Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Michael Curry Fired


The Pistons fired Michael Curry on Tuesday after Detroit finished under .500 in his first year as coach and was swept in the first round of the playoffs.

The Pistons began the season with big expectations but couldn't recover from the loss of All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups in a November trade to Denver for Allen Iverson.

The Pistons went 39-43 and left the postseason after four lopsided losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Joe Dumars, the team's president for basketball operations, said after that series that Curry would return.

Apparently, that idea didn't last very long.

"This was a difficult decision to make," Dumars said in a statement Tuesday. "I want to thank Michael for his hard work and dedication to the organization. However, at this time, I have decided to make a change."

Ed Thomas Funeral

The funeral for Ed Thomas was held this week, and there were NFL players in attendance.

The 58 year-old coach who had been gunned down recently in the Aplington-Parkersburg High School weight room, was mourned and remembered this week.

His funeral was packed, they could barely fit everybody inside the church community center and parking lot. There were four NFL players who had played football for coach Thomas. Green Bay Packers linebacker Aaron Kampman, Jacksonville Jaguars center Brad Meester, Detroit Lions defensive end Jared DeVries and Denver Broncos center Casey Wiegmann.

All four served as pallbearers.

Kate Gosselin Book Postponed "Love is in the Mix: Making Meals into Memories"


Kate Gosselin’s book has been postponed “Love is in the Mix: Making Meals into Memories.”

Kate's book which promised “an inside look at one of America’s most close-knit families,” has now been delayed by Christian publisher Zondervan to a later time not specified.

This move will hurt both Kate and the publisher, the date had been chosen way before the Gosselin family started to dissolve.

Jon and Kate are now in a heated divorce and such a loving and heartwarming title doesn't seem fitting for a book written by someone with such big marital problems. It seems the initial appearance of the couple was not forthcoming.

The book was supposed to have Kate's favorite recipes and tips for eating organic also features “meaningful mealtime blessings.”

Monday, June 29, 2009

Fred Travalena Dies


The famous impressionist, Fred Travalena who headlined in Vegas dies at age 66.

Fred Travalena would do impressions of musicians, movie stars and even presidents. He covered nearly every president from Kennedy to Obama. He also covered musicians from Frank Sinatra to Bruce Springsteen and actors from Marlon Brando to Tom Cruise.

Publicist Roger Neal says Travalena died Sunday at his home in the Encino area after a recurrence of the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that first showed itself in 2002.

Travalena was known for the gigantic amount of celebrities he imitated, leading to nicknames like "The Man of a Thousand Voices" and "Mr. Everybody."

The Bronx native started his career in Las Vegas back in 1971.

There aren't many like him, and he will be missed.

For more on the story

Princess Protection Program

The Disney Channel original movie titled Princess Protection Program came out three days ago.

It was a made for TV movie that starred Selena Gomez who tries to help a princess (Demi Lovato) adapt to normal life. The two actresses are apparently best friends in real life.

This TV flick would definitely be a great show that young girls would really enjoy.

Here is the trailer:

Farrah Fawcett Memorial


The funeral and memorial service for Farrah Fawcett will be held Tuesday. The beauty icon and star actress lost her three year long battle with anal cancer this past week.

E! Online reports that Farrah Fawcett’s family has decided to hold a memorial that will be closed to the media and public Tuesday at 4pm at the downtown landmark.

According to reports, there will be another private service for Farrah Fawcett where only family and friends may attend. This memorial will also be held Tuesday, and will be in Santa Monica.

If you are interested in paying your respects leave a comment about something you liked or will miss about Farrah Fawcett.

This has been a bizarre week where lots of celebrities have passed away, our thoughts and prayers go out to their families and loved ones.

Here is a tribute video:

Obama Letter To Jackson Family

President Barack Obama has sent a written letter of condolences to the Jackson family, an Obama adviser said Sunday.

The President had been blamed in some areas for his slow and informal acknowledgement of Michael Jackson’s death, according to the Politico.

“The president has written the family and has shared his feelings with the family,” Obama senior adviser David Axelrod said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Axelrod said that President Obama was prepared to recognize Jackson at a press availability Friday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, but apparently no reporter brought up Jackson’s death.

“The president obviously believes that he was an important and magnificent performer,” Axelrod said on NBC. “Obviously, he led a sad life in many ways as well but his impact is undeniable.”

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Wimbledon TV Schedule


Here is the upcoming Wimbledon TV schedule:

Wednesday, June 247:00 am - 5:00 pmWimbledon (M/W): Early roundsESPN2 - LIVE
Thursday, June 257:00 am - 5:00 pmWimbledon (M/W): Early roundsESPN2 - LIVE
Friday, June 267:00 am - 5:00 pmWimbledon (M/W): Early roundsESPN2 - LIVE
Saturday, June 278:00 am - 3:00 pmWimbledon (M/W): Early roundsESPN2 - LIVE
Saturday, June 273:00 pm - 6:00 pmWimbledon (M/W): Early roundsNBC - LIVE
Monday, June 297:00 am - 10:00 amWimbledon (M/W): Early roundsESPN2 - LIVE
Monday, June 2910:00 am - 1:00 pmWimbledon (M/W): Early roundsNBC - LIVE
Monday, June 291:00 pm - 7:00 pmWimbledon (M/W): Early roundsESPN2 - LIVE
Tuesday, June 307:00 am - 10:00 amWimbledon (W): QuarterfinalsESPN2 - LIVE
Tuesday, June 3010:00 am - 1:00 pmWimbledon (W): QuarterfinalsNBC - LIVE
Tuesday, June 301:00 pm - 5:00 pmWimbledon (W): QuarterfinalsESPN2 - LIVE
Wednesday, July 17:00 am - 10:00 amWimbledon (M): QuarterfinalsESPN2 - LIVE
Wednesday, July 110:00 am - 1:00 pmWimbledon (M): QuarterfinalsNBC - LIVE
Wednesday, July 11:00 pm - 5:00 pmWimbledon (M): QuarterfinalsESPN2 - LIVE
Thursday, July 27:00 am - 12:00 pmWimbledon (W): SemifinalsESPN2 - LIVE
Thursday, July 212:00 pm - 5:00 pmWimbledon (W): SemifinalsNBC - LIVE
Friday, July 37:00 am - 12:00 pmWimbledon (M): SemifinalsESPN2 - LIVE
Friday, July 312:00 pm - 5:00 pmWimbledon (M): SemifinalsNBC - LIVE
Saturday, July 49:00 am - 2:00 pmWimbledon (W): FinalNBC - LIVE
Sunday, July 59:00 am - 3:00 pmWimbledon (M): FinalNBC - LIVE

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Savings Rate at 15-year high


The savings rate in the U.S. has jumped to a 15-year high.

Due in part to the stimulus package and the increase of incomes jumped 1.4 percent, the biggest gain in a year and easily outpacing the 0.3 percent increase that economists expected.

The savings rate, which was hovering near zero in early 2008, surged to 6.9 percent, the highest level since December 1993.

"Personal tax cuts and government income support have brought consumers back from the dead, but the recuperation period promises to be a long one," said Sal Guatieri, an economist at BMO Capital Markets.

Some financial analysts think this savings rate increase will cause a slow down of the economy due to lack of spending.

This savings rate increase will probably take a couple of weeks before banks implement the actual change for their customers.

Daryl Hannah Arrested


Entertainers and their causes, they always seem to be unusual, to say the least. Daryl Hannah's cause is one of those examples, she was arrested trying to save a farm essentially.

Hannah and 40 others were arrested when they chained themselves to chestnut trees or but themselves in concrete filled barrels to stop the destruction of a farm. Hannah climbed one of the trees and shouted at construction workers with her megaphone in protest.

The actress and the other tree-sitters were brought fire trucks and fireman cut down the chains. The resistors raised their fists as they were removed.

“I’m very confident this is the morally right thing to do, to take a principled stand in solidarity with the farmers.” says Hannah.

About 350 people grow produce and flowers on the 14 acres of privately owned land located in Los Angeles, in an inner-city area surrounded by warehouses and railroad tracks.

The garden has been there for more than ten years, but the landowner, Ralph Horowitz, now wants to replace it with a warehouse.

At daybreak Tuesday, 120 deputies, some with batons and riot helmets, showed up to serve an eviction order that a judge signed last month. Deputies used saws to cut down the chain-link fence around the site.


Dozens of protesters chanted, “We’re here and we’re not going to leave!” in Spanish, blew whistles and blocked traffic in the surrounding streets. Protesters linked arms and sat on the tracks. Officers dragged some protesters away.

Photo by MSNBC

Virgin Mobile FreeFest Tickets


The 2009 Virgin Mobile FreeFest tickets will be available on Saturday, and guess what — they’re free! If you pick up your tickets instead of having them delivered to you, they are totally free.

There’s a $5 delivery free if you want your tickets mailed to you, If you pick them up at Merriweather Post Pavillion or the 9:30 Club, there’s no cost at all.

The Virgin Mobile FreeFest is Aug. 30, and it features several popular bands — bands that could probably charge $60 to $100 for tickets. The Virgin Mobile Free Fest is at Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, Maryland.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Christopher Gorham Spotlight


Christopher Gorham will likely be an upcoming star in both television and movies. This thirty four year old actor looks a lot younger than his age yet still has the skills of a more established actor.

If you are unsure to whom I am referring to, Gorham plays the male lead role of Henry Dunn in Harper’s Island. Without spoiling the plot of the show, I will say that he is one of the best actors on the show. He is intriguing and real, his reactions to horrific scenes are candid and not trite. Gorham has a wide range of emotions and viewers who watch him feel like they can relate to him personally.

Christopher can play the compassionate boyfriend in Harper’s Island or an mild mannered accountant who catches Betty’s eye on the popular T.V. show Ugly Betty.

It was shocking that I had never heard of Christopher Gorham before the season of Harper’s Island. He does and outstanding job and should be able to find lots of work in Hollywood now that he has been on two successful shows.

He was also in Out of Practice and Jake 2.0 (as the main character). Evidently Jake 2.0 only lasted one season, but Gorham didn’t give up on his acting career due to one failed show and look where it got him.

Now he has been gaining tremendous popularity and has a role in his first movie My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend. He is rumored to play a big role as Ethan (one of the main characters) alongside Alyssa Milano. The film sounds like a romantic comedy and could be just the thing to really launch Gorham into the Hollywood spotlight.

We are intrigued to see the rest of Harper’s Island and hopefully Gorham doesn’t get killed off. We also wish him the best in all his endeavors in his future movie career.

Was Bob Bowersox Fired?

Bob Bowersox left the shopping network QVC some time ago. It has not been clarified whether the famous actor/spokesperson was fired or just quit.

The shopping network did not extend or make a big deal of his absence. The most current conclusion in the QVC viewer community is that he did not renew his contract and the network didn't fight to get him back.

Bowersox has done some acting work and had said a couple of months before that he wanted to pursue other avenues. Who knows? We may end up seeing him in a big movie some day.

Vista Buyers Get Free Windows 7


Microsoft is offering Vista Ultimate users a free upgrade to receive Windows 7.

"I'd like to see a free upgrade [to Windows 7] for Vista Ultimate users," said Michael Cherry, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft. "It would buy them a lot of good will, and I don't think it would cost them much."

Cherry cited Microsoft's failure to deliver on the promise of "Ultimate Extras" as his reason for urging the company to compensate users.

There have been users who quickly took Microsoft to task for too few add-ons and a too-slow release pace of Vista Ultimate. Those fans definitely deserve some compensation.

Only thing is, how do we know that Windows 7 won't be a resource hog and have bugs?

The price for Windows 7 has not been set just yet, but you can be sure it will be high.

WHO: H1N1 Virus Is Stable


The World Health Organization is now saying that the H1N1 virus is becoming stable.

The virus also known as Swine Flu has not mixed with other influenza viruses. Many health officials were worried that this virus would mix with H5N1 (Bird Flu).

"The virus is still very stable," WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan told reporters at a news briefing in Moscow when asked if there were any signs of the virus mixing with other strains such as avian flu.

"But as we all know the influenza virus is highly unpredictable and has great potential for mutation," Chan said after meeting Russian Health Minister Tatyana Golikova.

Chan's remarks are some of the first comments by the WHO leadership since the United Nations agency declared an influenza pandemic on June 11.

Chan said the viruses needed to be closely monitored to make sure there was no mutation.

"We would need to look at how they are behaving in southern hemisphere countries to see whether the H1N1 and the usual seasonal influenza virus would reassort. So far we have not detected any signal," she said.

"Another important thing we need to monitor is H1N1 and H5N1, which is endemic in some countries in Asia and the Middle East. We would like to see whether there will be any change," she said. "Again, we did not detect any signal that there is any reassortment."

Chan, a straight-talking native of Hong Kong, said that while much effort was being expended on seeking vaccines, common sense measures could still reduce risks of being infected.

"In prevention and reducing the risk of this infection there is of course a lot of attention given to antivirals and vaccines. But we must not forget there are what we call non pharmaceutical measures which are very effective," she said.

"These are simple measures that each individual can take to protect themselves: don't smoke, get enough rest, eat a balanced diet to support a high level of immunity and frequent washing hands with water and soap."

"If you do unfortunately get infected, please do go to see a doctor."

Rosie O'Donnell on XM Radio


Rosie Radio will launch this fall and air Monday through Friday from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm ET/7:00 - 9:00 am PT exclusively on SIRIUS XM Stars, SIRIUS channel 102 and XM channel 155. Rosie Radio will be a daily, two-hour talk show on which the multi-talented entertainer will blend her many passions and interests - an eclectic mix of humor, pop culture and serious conversation.

"Rosie O'Donnell is a powerful, dynamic and entertaining voice and now you can only get her on SIRIUS XM," said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SIRIUS XM Radio. "Rosie's millions of fans will hear her as they never have before, and have the chance to call in and talk to her and her intriguing guests. Rosie Radio will entertain, inform, surprise and delight."'

"This is an exciting new adventure - two hours of talk show entertainment, without having to wear makeup. Perfection," said Rosie O'Donnell. "I can't wait to jumpstart each day with millions of SIRIUS XM listeners across the country."

Rosie's extraordinary life, interests, and experiences will drive content for the show. On Rosie Radio she will tackle a variety of topics with honesty and humor. The show will have an ensemble feel, and a wide range of guests will stop by to hang out including celebrities, everyday Americans, and other people of note that Rosie wants to have join the conversation.

Rosie Radio joins a compelling and expanding lineup of women's programming and hosts on SIRIUS XM that includes Oprah Radio, Martha Stewart Living Radio, and Barbara Walters.

John Malkovich Technobohemian Line


John Malkovich is preparing to launch his Technobohemian clothing line soon.

For those of you that don't know, Malkovich is into fashion design as well as the art of acting.

Malkovich is hosting a cocktail party at the White Homme trade fair in Milan, Italy to promote this new brand. The clothing line will consist of casual men's ware.

This is not the first time Malkovich has launched a clothing line. Back in 2002 he launched the Uncle Kimono clothing line.

The clever fashion innovator explained his curious word choice for his new line on the party invitation:

“Technobohemian is a phrase I read in a yet unpublished Italian novel - I lift it with the author’s permission and I will endeavor to use it well!”

Phoenix Trades Shaq to Cleveland


Huge news in the sports world, Shaq has been traded to the Cleveland Cavs. The Cavaliers gave up center Ben Wallace and guard Sasah Pavlovic to get the big time player.

Despite having superstar Lebron James, the Cavs lacked a dominating inside presence to combat Dwight Howard. They believe with Shaquille O'neal they get that center that will make a big impact.

Shaq is scheduled to earn $21 million for the 2009-2010 season, while Wallace is expected to earn $14 million. Pavlovic has a $4.9 million deal, but less than half of that is guaranteed.

Ben Wallace is widely anticipated to get a buyout from the Suns and announce his retirement. Wallace broke his leg late in the regular season and was able to return for the playoffs but received few minutes.

The Suns are also expected to cut Pavlovic in order to save more money. The organization lost money this last season and expects to save roughly $10 million through this deal. Essentially the Suns will try to rebuild their team from the bottom up. They still have key pieces like Steve Nash and Jason Richardson to mold their organization into a playoff contender.

Oddly enough, there are rumors that Shaq found out the trade was finalized through Twitter.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

USA Spain 2-0 Confederations Cup (Video)

The USA shocked the world and beat Spain 2-0 in the Confederations Cup.

Spain was ranked number one in the world at the time they were handed their loss. This will go down as one of the biggest international upsets in soccer history.

Jozy Altidore scored in the 27th minute while Clint Dempsey scored in the 74th for the U.S., and goalkeeper Tim Howard made eight saves for the team. Dempsey also received his second Man of the Match award.

Bob Bradley, coach of the U.S. soccer team had this to say:

“For us it’s a big night. The players all work hard. We constantly talk about reaching higher and trying to accomplish new things. Spain is a team that we have the greatest respect for. They are a super team. Their ability to play, pass and move. We knew it was a challenge, but we felt that we would have a chance and that we could win this game.”

This will be the first time the U.S. men have reached a major international final. The U.S. will play the winner of Thursday night’s semifinal match between Brazil and South Africa on Sunday.

If they play Brazil and win, that might be even more shocking!

Checkout the highlights of the game:

Jeff Jordan Leaves Illinois Basketball


Jeff Jordan the son of basketball great Michael Jordan leaves the Illinois basketball program.

He has decided to quit basketball all together and focus on his college studies.

"I loved playing for the Fighting Illini and appreciate the support I was given by my teammates, coaches and the great fans here," Jordan said. "But I have come to the point where I'm ready to focus on life after basketball. I will concentrate on earning my degree from the University of Illinois and the opportunities that await upon graduating."

Jordan played two seasons with Illinois with a total of 58 points in 59 career games. He averaged 8.4 minutes a contest during his sophomore season.

"Jeff was an invaluable member of our team the past two seasons and I thank him for his contribution to our program," Coach Bruce Weber said. "He brought great work ethic to the gym and pushed himself, as well as his teammates, each and every day to improve. We will miss him, but we fully support the decision he has made."

Don't worry though, Michael has another son, Marcus who will start playing basketball for the University of Central Florida in the fall.

Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo Break Up (Video)


All the break up rumors about Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo have finally been confirmed.

The two are indeed throwing in the towel after three years of time together.

Vanessa's public relations manager told People, "They have amicably split but remain good friends who still greatly care for one another."

The two spent tons of time hopping from one island resort to another. When the party stopped, so did their relationship evidently.

There are also rumors that questions from the media about children and pressure from Vanessa for a ring might have lead to Nick exiting stage right.

Brett Favre & Vikings Training Camp


Brett Favre is crossing over to the other side, the Vikings. He is all set to go to their training camp.

The Minnesota Vikings have an agreement in principle with quarterback Brett Favre, who will report to their NFL training camp.

Multiple sources, both Internet and radio, have claimed that a completed contract is imminent and that Favre will likely sign an incentive-laden one-year deal that might reach the level of $8-10 million.

A formal announcement will probably not come until later in the week.

According to the Bleacher Report, Vikings head coach Brad Childress is fishing in Alaska along with Eagles head coach Andy Reid, so that will only delay the announcement.

Unless the deal falls through, Favre gives the Vikings an immediate upgrade at the QB position over Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, who were expected to compete for the starting job.

Coach Ed Thomas Dies


Well known Iowa football coach Ed Thomas has died following a shooting at Aplington Parkersburg High School. According to reports, the head coach was shot several times at point blank range around 8:30 a.m. today.

A witness says someone shot Thomas in the high school’s weight room. Several students were in the weight room at the time of the shooting. No other injuries or deaths have been reported.

Butler County authorities took a suspect, who has not been identified, into custody. “It’s a young individual,” Sheriff Jason Johnson told the Waterloo Courier of the shooter.

Thomas, 58, was rushed to Covenant Medical Center and died shortly after arriving to the emergency room. A motive for the shooting has not been determined.

Thomas recently finished his 37th season of coaching high school football teams. He lead Aplington Parkersburg to 19 state playoffs. In 2003, he was named the NFL High School Coach of the Year.

Four of Thomas’ former players are currently playing in the NFL -- Brad Meester of Jacksonville; Jared DeVries; Casey Wiegmann of Denver; and Aaron Kampman of Green Bay.

Twilight Lip Gloss "Lip Venom"


Can't get enough Twilight? Well now there is "Lip Venom V" the same brand of lipstick used on the set for the film.

Now that Twilight has become such a success, tweens are mimicking the dark world's beauty secrets.

Here is how DuWop describes it: "Instead of a gloss, Lip Venom V is a shimmering crimson lip stain suspended in a venom-laced liquid lip conditioner with a bite, and contains argan, avocado, olive oils and vitamin E. This product should be shaken before use to represent the blending of the human and vampire worlds ..."

The 'Lip Venom V' costs $16 and as only a limited number have been produced, the product is being limited to two per customer. No word yet on other products included in the "Twilight" line.

Facebook Movie & Aaron Sorkin

Writer/producer Aaron Sorkin looks to cover a much more contemporary topic than "Charlie Wilson's War," he is aiming his sights at a "Facebook" movie.

The movie would be about true story about how a couple of Harvard grads founded the most successful social networking site of all time back in 2004.

Sorkin's resume also includes scripting "A Few Good Men," "The American President," "Sports Night," "The West Wing" and "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip."

Do you think there needs to be a Facebook movie, or is this ridiculous?

Audrey Hepburn Stamp Worth $93,000!


This Audrey Hepburn stamp has got to be one of the most expensive, it sold at auction for $93,000 this week in Berlin.

The stamp is so rare that only five copies of it exist in the entire world. The stamp was auctioned off at The Schlegel auction house, who refused to identify the buyer.

The minimum bid for the stamp was 30,000 euros.

In 2001 the government printed 14 million Audrey Hepburn stamps as part of a series, which also featured Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, and Greta Garbo. However the print run was destroyed after Hepburn’s son, Sean Ferrer, refused to grant a copyright. Sean took issue with the cigarette holder hanging from the actress’ mouth in the picture, which was taken for the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Audrey died of cancer, and Sean said that he hopes the seller will put the money towards cancer research or an anti-smoking campaign.


Although the stamps never went into circulation, the Finance Ministry did deliver advance copies of the Hepburn stamps to Deutsche Post for approval. Thirty of those proof copies disappeared, and five are known to remain. That is how the Audrey Hepburn stamp came to be worth so much.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Dallas Cowboys Heavy Metal Deal


Three Dallas Cowboys have signed a heavy metal record deal with an Australian music company.

The "heavier than metal" rockers are none other than lineman Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo and Cory Procter.

Their band named "Free Reign" has a debut album coming out this fall produced by Australia's Riot Entertainment.

"Free Reign is a band with massive potential," Riot owner John Howarth said in a news release Tuesday. "

He added, "There has been an enormous buzz surrounding them since they appeared on the scene a few months ago. Free Reign has already been flooded with endorsements. Their marketing potential is limitless. These guys are already huge sports stars, but they have shown they have the talent to diversify."

Guitarist Justin Chapman is the fourth member of the group. Their final gig of the offseason is Saturday at the House of Blues in Dallas.

Riot also has signed the group Fozzy, which includes professional wrestler Chris Jericho.

Twilight Barbie Dolls!


We all know the movie Twilight was a huge success with tweens and had a similar cult following like the Harry Potter books. But now they have Barbie dolls for the film!

Excuse me, but there are not supposed to be barbie dolls for vampire films. Well the merchandising firm for the film seems to think it's okay.

Bella Swan's doll is wearing her trademark outfit; jeans, sneaks and gray jacket just like Kristen Stewart in the film. The Edward Cullen doll has the light pale skin and piercing eyes, modeled after Rob Pattinson. The dolls are being sold separately online through Toys R Us's Canadian store but will not be shipped until late October.

Ah, so it's the Canadians we should blame for this nonsense.

Crooked Houses Jon and Kate Video

Thanks to the show "Jon and Kate Plus 8" there may be a new trend that all the kids are going to want and love - crooked houses. The couple ordered them four their kids and bought four of them.

The houses start at $1,249 for an unassembled, unpainted house. Customized homes start at around $5,000 and the houses the Gosselins bought cost around $7,000.

While these are not exactly cheap, after Kate said the word crooked houses, a surge of traffic went to the crooked houses website. Company owner Glen Halliday said that within 60 seconds of Kate saying the phrase ‘crooked houses’ on TV there were 170,000 visitors to their Web site. Crazy!

Since the crooked houses episode aired on TLC about 500,000 people logged on to the site Monday, with nearly 7,000 people ordering catalogs.

Watch the Video Here

Scientists Compare Sharks and Serial Killers


According to a study published online Monday in the Journal of Zoology - Great White sharks have a lot in common with serial killers. They don't just attack at random, they stealthy stalk their specific victim.

The New York Daily News reported that sharks observe their prey from a not-too-close, not-too-far base and hut methodically. The research also found that sharks learn from past attempts.

"There's some strategy going on," said study co-author Neil Hammerschlag, a shark researcher who observed 340 great white shark attacks on seals off an island in South Africa.

The sharks could have just hung around right where the seals gathered if they were random killers-of-opportunity, Hammerschlag said.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

700 NYC Teachers Are Paid To Do Nothing


Hundreds of New York City public school teachers accused of offenses ranging from insubordination to sexual misconduct are being paid their full salaries to sit around all day playing Scrabble, surfing the Internet or just staring at the wall, if that's what they want to do.

Because their union contract makes it extremely difficult to fire them, the teachers have been banished by the school system to its "rubber rooms" — off-campus office space where they wait months, even years, for their disciplinary hearings.

The 700 or so teachers can practice yoga, work on their novels, paint portraits of their colleagues — pretty much anything but school work. They have summer vacation just like their classroom colleagues and enjoy weekends and holidays through the school year.

"You just basically sit there for eight hours," said Orlando Ramos, who spent seven months in a rubber room, officially known as a temporary reassignment center, in 2004-05. "I saw several near-fights. `This is my seat.' `I've been sitting here for six months.' That sort of thing."

Melissa Rycroft on GMA


Melissa Rycroft is all set to be a co-anchor on GMA (Good Morning America). She has been on "The Bachelor," "Dancing With The Stars," a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader as well as a swimsuit model.

She can obviously handle the pressure of the cameras being on her. Will she make a good host?

She discusses her new found role, "It's amazing," she says. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be part of 'Good Morning America.' It's an opportunity I'm grateful for and I hope I don't disappoint anybody."

"My life has changed, literally, in almost every aspect," she says about her sudden rise to fame. "I love it, I enjoy it -- it's funny because I never dreamed about it, but I have no complaints. It's an opportunity of a lifetime."

Congratulations and we wish you the best in your new career!

Jon & Kate File for Divorce


After 10 years of marriage, eight children and one successful reality show Jon and Kate Gosselin have filed initial divorce paperwork, according to a report.

The couple submitted documents for a legal separation at the Bucks County Courthouse in Reading, Pennsylvania on Monday, People magazine is reporting.

Jon was photographed on Sunday celebrating Father’s Day with his children. Kate was not present.

Maybe a reality show wasn't the best thing for a marriage with eight kids.

What will the new show be? "Jon and Kate Fight Over Custody of 8".

Oprah's 55th Birthday in Barcelona


Oprah has decided to go to Barcelona for her 55th Birthday Bash.

Can you believe she is taking all 1700 of her Harpo employees with her? Not only that, but she is going to foot the bill for all expenses!

Oprah was seen in Spain touring the famous Catholic church Sagrada Familia (Temple of the Holy Family) along with her best friend Gayle King. They also attended the fiesta at the Poble Espanyol, which was complete with concerts and performances by flamenco dancers.

Oprah and her crew will spend three days in Barcelona before getting on a 10-day Mediterranean cruise, where they will travel from Barcelona on the Norwegian Gem liner to Italy, Turkey, Greece, and Malta. Oprah is paying for everything which comes down to $5400 a person which totals $9.2 million total! Talk about generous!

Monday, June 22, 2009

JibJab: President Obama as a Superhero

The website JibJab.com have made many satirical videos on Barack Obama, but this is the first one to depict him as a superhero.

The comedy team made a seamless, professional video with a catchy phrase "Barack Obama! He's come to save the day".

According to Fox News this video played at the Radio and Television Correspondents dinner and Obama was laughing hysterically while it played. I guess it's weird seeing yourself in spandex trying to "save the world".

Checkout the funny video:

Amy Mickelson


It was a sad day in the sports world when Phil Mickelson's wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer. Phil had decided to indefinitely postpone his PGA tour to go home and be with Amy. The news of Amy's cancer came out about a month ago. The couple have a young girl named Amanda.

Golfers have grown to love Mickelson since his battle in the 1999 U.S. Open against Payne Stewart. He lost when Payne Stewart made a fifteen foot putt and put his fist in the air in celebration. Stewart then came over to Mickelson and clutched his face telling him "Good luck with the baby. There's nothing like being a father." Phil then hoped on a plane to go see his wife a soon-to-be child. This was four months before Stewart's tragic death in a plane accident.

Phil came back after his recent absense from the PGA and played in the U.S. Open and was trying to win the tournament for his wife. Unfortunately, he fell short. We are pulling for Amy and hope that somehow she defeats the cancer. She is due for surgery in the next week.

Looking Into The Past Pictures

Pictures can show us where we came from and where we are headed. These unique photos show us the past in a cool sort of way. You take a picture from a long time ago and go find that exact spot and hold it up. It works best with neighborhoods, parks, or downtown areas. It is very interesting and bizarre to see how much places transform over time.

Morgan-Leigh Norman


Morgan Leigh Norman is the daughter of famous golfer Greg Norman.

She is attractive and fairly young at 29. Morgan also dated popular professional golfer Sergio Garcia.

Morgan got her education from Boston College and she has her aims towards culinary arts.

She also gave company to her father throughout his career in golf. She later joined the food and wine magazine.

Her mother got divorced from Greg Norman in 2007 after 27 years of marriage.

Her and her brother expect to inherit 103 million dollars when their father passes away.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Keishla Villafane Rivera


Keishla Villafane Rivera has been stripped of her Miss Puerto Rico Petite title due to bad conduct.

The unruly 19-year-old was so hard to deal with that the pageant company is going to sue her! She used coarse language and made assault threats toward pageant staff members. She also allowed her image to be used for advertisements without the approval from the pageant.

Libni Garcia, a spokeswoman for the pageant said, “We were trying to handle this conduct of hers, but it was impossible; it was constant.”

Tamara Perez, a competitor in last year’s Miss Puerto Rico Petite pageant fill in for Keishla Villafane Rivera until next years competition in August.

Elin Nordegren


Elin Nordegren was a Swedish au pair for Jesper Pernevik's children before she met Tiger Woods.

Pernevik introduced her to Tiger during the 2001 British Open.

In October of 2004, the two were married at the 19th hold of Sandy Lane resort in Barbados. The ceremony reportedly cost over $1.5 million.

Now she is the famous wife of the amazing golfer and has even gotten to do some modeling thanks to her newfound popularity.

She and Tiger recently had their second child named Charlie. Nordegren's mother is a politician and her father is a radio journalist.

Colby Curtin Has Dying Wish Fulfilled By Pixar


A young girl by the name of Colby Curtin had a wish -"live to see the (Pixar) movie" Up.

The brave 10-year-old girl had vascular cancer and when the film came out complications arose with her health which stopped her from being able to travel to the theater. The family called Pixar to request a showing. So a Pixar representative went to the hospital with stuffed animals and a DVD copy of the movie.

The child couldn't see the screen because of the pain, but her mother described the film to her as it played. She died seven hours after the screening.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

First Dog Bo Gets His Official Portrait


Bo Obama is now the third Obama family member to get his official portrait. The dog posed on the front lawn in front of the white house for his professional pic.

The picture was taken by the official White House photographer Chuck Kennedy.

Bo even has his own baseball card that people are collecting. It has some fun facts like what his likes to eat and where he was born.

If you want to receive one of these baseball cards, here's what to do:

Just send your request (though it's not required, a stamped, self-addressed envelope might speed things up) to:

Bo Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

Puppy Survives Flushing



One puppy in Britain had a close call with death after being flushed down the toilet.

It all happened when the cocker spaniel pup was being cleaned by his 4-year-old master because he was all muddy. The young child told Britain's Daily Mirror that he flushed the dog down the drain.

The boy's mother was quoted as saying she thought the dog was dead. However, there was a drainage firm that was able to quickly locate the dog 20 yards away from the house using specialist camera gear.

Pictures of the soaked, shocked-looking puppy trapped in a pipe were posted to the firm Dyno-Rod's Web site and broadcast on British television Monday.

The company says the dog is now fine.

Duggar Family Grandchild


The Duggars live in northwest Arkansas and are featured on TLC's "18 Kids and Counting." Well their eldest, Joshua was recently married in September to a girl named Anna. The two are already pregnant 5 months into their marriage. It seems they are carrying on the family tradition already.

What will they name their kid?

"We're pretty sure we're not going to go with J," he said. This is because his parents Jim Bob and Michelle named all 18 of their kids with J names.

Josh, 21, and Anna, 20, live in Springdale, where they run a car dealership. Josh said he and Anna are frequently asked whether they'll have a large family.

"We have committed leaving that area up to God as far as our family size," he said.

The baby is due sometime in October.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Nestle Recalls Cookie Dough


After news of E.Coli illnesses being reported, Nestle has issued a recall on their refrigerated cookie dough.

In a statement, the FDA said there have been 66 reports of illness across 28 states since March. About 25 people have been hospitalized, but no one has died.

Here are the type of cookie dough you should avoid (and has been recalled):

Refrigerated cookie bar dough, cookie dough tub, cookie dough tubes, limited edition cookie dough items, seasonal cookie dough and Ultimates cookie bar dough. It extends to chocolate chip dough and other varieties, including gingerbread, sugar and peanut butter cookie dough. It does not affect any other Toll House products, including ice cream that contains Toll House raw cookie dough.

"Bunny Lady" Arrested


After violating her court order the "Bunny Lady" has been arrested.

This woman just can't seem to stay away from bunnies. Yeah, they're cute, but c'mon they aren't worth going to jail over.

Police in Oregon said Miriam Sakewitz, 47, was arrested in 2006 for keeping more than 200 rabbits (plus 88 dead ones) has again been arrested for hoarding bunnies in her hotel room.

Police had to break into her Homestead Studio Suites Hotel room to seize the bunnies and arrest Sakewitz. She had 13 live animals and one dead rabbit.

She was arraigned Wednesday on charges of violating the terms of her probation. She was ordered held without bail in the Washington County Jail. She is due back in court June 26.

Sakewitz was previously charged with violating her probation in 2008 when she was found to have a rabbit and a dog in her home. She was also accused of contacting two of her former attorneys against the orders of the court.

Morgan Freeman Affair With E'Dena Hines?


There are rumors of a supposed affair between Morgan Freeman and his step-granddaughter E'Dena Hines.

The reports are coming out of National Enquirer so we understand there is a good chance that they are false. We certainly hope they are, as this would ruin our image of the Academy Award winning actor.

The tabloid claims that Morgan and E’Dena have been having an affair for more than ten years. If the allegations are true, E’Dena Hines and Morgan Freeman would have began their relationship when E’Dena was just 17.

This is what the Enquirer is alleging:

“Myrna said E’dena told her that when she was a teenager, she and Morgan went to dinner at a friend’s house one evening. Both had been drinking, and when they returned home, Morgan attempted to have sex with her. They stopped just short of having intercourse. E’Dena explained to Myrna that she stopped Morgan from going any further.”

The Enquirer continues, claiming that E’Dena and Morgan’s relationship put an end to his 25 year marriage, as well as with his alleged relationship with longtime mistress Mary Joyce Hays.

“It’s not technically incest, because they are not related by blood…[but] Morgan is trying desperately to keep his divorce out of open court so all the shameful facts won’t become public.”

E'Dena and Freeman have been seen in public on many occasions with Morgan introducing her as his granddaughter. You think he wouldn't be able to call her that if something was really going on between them.

Blinking Phone Dress


At a fashion show in London, Maria Sharapova was the first show of a blinking phone dress.

The blinking dress is connected to the wearer's phone with bluetooth technology. Whenever the wearer get a phone call the dress lights up. This would be very helpful in a club or bar.

British fashion student Georgie Davis, is the brilliant mind behind this idea. Georgie created the sleeveless knee-length dress as part of a project for school. The right shoulder of the dress has translucent white scales that move and light up. Davis teamed up with Sony Ericsson, to create the blinking phone dress.

Davis explains the idea behind his invention:

“When you’re in a pub or a bar, you can never, ever hear your phone.”

Billy Joel Divorce


After reports from different news agencies circulated that Billy Joel was getting divorced, we were never quite certain, until now. Both representatives have confirmed that the couple are indeed getting a divorce.

There had also been rumors that Joel's 27 year-old wife Katie Lee Joel was having an affair with a fashion designer. Her council has denied any infidelity on her part.

This is not the first time the Piano Man has gone through a divorce. The 60-year-old performer was once married to Christie Brinkley, and also to his business manager Elizabeth Weber.

I suppose the third time wasn't the charm for Joel.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Ryan Reynolds "Entertainment Weekly" Cover


The big time star of "The Proposal" Ryan Reynolds is helping promo his movie by being on the front cover of Entertainment Weekly.

He graced multiple covers of the magazine, with his water gun and snorkeling gear in hand. You can be sure lots of women will be racing to the mailbox for their copy of this month's issue.

What does comedian/movie star Reynolds think of his "sex symbol" status?

When asked about it Reynold sighs, "If you take any of that seriously, you need to be euthanized, ASAP," he jokes.

Spanish Cruise Ship Hit By Swine Flu


A Spanish cruise ship headed to Aruba has been struck by a small outbreak of the swine flue.

A Venezuelan state health official, Jorge Alchaer, initially said the passengers and crew would be held in quarantine aboard the Ocean Dream off Venezuela's Isla Margarita.

The ship was originally carrying 759 passengers and 400 crew members for a planned nine-day tour that began last Friday. But 342 Venezuelan passengers got off in Isla Margarita Wednesday because that was their final destination anyway, said an official with Spanish tour operator Pullmantur, which owns the ship. She spoke on condition of anonymity in line with company rules.

Three crew members have tested positive for swine flu and 11 others have flu symptoms but no passengers have fallen ill, Pullmantur says.

The ship was denied permission to dock in Grenada and Barbados on Wednesday. At that point, the company had not yet received confirmation of the positive cases but warned the authorities in those two countries that some crew members were sick, the company says.

The ship is now scheduled to arrive Thursday in Aruba, where the cruise originally began.

Passengers have apparently complained they are not getting enough information on the swine flu outbreak.

"We are out on the water, with people who do not want to tell us anything. This is not a quarantine, it is a kidnapping," passenger Mario Infantini told the newspaper El Pais.

But the company official said the ship's crew had provided travelers with all information it had as it became available.

Eddie Bauer Bankruptcy



The long time outdoor clothing store Eddie Bauer is filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc., which began as a Seattle fishing shop, later outfitted the first American to climb Mt. Everest and made thousands of newfangled down jackets and sleeping bags for the military during World War II filed for chapter 11 this Wednesday.

The company has said it will try to keep the majority of its 371 stores open and honor its gift cards and hold onto most employees.

It reported a loss for the first quarter of $44.5 million as sales fell 16 percent to $179.8 million.

It had $476.1 million in assets and $426.7 million in debt at the time of the filing Wednesday with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the District of Delaware.

Since becoming CEO in 2007, Neil Fiske tried to turn the company around, cutting jobs and lowering expenses. But the company continued to falter as the economy soured.

"Now you have too many stores chasing shoppers who are more cash- and credit-constrained than any time post-World War II," said retail consultant Burt Flickinger III, managing director of Strategic Resource Group.

"Eddie Bauer is a good company with a great brand and a bad balance sheet," CEO Fiske said in the statement. "This process will allow the business to emerge with far less debt, positioned for growth as the economy recovers and as our new products gain traction."

Eddie Bauer said it has a commitment from its existing lenders for so called debtor-in-possession financing of $90 million.

Eddie Bauer is in the same circle as Circuit City, Linens 'N Things, Mervyns and other retail chains that have filed for bankruptcy court protection as consumer spending fell amid the recession.

Stephanie Pratt Copes With Bulimia


If ever there was a time to blame a reality show for something, this is the time. Stephanie Pratt admits that she is struggling with Bulimia, and The Hills is largely to blame.

When Stephanie would watch herself on T.V. next to slender Lauren Conrad she told US Weekly that she looked "huge".

Stephanie Pratt's problem was made worse during the Hawaii episode where Audrina told her she would look better with a shirt on over her swimsuit.

Not long after this, Pratt would begin to binge and purge, the early symptoms of Bulimia. She says thought that the producers of the show did not encourage or know about this behavior. She basically attributes the behavior to “working with skinny girls.”

Bulimia is an eating disorder and should be taken seriously. Many young and older women struggle with this behavior. It takes a huge step admitting there is a problem and letting girls know that this behavior is not right. In that respect Pratt is a decent role model in letting people know about this problem.

 


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