Kim Kardashian Films Without Makeup, Kanye West's Rep Addresses Cheating Rumors: Today's Top Stories Read more: http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/kim-kardashian-films-without-makeup-kanye-wests-rep-addresses-cheating-rumors

Pregnant Kim Kardashian keeps casual while filming Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Plus, the reality star's boyfriend, Kanye West, faces cheating rumors: See Us Weekly's top stories from Wednesday, June 12, in the roundup! 1. Kim Kardashian Films Without Makeup, Dresses Baby Bump in All Black Kim Kardashian is keeping it casual now that she's in the final weeks of her pregnancy. The 32-year-old reality star dressed her baby bump in all black and wore flip-flops (and virtually no makeup!) while filming a scene for Keeping Up With the Kardashians at The Vitamin Barn in Malibu on Tuesday, June 11. 2. Kanye West Did Not Cheat on Pregnant Kim Kardashian: Rep Don't believe the rumors. Amid allegations made by model Leyla Ghobadi that Kanye West cheated on pregnant Kim Kardashian with her, West's rep is setting the record straight. "This most recent attack on Kanye West and his family is totally without merit," his rep tells Us. 3. Farrah Abraham Tells Howard Stern: I Pleasure Myself to My Sex Tape Talk about self love! During a graphic tell-all interview on Howard Stern's Sirius XM radio show on Wednesday, June 12, Teen Mom and adult film star Farrah Abraham revealed she gets turned on by watching her own sex tape. 4. Kate Middleton Wears $42 ASOS Dress While Furniture Shopping: Picture Kate Middleton is just like Us! The pregnant Duchess of Cambridge stepped out wearing an affordable maternity dress in London on Tuesday, June 4, while shopping at a high-end furniture store. The price tag for her adorable ensemble? $42! 5. Maria Menounos: Jack Nicholson "Got Me Kicked Out" of a Lakers Game! Memo to sports fans everywhere: If you want to mess with the Lakers, you're going to have to go through Jack Nicholson first. The 76-year-old actor once got Extra host (and very vocal Boston Celtics fan) Maria Menounos kicked out of her seat at Staples Center.

News Source:www.usmagazine.com

‘Breaking Bad’ Star Aaron Paul Marries Lauren Parsekian

"Breaking Bad" star Aaron Paul is off the market, b***ch! The 33-year-old actor, who plays foul-mouthed but big-hearted meth maker Jesse Pinkman on the AMC series, married his longtime girlfriend, Lauren Parsekian, in Malibu, California, on Sunday. "And so it begins," Paul had tweeted on Friday, along with a photo of the happy couple and the hashtag #mrmrspaul, hinting that the wedding weekend was underway. Then on Sunday, Parsekian posted a pic of herself getting her done to Instagram, writing, "Wedding time. Did my own make up!" According to Us Weekly, the actor and his groomsmen, including co-star Bryan Cranston wore black tuxes, while the bride donned a strapless Cinderella-style gown and white boots. The couple had planned a 1920s Parisian carnival-themed wedding and guests were reportedly asked to show up with masquerade masks. The couple met at Coachella Arts and Music Festival in Indio, California in 2010, and became friends. A year later, they returned to the fest and shared their first kiss on a Ferris wheel. "You know when people say, 'When you know, you know? It was crazy," Paul told GQ in 2012. "The moment that happened … I couldn't imagine myself being without her." On New Year's Eve 2011 they became engaged during a holiday getaway to Paris. Paul later recounted to People magazine how they were outside of a hotel, dancing to Édith Piaf by themselves, when he "begged her" to marry him, noting, "I'm the luckiest man on the planet.It doesn't make sense to me. The way she looks at me ... She has that magical glow about her." Clearly not shy about expressing his feelings for her, he also openly gushed about her during his acceptance speech at the 2012 Emmys, saying, "You truly saved me." Parsekian, 25, is a film director-producer, but also the co-founder of the nonprofit organization Kind Campaign, which is a movement, documentary, and school program established to eradicate girl-against-girl bullying. As a young girl growing up in Laguna Niguel, California, she was the target of bullying that got so bad, she actually attempted suicide. After their honeymoon, Paul will be gearing up for the final eight episodes of "Breaking Bad." The acclaimed drama returns August 11 to conclude its fifth and final season.

News Source:omg.yahoo.com

Jolie aunt dies of breast cancer days after op-ed

Less than two weeks after Angelina Jolie revealed she'd had a double mastectomy to avoid breast cancer, her aunt died from the disease Sunday. Debbie Martin died at age 61 at a hospital in Escondido, Calif. near San Diego, her husband, Ron Martin, told The Associated Press. Debbie Martin was the younger sister of Jolie's mother, Marcheline Bertrand, whose own death from ovarian cancer in 2007 inspired the surgery that Jolie described in a May 14 op-ed in the New York Times. According to her husband, Debbie Martin had the same defective BRCA1 gene that Jolie does, but didn't know it until after her 2004 cancer diagnosis. "Had we known, we certainly would have done exactly what Angelina did," Ron Martin said in a phone interview. Debbie Martin's death was first reported by E! News. Ron Martin said after getting breast cancer, Debbie Martin had her ovaries removed preventively because she was also at very high genetic risk for ovarian cancer, which has killed several women in her family. The 37-year-old Jolie said in her op-ed that her doctors estimated that she had a 50 percent risk of getting ovarian cancer but an 87 percent risk of breast cancer so she had her breasts removed first, reducing her likelihood to a mere 5 percent. She described the three-step surgical process in detail in the op-ed "because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience." The story, a surprise to most save those closest to Jolie, spurred a broad discussion of genetic testing and pre-emptive surgery.

News Source:news.yahoo.com

JOSS WHEDON Talks Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver on Fallon

Big-screen Avengers writer and director Joss Whedon appeared on Friday's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to promote his adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Along the way, he also discussed 2015's Avengers sequel, specifically his reasons for including Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, previously confirmed by Whedon to be in the current version of the script. "Their powers are very visually interesting," Whedon said. "One of the problems I had on the first one was everybody basically had punch-y powers," Whedon also acknowledged a fondness for them due to their prominent roles in comics he read as a kid, calling them "great mainstays in the Avengers." The appearance came one day after Fox's X-Men: Days of Future Past director Bryan Singer announced on Twitter that Quicksilver would appear in that movie (out in 2014), played by actor Evan Peters. Due to their significant history in both X-Men and Avengers comics, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch have been said by Marvel Studios president of production Kevin Feige to be a special case, where either Fox or Marvel could use the characters in a live-action feature. The news led to speculation among observers as to what prompted the Pietro Maximoff double-dip from the competing studios, with HitFix projecting it to be "a legally-negotiated stand-off in which we'll get two totally different versions of one character."

News Source:www.newsarama.com

Thunderstorms slow Oklahoma tornado cleanup

A band of thunderstorms battered the Oklahoma City area Thursday, slowing cleanup operations in the suburb where a tornado killed 24 people and destroyed thousands of homes this week. The first of the funerals, for a 9-year-old girl killed at a Moore elementary school that took a direct hit in Monday's storm, was scheduled for Thursday morning. A family photo showed the girl, Antonia Candelaria, beaming with a big smile and wearing a white sun hat. Early estimates indicate the tornado caused more than $2 billion of damage in Moore. Whole subdivisions in the fast-growing community of 56,000 people were destroyed. Authorities estimated that as many as 13,000 homes were damaged or destroyed and 33,000 people were affected — an especially traumatic toll for a city that had already suffered three other tornados since 1998. Two elementary schools were hit — one was leveled — by Monday's tornado. Candelaria was one of seven children who perished at the Plaza Towers Elementary School, a one story building with barely a wall left standing. Altogether, 10 children were killed in the storm, including two infants. The medical examiner reported that six of the children who died at Plaza Towers suffocated after being buried under a mass of bricks, steel and other materials as the building collapsed. A seventh child who died there, 8-year-old Kyle Davis, was killed instantly by an object — perhaps a large piece of stone or a beam — that fell on the back of his neck. Thursday's thunderstorms produced hail, heavy rain and high winds in the morning. A flash flood warning was also in effect. The National Weather Service said more severe storms were forecast for late afternoon and at night, and that more tornados were a possibility. The weather was hampering cleanup and recovery efforts that had just begun to accelerate now that all of the missing have been accounted for. Residents were only formally allowed back into the damage zone on Wednesday afternoon, where they picked through enormous piles of debris. Shayne Patteson was among them, moving around the ruins of his three-bedroom home. All that was left was the tiny area where his wife hunkered down under a mattress to protect their three children when a tornado packing winds of at least 200 mph slammed through his neighborhood. Patteson vowed to rebuild, likely in the same place, but said next time he will have an underground storm shelter. "That is the first thing that will be going into the design of the house, is the storm shelter and the garage," he said as he looked around piles of bricks and plywood where their home once stood. Moore Mayor Glenn Lewis said Wednesday he would propose an ordinance in the next couple of days to require all new homes to have storm shelters. The city already has some. After a massive tornado tore a near-identical path in 1999, city authorities provided incentives such as federal grant dollars to help residents cover the costs of safe rooms. This time, though, Lewis thinks it is necessary to compel people to include them in all new construction.

News Source:news.yahoo.com

Carole King Honored With Gershwin Prize at White House Ceremony

Carole King was was presented with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song at the White House last night by President Obama, who called the singer-songwriter a "living legend," The Associated Press reports. "It is yet another of the many important messages to young women that women matter, women make a difference," King said in an interview with the AP. "That popular music is recognized by the Library of Congress as being worthy of a place in history is especially significant to me." Carole King Musical Aims for Broadway King became the first woman ever to win the Gerswhin Prize, which is given by the Library of Congress each year. Previous recipients include Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon. King accepted the award on behalf of the co-writers she worked with throughout her career, including Hal David and Gerry Goffin, who helped her craft such classic songs as "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and "You've Got A Friend." Held just two days after a tornado ravaged Moore, Oklahoma, President Obama spoke of rebuilding and recovery, and the role music can play in that process: "Eventually, life will go on and new memories will be made. New laughter will come. New songs will be sung," he said. "And that's often why we turn to music during trying times, for comfort and for inspiration, and sometimes just for a good diversion." King opened the show playing the piano before taking a seat next to the president and Vice President Joe Biden; she closed the ceremony as well with a duet of "You've Got a Friend" alongside James Taylor. Gloria Estefan, Trisha Yearwood and Emeli Sandé further honored King with a rendition of her "Will You Love Me Tomorrow." King also performed "I Believe in Loving You," she co-written with Hal David, a Gershwin Prize recipient who died last year: "I'm hoping that this will become a song that people will want to play at their weddings," she said of the track, which she hopes to release as a single. "It's so romantic. Hal is such a great writer, and his words live on forever." At 71, King seemed ready to retire last year following the release of her memoir A Natural Woman, but has since toured Australia and is set to perform at a benefit concert for victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. "I still feel that it would be lovely to retire, but that time is not yet here apparently," King said. Last night's tribute was a part of Obama's "In Performance at the White House" series, and the show will air on PBS on May 28th.

News Source:www.rollingstone.com

Selena Gomez Goes Without Makeup, Shows Lighter Hair Color

Selena Gomez showed off her lighter side on May 21 while strolling in London. With her face free of makeup and her long hair colored several shades lighter than normal, the "Come & Get It" singer, while still undeniably gorgeous, looked nearly unrecognizable. PHOTOS: Selena's sexy style Wearing yellow-rimmed sunglasses, a loose black coat, black and white printed pants, and black loafers, the stylish singer, 20, looked diminutive, especially since she was toting a large Apple laptop and an oversized white carry-all. Gomez's lighter hair color, colored in an ombre style (with the ends much lighter than the rest of the hair), is a new look for Gomez. A source tells Us that Gomez had her locks highlighted at Nine Zero One Salon in West Hollywood, CA, on May 12: "She is lighter than she's ever been." "She wanted to do something new for the Billboard Awards," says the source. "Going lighter is something new for her." PHOTOS: Selena and Justin -- the way they were At the award show on May 19, the singer not only debuted her new hair hue, she also reunited (yet again) with beau Justin Bieber. A video at the event captured BFF Taylor Swift sticking her tongue out in disapproval after spotting Gomez and Bieber kissing. Tell Us: Do you like Selena Gomez's hair dark or lighter?

Article Source:omg.yahoo.com

Michael Jackson paranoid, anxious, obsessive, director says

Five days before he died, Michael Jackson was in such a sorry mental state that the director of his ill-fated “This Is It” concert series said he needed a psychiatric evaluation. Kenny Ortega sent the June 20, 2009, email to Randy Phillips, president and chief executive of AEG Live, which was putting on the 50 London concerts. He wrote “trouble at the front” in the email’s subject line. “I honestly don’t think he is ready for this based on the continued physical weakening and deepening emotional state,” Ortega wrote. “There are strong signs of paranoia, anxiety and obsessive-like behavior. I think the very best thing we can do is get a top Psychiatrist in to evaluate him ASAP. It’s like there are two people there. One (deep inside) trying to hold on to what he was and still can be and not wanting us to quit him, the other in his weakened and troubled state … I honestly felt if I had encouraged or allowed him on stage last night he could have hurt himself. I believe we need professional guidance in this matter.” The email was shown to the jury in the Jackson wrongful death lawsuit during the testimony of Shawn Trell, AEG’s senior vice president and general counsel. He said he learned of Jackson’s frail condition from Phillips and Paul Gongaware, another top executive, at a meeting of AEG Live’s executive committee. Trell said the company’s response was to hold a meeting that day with Jackson and his doctor, Conrad Murray. “…so I think they took it seriously,” he said. Phillips turned down the request for a psychiatrist. In emails previously published by The Times, Phillips wrote, "It is critical that neither you, me or anyone around this show become amateur psychiatrists or physicians." At the meeting, Jackson said he would improve and Murray agreed to help. Others have said that Jackson did great during the next two days of rehearsals. "Michael and the doctor stressed that he was OK. They had it under control," Marvin Putnam, AEG’s attorney, has said. Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for giving Jackson a fatal dose of the anesthetic propfol to treat his insomnia. His mother and three children have sued Anschutz Entertainment Group, saying the company negligently hired and supervised Murray. AEG says that any money it was supposed to pay Murray was an advance to Jackson.

News Source:www.latimes.com

Cannes 2013: Nicole Kidman, Ang Lee and Christoph Waltz join jury

Might it be the most star-studded Cannes jury in history? The world's most famous film festival has announced that this year's president, Steven Spielberg, will be joined by a cavalcade of heavyweight figures – including Oscar winners Ang Lee, Christoph Waltz and NicoleKidman. The glittering quartet will be joined by Britain's Lynne Ramsay, perhaps with time on her hands after exiting the Natalie Portman indie western Jane's Got a Gun, French cinema icon Daniel Auteuil, Romanian film-maker Cristian Mungiu, Japanese director Naomi Kawase and Bollywood star Vidya Balan. Mungiu, Ramsay, Auteuil and Kawase are all past Cannes award-winners. Ramsay took a Youth prize in 2002 for her elliptical drama Morvern Callar, while Kawase won the Camera d'Or for Suzaku in 1997 and the Grand Prix in 2007 for The Mourning Forest. Auteuil won the best actor award at Cannes in 1996 for drama The Eighth Day. Mungiu is the only figure on the jury to have taken home the festival's top Palme d'Or prize, which he won in 2007 for the harrowing drama 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. "We have only one criteria and that is already done for the president – the legitimacy," festival artistic director Thierry Fremaux told the Hollywood Reporter. "So for the jury, Steven Spielberg will be the centre and we are finishing it with great people." He added: "We have a lot of film-makers coming from all over the world. They need to be sure that those who make the decisions about the awards have their own legitimacy and the respect to do that." The 66th Cannes film festival runs from 15 to 26 May. The only woman ever to have won an Oscar and a Palme d'Or, Jane Campion, will oversee the Cinéfondation and short film competitions, while Amélie's Audrey Tautou will host the opening and closing ceremonies.

News Source:www.guardian.co.uk

Jennifer Lawrence Rocks New Short Haircut at GLAAD Media Awards

Jennifer Lawrence has always been a cut above -- and now she has the hair to match. On Saturday, April 20, the Silver Linings Playbook Oscar-winner debuted a short new 'do at the 2013 GLAAD Media Awards presented by Ketel One Vodka, where she was joined by celebs including Drew Barrymore, Charlize Theron, Darren Criss, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Prior to taking the stage with famed movie exec Harvey Weinstein, the Hunger Games actress posed for photographs on the red carpet inside the JW Marriott at L.A. Live. Her formerly long blonde locks were shorn into shoulder-length layers with side-swept bangs, like a longer version of model Karlie Kloss' chin-length chop, which The New York Times dubbed "the haircut of the year" in January. The chic style complemented her equally chic ensemble: a black flared David Koma dress with sheer detailing, matching black Nicholas Kirkwood heels, and jewelry by David Webb. Lawrence -- recently named one of TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World -- was on hand to introduce former President Bill Clinton, who received the Advocate for Change Award. During his acceptance speech, he joked that he was like a dinosaur next to the 22-year-old star. It looked like "she was touring the Museum of Natural History" backstage, Clinton, 66, quipped playfully, noting that "she was like 2 years old" when he took office in January 1993. (In fact, that's not an exaggeration; the actress was born in August 1990.) Lawrence, for her part, endeared herself to both the politician and the crowd when she tripped over President Clinton's name in her introduction and accidentally read some of Weinstein's lines instead of her own. "It's not my comfort zone," she recently told U.K. magazine Fabulous of speaking in public. "Making movies is where I belong. I shouldn't be heard just talking. So, when I'm doing movies, I'm really happy. That's where I'm comfortable, that's my home. When you put me on a red carpet or on a stage, I turn into chihuahua Jennifer."

News Source:omg.yahoo.com

New Sandra Bullock comedy a ‘love letter’ to Boston

Las Vegas -- The director and stars of the new cop comedy The Heat say they hope their film will provide some comic relief to Bostonians in the wake of Monday’s marathon bombings. Director Paul Feig and actresses Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy promoted The Heat on Thursday at CinemaCon, the annual convention of theatre exhibitors. The Heat casts Bullock and McCarthy as an FBI agent and a Boston cop forced together to take on a violent drug lord. “The movie is such a love letter to Boston,” Feig (Bridesmaids) said on the press line before presenting the film’s trailer to a theatre full of exhibitors. “It’s not a movie where it’s supposed to be New York but it’s shot in Boston,” he continued. “This takes place in Boston. We have Boston natives in the movie, like Jane Curtin and (comic-actor) Bill Burr and (New Kids on the Block member) Joey McIntyre — all these famous Bostonians are in it. And if this movie can help Boston laugh, than that would be great.” There is at least one major explosion and some Lethal Weapon-style action violence in the film — portions of which were filmed last year in and around Boston. Noted Bullock, “I think having been there, having had our entire crew around us all the time, who are all from Boston, you’re just hoping. And when you see the aftermath, I try to look on the other side, which is, ‘Look how amazing the people were. Look at those people that ran towards everyone without thinking twice about themselves.”’ Bullock, McCarthy and Feig each expressed hope there would be screenings of the film in Boston to assist the bombing victims, but they said no plans had firmed up. A spokesperson for the film’s distributor, 20th Century Fox, said via email, “We plan to screen the film in Boston timed to release. It’s not pegged to a charity or recent events. Just a special screening in the town where it was shot.”

News Source:www.vancouversun.com

MTV Movie Awards: Secrets From Inside the Auditorium

From Rebel Wilson's rousing opening number to Brad Pitt's shimmery gold flyaway hairs, there was plenty to see on this year's MTV Movie Awards telecast. But omg! was in the audience, and we've got a rundown on what didn't make it -- or, at very least, was censored -- on this year's big show. Aubrey Plaza: Most Wanted. What was the deal with Plaza and Will Ferrell? Ferrell was on hand to accept the show's Comedic Genius prize when, halfway through his acceptance speech, "Parks and Recreation" actress Plaza bum-rushed the stage. [Related: 2013 MTV Movie Awards Celebrity Arrivals] Barefoot with drink in hand and the title of her new movie, "The To Do List," scrawled on her décolletage, she silently tried to wrestle the trophy from Will for a few awkward moments. She then returned to her seat, spilled her drink, and the speech went on. Contrary to rumors, it was not a stunt dreamed up by show producers. During the next commercial, Plaza was escorted by security from the Sony Pictures lot, where the ceremony was being broadcast live. MTV News reported that she was cooperative as she was led out. Like Taylor Lautner's pocket junk, and "full moon"? "The Twilight Saga" took its Movie Awards bow on Sunday, as Lautner was the last qualifying cast member to get nominated for an award from the shuttered franchise. He nabbed a golden popcorn trophy for Best Shirtless Performance (he was a shoo-in!) and decided to greet the honor with a gag beer gut. Rifling through his pockets looking for a speech, a slew of goods fell out. What were they? Candy, including Twizzlers and Lemonheads, and a few VIP wristbands scattered everywhere. And while the cameras gave him a more forgiving angle as he put his popcorn beside him onstage, he definitely half-mooned the crowd as his jeans slipped. Ahh -- but that was part of his joke, too! He was also rocking a fake rear. [Related: MTV Movie Awards Most Bizarre Moments] How did Seth Rogen's, uh, crotch wig stay on? Rogen, who presented the shirtless award to Lautner with Danny McBride and Zac Efron, boasted about his anatomy with the men -- soon dropping trou to reveal a massive pubic wig (aka merkin). A quick flash of an elastic waistband confirmed to omg! that Rogen didn't go the hot glue route, but rocked the wig belt-style. Won't you sleep easier now? And as long as we're on the hair train... Brad Pitt's attention span. He of the aforementioned golden flyaways, Pitt, closed the show by presenting Best Movie to Marvel's 'The Avengers." Make no mistake, Brad was in the house to begin paving the box office road to his June epic "World War Z." But that doesn't mean he didn't have some fun. A production assistant assigned to show Pitt his mark and point out the prompter seemed stressed moments before the live show resumed for Brad's spot. Why? The A-lister wouldn't stop playing with the audience. Slapping high fives, blowing kisses and working every angle of the fan area, Pitt and his public were having a big ole love fest. But he got it together when the cameras rolled. Kerry Washington's on-stage scandal. Another golden PA moment came when "Django Unchained" actress Washington paid tribute to this year's Generation Award winner Jamie Foxx. After Kerry said some kind words to set up a clip package from a riser, she made her way centerstage with the help of a nice young man in a headset -- who bulldozed the yellow train of her Michael Kors dress. She teetered for a few tense seconds but regained her balance, and the PA carefully inspected the gown for footprints. She smiled throughout.

News Source:omg.yahoo.com

How Chuck Schumer plays the congressional chessboard

In the run-up to the November elections, Chuck Schumer worked tirelessly in attacking Republicans, from congressional conservatives to GOP frontman Mitt Romney. Since then, New York's senior Democratic senator has clocked more hours negotiating with his Republican colleagues than anyone else on his side of the aisle. Part of this reflects the natural rhythm of politics: The year after a presidential election can often be Washington's most productive. But a man who has spent his life in Congress shifting between expert political hatchet man and tenacious dealmaker may also sense a moment when the Republicans are particularly vulnerable – or receptive – to cutting deals as a result of changed dynamics on the Hill. "He's a great legislative chess player and knows intuitively when it's time to strike and when it's time to wait," says Jim Kessler, a longtime Schumer staffer and now a senior member of the Third Way, a Democratic centrist think tank. RECOMMENDED: So you think you know Congress? Take our quiz. Clearly, the voluble senior senator thinks it's time to strike. First, he teamed up with a crew of other Senate veterans, led by John McCain (R) of Arizona and Carl Levin (D) of Michigan, to hatch a compromise forestalling sweeping changes to the Senate's filibuster rules. Then there's Senator Schumer's long-unrequited love, immigration reform, in which he leads the Democratic contingent in the bipartisan "Gang of Eight." That's the group in the Senate that many lawmakers and advocates believe will deliver the opening bill in the immigration-reform debate in early April. Finally, there's the continuation of Schumer's legacy in the House, where his determination to pass the 1994 crime bill (containing a ban on assault weapons, among other provisions) is carrying over to President Obama's push to strengthen the nation's gun laws. Schumer went right for the "sweet spot," as he calls it, of universal background checks in negotiations with staunch pro-gun lawmakers like Sens. Joe Manchin (D) of West Virginia and Tom Coburn (R) of Oklahoma. While prospects for a background check deal have dimmed, it is the proposal that perhaps best explains Schumer: Background checks are widely regarded as the most impactful piece of legislation gun-control advocates in Congress could dream of passing – if someone would take on the task of finessing the details behind the scenes to bring Republicans and centrist Democrats on board. As the third-ranking Democrat in the Senate, Schumer is one of the left's premier political strategists and spokesmen. Though he clearly relishes political combat in the right venue – he's a two-time leader of the typically thankless chairmanship of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee – he represents a particular breed of dealmaker: someone who combines policy understanding with a keen political sense and an intuitive knack for legislating. He also knows where the money is. "Schumer has power to do this because of the stature he's earned in the party in terms of money and distribution of campaign funds," says Julian Zelizer, a congressional historian at Princeton University. "And his role in the leadership gives him a little clout and a little more flexibility to make these kinds of deals." To be sure, Schumer is often lampooned as hurtling from one television camera to the next, someone never far from the klieg lights. But Schumer also understands how to keep politics and policy in proper perspective. "He has very few permanent enemies," says Mr. Kessler. "If people play fair, even if they play rough and hard, he thinks, 'That's the way this is done and that's OK....' For someone with as many rough edges as a Brooklyn Democrat often has, he seeks out the genuineness of other people intuitively and will find a way to work with them." (He's also known to harbor another intuitive talent – finding romantic connections between his staffers. One recent New York Times profile called him the "Yenta of the Senate.") Unlike some lawmakers on the Hill, Schumer revels in the boisterous process of legislating. It's in his DNA. In 1998, he turned down a potential run for governor of New York to enter a messy Democratic Senate primary for the right to challenge then-Sen. Al D'Amato (R). "In Congress, I really found my métier," Schumer said during a campaign stop that year. "'I love to legislate. Taking an idea, often not original with me, shaping it, molding it. Building a coalition of people who might not completely agree with it. Passing it and making the country a little bit of a better place. I love doing that. The Senate desperately needs legislators. The old-time legislators are gone."

News Source:news.yahoo.com

Bruno Mars' Sisters, The Lylas, Land Reality Show on WE tv

Bruno Mars' sisters will get the spotlight on a new unscripted series. WE tv has picked up reality show "The Lylas" starring Mars' singing sisters Jaime Kailani, Tiara, Tahiti and Presley. The show will air on the cable channel Friday nights starting this fall. Tiara, Tahiti and Presley have moved from their hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii to join their older sister Jaime in Los Angeles to pursue their dreams. The eight-part, hour-long show will follow the four sisters, known as singing group The Lylas (Love You Like a Sister), as they record their first album. "The Lylas are fierce, independent women, leaving their home - and in some cases their relationships and kids - for a chance at pursuing their love of music," says Lauren Gellert, SVP of production & development at WE tv. "Their story is one filled with all of the drama and chaos that comes from making a major life change, with the added spice of doing it alongside your sisters." The Lylas debuted their "Come Back" music video in January. Featuring the girls playing piano and writing lyrics, the video has hit more than 285,000 views. In addition to "The Lylas", WE tv is gearing up to debut new reality show "Pregnant & Dating", about five single moms searching for love, this summer. Another unscripted series, "The Ruckers: Southern Royals", which follows three sisters on a journey to uphold their family legacy, will premiere in fall. The Lylas' "Come Back" music video:

News Source:www.aceshowbiz.com

Washington jury rejects claim of actress who sued IMDb

A federal jury in Seattle on Thursday rejected a claim brought by a little-known actress who first lied about how old she was on the popular Internet Movie Database, then sued the company when it published her true age. Huong Hoang goes by the stage name Junie Hoang and has appeared in such films as "Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver" and "Hoodrats 2: Hoodrat Warriors." Her lawsuit generated a lot of media attention when she filed it -- anonymously, at first -- in 2011. She said she intended for her case to highlight online privacy as well as age discrimination in Hollywood, and she initially sought $1 million in damages. "My hope was that it would make a change in the database," Hoang told The Associated Press after the verdict. "I knew it was a problem not just for me but for anyone else who had their age on their profile." The 41-year-old claimed offers for roles dried up after the popular online movie database mined her account information to learn her true age, then posted it on her profile in 2008. She sued for breach of contract, and the case went to trial this week. The judge dismissed IMDb's parent company, Amazon.com, as a defendant before the trial. IMDb argued that it has a First Amendment right to publish accurate information. It also said Hoang couldn't prove she lost any money or roles because of it, and even if she could, she couldn't prove it was IMDb's fault. "Hoang did not present any testimony, documents, or other evidence supporting her damages allegations of lost income and profits," the company's lawyers wrote in a court filing at the end of the trial. IMDb.com is an searchable database that includes more than 2 million pages for movies, television and entertainment programs, as well as 4 million cast and crew members. Hoang signed up for a subscription service with the website called IMDb Pro. The service is designed for entertainment industry professionals. It provides contact information and other details for the actors, actresses, directors and others listed. She said she initially listed a false birth year -- 1978, instead of 1971 -- because she usually plays characters younger than she is. But eventually, she moved from her hometown of Houston, Texas, to the more competitive entertainment market of Los Angeles, and as what would have been her fake 30th birthday approached, she decided she didn't want any age listed on her profile. IMDb refused to remove the age listed unless she could provide evidence that it was incorrect. She asked the company to check its records to see if it had any information that would substantiate that age. The company did so -- using her account information to find her real name, and then using her real name to conduct a public records search and discover her true age. IMDb posted her real age on her profile, over her objections. She claimed that the company breached its contract with her by misusing the account information she provided in violation of its privacy policy. The company disagreed, noting that the privacy policy stated that it maintained its customers' information "for such purposes as responding to your requests." Hoang said she plans to keep acting. She played Sandy in "Gingerdead Man 3," a sequel to a 2005 Gary Busey movie in which "an evil yet adorable gingerbread man comes to life with the soul of a convicted killer," according to a description on IMDb. Other credits include a part as a triage nurse in the television series "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant," and as the part of Janet in "My Big Phat Hip Hop Family."

News Source:www.foxnews.com

Julie Taymor - Jilted Spider-Man Broadway Director Julie Taymor Reaches Settlement

Jilted Spider-Man Broadway Director Julie Taymor Reaches Settlement News broke yesterday (April 10, 2013) that Julie Taymor, the jilted director of the ill-fated Spiderman Broadway production has finally reached a settlement with the show’s producers. However, we do not know what that settlement was, as the details have not been made public, Reuters reported. Taymor was fired from Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark back in March 2011 after she got into disputes with producers over injuries sustained by actors during high wire stunts, delays in the arrival of the opening night and critical disdain for the show when that opening night finally arrived. Up until that point, Taymor had worked on the show for years and had previously been given a Tony award for best direction of a musical, for The Lion King. After Taymore had been ousted, she claims that the revamped production used much of her original libretto. She took the case to court, seeking unpaid royalties and damages at her estimation of over $1 million. She also appealed for a permanent injunction, preventing the producers from licensing the musical beyond Broadway without her consent. The recent settlement means that a planned court date on May 27 will no longer go ahead. The show is one of the most expensive musicals ever to have ventured onto the Broadway stage and features music from U2’s Bono and The Edge. It has become a huge commercial success, often earning in excess of $1 million per week. In a statement, Taymor said “I'm pleased to have reached an agreement and hope for the continued success of Spider-Man, both on Broadway and beyond.”

News Source:www.contactmusic.com

Farrah Abraham Admits Making a Porno, Wants to Sell It for $2M

Farrah Abraham changes her tune regarding the buzzing report about her sex tape which has already been confirmed by James Deen, her partner in the adult video. After previously denying such R-rated footage featuring her exists, she finally admits she did make a porno. The single mother tries to play it down by insisting that the tape was made for her "own personal collection." She says, "I'm a great woman, mother and entrepreneur... I wanted my own personal video made and photos taken for myself, when I am older I will have my best year to look back on." "If my ex-boyfriend Derek were alive, I would've rather it had been him with me," the MTV reality star adds, referring to her baby daddy who died in a car accident in 2008. As for releasing the video, she makes it clear that she "will not be settling for anything less than a couple million." Abraham is allegedly mad at Deen for leaking information about the porn video to public without consulting with her first. Rumor has it, the mother of 4-year-old Sofia planned to set it up as a sex tape that got leaked but he ruined it by confirming to the media that it was a professional project. "I think what happened is that [the porn company was] going to pass it off as a 'sex tape' and somebody saw us coming out of a building together and people asked me what's going on, so I was like we're making a porno!" the male porn star previously told TMZ. Deen, who starred opposite Lindsay Lohan in "The Canyon", was caught on camera holding hands with Abraham when leaving Vivid Entertainment's offices together. He claimed it was his way to build chemistry with his partner and make her comfortable before they had sex in front of the camera. "In my opinion it was very amazingly awesome," Deen said of the scene they shot together. "I thought she was very nice and super sexy. ... I hope she has positive feelings about me, but regardless, I will never have a bad thing to say about her."

News Source:www.aceshowbiz.com

Obama campaign, Bieber Internet ad score Webby award nominations

The teams behind President Barack Obama's 2012 social media election campaign and Justin Bieber's fragrance launch were among the nominees on Tuesday for the annual Webby Awards, which honor excellence on the Internet. Tom Hanks, Lady Gaga, Tiger Woods, Alec Baldwin and Charlize Theron were among many other celebrities whose high-flying careers provided fodder for innovative Internet campaigns. The annual Webby Awards honor websites, online video and social media as well as apps and interactive Internet advertising. "Every year we are constantly amazed by the innovations Webby Nominees push forward and this year is no exception," David-Michel Davies, the awards' executive director, said in a statement. Last year's "Obama for America: For All Campaign" received two nods in the social media campaign and interactive advertising and media categories. "Girls" TV writer and director Lena Dunham also picked up an individual nomination for her tongue-in-cheek 2012 video "Lena Dunham for Obama for America, 'First Time.'" The 2012 campaign for Bieber's "Girlfriend" fragrance, in which teens sent in their own video versions of his hit single, won a nod in the interactive advertising field. In the mobile and apps category, champion golfer Woods' instructional "Tiger Woods: My Swing, Tiger Woods Foundation" was nominated. The comedic Internet production "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," which features Jerry Seinfeld, Ricky Gervais, Larry David and Alec Baldwin, scored three nominations for online film and video. Hanks' "Tom Hanks' Electric City" was nominated for drama, online film and video, and Lady Gaga's "Gaga's Workshop" 2011 holiday promotion with New York store Barneys is a finalist in the social category. The international hit TV series about zombies, "The Walking Dead," picked up three nominations in the online content and mobile or apps categories. The awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Winners, who are selected by a panel including Arianna Huffington, David Bowie and Instagram founder Kevin Systrom, will be announced on April 30. In a nod to character limits imposed by social media like Twitter, winners deliver five-word acceptance speeches, such as Al Gore's "Please don't recount this vote."

News Source:www.reuters.com

Taylor Swift on her future:I have no idea if I'm going to get married or be single forever'

In a recent revealing interview in Wonderland Magazine, the famously known lovestruck singer says she doesn't know if happily ever after is in her future--but she's ok with it. "I've kind of realized that I have no idea where I'm going to be next year, or in six months, or in two months." "I just have no idea and I'm kind of into that," she admits on the uncertainty. "I know where I'll be on tour in two months,but no idea where I'm going to be mentally, emotionally, dreams, goals, wishes, hopes. I have no idea if I'm going to get married or be single forever or have a family or just be on my own." The star, who's chart-topping break-up ballads include " I Knew You Were Trouble" and "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" goes on to talk about what it feels like to really be heartbroken. "It's very complex; you're never feeling just sad. Maybe you wake up and you feel sad, and then you get angry, and then you feel like 'I'm fine', and then you feel confident, and then you feel a sense of doubt, and then you're insecure, and then there's jealousy, and then you're back to sad - and then you feel fine again." Swift has been romantically linked and split with some of Hollywood's hottest bachelors including Jake Gyllenhaall, Taylor Lautner, John Mayer and most recently One Direction's Harry Styles. When it comes to relationships, the 23-year-old blond beauty explains that for her, "[they] are like traffic lights. And I just have this theory that I can only exist in a relationship if it's a green light." The April/May Outspoken issue of Wonderland Magazine featuring Swift as their cover girl hits newsstands Tuesday.

News Source:www.nydailynews.com

FARRAH ABRAHAM'S MOM My Baby's NOT That Kinda Girl

Farrah Abraham's mom has blind faith in her daughter who has a penchant for drinking, boob jobs, lesbian romps and now ... porn. Debra Danielsen is still not convinced her daughter shot a porn tape. TMZ however, IS convinced ... in fact, we're 100% sure she shot the skin flick Sunday with dong-master James Deen. Debra tells us ... her daughter's not the type that would make a sex tape, BUT IF SHE DID it's not her fault. She says, "My daughter has never expressed interest in things like that. She was not brought up that way." Debra goes on about her little girl who gave birth at 16 ... "We have religious beliefs." As for who Debra thinks IS responsible ... it's those dastardly people behind the tape. We're hearing James Deen may have been behind things ...

News Source:www.tmz.com

Sara Gilbert engaged to Linda Perry, reveals singer's romantic proposal during picnic

Revealing the news on Monday’s “The Talk," Gilbert, 38, described Perry’s romantic proposal during a picnic in the park. “We go to a park, we have food and we’re eating it, it’s really sweet and there’s this guy sitting playing guitar, like a street musician,” she said. “He starts playing this song that we love … I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s so weird, this is so magical and amazing.’” PHOTOS: SAME-SEX STAR COUPLES Little did Gilbert know that the romance was just beginning. “So that ends, and she’s like, ‘Oh I’m gonna ask him to play this other song,’ but this other song is really obscure and this guy wouldn’t know it, but magically he knows it,” she continued. “And suddenly the people picnicking next to us pull out string instruments from under the blanket and walk over and they start playing ‘Love Song’ (by the Cure).” Gilbert was shocked by what was happening with Perry, her girlfriend since last fall. PHOTOS: CELEBS COME OUT Perry then displayed four t-shirts with one word each, “Will. You. Marry. Me.” The fifth shirt she presented had a question mark and then she pulled out the ring. To further add to the romantic gesture Perry told Gilbert to “turn around” and there stood their mothers and a couple of friends. “So I think that’s it and it’s the most amazing proposal ever and then … this guy walks up and she’s like. ‘This is John Waite.’ And he starts playing ‘Missing You.’” Who wouldn’t say yes to that?

News Source:www.nydailynews.com

'She took my assistant's purse!' Sheriff's called to Hollywood hotspot after Jaime Pressly accuses Estella Warren of 'stealing handbag and iPhone'

Nothing can get between a woman and her purse. And that's reportedly what caused a spat between actresses Jamie Pressly and Estella Warren in West Hollywood, California on Friday night. The two blonde beauties reportedly fought it out into the early morning hours at Bootsy Bellows over claims Estella stormed out of a party with a stolen handbag. According to Radar Online, the pair had been at a home nearby celebrating the birthday of Jaime's publicist Gary Mantoosh. Estella, 34, was a guest of the photographer and things seemed to be going well for the bunch. But the event went sour when Jamie's assistant's purse -- and her much needed iPhone -- went missing. A source told Radar Online that Jaime used an app to track it down and found that it was at the Sunset Boulevard hotspot. When they arrived, Jaime spotted Estella handling an iPhone and accused her of making off with her assistant's goods. A source said the My Name is Earl actress grabbed the smartphone and the battle ensued. 'Estella was adamant it was hers, but when Pressly told her to unlock it, she couldn't,' a source said. Jaime then made claim to the items and was able to identify some items inside the bag -- including the actress' keys -- as belonging to her assistant. The fight caused enough of a stir in the bar that deputies from the West Hollywood Sheriff's Department were called to the scene, though officials said no immediate action was taken and an investigation is still active. Also at the Hollywood hotspot on Friday night were stars Brittany Snow, Adam Lambert and David Arquette -- none of whom were involved in the crazy mess. On Saturday afternoon Estella seemed reflective of the event, tweeting a saying to soothe the nerves. 'No mind, no thought, no reflection, no analysis, no cultivation, no intention... let it settle itself,' she wrote. This isn't the first time both ladies have been caught on the wrong side of the law. Estella was arrested in May 2011 for DUI, hit-and-run driving, battery on a police officer and resisting a police officer. The Canadian native who is best known for her roles in That ’70s Show and Law & Order, allegedly hit three parked cars with her Toyota Prius, then drove away. When police arrived, she reportedly kicked an officer while being arrested and even tried to escape from the police station, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. She entered a no contest plea and was sentenced to four months in residential rehabilitation and five years of informal probation. As for Jaime, the Emmy award winner was arrested in 2011 on suspicion of driving under the influence in Santa Monica, California and was charged with two misdemeanours. At the time she was also under the watchful eye of the IRS and the state of Calfornia for reportedly skipping out on as much as $637,000 in unpaid taxes.

News Source:www.dailymail.co.uk

Arianna Huffington: Hillary Clinton is 'Obviously Running' in 2016

Below you can find some of the notable comments made Sunday on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos." North Korea roundtable guests included ABC News' chief global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz, who just returned from reporting at the North Korean border; New York Times chief Washington correspondent and author of "Confront and Conceal" David Sanger; Fox News anchor Greta Van Susteren; and ABC News' George Will. Joining Greta and George on the "This Week" powerhouse political roundtable was president and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Media Group Arianna Huffington; Nobel Prize-winning economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman; former Reagan budget director David Stockman, and author of "The Great Deformation: the Corruption of Capitalism in America." Huffington wishes Hillary would have taken 'more time' HUFFINGTON: No, no. She's obviously running. But what I was hoping is that she would have taken to more time to become what she called herself, untired. STEPHANOPOULOS: Untired. HUFFINGTON: Untired. That was her term, you know? She wanted to sleep in. To be able to recharge herself. She hasn't given herself that time. And I think that's sending a bad message to women that the only way to succeed, the only way to run is to drive yourself into the ground. After all she collapsed, she had a concussion. And right now you see a greater debate among corporations among corporations, among individuals, how can redefine success? How we can actually reduce stress and burnout? Which is having a terrible impact on our health care system. VAN SUSTEREN: The whole time we were there, all we saw was preparation for war…If you go inside, they have been at war with us since the early 1950s. They think that every single one of us is spending every Saturday night sitting around planning how to get them while we're busy ordering pizzas and Chinese food carryout, they think that we're getting ready for war. Sanger and Raddatz agree a North Korean missile that heads 'right into the water' is the best option SANGER: A test that went right into the water would be the best thing that could happen. It's better than sinking a ship… RADDATZ: As long as no one responds. SANGER: Yeah. RADDATZ: That would be best. Stockman thinks 'the machinery of government is massively failing' STOCKMAN: I think the machinery of government is massively failing. And that's the problem we face. And it's a real threat to Main Street economy, and that's why the numbers are far more serious -that you heard Friday- than is being suggested by the White House. Huffington says everyone should 'lighten up' over Obama's Kamala Harris comment HUFFINGTON: Everybody should relax. Lighten up. It was an aside. It's unbelievable. George and I were talking in the green room about the GK Chesterton quote, "If there is one thing worse than the modern weakening of modern morals, it's the modern strengthening of minor morals." Mock outrage. I mean I wish there was more outrage about the jobs numbers than there was about, than we had about Kamala Harris. On Harris comment, Will commends the President for finally saying 'something accurate' WILL: First, the President finally said something accurate and we should treasure him for this. Second, there is nothing, no growth industry in this country like the manufacturing of synthetic indignation. Krugman calls Obama's Kamala Harris comment 'dumb' KRUGMAN: This is, it was dumb. And it's right to slap him for it. But you know, there's a little bit of pig in all of us. I speak from personal experience. So there we are.

News Source:news.yahoo.com

Jaime Pressly, Estella Warren questioned by police after heated altercation at Hollywood hot spot Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/jaime-pressly-estella-warren-heated-altercation-article-1.1310091#ixzz2PqSywRY2

Actresses Jaime Pressly and Estella Warren were being questioned by police Friday, after a fun night at a birthday party turned into a heated altercation. According to US Weekly, Pressly, 35, and Warren, 34, got into an argument at celebrity hotspot Bootsy Bellows in Los Angeles. The mayhem ensued after Pressly and her assistant went looking for the assistant's missing purse, using an iPhone "find my phone" app, and tracked the purse to where Warren and her friends were partying. According to a magazine source, Warren claimed the purse belonged to her, even though Pressly's assistant's belongings were still in it. "Jaime was trying to get it back," the source told Us Weekly. "She wasn't aggressive, but she was forceful." The two continued to fight, with Warren maintaining that she was the rightful owner, until police were called. The source also claimed that drugs were involved, and that Pressly and her assistant were claiming the drugs weren't theirs. The matter is still being investigated, West Hollywood police told the mag.

News Source:www.nydailynews.com

‘Doctor Who: The Rings Of Akhaten’

If you recall, the last scene of ‘’The Bells of Saint John’ had Clara telling the Doctor to return the next day for her answer to whether she will join him as a companion. We were left with the Doctor saying now is the time to find out who she is – and that’s what we see him do in the beginning of the episode. The Doctor watches as Clara’s parents, David and Ellie, meet, court, have baby Clara and raise her. He was even there at the funeral of Clara’s mom on March 5, 2005. After witnessing all this, he determines she’s “just a girl but she can’t be! She’s not possible!” It’s the next day for Clara as waits for the Doctor to return. She clutches the book “101 Places to See’ that once belonged to her mother. Inside the TARDAS,  she asks several questions about the concept of time then tells him she’d like to go somewhere “awesome”, so he takes her to the Rings of Ahkaten, an asteroid belt surrounding a giant red planet. Within the asteroid belt is a rock which contains the Holy Pyramid of the Rings of Ahkaten, the holy site for the Sun Singers of Akhat. There, 7 worlds share the common belief that life in the universe all originated on the planet Akhaten. Whether or not it did, it’s a nice story and that’s what they believe says the Doctor. They head over to the site and Clara is in the middle of a marketplace. The Doctor reminisces and tells her that he forgot how much he liked it there and that had visited the area once before with his granddaughter. (At this point, my jawed dropped at the mention of Susan! What a wonderful nod to the classics!) The scene reminds me of the 10th Doctor taking Donna to a marketplace in ‘Turn Left’ as they try out the local cuisine and take in the atmosphere. He tells her that everyone is there for the Festival of Offerings which occurs every 1000 years or so. As they continue to look around, the Doctor tells his new companion that the currency on the asteroid are objects of sentimental value. It follows the paranormal science of psychometry, the psychic imprint of an object. The more sentiment that the object holds, the more valuable it is. Clara turns to look at something and when she turns back, the Doctor is gone. As she looks for him in the marketplace, she runs into a Merry Galel, the Queen of Years, who looks scared then runs away. Clara finds her and helps Merry to hide and leads her to the TARDIS. Unfortunately, the TARDIS doors are locked and Clara can’t get in. Clara thinks the TARDIS doesn’t like her. A sense of foreshadowing here? Could Sexy found a companion that she doesn’t want near the Doctor? Or maybe it could be as simple as the fact that Clara doesn’t have a key to open the door? As the two hide behind the TARDIS, Merry explains that she is running away because she is scared. See, she is a vessel of the history of the people and needs to sing a special song to a god and is afraid she’ll get it wrong. Clara shares a story about a time she was afraid of getting lost and one day she did. Her worst fear comes true. But then her mum found her and told her a story that night that wherever she may be and however lost she may feel, she will never really be lost because her mum will always be there and will always find her every single time. Now I think those last three words will need to be remembered further into the season as it was again repeated as those it held some importance. Clara returns Merry to the priests who take her to an arena with the Doctor and Clara looking on. Merry begins to sing a song and the Doctor explains that she and the other man joining in the singing are singing to the mummy of the temple which they call Old God or Grandfather. They are singing a lullaby to keep the Grandfather asleep, a tradition that has gone on for generations. Those in the arena then offer mementos to feed the Old God. The audience then joins in to sing the lullaby, but something terrible seems to happen. The earth begins to shake and Merry is trapped in an energy shield. The Doctor and Clara go after her with Clara having to trade in her mother’s ring for a shuttle scooter as they go and attempt to save Merry as she is pulled into the pyramid by the energy beam. The chorister continues to chant for the Old God not to wake from slumber as Merry panics as to what to do next. The Doctor and Clara hear the little girl scream as she sees the mummy’s eyes glow. The two manage to get the door open hoping to get Merry out but she refuses to leave. She pins Clara against the glass of the Old God’s cage, willing to sacrifice herself or else the Old God will eat everyone. Unable to hold the door up any longer, the Doctor rolls in and allows the door to close behind him locking them all with the soul eating alien. Given the opportunity to run away by the Doctor, the chorister stops chanting and announces that the long song has ended with him as he teleports out. The Old God awakens and begins to bang on the glass walls. The Doctor tries to reason with Merry and tells her that she didn’t awaken the Old God, it was just was his time to wake up. This is not a god, it is a vampire that feeds on the memories and stories of people. He tells her a tale of how special she is and that there is only one like her in the entire universe and the many years and events it took the universe to create someone as unique as her. To get rid of her existence is not a sacrifice, it’is a waste. Clara looks on as though those very words touched her heart. He promises that the people will still be safe if she refuses to go through the ritual and Merry takes his hand, released Clara from her bounds and the three start to get away. Except, according to tradition, if the Queen of Years refuses to go through the ceremony, the Vigil will come to feed her to the Old God. And so they do knocking the Doctor and Clara out of the way as they take Merry to the glass cage. But it’s not over until it’s over, and the two wake up just in time to save her. Merry sings a secret song that opens a secret door, but just when you think it’s safe, the Doctor states he may have miscalculated. The mummy in the glass cage is not the Old God – it was just his alarm clock. The Old God is the planet! Merry panics as according to legend, the Old God will eat them all and spread across the system eating the 7 worlds and when he is through, he’ll expand throughout other galaxies looking for more worlds/memories to eat. The Doctor sends Clara back on the shuttle moped to bring Merry back as he stays behind to fight the Old God. But the Doctor seems scared at the enormity of the situation. Back at the arena, Merry wants to help the Doctor so she begins to sing and those in the arena begin to sing with her. In true Doctor fashion, he sacrifices his memories to save the universe hoping that his secrets and many adventures is enough to fill the hunger in the alien parasite. He offers himself and we see that the Old God does take his memories but it is not enough. Then Clara flashes to her mother telling her she will always come and find her every single time and then sees the Doctor tell her “we don’t walk away.” She rides back to the temple and offers her most prized possession: The leaf in her book. She tells the Old God that the leaf is the most important leaf in human history, filled with stories of the past and of hopes of the future that never was. The Old God begins to feed on the leaf and implodes with fullness of an infinite amount of possible memories. The universe is safe once again thanks to Clara and the Doctor. The Doctor returns Clara home and she comments that it looks different but in reality it is she that is different. She remembers seeing the Doctor at her mom’s grave and the Doctor explains it away as he was checking because she reminded him of someone. He then takes out her mom’s ring out of his pocket and tells her the people wanted her to have it as a thank you for saving them. As she leaves the TARDIS, the Doctor watches her still unconvinced she is “just a girl”. Where do I begin in this observation portion of my recap? There is so much to talk about! The nods to the classics, the implications of future story arcs, possible theories about Clara? While the reviews are mixed on this episode written by Neil Cross, I actually found it very enjoyable and romantic especially with Cross’ sentimental writing style regarding the importance of the leaf not only by Clara’s father David and Clara, but also by the Doctor in his story about Merry’s importance in the universe. One of the reasons is Matt Smith’s soliloquy to the Old God. It cannot go unmentioned as I felt it presented him with a fine example of his acting skills and the torment of being a Time Lord. Here is it to relive the moment: Time and time again, the Doctor is willing to sacrifice himself for other worlds. While in the past, the Doctor seems to come out fairly unscathed (there is always a part of him that is affected by his sacrifices), this seems different. Maybe it’s because we know that down the line the recollections of the Doctor will begin to get spotty (as it has already begin to be suggested before with the Doctor not remembering who the Great Intelligence was in ‘the Snowmen’). Does this event exacerbate the process of his losing memories? Has this episode given you any more clues to Clara yet? I’m going to go out on the limb here and say that she may be the Doctor’s version of Rose’s Bad Wolf.

News Source:sciencefiction.com

Homeless man wins lottery but wants to stay in his tent

Dennis Mahurin has been homeless since around 1978, living in his tent. And he plans to stay there despite having won a $50,000 lottery off a scratch card ticket. "I scratched it off right here in my tent,” Mahurin told CINewsNow. However, the Bloomington, Indiana native does have a plan for how he’ll spend the money: dental work, visiting his son and putting away some of the winnings into savings. He’s also considering an upgrade to a new tent, saying he’s “happy as can be in my nature,” with no desire to move into a more traditional home. After taxes, he’ll take home about $35,000. A jackpot total that relatively small would not normally make international headlines. But it’s Mahurin’s plan to give away some of his cash that has roused the most attention. "With all the other homeless people around here, I've made up my mind,” he said. “I'm gonna give them each $100." Mahurin says he has eight fellow homeless men in mind that he plans to give $100 to, but he jokingly says he is leaving open the possibility of donating more with all of the new “friends” he’s likely to make as his story spreads. Tales of generosity are not uncommon when it comes to freshly minted lottery winners. But Mahurin’s truly humble lifestyle, and his insistence on sharing the relatively small lottery winnings, reflect his kind spirit according to locals who know him. "He’s a very, very nice guy. He's one of the sweetest people I've ever met,” said Emmarie Cross an employee at the Circle K where Mahurin bought his winning ticket. “I've been telling everybody, this couldn't have happened to a nicer guy."

News Source:news.yahoo.com

Kerri Walsh Jennings, Olympic Volleyball Player, Welcomes Baby Girl Scout Margery!

Volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings has three Olympic gold medals -- and now three adorable kids, as well! On Saturday, April 6, the star athlete gave birth to her third child, a daughter named Scout Margery, with husband Casey Jennings, her rep confirms to Us. PHOTOS: What celebs love about motherhood "Our family feels so blessed to have this beautiful new addition to our family," the new mom said in a statement to Us Weekly. "We cherish our lil Scout already and can't wait to watch her as she grows in this world alongside her sweet big brothers." PHOTOS: Celebs at the Olympics Scout came into the world at 7:46 a.m., Walsh Jennings' rep confirms to Us, adding that "mother and baby are healthy and resting." She joins the couple's sons Joey, 3, and Sundance, "Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers," the Olympian said Saturday. "We appreciate them all so very much." PHOTOS: Team USA's heroes Walsh Jennings, 34, was actually five weeks pregnant with her daughter when she and partner Misty May-Treanor spiked their way to victory at the 2012 London Olympics. "When I was throwing my body around fearlessly, and going for gold for our country, I was pregnant, and today I'm 11 weeks pregnant," she told Matt Lauer later, noting that she didn't know about the baby at the time but suspected something was off since she felt "unreasonably moody." "This little one is kicking my butt!" she said. "The first two were pretty easy, but with this one, I'm sick every day, I've got some awesome acne, I just feel different." This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Kerri Walsh Jennings, Olympic Volleyball Player, Welcomes Baby Girl Scout Margery!

News Source:omg.yahoo.com

Drew Barrymore Says Women Can't Have It All, Do You Agree?

Drew Barrymore has been famous for practically her entire life, and for most of those years, she’s lived pretty unconventionally. She flashed David Letterman during an interview. She went to rehab before she graduated high school, and she even pushed aside her acting career for a short time to direct a surprisingly good movie. Consequently, she doesn’t exactly seem like the type of woman to tell her fellow ladies they can’t have it all, but that’s exactly what she did earlier this week. The actress/ new wife/ new mother was at a panel for Lucky when she was asked how she’s able to juggle so many hats. Here’s a portion of what she had to say, as per US Magazine… Barrymore went on to say that she had to decide between continuing to direct and seeing all the little moments of her daughter growing up, and while it sucks, she decided she would rather be with her daughter. Not surprisingly, her comments have generated a pretty polarized response. There are some who absolutely agree with her and think that, logically, it’s impossible to have it all. There are others, however, who think it’s unfair for her to make a blanket statement about other women and whether they can or cannot have it all.

News Source:www.cinemablend.com

White House fights Catholic Church subpoena on birth control

The Obama administration has gone to court to try to block a subpoena from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York seeking White House documents about the government's requirement of insurance coverage for birth control. The subpoena requesting documents from President Barack Obama and his senior advisers would be burdensome to fulfill, the administration said in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Citing U.S. Supreme Court precedent, the suit also argues that civil subpoenas of the president's executive office are inappropriate except in extraordinary circumstances. The lawsuit was filed on Thursday and released on a court website on Friday. Religious organizations, individuals and corporations have filed scores of suits to block a planned mandate that employers generally include coverage of contraception in health insurance plans they offer workers. Though the mandate has some exceptions for religious employers, the New York archdiocese, one of the largest in the United States, said it expected to incur nearly $200 million each year in penalties if it refuses to comply. The Catholic Church teaches that artificial birth control is sinful because it violates natural law. A judge in Brooklyn federal court allowed an archdiocese lawsuit over the mandate to move forward in December, over the administration's argument that it was premature. A lawyer for the archdiocese declined to comment on Friday on the administration's court action. Obama has been trying to negotiate a settlement of the highly charged dispute, which pits advocates for women's health against those who say a mandate would violate the religious freedom of employers who oppose birth control. A version of the mandate released in February would not apply to churches and other places of worship even when they operate schools and social services. It would apply to others, including religiously affiliated nonprofit groups. But in those cases, it calls on private insurers to cover contraceptives through separate plans for employees, not through the employer's group plan. The mandate was part of the 2010 healthcare law championed by Obama and congressional Democrats. The Justice Department is representing the White House in the subpoena fight. A department spokeswoman had no immediate comment.

News Source:news.yahoo.com

Breastfeeding for Six Months Can Significantly Cut Risk of Cancer Death—As Can Less Alcohol and Staying in Shape, Study Finds

Women still confused by the breast milk vs. formula debate may want to listen up, as a new study has found exclusively breastfeeding your baby for at least six months could cut your chances of dying from cancer and all other diseases by 17 percent—and death by heart disease alone by 8 percent. More on Shine: Breast is Best? One Dad Says No to Breastfeeding The mass study, published online Wednesday in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, examined breastfeeding and other lifestyle recommendations from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) and its umbrella World Cancer Research Fund International and their effects on nearly 380,000 people in several European countries over 13 years. More on Yahoo!: Vitamins May Increase Women's Risk of Dying, Research Finds It found that both women and men could cut their risk of death on average by a third, simply by adhering to one or several healthy lifestyle choices: keeping lean but not underweight, eating a plant-based diet, being active for at least 30 minutes daily, avoiding sugary drinks and highly caloric foods, lowering meat intake, and limiting alcohol intake. But findings on the additional breastfeeding recommendation for women represented perhaps the freshest recommendation in the mix. “No previous study has investigated the association between breastfeeding and mortality in the mother,” lead researcher Anne-Claire Vergnaud told Yahoo! Shine. Dr. Vergnaud, of London’s Imperial College faculty of medicine, added that a previous study found “failure to breastfeed” related to an increased risk of premenopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer, diabetes and other conditions. There are several connections between breastfeeding and longevity, AICR Director of Research Susan Higginbotham explained to Yahoo! Shine. "Longer breastfeeding means fewer menstrual cycles and reduced lifetime exposure to the hormonal factors, especially estrogen, that influence breast cancer risk," she said. "Physical changes in breast tissue that accompany milk production provide some protection as well." She added, that the shedding of breast tissue during lactation and the cell death after also decrease cancer risk, "because cells have potential DNA damage get shed before they can spark the cancer process." There are even benefits for the baby, Dr. Higginbotham said, as breastfeeding decreases the likelihood that a child will be overweight during early adulthood, and being obese or overweight are major risk factors for seven different kinds of cancer. Currently, only 16 percent of women in the U.S. exclusively breastfeed their babies for six months, according to the CDC. That percentage jumps to 36 for those exclusively breastfeeding for three months, and 47 for those who breastfeed for six months but combine it with using other nutrition sources. For the study, researchers examined the data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC), one of the world’s largest ongoing studies of diet, lifestyle and cancer. At the end of the study, nearly 24,000 participants had died of various causes. Participants in the highest healthy-lifestyle score category (5-6 points for men, 6-7 points for women) had a 34 percent lower chance of death than those in the lowest category (0-2 points for men, 0-3 points for women). But even adhering to just one of the lifestyle recommendations—developed by AICR and WCRF in 2007—can save your life, according to the report. Maintaining a healthy BMI, for example, can lower your risk of disease-caused mortality by 22 percent, while eating a plant-based diet can lower it by 21 percent. “We’ve known for years that following AICR’s lifestyle advice could cut the worldwide incidence of cancer cases by about one-third,” Dr. Higginbotham said of the study results. “Today we have evidence on mortality, which shows that this same practical advice could also save millions of lives from cancer and other chronic diseases around the world.”

News Source:shine.yahoo.com