WebProNews

Author: Lacy Langley

  • Matt Nordgren and Lindsay Lohan Split

    Matt Nordgren and Lindsay Lohan Split

    Matt Nordgren and Lindsay Lohan have already called it quits just one week after news outlets broke the story of the budding relationship, according to Us Weekly.

    “Their work schedules and the distance just make dating impossible,” a source says of the (formerly?) troubled actress, 27, and the sqeaky clean Texan, 30. “He really likes and respects her. He thinks she is back on top, emotionally and physically.”

    Hopefully she is, and the blue-eyed beefcake may be part of the reason why. Insiders stated last week that Nordgren, who was a former quarterback for the University of Texas and the Philadelphia Eagles, was actually a good influence on Lohan, who recently completed a court-ordered stint in rehab. As previously reported, the two actually met seven years ago through mutual pals. “We’ve hung out,” Nordgren told the New York Post’s Page Six recently. “But I have been a friend trying to support her for many years now.”

    “He’s older, a successful businessman, and he has been a great friend to her,” one source said. “He’s also a Christian and won’t drink around her. He’s trying to keep her sober and on the straight and narrow. He’s really good for her.”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGo0Fqy5ZDY

    According to Bravo, Nordgren is an ambitious 28-year old is partner in Nordco, Inc., the family energy business, and is the founder of Nordco Consulting. Matt devotes much of his time to various charities, though much of it goes primarily to his own, The Leadership Foundation and Gala. The Leadership Foundation and Gala helps underprivileged children develop character and strength through sports and educational programs.

    Apparently, that good, healthy friendship is still intact, the first insider says. “He respects her sobriety and wishes her the absolute best,” the source tells Us. “They will remain good friends.”

    I think the breaking news here is…This guy is single, Ladies!

    image via youtube

  • Depression May Lessen with Acupuncture, Counseling

    Acupuncture or counseling, provided alongside usual care, could benefit patients with depression, a recent study has revealed. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of York, and results were very interesting to the medical community. Accoring to The Huffington Post, researchers found that the combination of acupuncture or counseling with usual care had some benefits after three months for patients with recurring depression.

    While the news may great for patients who are receptive to unconventional therapies, scientists were quick to point out there is encouraging, but limited evidence to support the use of acupuncture or counseling for depression.

    The research team randomly selected patients who currently battle depression to receive 12 weekly sessions of acupuncture plus usual care (302 patients), or 12 weekly sessions of counseling plus usual care (302 patients), or usual care alone (151 patients). The groups that received acupuncture and counseling showed a significant reduction in average depression scores at three months, compared with usual care alone.

    However, there was no significant difference in depression scores between the acupuncture and counseling groups. At 9 months and 12 months, because of improvements in the depression scores in the usual care group, acupuncture and counseling were no longer scored better than usual care.

    Lead author of the study, Dr. Hugh MacPherson, said in a statement: “Although these findings are encouraging, our study does not identify which aspects of acupuncture and counseling are likely to be most beneficial to patients, nor does it provide information about the effectiveness of acupuncture or counseling, compared with usual care, for patients with mild depression.”

    Dr MacPherson added, “To our knowledge, our study is the first to rigorously evaluate the clinical and economic impact of acupuncture and counselling for patients in primary care who are representative of those who continue to experience depression in primary care. We have provided evidence that acupuncture versus usual care and counselling versus usual care are both associated with a significant reduction in symptoms of depression in the short to medium term, and are not associated with serious adverse events. ”

    The study was published this week in PLOS Medicine.

    Image via ThinkStock

  • Puppy Doe: Boston Animal Rescue League Waits

    Puppy Doe’s attacker is still on the loose, and now the Boston Animal Rescue League is offering a $5,000 reward for info. Puppy Doe was a young (1-2 year) female pitbull puppy that was found alive August 31, 2013, in the vicinity of Carrolls Lane in Quincy, near the Whitwell Street playground and the campus of Quincy Medical Center in Boston, according to Boston ARL. She weighed less than half what a normal, healthy dog of her size should. Due to her horrific injuries, she could not be saved by veterinarians.

    “We need anyone who knows who owned and abused this dog to contact authorities,” District Attorney Morrissey said. “I spoke with Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan and we share a sense of urgency here, as does the Animal Rescue League,” adding that he has assigned a prosecutor with experience and training in animal cruelty cases to assist in the investigation.“It is prudent to proceed as if the perpetrator or perpetrators have moved on and are now aiming this cruelty and violence at another target and needs to be stopped.”

    “We do not have reason to believe or disbelieve that the dog was originally from Quincy before being found near the park,” District Attorney Morrissey said. “We are asking anyone from eastern Massachusetts to contact us if they believe they recognize this dog. The injuries cataloged in the post-mortem examination are grotesque and indicate consistent starvation and abuse over an extended period of time,” Morrissey said. “It is highly unlikely that this level of sadistic cruelty could be shown to one animal and not be part of a pattern involving other animals or perhaps vulnerable people. We need to find the person who did this and see what else they are doing.”

    “Words cannot adequately describe the shocking suffering that Puppy Doe endured or capture the urgency in identifying who did this to her,” explains Mary Nee, president of the ARL.

    According to Dr. Martha Smith-Blackmore, vice president of animal welfare at the ARL, who performed the necropsy, the helpless puppy was starved and beaten on many occasions, causing fractures to the head and body. She also appears to have undergone some kind of crude cutting torture to create a serpent-like split to her tongue. The dog had also been stabbed in the eye in the days prior to being found in Quincy.

    You can bet the responsible parties could be in for some old-fashioned vigilante justice.

    If you have any info on the sicko or sickos who did this heinous thing, contact:

    The Animal Rescue League of Boston, Law Enforcement Services
    (617) 226-5610
    [email protected]

    Quincy Police Department
    Det. Thomas Pepdjonovich
    (617) 745-5774

    Image via Boston ARL

  • Prem Watsa: Who is the Guy Behind Fairfax?

    Prem Watsa: Who is the Guy Behind Fairfax?

    Just over a year ago, Prem Watsa, who some say is Canada’s Warren Buffett, said BlackBerry was a “Canadian success story,” a good buy and a likely turnaround story even though its market share was tumbling. As soon as Prem Watsa stepped down from BlackBerry’s board in August, speculation that he would launch a bid for the troubled smartphone maker started to swirl, according to Reuters.

    BlackBerry’s fortunes have slowly deteriorated, with the latest blow coming on Friday, when BlackBerry said it would cut more than a third of its workforce as it retreats from the consumer market in favor of its traditional strength: serving businesses and governments.

    But Watsa, chief executive of Fairfax Financial Holding Ltd, which is the top BlackBerry shareholder, is an old hand at looking wrong today and right tomorrow. Speaking last year, Watsa suggested investors looking for a short-term rebound in BlackBerry might be disappointed.

    “Is it going to turn around in three months, six months, nine months? No,” he told reporters. “But if you’re looking four, five years … We make investments over four or five years.”

    On Monday, BlackBerry said it agreed to be acquired by a consortium led by Fairfax, both an insurance holding company and Watsa’s investment vehicle, for $4.7 billion, a move observers suggest could allow the company to put its house back in order out of the public eye.

    Watsa, born in 1950 in Hyderabad, India, was trained as a chemical engineer. He has a public profile that has bordered on the reclusive since he took over Fairfax in 1985. For his first 15 years at the company, he barely spoke to a reporter, and he just started holding investor conference calls in 2001. Watsa had already shown his investment genius by selling stock ahead of the 1987 stock market crash and buying Japanese puts, which are rights to sell stocks at guaranteed prices, ahead of the Tokyo market’s collapse in 1990.

    Fairfax was on the losing end of bets against the market in the mid 2000s as Watsa waited for the U.S. mortgage industry to collapse and the company’s stock fell by 50 percent between mid-2003 and mid-2006 as Watsa’s purchases of credit default swaps annihilated it’s profits, while rivals feasted on a housing-fed bull market.

    However, when the market began to weaken in 2007, Fairfax began bolstering investment gains, pulling in billion-dollar profits in 2007 and 2008, and then with markets still reeling and other investors still suffering grave wounds, Watsa started to funneling money back into equities. His actions brought another strong year in 2009.

    Since their 2006 low of C$100, Fairfax’s shares have more than quadrupled. Fairfax has not really been known as an activist investor, but Watsa has never shied away from a fight. He launched a $6 billion lawsuit against a group of hedge funds in 2006. They accused that group of hedge funds of conspiring to drive the company’s shares down so they could be shorted. A short position enables an investor to profit when a stock drops.

    image via wikipedia

  • Sarah Hyland Dishes on New Vampire Academy Movie

    Sarah Hyland has been trying hard, but thankfully not Miley Cyrus hard, to shed her (somewhat) innocent image created by the hit show, Modern Family, in which she stars as the middle child. So, what better way to achieve that goal than becoming a vamp tramp as part of the new movie “Vampire Academy”? “Vampire Academy” is based on the series of books by Richelle Mead. Sarah Hyland will star as Natalie Dashkov, the daughter of one of the school’s leaders.

    The movie tells the story of two friends who attend a school for vampires, in which Sarah Hyland and her friend “battle the mysterious forces of the evil Moroi who are set on destroying the Princess’s bloodline.” So, “Vampire Academy” attempts to mesh the school environment of “Harry Potter” with the usual vampire sexiness, pretty much.

    Like when fans first experienced the glory of “Harry Potter” on film, some “Vampire Academy” fans fear the transition from book to movie will leave out certain bits, according to MTV. But Sarah Hyland, who is a huge fan of “Harry Potter”, believes that “Vampire Academy” fans obviously shouldn’t worry. Of course, we all know that this happens. Ever read and then watch, say, the Lord of the Rings series? Or, well, any book and movie combo ever made in any period of history from any part of the universe?

    “There’s always going to be something that’s missing… but ‘Vampire Academy’ actually stays really true to the book.”

    The nude scenes from the “Vampire Academy” books in movie form seem to be a subject that makes Hyland squirm a little. she simply stated, “I wasn’t on the set those days. But, they’re pretty sexy people.” Is it just me or does it seem like she regrets that a little bit?

    image via wikipedia

  • Will Ferrell Presents Awards with Cute Kids

    Comedian Will Ferrell announced the big, final prizes Sunday at the 2013 Emmy Awards with his three sons in tow. And, yes, those were his actual kids. Ferrell and his clan (Magnus, 9; Mattias, 6; and Axel, 3) were dressed way down in T-shirts, shorts, blankies, and such. Their lack of polish attributed to the hilariousness of it all.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnf5N0szO2o

    “Unfortunately, Helen Mirren and Maggie Smith dropped out at the last second and they called me literally 45 minutes ago and I couldn’t find child care, OK?” Ferrell told the audience. “We had a soccer game, there was a neighbor’s birthday party, a nut allergy, I didn’t have time to do my hair — it doesn’t matter, it’s great to be here.”

    The “Anchorman” star, on Sunday, couldn’t help to put a bit of pressure on his unseasoned kids.

    “Don’t blow this for me,” he warned before presenting the final awards.

    When so much is made of looking perfect on the Emmys red carpet, it was indeed awesome to see Ferrell looking like the rest of us. A pan of the audience caught Ferrell’s old “Saturday Night Live” cohort Tina Fey laughing hard at the bit and wearing the knowing look of a mom who has been there.

    Ferrell said to his oldest boy, “No, you cannot play Angry Birds right now.” But he was quick to realize what any level-headed modern parent understands: iPad = distraction. “Fine, take turns, 30-second turns.”

    Ferrell and his boys presented “Modern Family” with the award for best comedy series, and the Ferrell clan stuck around to present the best drama series Emmy. His youngest son, Axel, was especially adorable, standing in front of a televised audience of millions clutching his blankey.

    it’s not the first time Ferrell has opted to bring the family to an awards show. In a memorable performance earlier this year, at the MTV Movie Awards, he introduced his “family”, which consisted of a middle-aged Asian woman and three Asian children, while accepting the Comedic Genius honor.

    Image via wikipedia

  • Android Tablet: How Miracast Works

    Android Tablet: How Miracast Works

    More and more often, as of late, devices are supporting “Miracast.” Making its way into the mainstream, Miracast is a magnificent feature that could possibly wipe out other video streaming standards in a very fragmented Android market. Miracast acts like a wireless HDMI cable in order to mirror your Android device onto your TV screen in high def with audio. According to CNET, Once Miracast is enabled, everything, from the general interface, to apps and videos, is duplicated on the big screen, no need for a cable connecting the two devices. The thing that sets it apart is, it doesn’t rely on your home’s Wi-Fi network. Here’s how Miracast works:

    Miracast is built on the underestimated Wi-Fi Direct technology, which was first introduced in Android 4.0. It allows a user to create a private (ad-hoc) network that allows other users to connect and share files. The technology didn’t easily catch on in the mainstream, but it paved the way for Miracast.

    With Wi-Fi Direct as the foundation, Miracast doesn’t need to rely on your home’s network, becuse it creates is own. Your television creates the ad-hoc network, which is discovered by your Android phone or tablet. The two devices are paired, and data can flow freely between them.

    The options are seemingly endless when it comes to what you can stream to your TV, and Miracast uses the H.264 codec to mirror videos in 1080p and 5.1 surround sound audio. Here’s the kicker, thanks to a DRM layer, even copyright-protected materials like DVDs and music can be mirrored.

    To make Miracast work, you need a Miracast-compatible device and a Miracst TV or dongle. If your device runs Android 4.2 or later, you have Miracast, also known as the “Wireless display” feature.

    Now, you set up your Miracast receiver. Though the tech is relatively new, a number of TV manufacturers like Sony, LG, and Panasonic, are integrating Miracast into their televisions, but, unless you purchased a TV in the last year, it’s probably not going to be Miracast-ready. In that case, you’ll need a dongle. Head to Amazon and you’ll see a myriad of Miracast dongles, and also, Best Buy creates one under its brand, Rocketfish. Most of these dongles cost around $40-60, and are only designed to do one thing, mirror your Android device.

    Connect your Miracast dongle, switch your TV to input. Then, on your Android device, go to Settings > Display > Wireless display. Of course, this might vary a bit depending on your device. Now, turn the wireless display feature on, and wait a moment while the device searches for the Miracast dongle or TV. When it appears in the list, tap to connect, and a few seconds later, you’ll see your Android device duplicated on the big screen! Be aware that locking your Android will also black out your TV, so if you’re watching a movie, hook your Android up to its charger.

    Now, I know some are thinking, “Isn’t this like Chromecast?”. Not at all, and here’s why:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxSJ57Q3zak

    With Miracast, your TV or dongle is dependent on your Android device the entire time the devices are paired, for example, if your Android goes to sleep, your TV’s screen blacks out, too. This co-dependency is a great advantage, but just remember to plug that thing in if you’re going to be a while.

    In contrast, Chromecast only relies on the mobile device for a moment during the initial setup. Once the Chromecast receiver knows what content you want it to play, the mobile device holds none of the load, in which case you’re free to multitask, lock your device, or queue up the next video.

    However, for this very reason, Chromecast is not nearly as dynamic as Miracast. It only works with compatible video and music apps and will not play DRM-protected content on your device. Now as for mirroring, Chromecast let’s you mirror you Chrome browser (in beta). That’s it.

    Image via wikipedia

  • Kings of Leon Return with Rockin’ New Album

    Alternative Rock band Kings of Leon have returned to the scene with a new album. The album is the band’s 6th, and is titled “Mechanical Bull”. The album came out today via RCA Records and fully reflects the decade that the they have had to hone their craft and become one of the best loved bands out there.

    Apparently, critics everywhere have grown to love the band and their unique offerings.

    The idea that Mechanical Bull represents an introspective flip in Kings of Leon’s musical path is a common one among critics. Jon Caramanica of The New York Times stated that “Kings of Leon is making a U-turn,” returning to its roots. “It’s always been a haggard, handsome Southern rock band at its core, and the best songs here exude a macho kind of depression.”

    Ray Rahman of Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B+. His review is in tune with those of other critics as he describes how Mechanical Bull “finds the Tennessee rockers recapturing the white-lightning-in-a-bottle spark that made their early stuff so fun.”

    “The sheer predictability of this band has proved no barrier to massiveness, and their formula remains uncommonly resilient,” The Guardian’s Kitty Empire says. Blasting back on the scene from their short hiatus, Kings of Leon is “back in the saddle, punching their timecards with a little more brio than of late and a tad more good feeling.”

    Ray Waddell of Billboard calls the record “powerful” and “diverse.” With respect to classic Kings of Leon, Waddell explains how the album highlights the band’s “turn-on-a-dime tempo changes, mysterious, atmospheric ballads, and ringing, hard-charging rockers.”

    “The Kings fold lowdown, raucous moments into what’s become their trademark sonic and emotional expansiveness,” Jon Dolan of The Rolling Stone writes. “It’s loose and down-to-earth; you can imagine them basing it out in a shed, albeit a very large one.”

    So, what do the critics say that don’t get paid for their opinions and are free to speak their minds?

    Image via wikipedia

  • Mariska Hargitay to Fight Crime in Real Life

    Mariska Hargitay is doing something similar to her tough detective character on Law & Order in real life. On T.V., Hargitay often deals with domestic violence and sexual assault. Now, the actress is leading a group of others in Hollywood in a campaign against domestic violence and sexual assault called No More, which will include public service announcements directed by Hargitay herself.

    Inquisitr reports that the public service announcements were funded by the Joyful Heart Foundation, which introduced a new circular blue symbol that Hargitay said she hopes will become synonymous with the fight against domestic violence. “The shame and stigma belongs with the perpetrator,” she said. “Let’s not stand by; let’s not accept it anymore. No more.”

    The website for Joyful Heart foundation posted some grim statistics to make people aware of the real problem we are actually facing:

    -One in three women (30%) report being a victim of domestic violence; one in five women (20%) report being a victim of sexual assault.

    -60% of Americans, 15 years of age or older, know a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault. Among the 70% of women who have experienced domestic violence and told someone about it, more than half (58%) said that no one helped them.

    -Three out of four (73%) parents with children under the age of 18 said that they have not had a conversation about violence in the home.

    -Three quarters of Americans (75%) say they would step in and help if they saw even a stranger being abused, but almost two thirds (64%) of Americans age 15 or older say if we talk more about domestic violence and sexual assault, it would make it easier to help someone.

    “This is an epidemic that is afflicting our society and I believe that it is an epidemic we can change,” Hargitay said. “For the first time in history, the domestic violence and the sexual assault movements, the two communities, are coming together with this symbol. It’s to this movement what the pink ribbon was to breast cancer, what the red ribbon did for HIV/AIDS; it got people together, under one umbrella, talking about it.”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu4eGnOpWc8

    The television star has built up a reputation for her advocacy in domestic violence issues, and has also built up a reputation to bank it! This year Mariska Hargitay was placed near the top of the enviable list of highest-paid television actresses. She finished No. 2 on the list behind Modern Family star Sofia Vergara, earning $11 million from June 2012 to June 2013.

    Some other powerful stars who are joining Mariska Hargitay in the No More campaign are Courteney Cox, Amy Poehler, Debra Messing, Tate Donovan and fellow Law & Order star Ice-T. Hargitay said she hopes the effort will take a national stature the way other celebrity-backed awareness campaigns have.

    Image via wikipedia

  • Powerball Winner to Remain Anonymous

    A Columbia, S.C.-area man, who asked not to be publicly identified, danced around his kitchen and initially told only his dog when he checked his Powerball ticket last week and discovered he had the lucky $399.4 million winning number, lottery officials said Monday. Oddly enough, it was only the second time the man had ever played the lottery, he told state education lottery officials.

    Buying the ticket was somewhat of a fluke. NBC reports that the man said he’d stopped for gas at a Lexington, South Carolina Murphy station, when his wife called and asked him to pick up hot dog buns. To his distress, they don’t sell hot dog buns at that station, so on a whim, he bought $20 in lottery tickets instead.

    South Carolina Education Lottery officials said the man was home alone Thursday when he checked his ticket when the winning numbers were announced: 7, 10, 22, 32, 35 and a Powerball of 19. It’s the fourth biggest jackpot in Powerball history! Since the game’s payouts get bigger and bigger, it’s only the third largest one this year. Powerball jackpots have been increasing so quickly because the ticket price doubled to $2 in January and because California, the biggest state, joined in April.

    The winners of the three bigger jackpots have chosen to identify themselves:

    In May,an 84-year-old Gloria C. MacKenzie from Florida won the biggest Powerball jackpot in history — $590 million.

    Then, in early August, three winners divided a $448 million prize. Sixteen Ocean County, N.J., employees, who called themselves the “Ocean’s 16”, who had all gone through Superstorm Sandy together bought one of them.

    The biggest U.S. jackpot ever, a $656 million prize in March 2012, was won on Mega Millions. But the next four have all been Powerball drawings, which has led Mega Millions officials to offer more prizes to attract more players.

    As news outlets waited for the winner to come forward, NBC published advice for big lottery winners: Lawyer up, take the lump sum, take a deep breath – and stay anonymous if you can.

    Image via wikipedia

  • Miley Cyrus Suffers “Nip Slip” at IHeartRadio Fest

    Well, after months and months of prancing, twerking, and tonguing around in ridiculous, barely there outfits, the inevitable has happened. You might want to be sitting down…Miley Cyrus suffered a reported nip slip during her expectedly provocative performance at the iHeartradio Music Festival this weekend. Cyrus didn’t seem to be aware of her nip slip, since she donned a far racier (yeah, it’s possible) ensemble later that night, reported by E!.

    Sporting black pasties and a white mesh dress with fur sleeves, Liam Hemsworth’s former fiancé performed a second set at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where she sang her hit, “Wrecking Ball”, in which she broke down in tears.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EclZrmDI8PM

    Britney Spears, who has worked on a song that will appear on Cyrus’ new album, Bangerz, which is scheduled for release early next month, introduced Cyrus, who also spent time bonding backstage with Khloé Kardshian Odom, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner. Though Cyrus’ appearance has caused quite a stir lately, she had the support of many other iHeartRadio performers and attendees.

    Britney Spears recently backed Miley’s performances. “She (Miley Cyrus) is on fire right now, she is on fire, she’s just a ball full of energy,” she said.

    “She does what she wants. She is allowed to do whatever she wants,” The Wanted’s Jay McGuinness told E! News. “I think her wardrobe is kind of interesting, but hey, we’re in our twenties, so I’m like, ‘Yeah!’”

    The Vampire Diaries’ Kat Graham echoed, “I am a huge fan of her fashion sense. I think she is winning, so I have nothing [bad] to say. So, I guess keep doing what you’re doing!”‘

    Dawn Richard of Danity Kane said that as long as Cyrus is comfortable with her outfits, she should continue wearing them proudly. “I think everyone has a different type of risky,” the singer explained. “It may be risky for one person but comfortable for the next.”

    In a recent interview with French radio station NRJ, the singer said: “I’m on such a platform where I can speak to so many people and I think it’s important to send a message to my audience.” She added, “Be who you are, do what you do, be who you want to be, live your life and don’t worry about what people have to say about it.” She added, “I feel like the best way of fighting my haters is just keep letting them do what they do and don’t let them faze you, just keep doing what you do. Success is the best form of revenge.”

  • Kelly Clarkson Forced to Sell Jane Austen Ring Back

    Kelly Clarkson bought a beautiful ring at a London auction where she paid more than five times the reserve price of £30,000 (about $48,000). But, this was no ordinary ring. Clarkson, who is a fan of the 19th-century author, Jane Austen, has now been forced to sell a $250,000 gold and turquoise ring once owned by English novelist after a museum raised enough cash to keep the item in the U.K. according to NBC.

    The U.K. government imposed a temporary export ban in August, which can be imposed on items considered to be “national treasures.” Culture Minister Ed Vaizey was one of those responsible for imposing the export ban in August. “The export licensing system provides us with a last chance to save treasures like these for the nation so they can be enjoyed by all of us,” the Conservative lawmaker said in a statement. “It’s clear from the number of people who gave generously to the campaign just how admired Jane Austen remains to this day.”

    Apparently, The ring had been in Austen’s family for 200 years and lawmakers hoped enough money could be raised to buy it back from Clarkson and put it on public display. Then, on Monday, Jane Austen’s House Museum in the U.K. announced it had raised the £157,740 (about $250,000) needed to match Clarkson’s bid and keep the ring at home.

    The fundraising succeeded easily within its September 30 deadline and was given an unexpected boost with an anonymous £100,000 donation. Contributions came from all over the world, including the U.S. Mary Guyatt, curator of Jane Austen’s House Museum, said: “The museum has been stunned by the generosity and light-footedness of all those who have supported our campaign to meet the costs of acquiring Jane Austen’s ring for our permanent collection.”

    Of course, the 31-year-old singer was gracious on hearing her purchase had been hijacked.Clarkson agreed to re-sell the ring and it will now be kept at the museum, where Austen lived the last eight years of her life until her death in 1817. “The ring is a beautiful national treasure and I am happy to know that so many Jane Austen fans will get to see it at Jane Austen’s House Museum,” she said in a statement.

    Museum assistant Isabel Snowden expressed sympathy toward Clarkson, but pointed out the temporary export ban is not a new thing. “We do feel sorry for her because she paid for it in good faith,” Snowden told NBC News on Tuesday. “But perhaps someone should have explained to her what could happen? The export ban has been around for about 60 years and applies to items such as this one which are bought for over a certain amount.It is very unfortunate for Kelly but she has been incredibly gracious. She is happy for the ring to be in the museum and we hope she comes and visits – we would be delighted to have her.”

    Jane Austen lived from 1775 until 1817, and died aged 41 in the house where the museum is now.
    Works such as “Pride and Prejudice,” “Emma,” and “Sense and Sensibility” have made her one of the most widely read and best loved writers in history.

    In June, the Bank of England announced that from 2017 Austen’s face will succeed that of Charles Darwin on the country’s £10 note.

    Image via wikipedia

  • Kaley Cuoco’s Sister Briana Scores “Voice” Audition

    During the season premiere of NBC’s The Voice, host Carson Daly told Briana Cuoco, sibling of Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco, that she would be auditioning for judges Christina Aguilera, CeeLo Green, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine. E! reports that Kaley, 27, beamed with pride as her younger sister got the good news. Looks like big sister may have to learn to share the spotlight! Co-star Jim Parsons, known to fans as Sheldon Cooper, is already smitten:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2crqAzPJ6A

    Briana Cuoco may not be a household name yet, like her sister Kaley, but she has been involved with several hit TV shows over the years, including CBS’ The Mentalist and HBO’s The Newsroom. She also appeared in a 2013 episode of The Big Bang Theory, where she befriended the cast and choreographed a flash mob as a surprise for the show’s creators:

    “She is a great a lot of things,” Emmy winner Jim Parsons tells Access Hollywood of Briana. “We give Kaley a lot of hell, like, ‘Oh, so finally the world is going to see the really talented Cuoco!’ Which is not true—we just want to give her s–t!”

    Costar Mayim Bialik adds, “She has a beautiful voice. She is phenomenal. She’s very, very talented.”

    One thing is for sure, Briana Cuoco is a force to be reckoned with and we can’t wait to see what else she can do!

    image via youtube

  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tony Hale Play “Veep” at Emmy

    As the 52-year-old actress made her way to the stage to receive her Outstanding Leading Actress in a Comedy award for her role as Vice President Selina Meyer on HBO’s “Veep”, at Sunday night’s Emmy Awards, Tony Hale — who plays the vice president’s personal aide, Gary Walsh on the show, snuck up behind her. His job was to hold her clutch and stand by her side whispering important information in her ear as she delivered her acceptance speech. Just like on the show, he was there to remind her to thank her family, and feeding her lines such as, “I love them so much.”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzXTEM3juIY

    This is the second year in a row that Louis-Dreyfus takes home the Emmy for playing for her role in “Veep”. Her victory brought her second straight Emmy win for her work on “Veep”. It was her fourth overall win and her 16th nomination.

    “It means a ton because I’ve actually lost many, many more times the I have won,” Louis-Dreyfus said in the press room after her win, according to E!. “I’ve lost ten times as a matter of fact and so it is delicious to win.”

    Co-star Anna Chlumsky got in on the joke, too as she appeared bored and texting during Louis-Dreyfus’ speech.

    Earlier in the evening, Hale won his own award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series award for his role as her very attentive and hovering aid in “Veep”.

    Louis-Dreyfus ended her speech by thanking the HBO show’s entire cast. Well, almost the entire cast. She forgot to mention fellow Emmy winner Hale, who didn’t seem to mind, giving her a thumbs up after she wrapped her speech! Who says you can’t find decent help anymore?

    Image via YouTube

  • Depression in Cancer Patients May be Easy to Screen

    MedicineNet from HealthDay reports that According to a new study, a simple two-question survey can accurately screen cancer patients for depression. The survey asks patients whether they have experienced little interest or pleasure in doing things, or felt down, depressed or hopeless in the last two weeks. The patients are given a points score based on their answers to the questions.

    The way the scoring process works is, for each question, a patient can answer: not at all (worth zero points), several days (1 point), more than half the days (2 points), or nearly every day (3 points). Patients who score a total of at least 3 points on both questions are considered to be at risk for having depression.

    The researchers that authored the study, found that the two-question screening test was just as accurate in screening for depression as a longer nine-question screening test. The study and it’s findings are scheduled for presentation on Monday at the annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.The test was assessed in a study that included 455 cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy at 37 centers in the United States. These patients were surveyed before or within two weeks of undergoing their first radiation treatment. Of the participants, 16 percent screened positive for depression.

    “We found that a two-question survey can effectively screen for depression,” Dr. William Small Jr., chair of the department of radiation oncology of Loyola University Medical Center, said in a Loyola news release. “We hope this will prompt more centers to screen for depression, and to refer patients for treatment when necessary.”

    Dr. Small and his colleagues also found that 78 percent of radiation therapy centers routinely screen patients for depression, with half screening at the initial visit. Sixty-eight percent of radiation therapy facilities offered mental health services. However, 67 percent of sites had only social workers available; 22 percent offered psychiatrists, and 17 percent offered psychologists. These results highlighted a need for a deeper look into how more can be done to help cancer patients with depression. However, this study was to be presented at a medical meeting, therefore, the data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

    But Dr. Small is optimistic. “We think the results of this large, nationwide trial will have a major impact on how cancer patients are screened for depression,” Small said.

    Image via wikipedia

  • Antonio Banderas to Be Pirate in New Spongebob Movie

    Antonio Banderas, who has been nominated three times for a Golden Globe, and is best known for playing Zorro, will star in the new “SpongeBob SquarePants 2” movie sceduled to be filmed in Savannah and on Tybee Island in the coming weeks, according to the Savannah Daily News. Officials involved in the movie told Tybee Island representatives Friday morning that Banderas would play a bearded pirate in the movie, said Tybee’s city manager Diane Schleicher.

    The SpongeBob sequel will begin filming on Tybee Sept. 30 and in downtown Savannah Oct. 9. BleedingCool.com reports that a recent casting call that was sent out specified for people in the Savannah, Georgia area to shave their faces if they want to be part of the pirate crew. This will make the bearded pirate, which will most likely be Banderas, look extra evil in the film.

    Also, crews have been there and are doing lots of sprucing up, and the live action sequences will take several weeks to film, which leads one to think that there will be a lot of live action in the new film. Way more than the first one anyway. Also, interesting fact: On Tybee Island in the 50’s, apparently a nuclear bomb was accidentally dropped by the US military. It didn’t go off, but it was never found either…

    This isn’t the first time Banderas has lent his talents to the entertainment of the younger set. The Spaniard has also played the voice of Puss in Boots in several of DreamWorks’ “Shrek” films and El Mariachi in “Desperado and “Once Upon a Time in Mexico.”

    Spongebob Squarepants 2 will be the second featuring the Nickelodeon network favorite. The first SpongeBob movie, released in 2004, grossed more than $140 million. Paul Tibbit, a long time contributor to the TV series, is rumored to be directing. February 2015, over ten years after the first, is the tentative release date.

    Image via wikipedia

  • Kaley Cuoco Stuns with Arm Candy, Ryan Sweeting

    Kaley Cuoco and boyfriend Ryan Sweeting made their first official red carpet debut as a new couple at a pre-Emmys bash on Friday, Sept. 20 according to Us Weekly.

    The fairly new couple matched for the big night, with the Big Bang Theory starlet rocking a tight black Pamelle Roland dress and Pedro Garcia shoes. Her handsome tennis star boyfriend wore a black suit with a skinny tie. The two lovebirds were cozy as they attended Entertainment Weekly’s party at Fig & Olive Melrose Place in West Hollywood.

    Cuoco moved on to Sweeting shortly after having a fling with gorgeous Man of Steel, Henry Cavill in July. Haley gushed about her new handsome man on Instagram, where she posted the picture of them with the caption. “#emmyweekend greatest date ever @ryansweething”. Kaley Cuoco is clearly happy with the low-key tennis star, who is way more out of the limelight than Henry Cavill was. Although, there doesn’t seem to be hard feelings on either part.

    Inquisitr reports that Cavill has admitted that the attention he now gets while walking around town was one of the main reasons for the break up with Cuoco. It was most likely also the doom of his relationship with previous girlfriend Gina Carano (Fast And Furious 6), whom he dated for a few months earlier this year.

    Cuoco’s long list of exes include addiction specialist Josh “Lazie” Resnik, they called off their engagement in March 2012, and her Big Bang Theory costar cutie Johnny Galecki. The two actors reportedly kept their relationship under wraps for two years.

    Cuoco and Sweeting, 26, first sparked rumors of a budding romance when they were spotted together in early August. On Aug. 2, the tennis god joined Cuoco at a beautiful horse ranch in Moorpark, California. The following day the two grabbed lunch at Marmalade Cafe in Sherman Oaks.

    Image via wikipedia

  • White Supremacist Town: Residents Fighting Back

    The small town of Leith, North Dakota, that is currently under seige by white supremacists, is fighting back, according to Fox News. The town has reportedly formed a legal defense fund to stop a longtime white supremacist, Craig Cobb, from taking over the town, which has a population of 24, and turning it into an all-white enclave.

    “We need people from across the state to come alongside of us and show support that they don’t believe in what this guy is doing,” Lee Cook, a Leith City Council member told The Bismarck Tribune. “There are a lot of people who could speak up. It’s not tricky. Silence, to me, means that whatever he’s doing is OK.”

    With a population of just two dozen in a mostly white county, Leith, North Dakota is apparently an attractive destination for members of the U.S. National Socialist Movement, who revealed that they are making plans to turn the shrinking town into an all-white enclave. Grant County Sheriff Steve Bay is prepared for the worst if clashes break out between a band of neo-Nazi white supremacists and protesters.

    This weekend, state residents have planned a “peaceful show of solidarity” with the town.

    “We cannot accept this racist hatred they are bringing here. Leith is in a crisis and is crying out for help,” said Jeremy Kelly, a resident of Bismarck.

    According to the Reuters, today will be the second day of the U.S. National Socialist Movement’s plan to introduce themselves to the community in what their organization’s leader, Jeff Schoep, calls an “act of good will and faith.” The ridiculous group is reportedly America’s largest neo-Nazi organization, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has the unenviable job of tracking hate groups.

    According to the Center, for more than a year, white supremacy activist Craig Cobb, who is wanted in Canada for willfully promoting hatred, has been snatching up properties in crumbling Leith and inviting fellow supremacists to move in and set up a “Pioneer Little Europe,” as some supporters have called it. He has made a sales pitch to the like-minded. He praised the area’s good paying jobs and the selection of satellite TV providers.

    Cobb reportedly spends his days in his rough two-story home with no running water. But he seems to have internet because he spends an exorbitant amount of time posting online, advocating for white supremacists to join his settlement. “I only need 17 people,” he said with a chuckle. “You have to have a majority to win an election. If we get 22 we’ve got a landslide.”

    In an interview with WXMB-TV in Bismarck, Cobb said he had gotten a lot of offers to buy up land from what he termed like-minded people who believe white people should not be punished for wanting to live near each other.

    Schoep said that the visitors would inspect the new property, raise ceremonial flag poles, and hold a town meeting and a news conference. “We have every intention of legally assuming control of the local government,” Schoep said.

    “It’s fine for all these other minorities, but not us,” he said. “If you merely speak about it, you’re going to be defamed in this country.”

    Two of Craig Cobb’s neighbors are Sherrill Harper, who is white, and her husband Bobby, who is black. Bobby Harper, a 52-year-old welder, said he has spoken to Cobb only once. He says Cobb’s plans don’t bother him much.

    “The most extreme thing you can do is hate another man because of the color of his skin, (but) I don’t think we should get too excited,” he said. “I believe right will prevail.”

    I sure hope it does.

    Image via U.S. National Socialist Movement

  • Michael Douglas Makes Surprising Acceptance Speech

    Michael Douglas accepted the award for lead actor in a miniseries or movie at Sunday night’s Emmy Awards for his role as Liberace on HBO’s biopic “Behind the Candelabra”. The actor, 68, made a surprising and memorable speech as he clutched his glittering statuette. He immediately honored Matt Damon, who plays his love interest in the show. Watch the whole thing:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXT2fSSGKek

    Douglas joked, “Matt, you’re only as good… as your other half…This is a two-hander and Matt, you’re only as good as your other hand,” Douglas went on to say, while pointing to the statuette, “Matt, you deserve half of this. You want the bottom or the top?”

    Then things got serious quickly. He thanked his wife of 13 years, Catherine Zeta-Jones, which was a sweet surprise since the two recently announced that they were separating to re-evaluate their relationship. While Zeta-Jones didn’t accompany him, he was still wearing his wedding ring. Maybe there’s hope for those two silly kids yet.

    He also praised the script for “Behind the Candelabra” as one of the best he’s ever seen and gushed over director Steven Soderbergh and his hard work on the show, for which Soderbergh also snatched an Emmy.

    Douglas didn’t leave out his children, including the troubled Cameron Douglas, who is currently serving time for a drug sentence. “And a shout-out to my oldest son Cameron, but hopefully I’ll be able to see him soon,” Douglas said.

    Later on, backstage, he revealed a little more about the status of his marriage to Zeta-Jones, telling “Entertainment Tonight’s” Nancy O’Dell, “Everybody is fine. Nothing really more to say. We were just taking a little break. We’re talking. I think everything will be fine and I’m very hopeful.”

    Image via wikipedia

  • Claire Danes Hijacks Seacrest Interview

    Claire Danes looked nothing like Carrie from her hit show “Homeland” on the Emmys Red Carpet. She certainly didn’t act like her character when she totally interrupted an interview to enthusiastically greet her good friend Lena Dunham right in the middle of her telling E!’s Ryan Seacrest, that all through last year’s Emmys, she felt like urinating. Apparently the two grew up in the same New York City neighborhood, and met through a mutual friend.

    Danes garnered lots of attention with her new golden bob to go with her sparkling Armani dress. She looked beautiful as the girls squealed like old pals and gushed about each other, totally forgetting Seacrest, and Claire even snatched the mic away from Ryan and began her own interview of Dunham:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njjbdZGE_j8

    “Seacrest out, Danes in,” Dunham quipped.

    “How do you feel being here tonight?” Danes asked, laughing, before quickly admitting, “I’m so bad at this!”

    “I’m really excited because you’re my really good friend and I never get to see you except for on the E! red carpet!” Dunham gushed.

    “I know, it’s totally wackadoodle,” Danes agreed.

    “Are we ruining your life?” Dunham asked the amused Seacrest.

    “No, this is fantastic,” he insisted. “I’m great, I’m gonna have a beer.”

    “I love this lady very much,” Danes revealed. “I love you so much,” Dunham agreed.

    It kind of went that way for a while, then:

    Danes: “I’m in constant awe of what she does.”

    Dunham: “She’s my favorite actress.”

    Danes: “She’s my favorite everything.”

    Speaking of working together the besties clarified the situation:

    Dunham: “I would love to but she’s on a Showtime show and I’m on HBO.”

    Danes: “It’s very Capulet and Montague.”

    Dunham: “We’ll wait unitl there’s a less turf-warrish situation.”

    Danes: “A web series!”

    During the lovefest Seacrest interjected, “I feel like we should do our nails.”

    Dunham also revealed in the presence of her two friends, that she’s an obsessed Kerry Washington fan. “I stalked her and I met her!” she said proudly. Washington “was really nice,” Dunham added. “She knew I’d been stalking her because I said it to, like, 17 media outlets, so she was really great about it.”

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  • Kate Hudson Turns Up at iHeart Radio Festival

    Kate Hudson and her rocker fiance, Muse frontman Matthew Bellamy, enjoyed a performance by Elton John on Friday, September 20th at the iHeart Radio Music Festival in Las Vegas. As they watched “Tiny Dancer”, It was a little reminiscent of the movie in which Kate had her break out role, “Almost Famous” in 2000, earning herself an Emmy nomination and instant A-list worthy status.

    Hudson played a wide-eyed groupie named Penny Lane in the Cameron Crowe film, which also starred Billy Cruddup and Patrick Fugit. “Almost Famous”, a kind of comedy/drama thing, was actually based on Crowe’s real-life experiences touring with Rock bands. It follows a high school boy, played by Fugit, who gets the chance to write an article for Rolling Stone about a new rock band that is rising to the top. Penny Lane teaches him all about life and the music business. In one scene, the entire band, including Hudson, begins to sing Elton John’s hit, “Tiny Dancer”, from 1971.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qn3tel9FWU

    “Muse shared a dressing room with Elton John so Matthew Bellamy and Kate Hudson were hanging out with Elton before Elton went on last night,” a source reveals Us Weekly. “They walked out with Elton on Elton’s way to the stage.”

    Hudson and Bellamy held hands during the entire song. “They were kissing, holding hands, having so much fun together the whole time. Kate looked radiant!” the insider added. Bellamy and his band, Muse were also there to perform. They got engaged in the Spring of 2011, and in June of 2011, welcomed their first child together, Bingham. He was the second child for Kate. She has a son from her marriage to Chris Robinson of the Black Crows, Ryer, who is 9. They were married from 2000 to 2007.

    The Daily Mail reported (and photographed) Kate showing off her amazing legs in a short purple romper gettup and red lipstick to match her shiny red heels. In addition to taking in performances from Elton John, Adam Lambert, fun., and Chirs Brown with Benni Benassi, etc, she also presented an award.

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