claims AEROSMITH'S music sales were up 260% last year . . . because of his decision to do "American Idol". (Full Story)



The lineup for this year's Coachella festival has been announced. This year, it's happening over TWO weekends in April, which will feature identical line-ups. The BLACK KEYS are headlining the Fridays, RADIOHEAD will cap off the Saturdays, and the Sundays will end with DR. DRE and SNOOP DOGG. (Complete Lineup)


(--Two notable '90s bands are reuniting for Coachella: AT THE DRIVE-IN, which features Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez from MARS VOLTA . . . and the underappreciated punk band REFUSED.)

RANDOM STUFF

75% of People Have Already Broken Their New Year's Resolutions:

Did you smoke your first cigarette of the year yesterday? Skip your first workout? Drink your first liter of gravy? Yeah . . . so did just about everyone else who made a New Year's resolution. --According to a new survey, by today, 10 days into January, 75% of people admit they've broken their resolution. --And the average person says it's at least the FOURTH time they've made the same resolution . . . and failed. (Joe.ie)


Axe is Now Making Body Spray for Women:

Now men aren't the only ones who can spray themselves with a mix of cheap ocean scents, pheromones, and desperation. Join the sad, sad party, ladies. --The makers of AXE BODY SPRAY are rolling out a version for women. --It's called "Axe Anarchy," and the marketing campaign will be fairly similar to the men's version . . . the commercials will show how any woman who sprays herself with it becomes irresistible to the opposite sex. --Axe Anarchy will hit the U.S. in about three weeks . . . and commercials will start rolling out on the 29th. (New York Times)


Only 8% of People Say They'd Tell a Flight Attendant If They Saw a Couple Joining the Mile-High Club:

It turns out you might NOT have to worry about getting caught joining the MILE-HIGH CLUB, and being escorted off the plane by the cops when you land. --According to a new survey, only 8% of people say they'd report it to a flight attendant if they saw a couple having sex on an airplane, or caught them getting-it-on in the bathroom. --The survey also found that 6% of people would complain if they saw a woman BREASTFEEDING her baby on a plane. (--So, for reference, that means only 2% more people are cool with you whipping out your breasts on a plane for a baby than an adult.)


--33% would consider complaining if someone with BAD-SMELLING FEET took off their shoes on a plane.


--68% would consider complaining if there was a SCREAMING CHILD on the plane.

--And the behavior that leads to the most complaints? Bringing FOOD THAT STINKS onto the plane. 80% of people would consider complaining about that. (News.com.au)


A Woman Spent Five Months Tracking Down the Guy She Fell In Love With on Vacation . . . But He Has a Girlfriend:

In September, 33-year-old Julia Cross of Auckland, New Zealand was on vacation in Ibiza, Spain. While she was there, she spent one perfect night with the man of her dreams. He was from England, and she fell in love with him instantly. --Before they went their separate ways, Julia gave him her number so they could keep in touch. Only she never heard from him . . . so she figured she accidentally gave him the wrong number. And she was devastated. --So Julia decided to track him down. She launched an Internet campaign, trying desperately to see if anyone could find him. And FINALLY, after five months, someone tracked him down. --Turns out he's 33-year-old Martin O'Kane, a software developer in London. Oh . . . AND he has a girlfriend. Oops. -Julia HAD given him the right number . . . but he didn't call her because of the girlfriend thing. Although he says he didn't have a girlfriend when he was in Ibiza . . . they got together RIGHT when he got home. --Martin says he's, quote, "flattered" by the whole thing . . . but his girlfriend, quote, "feels a bit odd that there's a national campaign to set me up with someone else." (New Zealand Herald) (--Here are photos of Julia and Martin.)


And Now, a Totally Random Comparison Between Apple the Company and Apples the Fruit:

Well, just when we thought we'd seen every possible kind of media coverage about Apple, there's this: We've got an article here that compares Apple, the company, to apples, the fruit. No, seriously. Check it out . . . --China's production. China produces 44% of the world's apples . . . and 100% of the world's Apple devices. --Who buys the most? Russia buys the most apples in the world, spending $550 MILLION a year . . . the U.S. buys the most Apple stuff, spending $16 BILLION a year. --How they're sold. 72% of apples are sold fresh, 15% are sold as juice, and 13% are sold as sauce. For Apple, 43% of sales are iPhones, 28% are iPads, 16.7% are iPods, and 12.2% are computers. --Weight. The average apple weighs five ounces . . . and the average iPhone weighs 4.9 ounces. --Price. For the price of one iPhone 4S, you could buy almost 2,000 apples. --So which industry is bigger? In 2009, there were 71 million tons of apples produced, totaling $30 BILLION . . . and there were 138,000 tons of Apple products produced, totaling $32 BILLION. (Mashable)


The Top Employers of Young Adults Are the Armed Forces, Walmart, and Starbucks:

A company called Millennial Branding did a survey on how young adults use Facebook to help their career. --They looked at profiles of 50 million people born between the late 1980s and early 2000s, and according to the results, young adults aren't concerned about keeping their career separate from their personal life. --The average user had 16 coworkers as Facebook friends, and 696 friends overall. -But the job information they put on Facebook might not reflect well on their career path. Only 7% work for a Fortune 500 company. The same number work in the travel and hospitality industry. --The most common job title listed is "server", followed by "manager", "intern" and "sales associate". --The top employer of young adults, at least according to their Facebook profiles, is the U.S. Armed Forces. 3.2% were in the military. --That's six times as many as the next largest employer: Walmart. Starbucks, Target, and Best Buy round out the top five. (ZDnet.com)


Rick Santorum Blinks Twice as Much as Other Republican Candidates . . . and Nearly Three Times as Much as the Average Person:

A political site called Smart Politics did an analysis of nonverbal communication by the Republican candidates for president. --They counted how many times each of the candidates blinked while answering questions in the most recent debate. --The six candidates combined for 2,284 on-camera blinks. Rick Santorum accounted for more than one out of every three blinks. He averaged 61.4 blinks per minute. --The rest of the field blinked less than half as often, averaging 27.8 blinks per minute. Normal humans average just over 20. --Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman were the next-most-prolific blinkers at 33.9 per minute. Romney's blink rate varied widely, depending on how comfortable he was with the subject he was talking about. --Rick Perry blinked the least, averaging 15.9 blinks per minute. Ron Paul blinked 17.1 times a minute. --Rapid blinking tends to make a speaker look uncomfortable, and can be off-putting to viewers. Santorum's habit of looking down and to the right while speaking was also unsettling to viewers. (Smart Politics)


When Nonsmokers Use the Nicotine Patch, It Helps Them Improve Their Memory and Lose Weight?

If the research from this study holds up, the people who make nicotine patches just found a whole new client base: NONSMOKERS. --A new study out of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee found that when nonsmokers wear nicotine patches, it can have two effects . .

#1.) It improves their memory.
#2.) It helps them drop a few pounds.

--The researchers believe the memory part could be a huge step in battling dementia and Alzheimer's disease in older people. --In the study, they found that six months of nicotine patch treatment restored long-term memory in about half of a group of people in their 70s with mild cognitive impairment. (Time)


A Group of Coworkers Wins the Lottery for the Second Time in Less Than a Year:

If you're part of an office pool where you buy lottery tickets every week . . . with the dream that you'll win and won't have to be coworkers anymore . . . here's some bad news. --What happened to these people in California will NEVER, EVER happen to you. -Last February, 16 school employees won a $12 MILLION SuperLotto jackpot. They all work at Bandini Elementary School in Commerce, California. --Not all of them quit their jobs . . . most of them were doing clerical work . . . and they even used some of their winnings to buy a new sound system for their school. --That good karma paid off. Because they just won their second lottery in less than a year. --This week, the group of 16 cashed in a prize from the December 2nd MegaMillions jackpot. They didn't win the grand prize, but they did take down $262,743 more. And again, they'll make a donation to the school. --The two combined jackpots work out to more than $750,000 per person, before taxes. The workers say they're going to keep playing the lottery. (ABC 7 - Los Angeles)
An NHL Player Injured His Back . . . While Eating a Stack of Pancakes:

Aren't ice hockey players supposed to be some of the TOUGHEST athletes in sports? And if so . . . shouldn't they be trying to cover up this story? --DUSTIN PENNER is a 29-year-old NHL player . . . he's a forward for the L.A. Kings. But on Saturday, he missed the Kings' game against the Columbus Blue Jackets because of a back injury. --A back injury he suffered while . . . EATING PANCAKES. --Dustin says, quote, "I woke up fine, sat down to eat, and [my back] locked right up. It never happened to me before. I couldn't stand up. I was probably at the third stage of evolution. --"I just leaned over to dip into some delicious pancakes that my wife made. It's just like [the pain] wraps around you and squeezes." --Penner was back on the ice against the Washington Capitals last night. (Yahoo Sports)


MEATBALL CRIMINALS

A Man is Caught Hiding in the Attic from the Police . . . When His Two-Year-Old Son Rats Him Out:

I'm guessing this guy wishes he hadn't taught his two-year-old son how to play hide-and-seek. That REALLY came back to bite him over the weekend. --On Saturday afternoon, police were trying to track down 29-year-old Valdet Gjeloshi of St. Petersburg, Florida for a probation violation. --Valdet's had multiple arrests for battery and DUI, so when the cops got to his house, he hid in the attic.
-His girlfriend, 25-year-old Megan Merschen, told the cops he wasn't there. Then she started rattling off other places he might be. --That's when Valdet and Megan's two-year-old son spontaneously announced that his father was hiding in the attic. --The cops went up, found him, and arrested him for the probation violation and for resisting an officer without violence. Megan was also arrested for obstruction. (Lakeland Ledger)



RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS


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


Photo of the Day: A wild leopard wandered into a city in India and scalped a guy. (Full Story)


According to the state-run media of North Korea, Kim Jong-il's recent death has been marked by flocks of magpies hovering near his statue, and bears who left their winter hibernation to cry by the side of the road. (Full Story)


There's a new Facebook app called "If I Die" where you write messages to people, and they're posted on your profile after you die. (Full Story)


NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) A Military Prosecutor in Poland Ended a Press Conference, Shot Himself in the Face . . . and Survived:

A military prosecutor in Poland held a press conference on Monday, then asked all the reporters to leave the room so he could take a break. And once they did, he SHOT HIMSELF IN THE FACE. The craziest part is . . . he survived. --Several reporters left their cameras running, so there are two videos of it online. But neither of them show the actual shooting. They both show him finishing the press conference. Then he steps out of frame, and you hear a gunshot, then a thud. --He'd just finished denying allegations that military prosecutors broke the law while they were investigating the 2010 plane crash that killed Poland's president. (--The British newspaper "The Telegraph" has a video of it with subtitles. Search for "Polish Prosecutor Survives Shooting Himself." It happens at :47. Or watch the other video of it here.)


#2.) "Good Morning America's" Weatherman Accidentally Drew the Outline of a Guy's Junk on His Weather Map:


It seems like this happens a lot to weathermen: Yesterday, "Good Morning America's" SAM CHAMPION was talking about how much snow the U.S. got last winter compared to this year. --And when he circled the northern U.S. on the screen, he inadvertently drew the unmistakable outline of a guy's JUNK. (--Search for "Sam Champion Accidentally Draws Junk." He starts drawing at :24.)

#3.) And Now . . . an Idiot Climbs Through the Moonroof of His Moving Car and Surfs on the Windshield:

There's a video of some moron on YouTube car-surfing WHILE he's driving. It starts with him sitting in the driver's seat, speeding down the highway. --Then he climbs through the moonroof, steps out onto the windshield, and stands there for a full minute. His buddy's riding shotgun and filming, so it's not as crazy as if the dude was driving by himself, but still. (--Search for "Crazy Dude Surfs on His Car's Windshield." WARNING: He makes a few crude gestures with his hands while he's on the car.)


The Top Four Habits That Irritate Your Boss:

Most workers THINK they're great employees. But you might be annoying your boss on a daily basis without even realizing it. Here's a list from AskMen.com of the top four habits that irritate your boss.

#1.) Not Showing Initiative . . . Or Showing TOO MUCH Initiative. You shouldn't wait to be told what to do, especially when it's slow. And if you just mess around on Facebook until something comes in, it makes you look unmotivated. --But you don't want to overdo it either. A lot of people try to impress their boss by going above and beyond on every small task they're asked to do. But instead of making you look like a hard worker, it can make you seem inefficient.

#2.) Making Excuses. When you mess up, just admit it and try to learn from it. Bosses hate it when you attempt to justify something you did wrong, even if you're telling the truth. --Obviously you have to EXPLAIN yourself. Just don't try to shift the blame. Explain what happened, take any steps you can to fix it, then move on.

#3.) Complaining. Critiquing something about the company is okay . . . as long as you don't step on anyone's toes. But a complaint is different. Critiques are constructive. Complaints aren't, which is why you should save them for happy hour.

#4.) Asking Too Many Questions. If you're new, you'll obviously need to ask more than usual. But if it's a chronic problem, it makes you look like you can't do things by yourself . . . which means you probably won't get promoted. --Maybe you're just trying to be thorough, but companies generally value the people who are resourceful enough to figure things out on their own. (AskMen.com)