Lindsay Lohan has broken her silence with a tweet from rehab.

Instead of complaining about being stuck in rehab for 90 days or fuming over her lack of Adderall, the troubled actress posted something a bit more positive.

The tweet in question also included a link to an app called Just Sing It!. According to the official description, the app is like “Instagram for your voice.”

Much to everyone’s surprise, Lindsay Lohan’s return to Twitter included the lyrics to the Wizard of Oz song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” The posted also offered up a few words which suggest the actress’ time in rehab might be doing her some good.

“It’s up to us to make the best of what we have,” the Mean Girls star wrote.

Things have apparently settled down a bit for Lohan now that her treatment at the Betty Ford Center is underway. Earlier this month, reports surfaced that the actress was experiencing a bit of a meltdown after doctors determined she didn’t need her prescription for Adderall.

According to various reports, the decision to take the pills away didn’t settle well with Lohan. Sources explained that the troubled star was strongly considering parting ways with the rehab facility. It’s believed she’s worried that the lack of Adderall will make her gain weight.

“Lindsay has been able to eat whatever she has wanted and not gain weight for years and she attributes this to Adderall … everyone knows that the controversial drug ramps up your metabolism, and can suppress the appetite,” sources said about the actress’ reaction.

The Liz & Dick star’s recent tweet can be found below.

“Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly”…It’s up to us to make the best of what we have bit.ly/16bV0hB

— Lindsay Lohan (@lindsaylohan) May 25, 2013

What do you think about Lindsay Lohan’s rehab tweet? Do you think the actress has turned over a new leaf?

[Image via s_bukley / Shutterstock.com]

Lindsay Lohan Tweets From Rehab is a post from: The Inquisitr

Inception’d again!

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Films All Exist In The Same Universe is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mariska Hargitay, who has been playing Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for 14 seasons will be returning for a fifteenth.

The fate of Hargitay’s character was left hanging in the balance during the season 14 finale, in which Olivia is  left staring down the barrel of a gun before the episode cuts to black (Sopranos flashback, anyone?). The episode, aptly titled “Her Negotiation,” left fans wondering whether Liv would survive the encounter, since Hargitay was still in contract negotiations when the series was renewed in April. The renewal wasn’t much of a surprise, however, since season 14 was averaging a 1.73 in the crucial 18-49 demographic, as well as 6.34 million viewers.

Season 14′s two-hour premiere — which picked up where the season 13 finale ended — first aired on  September 26, 2012, to 7.19 million viewers, slightly down from the season 13 premiere to 7.63 million viewers. Subsequent episodes garnered anywhere from 5.20 million to 7.73 million, with the most-viewed episode drawing 8.42 million viewers. The season was initially picked up for 22 episodes, including the 300th episode of the series, but NBC ordered two additional episodes in December. The two-hour season finale premiered on May 22.

Season 15 will consist of 22 episodes, but a premiere date has yet to be set.

The financial terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed yet, but Hargitay is currently earning $500,000 per episode, making her the highest-paid actress on television.

Mariska Hargitay tweeted the happy news Saturday, writing:

Happy weekend.It’s official. Season 15–I’LL BE BACK!xx m

— Mariska Hargitay (@Mariska) May 25, 2013

The day after the finale, she playfully tweeted:

Where’s the faith people???Season 15 here we come!

— Mariska Hargitay (@Mariska) May 23, 2013

Also returning for season 15 are Danny Pino (Nick Amaro), Kelli Giddish (Amanda Rollins), Ice-T (Odafin Tutuola), Dann Florek (Capt. Donald Cragen) and Richard Belzer (John Munch).

Are you happy that Mariska Hargitay is returning for season 15?

[Photo credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com]

Mariska Hargitay Returning For ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Season 15 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kid Rock says ticket prices for his summer tour are so low, he’s taking desperate measures — scalping.

The 42-year-old Grammy winner said he’s been scalping about 1,000 tickets from each show to make a little extra scratch.

“I’m in the scalping business, but you know what? We told everyone. A lot of artists have been doing this for years behind fans’ backs, taking all these backdoor deals,” Kid Rock said about the low ticket prices. “We look at StubHub and other places and see what they’re selling them for and we just undercut them.”

It’s not like fans are getting a bad deal out of it. Prices for his Best Night Ever Tour are $20 each.

Kid Rock isn’t the only one coping with ticket prices by scalping. Ticket sales on the secondary market have grown considerably thanks to sites like Stub Hub, something other artists have taken advantage of.

“If I see a scalper, I’ll scalp him,” the Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards said.

But Richards isn’t offering cheap shows like Kid Rock. Tickets for the Rolling Stones’ 50 & Counting average $355.14.
Richards said he’d make it up to fans if he could. The Stones have done something of the sort, playing a secret concert in Los Angeles for fans who won a lottery. Tickets for that show were $20.

“I’d do some free shows. I’d work my butt off, and I don’t care how much. But these are set up above my head, man,” Richards said in a recent interview. “You’re kind of locked in a thing here whether you like it or not. I wish it was five bucks a ticket.”

Kid Rock had slammed ticket prices before. Back in April on CNN’s Piers Morgan Live he criticized the “Legends of the Summer” tour of Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake. Ticket prices topped $250 in cities like Detroit and New York City.

“It’s garbage. It’s highway robbery,” Kid Rock said of the ticket prices. “I don’t care who you are. I would consider both of them in the circle of friends in the business, but I don’t agree with it.”

[Image via U.S. Air Force photo by: TSgt Sean Mateo White]

Kid Rock: Ticket Prices So Low I’ve Resorting To Scalping is a post from: The Inquisitr

In some newfangled houses, there are three light switches in a row!

Don’t Even Pretend This Isn’t You is a post from: The Inquisitr

Amanda Bynes claims she was sexually harassed by police during her recent arrest.

Less than 24 hours after addressing her recent legal trouble on Twitter, the actress wrote a lengthy piece about how she was treated by arresting officers earlier this week.

According to the former What I Like About You star’s latest tweet, Bynes was sexually harassed by police when she was arrested at her New York City apartment on marijuana possession charges. In addition to lying about the bong she reportedly threw out a window, the actress said the officer “slapped” her vagina.

“Don’t believe the reports about me being arrested. It’s all lies. I was sexually harassed by one of the cops the night before last which is who then arrested me. He lied and said I threw a bong out the window when I opened the window for fresh air. Hilarious. He slapped my vagina. Sexual harassment. Big deal,” Bynes explained in her post.

She continued, “I then called the cops on him. He handcuffed me, which I resisted, quite unlike any of the reports stated. Then I was sent to a mental hospital. Offensive. I kept asking for my lawyer but they wouldn’t let me. The cops were creepy. The cop sexually harassed me, they found no pot on me or bong outside my window.”

Amanda Bynes concluded her recent post by stating that reports regarding her arrest shouldn’t be believed. It would seem this story is only going to get stranger before the actress returns to court on July 9.

Earlier today the Easy A star tweeted that she wasn’t smoking a joint in the lobby of her apartment complex. Although she admitted to smoking tobacco, she said she doesn’t do drugs and has never owned a bong.

I only smoke tobacco I don’t drink or do drugs. I’ve never had a bong in my life! I need to get another nose job after seeing my mugshot!

— Amanda Bynes (@AmandaBynes) May 24, 2013

Do you believe that Amanda Bynes was sexually harassed during her recent arrest?

[Image via s_bukley / Shutterstock.com]

Amanda Bynes Says She Was ‘Sexually Harassed’ By Police is a post from: The Inquisitr

A North Carolina high school QB drowned on Thursday just a few weeks short of his graduation.

According to WNCT, Shak Pershey was swimming with friends when he went missing around 7 pm on Thursday night. The coast guard and a marine corps helicopter were killed in to search for the missing football player but the search was suspended due to rough waters.

Pershey’s body wasn’t found until 2 am the following morning off the coast of North Topsail Beach.

Stuart Turille, the town manager of North Topsail Beach, said: “I believe the young man may have been caught in some sort of cross current that may have pulled him down.”

Pershey was a well-liked student at Southwest Onslow High School. He was the star football player and led the team to a state title in the North Carolina High School Activities Association Class 1-AA football division.

According to the Yahoo News, he passed for 1,149 yards during and 13 touchdowns during his senior year. He rushed for an additional 929 yards and scored 18 touchdowns of his own. Pershey also played defense, he had five interceptions and 73 tackles, and special teams where he returned three kicked for touchdowns.

North Carolina Reverend Phil Shepherd said: “(Pershey was a) fine young man and had accomplished so much … It’s times like this that we put our faith and trust in God.”

Pershey was set to graduate in a few weeks and was planning to attend Chowan University.

High School QB Drowns In North Carolina Weeks Before Graudation is a post from: The Inquisitr

The worldwide March Against Monsanto took place on Saturday in 250 cities around the world. The protest was planned to draw attention to the controversy surrounding the use of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) — including wildly popular Round-up Ready soybeans, corn, and cotton which are developed to be resistant to the use of the herbicide which kills common weeds.

Some scientists and activists have linked the use of GMOs to collapsing populations of wild butterflies and honeybees.

The European Union has taken a particularly strong stand against GMOs, regulating them so strongly that some observers say that there is a de facto ban on the crops.

As a result, in 2012 Europe produced less than 400 square miles of GE (genetically engineered) crops, mostly Bt corn, which has been modified to include an insecticide.

However, GE crops are one of the most valuable agricultural products in the Americas, with the United States, Brazil, and Argentina leading exporters of GMO crops and animal feeds like corn and soybean.

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) had pushed for a new law to allow states to require the labeling of GMO foods. However, on Thursday, the US Senate overwhelmingly shot down the measure 71-27.

Here are just a few of the images from around the world.

From Anonymous:

#MONSANTO is NO DIFFERENT THAN PUTTIN A GUN 2UR FACE &PULLIN TRIGGER.March Against them on Sat bit.ly/157kqeY twitter.com/OrganicLiveFoo…

— Anonymous(@AnonOpsMob) May 24, 2013

In New York:

I like this sign NYC March against Monsanto#MarchAgainstMonsanto twitter.com/KillerParrot/s…

— Killer Parrot™ (@KillerParrot) May 25, 2013

In Washington D.C.:

The bee’s are “dying in” in front of Monsanto office in DC at the #mamdc march ow.ly/i/2cBHj

— Occupy Wall Street (@OccupyWallSt) May 25, 2013

Paris, France:

Protesters in Paris wave signs”#Monsanto plunders farmers, kills planet”#MAM on.rt.com/1hmc5w#OpMonsanto twitter.com/RT_com/status/…

— Anonymous (@AnonOpsLegion) May 25, 2013

Here is video from Tokyo, Japan:

And another one from Sydney, Australia:

We don’t yet have a final count on the number of people who participated, but the March Against Monsanto Facebook page predicted 400 marches in 50 countries with over 200,000 people.

[Durban, South Africa of March Against Monsanto protest by Tracy Hinds and Revolution News via Facebook]

March Against Monsanto Worldwide Protest Two Days After Food Label Bill Fails Senate is a post from: The Inquisitr

Justin Bieber’s image has adorned a lot of, lets just say stuff, in his time.

Singing toothbrushes, microphone, dolls, Adidas NEO, Motorola, small-print laden prepaid credit cards — you name it, he’s on it. But, even the financially astute 19-year-old may draw the line at being plastered on a billboard backed by a partisan public policy organization lobbying against a rise in the federal minimum wage.

Bieber’s face, avec a suitably glum expression, has popped up on a just installed billboard in Los Angeles.

“Why is Justin Bieber so sad?” asks the Employment Policies Institute, the organization behind the ad. “Could it be because 24% of teens who want a job can’t find one?”

The billboard’s core message reads:

“Teen unemployment makes us all sad. Unfortunately, raising the minimum wage will only make things worse.”

The EPI added a disclaimer saying:

“Justin Bieber’s image on this billboard does not imply his endorsement of any particular minimum wage policy or an endorsement of the Employment Policies Institute.”

That may not be enough.

Using a celebrity’s image without permission, to hawk a commercial purpose or to benefit a commercial enterprise is a breach of copyright and can be legally defended under Personality or Publicity Rights which vary from state to state.

But a more controversial note may come from the fact that Employment Policy Institute and the website it links to, MinimumWage.com, is just one of many ideological groups created and owned by Richard Berman.

Described by some organizations and civic ethics groups as a Washington D.C. lobbyist known for his advocacy of corporate interests over public interest, in the past, Berman’s firm Berman and Company has been accused of creating fake grass-roots websites and movements claiming to represent the average citizen, but are more likely to be funded by alcoholic beverage, tobacco industry, hotel and restaurant corporations.

FishScam.com, a site dedicated to informing visitors that high mercury levels in fish are not detrimental and SunLightScam.com which claims that tanning beds pose no health risks, are two such websites.

The current minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. As mentioned in his State of the Union address, President Obama has proposed raising the minimum wage to $9.00 an hour.

Opinion on this among US citizens was recently polled as two-thirds supportive as long as the hike doesn’t result in employers laying off workers.

While Bieber may well be a placard carrying anti-minimum wage rise advocate on the quiet, it’s more likely that this polarizing topic is the last thing he or his management team will find helpful at this somewhat critical time.

[Image via carrie-nelson / Shutterstock.com]

Justin Bieber Anti-Minimum Wage Ad May Make Him More Mad Than Sad is a post from: The Inquisitr

Bogota, Colombia — A cell phone thief literally threw himself under the bus when he tried to leave the scene of the crime.

This is not what you would call a clean getaway. See dramatic surveillance camera video embedded below.

The alleged mugger approached a woman and grabbed her cell phone at the bus station. She resisted, and seconds later, as he fled out the terminal door, he was nearly run over by an approaching bus that unbeknownst to him was pulling into the station. This incident of a suspected cell phone thief running into the path of an oncoming bus apparently happened earlier this month; the time stamp on the video is said to be incorrect.

You can see the horrified reactions of the other bystanders in the Bogota, Columbia, terminal as the man is run over by the bus. As ghastly as it looks on video, it turned out that would-be cell phone thief miraculously survived being struck by the bus and only suffered minor injuries. The victim even helped him get up. She recovered her phone as well.

Police arrested the suspect after he was treated at a local hospital. Authorities indicated that he had a long rap sheet. Several accomplices were also reportedly taken into custody that day.

Wireless device thefts of this nature have unfortunately become commonplace in the US and around the world. Police often refer to the perpetrators as so-called Apple pickers in reference to iPhone robberies.

Do you have any second thoughts these days about walking down the street while talking on your cell phone or otherwise using your wireless device in public?

Watch the surveillance video of the would-be cell phone thief being struck by a bus. Would you consider this an appropriate form of street justice — or bus-tice as some have called it?

Cell Phone Thief Run Over By Bus [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The TSA announced this week that it seized 54 loaded guns at airport security checkpoints.

The government agency confiscated 65 firearms in total at airports around the country this week. The agency found that 54 of those guns were loaded and another 17 had a bullet in the chamber.

The TSA writes on its blog that passengers may transport weapons in checked luggage (as long as they declare it first) but they aren’t allowed to bring weapons onto the plane in carry-on bags. The agency also notes that there is no evidence that any of the loaded weapons that were confiscated this week belonged to people who had malicious intent.

The TSA did say, however, that security lines were slowed down this week due to all of the guns.

The TSA writes: “Unfortunately these sorts of occurrences are all too frequent which is why we talk about these finds. Sure, it’s great to share the things that our officers are finding, but at the same time, each time we find a dangerous item, the throughput is slowed down and a passenger that likely had no ill intent ends up with a citation or in some cases is even arrested.” The passenger can face a penalty as high as $7,500.00. This is a friendly reminder to please leave these items at home. Just because we find a prohibited item on an individual does not mean they had bad intentions, that’s for the law enforcement officer to decide. In many cases, people simply forgot they had these items.”

MSNBC notes that in addition to the 54 loaded guns, the TSA also seized a dozen stun guns, a couple of inert grenades, some ammunition and a few razor blades. The TSA also said that it stopped a few passengers who claimed that they had bombs with them. The TSA noted that both individuals were joking about the bombs but warned future passengers that jokes about bombs would undoubtedly slow down security lines.

54 Loaded Guns Seized At Airports By TSA is a post from: The Inquisitr

Phthalates are odorless, colorless additives mainly used as plasticizers – substances added to plastics to increase flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity – and are also frequently used to soften polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Phthalates are widely used in a variety of products. These can include pharmaceutical, gelling agents, stabilizers, lubricants, emulsifiers, and in the manufacture of adhesives, electronics, building materials, detergents, plastic wrap, toys, printing inks, paints, textiles, and present in processed food and personal care products.

But in recent years phthalates have been gradually phased out of many items in the US, Canada, and Europe due to health concerns – as research has found, for example in rodent models, evidence that in elevated doses phthalates can cause hormonal and metabolic abnormalities, and birth defects.

Environmentally, phthalates are easily released into the environment because there is no covalent bond between the chemical and plastics. As plastics age and break down, the release accelerates. Because phthalate plasticizers are not chemically bound to PVC, they too can easily leach into the surrounding environment.

Research published in The Journal of Pediatrics also suggests that phthalate exposure may compromise heart health in children. Investigators at NYU Langone Medical Center, in collaboration with the University of Washington and Penn State University School of Medicine Data, culled data from a nationally survey of nearly 3,000 children and teens – documenting connections between dietary exposure to DEHP (di-2-ethyhexylphthalate), a common class of phthalate widely used in industrial food production, and elevated systolic blood pressure, a measure of pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts.

Dr. Leonardo Trasande – associate professor of pediatrics, environmental medicine and population health at NYU Langone Medical Center – led the study. According to Dr. Trasande, “We wanted to examine the link between phthalates and childhood blood pressure in particular given the increase in elevated blood pressure in children and the increasing evidence implicating exposure to environmental exposures in early development of disease.”

Six years of survey data administered by the National Centers for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was examined. Phthalates were measured in urine samples.

Phthalates were found to inhibit function of cardiac cells, create oxidative stress, and negatively impact the health of the arteries – leading to the potential for pre-hypertension.

Hypertension is one of the two primary causes of cardiovascular disease – the other atherosclerosis – and is clinically defined as a systolic blood-pressure reading above 140/90 mmHg; 90 being the diastolic reading. This chronic elevation in blood pressure forces the heart muscle to labor harder in order to circulate blood.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attacks), heart failure, and aneurysms of the arteries. Moderate elevation of arterial blood pressure is associated with a shortened life expectancy.

High blood pressure is more common in people over 50, but the condition is becoming increasingly prevalent among children. National surveys indicate that 14 percent of American adolescents now have pre-hypertension or hypertension – citing obesity as a contributor.

Dietary and lifestyle changes can improve blood pressure control and decrease the risk of associated health complications. Otherwise drug treatment is used for those whose lifestyle changes prove ineffective or insufficient.

[Image via Shutterstock]

Chemicals Commonly Found In Plastics Linked To Elevated Blood Pressure In Children is a post from: The Inquisitr

Babies born via cesarian section at an increased risk of becoming obese later in life than babies delivered vaginally, according to a recent study of more than 10,000 UK infants.

A research team led by Dr. Jan Blustein from the New York University of Medicine analyzed data from 10,219 born in the UK between 1991 and 1992. The children who were delivered by C-section were 83 percent more likely to be overweight or obese than their peers who were delivered vaginally. This was determined after other factors were taken into account, such as the mother’s weight and how long they were breastfed. Researchers also noted that children delivered by C-section were on average 2 oz lighter than their counterparts.

Blustein noted that, at 6 weeks old, C-section babies had already started to surpass children delivered vaginally. The children were retested at various points in their lives — ages three, 11, and 15 — and children born via cesarian section were consistently heavier than their peers. The link between C-section births and obesity was especially strong in children born to overweight mothers.

Blustein said women electively considering a C-section should be aware of the other risks associated with the surgery, such as future pregnancy complications, and higher chances of bladder or bowel injuries. She also said that studies haven’t been able to prove whether the C-section itself causes children to gain more weight later in life, or if there was another factor. Blustein specualted that the higher weight gain was linked to C-section babies not having any exposure to friendly bacteria present in the birth canal.

According to Teresa Ajslev, a researcher at the Institute of Preventive Medicine and a Ph.D. student at Copenhagen University, said there may be a specific type of bacteria that is protective. There could also be a bacteria imbalance that disrupts intestinal function in a way that makes it easier for a child to gain weight.

Still, Blustein points out that normal-weight mothers who had C-sections didn’t have the same link to obesity as overweight or obese mothers.

The study was published in the May 14 issue of the International Journal of Obesity.

C-Sections Linked To Childhood Obesity is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Mississippi Supreme Court is currently considering a case which could lead to the prosecution of women who suffer miscarriages and stillbirths, according to Mother Jones.

In 2009, Nina Buckhalter gave birth to a stillborn girl (whom she named Hayley Jade) following the use of methamphetamine during her pregnancy. Two months later, a grand jury in Lamar Country, Mississippi, indicted her for manslaughter, claiming that she ”did willfully, unlawfully, feloniously, kill Hayley Jade Buckhalter, a human being, by culpable negligence”. The prosecution claimed that the methamphetamine found in Buckhalter’s system caused the death of her unborn child.

The Mississippi Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments on April 2, is expected to rule soon.

Should the judges permit the prosecution to move forward, it will likely create a ”dangerous precedent” that could lead to the treatment of every unintentional pregnancy “as a form of homicide”, says Farah Diaz-Tello, a staff attorney with National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW) who has joined Robert McDuff, a Mississippi civil rights lawyer, in defending Buckhalter.

Despite the fact that Mississippi manslaughter laws do not apply to fetal stillbirth and miscarriage, and that lawmakers there has repeatedly refused to amend them to include damage to an unborn fetus by illegal drug use, prosecutors have stated that two other state laws allow them to charge Buckhalter. If they are allowed to continue, Mississippi women could be prosecuted for ”smoking, drinking alcohol, using drugs, exercising against doctor’s orders, or failing to follow advice regarding conditions such as obesity or hypertension”, according to Buckhalter’s attorneys.

Supreme Court Justice Leslie D. King raised a similar question during last month’s oral arguments asking prosecutors ”Doctors say women should avoid herbal tea, things like unpasteurized cheese, lunch meats. Exactly what are the boundaries?”

The case has already caught the attention of several national medical, legal and public health organizations. The American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) filed an Amicus brief with the Mississippi Supreme Court on their behalf in opposition to an indictment of Buckhalter.

“A conviction here could create far-reaching bad legal precedent that brands as potential criminals any woman who suffers a lost pregnancy, thus endangering the health and well-being of Mississippi women”, the AMWA said.

Mississippi is one of the most anti-abortion states in the US. Despite the defeat of a ballot measure to introduce a “personhood” amendment to the state constitution in 2011 by a wide margin (58% percent of voters opposed it), anti-abortion organizations have stated that they intend to reintroduce the measure in 2015 while lawmakers continue in their attempts to shut down the one remaining abortion clinic in the state.

Nor is Mississippi alone in such tactics. Neighboring Alabama recently created a similar precedent by extending its law prohibiting the ”chemical endangerment” of children to include fetuses while in Virginia, Sen. Mark Obenshain, introduced a bill in 2009 requiring women to report their miscarriages to the police, according to the Huffington Post.

In addition, 38 other states have “fetal homicide” laws which are supposed to protect fetuses but in reality are used to criminalize women who experience unintentional pregnancy loss, according to Salon.

Ironically, should the court allow Buckhalter to be prosecuted, it may lead to more abortion. Buckhalter’s attorneys argued that fear of prosecution “may cause a mother to seek an abortion that she might not have otherwise have sought”.

Mississippi Could Start Prosecuting Women for Stillbirths, Miscarriages is a post from: The Inquisitr

Are you confused about how Microsoft will be handling used games with the Xbox One? Well, it looks like you’ll be staying confused for awhile.

In an effort to try and “clarify” all of the confusion surrounding Microsoft’s Xbox One used games policies, Microsoft’s Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb posted the following on his blog:

“The ability to trade in and resell games is important to gamers and to Xbox. Xbox One is designed to support the trade in and resale of games. Reports about our policies for trade in and resale are inaccurate and incomplete. We will disclose more information in the near future.”

The confusion began when Wired ran a report stating that a fee would be required to play used – and possibly borrowed – copies of games. Instead of outright denying it Microsoft sent to a note saying that while a used games plan is in place, no details have been shared.

In a post on the Xbox Support Twitter page, however, a representative stated that there would be “no fee” associated with used games.

It’s easy to pin the blame on the media for the confusion, but the media wouldn’t be the only one to blame. Calling what was posted on Major Nelson’s blog “clarification” suggests that either Microsoft jumped the gun by talking about it at all, forgot to tell all of its key employees what the policy actually is, or the company needs a refresher on what “clarity” actually means.

After all, if what the customer service representative said is true then why would Microsoft not come out and say it on a more official platform?

Xbox One: Microsoft Blames Press For Confusion Over Used Games is a post from: The Inquisitr

A Pennsylvania woman who fatally stabbed her husband-to-be just hours before their wedding was convicted of first-degree murder Thursday.

After three hours of deliberation, jurors found 32-year-old Na Cola Franklin guilty of murdering her fiancé, 36-year-old Billy Brewster, on August 11, 2012. The two got into an argument at their Whitehall Township apartment around 2 am — their wedding was scheduled for 10 am that same day.

According to defense attorney John Waldron, Brewster came home drunk after an impromptu bachelor party and allegedly attacked Franklin before trying to leave with the couple’s 9-month-old son. Waldron claimed that Franklin, who stabbed Brewster in the chest and torso, did it to protect her child and asked for a voluntary manslaughter conviction. Prosecutors, however, said the child wasn’t in any danger, and pushed for a first-degree murder conviction.

Franklin said she “did not mean to kill him on purpose” at her arraignment, and couldn’t believe that her fiance was dead. She pleaded with the judge to “check again,” and the District Judge Donna Butler told her, “He was pronounced dead by he Lehigh County coroner earlier today.”

While she cried often over the course of the three-day trial, Franklin showed no emotion when she was convicted of first-degree murder. The conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole in Pennsylvania, but Waldron asked that Franklin’s sentencing be delayed until July 16. Waldron added that Franklin would likely appeal the conviction.

First Assistant District Attorney Steven Luksa said the jury’s decision was “fair and just,” and that they were able to conclude that “at that moment in time, she had the desire to take his life.”

Billy Brewster’s first cousin, Nakia Kali — who was present when Brewster was stabbed — said he was happy with the verdict but declined to comment further. His wife Monique, who also witnessed the murder, had testified against Franklin.

Bride-To-Be Found Guilty Of Murdering Fiance Hours Before Wedding is a post from: The Inquisitr

Michael Clarke Duncan’s grave was recently vandalized, and a local artist has taken responsibility.

A relative of the late actor discovered the offensive graffiti during a recent visit to the Forest Lawn Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills. The family member believes the cartoon face drawn on Duncan’s grave is of a racist character named Sambo.

According to TMZ, the Los Angeles Police Department was treating the incident as a hate crime. An investigation was launch to find the person responsible for defacing Michael Clarke Duncan’s grave.

Authorities may not have to look too hard. A local artist named Lisa Albanese has claimed responsibility for the graffiti. The woman said she draws the faces on celebrity graves as a sign of respect.

To clarify her intent, Albanese reached out to travel writer Jason Cochran. Although many believe her work was racially charged, she claims the art wasn’t designed to offend anyone. Several of her smiley faces have been shared on Facebook.

She explained:

“It’s been brought to my attention that you have been curious to who has been leaving the rock smileys on the celebrity graves. That would be me! I also leave them on other graves that catch my attention, next to street art, and anything else that catches my attention in the Los Angeles Area. It all started with my friend Tamra finding a little rock with a face on it, and how it made her smile. Then a few of us thought we’d leave some rock smileys around for others to find, sort of like a pay it forward type of thing.”

Albanese also defended her artwork to the folks at The LAist. The artist stressed once again that the last thing she wanted to do was upset anyone with her grafffit. According to Albanese, the graffiti was meant to honor Michael Clarke Duncan.

“I am more in shock and saddened that some people have been misinterpreting my colorful smiley face painted on a little rock. And again, the last thing I want to do is offend anyone, and I am truly sorry to those who I have offended,” she told the website.

What do you think about the artist who vandalized Michael Clarke Duncan’s grave? Do you think she meant any harm with the graffiti?

[Image via Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com]

Michael Clarke Duncan’s Grave Vandalized, Local Artist Claims Responsibility is a post from: The Inquisitr

Bayern Munich came into the Champions League final on Saturday looking for redemption, and their commitment paid off as the Bavarians beat German rival Borussia Dortmund 2-1 to take home the cup.

Munich has appeared in the Champions League final in three of the last four years, and though their runs to cup are impressive, they didn’t win a single one of them until Saturday. The Bavarians most recently lost to Inter Milan from Seria A in the 2009-10 final and to Chelsea from the Premier League in 2011-12.

After two finals’ losses in three years, Munich finally had their night, but not before Dortmund made things interesting. The Black Yellows controlled possession to start the game and looked to have the upper hand for most of the first half.

Late in the half, Munich picked up the pace and created chances to open up the pitch. Arjen Robben had multiple runs that were shut down by BVB’s keeper Roman Weidenfeller, but he broke through in the second half to give the Bavarians their first Champions League title in 12 years.

Robben set up Mario Mandzukic in the 60th to give Bayern Munich a 1-0 lead but it was quickly erased seven minutes later when Ilkay Gundogan scored on a penalty after Dante fouled Marco Reus.

With the score even at one, the back-and-forth play looked to be heading beyond 90 minutes and possibly into a penalty shootout for the cup. The Bavarians wanted no part of it, as they lost 4-3 in penalties to Chelsea in the same final last season, on their own turf no less.

Arjen Robben was on the pitch that day, and 12 moths later he finally has his redemption, as he beat Weidenfeller in the 89th minute to give Munich a 2-1 lead with precious time to spare.

The Bavarians would hold on as Michael Neuer got the best of Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski, who had multiple chances stopped by the Munich keeper throughout the match.

Do you believe Bayern Munich will be back in contention for the Champions League final next season after winning it all in 2013?

[Image via Rayand]

Bayern Munich Tops Borussia Dortmund In Champions League Final is a post from: The Inquisitr

Nicolas Winding Refn recently gave fans an update on his proposed Barbarella TV series.

The Drive director has a lot of stuff on his plate at the moment. In addition to that long-delayed Logan’s Run reboot that may or may not happen, the filmmaker is planning to helm a comedy with frequent collaborator Ryan Gosling.

Somewhere in-between all of his other projects, Nicolas Winding Refn is also putting together a Barbarella television series. According to the director, the show will demand most of his attention throughout 2014.

While details about the project are few and far between, the director recently dropped a few hints during his chat with the folks over at Vulture.

“We are just writing it still. I kind of went back to the original comic, and really began to close my eyes and fantasize about women in outer space and it looked pretty good,” Refn explained.

If you’re looking for clues as to who will portray the title character, then you’re out of luck. The filmmaker revealed that he hasn’t made any casting choices just yet. With production looming on the horizon, this will likely change in the coming months.

According to SuperHeroHype, Martha De Laurentiis will produce the TV series through Gaumont International Television. Skyfall writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade will put together the script. Refn will step behind the camera in an effort to bring the whole thing to life.

Unfortunately, it’s currently unknown when the Barbarella series will find its way to the small screen. Here’s hoping the production fares a little better than the ill-fated Wonder Woman project that currently getting kicking around over at the CW.

As for Logan’s Run, it would seem the project is currently on hold for the time being. While it appeared that Refn would move forward with the flick after Gosling dropped out. Now it’s unclear when or if the movie will ever make it into theaters.

Are you looking forward to Nicolas Winding Refn’s Barbarella TV series?

[Image via Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com]

Nicolas Winding Refn Gives An Update On His ‘Barbarella’ TV Series is a post from: The Inquisitr

New Albany, OH – Following an intensive six-month investigation, Dr. Ali Salim was arrested in February. He was indicted on charges of kidnapping, drugging, rape, and murder after allegedly injecting a full-term pregnant woman with heroin – killing both Deanna Ballman, 23, and her unborn baby girl Mabel Lilly.

Single Salim, 44, lured the woman to his home through a Craigslist ad. However, Ballman was not the only one to reply as it was revealed the doctor had placed numerous posts on the site. Several other respondents claim they were accosted at Salim’s home – one leaving after the man insisted she pose in her underwear for $400 while he painted the digestive system onto her abdomen.

The successful physician, who lived in a $300,000 home in New Albany and owned several expensive cars, including a Porsche, had a history of drama. In 2010, Salim reported that his home had been burglarized but refused to cooperate with investigators.

In 2011, a woman who answered one of his ads called 911 to report an assault at Salim’s residence. Later that same year in December, an aspiring model responded to an ad, thinking it was a legitimate modeling job, and was appalled to find it wasn’t.

Ballman was last heard from around 3:30 pm on July 31, 2012, after calling her mother, Lori, and telling her she wasn’t feeling well. According to Lori, her daughter sounded disoriented, and after going silent a male with a foreign accent then got onto the phone, asking if there was anything he could do to help. Thereafter the call dropped. Lori filed a missing persons report.

Ballman’s body was found the next day stuffed in the backseat of her car along a country road a few miles from Salim’s house. An autopsy showed that she died as a result of a heroin overdose, and evidence of a sexual assault was present.

The young woman told family she was responding to a housecleaning ad, gathering cleaning supplies before leaving the house that day. Investigators state many of Salim’s ads were written in a suggestively intimate nature, others more blatant. Therefore, it was likely she was aware of the actual context of the visit and was too embarrassed to admit it to loved ones.

Fox News reported that Salim’s lawyer, Sam Shamansky, bluntly called Ballman an “unfortunate victim” who died as a result of prostituting herself to feed a drug habit. “Regrettably, she caused her own demise and Dr. Salim had nothing to do with it.”

Thursday, Salim pled not guilty, and has since been under house arrest on a $1 million bond. His trial is scheduled to begin on September 3. Due to the criminal charges, the Ohio medical board revoked Salim’s license.

[Image via Shutterstock]

Ohio Doctor Accused Of Rape, Injecting Pregnant Woman With Heroin is a post from: The Inquisitr