WebProNews

Author: Val Powell

  • Amanda Bynes Sentenced To 3-Year Probation In DUI Case

    Troubled young actress Amanda Bynes struck a no-contest plea deal to reckless driving in a court case that originates from her DUI charge in 2012. She was arrested for getting into a fender bender with a Los Angeles County Sheriff.

    Well-known DUI case attorney Richard Hutton, who is also Bynes’ lawyer, said that the no-contest plea deal is a called a “wet reckless”, which is one of the lowest charges that prosecutors can seek in a DUI case.

    According to L.A. County district attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison, Judge Edward Moreton sentenced Bynes to three years of probation in exchange for her plea to “wet reckless”. The 27-year-old  She’s the Man star is also required to complete three months of alcohol education classes as part of her plea deal.

    The DUI charge stems from Bynes’ arrest in April 2012, in which she allegedly crashed her BMW into a police cruiser at around 3 a.m. in West Hollywood. While Bynes refused to take a sobriety test, she was booked for suspicion of DUI, but was released on bail the same day. That arrest was the start of a series of run-ins with the law – not just on the West Coast, but on the East Coast as well. She has been charged with hit-and-run and driving with a suspended license, but the charges were eventually dropped. In New York City, Bynes allegedly tossed a bong out of an apartment window.

    The former Nickelodeon child star was placed under an involuntary psychiatric hold last year following an incident in which she allegedly set a small fire in the driveway of her Thousand Oaks neighbor. In December, Bynes was released from the Malibu rehab facility after six months of treatment. She has since moved in with her parents Lynn and Rick and has been attending classes at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Orange County.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Mississippi River Reopens To Traffic After Oil Spill Near New Orleans

    After two days of being closed to river traffic, the Coast Guard finally reopened a 40-mile stretch of the lower Mississippi River, but with restrictions. The closure was due to an accident that caused approximately 31,500 gallons of light crude oil to spill into the inland waterway on Saturday afternoon. According to the Coast Guard, the accident involved two towboats, the Hannah C. Settoon and the Lindsay Ann Erickson. It is unclear exactly how the accident happened. The Coast Guard did, however, say that wildlife was spared by the oil spill and no one was hurt on either towboat.

    The oil spill, which took place about 50 miles west of New Orleans near Vacherie, affected at least 30 vessels that routinely passed through the major waterway. Traffic flow was temporarily stopped to prevent possible contamination and spreading of the oil down the river.

    Port representative Matt Gresham says that although all concerned vessels have been secured, each of them must be thoroughly cleaned to ensure that there is no oil residue on their hulls. St. Charles Parish, which gets partial supply of their drinking water from the river, released a statement that their water supply remains safe. However, based on a 2008 study, the river closing is estimated to cost the national economy $290 million-a-day with higher daily figures after the first few days.

    The remaining 25 miles of the Mississippi River downriver from the collision site was eventually opened on Monday afternoon. Only two vessels were allowed by the Coast Guard to pass through – two cruise ships that were headed for the Gulf of Mexico. The river cruise ship American Queen was unable to stop at Vacherie, but was finally given the go signal to proceed upriver on Sunday afternoon.

    Gresham said that cruise ships are given precedence as they carried hundreds of passengers. He also mentioned that there are far fewer cruise ships than cargo ships.

    The  Coast Guard is currently investigating the events that took place in the collision and has since released sparse information about the details of the accident.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Ali Fedotowsky And Katherine Heigl Rescue Stray Dogs In Sochi

    For the past few months, Russia’s government has been working hard at getting rid of hundreds of stray dogs to prepare for the Olympics. Now, it seems as if more stray dogs in Sochi will find good homes in America. After the Olympic Games, some U.S. athletes took home stray dogs that they have gotten to love during their stay in Sochi.

    Ali Fedotowsky, former Bachelorette and E! News Correspondent for the Olympics, has also adopted two stray puppies from Sochi. Ali is working together with actress Katherine Heigl to find homes for the beloved pups that she has decided to rescue.

    Katherine, together with her mother Nancy, patiently waited at the Los Angeles International Airport for Ali to arrive with the two puppies in tow. Ali named one puppy Sochi, and the other, Adler, after a town in Russia located near Sochi. According to Ali, Sochi the dog was not so energetic during the flight and fell a bit sick. The puppy had been throwing up and had not had anything to eat for 15 hours.

    Sochi and Adler will be staying with Katherine and her mother until they have found a loving home for the pups. Katherine is an animal lover and has seven dogs. She is also the co-founder of a shelter called Jason Debus Heigl Foundation, named after her brother who died in 1986.

    Katherine says that this particular rescue was new for her, as it is the first time that they are rescuing a puppy from a different country.

    Both puppies have already had their first checkup. Adler was treated for coughing, while Sochi has been diagnosed with parvo or canine parvovirus, and will be receiving the appropriate treatment. Both puppies will be quarantined for about two weeks to a month before they can go up for adoption.

    Ali Fedotowsky And Katherine Heigl Play With Puppies

    Image via Ali Fedotowsky, Twitter

  • Daytona 500: Danica Patrick Involved in 13-Car Wreck

    Danica Patrick’s Chevrolet was one of the cars involved in a 13-car wreck that happened during the Daytona 500.

    The accident occurred when Brian Scott and Kevin Harvick’s cars collided on the fourth turn of lap 146 of 200. Scott hit the car of Aric Almirola, whose vehicle went towards the infield and hit several cars during the spin. One of the cars that were caught in the spin was Patrick’s.

    Patrick lost control of the vehicle and stopped on the grass neighboring the racetrack. Tony Gibson, the crew chief, immediately radioed Patrick to ask if she was okay. The shaken driver replied “Yeah what the hell happened?” She was then brought to the care center and was eventually released with no injuries.

    According to her statement, she was disappointed due to the fact the she felt the Chevrolet she was driving was the fastest car she has had through the Speedweeks. Patrick also said that the accident was unfortunate and that she was at the short end. However, she was also quick to say that what happened was the exciting part of speedway racing.

    Also involved in the crash were Michael Waltrip, Josh Wise, Justin Allgaier, Marcos Ambrose, Kasey Kahne, David Gilliland, Austin Dillon, Paul Menard, and Parker Kligerman.

    According to Waltrip, he had no idea how the crash started, but he knew how it ended. He saw two cars collide and was then hit from behind by a black car. Waltrip also showed his frustration, as he was an innocent victim in the crash.

    After 16 laps, there was another big collision involving 10 cars. This time, the wreck was caused by Austin Dillon spinning into Kyle Larson. Other racers involved were Brian Scott, Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, Brian Vickers, Marcos Ambrose, Michael Annett, and Kasey Kahne.

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. went on to win the 2014 Daytona 500. Danica Patrick officially finished 40th in the race.

    Image via YouTube

  • Sierra Leone Diamond: Gem Valued At $6 Million Unearthed In Kono

    Sierra Leone Diamond: Gem Valued At $6 Million Unearthed In Kono

    One of the poorest countries in the world has discovered one of the most valuable gems in history.

    A premium diamond estimated to be worth $6.2 million was unearthed in Kono, Sierra Leone last week. Measuring 153.44 carats, it trumps the one found last year, which measured at 125 carats.

    According to Sierra Leone’s National Minerals Agency, the diamond is one of the finest to be unearthed in their country in the last decade. The diamond has almost no yellow tint, which earned it a D+ grade on the D-to-Z color scale. The yellowish tint of a diamond is caused by nitrogen impurities, which means that last week’s find is of extremely high quality.

    The agency added that in terms of price, the diamond could only be matched by fancy pink or blue diamonds. The diamond’s clarity and color make it a stone of the finest class, and had the diamond been in the shape of an octahedron, it would easily have become worth twice its value.

    Aside from diamonds, Sierra Leone is rich in other mineral resources, including titanium ore, bauxite, magnetite iron ore, and gold. The export of these minerals is the country’s major source of income. Monitoring the export of the stones is difficult, and some of the diamonds are smuggled.

    Sierra Leone is infamous for the selling of so-called “blood diamonds” by rebel leaders to multinational companies in order to buy weapons during the civil war, which ended in 2002. The country has since attracted substantial investments from foreign companies, but it remains one of the most poverty-stricken in the world.

    The country is striving to manage its resources on the road to recovery, but much of Sierra Leone’s economic revival will depend on the government’s efforts to end, or at least limit, the corruption by many of its officials. Many believe that corruption in the government caused the civil war in the first place.

    Blood Diamonds: The Human Cost Of  The Diamond Trade

    Image via YouTube

  • Katy Perry Booed At Moschino Show And Heckled At LAX

    Katy Perry’s celebrity status did not stop photographers and fashionistas from booing her off the catwalk during the Milan Fashion Week. Perry walked on the runway as a guest of American fashion designer and good friend Jeremy Scott on his debut show for Moschino. The pop star allegedly showed up almost an hour late to the event, causing a significant delay to the show. Photographers and other members of the audience showed their disapproval by booing her off the stage as the strutted her stuff on the runway.

    The 29-year-old Roar singer arrived at the show wearing a body-hugging black dress with “Moschino” spelled in gold across the chest and a matching coat with gold trimmings. Members of the crowd were visibly upset with impatience as the show started only when Perry took her seat next to singer Rita Ora.

    In an attempt to appease the disgruntled crowd, Perry spontaneously launched a photoshoot on the runway before heading to her seat, but the gesture seemed to have backfired as the audience responded with boos and heckles. As the heckling grew louder, Perry snapped at the audience to “shut the f—k up”.

    Things did not improve for the famous pop singer when she flew back to Los Angeles on Friday. The jeers continued courtesy of the paparazzi when Perry arrived at LAX, which prompted her assistant Tamra Natisin to confront the photographers and shove them out of the way.

    The Moschino show was Scott’s first for the fashion house since he took the position of Creative Director in October of last year. It was held on the exclusive and upscale Corso Venezia and was scheduled to commence at 8 pm. British pop singer Rita Ora was also tardy, but it was only until Perry’s arrival that the models started coming out to the catwalk.

    Us Weekly reports that Perry arrived at the exact time she was informed to come to the show, as told by an insider at the Moschino show. Nevertheless, several well-known fashion figures like Marie-Claire UK editor-in-chief Trish Halpin and Financial Times fashion editor Vanessa Friedman were not forgiving of Perry as shown by their real-time tweets.

    Katy Perry attacked by paparazzi at LAX

    Image via YouTube

  • Kiss’ Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Performance Cancelled

    Kiss announced that they won’t be playing during their induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which will be held in New York City on April 10. The decision is the result of a disagreement the band has been having over who will be playing with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.

    Kiss was formed in 1973 in New York City with Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss. The members were also known as The Demon, Starchild, Space Ace, and Catman. The band rose to fame with their flamboyant rock and roll performances with rockets, levitating drums, smoking guitars, and fire breathing acts. The wild rock band always performed with complete face makeup and costumes that were mostly in black.

    Since then, the band’s lineup has changed with Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer replacing original members Criss and Frehley.

    According to Kiss’ official website, the band has decided to cancel the performance, as they are in an emotional situation where none of the members can be pleased. The message further states that the intention was to celebrate the history of the band with all its members. They failed to mention other members of the band including Mark St. John who died in 2007, and Vinnie Vincent who was a member of the band for a brief period in the 80’s.

    During Eddie Trunk’s radio show, Frehley said that both Simmons and Stanley rejected the idea of having the original four members perform during the induction. This statement was later refuted by the band saying that they never refused the idea.

    Criss also said that he wanted to let fans to know that the original four wouldn’t be playing, before they get the chance to purchase tickets, which are being sold for $120 to over $500. Both Frehley and Criss are not sure if they are going to attend the induction ceremony.

    Kiss’ original members played together until 1980 and then played together again from 1996 to 2000. Since then, Thayer and Singer have been wearing the costumes and makeup of former members Criss and Frehley.

    Gene Simmons Blasts Ace Frehley and Peter Criss

    http://youtu.be/xZ9IPzMvyLU

    Image via Facebook

  • 50 Cent Celebrates New Audio Line At NASCAR

    An eager and excited 50 Cent was on a mission at Daytona for two reasons – to launch his SMS audio and headphone line and look for somebody to kiss to celebrate the occasion. However, 50 Cent’s foiled attempt at planting a kiss on Fox reporter Erin Andrews did not deter him from looking for someone else; he turned to Swan Racing driver Cole Whitt during a news conference for the NASCAR Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series.

    “I’m going to kiss Cole,” said 50 Cent.

    “Only if I win,” Whitt replied.

    50 Cent, Cole Whitt and Parker Kligerman at NASCAR press conference

    http://youtu.be/xWb2F5TGM8U

    The multi-platinum recording artist reached another milestone recently as he officially parted ways with Interscope Records, which served as his home label for a decade. Interscope can be credited for launching 50 Cent’s music career and catapulting him to being one of the most sought after hip-hop artists of this generation.

    50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, is also leaving Shady/Aftermath, the Eminem-Dr. Dre collaboration that discovered and signed him as their first artist. 50 Cent expressed his gratitude to the two mentors that helped make his debut record “Get Rich or Die Tryin’ “a worldwide success that sold over 13 million copies.

    Along with his G-Unit Records, the rapper has signed a worldwide distribution agreement with independent label Caroline of the Capitol Music Group. The deal applies to his latest album entitled Animal Ambition, which is due to be released on June 3.

    ‘The Funeral’ (single from ‘Animal Ambition’ album)

    Logos of 50 Cent’s SMS Audio line will be showcased on Swan Racing’s cars for the Daytona 500, which starts on Sunday. The two drivers for Swan Racing are Parker Kligerman and Cole Whitt, who will also have their uniforms stamped with the SMS logos. Special Swan edition SMS Audio headphones will feature the two drivers in the ad campaign.

    Last year at the Daytona 500, while being interviewed by Erin Andrews, 50 Cent tried to kiss her on the lips, but the Fox reporter quickly turned her head away, causing the rapper’s lips to land on her cheek.  Watch the mishap below.

    50 Cent tries to steal a kiss from Erin Andrews

    Image via Facebook

  • Daytona 500 Resumes After Rain Delay

    Daytona 500 Resumes After Rain Delay

    Rain, rain go away, Daytona 500 racers are out to play!

    The rain did let up, but only 6 hours, 21 minutes, and 41 seconds after the red flag was posted. The severe weather put both racers and spectators in danger, prompting authorities to stop the race and wait for the track to dry.

    The race was halted after the 38th lap. The red flag stayed on for more than six hours, after which a caution flag signaled the resumption of the event at 8:36 p.m. The green flag was finally dropped at 8:53 p.m., during lap 46.

    The Daytona International Speedway had tweeted a weather alert earlier, advising spectators to clear the grandstands, secure items at campsites, and take other necessary precautions. When the red flag was up, the track flashed warnings to fans, alerting them to take cover.

    Racing authorities are now being extra careful about the safety of both racers and fans after a fatal incident in 2012, during a race at Pocono Raceway. At 4:12 p.m. on August 5, a severe weather warning was issued, but spectators did not evacuate the stands until the race was stopped by NASCAR at 4:54 p.m. A few minutes later, a lighting strike hit the parking lot, killing a fan. Nine more were injured.

    While the racers and fans of the Daytona 500 waited out the rains on Sunday, a replay of last year’s race was aired on Fox Sports. The season opener rerun showed Jimmie Johnson winning the event, and thousands of viewers mistook this as this year’s race.

    The network ran a “replay” crawl at the bottom of the screen, but many fans were probably too eager to watch the coverage of Sunday’s race that they failed to read the message. The result was a bevy of fans and friends congratulating Johnson, who was understandably baffled and quite amused. Johnson tweeted out a reply, ending his post with the hashtag “#2013Replay” to clear things.

    Image via YouTube

  • UFC 170: Ronda Rousey Defeats Sara McMann in 66 Seconds

    Ronda Rousey once again made history on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas for the UFC 170 event. The champion clocked in the fastest knockout in women’s UFC history by knocking out Sara McMann just a little over a minute, 66 seconds to be exact, into their fight.

    Both Rousey and McMann came out swinging as soon as the women’s bantamweight fight started. Less than a minute into the fight, Rousey was able to push back McMann to the fence and cornered her opponent with her knees. Rousey took the chance to do a judo throw, but McMann was quick to defend the move.

    However, Rousey was swift and hit the challenger with her knee followed by an elbow. With a combination of knee and elbow hits, Rousey’s final hit was a knee straight to the liver that finally put McMann down.

    Shortly after, Herb Dean jumped in and stopped the fight, causing the excited crowd to boo for the early stoppage. According to McMann, Dean’s stoppage was not early at all. She also said that the liver does not get stronger no matter how hard a fighter trains. Rousey said that they have been studying McMann’s videos and knew that she had the best chance of winning by doing a liver shot.

    The women’s main event was preceded by a fight between Daniel Cormier and Patrick Cummins, in which Cormier came out the victor. Cummins was a replacement for Rashad Evans who had injured himself more than a week ago. There was a heated argument between the two when Cummins said he made Cormier cry during training. The latter shoved Cummins during a press conference before the fight. Cormier defeated Cummins in a TKO in the first round, making him win the light heavyweight title.

    Ronda Rousey and Sarah Mccann Post Fight Interview

    Image via YouTube

  • Sinaloa Cartel Boss Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman Arrested

    Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the head honcho of the Sinaloa Cartel, was finally arrested on Saturday February 22. The Mexican cartel is famous for trafficking drugs into the United States, Europe, Asia, and even Australia. Last year, Chicago declared Guzman as Public Enemy Number One. The United States had sought Guzman’s extradition in the past, and had offered $5 million bounty on the drug lord’s head.

    Guzman was captured in a surprise raid on a hotel in a beach resort in Mazatlán, Mexico. The joint operation of the Mexican marines and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was the peaceful implementation—no shots were fired—of a plan that has been in the works for more than a month.

    Months before Guzman’s capture, the Mexican authorities have been capturing and killing many of the cartel’s lieutenants. The operations gave the DEA and the Mexican authorities the information they needed to track down Guzman. The information leading to the capture comes from an investigation conducted by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which, together with Homeland Security, arrested people connected to the Sinaloa Cartel around five years ago in Arizona.

    Mexico Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam stated that the authorities almost arrested Guzman earlier this month, but the cartel chief eluded capture by using a complex tunnel network that was linked to the city of Culiacan’s sewer system.

    The seven residences believed to be Guzman’s hiding places were raided by the Mexican marines, but the entrances were reinforced with steel, enabling the drug boss to escape through the tunnels. The underground tunnel system is used by the cartel to smuggle drugs across the border.

    The authorities were also careful about apprehending Guzman in public areas, fearing citizens might be caught in crossfire.

    Guzman was previously arrested, but in 2001 was able to bribe his way out of his high-security prison, reportedly escaping in a laundry truck. Throughout the years, he was able to avoid capture by bribing corrupt officials.

    http://youtu.be/Cz6RF26Fgws

    Image via YouTube

  • Liam Neeson Talks About Natasha Richardson’s Death

    Liam Neeson’s wife, Natasha Richardson, died almost five years ago from a head injury she got from a skiing accident in Quebec, Canada. The official cause of death was reported to be epidural hematoma due to the impact on her head when she fell. Richardson was 45.

    In an interview with Anderson Cooper, Neeson, 61, said that his wife’s death never seemed real, even up to now. He says that he still thinks his wife is going to show up whenever he hears doors opening in their New York home.

    The “Taken” star recalls the events that happened in the hospital where Richardson was admitted after the accident. Doctors gave Neeson the harrowing news that his wife was brain dead. The couple had made a pact that they would pull the plug if ever one of them was left in a vegetative state. Neeson kept his wife alive to give enough time for their friends and family to bid farewell.

    Neeson also mentioned that three of Richardson’s organs – her liver, kidneys, and heart – were donated to three separate individuals who are alive today because of her.

    Neeson and Richardson had been together since 1994 and have two sons together. The death of his wife took its toll on him. He says that the grief takes over like a wave and makes him unstable. “It passes and it becomes more infrequent, but I still get it sometimes,” the actor told Cooper.

    The interview also led up to the actor’s upcoming film entitled Non Stop wherein the actor plays a U.S. air marshal who receives threatening messages while on board an airplane. Neeson also expressed that he may not take action hero roles any longer, as he feels a bit embarrassed fighting guys on screen at his age.

    Coopers interview with Neeson will be broadcasted on Sunday, February 23, on 60 Minutes.

    Image via YouTube

  • Amy Adams Pays Tearful Tribute to Philip Seymour Hoffman

    Amy Adams was moved to tears when she remembered Philip Seymour Hoffman and how he was on the set and behind the scenes.

    Adams sat down for a taping of Inside the Actors Studio at Pace University in New York just three days after the actor died of an apparent heroin overdose. It was when host James Lipton asked her about her performance in Doubt that Adams began to crumble. Lipton said that he brought Hoffman to the same spot fourteen years ago, predicting that the actor would become the greatest of his generation.

    Turning to the audience of aspiring actors, Adams said “I wish you all could get the chance to work with him,” before she broke down.  Hoffman, she said, had an exceptional ability to really see people, not just look through them. “He will be missed,” she added.

    Adams and Hoffman had been friends since they co-starred in Charlie Wilson’s War in 2007. They were also cast in Doubt in 2008, for which Adams received her second Oscar nomination, and in The Master in 2012.

    Adams expressed what a joy it was to work with Hoffman, and how so many people loved him. Her distress over his death became even more apparent when she said, “I just don’t know how much more I can talk about it right now. Sorry.”

    After regaining some composure, Adams went on to give praise to her Doubt costars. It was amazing working with Hoffman and Meryl Streep, she said, who, aside from talent and skill, had great work ethic and a “generosity of spirit” to involve others on the journey to a wonderful story. As actors, both Streep and Hoffman have the ability to create a world that felt real, “And it’s transformative,” she said, while crying. Streep and Hoffman also earned Oscar nominations for Doubt.

    “He’s a beautiful spirit,” Adams said of Hoffman. “I just really loved him.”

    http://youtu.be/pW-1IWWdmqA

    Image via YouTube

  • FCC Wants Greater Control Of The News

    FCC Wants Greater Control Of The News

    The Federal Communications Commission is planning on conducting a study to determine how news outlets decide what topics to take up. It sounds simple and innocent enough, but many are critical about the move on speculations that it is the government’s way of elbowing itself into newsrooms.

    When questioned about government surveillance of the media, FCC chair Tom Wheeler stated that the agency does not intend to regulate what broadcasters or journalists have to say. The study the FCC wants to conduct, called the Multi-Market Study of Critical Information Needs, aims only to identify if there are potential barriers in the market, and if there are, whether those obstacles have the power to affect the diversity of media voices.

    What made the media so skeptical?

    FCC commissioner Ajit Pai stated that the questions posted by the study will not be easy for broadcasters to ignore, even if participation is on a voluntary basis. Pai states that through the FCC study, the administration will force newsrooms to conform to what the study demands, or else probably be denied an FCC license.

    Critics also believe that the FCC presence in newsrooms could also be the government’s vehicle in telling news outlets what to write about. Plus, considering the recent NSA surveillance leak and the IRS controversy, it’s understandable why the media is thinking they’re next.

    Mike Cavender of the Radio Television Digital News Association thinks the study must be completely scrapped, because just the concept of having a study like that is abhorrent to those who pride themselves on their “journalistic independence.”

    What critics are saying is simply this: the government has no place in the newsroom, and the study is bound to impede with media practitioners’ First Amendment rights.

    The American Center for Law and Justice is urging the media and concerned citizens to sign its petition opposing the study. The study’s parameters have not been finalized, however, and Wheeler has said that the commission is open to comments.

    Image via FCC.gov

  • Kurt Cobain Day In Aberdeen, Washington

    Kurt Cobain Day In Aberdeen, Washington

    Aberdeen is celebrating what would have been Kurt Cobain’s 47th birthday by making February 20 the official Kurt Cobain Day in the city.

    Cobain, grunge band Nirvana’s front man, was born in Aberdeen in 1967. He had a turbulent childhood and struggled with his parents’ divorce. He also dropped out of high school and was known to be a rebel. Through his teen years, Cobain moved to different homes and at one time even lived under a bridge.

    Cobain then formed Nirvana together with bassist Krist Novoselic who also lived in the area. Nirvana’s first few band practices were held in Aberdeen, but they eventually moved to Washington’s state capital, Olympia, before finally settling down in Seattle.

    For Kurt Cobain Day, city officials are planning to unveil a statue of the late rocker, which will be located at the Aberdeen Museum of History. The statue was a tribute that the city refused to accept 2 decades ago. After Cobain’s suicide in 1994, Randi Hubbard started making the cement statue, which was finished with the help of art students. They offered the statue to the city, but were refused.

    Some residents of Aberdeen did not want the statue, due to Cobain’s drug addiction and negative comments he made about the city. Mayor Bill Simpson says that the statue is being erected to honor Cobain’s contributions to the music industry.

    Kurt Cobain Day will be celebrated with the performance of Gebular, a local band. Aaron Burckhard, Nirvana’s first drummer, and Warren Mason, Cobain’s guitar teacher, will also be making an appearance at the event. The museum will also be displaying a couch that Cobain once used.

    Aberdeen Museum of History gets about 5,000 visitors yearly. With the addition of Cobain’s cement statue, city officials are expecting the number to increase.

    Nirvana will be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 10.

    ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ (Live)

    Image via YouTube

  • Rapper’s Delight: Who Knew NBC’s Brian Williams Could Rap?

    Jimmy Fallon’s debut on The Tonight Show has been producing high ratings and Wednesday’s show was no exception. The former Late Night host showed a hilarious clip featuring a smooth-rapping Brian Williams – thanks to the painstaking editing job done by Fallon’s producers. Multiple news clips of Williams’ reporting were cleverly stitched together to the tune of Rapper’s Delight, the classic 1979 rap song by The Sugarhill Gang.

    Halfway through the music video, Williams’ rap solo turned into a duet as fellow Nightly News anchor Lester Holt showcased his own rapping “skills”. A split-second cameo courtesy of The Today Show co-host Kathie Lee Gifford is also shown, so watch the video carefully if you don’t want to miss it.

    Brian Williams And Lester Holt Rap

    http://youtu.be/-YCeIgt7hMs

    Jimmy Fallon officially took over the reins of The Tonight Show on February 17, 2014. The show’s premiere episode garnered impressive ratings as it dominated over CBS’s The Late Show with David Letterman and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live. The appearance of several high-profile guests like Robert de Niro, Will Smith, Tina Fey, and U2 certainly helped pull in the numbers.

    During his stint on The Late Show, Fallon was known for showing funny sketches and viral video clips on his shows, owing to his experience on Saturday Night Live. The Brian Williams “Rapper’s Delight” remix might be an indication that Fallon and his team will be continuing the tradition on The Tonight Show.

    This is not the first time that Fallon has created videos of a rapping Brian Williams. Some of the mashups shown on Late Night featured hits from popular hip-hop artists like Snoop Dogg, Warren G, and N.W.A. The contrast of Williams’ charismatic and proper demeanor coupled with the lyrics of “Rapper’s Delight” provides the comedic gold in the video mashup. Williams recently discussed these videos with Fallon, and self-effacingly implied that younger audiences watch them as a form of punishment.

    Sugar Hill Gang’s Rapper’s Delight

    http://youtu.be/A8bKTzksZEw

    Brian Williams’ Greatest Hits

    http://youtu.be/8yr7ivVPhmY

    Image via YouTube

  • Victoria Beckham Confirms Having Breast Implants Removed

    On a recent interview with Allure magazine, Victoria Beckham, former member of the Spice Girls and a fashion designer, openly talked about her breasts for the first time.

    The 39-year-old mother of four had her first breast augmentation in 1999 to bring her breast size up to a 34DD. The increase in bust size was evident in photos, but the former Spice Girl never said anything about the issue publicly until now.

    When asked about her breast implants on the Allure interview, Victoria simply said that she no longer has them. She also stated that they were not removed due to discomfort.

    According to reports, Victoria had her first breast reduction in 2009 and had her double-Ds reduced to 34Bs. After the birth of her daughter Harper in 2011, rumors started circulating that she had another breast reduction done to further decrease her breast size to a 34A.

    More personal issues were also discussed in the interview. Victoria talked about her childhood. She said that she always felt different from all the children in the public school she attended, and she was bullied. “I really wouldn’t wish it on any kid, because it was horrible.” she said as she recalled her childhood.

    Meeting the members of the Spice Girls and being in an all-girl group gave Victoria the confidence that she has today. She has learned to accept herself for who she is through the help of the other Spice Girls. Now that she has all the confidence she needs, she has been taking over the fashion industry with her fabulous designs.

    Victoria also became emotional when she mentioned her husband, football star, David Beckham. She says that she has utmost respect for him and that he is a fantastic husband to her and a wonderful father to their four children. She also said that they have mutual respect for each other.

    Victoria graces the cover of Allure’s March 2014 issue, which hits newsstands on February 25.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Philip Seymour Hoffman Estate: Late Actor Made Girlfriend Beneficiary

    The late acclaimed actor and director Philip Seymour Hoffman left a will that puts his former girlfriend as both the executor and beneficiary of his entire estate. Marianne “Mimi” O’Donnell, with whom Hoffman had a relationship for 14 years, is also the mother of his three children. They have an 11-year-old son named Cooper and two daughters named Tallulah and Willa who are ages 8 and 6 years, respectively. Hoffman and O’Donnell separated in the fall of 2013, just a few months before the actor’s death.

    According to the will, which the Capote actor signed back in October of 2004, his estate is to be granted to O’Donnell. His total assets are said to be worth more than $30 million, although it is subject to multiple tax deductions since Hoffman and O’Donnell were never married.

    Apart from his estate, Hoffman’s will also included certain stipulations concerning his son Cooper’s upbringing. Hoffman said that he wanted Cooper to be raised in a culturally diverse city like New York, Chicago, or San Francisco. He also singled out Manhattan for its abundance of art and architecture. In the event that these conditions could not be met, Hoffman expressed hope that Cooper would be able to visit these cities at least twice a year.

    The 46-year-old actor passed away on February 2 in his West Village residence. His death was ruled a result of a heroin overdose.

    As the executor of Hoffman’s will, O’Donnell has the option to renounce her inheritance. Renouncing her rights or passing away ahead of her son automatically puts Hoffman’s estate into a trust fund for Cooper, who was born on the same year the will was signed. If O’Donnell renounces her rights, Cooper would have access to half the trust on his 25th birthday and the other half when he turns 30. While the will did not overtly include his other two children, they will receive part of their father’s estate by virtue of their dependence on their mother.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Kimora Simmons Now Married to Tim Leissner

    Model and designer Kimora Lee Simmons is once again a married woman, and has been for quite some time.

    This confirmation of the model’s new status was made by her ex-husband, music mogul Russell Simmons, who posted on Twitter that Kimora is now happily married, and that “Tim has been family for a while now.” The tweet was to dispel the rumors that his ex-wife was seeing rapper Birdman.

    “Tim” refers to investment banker Tim Leissner, who has been linked to Lee for the past year. He had also been seen vacationing with Lee, Simmons, and their daughters last December in St. Barts. Lee and Leissner were spotted wearing rings on their left ring fingers. The situation may present itself as somewhat odd, but the ex-couple, who were officially divorced in 2009, are actually cool about it.

    Lee was a 17-year-old model when she first met Simmons during New York Fashion Week in 1992. They married in 1998, but ten years later Lee filed for divorce, which was finalized in 2009.

    Lee believed that relationships do change, but she always thought of relationships as “changing and evolving rather than starting and stopping,” which explains her amicable bond with Simmons. Lee and Simmons have two children together, Ming and Aoki.

    It’s not the first time that Simmons defended Lee from rumors, either. When gossip circulated in 2012 that Lee and her then-boyfriend actor Dijimon Hounsou were having problems, he wrote on his website that the two were fine. Lee and Hounsou split up later that year. Lee and Hounsou never married but participated in a traditional Benin commitment ceremony in 2008, and have a son named Kenzo.

    What remains a mystery is when Lee and Leissner first got together and when they tied the knot, because ever since her split with Hounsou, Lee was not seen going out on dates, and appeared to be very much single.

    Image via YouTube

  • Arctic Monkeys Declare The Return Of Rock ‘N’ Roll In BRIT Awards Speech

    The Arctic Monkeys emerged victorious over heavy contender One Direction for the Best British Group award and snagged the highly coveted Best British Album at the 2014 BRIT Awards. Frontman Alex Turner drew applause from the crowd as he gave an intense speech declaring the inevitable return and dominance of rock ‘n’ roll.

    Turner also joked about losing a £15 bet on One Direction to win the Best Group category. But as the band collected their second statue for Best Album, Turner quipped, “That rock ‘n’ roll, eh? That rock ‘n’ roll, it just won’t go away.” He ended the speech with a dramatic dropping of the microphone to the floor, after which he addressed organizers by telling them to send him an invoice of the damaged mic, if they want to.

    The Sheffield-based indie band kicked off the show with a strong performance of their single “R U Mine”, which featured massive, pyrotechnic initials of the band, “AM” floating in mid-air. It was the first BRIT Awards performance of the Arctic Monkeys despite the numerous wins and nominations they have received over the past eight years.

    The Arctic Monkeys may have won the two top honors of the night, but pop music certainly put its dominance on full display judging by the roster of winners that included boy band One Direction, New Zealand teen prodigy Lorde, French duo Daft Punk, and Billboard chart-topper Bruno Mars. David Bowie, who was unable to attend the ceremonies, had supermodel Kate Moss pick up his Best Male Solo Artist award on his behalf. The BRIT award for Best Female Solo went to Ellie Goulding while London-based band Bastille bagged the British Breakthrough award.

    This year’s BRITs also made history by involving a global audience through its live worldwide stream via YouTube. The show was aired on Britain’s ITV channel.

    Arctic Monkeys Perform At BRIT Award

    http://youtu.be/Hc2H07KWmKg

    Image via YouTube

  • Ted Nugent Rocks Texas for Republican Greg Abbott’s Campaign

    Ted Nugent, the 65-year-old rock musician, is campaigning alongside Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott of the GOP who is running for governor.

    Nugent is a 70’s rock icon who has been a long-time active supporter of the Republican Party. He is also an advocate of gun ownership rights and a member of the National Rifle Association. The rock star is known for having said crude comments about President Barack Obama during the National Rifle Association convention that was held in 2012. Nugent also called Obama a ‘gangster’ and ‘subhuman mongrel’ just last month in an interview conducted by Guns.com.

    Abbott’s decision on inviting Nugent to the campaign has been drawing criticism from the public, especially from the Democrats. Texas Senator Wendy Davis, Abbott’s opponent, has also expressed her sentiments over Abbott’s decision, calling the idea of campaigning with Nugent repulsive and an insult to all Texans.

    According to one of Abbott’s senior campaign aides, the decision to bring in Nugent is just a way of increasing the turnout of voters during the campaign. Originally, the event only had about a hundred people committing to attend, but tripled in number when they publicized that Nugent was coming. The attendance of the musician made sure that there were a lot of people who attended the campaign, which was held in a restaurant in Denton, Texas on Tuesday morning.

    Abbott’s campaign is putting aside the comments made by Nugent about Obama saying that what he said was in the past. They also added that the rock icon was there to support them, and that they are not the ones endorsing Nugent.

    Despite all the controversy regarding the issue, Nugent remained undeterred and even tweeted a short message before the event saying that he is proudly campaigning for Greg Abbott to be the next governor of Texas.

    Watch Ted Nugent’s Nasty Rant

    Image via YouTube