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Author: Pam Wright

  • Mary-Louise Parker Writing Memoir, ‘Dear Mr. You,’ By Penning Letters to the Men in Her Life

    Mary-Louise Parker Writing Memoir, ‘Dear Mr. You,’ By Penning Letters to the Men in Her Life

    Mary-Louise Parker is writing a book about the “significant men in her life,” which may or may not include juicy details about exes Billy Crudup and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

    The book, Dear Mr. You, will detail the Emmy-, Tony-, and Golden Globe-winning actress’ life through a series of letters penned to the most important men in her life.

    The book will be released by Simon and Schuster imprint Scribner in fall 2015.

    “I am so honored and thrilled to be working with Scribner and in the company of such wonderful writers,” said Parker, 50, in a Scribner press release.

    “From Frank McCourt to Jeannette Walls to Anjelica Huston, Scribner loves a great memoirist, and Mary-Louise Parker is one,” said senior vice president and publisher Nan Graham. “Her writing is magnificent; the concept—a memoir in letters to men—is wholly original and brilliantly executed.”

    Parker was in a seven-year relationship with actor Billy Crudup and gave birth to their son, William Atticus, in 2004, three months after the couple split up. She also once dated her Weeds co-star, actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan and singer Charlie Mars.

    Parker is known for her film roles in Grand Canyon and Fried Green Tomatoes, and for her Broadway production of Proof, which earned her a Tony Award. She also won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe for her 2004 performance in the HBO miniseries Angels in America. She won a second Golden Globe in 2006 for her performance on Weeds.

  • Robin Gibb’s Final, Posthumous Album a Testament to Life With His Bee Gees Siblings

    Robin Gibb’s Final, Posthumous Album a Testament to Life With His Bee Gees Siblings

    Robin Gibb’s final, posthumous album, 50 St. Catherine’s Drive, is a testament to the love he shared with his brothers, Barry and Maurice, and the music the famous British trio made during a long, illustrious career as the Bee Gees.

    Robin’s 17-track album features songs he either wrote or co-wrote and is named after the Gibb family house in which the singer was born in 1949 on Isle of Man.

    The very personal and sentimental album was written between 2006 and 2008, and includes songs that were written following the death of Robin’s twin, Maurice, who died in 2003 from complications resulting from a twisted intestine. The material reflects the writer’s conviction that there is loyalty and love that can never diminish.

    The track Sydney is a nostalgic song about Gibb and his famous siblings that was the only song written outside the 2006-2008 timeframe and was written as he battled cancer. He had hoped to finish the song with his brother, Barry, but died nine months later from colorectal cancer before they were able to complete the song.

    With the loss of his brother and with his own death looming, Robin seems to have captured the sentiment that life here on earth is fleeting. On the song, Days of Wine & Roses, the bittersweet lyrics begin, “Time and tide will wait for no one. Now you’re gone.”

    In April 2013, almost a year following the death of Robin, the Isle of Man’s Douglas Council commemorated 50 Catherine Drive with a blue plaque on the door as the original home of the Gibb brothers.

  • Narendra Modi Brings Thoughtful, Personal Gifts To Obama

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought gifts for Monday’s state visit with US President Barack Obama.

    Modi personally chose the thoughtful, personal gifts for Obama — keeping in mind the two people the president most admires, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. — including “Gita by Gandhi” in Khadi cover, as well as audio and video clips from King’s 1959 visit to India.

    “The prime minister has brought several gifts. At the personal level, he has brought a special edition of Gita by Gandhi Ji. This is Gandhi Ji’s interpretation of Gita. The book was published many years ago,” said External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.

    “The prime minister had specifically ordered a special edition of the book and copies of it were specially done up with a certain getup as Khadi on its cover these were prepared in Delhi and were brought and were handed over to the president.”

    “Also, he has given some other personal gifts. He is aware that President Obama has great regard for Martin Luther King and there is a Gandhi link between President Obama, the King and the prime minister, so he (Modi) had looked up and asked All India Radio to provide a recording of Martin Luther King’s speech which he gave in India in 1959 when he visited India. In addition, there are some other memorabilia of Martin Luther King,” he said.

    “There is a photograph of the King at the Rajghat, which the prime minister has framed and given to Obama. There is a small clip which goes back to 1959. The Photos Division was able to track back a video clip of Martin Luther King‘s visit to India. All these were prepared by the prime minister’s Office in advance and presented to President Obama today,” he said.

    “These were personal gifts. Official gifts would be presented tomorrow,” Akbaruddin said.

    The prime minister also generously brought gifts for Obama‘s two daughters, Sasha and Malia, according to the sources.

  • Jane Fonda Reveals Mother Was Sexually Abused As a Child

    Long-time activist Jane Fonda told an audience of other activists and philanthropists that her mother had been sexually abused as a child, a trauma that may have been a factor leading to the decision to take her own life at the age of 42.

    Fonda shared the revelation at the 40th anniversary of the Rape Treatment Center, a renowned center committed to providing treatment for sexual assault victims.

    The Oscar-winning actress served as host of The Rape Foundation’s annual fundraising event held this year at billionaire Ron Burkle’s Greenacres estate in Beverly Hills.

    The 76-year-old actress said she didn’t acquire the knowledge about her mother first-hand, but came across details of the abuse while doing research for her memoirs. The actress said it was while reviewing her mother’s medical records that she uncovered details of her mother’s abuse, which apparently occurred when she was eight years old.

    Fonda was 12 when her mother, Frances Fonda Seymour, committed suicide.

    “The minute that I read that, everything fell into place,” Fonda told the audience. “I knew why the promiscuity, the endless plastic surgery, the guilt, the inability to love or be intimate, and I was able to forgive her and forgive myself.”

    Fonda promised to “support the Rape Treatment Center for the rest of my life” because sexual violence is “epidemic.”

    Fonda’s 9 to 5 co-star and fellow activist, Lily Tomlin, introduced Fonda at the event. Other speakers included David Schwimmer and Eric McCormack, who urged the crowd to support the center. Five attendees, including Burkle, donated $100,000 to support the Rape Treatment Center’s continued efforts to offer free medical, psychological and legal services to victims of sexual assault.

    The founder of the Rape Treatment Center and President of The Rape Foundation, Gail Abarbanel, introduced other rape survivors, including the mother of the Steubenville, Ohio High School student, who was assaulted in 2012. Abarbanel praised the girl for her bravery in pressing charges against the star football players accused in the attack, despite overwhelming support for the beloved players by the community.

    The Rape Foundation provides other services, including free training for first responders and sexual assault prevention programs across the country.

  • Matt Damon Says He and Ben Affleck ‘Owe Everything’ to Robin Williams

    Matt Damon says he and his Good Will Hunting partner, Ben Affleck, owe “everything” to Robin Williams.

    The Saving Private Ryan star talked to Yahoo Global News anchor Katie Couric about the debt he and his childhood friend owe the late actor after he helped them get their first project off the ground.

    “Ben and I owe everything to him,” he said of Williams. “He said yes to our movie and he got it made. I could never thank him enough. I look around at the life I have and how blessed I feel and so much of it started with him.”

    Williams, 63, died in August by suicide after struggling for years with addiction and depression. After his death, his wife, Susan Schneider, revealed the actor had also been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease not long before he took his own life. Damon told Couric the news of Williams’ death “shocked” him and led to a serious bout of regret for not keeping in better touch with the Oscar-winning actor.

    “I think [Williams’ death] affected everybody in the country, actually,” said the 43-year-old Boston native. “We all felt like we knew him and that he was a part of our lives… I think everyone who wasn’t there with him at the end feels bad that they didn’t see it coming.”

    “I hope that it can start a conversation in the country about depression and just how serious it is, and what an exceptionally powerful disease that it is,” he continued. “I hope I become better at checking in with my friends. I hope that we, as a country, get better at checking in with each other.”

    Damon is also known for his work in The Bourne Identity and The Departed. His next appearance will be in Ridley Scott‘s The Martian.

  • Trish Stratus Compares Danny Glover To WWE Wrestling Greats

    WWE Hall of Fame member Trish Stratus recently wrapped up filming Gridlocked with Danny Glover and had nothing but praise for the acclaimed actor.

    In an interview on CBS radio’s Turnbuckle Weekly with Chuck Carroll, the former wrestling diva said working with the actor was pure pleasure.

    “Such a gentleman and so sweet. He’s a little bit older now… he reminded me of the wrestlers where you go backstage and wrestlers are getting up there and they’re just sort of keeping to themselves and a bit quiet and they don’t look as alive as you remember them looking. And the minute they get in the ring, or in Danny Glover’s case, the minute they call action this man came alive and oozed charisma… He was amazing,” said the sexy WWE diva.

    Stratus said the film is very similar in genre to Die Hard or Lethal Weapon, and Glover acted as mentor to many of the younger actors on set.

    “He was really great about encouraging everyone and ‘great job kids!’ she said. “Because a lot of the (actors) on the set were younger than him. He was like, ‘great job kids and thank you so much everybody.’ He’s such a great guy.”

    Back in the ring, Stratus said things have changed a bit since she was the reigning queen of the ring.

    “Right now you see the girls with the girls, which is fine, but you can only do so much with the same characters,” said the 38-year-old wrestling champion. “Unfortunately, they don’t have super developed characters at the moment… The potential is there because there’s some great workers. That’s what we had at the moment things shifted for us. We had the right things.”

    Gridlocked also stars Dominic Purcell, Stephen Lang and Steve Byers. A release date for the film has not been set.

  • The Neelys Divorce News Shocks Fans of the Famed Food Network Couple

    Fans of Down Home With The Neelys lost their appetite Friday with the news that their favorite husband and wife cooking team has decided to call it quits after nearly 20 years of marriage.

    According to TMZ, celebrity chef Gina Neely filed for divorce from her 50-year-old husband, Pat Neely.

    In a joint statement released to Memphis news channel WMC News 5, the couple made the announcement that shocked fans.

    “Today we announce that we are ending our marriage of 20 years for irreconcilable differences,” they said in the statement. “This was a tough decision, but we believe it is the best decision for us.

    “Together we have built a strong brand as The Neelys,” said the couple, who are best known for working as a team on their show that began in 2008.”

    “Moving forward our focus will be on our individual brands and we are optimistic about our respective futures,” they said in the statement.

    According to documents filed by Gina, the bubbly cooking team have been separated for two years, which is even more shocking since you would never know they were experiencing difficulties while watching them interact on the show.

    Gina cites irreconcilable differences in the papers. However, the joint statement insinuated that they’re splitting on good terms and will continue to operate their famous New York City barbecue restaurant together.

    The couple, who met in high school, have two adult daughters — Shelbi and Spenser Neely.

  • World War 3: Has Vladimir Putin Been Planning to Instigate Major War?

    According to a former advisor of Vladimir Putin, the Russian president has been planning to spark a major conflict in the Baltic region for the past decade.

    Andrey Illarionov, a former advisor to Putin, said the Russian leader has been planning for a major war since at least 2003. His accusation came during a conference in Lithuania.

    According to the Inquisitr, Illarionov referenced a 2008 article from Russian Journal that apparently laid out a plan for Russia to attack Crimea before moving on to capture the city of Kiev.

    “As we see, not only were they preparing, they were publishing it,” Illarionov said.

    Illarionov said Putin does not believe Ukraine is a real nation, but rather a state that belongs to Russia, and believes the same for Hungary, Poland, and Romania. He remarked that the latest conflict in the region began when Putin began referring to a “Russian world” during a ceremony honoring Slavic groups.

    The Lithuanian Tribune reported that Putin may have plans to invade nations beyond Ukraine, creating a major conflict that could equate to World War 3.

    “According to the former presidential adviser, Russian laws essentially define four categories of ‘Russians’: ethnic Russians, irrespective of whether they reside in or outside Russia; Russian-speakers, irrespective of their nationality; all former citizens of the Soviet Union and their offspring living in the territories formerly covered by the USSR; and former citizens of the Russian Empire (pre-1917) and their offspring living in the territories once covered by the Russian Empire,” reported the newspaper.

    “‘Such a legal base allows the Russian army to protect all the Russians listed in the law. Therefore, for the Russian side, such actions of the Russian army beyond Russian borders might seem completely legitimate,’ Illarionov says.”

    There have been other reports that Putin plans to instigate a wide conflict, including threats to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine if the fight continues. Sources allegedly say Putin claimed that Russia could reach Kiev in two weeks if they so desired.

  • Hells Angels, Mongols Alleged Shootout Leaves One Dead — ‘He Knew the Risks,’ Says Victim’s Friend

    Frankie Varela was the only victim in a Sept. 20 California highway shootout, which allegedly took place between biker gangs Hells Angels and Mongols.

    The victim’s friends and family members say that the Mongol member knew the risk when it came to being part of a biker gang.

    The shootout on Interstate 15’s El Cerrito Road off-ramp near Corona in Riverside County left one Mongols member dead and two other Mongols members injured.

    Details are still sketchy, but reports indicate the Mongols and Hells Angels were shooting at each other when Varela was shot and killed.

    There is a long history of bad blood between the two opposing biker groups, which stem back to the Hells Angels’ refusal to give membership to Hispanics. Rejected Hispanics decided to form their own motorcycle club in the late 1960’s, called the Mongols. The group has allegedly been involved in crimes like robbery, drugs and illegal firearms.

    Varela, a four-year U.S. Navy firefighter and former correctional officer, maintained a 4.0 grade-point average in his studies for becoming a medical assistant. However, his love of his Harley Davidson motorcycle apparently led him to join the Mongols.

    Fellow Mongol member Miguel Uc, who attended high school with Varela, said he tried to steer his friend away from the “wrong people.” Uc said Varela knew the risks associated with being a member of the Mongols.

    “He knew the risk,” said Miguel. “He understood the consequences that came with it. … It wasn’t about being an outlaw. It was about riding motorcycles and being a part of a brotherhood.”

    According to Valerie Lopez, Frankie’s older sister, he was the leader and protector of the group.

    “I was the big sister, but (it was like) I was the little sister,” said Lopez. “I was always taken care of. I was known as Frankie’s sister. My brothers, they were known as Frankie’s baby brothers.”

    Riverside County Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Manning said there have been no arrests associated with the shooting and police are not prepared to say it was the Hells Angels who fired the shots.

  • Christopher Walken’s Look as Captain Hook in ‘Peter Pan Live’ Revealed

    Oh boy, Peter Pan Live is going to be an awesome production if the look Christopher Walken will don as Captain Hook is any indication.

    The 71-year-old actor is almost unrecognizable as the infamous pirate.

    A producer for NBC’s upcoming production of the classic musical, which is an adaptation of J. M. Barrie’s 1904 play Peter Pan, tweeted out the first picture of Walken as Captain Hook. He looks awesome with the tell-tale hook and a fantastic hat sporting a huge red plume.

    “Wow!!!” tweeted Neil Meron, executive producer of the live production, set to air Dec. 4 on NBC.

    Allison Williams of HBO’s Girls and daughter of NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams stars as Peter Pan.

    It was beyond adorable when Brian announced that his daughter won the coveted role.

    Walken was cast in July to play the pirate, who is haunted by the sound of a ticking clock. This role is not a stretch for the Oscar-winning actor, since he began his career in musicals.

    Allison has been hard at work learning how to fly and undergoing the transformation that will take her from a woman to the boy who won’t grow up.

    The role of Peter Pan has been played by a female since Mary Martin first flew above the stage in the 1954 Broadway hit, which earned her a Tony Award for her performance.

  • Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s Major ‘FAIL’ at Paris Fashion Week

    There are some things you just don’t do when in the city of lights for fashion week — like show up late to events and keep people waiting.

    Just about everyone involved in fashion, from photographers to models, have had it up to here with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.

    It’s become so bad that industry insiders have dubbed the duo the “fashion flu,” according to The New York Post‘s Page Six.

    It is just a little bit embarrassing. This week alone, the rapper and his reality-star wife are making very negative headlines in the media for bringing their one-year-old child North to a Balenciaga show, holding up Lanvin’s show for 40 minutes, getting punked outside Balmain’s show by Ukranian personality, Vitalii Sediuk, and even for their own fashion faux pas by showing up to a show with a little too much collective cleavage.

    Apparently, after the pair showed up late to Lanvin’s show — where Kim wore a skirt so short she had to cover her crotch with her hand to prevent exposure — they were booed by photographers.

    “People are so mad about Kimye being here,” said a fashion insider, adding that people are just “fatigued with the whole family.”

    The couple were on-hand to support Kardashian’s sister, Kendall Jenner, who walked in Balmain’s Paris show.

    According to reports, an insider was overheard Thursday in Paris complaining that Kimye have been a fashion headache. Another retorted, “No, you mean a fashion [chronic fatigue].”

    “They hold up shows and they draw paparazzi wherever they go,” a source told Page Six. “They’re seen here as the ultimate try-hards. It was funny when they were a novelty.”

    On the other hand, their daughter, North, has received a lot of love in the press and has been dubbed “Lil’ Kimye” on the fashion circuit.

  • Kim Cattrall: Getting Her Sexy On Through Menopause

    Actress Kim Cattrall has always been known as a sex symbol. As the Sex in the City actress joins the ranks of approximately 6000 women a day who enter menopause, Cattrall wants women to know that going through menopause doesn’t mean a woman is any less sexy.

    She recently sat down with Fox News to talk about her partnership with Pfizer in encouraging women to embrace their own journey through menopause.

    “I feel very fortunate being involved in a show like Sex in the City because I have a platform to talk about things that are happening to me and that I am really passionate about,” Cattrall said. “And one of those things is menopause.”

    In one episode of the Sex in the City series, Cattrall’s character, Samantha Jones, experienced a hot flash. Cattrall said she talked to her doctor about what happens during a hot flash to portray the significant moment on the show. Cattrall said the research for the scene helped her prepare for her own real-life hot flashes.

    “I remember so clearly getting ready for a date, and suddenly I felt this burning sensation and felt like I was in a vat of boiling water, and slowly but surely saw my face turning bright red. And I thought I guess this is my first hot flash,” she said.

    More than 80 percent of women going through menopause experience hot flashes. Another significant side effect of menopause is osteoporosis, or bone loss, which can lead to brittle bones in later years.

    Cattrall said she hopes women can find their own “menopause style” at TuneInToMenopause.com. On the site, visitors can discover their approach to menopause though an interactive quiz.

    “I see menopause as the start of the next fabulous phase of life as a woman. Now is a time to ‘tune in’ to our bodies and embrace this new chapter in our lives. If anything, I feel more myself and love my body more now, at 58 years old, than ever before,” said Cattrall on the site.

    Pfizer will donate $1 (up to $50,000) to Dress for Success for each quiz completed. Dress for Success is a not-for-profit organization working to help women get back to work and empower them within the workforce.

    “One size does not fit all in menopause. There is a lot of fear, it’s a very intimate issue, a lot of women don’t want to share it, it’s very uncomfortable, and it was for me to a degree,” she said.

    Cattrall said her biggest advice to women starting menopause is to seek out a physician to help them manage their menopausal symptoms and to remember they are not alone.

    “Women are such caregivers. We give so much to our children, our husbands, our job. I mean health for us should be foremost on that list especially at this age so we can continue to have a wonderful life,” she said.

  • Kids’ Halloween Costumes: This Year’s Top Ten

    For some kids, choosing a Halloween costume is the biggest decision of the year and no kid takes the all-important decision lightly. It’s not easy to choose just because of the sheer number of kids’ Halloween costumes out there.

    Some parents love to handcraft their child’s costumes, while others prefer to run to the local Walmart to pick up a ready-made costume. Either way, there are some great ideas and choices out there. To make it a little easier, here are the 10 most popular costumes for your little trick or treaters, based on the most popular Yahoo search engine enquiries.

    10. Skylanders Halloween Costumes

    Skylanders is a popular video game created by Activision that has no ties to TV or movie appearances. Some of the characters include Tree Rex, Night Shift and Chop Chop.

    9. Lalaloopsy Halloween Costumes

    Costumes inspired by these big-eyed dolls, who have sticks for limbs and bright hair colors, are available in a variety of Lalaloopsy characters.

    8. Guardians of the Galaxy

    Guardians of the Galaxy has inspired a slew of costumes for boys and girls.

    7. Disney’s Maleficent

    Angelina Jolie’s film about this classic Disney meanie is a great choice for both mom and child. Mom can dress up as the Mistress of All Evil Maleficent and daughter can be the lovely Disney Princess Aurora, or vice versa.

    6. Transformers Costumes

    Optimus Prime and Bumblebee are two of the most popular characters in the franchise.

    5. Captain America Costume

    The Captain America costume stands out as one of the most popular superhero costumes for individual searches on Yahoo this year.

    4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles costumes have been favorites for years — and even more so with the release of this year’s film — and feature the characters Raphael, Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Shredder and Splinter.

    3. Monster High Costumes

    For kids who believe Halloween is about being scary, there’s Monster High, soon to be made into a film to be released next year. Girl characters Frankie Stein and Spectra Vondergeist are the most popular.

    2. Star Wars

    Star Wars is always a popular choice, but with JJ Abrams’ upcoming film, Star Wars: Episode VII, nearing completion and the anticipation mounting, Star Wars is extremely popular.

    1. Frozen

    It’s not surprising that Frozen costumes are the most searched costumes on Yahoo. It has been an incredible year for the wildly popular film and soundtrack.

    There you have it. Have a very happy Halloween!

  • Jillian Michaels: Man Who Stole Celebrity Trainer’s Bentley Sentenced

    A man who stole a Bentley from celebrity trainer Jillian Michaels’ home was sentenced Friday to 17 years in prison.

    Gerjuan Deshon Harmon, 31, was convicted earlier this year of first-degree burglary with a person present and grand theft of personal property after stealing Michaels‘ 2011 Bentley GT from her Malibu driveway.

    This isn’t the first time Harmon has been in trouble with the law. In 2013, he was convicted of fleeing police, hit-and-run and unlawful taking of a vehicle.

    Prosecutors said the luxury automobile was stolen from the former Biggest Loser trainer’s home on July 3, 2012, while she and her family watched television inside.

    Burbank police located Harmon driving the car the next day and attempted to pull him over, but Harmon fled, authorities said. During pursuit, Harmon crashed the car. He then jumped from the car and tried to flee on foot but was caught in a nearby shed.

    Harmon was on parole for a previous burglary at the time of his arrest.

    Meanwhile, Michaels shared some great tips to help young moms keep in shape.

    “Set goals,” Michaels told Us Weekly. “I’ll be 58 when my youngest is 20, so I want to make sure that when he’s racing down a ski slope, I’m next to him – not waiting at the bottom!”

    The mother of Lukensia, four, and Phoenix, two, with partner Heidi Rhoades, 34, said the key to keeping fit is sticking to a schedule.

    “Treat yourself the way you would your kids,” says Michaels. “Would you skip their doctors’ appointments? When you’re not solid, your kids aren’t either.”

    Michaels does not mince words when sharing her thoughts on cardio workouts.

    “The elliptical is a waste of time,” said said, adding, “I mean, really? Go sit on a couch!”

    Instead, the trainer recommends circuits to condition the cardiovascular system and work multiple muscle groups at the same time.

    And finally, Michaels offered young moms a few nutritional recommendations to help shed the extra baby weight after giving birth.

    “Sticking to whole foods will make a difference,” said Michaels. “You’ll pare down in 12 weeks!”

  • Caius Veiovis Convicted in Triple Murder — ‘I’ll See You All in Hell,’ He Screams at Jury

    Caius Veiovis was convicted Friday of first-degree murder, kidnapping and witness intimidation after a month-long trial in Springfield, Massachusetts.

    “I’ll see you all in hell, you remember that. Every [expletive] one of you, I’ll see you in hell,” screamed the convicted murderer to jurors following the reading of the verdict.

    The jury deliberated for about 38 hours over a six-day period before reaching their decision.

    “We have never wavered in our belief that we have charged all three of these people properly,” Berkshire County District Attorney David Capeless said.

    Veiovis is the third and final man to be convicted in the kidnapping and brutal triple murder.

    It was in 2011 that David Glasser, Edward Frampton and Robert Chadwell were kidnapped and murdered, their bodies dismembered and buried on private property in Becket, Massachusetts.

    “I don’t think any investigation this expansive, this large, this extensive have ever been undertaken in Berkshire County,” Capeless said.

    Adam Lee Hall and David Chalue are already serving life sentences for the murder. All three cases were won primarily on witness testimony. Capeless said there was no DNA evidence or murder weapon to tie Veiovis to the crimes but he insists that Veiovis had a hand in the murders.

    Defense Attorney James Gavin Reardon Jr. disagrees with the jury’s decision, citing the lack of physical evidence against Veiovis.

    “I obviously respectfully disagree with their result. I’m an advocate for my client,” Reardon said. “There was some important legal issues about circumstantial evidence and reasonable inferences from circumstantial evidence.”

    Reardon repeatedly conceded Veiovis is odd, with his creepy horn implants and satanic facial tattoos, but insists Veiovis is not a murderer.

    “I always have confidence in juries and I still believe strongly in the American jury system, still think it’s an excellent system. I think it’s the best system that exists,” Reardon said.

    Massachusetts law calls for an automatic appeal for a first-degree murder conviction.

    Sentencing is scheduled for Monday.

  • Heather Locklear Looks Amazing on Her 53rd Birthday. What’s Her Secret?

    Heather Locklear is looking anything but 53 years old after celebrating her birthday on Thursday.

    The Melrose Place alum celebrated by playing a few rounds of tennis in Calabasas, California, and she looked great wearing minimal makeup and a tight tank top and spandex pants.

    The Spin City actress says she enjoys a variety of activities to stay fit.

    “I do resistance training three times a week. That really helps with defying gravity and keeping things in place,” the actress told Parade magazine in January. “I have light weights to do reps with both my arms and legs. I do cardio a couple times a week on the treadmill, with the music blasting. It’s what gets me through.”

    Locklear said she is faithful to her workout routines, mostly because it’s easier to keep it up than to start up again after time away.

    “If I miss my workouts for a few weeks, it’s harder when I go back,” said Locklear. “Keeping up with the healthy lifestyle makes it easier in the long run.”

    She said exercise, “especially cardio,” helps her keep a positive attitude.

    “I also love to play golf and tennis,” she said. “Even a walk in the evening can take the edge off a bad day,” she said.

    As to her diet, the actress says she keeps it simple and doesn’t go overboard.

    “I use portion control and try to keep it healthy 80 percent of the time. I don’t deny myself carbs or sweets,” said Locklear. “I just make every effort to keep it within reason.”

    Her favorite indulgence? Drive-thru restaurants.

    “Sometimes when I’m tired after a long day’s work it seems like the easy thing to do, but the next day I regret it,” Locklear admitted.

    Locklear told Parade that “good genes” help her maintain her youthful appearance, along with “taking care of what you’ve got: sunscreen, exercise, diet, water, and being happy and content.”

  • George Clooney Hours Away From Saying ‘I Do’ to Amal Alamuddin in Venice

    The biggest wedding of the year is in full swing in the romantic city of Venice, Italy.

    George Clooney and his bride-to-be, Amal Alamuddin, have arrived in Venice, along with a bevy of other stars on hand to help celebrate their much-anticipated wedding.

    On Saturday, the 54-year-old groom was spotted relaxing with friends ahead of his wedding to human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin.

    Enjoying a late-morning coffee with Cindy Crawford and her husband, reported best man Rande Gerber, Clooney was even gracious enough to interact with paparazzi, despite his reputation for wanting to keep his private life private.

    After someone yelled “Is this really happening, George?” the actor pretended to look at a non-existent watch on his bare wrist and yelled back: “Yeah, right now.”

    Singer Bono and his wife are among the celebrities in town for the nuptials, which also include Clooney’s parents and cousin Miguel Ferrer, Matt Damon, Ellen Barkin, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Anna Wintour and Richard Kind.

    Although Clooney and Alamuddin, 36, have never publicly disclosed the details of their wedding, speculation has been rampant.

    Guests are reportedly forbidden to bring cellphones. But don’t worry. The world will get to see pics of the wedding soon as Vogue magazine has apparently been given exclusive rights to cover the wedding.

    The luxurious Aman hotel overlooking the Grand Canal is the likely site of the ceremony. All 44 rooms have been exclusively booked for the weekend.

    Venice city officials have announced the closure of a 50-meter (yard) length of pedestrian way along the Grand Canal near the 16th-century Cavalli Palace, used for civil marriage ceremonies and right across the street from the Aman hotel, for two hours on Monday. The reason announced was for the Clooney civil ceremony.

    It is believed the couple will have two ceremonies — one on Saturday followed by a civil ceremony Monday. They will not be legally wed until after the civil ceremony.

  • Colleen Hufford Beheaded by Muslim Man Who Celebrated Terrorism on Facebook

    A Muslim man who was fired Thursday from a food processing plant in an Oklahoma City suburb beheaded a woman with a knife and was attacking another worker when he was shot and wounded by a company official, according to police.

    The 30-year-old man, Alton Nolen, has yet to be charged after allegedly severing the head of Colleen Hufford, 54, with a knife. The attack came Thursday at Vaughan Foods, according to Moore Police Sgt. Jeremy Lewis.

    “Yes, she was beheaded,” Lewis said.

    After beheading Hufford, Nolen reportedly began stabbing 43-year-old Traci Johnson before the company’s chief operating officer, Mark Vaughan, twice shot the man. Vaughan is also a reserve sheriff’s deputy.

    Lewis said investigators have learned that Nolen had been trying to convert employees to Islam. Because of the nature of the attack, the FBI have been called in to aid in the investigation.

    Oklahoma Department of Corrections records indicate the suspect has multiple, apparently religious tattoos. One reportedly references Jesus and another is Arabic writing with the phrase “peace be with you.”

    Nolen apparently celebrated terrorism, promoted Islam and disparaged non-Muslims in a series of posts on Facebook, under the name of Jah’Keem Yisrael, in the months leading up to the alleged killing. The messages he shares are disturbing to say the least.

    Lewis said that immediately following the firing, Nolen left the human resources offices and drove to the entrance of the food processing plant to begin his attack. His attack apparently wasn’t targeted at the two women. Instead, they just seemed to be in his way, according to CNN.

    Lewis said he didn’t know why Nolen was fired and praised Vaughan for halting the attack.

    “This was not going to stop if he didn’t stop it. It could have gotten a lot worse,” Lewis said.

    It is unknown what charges will be filed against Nolen, who is in stable condition. Lewis said police are waiting until he is conscious to arrest him.

    According to Lewis, he was “coming out of a sedation” at a hospital and investigators planned “to attempt to begin interviewing him as soon as he was coherent enough to understand what was going on.”

  • Ben Roethlisberger’s Unlikely Namesake is … a Cow? See Why

    Ben Roethlisberger’s Unlikely Namesake is … a Cow? See Why

    Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has an unlikely newborn namesake.

    And no, it’s not a strapping baby boy born to a die-hard Steelers fan.

    Instead, a cow born with an interesting pattern on its head, which reminded the calf’s owners of their favorite team’s quarterback, was named “Baby Ben.”

    “Hey Steelers fans — does our new little addition remind you of anyone?” Vale Wood Farms in Loretto, Penn., wrote on its Facebook page. “Say hello to Baby Ben! We know which team he’ll be rooting for on Sunday.”

    So here’s the deal. Roethlisberger wears No. 7 on his jersey and “Baby Ben” has a very obvious No. 7 marked on its forehead.

    At least it’s an udderly original name instead of a something more obvious like “Lucky.”

    Post by Vale Wood Farms.

    Carissa Itle-Westrick, director of business development for the family-owned farm, said she hopes Roethlisberger won’t mind.

    “Baby Ben is awfully cute, so hopefully Big Ben won’t mind sharing his namesake,” said Itle-Westrick.

    The farm says it plans to display the calf when it opens its pumpkin patch for business next month.

    That cow is so stinkin’ cute.

  • Jessica Arrendale: Support Pouring In After Heroic Mother’s Dying Gesture

    Jessica Arrendale is a hero.

    Her heroic act came a week ago when she saved the life of her six-month-old daughter from the deadly wrath of her boyfriend. The woman lost her own life after being shot in the head, but not before the beautiful mother of two ensured the safety of her child in her final moments.

    Since then, people from across the nation have helped to raise more than $40,000 for the two children Arrendale left behind on a GoFundMe site set up by a friend.

    Arrendale’s friend posted the following on the fundraising website:

    “An amazing mother, daughter, sister and friend was taken way too soon. Jessica was one of the most beautiful people I have ever met. This fund has been set-up for the two children that she has left behind. Jessica was the sole provider for her household. As a friend, I feel obligated to do all things possible to make sure the children’s life remain in the state it was prior to the events that occured. There was no doubt of Jessica’s beauty, but when you truly knew her is when you saw the real beauty.”

    The 37-year-old mother was killed Sept. 20 in her Smyrna, Georgia townhouse, allegedly shot in the head by Antoine Davis, 30, a former Marine who served in Iraq.

    The slain woman’s mother, Teresa Ianniello, told WSB News that Davis was the father of her daughter’s two children and that he had a history of abusing her daughter. According to Ianniello, the couple had returned from an evening out when Davis became drunk and abusive and chased Arrendale up the stairs of her townhome.

    Arrendale allegedly tried to lock herself and her daughter in a bathroom, but Davis broke down the door and shot Arrendale in the head with an assault rifle.

    “He shot her and they (police) don’t know how she was able to twist her body and fall literally in the opposite direction,” Ianniello told WSB Radio.

    Ianniello said her daughter fell over the toilet, shielding daughter Cobie in the toilet bowl.

    “She had pure will,” the victim’s mother said. “She wanted that baby to live.”

    The baby was found alive by police 13 hours later. However, the little one suffered from a severe head injury and hypothermia. Police speculate the head trauma may have resulted from the blow of a baseball bat.

    “She was the hero,” Ionniello said, “because her last breath was saving the child.”

    Davis was found dead in the baby’s bedroom, where he apparently shot himself, according to WSB.

  • Sofia Vergara on Her ‘Very Hot’ Man, Joe Manganiello

    It’s pretty obvious the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Sofia Vergara and her beau, Joe Manganiello.

    The 42-year-old Modern Family star didn’t hesitate to voice what we’ve all been thinking while on a visit to the Live! With Kelly and Michael show on Thursday.

    When hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan asked the four-time Emmy nominee how things were going with her hunk, Vergara didn’t skip a beat.

    “Well, he’s very hot,” she gushed.

    Bam! There you have it folks!

    After getting that not-so-much breaking news out, she went on to tell the co-hosts what she loves about the True Blood star.

    “He’s a great guy, he’s very funny,” she said. “And he’s very entertaining which is very important for me because I need to be with somebody that knows how to have fun because I like to have fun.”

    Strahan let Vergara know that the couple now has a nickname, “Jofia,” to which the beauty replied, “now I know it’s going to last.”

    Ripa told Vergara what the rest of us have been thinking ever since the hot stars became a hot couple.

    “You two are the perfect couple,” Ripa said. “If I were you, I would put mirrors everywhere…I’d be like, ‘Let’s just look at ourselves right now.’”

    “Yeah that’s all we do,” Vergara joked, “When we’re hanging out, we don’t watch TV, we just watch ourselves.”

    Ripa then suggested that the two cover themselves in cake and just look at each other, but Vergara shot that idea down rather quickly.

    “He cannot eat that much cake. I eat it for him, because he’s training.”

    The day before her appearance on Live! With Kelly and Michael , Vergara threw a little curve ball by stepping out in New York City with her former fiancé, Nick Loeb.

    No scandal here. They’re reportedly just good friends.