Quantcast
Channel: The Inquisitr
Viewing all 134437 articles
Browse latest View live

Gisele Bundchen Pierces Baby’s Ears, Angers Mommy Bloggers

0
0

gisele bundchen baby ears pierced

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen didn’t do anything overly transgressive by piercing her baby’s ears, but the internet is not known for being circumspect about which things it chooses to heap outrage upon.

It probably doesn’t help that Gisele Bundchen’s fame and fortune is largely predicated on furthering the “beauty ideal,” but millions of baby girls have pierced ears and lived to tell the tale.

Reading the outrage, however, one might think Mrs. Tom Brady opted to amputate her daughter’s ears rather than create tiny holes from which to dangle glittery bits of metal and stone.

While the decision to pierce eight month old baby Vivian’s ears has been controversial, The Stir’s Ericka Souter says that culturally, Bundchen is likely more acclimated to baby pierced ears.

Souter explained:

“I think what a lot of people don’t realize is that this is something that’s very popular in Gisele’s culture. She’s Brazilian and in Latin America, it is very common to get your infant daughter’s ears pierced.”

Good Morning America covered the outcry over baby ear piercing, and one commenter shot back:

“People have been piercing babies ears 4 years. As long as it’s done safely, it’s fine! Baby gets over it & so should these busy bodies!”

Another said:

“Pierced ears showing on an ultrasound might be too soon. Get over it! In many cultures, babies have [earrings] b4 going home from birth!”

One tweeted that the Gisele Bundchen earring issue was a non-starter, saying:

Another reported surviving infant earrings:

Do you think Gisele Bundchen’s baby got her ears pierced too young?

Gisele Bundchen Pierces Baby’s Ears, Angers Mommy Bloggers is a post from: The Inquisitr


Chicago Tribune’s Homepage Was A Cat For 16 Minutes Today

0
0

Chicago Tribune homepage

Just in case you missed it, the Chicago Tribune’s homepage was a cat-centric test page for at least 16 minutes today.

Though the Tribune hasn’t given any official word on the flub yet, their homepage editor apparently made the mistake of publishing a test headline page and letting it run for 16 minutes before returning to your regularly scheduled programming.

The entire page wasn’t compromised. Other headlines like the latest on Bradley Manning’s trial and the death of former U.S. Senator Harry Byrd were present, but the homepage’s feature was a story called “Headline test here” filled with a surreal, if not Pulitzer-winning “test, test, test, test, test, test, test… ”

“… test, test, test, test, test, test, test, test… ”

“… test, test, test, test, test,” forget it, you get the picture.

Above it all, a featured photo of an adorable cat, the Internet’s favorite pet.

Gizmodo’s Brian Barrett picked up the story, and described the Tribune homepage cat as being “like the internet swallowed a Gertrude Stein poem and pooped this out 16 minutes later.”

Hilariously, a possible Tribune employee named “Scott” confronted Barrett in the comments:

“Thank you, Brian, for using the words wonderful and glorious to describe our glitch. Even dog lovers weren’t upset. We do apologize, and we’re working to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Barrett shot back with endless questions:

“Scott! You work at the Trib? Do you mind sharing any details about what went down, when you finally caught it, etc.? Also is that a real person’s cat or a stock photo cat? So many questions!”

Unfortunately, it left off there (for now). We’ll let you know once the Tribune homepage cat flub yields an official explanation.

Chicago Tribune’s Homepage Was A Cat For 16 Minutes Today is a post from: The Inquisitr

Minethon 3: 72 hours of Continious Minecraft play for Charity

0
0

minecraft-header

To prove, once again, that miners and crafters really do have the biggest hearts in the gaming world, the third iteration of Minethon kicks off this Friday, August 2.

For those who may not yet know about this premiere, -thon style event, Minethon is the 72-hour, Mountain Dew fueled gaming session broadcast live to the world over Twitch TV; once viewers tune in, they are encouraged to make donations to the charitable organization that Minethon sponsors, AbleGamers Charity, an organization dedicated to helping disabled people play video games.

Setting aside the inherent humor of a 72-hour gaming binge, AbleGamers actually has a really great rationale behind their organization: the freedom of movement we experience in video games is therapeutic for people with physical and mental limitations. These same people often, however, have difficulties accessing games; traditional input mechanisms like keyboards and controllers present difficulties for people without the dexterity to manipulate them. Thus, AbleGamers consult with developers to make games more accessible, providing adapted controls and other settings within games that help this population enjoy themselves more while playing.

Beyond the fuzzy feeling of having helped others game, donors are eligible to win various Creeper- and Minecraft Steve-themed prizes, like T-Shirts and cups. A $15 or $20 donation will even get you into the game itself, with minecraft servers privilege increasing in proportion to the donation size. If you need a contradictory, self-interested rationale for donating even beyond these prizes, AbleGamers is a registered charity, so donations are tax deductible.

The organizers of Minethon style it a sort of reality TV show, where viewers become privy to all the gaffs and foibles of its online participants. All participants are strictly volunteers–they aren’t paid anything, preferring to donate their time and crafting skills to the charity behind Minethon. Thus all donations go entirely to Ablegamers. Unlike many reality TV shows, however, Minethon’s participants are dedicated to keeping the broadcast clean; they promise it will remain suitable for little miners, crafters, or creepers. Minethon’s volunteers will even be answering Skype calls periodically throughout the event, so you can ask them to do whatever crazy, clean thing your fevered brain might imagine.

Being hip to the social web scene, Minethon has Facebook and Twitter accounts that interested parties can visit for more information on their mission. Even if you can’t donate, Minethon’s organizers ask you to spread the word about the event through links, likes, and tweets. You can begin tuning into the mining mayhem starting at 11:00 AM PST.

Minethon 3: 72 hours of Continious Minecraft play for Charity is a post from: The Inquisitr

Marilyn Monroe Military Drone Connection Revealed

0
0

Marilyn Monroe assembled drones

Movie legend Marilyn Monroe reportedly helped build the world’s first drones during World War II.

This “explosive” news perhaps gives a new definition to blond “bombshell.”

Back then (and before she went blond), Monroe was just Norma Jeane Dougherty, an assembly line employee of a southern California defense plant, which was owned by an Reginald Denny, himself an established movie actor in character roles.

The Hollywood star then worked in the factory as one of the assemblers for the RP-5A drone, also called the OQ-2 radioplane, supposedly the first unmanned, mass-produced drone in world history or at least in the US. The devices weren’t called drones (a.k.a. unmanned aerial vehicles) back then of course.

About 15,000 of the radio-controlled aircraft were manufactured and then used for target practice by US anti-aircraft gunners and the like but which importantly enabled our troops to train for the real thing.

Army photographer David Conover was credited with discovering Monroe on the job (see photo below) when he was which taking photographs on official business, but this exposure apparently led to her subsequent modeling and acting career. Conover was working for Capt. Ronald Reagan at the time, coincidentally enough.

Gizmodo has the scoop on the Marilyn Monroe-drone connection.”Though her main job at the factory was spraying down the planes with fire retardant, here she’s seen assembling the OQ-2 radioplane, (sometimes called the RP-5A, TDD-l or the ‘Dennymite’ for its designer Reginald Denny), which was the first mass produced unmanned aerial vehicle in the world. Drones have been in the news so much recently that we often think of them as a new concept in war. But they’ve existed in some capacity in virtually every modern American conflict since WWI — when the U.S. military experimented with the Kettering Bug unmanned aerial torpedo.”

According to the Motherboard website, Denny (who served in the British air force in World War I) “turned his remote control airplane hobby into a military contract.”

Marilyn Monroe working in defense plant

Monroe went on to become a Hollywood sex symbol and pop culture icon in movies such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Some Like It Hot.

Contemporary drones have become more controversial as they have been deployed overseas in lethal attacks and used domestically (so far) for surveillance purposes.

Marilyn Monroe Military Drone Connection Revealed is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lemonade Stand Run By Autistic Boy Allowed Inside Restaurant

0
0

Lemonade stand run by autistic boy allowed inside restaurant

A lemonade stand run by an autistic boy has been allowed to operate inside a restaurant.

Earlier this month, a lemonade stand in Baton Rouge was busted when a female resident claimed the boy and his siblings were being too loud and yelling outside a restaurant, as previously reported by The Inquisitr. The resident tried to buy them off for five dollars and when that didn’t work, police were called and the homemade stand was shut down because the autistic boy didn’t have a permit. The lemonade stand had been set up to raise money for the Sick Kids hospital in Toronto.

In a recent turn of good will, the autistic boy Corbin Potter and his sisters Brigit and Danika are being given the chance to sell their lemonade inside the restaurant. The owners of the restaurant read about their plight in the Toronto Sun and decided to give the kids another chance.

On August 13, the restaurant will open its doors to the autistic boy and his sisters to allow them to sell lemonade alongside the wait staff from 5pm to 8pm. The restaurant will make an effort to multiply the earnings and donate the proceeds to the Sick Kids hospital in Toronto.

Baton Rouge’s business development manager Ryan Grant had been shocked to read about the misfortune of the lemonade stand run by an autistic boy. After the restaurant agreed to work with the boy and his sisters, Ryan Grant said, “Everyone is pretty excited about it. We’ve had donations from staff, our head office and the franchisees are going to match whatever is raised so we can triple up whatever the Potter family can raise.”

About the restaurant’s allowance of the autistic boy and his sisters to sell the lemonade with them, mother Dawn Potter said, “I appreciate that we can do this. We can now turn to Corbin [Potter] and say, ‘You’re still able to raise money for the hospital that saved your cousins’ lives.’”

It’s great to see that there are still some understanding people among the business owners of the world to counter the bitter ones.

What do you think about the restaurant allowing the lemonade stand run by an autistic boy and his sisters to operate inside?

Lemonade Stand Run By Autistic Boy Allowed Inside Restaurant is a post from: The Inquisitr

Alaska Mosquitoes: You Think Your Summer Is Bad?

0
0

Alaska mosquitoes, researchers video, photos.

If you think your mosquito situation is bad this summer, think again. In the Alaskan North Slope it’s almost impossible to be outside.

There is an ongoing joke that the mosquito is Alaska’s state bird, because of how annoying the blood sucking insects get in the summer, making it almost impossible to enjoy the outdoors.

Hikers are known to use branches from trees to swat them away while they do their daily routines. To prove just that point researchers Jesse Krause and Shannan Sweet posted a video and photos on Krause’s Facebook page.

The photos are shocking as they show a blanket of the insects all over while the pair worked at the Toolik Field Station on the North Slope.

“The whole horizon is nothing but mosquitoes,” Sweet says on the video.

Krause is a Ph.D. student at the University of California, Davis and has spent the last four summers working at the Toolik Field Station, studying climate change in the Arctic and how the changing spring will affect migrating birds to the North Slope.

“Most researchers know what they’re getting into when they arrive at Toolik, but occasionally some people can’t handle the bugs, Krause told the Alaska Dispatch on a Sunday piece. “If mosquito bites cause you to swell up for days on end, Toolik probably isn’t the place for you. You better know whether or not you’re going to have that reaction before you go to Alaska.”

Alaska mosquitoes (Photo: Jesse Krause) Alaska mosquitoes (Photo: Jesse Krause) Alaska mosquitoes (Photo: Jesse Krause) Alaska mosquitoes (Photo: Jesse Krause)

“The first couple days, the first bites swell up. If you’re getting bit a lot, you react less,” he said.

The researchers wear protective gear and mesh coverings for their faces, on top of plenty of insect repellent. Those who are unaware, however, can get into trouble is they happen to get a flat tire while traveling through the area.

[Images via Jessie Krause/Facebook]

Alaska Mosquitoes: You Think Your Summer Is Bad? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Baby Jasleen: Biggest Baby Ever Born In Germany

0
0

baby jasleen

Baby Jasleen is the largest baby ever to have been born in Germany. She weighed in at a whopping 13.47 pounds when she emerged on July 26th in Leipzig. Amazingly, Jasleen was born naturally, without a Caesarean section.

When the mother-to-be arrived at the University Hospital in Leipzig, the doctors made an alarming discovery. The woman had in fact suffered during the pregnancy with gestational diabetes, which went undiagnosed. This condition is known to be a cause of heavy birth weight in some new born babies.

Thankfully there were no major complications during the birth itself, and both mum and baby Jasleen are doing well in the neonatal care unit at the German Hospital.

The Guinness Book of World Records states that the heaviest baby ever born was a boy weighing over 23 pounds! He was born in Ohio in 1879 but died only 11 hours after birth.

A very large baby boy, JaMichael Johnson, was born in Texas in the summer of 2011. This was also the result of Gestational diabetes in his mother. The condition usually shows up around the 24th week of the pregnancy and commonly leads to large and heavy babies.

According to all reports mum and Baby Jasleen are in very good health and there seems to be no cause for concern in the immediate future.

Baby Jasleen: Biggest Baby Ever Born In Germany is a post from: The Inquisitr

Xbox One: ‘Smart Match’ Matchmaking System Explained By Microsoft

0
0

xbox-one-smart-match-matchmaking-system-explained-by-microsoft

Microsoft’s matchmaking system on the Xbox 360 wasn’t without its share of problems, but it got the job done fairly well – but the company is aiming to make the system even better with Xbox One’s “Smart Match” system.

In a post over on the Xbox website, Microsoft went into detail on the Xbox One’s Smart Match system, explaining that rather than simply pairing players up based on skill level, the new system takes into account several other factors.

“Smart Match on Xbox One is completely reengineered for a new generation of gaming – using advanced algorithms to pair players based on skill, language, and now reputation,” Microsoft explained, adding that Smart Match is “smarter, faster and optimized to help you play with exactly the people you want, when you want.”

A big part of the Xbox One’s Smart Match system is the ability for games to share player data with Xbox Live, and vice versa, which the firm claims will allow the system to evolve to better match you with gamers of similar play styles.

Another new feature, and perhaps one of the best, is the ability to filter matchmaking not only based on play style and skill levels, but also language, age, and reputation.

That’s not all, of course; Microsoft was keen on touting the Xbox One’s ability to multi-task, and Smart Match will take full advantage of the console’s capabilities. Rather than sitting around while you wait your match, you can switch to TV broadcasts, use another app, and so on.

Once a match is found for you, an on-screen prompt will show up letting you know that your match is ready.

Microsoft has already touched on a few of these features before, but the company says that more details on Xbox One’s features – including the aforementioned “reputation” system – are coming up soon. The firm will also have a strong presence at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany next month as well.

Xbox One: ‘Smart Match’ Matchmaking System Explained By Microsoft is a post from: The Inquisitr


Paul Wesley, Torrey DeVitto Divorcing

0
0

Paul Wesley Torrey DeVitto divorce

Paul Wesley and Torrey DeVitto are getting divorced after just two years of marriage, reps for the actors said Tuesday.

The couple “have decided to amicably split” and “will continue to remain good friends,” their reps added.

The couple met in 2007 on the set of Killer Movie, and married in April 2011 in a private ceremony in New York City. They have no children together. Her soon-to-be ex-husband, 31-year-old Wesley, has been playing Stefan Salvatore since the series’ first season. He also began playing Silas, the first and most powerful vampire, in season 4.

DeVitto joined The Vampire Diaries as a recurring guest star during its third season in 2012. The 29-year-old plays Dr. Meredith Fell, a member of the Founder’s Council. DeVitto also plays Melissa Hastings on ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars. Melissa is the competitive older sister of Spencer (Troian Bellisario), whom the Liars once believed to be their omnipotent tormentor, “A.”

Wesley and DeVitto aren’t the only Vampire Diaries actors to call it quits recently. In May, Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder ended their three-year relationship. The former couple were rumored to be dating in June 2011, but Somerhalder didn’t confirm the relationship until September 2012.

A source said that Dobrev and Somerhalder are “consummate professionals” and “will continue to work together and remain best friends, which is where the relationship started.”

Somerhalder plays Stefan Salvatore’s brother, Damon. Dobrev plays series protagonist Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce.

Last month, it was announced that DeVitto’s Pretty Little Liars co-star, Tammin Sursok, was pregnant with her first child with husband Sean McEwen. The 29-year-old plays Jenna Marshall.

The Vampire Diaries was renewed for a fifth season on February 11. On April 26, the CW announced that its spinoff, The Originals, had been ordered to series and is set to premiere this season. The fifth season of The Vampire Diaries will premiere on October 3.

Are you disappointed that Torrey DeVitto and Paul Wesley are getting a divorce?

[Photo credit: Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com]

Paul Wesley, Torrey DeVitto Divorcing is a post from: The Inquisitr

Morgan Triplett, Rape Accuser, Sentenced For Fake Report

0
0

Morgan Triplett Will Do Time, Community Service For Phony Rape Accusation

Morgan Triplett, a 20-year-old UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) student, has been charged with filing a false rape report. According to a report from the Santa Barbara Independent, Triplett solicited a man to beat her up in exchange for sex.

She was sentenced last Thursday to 60 days in the Santa Barbara County Jail, three years probation, and as part of a no-contest plea, 200 hours of community service, 60 hours of mental health treatment, and a $710 fine.

Authorities believe that Morgan Triplett traveled to UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) in February for a LGBT conference. While there, authorities said Triplett put together a bizarre scenario to save her relationship.

Triplett dialed 911 on February 17 claiming she was the victim of a rape while searching for banana slugs on the UCSC campus. She provided a detailed description of her attacker, pushing detectives to detain several people for questioning and place Santa Cruz on alert. The story immediately started breaking down, however, when Triplett refused to submit her clothing as evidence.

She would also not allow DNA samples to be taken for testing.

Police launched an 11-day investigation, at the end of which they determined Triplett had met a man on Craigslist, who agreed to brutalize her provided she pay him afterward with sexual intercourse. Triplett finally broke down and admitted rape had never happened.

Santa Cruz County assistant district attorney Johanna Schonfield said the male subject would not face charges as there was no evidence he knew Triplett would submit the false rape report. Since the assault was consensual, he could not be charged with battery, Schonfield added.

Surprisingly, this is not the first time that Morgan Triplett has filed a rape report. In March 2012, she called the Santa Barbara’s Sheriff’s Office to report an attempted rape. In that incident, Triplett said, she was taking out her trash just outside her home.

That’s when Triplett claimed that a man assailed her from behind, pushing a knife to her neck, and attempting to remove her pants. Her complaint to police said that a skateboarder had scared off the assailant. Schofield said that no suspects were ever caught, adding that it wasn’t clear if the report was accurate. In both cases, Triplett said her attacker smelled like cigarette smoke.

Morgan Triplett is reportedly in counseling and is near graduation from UCSB with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

While false rape reports are certainly rare, they can still be an issue for law enforcement. Earlier this month, 32-year-old Leanne Black was sentenced to two years in prison for falsely claiming she was raped.

And in June, we brought you the story of Brian Banks, who spent more than five years in jail based on false rape allegations leveled at him from accuser Wanetta Gibson.

Do you think Morgan Triplett got off easy with 60 days in jail for her false rape report?

[Image via ShutterStock]

Morgan Triplett, Rape Accuser, Sentenced For Fake Report is a post from: The Inquisitr

Bradley Manning Verdict: A Preview Of A Possible Edward Snowden Trial

0
0

Edward Snowden Bradley Manning

Many supporters of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden worry what will happen to him should he return to the U.S. to face trial, but does the Bradley Manning verdict give us any clues as to what we might expect if that happens?

The Bradley Manning trial was expected to deliver a “complicated verdict.” That’s a nice way of saying we had no idea what to expect.

Manning used to be an intelligence analyst in Iraq who collaborated with controversial whistleblower site WikiLeaks to release hundreds of thousands of U.S. military classified documents. These included diplomatic cables, war logs, information on Iraq detainees, and perhaps most damaging, video footage of a 2007 U.S. helicopter attack that killed civilians in Baghdad.

He admitted to all of this, but has consistently said that his intention was not to aid enemies of the U.S. Rather, according to Manning, he just doesn’t like that the U.S. keeps secrets. Perhaps more accurately, he thinks the U.S shouldn’t do things it has to keep secret.

Some of Manning’s leaked information was damaging to U.S. military interests, but the prosecution’s accusations that the former intelligence analyst is an attention seeker and traitor don’t seem to resonate with public opinion. He has a wide base of support both here at home and abroad, and even among many of the “he’s guilty” persuasion get mixed up when you ask them “of what, exactly?”

Though his sentence isn’t handed down until tomorrow, Manning was found guilty of espionage, theft and computer fraud. He was not charged with aiding the enemy, so he’s facing a maximum sentence of 20 years. A high sentence for sure, but not life without parole.

So what does this mean for Edward Snowden, in case he is captured, deported, or willingly returns to the U.S.? Some of his supporters fear he’ll be put to death as a traitor. Slightly more serious supporters caution that at the very least, he could be held indefinitely without trial if it can be argued that he has aided terrorists in some way, and let’s be honest, it doesn’t even really need to be argued. The fed just has to say they suspect it. It’s on the books.

But the Bradley Manning trial and verdict is encouraging for Edward Snowden in a few small, but crucial ways. One is that he got a trial. Last week’s surreal moment went to Attorney General Eric Holder when he sent his Russian counterpart a memo reassuring him that Snowden wouldn’t be executed or tortured.

There was a general sense of “Really, America? Is this where we are as a nation?” and though it was a pretty disconcerting headline, the Manning trial shows us that Snowden would at least be given his day in court.

Also up for consideration is the ruling. Manning was tried in a military court martial without a jury, which, to the conspirator’s eye, would be the perfect place to absolutely throw the book at him. Army Col. Denise Lind didn’t. She convicted him on lesser charges. Again, we need to see the sentence, but you get a sense that Manning’s explanation of his behavior is at least partially accepted by authorities.

Snowden’s possible trial, whether by jury or judge, would probably yield even less in terms of consequences. It can’t be proven that he was aiding terrorists or even leaking national security secrets. He exposed a domestic government program that seemingly violates our constitutional rights. The NSA won’t be on trial along with Snowden, but can it really be argued that he’s a traitor? It’ll be easier to bust him on evading arrest.

So what would Snowden face if he comes home? It’s all speculation at this point, and indeed, the similarities and differences between his case and Manning’s are more numerous, complex and nuanced than described in this post. But it seems certain he’d at least face trial, and gauging from Manning’s verdict and eventual sentence, we might get an idea of what’s waiting for him here at home.

Don’t forget we have to keep President Obama accountable for his whistleblower promises. I don’t care if his Change.org webpage disappeared.

What do you think of the Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden cases?

Bradley Manning Verdict: A Preview Of A Possible Edward Snowden Trial is a post from: The Inquisitr

Indicted Real Housewife Teresa Giudice Released On Bail

0
0

Teresa Giudice posts bail

Teresa Giudice, the Real Housewives of New Jersey star, was released on $500,00 bail today in a New Jersey federal court. Her husband Joe — whose apparently is not an American citizen — was also cut loose on a separate bail bond for the same amount.

Both bonds totaling $1 million (which are unsecured, i.e., no collateral provided) were guaranteed by Joe’s parents, the New York Post reports, who also supposedly told reporters outside the Newark courthouse to “go f**k yourselves.”

As we previously reported, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against the couple on 39 counts of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, making false statements on loan applications, and bankruptcy fraud. Joe Giudice is also reportedly accused in the same indictment of failing to file tax returns from 2004 through 2008.

They were ordered to surrender their passports and limit their travel for the time being to the New York/Jersey area. They are due back in court on August 14. Apparently Joe could face deportation back to Italy if convicted. Both will plead not guilty, their lawyers have indicated. Teresa’s attorney claimed that “the federal government is prosecuting her because she’s a celebrity… federal prosecutors frequently target high-profile people to draw attention to their efforts.”

Yesterday, the reality show star gave the following statement to Us Weekly: “Today is a most difficult day for our family. I support Joe and, as a wonderful husband and father, I know he wants only the best for our lovely daughters and me. I am committed to my family and intend to maintain our lives in the best way possible, which includes continuing my career. As a result, I am hopeful that we will resolve this matter with the government as quickly as possible.”

The couple could face as much as 50 years behind bars if found guilty on these charges.

Are you surprised or not that Teresa Giudice is having trouble with the law and do you think she and her husband will ultimately be vindicated?

Indicted Real Housewife Teresa Giudice Released On Bail is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jennifer Jason Leigh, Anna Torv Join Ryan Murphy’s HBO Show

0
0

Ryan Murphy

Ryan Murphy has scored another two promising talents for his HBO pilot Open.

Open, which has some major potential in going to series on HBO has just signed on Fringe’s Anna Torv, and Jennifer Jason Leigh for roles on the show.

Torv and Leigh are said to play lesbian lovers, Holly and Windsor. Not much is known about the characters, but we do have some tidbits from The Wrap. Windsor is a yoga instructor, who will stray from her partner and develop feelings for another character named Grace. On the other side of the relationship is Holly, who is a dedicated actress. The character of Grace has yet to be cast.

In addition to Anna Torv and Jennifer Jason Leigh, Scott Speedman has also joined the cast, and so has Wes Bentley, who is in the lead role.

Speedman is said to play the handsome, yet arrogant Evan Foster, who loves theorizing about human sexuality on a regular basis. Sounds like a gem.

Murphy, who is the voice behind Glee, American Horror Story, and the failed sitcom The New Normal, also has another show in development called The Normal Heart, which he is executive producing for HBO as well.

Not much is known about Open, but the dramatic pilot has been described as: “modern, provocative exploration of human sexuality and relationships.”

Jennifer Jason Leigh has enjoyed a versatile career that has gone on for decades thus far. In addition to her role on the ABC drama Revenge, she was also seen on Showtime’s successful Weeds. As for film, she has The Machinist, eXistenZ and Fast Times at Ridgemont High under her belt.

Open is said to be written and co-executive produced by Ryan Murphy and Dante DiLoreto. Murphy shares the bulk of the writing with Lauren Gussis.

Are you excited to see what Ryan Murphy has up his sleeve for a show that’s a bit more racy than his current television shows? This one seems like it borders a bit on his Nip/Tuck roots.

[Image credit: Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com]

Jennifer Jason Leigh, Anna Torv Join Ryan Murphy’s HBO Show is a post from: The Inquisitr

Bob Filner To San Diego: Do Me A Solid, Pay My Legal Fees

0
0

Bob Filner San Diego


San Diego’s controversial and scandal-ridden mayor Bob Filner has asked his city to cover his legal fees in the sexual harassment lawsuit leveled against him.

Filner’s request was revealed in an agenda released by the city council this week. The council will convene in a closed session Tuesday night to discuss whether or not San Diego taxpayers will front the cost for their mayor’s defense.

The mayor has been facing several sexual harassment allegations and at least one lawsuit by former employee Irene McCormack Jackson. She is represented by celebrity attorney Gloria Allred. For that reason alone, San Diego is probably better off not throwing their money away.

Jackson went public last week with allegations that Filner often cornered her, asked for kisses, propositioned her for sex, and regularly made crude comments and suggestions (like asking her if she’d be more comfortable working “without panties”).

She has called her experience working for Filner “the worst time of my entire working life.”

A total of seven women have made similar allegations against him.

For his own part, Filner has been all over the map with his defense. He has apologized for “offending” women and for creating a workplace environment of “intimidation” for his female employees. But he denies the sexual harassment allegations, Buuuuut he’s seeking intensive therapy to “begin the process of addressing [his] behavior.”

Filner is also not stepping down, despite pleas from many in his own party (including DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz). He has asked the city of San Diego to stick with him and his “vision” for the city, which also apparently includes fronting his legal fees now.

What do you think of San Diego Mayor Bob Filner?

Bob Filner To San Diego: Do Me A Solid, Pay My Legal Fees is a post from: The Inquisitr

Saudi Princess Accused Of Human Trafficking A No-Show In Court

0
0

Saudi princess doesn't show up to court

Meshael Alayban, the Saudi princess who was arrested earlier this month after being accused of human trafficking, failed to show up for her hearing Tuesday.

“I am concerned the defendant is not here,” Orange County Superior Court Judge Gerald G. Johnston said. However, there was no court order for Alayban to appear.

The 42-year-old’s defense attorneys, Paul S. Meyer and Jennifer L. Keller, said their client was complying with all court orders. They did not say where she was or why she didn’t show up to court.

Alayban was arrested on July 9 after a Kenyan woman flagged down a bus and told a passenger that she believed she had been a victim of human trafficking. The passenger then helped the woman get in contact with police, who searched Alayban’s Orange County condominium. Alayban was charged with one count of human trafficking and faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted. The Saudi princess is required to submit to GPS monitoring and is banned from leaving Orange County without prior authorization.

The unidentified victim said that Alayban promised to pay her $1,600 a month, but she only received $200 in wages. Meyer said the case was a contractual dispute.

“This is a domestic work hours dispute,” he said.

Shortly after her arrest, Meshael Alayban — who is one of Saudi Prince Abdulrahman bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz al Saud’s six wives –was released on $5 million bail, paid by Saudi consulate. District Attorney Tony Rackauckas initially asked a judge to either deny bail or set it at $20 million, and said he thought it was unlikely that she would show up for her court hearing. Rackauckas also denied Meyer’s claim that the case was over wages, referring to it as forced labor and comparing it to slavery.

“This is not a contract dispute,” Rackauckas said. “This is holding someone captive against their will.”

Meshael Alayban’s arraignment has been rescheduled for September 20.

Saudi Princess Accused Of Human Trafficking A No-Show In Court is a post from: The Inquisitr


Facebook Commercials Coming To Your News Feed Whether You Like It Or Not

0
0

Facebook Commercials Will Invade Your News Feed Soon

Facebook commercials have been planned for your news feed, and short of dropping the service altogether, there will be little you can do about it.

The news came by way of Bloomberg on Tuesday. The popular social network has been searching for a way to monetize their service for a while now, and many at the highest levels believe that it can be done by selling 15-second spots for anywhere from $1 million to $2.5 million a day.

Citing insider sources, who requested not to be named on account of the Facebook commercials idea not being made public yet, Bloomberg reported that the company hopes to capitalize on its millions of users, who check the site each day, including during primetime television hours.

The company is the world’s largest social networking site and is said to have approximately 1.15 billion users. As of the last quarterly report, 61 percent of the site’s members used it daily.

“Every night, 88 million to 100 million people are actively using Facebook during primetime TV hours in the United States alone,” said Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg.

Facebook commercials are already allowed in a way by letting a user upload videos to its Facebook page and then broadcast to user feeds, but the new service would give marketers the opportunity to buy their way onto your feed directly in a way that is similar to Facebook’s Instagram videos.

Deadline noted that Mark Zuckerberg has already pushed back plans to allow Facebook commercials on user news feeds twice, fearing a backlash.

(Considering that fewer teens are already using Facebook and he’s been fighting some pesky spying allegations, those fears may be well-founded.)

Zuckerberg reportedly envisions the Facebook commercials as hi-def videos with user-friendly playback features.

He wants to limit the ads to one for every 20 updates — approximately five percent of a user’s news feed — and also reportedly wants to make sure a commercial plays no more than three times over a 24-hour period.

So how about it, Facebook users? Will Facebook commercials be the last straw, or are you fine with seeing unsolicited video advertising on your news feed?

[Image via Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock.com]

Facebook Commercials Coming To Your News Feed Whether You Like It Or Not is a post from: The Inquisitr

Graffiti Artist Immortalises Worker Who Destroyed His Art By Spraying His Image Onto Same Wall Hours Later

0
0

Graffiti artist DS

A worker who was hired to clear graffiti sprayed by the artist DS off a wall in London was immortalized by the same artist who sprayed his image on the same piece of concrete just hours later.

The stencil artist created the piece that he called, Bad Kitty, which saw the infamous children’s character wearing bondage garments, back in May. However, only eight hours after spraying his work on the wall, he found that someone had removed the graffiti.

However, DS managed to take photos of the moment, and so he then decided to commemorate his efforts by painting his image onto the same wall in Essex Road, Islington. Somehow, despite the controversy surrounding the original, the replacement still remains intact.

DS told the Daily Mail, “I did the first piece, ‘Bad Kitty,’ late last year with the second May this year. The first piece isn’t my style but I have a bit of a dislike of Hello Kitty’s squeaky clean image so I wanted to use her and Miffy.”

DS also discussed the moment his original piece was removed, stating, “My reaction to it being removed was a little different than normally. Knowing a piece has been removed or painted over doesn’t bother me, it’s the name of the game in graffiti but this time was a little different as it only last eight hours.”

He then added, “So you can imagine my frustration when coming back I found the council (or private company I’m not sure) starting the process of erasing it from the wall – which I documented. Looking through the images I took I saw a great one of the removals man so I wanted to put him up in the same space.”

DS then stated that when “Banksy does a piece,” it normally gets protected by the council; however, new artist’s work is always taken down immediately.

[Image via Mihai Maxim/Shutterstock]

Graffiti Artist Immortalises Worker Who Destroyed His Art By Spraying His Image Onto Same Wall Hours Later is a post from: The Inquisitr

Bloomberg Soda Ban Rejected By Appeals Court

0
0

Bloomberg sods ban rejected by court

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s attempt to ban large sugary drinks has fizzled in a state appeals court.

The court confirmed a March ruling by a Manhattan judge that tossed out the regulation right before it was to take effect for being “arbitrary and capricious,” which is standard legal terminology in such matters.

Bloomberg’s soda ban would have disallowed sugar-sweetened drinks in cups larger than 16 ounces in certain venues. The regulation was met with legal challenges by business interests.

An appeals panel of the state Supreme Court determined that the regulation contained too many loopholes and that the Board of Health lacked the legal authority to enact the ban on its own. The court was careful to note that its ruling was legally based and had nothing to do with whether Bloomberg’s soda regulation was a good idea or not.

In its decision, the unanimous four-judge panel assailed the law because it “would exclude colas and energy drinks but allow milkshakes and fruit juices. Similarly businesses like delis and restaurants were prevented from hawking sugary beverages but 7-Eleven could still sell its signature Big Gulp,” the New York Post reports.

The court also asserted that the proposed sugar drink ban should have been brought before the City Council of New York rather than the Board of Health, which overstepped its separation-of-powers authority in trying to enforce the regulation.

Mayor Bloomberg called today’s court decision a “temporary setback” and indicated he would appeal to New York’s highest court, which is called the Court of Appeals. The mayor also claimed that since the law was struck down in March, about 2,000 New York City residents passed away from diabetes-related conditions.

Even given the obesity epidemic, should government try to prevent consumers from buying large sodas or should individuals be allowed to make this choice on their own?

Bloomberg Soda Ban Rejected By Appeals Court is a post from: The Inquisitr

Hank Azaria Acts Out His Favorite Simpsons Character

0
0

Hank Azaria The Simpsons

Hank Azaria, who has worked on The Simpsons for over two decades, has picked his favorite character to perform from the show.

Azaria, who is currently promoting The Smurfs 2, in which he plays the evil wizard, Gargamel, has been using his vocal talent to bring the likes of Moe Syzslak, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Comic Book Guy, and Chief Wiggum to life for over 25 years.

Whilst being interviewed by Yahoo, Azaria was asked, “Is it 150 voices you’ve done on The Simpsons,” to which Azaria responded, “You know it’s something like that, but some of those had one line in one episode, so in reality it’s like 50.”

He was then asked who is favorite character to voice was, which saw Azaria state, in his own inimitable fashion, “I think to perform is Professor Frink.”

Azaria then stated that he holds an affinity to Moe the Bartender too because he was the first character that he ever performed on the show, before he confirmed that they are connected “on almost a weird level, to almost a sick level.”

Azaria isn’t one to pry away when he is asked to demonstrate his vocal efforts from The Simpsons. Recently, he announced the Dodgers starting lineup by doing impressions of Moe, Apu, and Chief Wiggum.

Unfortunately though, despite Azaria’s best efforts back in June the Dodgers still ended up losing to the Atlanta Braves, 8-1.

Azaria also voices the likes of Cletus Spuckler, Carl Carlson, Snake Jailbird, and Duffman too for the Fox comedy.

He is also an accomplished actor who will next be seen in Lovelace, a biopic about the infamous porn star Linda Lovelace, which stars Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, and Juno Temple.

The Smurfs 2 is released on July 31, and alongside Hank Azaria, it also stars Sofia Vergara, Christina Ricci, Anton Yelchin, and Neil Patrick Harris.

Who is your favorite Simpsons character?

Hank Azaria Acts Out His Favorite Simpsons Character is a post from: The Inquisitr

Pistons To Acquire Brandon Jennings In Sign-And-Trade With Bucks

0
0

Detroit Pistons to acquire Bucks' Brandon Jennings

The Detroit Pistons have agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with the Milwaukee Bucks for point guard Brandon Jennings.

Sources close to the situation said the 23-year-old netted a new three-year contract worth in excess of $25 million, according to ESPN.

The deal will send guard Brandon Knight, center Viacheslav Kravtsov, and forward Khris Middleton to Milwaukee.

In 2008, Jennings made the controversial announcement that he was thinking about becoming the first American to skip college to play professionally in the Euroleague. He signed with Lottomatica Roma on July 16, averaging 5.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 27 games.

The Milwaukee Bucks picked Jennings as their 10th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. In his rookie season, Jennings became the youngest player in NBA history to score 50 or more points in a game at 20 years and 52 days old. Jennings scored 55 points against the Golden State Warriors on November 14, 2009, with 45 of those points scored in the second half. In the process, he broke the team record previously set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1970 (53 points).

Last season, Jennings averaged 17.5 points and 6.5 assists in 80 games. But his career highs came during the 2011-12 season, in which he started in all 66 games of the shortened season. He recorded 35.3 minutes, 1.6 steals, and 19.1 points per game, and tied his personal record for blocks per game (.3).

At the end of the 2012-13 season, the Bucks chose not to extend Brandon Jennings contract, making him a restricted free agent. Jennings spent about a month as a free agent before the Detroit deal was made.

The Pistons have also signed three other free agents: Hawks forward Josh Smith (four-year, $54 million contract), Clippers point guard Chauncey Billups (two-year, $5 million contract), and Virtus Roma small forward Luigi Datome (two-year, $3.5 million).

The Bucks also signed Spurs shooting guard Gary Neal and first-round draft pick Giannis Antetokounmpo Tuesday.

What do you think of the Brandon Jennings deal?

[Photo credit: Keith Allison / Flickr]

Pistons To Acquire Brandon Jennings In Sign-And-Trade With Bucks is a post from: The Inquisitr

Viewing all 134437 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images