The Daily Planet

Chile Earthquake May Have Shifted Earth’s Axis Cause Shortened Days

2010-03-03T19:17:00.000-08:00

The Chile earthquake has killed more than 700 people and caused widespread devastation in the South American country.

The quake, the seventh strongest earthquake in recorded history, hit Chile Saturday and should have shortened the length of an Earth day by 1.26 milliseconds, according to research scientist Richard Gross at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

This Chile Earthquake Earth Axis has been caused by two factors. First is that the Chile earthquake was far from Ecuador, which is the streamlining of the body axis. The second reason is that the earthquake in Chile was in a steeper angle that moved the mass of the earth vertically. For the death toll during the Chile earthquake, the final count is 723 and more than half a million homes were damaged or destroyed.

"Perhaps more impressive is how much the quake shifted Earth's axis," NASA officials said in a Monday update.

The computer model used by Gross and his colleagues to determine the effects of the Chile earthquake effect also found that it should have moved Earth's figure axis by about 3 inches (8 cm or 27 milliarcseconds).

Even though the Chilean earthquake is much smaller than the Sumatran quake, it is predicted to have changed the position of the figure axis by a bit more for two reasons. First, unlike the 2004 Sumatran earthquake, which was located near the equator, the 2010 Chilean earthquake was located in Earth’s mid-latitudes, which makes it more effective in shifting Earth’s figure axis.

Second, the fault responsible for the 2010 Chiliean earthquake dips into Earth at a slightly steeper angle than does the fault responsible for the 2004 Sumatran earthquake. This makes the Chile fault more effective in moving Earth’s mass vertically and hence more effective in shifting Earth’s figure axis.

The Earth's figure axis is not the same as its north-south axis, which it spins around once every day at a speed of about 1,000 mph (1,604 kph).

Bill Clinton Hospitalized

2010-02-11T18:26:00.000-08:00

Former President Bill Clinton who had quadruple bypass surgery more than five years ago, was hospitalized Thursday to have a clogged heart artery opened after suffering chest pains.

Two stents resembling tiny mesh scaffolds were placed inside the artery as part of a medical procedure that is common for people with severe heart disease.
The 63-year-old Clinton was "in good spirits and will continue to focus on the work of his foundation and Haiti's relief and long-term recovery efforts," said an adviser, Douglas Band.

Following a visit to his cardiologist, he underwent a procedure to place two stents in one of his coronary arteries. President Clinton is in good spirits, and will continue to focus on the work of his Foundation and Haiti's relief and long-term recovery efforts.
In 2004, President Clinton underwent a successful quadruple bypass operation to free four blocked arteries.
It is impossible to know for sure considering the sparse details released so far, but based on the symptom of chest pain, and his doctors' very rapid insertion of stents as a result, it appears very likely that President Clinton has experienced a form of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS).

Generally, ACS occurs when a blood clot suddenly forms within a coronary artery, usually due to the acute rupture of a plaque. ACS can lead to myocardial infarction (which causes permanent heart muscle damage), or to unstable angina.

ACS always ought to be considered a medical emergency, and ought to initiate medical care aimed at accomplishing two things: 1) to limit the heart muscle damage being done acutely by the blood clot within the coronary artery, and 2) to limit the possibility that the plaque - which has now shown itself to be unstable and prone to rupture - will rupture again.

Michael Jackson Autopsy and Conrad Murray’s Charges

2010-02-09T19:49:00.000-08:00

It’s really sad that Michael Jackson was criticized during his life. People joked about his lightening skin and made fun of him because he was a little different. However, Michael Jackson was a very nice person. His skin was lighter because of a medical condition. Chances are he did have some sort of procedures done – but if that were the case, it would only be to even out his skin tone. After all, if he didn’t make his skin look even then everyone would make fun of him.

Michael Jackson autopsy and Conrad Murray’s charges are in the news. The Michael Jackson autopsy confirmed that the singer had Vitiligo, a skin disorder that caused his milky colored skin. In addition, Conrad Murray has been charged in connection with Jackson’s death because he was the doctor that gave him the drugs that ultimately killed him.

Sixty-one photographs of the former pop prince were taken prior to and throughout the procedure. According to the report, Jackson’s hair was “sparse and connected to a wig.”

“There is frontal balding and the hair can be described as short and tightly curled,” the report claimed.

Jackson hair line was tattooed on, as were other facial features.

“There is a dark skin discoloration resembling a tattoo on the anterior half of the scalp. There are dark tattoos in the areas of both eyebrows and at the superior and interior borders of the palperbral fissures. There is a pink tattoo in the region of the lips,” observed a corner’s investigator.

The autopsy report also described Jackson, 50, as “thin”, weighing just 136 pounds while being 69 inches (5'9") in length.

“Jackson was extremely underweight for his frame. Reports indicate he weighed 136 lbs, this could indicate on anorexia,” Gary Brazina, M.D, FACS California told Pop Tarts. “The amounts of drugs given to someone with this body type needs to be closely regulated as a thin or anorexic individual would generally require lower dosages.”

Speaking of which, the corner confirmed that Jackson died of “acute propofol intoxication” however a deluge of other drugs including lorazepam (for anxiety), midazolam (for inducing sedation), lidocaine (a local anesthetic), diazepam (valium) and nordiazepam (for anxiety) were also indentified in blood samples

Spider-Man 4 will go ahead without star Tobey Maguire and director Sam Raimi

2010-01-11T18:58:00.000-08:00

Spiderman 4

The axing comes after director Sam Raimi told the studio he couldn’t make a planned May-2011 release date. Sony will now reboot the franchise, with a new director and cast and a new script that puts the superhero in high school.

The new Spider-Man 4 won’t be released until mid-2012. Rumours suggest that the movie could be shot in 3-D after the spectacular success of Avatar.“Working on the Spider-Man movies was the experience of a lifetime for me. While we were looking forward to doing a fourth one together, the studio and Marvel have a unique opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction,” Raimi, who directed all three instalments of the Spider-Man franchise, said.

Spider-Man 4 was supposed to start filming in February, which Tobey Maguire echoed repeatedly in publicity appearances for Brothers. Then it pushed to March. Then late March/early April. And by January 5th there was no date at all, according to my Sony insiders who emailed me: "Some decisions have been made over the holiday about Spider-Man 4.

We will be extending the production hiatus on the film. The studio is firmly committed to this franchise but, for us, the script must come first. We intend to notify members of the crew immediately. As you know, Alvin Sargent is currently working on the screenplay. When we have more news, we will keep you posted."

Pascal and Tolmach, who have shepherded the Spider-Man franchise from Day One, have been wrestling with this script problem for months. "I'm going to do everything I can to make May," she has repeatedly told Hollywood types involved with the movie. "But I'm not going to start a movie where the script isn't right yet. Not unless I want my career to be over."

Kanye West Taylor Swift incident

2009-09-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

Kanye west taylor swift incident

Kanye West did his best acting to appear sincere in his apology on The Jay Leno Show for stealing Taylor Swift’s MTV VMA moment.

The next minute Kanye was performing with Jay-Z and Rihanna.

Kanye ruined a special moment in Taylor Swift’s life just to get himself more publicity. There are a lot of celebrities calling for a Kanye boycott. We’d like to see Kanye banned from award shows, and from receiving awards, for the next 5 years. That would humble Kanye’s out-of-control ego.

Kanye West Unlikely to Discuss Taylor Swift Incident With Jay Leno

Although he's already demonstrated that anything can happen, Kanye West is not expected to be interviewed during Monday night's (Sept. 14) premiere of NBC's The Jay Leno Show. That's probably the smartest decision he's made during the past 24 hours. West and Rihanna are performing on the show with Jay-Z, who happens to be the husband of Beyoncé. West, of course, proclaimed Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" as "one of the best videos of all time" when he grabbed the microphone from Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards. At the time, Swift was accepting the award for best female video.

West had said that he was "rude" for interrupting her acceptance speech for Best Female Video. "It was just very rude, period," West said to Leno. "I'd like to apologize to her in person."

On Sunday night, Swift spoke to MTV News about what went through her mind when West took the mic out of her hands to proclaim his preference for Beyoncé's "Single Ladies" video.

"Well, you know, I was up there and I was standing there and I saw Kanye up on the stage," she explained. "I was really excited ... and I kind of wasn't excited anymore."

Aishwarya Rai suffering with Swine Flu....

2009-08-17T06:14:00.000-07:00

Aishwarya Rai suffering with Swine Flu....

Bollywood Heroine Aishwarya Rai Bachchan seems to be the latest victim of Swine Flu. Amitabh Bachchan yesterday wrote about Aishwarya’s illness in his Personal Blog.

“Aishwarya has taken ill and is down with chest infection and flu like symptoms. Had a high fever yesterday but is settling down today,”

Currently Aishwarya Rai Bachan is shooting “RAAVAN” movie in which Abhishek bachan also starring.

We wish Aishwarya Rai a Speedy recovery.

“It's worrying to be so far away from children and not be there to look after them. Yes, they are mature and married and responsible, but children will always remain children,” a concerned Bachchan added. The 66-year-old veteran also complained that he has been suffering from a “strained back”.

Good Bye: After 17 Years, Leno Takes Final Bow on ‘Tonight Show

2009-05-30T00:18:00.000-07:00

Good Bye: After 17 Years, Leno Takes Final Bow on ‘Tonight Show'

When he finally started the opening monologue, he made several jokes about changes in the world while he was host: "When I started here, my hair was black and the president was white. Jon and Kate were both 8."

He paid homage to his predecessor, the late Johnny Carson, as he described how his tenure had lasted through four U.S. presidents ("Two of them, Bill Clinton and George Bush -- thank you so much for that. . . . Thank you for those two!") and national tragedies such as 9/11. He said one of the most important things he learned from Carson was that "you always have to have the monologue ready. . . . You always want to have jokes. That's what we've been trying to do for the last 17 years, make you laugh."

The last night’s audience greeted Mr. Leno with what was most likely the most sustained ovation of his career, and he had to insist they sit before he could begin. He talked about changes he and the show had gone through, noting that when he started his hair was “black and the president was white.”

Harking back to one of his favorite targets, Mr. Leno said he had been cleaning out his desk on Friday and found “O. J.’s knife — it was in there the whole time.”

Joking about his future spot on NBC each weeknight at 10, Mr. Leno said, “I’m going to a secluded location where no one can find me: NBC’s prime time.” NBC has yet to announce the starting date for his new show, but Mr. Leno said it would be in September.

"I want to thank all the people that made it possible—Michael Jackson, Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton."

But as the Leno faithful know, it was the easygoing charm and spot-on delivery of the prominent-chinned, uniquely coiffed comedian who kept millions tuning in night after night. (That and a certain 1995 mega-get named Hugh Grant, whom Billy Crystal paid tribute to in his farewell song for tipping the ratings in Jay's favor forevermore.)

Taking the reins from Leno is Conan O'Brien, who sat down with his predecessor tonight—a far warmer welcome than the one Leno received when he succeeded Johnny Carson, who reputedly didn't approve of NBC's decision, in 1992.

Susan Boyle Meltdown: Susan Boyle Tantrum

2009-05-28T16:35:00.000-07:00

Susan Boyle Meltdown: Susan Boyle Tantrum

Susan Boyle had a meltdown on Wednesday in the middle of a hotel lobby. She cursed up a storm for hundreds of guests to hear.

Susan Boyle has certainly become a media sensation ever since her first appearance on Britain’s Got Talent.

It all began with her amazing voice that left you in awe, then she received a make over that was the talk of the town, and now she flipped out at a hotel lobby and had a complete and utter meltdown.

The frumpy looking singer went on a cursing tantrum in the middle of the Wembley

Plaza Hotel lobby in North London, cursing up a storm for hundreds of hotel guests to witness. Police arrived on the scene and approached the boiled Susan Boyle, at around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, after two strangers set out to “wind her up”, according to Fox News.

When one of the cops asked Susan if there was a problem, she snapped back

“Of course there’s a f***ing problem.”

Her angered screams finally brought nearby police to her attention and they escorted Susan to the parking lot for further questioning. Witnesses revealed that Susan was noticeably upset, as she began to retell the story to the police through tears and hysterics.

One of the officers said to her : "You are in the public eye, you must learn to expect this sort of thing."

After speaking to the police, TV producers rushed Susan back to her room for privacy, but one onlooker confessed it took a "long time" for her to calm herself.

Personally, I feel kind of bad for the Susan Boyle, she became an over night sensation never really learning how to handle being in the spotlight properly; which appears to be a key factor behind this outburst. One can’t help to wonder though, was she cursing in key, while in the midst of her meltdown.

VIDEO: Susan Boyle's semi-final performance

2009-05-28T07:47:00.000-07:00

VIDEO: Susan Boyle's semi-final performance

Susan Boyle became an overnight success after her first audition on Britain’s Got Talent. She was then put through to the semi final, and it was on Sunday night when she gave us her second performance, and although it was good, it was not as good as her first performance.

When Susan first walked on stage, we all thought the same thing, but once she started singing, it proved one thing, never judge a book by its cover. Her song choice from Les Miserable made her an overnight success, and has been viewed by million on the Internet.

Boyle’s semi final performance started a bit quavered, but it did not take her long to get her voice back on track. She sung “Memory” from Cats, and have to say that her performance was still brilliant. She was put through to Saturday night’s final of Britain’s Got Talent by the public vote.

Susan Boyle fans got their fix this weekend as they watched the unlikely star make it through to the Britain’s Got Talent final.

The Scottish star - looking more glamorous with dyed hair and radiant make-up - won the vote in the first of five live televised semi-finals after receiving a standing ovation for her performance of Memory from the musical Cats.

WATCH SUSAN’S SEMI-FINAL PERFORMANCE HERE:

Mike Tyson's Daughter Dies After Hanging Accident

2009-05-26T23:43:00.000-07:00

Mike Tyson's Daughter Dies After Hanging Accident

Mike Tyson has received a lot of blows in his lifetime – most of them to his head – but this one ha his heart like a ton of bricks. From E! News Online: Arizona police have confirmed to E! News that the former heavyweight champ’s 4-year-old daughter, Exodus Tyson, has died after accidentally hanging herself on a piece of exercise equipment at home.

Phoenix Police Department Officer James Holmes told TVGuide.com that Exodus Tyson died at 11:45 a.m. (MST) in what he called a "tragic accident." An autopsy is expected to be performed. Holmes said the family is asking for privacy in the matter.

Tyson's daughter was put on life support after she was discovered Monday with her neck caught in a treadmill cord that hangs from the machine's console. Her mother had removed the cord and tried to revive her before she was rushed to a Phoenix hospital.

The former heavyweight boxing champion, Tyson was in Las Vegas at the time of the accident and flew Monday to Phoenix, where he was seen entering the hospital.

Cynthia Schwartz, a spokeswoman for Tyson, said the family would release a statement Tuesday evening. They had not made any funeral arrangements, she said.

Hill said it was unclear whether an autopsy would be performed.

Taysha Valez: Youngest Black Billionaire

2009-05-26T16:59:00.000-07:00

Taysha Valez: Youngest Black Billionaire

Taysha Valez, 27 year old billionaire, and owner of Socialite Collection makeup and skin care line. She’s the youngest (now 27 years old) self-made billionaire…and was spotted looking fab out in her second home of Hawaii.

YBF Beauty Empire Empress Taysha Valez–who folks rarely see out and about in public–was seen leaving a brunch for her new Tri-myTAY Telecom company.

And if you’re wondering why her skin is damn near perfection–she’s likely rocking her own Socialite collection of makeup and skin products.

Although there is not much info online from her, we know that she has written a book called “Young Black Millionairess” and she is owner of H. Couture Beauty LLC. She has been recently on theybf.com when she was spotted in Hawaii.

Apparently it’s rare to see her on public!

Taysha Smith Valez is an internationally known entrepreneur and marketer that is making many waves in the cosmetic beauty industry. At only 25 years of age, this makeup guru is the ultimate success story.

As the CEO and President of H.Couture Beauty, Taysha proves that it doesn't matter how old you are to succeed in this business. In fact, she proves that if you possess a powerful wisdom, interest, as well as, individual ethic and originality, you are destined to succeed, as a result.

Hot. Rena Yip shoes will so be the future of separating the posers from the real chicks with dough who hate mainstream ish everybody’s rocking. These are 100% custom made and molded for the person ordering–and they’re no less than $8,000 a pair.

Word has it Jennifer Lopez is one of the only celeb chicks who’s ordered a pair so far–even though many are asking about them. Take that Christian Louboutin.

Police: Mike Tyson's daughter on life support

2009-05-25T22:26:00.000-07:00

Police: Mike Tyson's daughter on life support

Boxer Mike Tyson's 4-year-old daughter is on life support after she was found with her neck caught in a cord of a treadmill machine Monday, police said.

Exodus Tyson's 7-year-old brother found her on a treadmill with her neck in the cord that dangles from the console of the exercise machine at their Phoenix home, police Sgt. Andy Hill said, calling it a "tragic accident."

The boy told Exodus' mother, who was in another room. She took Exodus off the cord, called 911 and tried to revive her.

Responding officers and firefighters performed CPR on Exodus as they rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she was in "extremely critical condition" and on life support, Hill said.

"Somehow she was playing on this treadmill, and there's a cord that hangs under the console — it's kind of a loop," Hill said. "Either she slipped or put her head in the loop, but it acted like a noose, and she was obviously unable to get herself off of it."

Hill said former heavyweight champion Tyson had been in Las Vegas but flew to Phoenix immediately after learning of the accident. Police didn't release the girl's name.

Tyson could not immediately be reached for comment but 42West, a New York City public relations firm representing him, released a statement on the family's behalf.

NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 postponed by rain

2009-05-24T20:54:00.000-07:00

NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 postponed by rainCrew members push Kyle Busch's car into the garage area after the
NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 auto race was postponed until Monday.

NASCAR’s longest race of the season spilled into a second day Sunday night when the Coca-Cola 600 was postponed by rain for the first time in 50 years.

The rain showers that spoiled so many holiday weekend barbecues throughout the Southeast on Sunday also put the brakes on NASCAR's longest race of the year, the Coca-Cola 600, before a single lap was run.

Light rain had delayed the scheduled 6:03 p.m. start at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, but the track appeared dry and NASCAR called the cars out to pit road moments before a heavy shower soaked the surface again. The heavy rain lasted less than 15 minutes, but a persistent drizzle made it impossible to dry the track.

The race will run on Monday at noon. It’s the first time it will be held on Memorial Day

Note: SPEED will air a special edition of NASCAR Raceday on Monday May 25th at 11:00am ET/8:00am ET. The Coca Cola 600 will air LIVE on FOX starting at Noon ET/9:00am PT, and NASCAR Victory Lane will air on SPEED immediately following the race.

Rapper Dolla is shot, killed at Beverly Center

2009-05-18T17:31:00.000-07:00

Rapper Dolla is shot, killed at Beverly Center

Dolla was shot and killed, shortly after 3:00 PM near the La Cienga Boulevard entrance of the Beverly Center in Beverly Hills, after a fight between a group of individuals broke out. Witnesses report that a woman was seen firing a handgun. Another source said a male suspect was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport as he attempted to board a flight.

Dolla was shot in the head around 3:10 p.m. while he and another rapper, D.J. Shabbazz, waited in the area after shopping at the popular Westside mall. A friend who was with the rapper at Beverly Center also confirmed his identity to The Times.

At a Chipotle restaurant next to the valet area, 10 people were eating when the shots rang out.
"The customers were yelling 'close the store, close the store, because somebody is shooting,' " said Elsa Hernandez, general manager of the restaurant.
The center is normally quite peaceful, said Hernandez, who's worked at the restaurant for six years.

"This is the first time this has happened here," she said.
Newton Cacho, 31, works across the street from the Beverly Center. "I'm very surprised something like this happened here. You come to a nicer part of town and you don't expect this," Cacho said.

About two hours later, Los Angeles police detained a “person of interest” as he attempted to board a plane out of Los Angeles International Airport. The man allegedly drove his silver Mercedes SUV from Beverly Center to the airport. Vannasing said Dolla had gotten into an altercation with other passengers on a flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles, but it's unclear if that was related to the violence.

Roderick Anthony Burton II (November 25, 1987 - May 18, 2009) better known by his stage name Dolla, was an American rapper. He made his debut with the single "Who the Fuck Is That?". His song, "Feelin' Myself", is featured on the Step Up soundtrack. The song "Feelin' Myself," was a "bite" of the Mac Dre song of the same name released while Dolla was in the lunch line at his local middle school. He also was a member of the Hip hop group Da Razkalz Cru, under the name Bucklyte. Dolla is represented by the Sue Vannasing Company based out of Los Angeles, CA. He followed his debut single up with a second single "I'm Fucked Up" in the summer of 2008. A third single, entitled "Make a Toast," was then officially released on November 4, 2008.

Singles:

2007: "Feelin' Myself"
2008: "Who The Fuck Is That" (feat. T-Pain & Tay Dizm)
2008: "I'm Fucked Up"
2008: "Make a Toast"
2009: "Heartbreak Collision"
2009: "Love of Money"
2009: "Dough Boy" (feat. Jim Jones)
2009: "Like This" (feat. Akon)
2009: "She So Fine" (feat. Akon)
2009: "Good Pussy"

Christine Marinoni and Cynthia Nixon: Engaged!

2009-05-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

Christine Marinoni and Cynthia Nixon: Engaged!

Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon has announced her engagement to longtime girlfriend Christine Marinoni.

The actress shared the news at a rally for gay rights in New York City over the weekend, as New York Governor David Paterson recently proposed a bill granting legal equality to same-sex unions.

“I think we would definitely [get married] if it became legal in New York,” Nixon told Access Hollywood. “I don’t really want to get married to get married pretend. I think we’d like to do it in a real, actual, legal way that the state would recognize.”

Nixon shows of her new engagement ring during the rally, and below that Nixon's hand Friday night.

The pair have been dating since 2003. Nixon has a son and a daughter from a previous relationship.

As the fate of marriage equality legislation in New York hinges on action in the state senate, advocates and opponents took to the streets of Midtown Manhattan in separate rallies on Sunday afternoon.

Hundreds of marriage equality advocates crammed into the blocks of Sixth Avenue near Rockefeller Center, joined by elected officials and celebrities united in a sense of urgency.

“There are 18 days left in the senate session,” Senator Tom Duane, the lead sponsor of marriage equality legislation, told the upbeat crowd gathered in the chilly gray weather. “I need your help," he said, urging people to contact their representatives in the chamber.

Marriage equality legislation passed the assembly last Tuesday by a vote of 89-52, but its outcome remains uncertain in the closely divided senate, where Democrats hold a slim 32-30 majority. Current estimates put the number of votes for the legislation around 25. Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, who did not attend either rally on Sunday, has vowed not to bring the legislation to a vote unless its passage is assured in advance.

Explosion rocks Sunoco chemical refinery

2009-05-17T23:24:00.000-07:00

Explosion rocks Sunoco chemical refinery; evacuations averted

A massive explosion rocked the Sunoco refinery in Claymont, Del. late last night, sending flames shooting into the sky and initially raising concerns about residents' safety in Pennsylvania, Delaware and South Jersey.

Shortly before midnight, a company official said Sunoco and local fire officials were fighting the blaze and that no injuries had been reported.

Although there had been early talk of possible evacuations, none took place because any possible harmful ingredient of the chemical that was released into the air - ethylene - burned off, said Cpl. Jeff Whitmarsh, a spokesman for Delaware State Police.

By 1:30 this morning, the fire was contained but still burning."

"We're very fortunate and grateful there were no injuries," said Thomas Golembeski, a spokesman for Sunoco, at what was a chaotic scene at the Claymont facility of Sunoco emergency response officials, local firefighters and harried residents.

New Castle County Councilman John Cartier of the 8th District said he could see the flames from his home in the Holly Oak neighborhood along Philadelphia Pike, at least three miles from the refinery.

“It was almost like seismic,” he said. “My house was rocked. It was a big large boom.”

After hearing three or four explosions, Cartier said, he ran out to his lawn where he looked up the Delaware River and saw flames.

“I can definitely look out my window and see the burning going on,” he said. “That explosion is one of the largest ones I’ve ever felt. It’s pretty big.”

About 10:30 p.m. Sunday, a large cloud of black smoke could be seen heading north from Harvey Road. The cloud had dissipated by about 12:15 a.m. today. Both Golembeski and Whitmarsh said ethylene oxide is not dangerous to humans.

Ethylene oxide

Ethylene oxide is a flammable gas with a somewhat sweet odor. It dissolves easily in water.

Ethylene oxide is a man-made chemical that is used primarily to make ethylene glycol (a chemical used to make antifreeze and polyester). A small amount (less than 1%) is used to control insects in some stored agricultural products and a very small amount is used in hospitals to sterilize medical equipment and supplies.

Ethylene oxide (EtO) is produced in large volumes and is primarily used as an intermediate in the production of several industrial chemicals, the most notable of which is ethylene glycol. It is also used as a fumigant in certain agricultural products and as a sterilant for medical equipment and supplies. Unfortunately, EtO possesses several physical and health hazards that merit special attention. EtO is both flammable and highly reactive. Acute exposures to EtO gas may result in respiratory irritation and lung injury, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and cyanosis. Chronic exposure has been associated with the occurrence of cancer, reproductive effects, mutagenic changes, neurotoxicity, and sensitization.

How might I be exposed to ethylene oxide?

Most people are not likely to be exposed to ethylene oxide because it is not commonly found in the environment.
If you work where ethylene oxide is made or used, you could be exposed to it by breathing it or getting it on your skin.
Although ethylene oxide has been measured in some foods shortly after being sprayed as a pesticide, it is not known if any ethylene oxide would remain on the food by the time it is processed and eaten.

What should employees do to protect themselves from EtO exposure?

To protect against EtO exposure, follow these safety precautions:

■ Wear goggles and skin protection at all times in areas
where there is a risk of splashes from liquid EtO.
■ Wear proper protective clothing and other approved personal protective equipment when working with EtO.
■ Discard clothing that has been degraded by EtO.
■ See a doctor if you are exposed to EtO.
■ Do not eat, drink, or smoke while working with EtO.

How can ethylene oxide affect my health?

Breathing low levels of ethylene oxide for several months to years has caused irritation of the eyes, skin, and respiratory passages and affected the nervous system (headache, nausea, vomiting, memory loss, numbness, etc.). At higher levels of exposure for shorter periods, effects are similar but may be more severe. There is some evidence that exposure to ethylene oxide can cause a pregnant woman to have a miscarriage.

Animal studies indicate that in addition to irritation of the respiratory passages, nervous system effects, and reproductive effects, the kidneys, adrenal gland, and skeletal muscles may be affected from long-term exposure to ethylene oxide.

Ferrell's Return to 'Saturday Night Live'

2009-05-17T04:37:00.000-07:00

Ferrell's Return to 'Saturday Night Live'

Darrell Hammond, for one, got to star in a sketch for the first time in months on "Saturday Night Live" doing the cold open as Cheney getting made up for a "Meet the Press" appearance.

Timely, and Hammond doesn't get enough credit for how completely he nails the former vice president; other impressionists tend to represent him by doing Burgess Meredith as the Penguin. Cheney's return gave an opportunity for Will Ferrell to reprise his Tony-nominated role as George W. Bush, trying to talk him out of being so outspoken. It didn't result in the funniest sketch. But at least it was timely.

Ferrell was a welcome addition to the show's finale - his wild-eyed craziness seemed to inspire much of the rest of the cast as well. And - more good news for Hammond - Ferrell's presence meant a reprise of that "Jeopardy" sketch with Hammond as a demented Sean Connery. Kristin Wiig played her loopy Kathy Lee Gifford, and it was Tom Hanks playing an especially dim version of himself.

He was one of quite an array of cameo guests on the finale, though most of them mere "SNL" vets: Amy Poehler returned to the "Weekend Update" desk with Seth Myers; Norm MacDonald popped up as Burt Reynolds in the "Jeopardy" sketch and Maya Rudolph showed up in a sketch about a funeral where stranger and stranger people stood to talk about the eceased.

Hammond has been a regular on Saturday Night Live (SNL) since 1995, and currently holds the record for longest tenure as an SNL cast member, having earned the distinction in 2004-2005. He has made more SNL appearances, by far, than any other cast member in its entire history, and, as of 2009, has impersonated over 100 celebrities (with former President Bill Clinton as his most frequent impression).

During the 2004–2005 season, Hammond set the record for the longest consecutive tenure of any SNL cast member in the show's history. He also holds SNL records for the most impressions by a single cast member (105, as of the Zac Efron/Yeah Yeah Yeahs episode) and for the most times saying the show's catch phrase "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" to start the show (beating out Dana Carvey).

On the most recent episode (hosted by Will Ferrell), the ending sign-off drew special attention to Hammond with a close-up and mention of his name. This may suggest that Hammond may have ended his run on Saturday Night Live.

Biggest loser season 7 winner - Helen Phillips

2009-05-13T08:04:00.000-07:00

Biggest loser season 7 winner - Helen Phillips

In an minor upset, Helen Phillips beat out favorite Tara Costa to be crowned the winner of Biggest Loser for 2009.

Phillips lost 54.47% of her initial 257 pounds (117kg) to weigh in at 117 pounds (53kg). Costa lost more weight, going from 294 pounds (133kg) to weigh in at 139 pounds (63kg), a bigger raw drop, but only at 52.72% of her starting weight. Second placed Mike Morelli managed to drop 53.35%, going from a staggering 388 pounds (176kg) to a far more respectable 181 pounds (82kg.)

“When I started, learning how to exercise and work out, and incorporate good nutrition into my diet was hard,” Phillips said in an interview. “Once I learned and got on-board, and realized how important it was, the easier it became.”

The $250,000 first prize check will help Phillips at a time of need, with her husband’s job at Chrysler currently on the line following Chrysler entering bankruptcy. Congrats for Biggest loser season 7 winner - Helen!!!

The finalist at Biggest loser season 7 2009 finale were:
Helen's current weight - 117 lbs.
Tara's current weight - 139 lbs.
Mike's current weight - 181 lbs.

Once again congratulations for Biggest loser season 7 winner Helen Phillips.
Helen Phillips, a 47-year-old retired retail manager from Sterling Heights, MI, was crowned the show's third-straight female champion during last night's live broadcast of The Biggest Loser: Couples' finale on NBC.
"Oh my god!" Helen shouted after she learned she'd won the season's $250,000 grand-prize. "Oh my god! Oh my god!"

Kris Allen – Heartless

2009-05-12T20:32:00.000-07:00

Kris Allen – Heartless

Kris Allen decided to sing “Heartless” by Kanye West and everyone in my house jumped and looked at each other with shocked faces. He chose to accompany himself on the acoustic guitar and he completely, absolutely, 1000% blew me away. I was extraordinarily stunned and impressed and I think that Kris has really solidified himself as an artist, whether he wins or not.

Randy said that he liked that version better than the original Kanye version. Kara said it was bold, brave and fearless and added “the tone, the pitch, the phrasing 100%.” Paula said he sang a song about Simon Cowell and she commends him for doing something so current. Simon said the first song was a lame choice and that he had written Kris off as a result but that his performance of “Heartless” made him change his mind.

Heartless lyrics

For once my eyes are open to you, and everything you've said.
For once your web of lies is in the open.
I gave you everything I had, until I had nothing left.
Now still you act as if I'm just a burden.
I've finally let go. Let go, let go.

Stay silent at least for now, and let me move on.
'Cause I'm so done playing these games with my heart
I've been around the world and back for you, and now its time to choose.

I've been swallowed by this wreck that you call your life.
I'm damaged from the inside. I've been broken.
Don't threaten me with what you think I feel.
If you could read my mind you'd be in tears.

I'm sick of your excuses you hold above me.
I've finally come to terms with what I am.
I'm nothing in your eyes, and this will not change.
I'm living in a dream.

Stay silent at least for now, and let me move on.
'Cause I'm so done playing these games with my heart
I've been around the world and back for you, and now its time to choose.

And I'll close my eyes, and dream of a better time
when I'll be finally past this and I'll be happy on my own.
I've done all I can, and I've still been cast aside.
All I ever wanted to be was be the one who would wipe those tears from your eyes.
But I guess I'll play second best, to a world that will never care about you.
You'll never understand you're just another pretty face
You'll tell me that you care, and then run straight back to him.
I can hear your voice of treason from a mile away.

You never did know how to whisper.

You're such a liar. Tell me the truth.
You're such a liar. Tell me the truth.
You're such a liar. Tell me the truth.
Do the world a favor, stop cutting your arms, and slit your throat.

American Idol Top 5: Allison sang “Someone To Watch Over Me.”

2009-04-28T19:40:00.000-07:00

American Idol Top 5 performance: Allison sang “Someone To Watch Over Me.”

What did you think of American Idol Top 5 performances- Rat Pack Week, April 28, 2009. Allison Iraheta sang Someone to Watch Over Me. Allison Iraheta looks and sounds fantastic this week. Her rehearsals with Jamie Foxx are adorable. I LOVE THIS GIRL!

Allison Iraheta turned 17 yesterday. Happy birthday, Allison! Great timing! Nobody will vote off the birthday girl this week, right? Allison’s smokey voice is perfection for this genre.

Now THAT was a technically perfect vocal, Miss Kara DioGuardi. How was this girl in the bottom 2 last week?!!

Randy Jackson said she looked like Brittany Murphy and sings like Pink with 80000 more octaves. Kara said she deserves to be in the final. Paula said she’s been waiting all season to hear Allison sing a ballad. View below...........Allison is singing “Someone To Watch Over Me.”

Someone To Watch Over Me Lyrics

Verse

KAY:
There's a saying old
Says that love is blind.
Still we're often told
"Seek and ye shall find."
So I'm going to seek a cenain lad I've had in mind.
Looking ev'rywhere,
Haven't found him yet;
He's the big affair I cannot forget -
Only man I ever think of with regret.
I'd like to add his initial to my monogram.
Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?

Refrain

There's a somebody I'm longing to see:
I hope that he
Turns out to be
Someone who'll watch over me.
I'm a littLe lamb who's lost in the wood;
I know I could
Always be good
To one who'll watch over me.
Although he may not be the man some
Girls think of as handsome,
To my heart he carries the key
Don't you tell him, please, to put on some speed,
Follow my lead? Oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me.

Melissa Rycroft Will Continue on 'Dancing'

2009-04-27T19:21:00.000-07:00

Melissa Rycroft Will Continue on 'Dancing'

Despite suffering a rib injury, Melissa Rycroft and her partner Tony Dovolani will continue in the competition on "Dancing with the Stars."

"I hurt my ribs last week doing a difficult move," Melissa said in an interview taped earlier on Wednesday. She said that during rehearsals, she re-hurt the rib, and, "felt a blinding pain."

At the doctor's office, Melissa was diagnosed with a probable hairline rib fracture, and despite having some treatment earlier in the day on Monday, the pain became too intense and she was not able to perform Monday night.

Instead, the judges based their evaluation of Melissa and Tony on a practice run-through they'd done earlier in the day. The judges all expressed dismay at having to base their score on what amounted to a trial run. Judge Len Goodman said, "Judging the rehearsal is kind of like judging a race car driver on a warm-up lap," and they scored the team a 21.

"I think the final four will be Lil' Kim, Melissa [Rycroft], Gilles [Marini] and Shawn [Johnson].

KFC Free Chicken Day: April 27th (TODAY)!

2009-04-27T16:46:00.000-07:00

Free new grilled chicken at KFC!Hungry? Go to KFC today and get a free piece of the new grilled chicken!

Today is KFC free chicken day! Before the day is done, rush yourself to the nearest KFC for a free piece of grilled chicken.

To celebrate the highly anticipated launch of its new Kentucky Grilled Chicken, fast food chain KFC is giving away gratis pieces of grilled chicken to customers today.

Apparently, the new recipe is just as top-secret as the Colonel's original fried chicken recipe. It's marinated and seasoned with a blend of six herbs and spices, then slow-grilled in a proprietary oven. I've been curious about this healthier version of chicken ever since it first came out a few weeks ago, so today will be the perfect chance to put it to the test.

The grilled chicken, a recent addition to fast-food chain's menu, is an attempt to give customers an option that's healthier than the restaurant's signature fried chicken. A grilled chicken thigh has 140 calories, according to a menu on KFC's Web site.

Have you tried the chicken yet? If not, will you be sampling it for free today?

No need to clip or print coupons, and all you need to do is walk into a location and mention this promotion.

The offer is available all day.

Your Kentucky Fried Chicken to stubborn folks like myself -- is launching a new grilled chicken entree. April 27 is being called "UNFry Day," and stores will give a free piece of grilled chicken to anyone coming by the store that day. They have had non-fried items before, like Tender Roast, Oven Roast, Rotisserie Gold, etc., but they didn't sell well.

Apparently, people just don't think "non-fried" when they go to KFC. If they don't sell enough to keep it fresh in restaurants, they'll take this off, too. Hopefully, enough partners of people going for the fried who want something healthier will keep the grilled chicken alive. I mean, I do love fried chicken and I love KFC's -- I'm a Kentucky Colonel, too! -- but everything in moderation.

request Kentucky Fried Chicken to stubborn folks like myself -- is launching a new grilled chicken entree. April 27 is being called "UNFry Day," and stores will give a free piece of grilled chicken to anyone coming by the store that day. They have had non-fried items before, like Tender Roast, Oven Roast, Rotisserie Gold, etc., but they didn't sell well.

is being processed..KFC Free ChicTo celebrate the highly anticipated launch of its new Kentucky Grill

Free chi Kentucky Fried Chicken to stubborn folks like myself -- is launching a new grilled chicken entree. April 27 is being called "UNFry Day," and stores will give a free piece of grilled chicken to anyone coming by the store that day. They have had non-fried items before, like Tender Roast, Oven Roast, Rotisserie Kentucky Fried Chicken to stubborn folks like myself -- is launching a new grilled chicken entree. April 27 is being called "UNFry Day," and stores will give a free piece of grilled chicken to anyone coming by the store that day. They have had non-fried items before, like Tender Roast, Oven Roast, Rotisserie Gold, etc., but they didn't sell well.

Gold, etc., but they didn't sell well.

Free chicken at KFC!

cken at KFC!

ed Chicken, fast food chain KFC is giving away gratis pieces of grilled chicken to customers today. AppareTo celebrate the highly anticipated launch of its new Kentucky Grilled Chicken, fast food chain KFC is giving away gratis pieces of grilled chicken to customers today. Apparently, the new recipe is just as top-secret as the Colonel's original fried chicken recipe. It's marinated and seasoned with a blend of six herbs and spices, then slow-grilled in a proprietary oven. I've been curious about this healthier version of chicken ever since it first came out a few weeks ago, so today will be the perfect chance to put it to the test. What about you: Have you tried the chicken yet? If not, will you be sampling it for free todayntly, the new recipe is just as top-secret as the Colonel's original fried chicken recipe. It's marinated and seasoned with a blend of six herbs and spices, then slow-grilled in a proprietary oven. I've been curious about this healthier version of chicken ever since it first came out a few weeks ago, so today will be the perfect chance to put it to the test. What about you: Have you tried the chicken yet? If not, will you be sampling it for free todayken Day: April 27th (TO

Second Time's a Charmer as Salma Hayek Reweds

2009-04-25T21:23:00.000-07:00

Second Time's a Charmer as Salma Hayek Reweds

It was tutto buono for Salma Hayek and husband François-Henri Pinault this weekend.

The happy couple, who made it legal on Valentine's Day, retied the knot in front of about 150 family members and superstar friends Saturday at the opera house La Fenice in Venice, Italy.

Per People, which first confirmed the second pronouncement of husband and wife, Hayek wore a Nicholas Ghesquiere-designed Balenciaga gown and a long veil and carried a crystal-studded bouquet of orchids and stephanotis.

The newlyweds' 19-month-old daughter, Valentina Paloma, acted as flower girl and Pinault's 10-year-old son, François, and 8-year-old daughter, Mathilde, from his first marriage participated as well.

Guests such as Hayek's longtime gal-pal Penélope Cruz and Bono started pouring into town Thursday to take part in the multiday celebration.

Also on the list Saturday were Ashley Judd, Edward Norton, Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend, Woody Harrelson, Olivier Martinez, Gael García Bernal, Enrique Murciano, David Blaine, Ziyi Zhang, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and former French president Jacques Chirac and his wife, Bernadette.

Friday's rehearsal dinner at the Punta Della Dogana, situated at the south entrance to the Grand Canal, was a Carnival of Venice-inspired masked ball, a theme that carried over to today's black-tie affair, where attendees started off the evening wearing black and gold masks.

Hayek and Pinault's first go-round was a surprise (to us) civil ceremony at the 6th Arrondissement City Hall in Paris. At one point they had publicly called off their engagement, but perhaps that was just to throw us off the scent...of money.

But whether or not the elaborate celebration cost Hayek and her luxury-goods-mogul hubby $2 million, as some speculated, her father-in-law made sure that the family left a hefty piece of their fortune behind when the party was over.

According to People, Pinault's father acquired the lease to the historic Punta Della Dogana and has spent more than $70 million renovating the property, which will open to the public June 6 as the Pinault Foundation Centre for Contemporary Art.

Jay Leno hospitalized with illness, cancels taping

2009-04-23T23:48:00.000-07:00

Leno hospitalized with illness, cancels taping
"Tonight Show" host Jay Leno is in "good spirits" after checking himself into a hospital on Thursday. NBC publicist Tracy St. Pierre said Leno drove himself to the hospital early Thursday afternoon and was admitted after he complained of feeling ill.

"Jay Leno is doing just fine," an NBC rep told Us. "He was kidding around with the hospital staff and running his monologue jokes by the doctors and the nurses. He’s expected back to work on Monday."

Although some sites reported that Leno returned home to rest, the Associated Press confirm that the Tonight Show host checked in to a hospital in Burbank, California, around midday and remains admitted "for observation."

The scheduled taping for tonight's episode was canceled, NBC officials confirmed. Scheduled guests were X-Men Origins: Wolverine actor Ryan Reynolds, celebrity animal trainer Jules Sylvester and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

"A repeat of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno will air tonight as Mr. Leno is not feeling well," his rep told Us in a statement.

Leno, who turns 59 on Tuesday, plans to return to the show next week. Leno's last Tonight Show will be Friday, May 29. The network announced in December that he will then move to prime time to host a new variety show at 10 p.m. on weeknights.

The network planned to air a rerun of the show Thursday night. Scheduled guests were "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" actor Ryan Reynolds, celebrity animal trainer Jules Sylvester and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

"We wish Jay the speediest of recoveries and hope that our soundcheck this morning didn't have anything to do with his illness or the cancellation of the show," joked Chad Jensen, manager for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. He said most of the guys in the swing band instead were "in the ocean surfing this afternoon.

Aubrey O'Day: Playboy's March Covergirl

2009-04-23T20:28:00.000-07:00

Aubrey O'Day: Playboy's March Covergirl

Bio

Birth Name: Aubrey Morgan O'Day
Birth Date: February 11, 1984
Birth Place: San Francisco, CA
Occupation: Singer / Actress / Songwriter
Relationship Status: Single

She steamed up the pages of Playboy’s March issue, and Aubrey O’Day recently revealed that she’s just getting started with the men’s magazine.

According to FOX Pop Tarts, the former Danity Kane cutie has plans of returning to the pages of Hef’s publication, and next time she plans on getting a little racier.

Last week, Miss O’Day told Tarts, "I absolutely want to do it again, any day. I’ve been asked to actually. I only took a little bit off this time so I’ll be back."

Aubrey also mentioned that since she showed some skin, she’s been receiving some interesting mail from male admirers. "I get sent a lot of creepy pictures like of guys licking the pages. It’s slightly weird."

"American High School" on DVD!

America’s favorite reality TV personalities and other up and coming celebrities enjoy crazy high-school antics in American High School! American High School is a rude, crude and twisted comedy about stripping down, hooking up and the unstoppable awesomeness of high school!

American High School stars Aubrey O’Day who gained popularity as everyone’s favorite party girl and dysfunctional lead member of Platinum selling pop group, Danity Kane from MTV’s "Making the Band 3 & 4." Aubrey will also bare all as the cover girl in Playboy’s March issue -- and is currently working on her solo album. But your reality star fix doesn’t stop there! This frisky, funny film also features MTV hotties Talan Torriero and Alex Murrel from "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County," and Brian Drolet of "The Hills!"

Shark Firestone of NO GOOD TV (NGTV.COM), praises American High School saying "This movie puts out like a chick on Prom Night!" The movie also boasts other beautiful babes including Jillian Murray in a racy departure from her role in Disney Channel’s upcoming new TV series, "Sonny with a Chance" (also starring "Camp Rock’s" Demi Lovato) and American Wedding’s (and former Playboy Playmate) Nikki Ziering!

It’s the final week of senior year at A.H.S., and everything is coming to a head: The popular girl, Gwen (Murray) and her exhibitionist husband Holden (Torriero) are headed for divorce; Gwen’s rich rival (O’Day) will do anything to be prom queen - and steal her husband; the pint-sized principal has giant-sized passions; and the sexy art teacher (Ziering) has a creative way of providing inspiration. But the real question is: Can true love overcome just plain horniness?

Lin Miaoke is Young Lin Daiyu in "Dream of the Red Chamber"

2009-04-22T20:40:00.000-07:00

Lin Miaoke is Young Lin Daiyu in a new television "Dream of the Red Chamber".

Lin Miaoke, the girl who sang China's national anthem "Hymn to the Motherland" at the Olympic opening ceremony on August 8, 2008, plays the role of young Lin Daiyu in Li Shaohong's new adaptation of "Dream of the Red Chamber" (Hong Lou Meng).

As one of the four master works of Chinese literature, "Dream of the Red Chamber" first appeared on television in 1987. Although two decades have passed, audiences still remember what they consider to be the perfect adaptation of the novel.

So far, some are casting doubts on the remake, which has given rise to much controversy after its casting, makeup and costume design were unveiled last year. Others have shown great interest in Li's new version and anticipate much from it.

The TV series started shooting late last May and is expected to wrap up this summer. The production team is now shooting the outdoor scenes in eastern China's gardens, lakes and water towns. The series will probably debut during next year's Spring Festival holiday.

Synopsis: (Credit to Wikipedia) The novel provides a detailed, episodic record of the two branches of the Jia family, the Rongguo and Ningguo houses, who reside in two large adjacent family compounds in the capital. It charts the family's wealth and influence as well as its downfall. The Jia family eventually falls into disfavor with the emperor, and its mansions are raided and confiscated.

A love triangle is at the core of the story. The main character, Jia Baoyu, is the adolescent heir of the family, a reincarnation of the divine attendant-in-waiting. Crimson Pearl Flower is reincarnated as Baoyu's sickly cousin, the emotional Lin Daiyu, who is in love with Baoyu. But Baoyu is predestined in this life to marry another cousin, Xue Baochai.

Watching the Opening ceremony it was pretty obvious that the little girl singing before the parade of ‘ethnic minority’ children wasn’t actually singing live. In the heat and the noise of 90,000 people, no voice would have been that clear or solid, so it was pretty obvious it was a taped.

However, today we learned the Mili-Vanilli truth behind the song. While Lin Miaoke had the ‘look’ of a cute Chinese girl singing, she didn’t really have the voice to be singing in front of an audience of billions. The true voice was with Yang Peiyi, who didn’t have the look and was relegated to singing in front of an audience of a few sound engineers. Yang Peiyi had a pretty voice.

Early Show's Julie Chen Expecting First Child

2009-04-22T01:49:00.000-07:00

Julie Chen of 'The Early Show,' 'Big Brother,' pregnant
Julie Chen has a reason to glow! The CBS journalist and "Big Brother" host shared good news on Tuesday’s "The Early Show": She’s pregnant! Her due date is October 4. Congratulations to Mrs. Chen and her husband, CBS President and CEO Les Moonves.

They have been married for four years, and this will be their first child together. Chen also addressed a Page Six rumor, which claimed that she will be taking maternity leave from work.

Chen is 39 and Moonves is 60. He has three children from his first marriage. Chen's due date is Oct. 4. And she told viewers that she doesn't plan on taking maternity leave from "Big Brother."Julie Chen has been an anchor of The Early Show, CBS News' weekday morning broadcast, since October 2002. She has covered several major news stories, including the war in Iraq, and in March 2003 she reported for the program from Kuwait and Qatar during the war.

Chen has interviewed newsmakers, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Queen Rania of Jordan, and former Defense Secretary William Cohen, as well as celebrities Tom Hanks, Ellen DeGeneres, Tom Cruise, Ben Affleck, Angelina Jolie, Chris Rock and Jennifer Lopez, among many others.

Before that, Chen served as news anchor of The Early Show and anchor of the CBS Morning News, the CBS Television Network's early-morning broadcast, since Nov. 1, 1999, when The Early Show debuted under that title.

Prior to joining The Early Show, Chen was a reporter and anchor for WCBS-TV, the CBS-owned station in New York (1997-99).
Chen spends her summers doing double duty between co-anchoring The Early Show and hosting "Big Brother," a reality series, which begins its eighth season on CBS this summer.

Watch Chen’s pregnancy announcement on "The Early Show" — and also see co-anchor Harry Smith beam with excitement:

Yannique Barker, or Stack$ and Brooke Hogan Fling Getting Serious

2009-04-21T18:27:00.000-07:00

Yannique Barker, or Stack$ and Brooke Hogan Fling Getting SeriousLooks like Yannique Barker, or Stack$, may have rapped his way into the heart of bad girl Brooke Hogan and the pair may be getting Serious.

Stack$ is the nickname given to Yannique Barker by fellow rapper Brisco. Yannique and Brook Hogan were seen out for a stroll on a Florida beach recently where the pair are filming the video for Brooke’s new single. The pair were frolicking around together like lovebirds.

Barker, 24, is no stranger to Brooke either. He’s been featured on My Number off Brooke’s debut album, Undiscovered so the pair have been around each other for a while.

But don’t let the Stack$ tattooed up bad boy rapper image fool you. His father is the founder of a hugely successful aerospace company and Yannique himself attended Landon in Bethesda, MD, a prestigious all-boys prep school.

Other than the obvious size difference between the two, Yannique Barker and Brooke Hogan could be right for each other, as long as he’s the one wearing the high heels.

Yannique Barker (born in January 20, 1985), better known by his stage name Stack$ (alternate form $tacks), is a rapper from Miami who grew up in Washington, D.C. Stack$ earned his name from a Miami rapper, Brisco, referring to his "ill" songwriting skills and multi-dimensional personality. His father managed Sly & the Family Stone, and Peaches & Herb, while co-producing “Midnight Train to Georgia” with his partner, Tony Camillo, before he founded a hugely successful aerospace company, and then later moved the family to Miami.

Brooke spent some time in Miami this weekend filming her new music video (wait, really???) with her new boyfriend, rapper Yannique Barker. This makes perfect sense, actually. Her mother dates men who are half her age. Brooke can’t do that without tip-toeing into statutory rape, so instead she’s dating men who are half her size.

Whatever. I can’t wait to see this video. I’m sure it’ll be AMAZING and bubbling over with talent and intelligence, like everything Brooke does.

Try this ..........Pop quiz, celebrity gossip followers: Stack$ is...

A) ... the identity of Brooke Hogan's new boyfriend;

B) ... the number of phone books she'd need to stand on in order to be face-to-face with said boyfriend;

C) .. the nickname given to rapper Yannique Barker by fellow artist Brisco, due to the former's "ill" songwriting skills and multi-dimensional personality.

The answer, of course, is: D. All of the above!

Miss USA 2009 is Kristen Dalton of North Carolina

2009-04-20T01:44:00.000-07:00

Kristen Dalton

Miss USA 2009

State: North Carolina
Hometown: Wilmington
Age: 22
- Sister of Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2008,
- Daughter of Miss North Carolina USA 1982,
-1st runner up at Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2005.

Kristen Dalton, Miss North Carolina 2009, took home the Miss USA crown Sunday evening in Las Vegas, edging past Miss California Carrie Prejean and Miss Arizona, Alicia-Monique Blanco. Dalton is part of a North Carolina pageant dynasty (we were surprised as you to learn that such a thing exists): Her mother was Miss North Carolina USA 1982 and her sister was Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2008.

Dalton, a blue-eyed blonde who studied psychology and Spanish at East Carolina University, hails from Wilmington and, according to the press release from the Miss USA organization, is a talented singer and dancer, though you wouldn't know it from the pageant, which, unlike Miss America, does not have a talent competition (although parading across a stage in a bikini designed by none other than esteemed tastemaker Jessica Simpson and gold high heels does require an abundance of balance, poise and at least two other things.

Kristen Dalton left for Las Vegas on April 2, armed with six bags of luggage, an iPod and her Bible. At 22, the reigning Miss N.C. USA, and former Miss Greater Wilmington 2006, is rehearsing from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily in preparation for the upcoming 58th Annual Miss USA competition.

Growing up with daily devotions and regular church attendance, Kristen knew pageants would be the perfect place to squash any negative opinions of rowdy pageant participants of the past.

“I am the oldest of four children and I take that very seriously,”she said. “You can be cool, be a trendsetter and be beautiful, but still stay true to your values and morals.”

Kristen credits her strong religious faith and family for her ability to adapt to any pageant situation. The Dalton women know a thing or two about supporting each other through pageants, with Kristen’s mother Jennie Dalton serving as Miss N.C. USA in 1982 and her sister Julia Dalton serving as Miss N.C. Teen USA in 2008 and second runner-up in the Miss Teen USA pageant.

“Kristen is so poised and eloquent,” said Jennie. “She doesn’t know a stranger.” Although the pageant circuit has changed since Kristen’s mother took the stage, Kristen said some of the backstage tricks of the trade have remained the same.

The 22-year-old aspiring motivational speaker and entertainer from Wilmington edged out first runner-up Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, of San Diego, and second runner-up Miss Arizona USA Alicia-Monique Blanco, of Phoenix.

"It feels really natural," Dalton said of her win. "I've worked so be here and this has been my lifelong dream and it's finally here. And whoever knew you could win in a turquoise gown?"

Contestants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia competed in the pageant, aired live on NBC. Contestants were judged by their performance in swimsuit and evening gown modeling contests and their responses to a question asked onstage; unlike the rival Miss America pageant, Miss USA contestants do not perform a talent.

Did Kristen ever become overwhelmed?

“Of course I got overwhelmed,” she said. “But if I wanted anything I had to work for it.”

Her full-time duties as Miss N.C. USA means Kristen will take a semester off from ECU, but with only three Spanish classes needed to graduate, Kristen is anxious to get back to the books. It was not long ago that Kristen took the title of first runner-up at the Miss N.C. Teen USA pageant in non-name branded attire: a $15 interview suit from a consignment store and a $30 evening gown from JC Penney.

“We’re very resourceful,” she said.

Kristen’s life in Las Vegas has not changed this hometown girl, who prefers to lounge around in jeans with a zippered jacket and describes her ideal evening as dinner at Wrightsville Beach’s The Oceanic, watching a show at Thalian Hall and eating ice cream downtown at Kilwin’s.

“It’s not solely pageants which make a difference; it is the pageantry,” she said.

Sit Down, Shut Up: Pilot (series premiere)

2009-04-19T22:35:00.000-07:00

'Sit Down, Shut Up' debuts Sunday on Fox

Who says students are the only ones traumatized by high school? Certainly not the staff of Knob Haven High, the setting for the new half-hour animated comedy Sit Down, Shut Up, debuting tonight.

Among the adult characters stuck in suspended states of adolescence are a frustrated gym teacher (voiced by Jason Bateman), a flaky science teacher (Kristen Chenoweth) and a bumbling German teacher (Henry Winkler). There's an incompetent administrator (Will Forte), a brooding librarian (Cheri Oteri), a daft English teacher (Will Arnett) and a power-grabbing acting principal (Kenan Thompson).

Some of the talent may seem familiar from Fox's Arrested Development; its creator, Mitchell Hurwitz, is an executive producer on this show.

What you'll love: You'd be hard-pressed to find a better pedigreed group of comedic talent in a cast – animated or otherwise. And keep an eye out for the signs ("Don't tempt a teacher! It could cost them their job!") on the school's walls.

What you won't: The sometimes crude and obtuse politically incorrect humor might require you to put yourself in the mind-set of one of the staff's hapless students.

Bottom line: With a plum time slot between The Simpsons and Family Guy, this series may just be able to draw its target audience.

In all, I think the first time you watch Sit Down, Shut Up, it's really easy to blow it off as another animated show that's trying too hard. However, it's actually worth sticking around and watching a couple of episodes. A lot of great sitcoms start off rough and then grow on you; just because this one happens to be animated (mostly) doesn't change that fact.

Other items of note and some of my favorite lines from this episode:

Ennis Hoftard's "little nutsack" that is mentioned several times throughout the episode.
The entire scene with Larry and Sue talking about Miracle coming out of a fuzzy monkey is probably my favorite scene in the whole episode. I also like the fact that the Larry (and I'm sure, others) use it as an excuse to see her naked.
The names of Deutschebog's Filthies: "Actually, Pacific Rim is a cooking magazine!"
The fact that they call his porno mags "filthies" in the first place also made me giggle, as did Hofftard's realization that he was not looking at a meal, but at a three-way.
The fact that baby Merch is smarter than his mother. He may not be old enough to talk, but he's old enough to distance himself from her dippy ideas.

Anne Hathaway

2009-04-19T18:26:00.000-07:00

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway is getting animated this weekend! She’ll be lending her voice on The Simpsons this Sunday, playing Bart’s older girlfriend, and Anne couldn’t be excited about it!

She tells E! News that she’s been a fan of the show since she was a little girl. She says, “I grew up watching it with my brothers, and it stuck with me…high school, college, post, everything. I always stop whenever it’s on.

"And when I found out they wanted me to come and do a voice, I flipped out. It might be one of the most if not the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Stars like Anne Hathaway, pictured hugging it out with actor boyfriend Adam Shulman, hit the three-day outdoor event to catch acts like new mom M.I.A., Joss Stone, The Chemical Brothers, Paolo Nutini and The Killers.

Biography& early carrer

Anne Jacqueline Hathaway (born November 12, 1982) and made her acting debut in the 1999 television series Get Real, but her first prominent role was in Disney's family comedy The Princess Diaries (starring opposite Julie Andrews), which established her career.

She continued to appear in family films over the next three years, with lead roles in Ella Enchanted and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement in 2004. Hathaway would later venture away from the "G-rated" image her early acting career bestowed upon her, starring in the films Havoc and Brokeback Mountain. She later starred in The Devil Wears Prada, opposite Meryl Streep; Becoming Jane, in which she portrays Jane Austen, and Get Smart, opposite Steve Carell. In 2008 she earned widespread critical acclaim for her star turn in the film Rachel Getting Married, for which she won numerous awards, including a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Her acting style has been compared to that of Judy Garland and Audrey Hepburnand she cites Hepburn as her favorite actress and Streep as her idol. People magazine named her one of 2001's breakthrough stars, and in 2006, she was listed as one of the world’s 50 Most Beautiful People.

Hathaway was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Gerald Hathaway, a lawyer, and Kate McCauley, an actress who inspired Hathaway to follow in her footsteps. The family moved to Millburn, New Jersey, when she was six years old.She has an older brother, Michael, and a younger brother, Thomas. Hathaway has mainly Irish and French ancestry, with more distant German and Native American roots.

Hathaway was raised a Catholic with what she considered "really strong values," and has stated she wanted to be a nun during her childhood.^[8]^[10] However, at the age of fifteen she decided not to become a nun after learning that her brother, Michael, is gay.Despite her Catholic upbringing, she felt that she could not be part of a religion that disapproved of her brother's sexual orientation. She has stated that she is a non-denominational Christian because she hasn't "found the religion" for her.

Relationship with Raffaello Follieri

In 2004, Hathaway began a relationship with Italian real estate developer Raffaello Follieri. During their relationship, Hathaway took part in the development of the charitable Follieri Foundation, serving as a financial donor as well as a member of the foundation's board of directors until 2007.

A Manhattan-based charity founded in 2003 focusing on programs such as providing vaccinations for children in Third World nations, the organization had come under investigation in early June 2008 by the IRS, reportedly for failing to file tax papers required from non-profit organizations.Citing the fear that this and other ongoing legal issues involving Follieri would become detrimental to her acting career (as well as for her own ethical reasons), Hathaway ended her relationship with Follieri in mid-June 2008.

Follieri was arrested in June 2008 on fraud charges for allegedly fleecing investors out of millions of dollars in a scheme involving purchasing Catholic Church properties in the U.S. for redevelopment. Court papers state that Hathaway was an unwitting beneficiary of the stolen money, which had in large part paid for Follieri's opulent lifestyle of jet-setting, shopping sprees, and fine dining. It was reported that the FBI had confiscated Hathaway's private journals from Follieri's New York City apartment as part of their ongoing investigation into Follieri's activities; however, Hathaway was never implicated in any wrongdoing from the events.^[56]

In the October 2008 issue of W Magazine, Hathaway spoke for the first time of the break-up and Follieri's subsequent arrest. She related that she "spent a week in shock" after Follieri's arrest, and credited the kindness of friends for her ability to keep working during such difficult times.

Raffaello Follieri has requested that the judge transfer him from his current prison to the Manhattan federal jail he was originally held in.

The jetsetter, who has been serving a 4 1/2 year term for cheating investors out of millions of dollars, calls the conditions in his Brooklyn jail "unspeakably harsh." This week Follieri's lawyer sent the judge a letter outlining the prison's shortcomings.

"Mr. Follieri reports that he is in a windowless dormitory with approximately 120 other men,'' the letter said. "He says that he cannot eat because the food appears to be spoiled and that the toilet and shower facilities are unspeakably unsanitary. e.g., there is excrement in the shower and rats are roaming freely in the area. He says the stench is intolerable.''

Things are reportedly so awful that Follieri has become sick. He's suffered from fever, bloody urine, intestinal problems, and shortness of breath. Just call it payback for the $37,000-a-month Manhattan apartment he rented with the money he bilked.

Audrey Marie Hilley

2009-04-17T21:28:00.000-07:00

Audrey Marie Hilley

Marie Hilley is a mystery. Her presence still hovers over her family and friends, and with it the deeply painful questions with no answers. What made her do such ghastly things? What motivated her complicated stories and alibis? Was there anybody that she truly loved? And, finally, who was the real Marie?

Audrey Marie Hilley (June 4, 1937 - February 26, 1987) was an American murderer. Her life and spree are the subjects of the 1991 telefilm Wife, Mother, Murderer: the Marie Hilley Story. The movie starred Judith Light in the title role, with Whip Hubley and David Ogden Stiers.

She married Frank Hilley in May 1951. In May 1975 Frank Hilley visited his doctor complaining of nausea and tenderness in his abdomen. He was diagnosed with a viral stomachache. The condition persisted and he was admitted to a hospital for tests that indicated liver malfunction. Physicians then diagnosed infectious hepatitis. He died early in the morning of May 25, 1975. Audrey benefited from the life insurance that her husband had and got around $31140. One year later she took out a life insurance policy on her daughter amounting to $25000.

An autopsy was performed with Audrey Hilley's permission. It revealed hepatitis, swelling of the kidneys and lungs, bilateral pneumonia, and inflammation of the stomach. Because the symptoms closely resembled those of hepatitis, no tests for poison were conducted. The cause of death was listed as infectious hepatitis.

Those who should have known her best knew her least. In the established tradition of "black widows,' Marie murdered her husband. It didn't stop there. Her murderous escapades undermined what should have been the most sacred of family relationships. When it appeared she would finally be brought to justice for her crimes, she disappeared and began life anew with an assumed identity. One persona after another, discarded when it no longer suited her needs. The story of Marie Hilley is a study in deceit, pathological obsession and serial murder.

Marie Hilley, or Audrey Marie Hilley, was convicted for poisoning her daughter, Carol Hilley. Carol Hilley showed signs of arsenic poisoning. Marie Hilley’s husband, Frank Hilley, died on May 25, 1975. Police exhumed Frank Hilley’s body and discovered arsenic in his body.

Marie Hilley had a trial and was sentenced. She escaoed from jail and changed her name to Robbi Hannon. Robbi Hannon met John Homan and married him. For mysterious reasons, Robbi Hannon faked her own death and made her comeback as Teri Martin. Later on, Teri Martin was discovered to be Marie Hilley/ Audrey Marie Hilley. Marie Hilley eventually died on Feb. 26 1987.

She was convicted for the attempted poisoning of her daughter. The motive was to claim the insurance payout.

Marie Hilley’s story was so fascinating that from time to time, documentaries and movies were made drawing inspiration from her life. Recently, one such TV movie on Marie Hilley was aired.

Marie was convicted and sentenced to jail. She escaped and changed her identity to Robbi Hannon. She met and married John Homan. One day, she decided to fake her death and re-emerged as Teri Martin. Police were suspicious and Teri Martin eventually broke down and confessed that she was Audrey Marie Hilley.

Marie Hilley was sent back to prison. She escaped and was found ill with hypothermia. She had a heart attack and died in February 26, 1987.

Final Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Trailer And Sneak Peak!

2009-04-17T07:22:00.000-07:00

Final Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Trailer And Sneak Peak!

The new trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has arrived. In the newest movie, Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort's defenses.

This certainly is a good week to be a “Harry Potter” fan. Last Friday a new international trailer surfaced online. Earlier this week there was news that the film’s release date has been pushed up two days to July 15. Today we brought you the exclusive news that the “Deathly Hallows” epilogue will be shot with the original “Potter” cast, rather than with older actors.

~Synopsis~

~As Harry Potter begins his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he discovers an old book marked mysteriously “This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince” and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort’s dark past. ~

~The Movie~

Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching.

Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort’s defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information.

Originally due out in April, the movie has been pushed back for a July release.

Here’s the new Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Trailer:

Carlie Christine-California High School Cheer Coach Fired After Posing for Playboy

2009-04-15T23:54:00.000-07:00

Carlie Christine - California High School Cheer Coach Fired After Posing for Playboy

With a face as lovely as the one on Carlie Christine, it is no surprise that she spends her days working at a day spa applying facials and promoting relaxation. But what you might be surprised to learn is that on her time off, this bright-eyed beauty likes to go out looking for an ad renaline rush.She loves dirt bike riding and scuba diving, anything “extreme”.

She bared all, all over the internet. Casa Robles High School officials in Orange va le confirm with CBS13 that their girl's cheerleading coach, Carlie Christine, was the one who posed nude in a playboy centerfold.

Christine is also Playboy's 'cyber girl of the week.'

For obvious reasons we can only show a few of many provocative poses from Playboy.

Parents and some students, who did not want to be identified, exposed the coach to school officials after rumors started slowly getting out that she had posed nude.

"I think it's unacceptable. It's not fair," says Jamye Curtis.

What apparently uncovered the coach was when some girls didn't make the cheerleading squad because they had a few unexcused absences from school. Their parents then made copies of Christine and dropped the pictures on the principal's desk. Christine was then fired from her position at Casa Robles High School.She is no longer a cheerleading coach at Casa Roble High School.

Her short tenure at the Orangevale school apparently ended after officials learned that Carlie Becker is also Carlie Christine, Playboy's "cyber girl of the week."

School officials wouldn't say that Becker was fired for posing nude, citing personnel confidentiality. San Juan Unified District spokesman Trent Allen did say, however, that Becker had been hired in February and was paid a stipend to be the coach. He said she is no longer employed with the district.

School officials postponed cheerleading tryouts last week. Tryouts resumed this week under the guidance of the district's assistant cheerleading coach.

Date of Birth: 05/2

8/88
Height: 5′1″

Weight: 105 lbs.
Measurements: 34D-24-34

Danny Gokey’s wife,Sophia Gokey "...is the reason for me to success"

2009-04-14T19:20:00.000-07:00

American Idol fans, vote for Danny Gokey! Okay... so I haven't actually voted since the days of Kelly and Justin, but I'm tempted to do it this season because of Mr. Gokey. Even Fantasia agrees that Danny will be the winner this season.

Danny Gokey has received media attention not only for his soulful voice, great stage presence, and Robert-Downey-Jr-esque good looks, but because he is a young widower, having lost his wife Sophia only 4 weeks before his AI audition. I generally hate it when Idol uses a death in the family to promote its contestants, but the producers handled this better than the last time in my opinion.

He is a music teacher and choir leader for Faith Builders International Ministries. His wife, Sophie, had encouraged him to audition for American Idol. Tragically, at age 27 Sophie Gokey died during surgery in July 2008. She had a congenital heart condition. Gokey, 28, a bespectacled church music director whose story has won widespread sympathy and attention, also apologized to viewers who felt he might have won an unfair advantage in the early stages of the show.

“I do feel like I was highlighted (by ‘Idol’ producers). I didn’t do anything to get that…I have no control over it. It’s a bummer when people are mad about it and I hope people can see past that,” Gokey told reporters on a telephone conference call.

Gokey said only seven months had passed since his wife died and that his grief was part of his life.

“This is a sob story. I don’t want it but it is shaping my life and it is causing hope for a lot of people…There is a fun side of me that’s going to come out. I apologize to everybody if they feel like it’s shoved in their faces, but it’s me,” he said.

Gokey, Texas oil worker Michael Sarver, and 21-year-old mom Alexis Grace advanced to the Top 12 on Wednesday night after viewers got their first chance to vote on the pool of contestants emerging from auditions in front of the four judges. Nine others were booted off the show. Gokey is one of a handful of contestants who has been highlighted by “Idol” producers since they first auditioned last summer.

As a biography, Sophia Linnette Gokey was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Aug. 16, 1980 and lived in there throughout her life. Her birth name was Sophia Linnette Martinez and she was the daughter of Juan and Ana Martinez. Her surviving siblings are Lissette (Cory) Quantance, Damaris Martinez and Margarita (Ivan) Santiago.

Sophia L. Gokey died on July 9, 2008 in surgery. Her husband, Danny Gokey has set up a foundation in her memory; Sophiaâ€™s Heart Foundation (SHF) The foundation’s mission is to make a positive impact on students’ lives through a Music and Arts Program, which will donate musical instruments to children and youth who are unable to afford them and the Sophia L. Gokey Scholarship Fund which will donate $1,000 scholarships to high school students who face challenges in pursuing their dreams. The foundation has a Web site: sophiasheart.org

“What I want to portray to people is to look inside themselves and to find strength. My wife had a heart condition her whole entire life, endured two surgeries when she was younger. She went through this third surgery that she didn’t live through,” he said.

“But my wife, she didn’t live life like she had a condition. She didn’t let any limitations be put on her life. That’s what I think about when I sing. I have such a passion to tell people, ‘Get up, get out of your situation that has brought a lot of heartache to you and move on, move forward.’?”

Brooklyn Decker and Andy Roddick to marry this weekend in Austin, Texas

2009-04-14T18:14:00.000-07:00

Andy Roddick is set to marry longtime girlfriend Brooklyn Decker in Texas this weekend. It's a match made in "Sports Illustrated" heaven -- he's been in the magazine countless times in his tennis whites, she's been featured in the annual swimsuit issue. In fact, Roddick spotted her in SI and asked his agent to get in touch with her through Decker's agent. (How romantic!!!)

Brooklyn Decker was born in Middletown, Ohio, and raised in Charlotte, N.C. She was discovered at age 16 in a mall and began her career as the face of Mauri Simone. She has been featured in Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, FHM and Glamour as well as campaigns for Gap, Intimissimi and Victoria's Secret and in music videos for Jimmy Buffett and 3 Doors Down. This is Brooklyn's fourth Swimsuit Issue. They met in 2007 and have been engaged since March 2008.

Roddick, 26, and Decker,21, plan to celebrate the nuptials with two days of festivities near Roddick's Austin, Texas, home. "They wanted to keep it local," the source says. And very private. The pared-down guest lists includes mostly family and a few close friends of the pair, who met when Roddick spotted Decker in a magazine and asked his agent to find her number.

The wedding will be a small, friends-and-family-only affair. But part of the celebration is already in full swing. This past weekend, the festivities kicked off with a bachelorette party in Decker's native North Carolina, and included her bridesmaids, including fellow S.I. model Julie Henderson.

She added that planning for her wedding was surprisingly fun: "This has been the happiest time. I'm very much a tomboy and this is being a total girl, being with my friends and my mom. We're shopping for a dress right now."

Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, 22, killed in car crash

2009-04-09T20:12:00.000-07:00

Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, 22, killed in car crash

Los Angeles Angels pitcher, Nick Adenhart and two others were killed by a suspected drunk driver Thursday, a shocking end to the life of a rookie who had overcome major elbow surgery to realize his big league dreams.

The accident in neighboring Fullerton occurred hours after the 22-year-old pitcher made his season debut with his father in the stands, throwing six scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics. The Angels ultimately lost the game, 6-4.

The team postponed Thursday night's game with Oakland, the final one of their season-opening series.

"It is a tragedy that will never be forgotten," manager Mike Scioscia said at an Angel Stadium news conference.

Adenhart's father, Jim, a retired Secret Service agent, walked onto the field in the empty stadium Thursday and spent several moments alone on the pitcher's mound. Wearing a red sweatshirt, the Angels' color, he briefly covered his eyes with one hand.

Jim Adenhart also spoke during a closed-door meeting of players and team officials.

"He just wanted to say thank you for the opportunity, thank you for raising his kid in minor league ball on up through the system in the Angels' organization," outfielder Torii Hunter said. Nick Adenhart was a passenger in a silver Mitsubishi Eclipse that was broadsided in an intersection about 12:30 a.m. by a minivan that apparently ran a red light, police said.

Adenhart was drafted straight out of Williamsport High School by the Anaheim Angels. He had been projected as a top 10 draft pick, but an elbow injury two weeks before the 2004 MLB Draft forced him to have Tommy John surgery and dropped him to the 413th overall pick in the 14th round.

Adenhart became a top-ranked prospect in the Angels organization, ranked by Baseball America as the 90th best prospect in baseball and the 6th in the Angels organization in 2006, as the 34th best prospect in baseball and 2nd in the Angels organization in 2007, as the 24th best prospect in baseball and 2nd in the Angels organization in 2008 and as the best prospect in the Angels organization going into 2009.

He made his major league debut as the starting pitcher on May 1, 2008, against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, California, replacing Dustin Moseley. He gave up five earned runs and walked five in two innings, earning a no-decision. Adenhart earned his only career victory on May 12, 2008, against the Chicago White Sox in Anaheim, giving up four earned runs in 5⅔ innings en route to a 10-7 Angels victory.

Adenhart opened the 2009 season in the Angels' major league rotation. In his final game on April 8, 2009, he earned a no-decision, giving up seven hits and no runs while striking out five batters and walking three batters in six innings against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

About Adenhart

Nick Adenhart was selected by the Angels in the 14th round of the 2004 draft. At the time of his death, he was the youngest pitcher on a big league roster.

• Age: 22 (born Aug. 24, 1986)
• MLB debut: May 1, 2008
• Career MLB record: 1-0 (4 starts)
• Career minor league record: 37-28

Scott MacIntyre-voters finally sent him home

2009-04-08T20:53:00.000-07:00

Another singer gets the boot on ‘American Idol’
-Visually impaired Scott MacIntyre inspired, but judges didn't save him.

Scott MacIntyre's limited vision never stopped him from pursuing his dream on "American Idol," but the voters finally sent him home, and the judges chose not to save him.
Scott MacIntyre became the sixth finalist eliminated on “American Idol” Wednesday on a night that brought out a level of emotion rarely seen from the judges’ stand.

MacIntyre, the first blind finalist in the show’s eight seasons, was an inspiration to many. Unfortunately for him, he couldn’t come up with performances to match his backstory. In a field where nobody is making big mistakes, it’s the smaller issue of bland song selection that did him in. But it appeared to be with genuine regret that the judges sent him on his way.

Scott MacIntyre is one of the 13 finalists on FOX's "American Idol 8." Scott MacIntyre auditioned in Phoenix, Arizona. Scott MacIntyre sang "And So It Goes" by Billy Joel for his audition. All four judges voted yes to send Scott MacIntyre to Hollywood. Scott MacIntyre was in the third group of 12 contestants to perform out of the top 36 and was one of the highest vote getters, guaranteeing him a spot among the finalists.

Scott MacIntyre is almost blind and plays several instruments including the piano. Classically trained, Scott MacIntyre has been internationally profiled on CNN, Headline News, Sky News Europe, Global Television Network, USA Today, and national and local news, radio, and print media as pianist, vocalist, and songwriter. Scott MacIntyre has independently produced, engineered, and released 6 full-length CD's and has written in genres spanning pop, rock, punk, jazz, and classical.

Scott MacIntyre started college at 14 years old and earned his bachelor's degree from Arizona State University at age 19. Scott MacIntyre then attended graduate school in London, England. Scott MacIntyre also plays piano, guitar and drums.

Find out here the facts about him.

Age: 23 years old
Birthday: June 22, 1985
Birth Name: Scott Douglas MacIntyre
Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
Height: 6'1

Song List:-

• March 3 - "Mandolin Rain" by Bruce Hornsby
• March 10 - "Keep the Faith" by Michael Jackson
• March 17 - "Wild Angels" by Martina McBride
• March 25 - "You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes (Bottom 3)
• March 31 - "Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel
• April 7 - "The Search Is Over" by Survivor

Small earthquake hits Los Angeles

2009-04-08T01:21:00.000-07:00

Small earthquake hits Los Angeles

The USGS measured a small earthquake in Los Angeles on Tuesday night at just after 10pm local time.The epicenter was about 6 miles deep and only measured a 2.5.

A few people have reported light shaking to the USGS, and they're ranking this one as a weak tremor.A magnitude-5.4 earthquake has struck just east of Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Officials say there are no immediate reports of damage or injuries. information.A spokesman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office said there were no reports of injuries in the Chino Hills area. "Operations are fully functional. We are still inspecting, but so far everything is okay," Ontario International Airport spokeswoman Maria Tsoro-Fermin said. You could hear the metal kind of clanging around, and the ride was just ending, so for a moment ... I thought maybe something was wrong with the ride. Then I realized the ride had already stopped moving and the ground was still moving," he said. Did you feel the quake? But witnesses reported feeling the shaking strongly in neighboring Orange County, as far south as San Diego and as far east as Las Vegas.

There were no reports of power outages.There were no immediate reports of injury or damage in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey told The Associated Press. San Bernardino County fire dispatch did not have reports of damage, AP said. Today's hot topic seems to be the 5.8 earthquake that hit L.A. There doesn't seem to be a lot of news about the quake. Most media outlets are classifying it as a mild shake, but information is still being gathered.

"Our state Office of Emergency Services has reached out to local governments in the affected area to ensure that levees, bridges and other critical infrastructure are inspected and declared safe," he said in a statement. "We are activating our regional and state emergency operations centers and will continue monitoring the situation closely."

Memphis hires assistant Josh Pastner as coach

2009-04-06T19:03:00.000-07:00

Memphis hires assistant Josh Pastner as coach

Memphis has hired Josh Pastner, an assistant under John Calipari, as the Tigers' new basketball coach, a school spokesman said Monday. The university scheduled a news conference for noon Central Tuesday to introduce the 31-year-old Pastner, said athletics spokesman Bob Winn.

Calipari left Memphis for Kentucky last week after nine seasons with the Tigers. Pastner, who is regarded to be a strong recruiter, worked one year under Calipari after six years as an assistant at Arizona, where he also played.

Pastner was the lead recruiter for the Wildcats in Olson's last season two years ago and the top assistant for interim coach Kevin O'Neil during the 2007-08 campaign. Last summer Pastner left Arizona to work for Calipari.

According to the source, the school did inquire into the availability of Massachusetts head coach Derek Kellogg, who was an assistant for Calipari at Memphis, but he just completed his first season at his alma mater. Memphis made overtures to USC's Tim Floyd, Missouri's Mike Anderson, former Xavier coach Sean Miller -- who took the Arizona job -- and most recently Florida State's Leonard Hamilton.

Jordana Brewster

2009-04-06T04:11:00.000-07:00

Jordana Brewster

Jordana Brewster studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York and graduated from the Professional Children's School in New York. She then enrolled at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, graduating in 2003. Brewster made her debut in daytime soap operas, with a one-time appearance on All My Children as Anita Santos, followed by a recurring role on As the World Turns as Nikki Munson from 1995 to 1998. Her first film role was in Robert Rodriguez's 1998 film, The Faculty.
One of Brewster's most notable film roles to date is Mia Toretto from The Fast and the Furious (2001), which she reprised in Fast and Furious (2009). Subsequent film work has included roles in Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, as criminal mastermind Lucy Diamond in D.E.B.S., and as Chrissie in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning.Her television work includes the NBC miniseries The 60's, as Sarah Weinstock, a college student and radical activist, and a pilot for a followup to the film Mr & Mrs. Smith, playing the role depicted in the film by Angelina Jolie. She is also appearing on Chuck, as the title character's former girlfriend in a multi-episode stint during the second season.

In 2002, Stuff magazine named her the 96th hottest woman in their "102 Sexiest Women in the World". In 2005 Maxim magazine named her the 54th sexiest woman in the world in their annual Hot 100. In 2006 Maxim ranked her at #59 on their Hot 100.She placed 8th on afterellen.com's "100 Hottest Women" list in 2007 and 22nd in 2008.
A Fast and Furious $72.5 Mil Weekend

It must have been the thes that were the problem.
Shorn of its franchise’s titular articles, Fast and Furious blew away its predecessors and the box-office weekend competition with an estimated $72.5 million Friday-Sunday debut.
The performance was the year’s best opening by a mile. It was the car series’ biggest by an even longer mile.
Drilling down into the numbers:
• The Furious franchise’s previous best was the $50.5 million taken in by 2003’s similarly the-lacking 2 Fast 2 Furious.
• With the articles, but without either Vin Diesel or Paul Walker, 2006’s The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift earned less in its entire run ($62.5 million) than Fast and Furious is expected to gross in 72 hours.
• Fast and Furious is the series’ first movie to feature Diesel and Walker (and Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriquez) since 2001’s original The Fast and the Furious.
• Overseas, Fast and Furious grossed $30.1 million, bringing its estimated worldwide haul to $102.6 million, Universal said.

Ichiro Suzuki

2009-04-04T19:22:00.000-07:00

Ichiro Suzuki

Full Name: Ichiro Suzuki

Born: 10/22/1973

Birthplace: Kasugai, Japan

Height: 5' 11" Weight: 170

Bats: Left

Throws: Right

College: N/A

MLB Debut: 04/02/2001

At age seven, Ichiro joined his first baseball team and asked his father, Nobuyuki Suzuki (Suzuki Nobuyuki), to teach him to be a better player. The two began a daily routine which included throwing 50 pitches, fielding 50 infield balls and 50 outfield balls, and hitting 500 pitches, 250 from a pitching machine and 250 from his father.

When Ichiro joined his high school baseball team, his father told the coach, "No matter how good Ichiro is, don't ever praise him. We have to make him spiritually strong."When he was ready to enter high school, Ichiro was selected by a school with a prestigious baseball program, Nagoya's Aikodai Meiden Kōkō, where Ichiro was primarily used as pitcher instead of an outfielder, owing to his exceptionally strong arm. While in high school, his cumulative batting average was .505, and his home run total was 19. Among the drills he partook in were hurling car tires and hitting Wiffle balls with a heavy shovel. These exercises helped develop his wrists and hips, adding power and endurance to his thin frame. However, despite his outstanding numbers in high school, Ichiro was not drafted until the fourth and final round of the professional draft in November 1991, because many teams were put off by his small size of 5' 9 1/2" and 124 pounds. Suzuki wears #51 and plays right field for baseball's Seattle Mariners. Long a superstar in Japan, where he played for the Orix Blue Wave, Suzuki moved to the American major leagues for the 2001 season. That made Suzuki and New York Mets outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo the first non-pitching Japanese to play in the American major leagues since the 1960s, sparking intense interest in both the U.S. and Japan. One of the best hitters in the game and a seven-time All-Star, Suzuki's fame is such that he is often called by a single name, Ichiro. He extended his contract with Seattle in 2007 for a reported $90 million and will play with the Mariners through 2012.

On the Mariners Suzuki was teamed with another Japanese national, pitcher Kazuhiro Sasaki.

Career Hits & Avg in MLB
Statistics through 2008 season
Season	Hits	Avg
2001	242	.350
2002	208	.321
2003	212	.312
2004	262*	.372
2005	206	.303
2006	224	.322
2007	238	.351
2008	213	.310
Total	1,805	.331
*MLB Single-Season Record

Career earnings

As of 2008 season

Year	League	Team	Salary ($)
2008	American League	Seattle Mariners	17,102,149
2007	American League	Seattle Mariners	12,500,000
2006	American League	Seattle Mariners	12,500,000
2005	American League	Seattle Mariners	12,500,000
2004	American League	Seattle Mariners	6,500,000
2003	American League	Seattle Mariners	4,666,667
2002	American League	Seattle Mariners	3,696,000
2001	American League	Seattle Mariners	5,666,667
Career Total			75,131,483

Amanda Alexis Lee

2009-03-31T12:02:00.000-07:00

Amanda Alexis Lee

Amanda Alexis Lee is currently one of Maxims Hometown Hotties for 2009 who is competing for the coveted crown of Hometown Hottie of The Year. According to her brief Bio on Maxim.com Amanda Alexis Lee is that she is from Dallas Texas and takes Pole Dancing classes. Amanda Lee says that she is a model which leads a lot of room for interpretation. The photo below is a cover that Amanda Lee did sometime ago.

Here are Amanda’s stats:
Height: 5′6″
Weight: 118 lbs.
Measurements: 34-24-35
Profession: Model
Favorite Sports Team: Dallas Cowboys

Favorite Movie/Actor: The Sweetist Thing

Go-to karaoke song: Pour Some Sugar On me

First Job: Sonic Car Hop

Piercings/Tattoos (How many? Where?): A dancer on my back, a little mistake in college. I'm going to put a cross over it.

What fun fact, talent, or mutant superpower of yours should guys know about?: I take pole dancing classes. I heard Carmen Electra talkin about it and decided to give it a try. It's sexy, eccentric and a great workout. I just love it!

What's the most memorable pick up line you've ever heard?: "Do you believe in love at first sight? Well let me walk by again."

What's the craziest thing you've ever done?: Cliff Diving. I'm an adrenaline junky.

Have you ever lied to get something for free? What was it?: I lied to a concierge in Vegas to get a suite. I told him my boyfriend and I got in a big fight and now that I was single I needed a room to make him jealous. When really my girls and I just wanted to have a suite all to ourselves. It worked though.

What do you feel most comfortable wearing?: I gotta say a sexy little black dress with some heeels and killer jewlery. You just can't go wrong with that classic lil black dress.

Would you rather have boring sex all the time or an amazing romp once a year?: Probably boring old sex and work with what I got. A whole year, wow no way!

Earth hour 2009

2009-03-29T02:04:00.000-07:00

Earth hour, 2009

Signs and message boards up and down the Strip — the planet’s brightest spot from space — were scheduled to dim or go dark to commemorate Earth Hour, a worldwide campaign intended to draw attention to climate change.

Lights shining on the hotels went dark, too, sending the Strip into an eerie darkness. Tourists looked up while sipping their beers and yard-long margaritas. Many whipped out cameras and cell phones to get pictures of the rare event.

From an Antarctic research base and the Great Pyramids of Egypt to the Empire State Building in New York and the Sears Tower in Chicago, illuminated patches of the globe went dark Saturday for Earth Hour, a campaign to highlight the threat of climate change.

Time zone by time zone, nearly 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries joined the event sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund to dim nonessential lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The campaign began in Australia in 2007 and last year grew to 400 cities worldwide.

Organizers initially worried enthusiasm this year would wane with the world focused on the global economic crisis, said Earth Hour executive director Andy Ridley. But he said it apparently had the opposite effect.

"Earth Hour has always been a positive campaign; it's always around street parties, not street protests, it's the idea of hope, not despair. And I think that's something that's been incredibly important this year because there is so much despair around," he said.

2009-03-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

Valerie Bertinelli Back in Bikini for 49th Birthday!

Valerie Anne Bertinelli (born April 23, 1960) is an American actress, best known for her role as Bonnie Franklin's daughter, Barbara Cooper Royer, on the long-running television series One Day at a time.

During her nine-year (1975-1984) tenure as Barbara Cooper on TV's One Day at a Time, "Valerie Bertinelli" grew from a chubby, awkward 15-year-old with only a smattering of bit-part credits into a polished actress and bona fide sex symbol. When Bertinelli "married" her "One Day" co-star "Boyd Gaines" in a 1982 episode, the ratings went through the roof, while many a male viewer's heart sank. One year earlier, Bertinelli had been a bride for real; her marriage to rock star "Eddie Van Halen" was kept under wraps by the series' producers for fear of damaging the actress' "Little Miss Perfect" image. Bertinelli's son by "Van Halen" was named Wolfgang, as in Mozart. While still a "One Day" regular, Bertinelli made the first of many TV-movie starring appearances in 1979's "Young Love, First Love"; later small-screen projects -- most of them packaged by Bertinelli's own production company, Bertinelli Inc

The night before Valerie Bertinelli prepared to step out in public wearing a bikini – for the first time in nearly 30 years! – she found herself unable to sleep. As her mind raced with insecurity ("I thought, Am I really going to do this? Can I pull this off?" the actress admits), Bertinelli tried to summon up a pep talk, telling herself, "What am I so afraid of? Come on – it's just a bathing suit!"

And yet as any woman knows, those innocent-looking strips of Lycra can be a terrifying sight – especially for someone just shy of her 49th birthday (April 23), who only two years ago tipped the scales at 172 lbs. – more than 40 lbs. over her goal weight for her 5'4" frame. But after whittling herself down to 132 lbs. in about 9 months on Jenny Craig (for whom she serves as a company spokeswoman), Bertinelli, who had last worn a bikini when she was 20, was ready for a new challenge.

"I thought, If I'm so afraid of a bikini, there’s something wrong. And so I had to get back into one!," Bertinelli says in the new PEOPLE, available on newsstands Friday.

And so – after about a year of exercising on her own while losing weight, primarily by walking 10,000 steps a day – she hired a personal trainer in December. Before long she was running up to five times a week. During what she calls the bikini "homestretch" – the last three weeks – she trimmed her daily caloric intake from 1,700 to around 1,200, and gave up her regular "splurge" glass of champagne. "It was crunch time," she says, "like getting ready for your class reunion!"

The result? Bertinell says she is now in the best shape of her life. "I never, ever, ever had deltoids!” she says. "Oh my God, when I'm doing exercises and I see them pop out, I'm like, Yes!"

2009-03-25T20:20:00.000-07:00

Kris Allen (born June 21, 1985) is an American singer, guitarist, pianist, and viola player, and a Top 13 finalist on the eighth season of the reality television series American Idol from Conway, Arkansas. See....oh....how sweet he is.

Kris Allen rocked out Wednesday night in a tribute to Motown. He had his guitar in hand once again, singing his own version of "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You." The four American Idol judges again gave strong praise to the Conway native. "I think you've hit your zone. Just keep it in the stride. You ain't doing nothing wrong. It's all good right now baby," Idol judge Randy Jackson said.

Kris Allen also goes for a Marvin Gaye hit, though he's taking a much more innocent song, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You). Smokey has encouraging words for Kris after hearing him sing. Kris gives the song an a tempo intro, before kicking into the groove. His version comes closer to a modernized version of James Taylor's -- funkier, younger -- than it does Marvin's original. He has some feedback problems early on, but they don't affect his performance -- and he does some nice twists with the phrasing toward the end.

Kara says he made his mark, not sounding like Taylor or Gaye: "You did everything right." Paula says he's picked a great song: "It was brilliant, and I'm just really proud of you." Simon thought it was smart that he did his own version of the song, but that he could use more swagger and confidence. "To be a star, you've got to be conceited. ... It's about self-belief. You've got to make an impact." Randy: "It's all good right now."
Let's check it out the lyric.........

How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you

I needed the shelter of someone's arms, there you were
I needed someone to understand my ups and downs, there you were
With sweet love and devotion
Deeply touching my emotion
I want to stop and thank you baby
I want to stop and thank you baby (yes I do)

How sweet it is to be loved by you (feel so fine)
How sweet it is to be loved by you

I close my eyes at night
Wondering where would I be without you in my life
Everything I did was just a bore
Everywhere I went it seems I'd been there before
But you brighten up for me all of my days
With a love so sweet in so many ways
I want to stop and thank you baby
I just want to stop and thank you baby (woah, yeah)

How sweet it is to be loved by you (it's just like sugar sometimes)
How sweet it is to be loved by you

(Woah, yeah)

You were better to me than I was to myself
For me, there's you and there ain't nobody else
I want to stop and thank you baby
I just want to stop and thank you baby (woah, yes)

How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you (woah, now)
How sweet it is to be loved by you (it's like jelly, baby, woah now)
How sweet it is to be loved by you (just like honey to the bee babe, yeah now)
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you

Jeffrey David Kirby

2009-03-11T16:15:00.000-07:00

Here is picture of the horrible car crash of TapouT’s Mask that Jeffrey David Kirby reported left. Now Jeffrey David Kirby is being held after his Porsche crashed or caused a crash with Charles Lewis Jr’s Ferrari.

The below description from the OC Register explains the crash scene:

Jeffrey David Kirby, 51, of Costa Mesa is in Orange County jail custody custody in lieu of $2 million bail on a count of gross vehicular manslaughter after a police officer reportedly witnessed him fleeing the scene of a collision involving the Ferrari and a white 1977 Porsche just before 1 a.m. at southbound Jamboree Road, near Camelback Street.

The officer told authorities that Kirby was driving the Porsche alongside the Ferrari when the red car hit a curb and then a light pole. The light pole then fell back onto the luxury Italian sports car. The officer said the driver of the Porsche stopped momentarily, but continued driving.

Moments ago TapouT said their will be a memorial. It issued the following statement:

“It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we must regretfully confirm the passing of our beloved friend, brother and co-founder Charles “Mask” Lewis following a car accident that occurred last night. We are currently in the process of setting up a memorial service in his honor and will release more details as they become available. Many thanks to all for the outpouring of blessings and well-wishes during this incredibly difficult time.”

Kirby’s passenger is reportedly Lynn Marie Nabozny. Still developing …

Jeffrey Kirby and Raynella Dossett Leath in Costa Mesa Mask Tapout Crash

Jeffrey David Kirby was responsible for the crash that killed Charles Lewis Jr - and it looks as though the accident was related to alcohol. Raynella Dossett Leath, a woman car passenger in Charles Lewis Jr’s ferrari is alive but in an unstable state as doctors race to save her life. Jeffrey David Kirby, the driver of the other car involved in the crash - a Porche - is in reasonable condition.

According to LA county police, he will soon be charged with the crime of Manslaughter (Gross Vehicular). Lynn Marie Nabozny, another passenger in the Porche driven by Jeffrey David Kirby, as yet there are no reports on her whereabouts or safety.

Rosie Ruiz scandal

2009-02-12T01:47:00.000-08:00

Rosie Ruiz scandal

This is Rosie Ruiz. She is the runner who cheated to win the Boston Marathon in 1980.

The Rosie Ruiz scandal is one of the Top 10 Sports Scandals of all time. Back in 1980, Rosie Ruiz, a 23-year-old New Yorker, was the first woman to cross the finish line in the Boston Marathon.

It seemed she had achieved the third fastest time ever recorded for a female runner - 2 hours, 31 minutes, and 56 seconds. And besides this incredibly fast time, she fantastically appeared sweat-free and relaxed as she climbed the winner’s podium to accept her wreath. Later, she was disqualified after it was discovered she was a big cheat; apparently jumping into the race during the last half-mile and then simply sprinted to the finish line ahead of everyone else who HAD actually ran the race!

Rosie Ruiz Biography

Rosie Ruiz Vivas was born 1953 in Havana, Cuba. She is most famous for being the Cuban-American Marathon runner who on April 21, 1980 won the 84th Boston Marathon in the women’s division, but who was later stripped of her title when it was found that she had cheated.

Rosie Ruiz supposedly completed the marathon with a record time of 2:31:56. However it was determined that she had not ran the entire 26.2-mile course, but had registered for the race and later jumped in from the crowd and sprinted to the finish line ahead of the pack. She then boldly claimed the win as her own.

People actually doubted her story from the beginning because no one had really seen Rosie in the race. Eventually, race officials stripped Ruiz of her Boston Marathon title and named Jacqueline Gareau of Montreal, Canada the women’s winner, with a time of 2:34:28. New York Marathon director Fred Lebow had rescinded Ruiz’s 1979 finish earlier that week, determining that Ruiz had not completed her first marathon, either. What a cheater!

The real winner, Jacqueline Gareau was awarded her medal over a week after the marathon. Her’s was bigger than the one that Ruiz had originally received, equal in size to the larger men’s medal. A few years later, Rosie Ruiz was arrested in New York on forgery and grand larceny charges after her employer accused her of stealing $60,000. She spent a week in jail and was sentenced to five years’ probation. A year later, she was jailed in Miami on charges of selling cocaine to undercover agents.

It is unknown what Rosie Ruiz has been doing most recently. We will update as information becomes available to us.

They should have known something was wrong when she thanked her heroes Rosie Ruiz and George O'Leary.

Over the weekend, the Associated Press (and other outlets including CNN) carried news that 56-year-old Jennifer Figge became the first woman to swim the Atlantic Ocean.

The article described her trip from Cape Verde, off the coast of Africa, to Trinidad. After the article was published, bloggers and others started doing some pesky math, and they noted that she would have gone 2,100 miles in 25 days, which Michael Phelps couldn't do no matter what he was on. Factoring in the fact that she never swam longer than eight hours in a day and once swam for only 21 minutes, the tale seemed just a bit far-fetched.

It turns out she swam about 250 miles in all and rode in the boat for the rest.

"I never intended to swim the entire distance," Figge said when asked for a follow-up, which was a few days after the big party and all the glowing news stories, which in turn had been goosed along by a family spokesman.

Yeah, she didn't mean to mislead anyone.

22 dogs living in car with TX woman

2009-02-12T01:05:00.000-08:00

22 dogs living in car with Texas woman

Police in Dallas are investigating an unusual case of animal cruelty.

They seized 22 dogs living in filthy conditions, but the dogs weren't in a house, they were living in a car with their owner.

Police say the woman suffers from dementia and was evicted a couple weeks ago.

Neighbors claim the woman took good care of the dogs and say she used them to survive.

"I never saw her mistreat them, because she always carried them water and food," said neighbor Ronnie Anderson.

"I guess she stayed warm with all the dogs because you could see her snuggled up in the morning with the dogs laying on top of her," said neighbor Alyson Robinson.

The woman is now in adult protective services. A custody hearing for the dogs will be held next week.t is so disturbing when we hear that someone has left a dog in a car for an extended period of time without proper food or water. But when you find 22 dogs locked in a car with their owner, it becomes an entirely new problem.

According to this article from the Star Tribune, a Texas woman was found locked in her car with 22 canines including two puppies. The woman apparently refused to open the doors when an officer tried to serve her a warrant for the seizure of the dogs on Monday.

In the car, there was one pot of water and blankets and the interior was covered with waste and urine. There were also extremely high ammonia levels in the vehicle.

A hearing will take place to decide the custody of the dogs. Until then, they were transported to a local SPCA.

I find it strange that the woman isn't facing any charges. An SPCA spokesperson said that they called Adult Protective Services about the woman, but did not really release any other information as to why she would have so many animals crammed in a filthy car. It is also strange that she is the owner of all of these animals considering how irresponsible this action is.

It is so sad when animals have to suffer for no reason. Hopefully these dogs will recover from the incident and find themselves in loving homes where people can care for them properly.

“The car was soaked with urine and covered in feces. The ammonia level in the vehicle was 23 parts per million even after the doors had been opened for several minutes. As a frame of reference, humans start experiencing health issues at 12 parts per million,” Courtney Stevens, SPCA of Texas rescue and investigations supervisor, said in a news release.

The owner does not face charges, Grayson County constable Michael Putman said. She was not coherent and the SPCA said it has contacted Adult Protective Services about the woman.

Jett Travolta Dead in Bahamas at 16

2009-01-02T18:11:00.000-08:00

Jett Travolta, the autistic 16-year-old sone of John Travolta and Kelly Preston, has died according to reports out of the Rand Memorial Hospital in the Bahamas where the family has been vacationing.

No cause of death has been given. Travolta has denied for years his son is autistic but many believe other wise. Travolta says his son has Kawasaki Syndrome which can cause heart related problems. We will let you know if and when we hear more.

John Travolta's 16-year-old son dies in Bahamas

John Travolta's teenage son, Jett, died in the Bahamas after falling ill and hitting his head at his family's vacation home, police said Friday. A house caretaker found Jett, 16, unconscious in a bathroom late Friday morning. He was taken by ambulance to a Freeport hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to a statement from chief police superintendent Basil Rahming.

The teenager had last been seen going into the bathroom on Thursday and had a history of seizures, according to the statement. Police said they are planning an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Another police spokeswoman, Loretta Mackey, said Jett apparently hit his head on the bathtub.

A spokeswoman for Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport said she could not release any information because of privacy concerns.

Jett was the oldest child of Travolta and his wife, actress Kelly Preston, who also have an 8-year-old daughter. The family arrived on a private plane Tuesday and had been vacationing at their home in the Old Bahama Bay resort community.

"The Travolta family has become like family to us at Old Bahama Bay and we extend our deepest sympathies to them," said Robert Gidel, president of Ginn Resorts, the property's owner.

Warren Buffett - 1% GDP Growth Is Enough

2008-08-26T06:06:00.000-07:00

That's what Buffett--one of Barack Obama's economic advisers--says. Wonder if Obama believes that to be true. We are experiencing that degree of slow growth right now which means that according to Buffett--and perhaps according to Obama--this is the best that can be expected from us.

Obama, of course, attacked John McCain for saying that the fundamentals of the country's economy are strong. Well, they are. But unlike Buffett--and perhaps, unlike Obama--McCain believes that we can do better economically.

Obama Adviser Buffett to America: You’re Rich Enough

I know Barack Obama thinks pretty highly of Warren Buffett's economic wisdom. The so-called Oracle of Omaha has helped persuade Obama that higher taxes will have no effect on economic growth. Obama mentions it in his book, The Audacity of Hope. And in a recent New York Times interview, Obama said the following: "If you talk to Warren, he'll tell you his preference is not to meddle in the economy at all—let the market work, however way it's going to work, and then just tax the heck out of people at the end and just redistribute it."

But I wonder if Obama also buys into this little bit of Buffettology that the billionaire unleashed at a symposium on the U.S. indebtedness to promote I.O.U.S.A., a new documentary: "Even if we grow at 1 percent per year, we double the GDP per capita in 75 years. The pie will grow enough that everyone will get more of the pie."

Except, Mr. Buffett, typical U.S. per capita GDP growth is usually more like 3 percent a year. At that rate of growth, our standard of living would go up by 10 times rather than just double over the next 75 years. And the richer we are, the easier it will be to deal with just about any problem you can name. Take Social Security, for instance. Under a slow-growth, Buffett scenario, the trust fund will be exhausted around 2030. Under a high-growth scenario, the trust fund never runs out. That's why when we think about how to deal with our huge entitlement debt, it's important not to do anything that will hurt economic growth. Like taxing the heck out of people.

Brooke Mueller Pregnant ???

2008-08-26T06:04:00.000-07:00

Charlie Sheen & Brooke Mueller Expecting A Baby! (Photos)

In Touch Magazine is reporting that Charlie Sheen and wife, Brooke Mueller are expecting a baby! Yep, newlywed Brooke Mueller is pregnant!

Denise Richards, Charlie’s ex-wife, is going to be thrilled to hear Brooke is pregnant ! You just know she will be seething with jealousy!

“They are so happy and excited,“ an insider says.

Sheen has three daughters: 25-year-old Cassandra Jade Estevez, whose mother is Sheen’s former girlfriend Paula Profit, and two girls with ex-wife Denise Richards. Sheen and Richards are still embroiled in a bitter custody battle over 3-year-old Sam and 2-year-old Lola.

Sheen and Mueller, a real estate investor, tied the knot in late May.

Charlie Sheen, 42, and wife Brooke, 31, are really excited about Brooke’s pregnancy.

Charlie Sheen, star of “Two and a Half Men” said, “Brooke and I are thrilled!” Charlie Sheen added, “She’s the best stepmom Sam, Lola and Cassandra could ever hope for. Seeing her love and affection with those three, I know she’ll be an amazing mom. Unless I bat 100 percent, perhaps a boy awaits us.”

Charlie Sheen told People magazine how Brooke told him the baby news. “Brooke informed me two days ago that very soon we’d be producing our own version of Two-and-a-Half Men,’” recalls the Emmy-winning actor, who is already the father to three daughters, Cassandra, 13, Samantha, 4, and 3-year-old Lola. “That would imply it’s a boy, so until we know, we’ll refer to it as ‘Two-and-a-Half People.’ We’re beyond happy to be new parents together.”

“They are in love, and this news makes things even better,” the insider adds.

Brooke Mueller and Charlie Sheen met back in 2006. The couple married in Los Angeles on May 30, 2008, spending their honeymoon in Costa Rica.

Sheen has three daughters: 25-year-old Cassandra Jade Estevez, whose mother is Sheen’s former girlfriend Paula Profit, and two girls with ex-wife Denise Richards.

Congratulations to Charlie and Brooke!

Michelle Obama - Democratic Convention

2008-08-26T06:02:00.000-07:00

Michelle Obama's heartfelt and earthy speech on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention in Denver met with almost universal praise on the micro-blogging service Twitter Monday night.

"I must be the only Republican who thinks Michelle Obama did a good job. Maybe it's the estrogen," tweeted Kristen Luidhardt, a political technology consultant in Greenwood, Ind. "No doubt she's very liberal. But the intro video and speech were moving to me. The family moment after was awkward though."

"I suspect some mothers will wonder why Michelle didn't take control," responded Sean Hackbarth, a former staffer for Fred Thompson's 2008 presidential campaign online, probably commenting on the Obama kids' spontaneity on stage when their father Barack joined them via teleconference.

Apart from Hackbarth's rapier-sharp political commentary about Michelle Obama's parenting skills, much of the initial chatter online via Twitter responding to Obama's Monday evening speech was gushy and emotional.

Obama took the stage at the convention Monday evening, making one of the first widely-anticipated speeches of the convention as a potential First Lady. Her remarks were not only broadcast on the networks and on the Obama campaign web site, but also on a high-definition television broadcast online at the Democratic Convention's website, where the images were so sharp they were startling. The convention is using Microsoft's Silverlight media platform to stream the high-def footage. It's the same platform that NBC used to broadcast the Olympics online.

Obama used the occasion to portray herself and her family as just the family-next-door, but she also deliberately intertwined her words with those of her husband's. She used phrases that he has used on the campaign trail, for example referring to the family's arrival at the convention as an "improbable journey."

Introducing herself to the world, and to Americans at large, Obama described herself as "a wife who loves my husband and believes he will be an extraordinary president," and as a "Mom whose girls are the heart of my heart and the center of my world -- they're the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning, and the last thing I think about when I go to bed at night."

The speech was part inspirational, and part sales-pitch: It was clearly designed to engender a feeling of connectedness -- and perhaps because Twitter enables people to respond almost spontaneously, the initial feedback to it was voluminous and emotional.

"Watching Michelle's speech again. That was amazing," wrote web developer Jake Zukowski.

"New York loves Barack & Michelle Obama, yes" tweeted "jmcfarm."

"Michelle Obama has me in tears with her speech at the DNC," tweeted herGreekness. "I will listen to my hopes, not my fears, Michelle."

For some, the gushiness got to be a bit too much.

"Why are people crying at the Democratic National Convention? During Michelle Obama's speech, crying," asked "SeeMax"

Peter Lamotte was a bit more analytical. "I think only the Chinese Olympic ceremonies were more staged than Michelle Obama's speech, especially the MTV style satellite phone-in.

Along the same vein, Micah Sifry, the editor-in-chief of TechPresident, noted: "Barack on big screen talking to Michelle live; a reprise of Ronald Reagan waving to Nancy in 1984, if memory serves."

But ultimately it may not matter what the gear-heads and techies think of the speech on Twitter. Obama's already won them over. It's the 18 million other voters who didn't vote for him during the primaries, and who don't spend as much time online that Obama needs to sway.

Michelle Obama's speech

2008-08-26T05:57:00.000-07:00

DENVER–Michelle Obama offered America a glimpse of a black First Family last night, delvering a reassuring tale of a family which she says shares both American values and the American dream.

But at her coming out speech at the Democratic National Convention, she was also introduced as a woman who memorized dialogue from The Brady Bunch and she emphasized her role as a mother, saying like all mothers, her children are the centre of her world.

She beamed from the podium as a sea of blue "Michelle'' signs were held aloft and, in the convention hall, she proved an adept, self-assured salesperson for not only her husband Barack Obama's presidential bid, but in her own campaign to introduce herself to America as a potential first lady.

Some of the loudest applause came when she paid tribute to Hillary Clinton, the woman who narrowly lost her presidential bid to Obama's husband. But her reception before a partisan convention hall is secondary to the question of how her polished, well-delivered speech played to a national television audience.

She said after 19 months of campaigning to be president of the United States, Obama is still the same man she fell in love with 19 years ago and she talked about the importance of her family.

"I come here tonight as a sister, blessed with a brother who is my mentor, my protector and my lifelong friend," she told delegates and observers in an overflow Pepsi Center as well as millions of Americans watching on television.

"I come here as a wife who loves my husband and believes he will be an extraordinary president.

"I come here as a mom whose girls are the heart of my heart and the centre of my world – they're the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning, and the last thing I think about before I go to bed at night."

She was introduced by her older brother, Craig Robinson, a university basketball coach, who told the crowd she could recite the lines from the old Brady Bunch show, even though the Robinson children were allowed to watch only one hour of television per night.

Afterward, she was joined on the stage by daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, and a video greeting from her husband, who was in Kansas City, Mo.

"Now you know why I asked her out so many times ... even after she said 'no,' Obama said. "So if you want a persistent president..."

Sasha, however, got her father to correct himself when he first said he was speaking from St. Louis – he was actually in Kansas City.

Michelle Obama paid a quick tribute to Clinton and her "18 million cracks in the glass ceiling," a line Clinton has used herself referring to her 18 million primary votes.

Michelle Obama has been the target of much of the same venom that was aimed at Clinton 16 years ago.

In a pre-speech interview with National Public Radio, Michelle Obama said she ignored labels and she understood politics was all about mischaracterization.

"I have not paid much attention about what people say about me who don't know me," she said in the interview.

"It would be very hard for me to function in this world and to go through Princeton and Harvard and to work in all the careers that I've worked if I worried about labels."

Michelle Obama said she and were husband shared the same values – that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you're going to do.

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