Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn are making memories as their relationship gets closer.  In a new portfolio of photographs that includes super-hot snapshots from their recent yachting trip, the public is getting a look at the celebrity duo like never before.

I’ve just posted a video  down below that includes a  number of photographs from the romantic vacation.   The intimate snaps will give you an insider’s look at scenes from Woods’ fishing trip, where his well-developed arms and chest can be seen.

Oh, and ladies — his shirt is nowhere to be seen.  Heh.  Try not to drool.

Lindsey Vonn appears in a strapless bikini that reveals the skier’s powerful shoulders and her even more impressive abdomen.  If she ever gets demoted from girlfriend, she can be his bodyguard.  I’m scared of her from here.

The yacht apparently has an ironic name, but there’s some disagreement about what it is. TMZ said that it was called Solitude.

OMG! said it was called Privacy.

Apparently, everybody on the scene was too busy ogling the stars to check out the side of the boat.

Be that as it may, clearly Woods and Vonn are becoming more open about their relationship. According to reports, Woods’ two children with ex-wife Elin Nordegren were also along for the trip.

The photo album actually begins with a few scenes of their appearance at the fashion industry celebration of the year, MetGala 2013.  I’m afraid that the event has become best-known as the party where Kim Kardashian appeared dressed as a couch, but Woods and Vonn’s look of timeless elegance was a complete success.  He wore a tuxedo, and she wore a white gown that quietly drew attention to her spectacular figure.

And if Tiger Woods partied too hard at the MetGala after-party, then who can really blame him?

Woods got it together in time to become the 2013 Player’s Champion, proving to any doubters who still remain that he’s still got it.

There’s no denying that Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn make a good-looking pair.

[Tiger Woods photo by Tony Bowler / Shutterstock.com]

Tiger Woods And Lindsey Vonn Yachting Photos With Tiger Shirtless, Vonn In Strapless Bikini [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Emma Watson showed off her style in a Chanel dress at the premiere of her new film, The Bling Ring, at the 66th annual Cannes Film Festival on Thursday. The actress sported a monochrome Chanel gown on the red carpet that featured a sequined bodice and a cut-out back.

To top it all off, Watson added three sparkling cuffs on her upper earlobe to complete her look for day two at the festival. She took to the red carpet with co-stars Katie Chang, Taissa Farmiga and Claire Julien, while director Sophia Coppola was also in attendance.

The 23-year-old went with a classic look at the premiere of her new film and it all came together with black heels and a sweetheart neckline. She strutted her stuff with a grin as she posed for photos and spoke with reporters while joining the rest of the cast before the showing.

Though Watson’s shown signs of fashion-disaster in the past, the actress has decided on a more vintage and classic look in her most recent appearances that’s been received quite well. The focus Thursday was on The Bling Ring premiere, her third film since breaking through as “Hermione Granger” in the Harry Potter series.

Emma Watson had the spotlight on the red carpet as she shined in her two-tone Chanel dress, but she remained focused on her new film. The Bling Ring gave her the chance to expand as an actress outside of her Harry Potter persona, though she isn’t hiding from the hit movie series that led to her rise within the industry.

“I’m not trying to run away from it (Harry Potter),” she said during a press conference for The Bling Ring. “I’m very proud of the work that I did. I’m just really enjoying having the chance to transform into new roles.”

Watson will also be featured in Seth Rogen’s upcoming comedy, This Is The End, as well as the dramatic biblical film, Noah, which is set for release in 2014 with co-star Russell Crowe.

Here’s a photo of her Chanel gown on the red carpet Thursday that was posted by a fan on Twitter:

Photo : Emma Watson (wearing Chanel Haute Couture) attends the Bling Ring premiere during the 66th Cannes… tmblr.co/ZD2YNul7Sibb

— Fannyϟ (@Fanny_L8) May 16, 2013

Is Emma Watson becoming a fashion icon this early in her career?

[Image via Joella Marano]

Emma Watson Shines In Chanel At Cannes Film Festival is a post from: The Inquisitr

Zach Galifianakis quit drinking after a wild night in which he stood face-to-face with two giant men who delivered swift justice to the actor for dinging up their car.

The star of The Hangover told the story of how he quit drinking at an appearance on Conan on Wednesday. Galifianakis said that he was crossing the street after a night of some heavy whiskey drinking when he had a lapse in judgement and clocked the hood of a Jaguar.

Unfortunately for Zach, the men inside the car were “two 6-foot-6 guys — 12-by-12.” They were angry enough to exit the car and confront the actor and comedian, spitting in his face.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever been spit in your face, non-sexually…” Galifianakis joked to Conan.

There could be other factors behind Zach Galifianakis’ decision to quit drinking. Last August the actor settled down, marrying girlfriend Quinn Lundberg.

The two wed in a quiet ceremony that included some famous guests, including The Hangover co-stars Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms.

Galifianakis had been quietly Lundberg for at least two years before the wedding. The couple remained underneath the radar, getting engaged in June 2012 with little fanfare. While Galifianakis is a boisterous character in his movies, he’s said to live a simpler life away from the big screen, spending much time in his home state of North Carolina.

Zach Galifianakis also quits drinking just as the finale to his movie trilogy about heavy drinking is about to be released. The Hangover 3, the final part of a saga about a group of hard-drinking and forgetful friends, is set for release May 24.

This installation of the series looks to follow the same theme of the first two, with the group of friends getting into drunken hijinks, this time back in Las Vegas. Only a few superficial details appear to set this apart from the first two.

The promotional material for The Hangover 3 promises:

“This time, there’s no wedding. No bachelor party. What could go wrong, right? But when the Wolfpack hits the road, all bets are off.”

As the movie trilogy comes to an end, it seems a fitting time that Zach Galifianakis quits drinking.

Zach Galifianakis Quits Drinking After Getting Spit In The Face is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sidney Crosby scored his second career playoff hat trick on Friday as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Ottawa Senators to take a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Crosby took advantage of an Ottawa defense playing on its heels a bit, scoring three times in a little more than a period. The Penguins went on to win the game 4-3, with a chance to put a stranglehold on the series at it now moves back to Ottawa.

Though Ottawa’s defense paid extra attention to Crosby, they could not stop him on Friday night.

“He’s one of the best in the game and if you give him time, space to make plays, to shoot puck he’s going to burn you,” Ottawa defenseman Chris Phillips said. “That’s what we did tonight. We gave him too much room and he took advantage.”

The Penguins have now taken care of business in the opening part of the series, winning both home games and looking very much like the team many picked to win the Stanley Cup.

“You want to play well at home and make sure you get here,” Crosby said. “We did that, we got two wins. I don’t think your mindset changes. We know that it’s going to get harder.”

Pittsburgh stumbled a bit in the first round, allowing the New York Islanders to stretch the series to six games thanks in part to poor goaltending from Marc-Andre Fleury. But the Penguins have turned to veteran Thomas Vokoun since then, and he has been more than enough to put them past the Islanders and dig the Senators into a hole.

“I think we outplayed them,” Vokoun said after Friday’s win. “The score could’ve been a lot worse if not for good play by their goalie. The win is the most important thing and we got that.”

The Penguins also shook off concerns that Sidney Crosby might not be fully recovered after taking a puck to the jaw late in the season and missing several weeks.

As the series shifts to Ottawa, the Senators could be in for a difficult time. The team has never won a series after dropping the first two games.

The Penguins and Senators play again on Sunday.

Sidney Crosby Notches Hat Trick In Game 2 Win For Penguins is a post from: The Inquisitr

Eddie Furlong was arrested yet again for violating a restraining order his ex-girlfriend has against him. The arrest came on Thursday when the Terminator 2 star allegedly became verbally abusive to his ex.

Police say that Furlong was arrested on Thursday in West Hollywood, California for violating the terms of his probation. They added that the 35-year-old actor was charged with a felony for violating the restraining order.

There have apparently been multiple reported instances of domestic abuse by Furlong. He is currently behind bars on a $100,000 bail. His court date is expected to be Monday.

The latest restraining order was the result of a January domestic violence charge — his third in the span of three months. In January, he was sentenced to six months in jail, though it appears he was released early. The early release goes against Superior Court Judge Dennis Mulcahy’s recommendation not to release the actor early or to give him credit for time served.

Eddie Furlong’s domestic violence problems appeared in the court system in November 2010, when he was placed on three years’ probation for violating a restraining order against him by his then-wife, Rachael Kneeland. He was then arrested in October 2012 for allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend, Monica Keena, while the pair were at the Los Angeles International Airport.

As a result of his arrest, Eddie Furlong was fired by producers of the romantic comedy he was filming, Other Plans. His arrests in January and March were related to the restraining order filed by Keena. It appears the latest arrest also deals with the Keena restraining order.

Cops allegedly discovered Furlong hiding under a stairwell near his ex’s home in West Hollywood after they responded to her 911 call alerting them to his presence in her home. It is likely that Eddie Furlong won’t be let off as easily this time.

[Image via Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com]

Eddie Furlong Arrested Again For Violating Restraining Order is a post from: The Inquisitr

Two commuter trains collided in Connecticut on Friday, injuring 60 people. Five of those hurt were in critical condition, though no fatalities have been reported.

The collision began near Bridgeport, Connecticut when an eastbound commuter train derailed. It was then hit by a westbound train, according to the state’s Governor Dan Mallow.

Metro-North Railroad called the collision a “major derailment.” It forced Amtrak to suspend service indefinitely between New York and Boston. The Metro-North Railroad serves commuters in the greater New York area. It sent out a tweet following the commuter train collision, saying all service between New Haven and South Norwalk was suspended.

Malloy added that most people were not seriously hurt, though there was extensive damage to both train cars and the track. It could take until Monday for normal service to be restored along the line. The area where the accident happened was down to two tracks because of repair work.

The Connecticut spoke from the scene about three hours after the commuter trains collided. He stated there was no reason to believe the incident was anything but an accident, adding, “We’re most concerned about the injured and ultimately reopening the system.” He further explained of the accident:

“It’s pretty devastating damage to a number of cars. These cars came into contact [and the impact] ripped open the siding of one of the cars. There is extensive damage in the front and the wheels.”

Passenger Rowana Shepherd was on board when the commuter trains collided. She recalled, “All of a sudden the train started to shake a little bit … like something was bumping into it. One entire compartment from the other train was completely ripped open. The whole side was gone and people were lying in between the trains.”

The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team of investigators to Connecticut to look at the commuter train collision. The cause of the derailment that set the incident in motion is not yet known.

[Image via Adam E. Moreira]

Connecticut Commuter Trains Collide, 60 Injured is a post from: The Inquisitr

A massive asteroid is set to fly by Earth at the end of May. While it poses no threat to our planet, astronomers are still keeping a close eye on it.

The 1.7-mile-long asteroid will be about 3.6 million miles away from Earth when it passes by on May 31. That distance is about 15 times the distance that separates the Earth and the moon.

The close approach will allow astronomers to get a good look at the giant rock, named 1998 QE2. They will observe through two radar telescopes, NASA’s 230-foot Goldstone dish in California and Puerto Rico’s 1,000 foot Arecibo Observatory.

The massive asteroid was discovered by astronomers working with MIT’s Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) program in August 1998. The name isn’t an homage to England’s Queen Elizabeth II, or even to the famous 12-deck ocean liner retired from service in 2008.

Rather, it’s the moniker assigned by the Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The center names each newly discovered asteroid according to an already-established alphanumeric scheme.

Astronomers will study the asteroid 1998 QE2 intensively from May 30 until June 9. They hope to learn as much as possible about the asteroid before it flies off into the depths of space.

This month’s fly by will be the asteroid’s closest approach to Earth for the next 200 years or so. Scientists also hope to figure out where exactly the large space rock came from. The asteroid has a mysterious sooty substance covering it. The substance could indicate it broke off of a comet that flew too close to the sun. However, it could also have leaked from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Despite the giant asteroid’s close approach to Earth, there is no danger, though the rock’s size gives it a potential for mass destruction. Amy Mainzer, who tracks near-Earth objects at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge, explained, “This is a really big asteroid, similar in size to the one that killed off the dinosaurs, and it’s getting very close to us.”

But, Mainzer added, “We don’t need to panic.” There is no word on whether the giant asteroids fly by Earth will be livestreamed online.

[Image via NASA/JPL-Caltech]

Massive Asteroid QE2 Flies By Earth This Month is a post from: The Inquisitr

A boulder slammed into the moon on March 17, causing the biggest explosion on the celestial body NASA scientists have seen so far. The meteorite collided with the lunar surface at an incredible 56,000 mph.

In doing so, it created a new crater measuring 65 feet wide. The crash also sparked a bright flash of light that would have been visible to anyone looking at the moon with the naked eye at the time of the incident.

The collision was confirmed by NASA scientists on Friday. Bill Cooke of the agency’s Meteoroid Environment Office, stated:

“On March 17, 2013, an object about the size of a small boulder hit the lunar surface in Mare Imbrium. It exploded in a flash nearly 10 times as bright as anything we’ve ever seen before.”

NASA didn’t view the moon explosion in real time. Rather, it wasn’t until an analyst at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, reviewed a video of the meteorite impact recorded by one of the moon monitoring program’s 14-inch telescopes.

The analyst, Ron Suggs, recalled, “It jumped right out at me, it was so bright.” The rock is believed to have been about one foot wide and weighed about 88 pounds. The explosion is caused on the moon’s surface was about as powerful as five tons of TNT.

And the massive explosion on the moon may have not been the only incident that day. Cooke explained:

“On the night of March 17, NASA and University of Western Ontario all-sky cameras picked up an unusual number of deep-penetrating meteors right here on Earth. These fireballs were traveling along nearly identical orbits between Earth and the asteroid belt.”

Earth’s atmosphere protected it’s surface from being hit by the meteors. Unfortunately, the moon didn’t have the same kind of luck. Without an atmosphere, the moon is more susceptible to all incoming space rocks. The NASA monitoring program has reported more than 300 meteor strikes on the lunar surface since 2005.

Scientists hope to use NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to photograph the moon explosion site and learn more about how the meteorite crash happened.

[Image via ShutterStock]

NASA Detects Explosion On Moon From Meteorite Collision is a post from: The Inquisitr

Rob Kardashian’s weight loss struggle has been a very public failure so far. As The Inquisitr has previously reported, his ballooning figure is such a touchy subject for the Keeping Up With the Kardashians sibling that he even got into fisticuffs with a female photographer who snapped his unflattering form as he emerged from a Los Angeles gym.

Social media is having a field with day with the increasingly plump Kardashians. Hugely pregnant Kim may look like a couch, and her feet may be the size of a Cadillac Escalade, but hey. The lady’s having a baby.

What’s Rob Kardashian’s excuse for not shedding the weight?

For the time being, he may be avoiding the gym. He recently pled not guilty to attacking photographer Andra Viak. Now, according to multiple reports, Kardashian has been spotted hiking in the Culver City area.

Will it work? So far, the numbers on the scale don’t seem to be moving in the right direction. As TMZ rather cruelly titled one of their videos: “Rob Kardashian is not a loser after all.”

And they didn’t mean he had a beautiful personality. “Can a Kardashian actually stop eating?” they asked in the clip that featured workout photos of Kardashian’s chunky shape in his workout gear.

So what is he doing wrong? “It’s booze,” someone told TMZ. Another voice echoed that: “Yeah, it could be booze.”

It could be an ineffective workout too. Sure, I’ve lost weight by hiking — but only when something has gone terribly wrong and I’ve been separated from food, sports drinks, and beer for a significant amount of time.

I don’t stroll around some hills in Los Angeles and call it a workout. That’s for seniors with bad knees, not a weight loss program.

Back in February, Rob Kardashian shared some weight loss tips that he planned to use to lose 50 pounds.   Well, did he actually implement the plan, or did it just not work?

Fit Perez Hilton saluted Kardashian for trying, saying, “He’s doing something about it, which is hugely commendable in and of itself…[W]e say we’re proud of him for even making the effort!”

OK, fine, but are we in kindergarten? Are you a good role model if you’re the living proof that trying just doesn’t work?

And, of course, Twitter has to weigh in on Rob Kardashian’s failed fitness plan:

IT’S KINDA SAD THAT ROB KARDASHIAN IS LITERAL ACTUAL NOT JOKING AS FAT AS KIM KARDASHIAN PREGNANT

— BOYTWEETSWORLD (@BOYTWEETSWORLDX) May 18, 2013

>So i was just told that i look like rob kardashian? Wtf my mom must be smoking my weed

— IG : itsmigz (@itsMiggy) May 18, 2013

So far, the peanut gallery is vastly unimpressed with Rob Kardashian’s weight loss try.

[photo of Cheryl Burke and a slimmer Rob Kardashian by Amy Nichole Harris / Shutterstock.com]

Rob Kardashian Weight Loss Fight A Fat Failure As His Belly Gets Bigger Than Kim’s [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

American Idol winner Candice Glover is on the offensive to keep the momentum going from her Season 12 victory which featured her spectacular performance of “I Am Beautiful.” I’ve posted the official video down below so you can see for yourself why one New York Times reviewer said that the 23-year-old R&B singer’s voice hit “with the force and nuance of a cement truck.”

Heh. Glover’s unsubtle gift may pound you over the head like a baseball bat, but you can’t claim that she’s holding anything back.

Even the Queen of Soul herself, Aretha Franklin, was so bowled over by Candice Glover’s powerhouse voice that she seemed to blab a possible spoiler that the South Carolina native was the winner.

As the first female American Idol winner since Jordin Sparks, in the first all-female finale since the third season, Candice Glover has a lot to prove. Once a reality TV giant, the Fox program has undergone an embarrassing ratings collapse in recent years.

Even the ongoing feud between outspoken Nicki Minaj and rival Mariah Carey couldn’t spark renewed interest in actually sitting down to watch the program.

So how can Candice Glover both grab and keep the spotlight? The South Carolina native’s first album is being rushed to the shelves, with a planned release date of July 16 — faster than previous American Idol winners.

She wants to get it out there “while I’m still fresh in people’s minds,” Glover told reports. She’s also eager to get started on the American Idol tour, which hits the road June 29.

Her single, “I Am Beautiful,” is already available on iTunes.

Here’s the official video of Candice Glover performing “I Am Beautiful” at the American Idol finale:

What do you think the future holds for American Idol winner Candice Glover?

[Candice Glover at 'American Idol' finale party photo by Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com]

‘American Idol’ Winner Candice Glover Eager To Get The Music Out There [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Charlotte Bobcats name change options being considered by owner Michael Jordan include the choice to change back to the Charlotte Hornets.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, the potential Charlotte Bobcats name change to Hornets is not the only major change happening for this basketball team. The Charlotte Bobcats recently fired coach Mike Dunlap.

The Charlotte Bobcats were called the Charlotte Hornets from 1998 through 2002. But then owner George Shinn moved the team franchise to New Orleans, prompting a Hornets name change.

With the New Orleans Hornets electing to rename themselves the New Orleans Pelicans this opens up the possibility of a Charlotte Bobcats name change back to Hornets. The Charlotte Hornets is certainly a more memorable name since the team went to the playoffs seven times while the Bobcats only once.

Perhaps big change is in the mind of his airness, but the Charlotte Bobcats name change is being considered by team owner Michael Jordan who says returning to the Hornets nickname was “definitely an interest down the road.”

Speaking of his airness, Michael Jordan just got married to his girlfriend in a tent bigger than his mansion.

NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver, who replaces Commissioner David Stern in February 2014, said the Charlotte Bobcats name change would take at least 18 months if the request is made.

What do you think about this potential Hornets, Bobcats name change?

Charlotte Bobcats Name Change May Bring Back Hornets is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Disney Princess Merida makeover is being called “blatant sexim” by its critics, including Brave writer and co-director, Brenda Chapman.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, the Disney Princess Merida makeover caused quite a backlash from the public.

The original Disney Princess Merida was hailed as a positive role model for girls because she was independent, active and outdoorsy. In preparation for her “coronation” as a Disney princess, the Disney Princess Merida makeover made the  protagonist of Brave  thinner with a bigger chest and gave Merida a more “princess-worthy” dress. Merida was painted up and had her wild red hair tamed, and her bow and arrow was replaced with a sash around her waist. Although, obviously the props would probably be back for other images.

Brenda Chapman called the Disney Princess Merida makeover effort “a blatantly sexist marketing move based on money.” Chapman ripped into Disney, saying, “‘There is an irresponsibility to this decision that is appalling for women and young girls. Disney marketing and the powers that be that allow them to do such things should be ashamed of themselves.”

The Change.org petition over the Disney Princess Merida makeover is just as scathing in its remarks:

“The redesign of Merida in advance of her official induction to the Disney Princess collection does a tremendous disservice to the millions of children for whom Merida is an empowering role model who speaks to girls’ capacity to be change agents in the world rather than just trophies to be admired. Moreover, by making her skinnier, sexier and more mature in appearance, you are sending a message to girls that the original, realistic, teenage-appearing version of Merida is inferior; that for girls and women to have value — to be recognized as true princesses — they must conform to a narrow definition of beauty.”

The Disney Princess line is a $4 billion franchise which sells movies, books, and paraphernalia, which will eventually include Disney Princess Merida. Disney is saying the Disney Princess Merida makeover was ”a special one-time effort to commemorate her coronation.”

What do you think about the Disney Princess Merida makeover?

Disney Princess Merida Makeover Called ‘Blatant Sexism’ By Brave Writer is a post from: The Inquisitr

While trekking through parts of Asia with her friends, British backpacker, 23-year-old Cheznye Emmons, died after consuming what she thought was gin. Upon further examination, the bottle originally labeled gin was actually filled with methanol – whether by intention or accident remains to be determined.

The young woman had been traveling across south Asia with group of acquaintances and friends, including her boyfriend, Joe Cook, 21, when they bought the tainted bottle from a local shop in Indonesia. Within hours of drinking the so-called gin, three of the travelers fell ill. Emmons took a turn for the worse. Within a few short days she was complained of being unable to see.

Once Emmons reached a clinic, she was placed into an induced coma. On April 25, the young woman’s parents, Pamela and Brenton, had to make the painful and difficult decision to turn off life support.

Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, was once derived from the destructive distillation of wood. Modern methanol is produced in a catalytic industrial process directly from carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen. In contrast, gin is distilled from juniper berries.

When methanol is ingested, even in small quantities, it is metabolized into formic acid or formate salts, which is poisonous to the central nervous system. Kidney failure, seizures, blindness, coma, and death can result. Because of these toxic properties, methanol is frequently used as a denaturant additive – denatured alcohol or methylated spirit – for ethanol manufactured for industrial uses.

The shop which sold the tainted bottle has since been shut down and is under investigation. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated, unique case of mislabeled liquor poisoning. In 2009, 25 people died in Bali after imbibing what they thought was arak – a clear, colorless, unsweetened anise-flavored distilled alcoholic drink – which was actually tainted with methanol.

Earlier this year, 19-year-old Liam Davies from Perth died after drinking a vodka mixer which was laced with methanol from a bar called Rudy’s Pub in Lombok, Indonesia.

A similar accidental death was seen in the 1996 dark comedy, Head Above Water. While vacationing at a family’s island summer home, a Supreme Court judge (played by Harvey Keitel), and his very young bride Nathalie (Cameron Diaz), have to deal with Nathalie’s ex Kent. Kent polishes off a bottle of what he thinks is vodka, which is in fact methanol, and is found dead the following morning.

[Image via Shutterstock]

Backpacker Died After Drinking Poisoned ‘Gin’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Phil Jackson’s Seattle revelations are just a part of what he has to say on his book tour for his memoir, Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success, which is coming out on Tuesday, May 21. The former head coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers has an opinion on pretty much every topic you could mention, including a bold comparison between Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.

For the time being, even Macklemore himself will have to wait to find out if Phil Jackson will head a new NBA team to Seattle.

We all know that rumors have been flying that Jackson will be brought in as team president of the new Seattle Sonics if a Seattle consortium can win its bid to purchase the Sacramento Kings.

But the Toronto Raptors are also chasing basketball’s most winning coach, who managed Michael Jordan, acknowledged by Jackson and many others as “the greatest player in the world.”

But we seem to be in a waiting game. Phil Jackson can’t make a decision until he knows whether or not the Seattle deal will go through.

Meanwhile, he’s pitching his new book, including a sneak preview which he released to The Los Angeles Times, which in turn revealed that he’d made a blistering comparison between Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.

According to the LAT, Jackson revealed a deep-seated personality clash between the coach and Bryant, who was accused of assaulting a young woman in a Colorado hotel room in 2003. The charges were dropped in 2004.

Revealing that his own daughter had been assaulted by an athlete but ultimately chose not to press charges, Jackson wrote:

“The Kobe incident triggered all my unprocessed anger and tainted my perception of him. … It distorted my view of Kobe throughout the 2003-04 season. No matter what I did to extinguish it, the anger kept smoldering in the background.”

By contrast, Phil Jackson’s obvious warmth for Michael Jordan shines through:

“One of the biggest differences between [Bryant and Jordan] from my perspective was Michael’s superior skills as a leader. Though at times he could be hard on his teammates, Michael was masterful at controlling the emotional climate of the team with the power of his presence.”

The book goes on to detail the seven-year process of Kobe coming to maturity and a better appreciation of true teamwork.

To add fuel to the fire, Phil Jackson is currently engaged to Los Angeles Lakers managing governor Jeanie Buss. She expressed her opinion about the Bryant/Jordan comparison on Twitter:

@philjackson11 Phil, in regards to Kobe vs. MJ – KOBE IS THE BEST. My humble opinion. @kobebryant #Lakers

— Jeanie Buss (@JeanieBuss) May 17, 2013

Uh oh.

Jeanie Buss just came out and said Phil was wrong and Kobe is better. Which is why women shouldn’t be allowed to talk sports

— Khadeem (@_Khatastrophe) May 18, 2013

Uh oh again.

How did we get on the topic of girlfriends spouting off on sports? Didn’t this conversation start out by talking about Phil Jackson in Seattle?

[Phil Jackson honors Jerry Buss photo by s_bukley / Shutterstock.com]

Phil Jackson: Seattle Plans, Kobe Versus Jordan, And Twitter Debate With Girlfriend is a post from: The Inquisitr

Crazy ants are becoming a serious problem in the southern part of the United States.

Researchers at the University of Texas believe this species could eventually upset the ecological balance in the region. The South American ants, known officially as “Tawny crazy ants,” are capable of wiping out entire colonies of fire ants.

Ed LeBrun, a research associate for the College of Natural Sciences, believes the biggest problem crazy ants pose is the displacement of the fire ants. LeBrun said the entire ecosystem change after the arrival of the fire ants. Problems could arise if the species is wiped out of the area.

“Things that can’t tolerate fire ants are gone. Many that can have flourished. New things have come in. Now we are going to go through and whack the fire ants and put something in its place that has a very different biology. There are going to be a lot of changes that come from that,” he explained.

Crazy ants are classified as omnivores. Whatever the insects fail to kill generally tend to starve to death. In some areas where crazy ants have already set up shop, the fire ants are practically non-existent.

“Fire ants are in many ways very polite. They live in your yard. They form mounds and stay there, and they only interact with you if you step on their mound,” LeBrun explained.

Crazy ants, which get their name from their quick and random movements, go wherever they please. They tend to nest in walls, house plants, or crawl spaces. They’re also fond of infesting whatever objects you might have lying around your yard. While they don’t sting like fire ants, getting rid of these pesky invaders can be a very expensive process.

Researchers believe it will take time for the crazy ants to completely take over. Since they don’t spread like fire ants, these pests can be contained. LeBrun said it’s very important that people do not accidentally transport the ants to another location.

Have you encountered any crazy ants where you live?

[Image via Shutterstock]

Crazy Ants Becoming A Problem In Southern US is a post from: The Inquisitr

Justin Bieber may preparing for his first public appearance since coming off the first leg of his swarm reported Believe world tour, but in the middle of all that the singer made time for a visit to Whitney Elementary school.

Just two days before the Billboard Music Awards and on the same day that he was rehearsing, the 19-year-old dropped by the Las Vegas school to see the children and staff he made such impact on back in 2011.

To recap; Whitney Elementary school isn’t your average school. Most, if not all of the students are from either transient, poor and/or homeless backgrounds.

But they have at least one saving grace. Their principal, Sherrie Gahn.

Empathizing with the 610 students in her care, Gahn took it upon herself to ask for donations (often using her own money) to help pay for medical, household, food, dental and other costs, that the families of the children who attended her school couldn’t afford.

She asked just one thing in return, that the families kept their children in school and supported her efforts to shape children of “character” who didn’t have to let “poverty define them.”

Gahn later came to the attention of television host Ellen DeGeneres who was moved by both the principal and the school’s story and wanted to get involved.

On September 6, 2012, DeGeneres flew Gahn to Burbank, Calif., a day before she was due to appear on the ninth season premiere of ”The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

During the emotional show, and watched by 300 of her students via a live feed from Whitney, DeGeneres presented Gahn with a $100,000 check from Target to help start an after-school program and provide services for the families. The two women stayed in touch and to this day Ellen endorses an ongoing donation program today for the school.

Enter Bieber, stage left.

On November 1, 2011, the same day his Christmas album Under the Mistletoe was released, the then 17-year-old appeared on DeGeneres’ show. The teen star announced that he was giving $100,000 to the school, a further charitable gift, and also promised to perform a holiday concert at Whitney.

Billboard reports Bieber made good on his promise, visiting the elementary in December. As well as performing, the singer along $100,000 worth of presents for the children.

Bieber also donated a portion of the sales of his Christmas album to a number of charities, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Pencils of Promise.

“This is the first time they’re gonna go home and want to go home for the holidays,” Gahn told the singer at the end of his visit in 2011.

On Friday, May 17, Bieber returned to Whitney Elementary bearing gifts and a smile. He also highlighted the Child Hunger Ends Here initiative endorsed by DeGeneres while he was at the school.

From a look at the pictures and the messages Bieber and his manager Scooter Braun posted on Twitter after their visit, both they and the children had a blast.

Another photo of Justin at Whitney Elementary #GiveBack twitter.com/BelieveTUpdate…
— BelieveTourUpdates™ (@BelieveTUpdates) May 18, 2013

Now rehearsals. Thanks to Whitney Elementary and Sherrie for letting me come by again. Love u guys. U inspire me

— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) May 17, 2013

Justin Bieber Returns To Whitney Elementary School Before Billboard Awards is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you’re a zombie enthusiast who favors the idea that you can survive apocalypse Z, perhaps you should reconsider. What happens if the virus evolves and the slow-lumbering, desiccated masses were more limber and agile – like some ravenous, swift monster out of 28 Days Later but with better coordination?

Traditionally – zombies, walkers, the living dead, the walking dead, animated corpses, whatever you want to call them – have been lethargically meandering hunters – more intimidating by the migration of the deadly mass than the singular beast. They’re not typically seen as sly, calculating predators.

Modern zombies however have been seen in a variety of interpretations – but what about resembling something seen on American Ninja Warrior try-out videos meets The Walking Dead?

Stunt coordinator, Ronnie Shalvis, and several others came up with a unique version of a zombie invasion – parkour, the ferocious and fast flipping dead. According to his website, ronniestreetstunts.com, Shalvis has dedicated seven years to the discipline of parkour and free running.

Now he’s incorporated his skillset into the supernatural/horror genre. Shalvis – along with a stunt crew comprised of Chris Romrell, Robert Bennett, Christain Russell, and Devon Bardole, and filmed and edited by Josh Kump – bring to life a demonstration of what it would be like to encounter parkour-trained zombies in a stark, modern, industrial-like landscape of decayed architecture of concrete and earth.

Parkour is a holistic training discipline using movement that developed out of military obstacle course training. Devout practitioners aim to move quickly and efficiently through their environment using only their bodies and their surroundings to propel themselves, negotiating obstacles in between. They try to maintain as much momentum as possible without being unsafe.

The physical acrobatics of parkour can include running, climbing, swinging, vaulting, jumping, rolling, twirling, and quadrupedal movement (terrestrial locomotion using all four limbs) – whatever is most creative and efficient.

[Image via Shutterstock]

Try Evading Agile Parkour Zombies [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Gold lost value again, with current prices getting close to April’s record-setting lows. If you actually hold the glittering stuff, the news is sad enough, with the spot price back down below $1,364 an ounce.

And the futures market in gold is looking pretty fugly too. Reuters said that hedge funds bought in during the April collapse, which provided a bottom to the otherwise free-falling prices.

Now they’re getting out, yanking $1.4 billion from the U.S. gold futures market between May 7 and May 14. That means that gold futures prices can’t rise either.

As a result, gold futures closed on Friday at below $1,365 an ounce.

In other words, the price is hundreds of dollars down from gold’s peak, and investors don’t think it’s coming back any time soon.

Gold mining stocks, always a risky play, have responded with even bigger losses, according to a financial report in The Christian Science Monitor.

According to the CSM: “The gold miners exchange-traded fund GDX has plummeted to its lowest point since December 2008.” It closed down 4 percent Friday at $26.38, and it could get lower.

With the stock market back in raging bull territory, both individual and institutional investors are abandoning the faltering metal. As a result, gold mining is likely to slow. Marginal mines could be bought by bigger companies or shut down altogether.

But if you’re still holding gold, don’t feel like you’re the only one who missed the selling opportunity.

As gold loses values, powerful hedge fund billionaire John Paulson is feeling the pain too. His $700 million gold fund lost 27 percent of its value just in April. In 2011, his hedge funds managed $38 billion. Now it’s down to $18 billion, according to Memphis Business Journal.

That’s a lot of lost cupcakes.

Of course, if you never bought into the whole gold bug hysteria at all, you can now enjoy the last laugh. What’s your reaction to the continued news that gold is losing value?

[gold mine photo courtesy Jiri Foltyn via Shutterstock]

Gold Loses Value As Gold Mining Stocks Hit New Lows is a post from: The Inquisitr

Burger King has introduced a McRib knockoff meant to rival the famous McDonald’s sandwich, but the new boneless pork sandwich won’t really offer much competition to the Golden Arches company.

The new Burger King McRib is part of the fast food chain’s summer menu, introduced this week along with 12 other new items including a Memphis BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich. Burger King didn’t specifically say its McRib sandwich was meant to rival McDonald’s, but many business analysts took it that way.

Even the description of the Burger King McRib sandwich sounded like McDonalds, a “juicy boneless rib patty with a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce” that is “topped with crispy bread and butter pickles” served on a “warm toasted artisan style bun.” The only difference appeared to be onions, present on McDonald’s version of the McRib and absent on Burger King’s imitation.

Though there may be similarities, Burger King doesn’t present much of a threat to McDonald’s version of the McRib. The McDonald’s McRib sandwich, which is intermittently on the menu, has cut out a niche audience.

“We know our customers love McRib and we won’t disappoint them!” said McDonalds spokesperson Ofelia Casillas. “It will be returning.”

The McDonald’s McRib has amassed a following so devoted that they even keep track of the sandwich with a McRib locator.

For McDonald’s, the scarcity of the McRib is part of the marketing plan. The absence builds up anticipation among fans, and the sandwich is then inserted into the menu during the slower winter period when it can boost sales a bit.

“The winter is seasonally a slower period,” said Howard Penney, restaurant analyst and managing director at Hedgeye Risk Management, told Ad Age in the fall when McDonalds announced the McRib sandwich delay. “A lot of people underestimated the massive impact the weather had on sales.”

The Burger King McRib may offer the same advantage to the fast food chain, but it’s unlikely to cut into the popularity — or the sales — of McDonald’s original version.

Burger King McRib Not Real Competition To McDonald’s is a post from: The Inquisitr

Modern Family star Ariel Winter is making a pretty strong statement via her Instagram account that her mother is basically dead to her, by totally cutting her mother out of her Mother’s Day 2013 greetings. Instead, she wished a heartfelt Happy Mother’s Day to her 34-year old sister and temporary legal guardian, Shanelle Gray, leaving her biological mother out in the cold.

“Happy Mother’s Day to my amazing mister, Shanelle Gray. I know everyone is going to ask what a mister is, so I’ll explain. It means mom/sister to me. She’s my best friend, the shoes to my laces, the straw to my berry. She’s also the most incredible mother….She’s the most amazing woman I have ever met and ever will meet…I love you so much Shanelle, thank you for everything you are. You will always be my mister! With that said, Happy Mother’s Day to my the most beautiful person inside and out. Happy Mother’s Day mommysistermister. I love you.”

Compare that to Winter’s heartfelt Mother’s day tweet to her mother in 2012, which said: “Happy mother’s day to one of the most amazing moms in the world. Mine!:) Love you mommy! Happy mother’s day everyone!”

Wow…what a difference a year makes, right?

Winter and her mother Crystal Workman are currently center stage in an intense legal drama, which includes: physical and emotional abuse allegations hurled at Wonkman, allegations that Winter’s mother tried to get nude photos of her daughter Shanelle published, and ending with Ariel Winter’s mother losing custody of her daughter.

Inquisitr readers: Did you hear about the Ariel Winter custody case or read about the ongoing Ariel Winter legal drama? What do you think about Ariel Winter’s 2013 Mother’s Day Greeting, and of Ariel Winter’s mother issues?

I would just like to post and say Happy Mother’s Day to my amazing mister, Shanelle Gray. I know… instagram.com/p/ZN09XOkxdn/

— Ariel Winter (@arielwinter1) May 12, 2013

[Image Via: Ariel Winter Instagram Account]

More Mama Drama For ‘Modern Family’ Star Ariel Winter: My Mother Is Dead To Me is a post from: The Inquisitr