LeBron James insists he’s not a flopper, but the NBA disagrees.

The league announced that it has fined LeBron $5,000 for flopping in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals, a play that also brought a fine to an Indiana Pacers player.

James and Pacers forward David West were battling for position in the fourth quarter, when both of them recoiled violently as they made contact. The NBA determined that both James and West were flopping on the play.

The NBA hit another Pacer for flopping. Lance Stephenson also exaggerated contact against Ray Allen in Game 4, earning him a $5,000 fine.

The fine came just days after LeBron insisted that he’s not a flopper, though he does say he understands the strategy of it all.

“Some guys have been doing it for years, just trying to get an advantage,” James said Monday before Tuesday’s Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals. “Any way you can get an advantage over the opponent to help your team win, so be it.”

The Pacers flopping fines are also a bit ironic given the team’s public statements against exaggerating contact to get a foul. Pacers coach Frank Vogel was hit with a $15,000 fine by the NBA for complaining about officials allowing Heat players to flop.

“I think it’s well documented. I’m not for flopping,” Vogel said.

LeBron has bristled in the past at charges that he’s a flopper. In the last round of the playoffs, he blasted Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau for accusing him of flopping, saying “I don’t need to flop. I play an aggressive game. I don’t flop. I’ve never been one of those guys.”

In addition to fining David West and LeBron James for flopping, the NBA also upgraded West’s fourth quarter foul on Dwyane Wade to a flagrant foul.

LeBron James, Two Pacers Fined For Flopping is a post from: The Inquisitr

A receptionist to CEO career trajectory may not seem very achievable, but successful ad exec Karen Kaplan managed just that — and described how she managed to climb from the position of unskilled secretary to the company’s top spot.

Kaplan’s receptionist to CEO journey began back in 1982, after she’d just graduated college with a concentration in French. The then-unemployed future exec moved back home with her parents and managed to get her in at the company through a recruiter despite a lack of then-standard shorthand and typing skills — but she didn’t get a warm welcome from other administrative workers.

The receptionist turned CEO remembers the slightly higher ranking switchboard operators hazing her right away, recalling:

“They come on my second day, and they stand in front of my desk … They’re looming over me with hands on their hips with their little headbands, and I remember they were like, ‘Just so you know, just because you’re out here and everyone can see you, you are still on the bottom of the totem pole. You are below us, you are below the guy in the mail room, you’re below the guy who delivers the packages.’ ”

Three decades later, Kaplan’s receptionist to CEO transformation is complete — and the exec reflected upon her journey at Hill Holliday in a recent Business Insider piece. Kaplan, whose firm raked in $180 million plus last year, joked that the flowers she’d received for her most recent successes made her office feel a bit funereal:

“It looks like a funeral home in here … An art director came in my office and he said, ‘There are only two times you get this many flowers, and one of them you aren’t there to enjoy it.’ ”

Kaplan credits treating her humble beginnings seriously for her career success, saying:

“You can make your mark in every single job … I still run into people today who remember me from when I was a receptionist who say, ‘You were the best damn receptionist in the history of receptionists.’”

Do you think everyone can achieve receptionist to CEO success like Karen Kaplan?

Receptionist To CEO, Ad Exec Karen Kaplan Spills Secrets is a post from: The Inquisitr

You know what’s really annoying? Having to hold onto a burger when eating it. I mean we have better things to do with our hands. The solution? Burger King’s Hands Free Whopper Holder.

Why this type of food eating innovation has never before been seen is beyond me. I mean, you take a burger, you shove it in the holder, you place the device around your neck, and you eat.

Need to work on a school project that’s due in a few hours but you’re starving? Burger King has got your back! Boss bugging you to finish that last minute project? No problem! Work long hours with few breaks as a sign language expert? You’re good to go!

You may recall that McDonald’s pulled the same type of shenanigans, but they focused on french fries.

The Hands Free Whopper Holder was created and handed out to fifty “loyalty program” customers in Puerto Rico. Burger King created the Whopper holder to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary.

I’m not really sure if this makes driving while eating any safer, but I like the idea of having my hands free at all time.

I don’t understand the words in the song being sung, but I love the Burger King calls the device good for “multitasking.” Also, does anyone else feel as if Burger King just took a harmonic holder and prettied it up? Oh, another use, musicians who forget to eat before a live show!

Check out the Burger King Hands Free Whopper holder in the video below:

So what says you internet foodies? Will you be creating your own hands free Whopper holder so you can eat your food while blogging about your food? What possibilities can you envision foor the hands free Whopper holder?

Burger King Introduces Hands-Free Whopper Holder is a post from: The Inquisitr

If there was any way to make a gift of cash better, this is totally it.

Uncle’s Creative Graduation Gift is a post from: The Inquisitr

Next time someone asks what Obama has legitimately done.

Thanks, Obama. No, Really! is a post from: The Inquisitr

A rare example of cleverly effective sarcasm in the Meijer parking lot.

Meijer Ad Win is a post from: The Inquisitr

A Starbucks in Hong Kong reportedly used “toilet water” to brew coffee.

An employee at the location in question would wheel a cart into a men’s bathroom at a nearby parking garage in order to retrieve the water used in the company’s beverages.

According to reports, the Starbucks in Central Hong Kong doesn’t have a water source. Workers would use a tap in the garage’s toilet around 70 times in a single day. Not surprisingly, this soon caused a bit of concern from people who frequently buy their coffee from the location.

“Totally disappointed! The initial decision by Starbucks to use water from toilet is a clear sign of your company’s vision and the level of (dis)respect your company has for the health and mind of your customers,” one customer wrote on Starbucks Hong Kong’s Facebook page.

The water used to brew the coffee was taken from a tap that was very close the toilet’s urinal. Not surprisingly, this drew the attention Hong Kong’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. Starbucks was issued a warning to fix the problem as soon as possible.

University of Hong Kong’s School of Public Health associate professor Ben Cowling said that employees run the risk of spreading bacteria to customers.

Starbucks Hong Kong has officially addressed the situation and assures its customers that the location is no longer getting water from the parking garage’s toilet.

The company’s Facebook statement said:

“Please kindly accept our apologies for the concerns raised by the coverage on the water source at the Bank of China Tower store. While the water used at that store was drinking water and certified as safe, we would like to clarify any misperceptions, as quality and safety have always been our top priority. We are now using distilled water to serve that store while we work with all parties on acceptable options.”

To see pictures of how Starbucks retrieved the toilet water, be sure to swing by Kotaku.

Starbucks Uses Toilet Water To Brew Coffee, Issues Apology is a post from: The Inquisitr

Crysis 3‘s The Lost Island DLC will bring the series back to its spiritual roots in June.

Crysis was a first-person shooter that touted advances in gaming design as well as upping the bar for graphics in the genre. An immense alien structure had been discovered and it was your job to investigate and destroy any threats, alien or human. The protagonist wore a nano suit, inspired by real life military concepts, and various futuristic weapons and tools. The human enemy you faced was something mirroring current events … North Korea. Weapon and ability customization was an important factor in the game.

In Crysis 3, the player takes on the role of the Prophet, heading to New York in 2047. He discovers that the city has been encased in a giant dome by the CELL corporation, and the people enslaved under the promise of protection.

The DLC The Lost Island brings you back from New York and returns to a jungle in the Philippines, where you are still fighting the CELL corporation. The corrupt organization is hell-bent on taking the alien technology from the island by any means necessary, and it’s your job to destroy the aliens and their tech before CELL gets around to grabbing it.

Crytek’s CEO Cevat Yerli said in a press release that the DLC for Crysis 3 will bring it back to its spiritual roots and remind us where it all started:

“The gameplay in the Crysis series has always been deeply connected to the unique environments in which the action takes place. By transporting players out of the Liberty Dome and into the Lost Island setting, we’re not only returning to Crysis’ spiritual roots, but also introducing fresh ways to play that provide Crysis 3 fans with genuinely game-changing new tactical options, game modes and weapons.”

Crysis 3‘s DLC The Lost Island is said to include four maps based on achievements and other factors.  The maps in question are Ascension, Coastline, Creek, and Crossing.

Are you excited about Crysis 3‘s DLC The Lost Island returning to the series’ roots?

‘Crysis 3: The Lost Island’ DLC Returns To Series Roots In June is a post from: The Inquisitr

Justin Bieber’s entrance at the After Earth premiere in New York City last night was more mad dash than red carpet catwalk, but the event wasn’t about him. The 19-year-old came out to support his ‘bro’ Jaden Smith who stars in the film with father Will.

Wearing black harem pants and a huge gold chain, the 19-year-old turned up at the very last minute to make sure the press attention remained firmly on the Smith clan who were out in full force.

Will, his wife and producer of the movie, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Jaden and Willow, smiled up a storm as they chatted to star guests and press outside.

Proud father Will, looking dapper in a red suit while Jaden sported a white one, joked to Access Hollywood about how the resemblance between them on the big screen.

The duo were at ease on the carpet having trotted around the globe for various international premieres in support of the film.

Jada brought the summer in a floral Blumarine dress with Azzedine Alaïa Suede and Stingray Sandals, while a statuesque Willow chose a black and white shirt-pant outfit for the occasion.

Stars and big names included After Earth director M. Night Shyamalan, who is probably best known for Sixth Sense and definitely best not remembered for The Last Airbender.

Jaden’s girlfriend Kendall Jenner of the Kardashian clan was also in the house, as were Bruce Willis and his wife Emma Hemming. 50 Cent was also rooting for the Smith family, along with Stephen Baldwin and his daughter Hailey, Vivica A. Fox and Bad25 director Spike Lee.

After Earth, as one might guess if it stars Will, is a sci-film. Nutshelled, the plot arcs a post-catastrophe scenario set 100o years into the future. Will and Jaden, who play father and son in the film, are shipwrecked on a long evacuated Earth after leaving humanity’s new home, Nova Prime.

An injured Will (Cypher Raige) has to show his son Kitai (Jaden) how to master the quality of fear, in order to mask their presence from devouring creatures — the blind Ursa who now roam Earth and can detect humans when they emit fear through their pheromones.

Reviews for After Earth have been less than stellar, but audiences up for a non-taxing sci-fi romp and a dose of big Will may well love it.

The film co-stars British actress Sophie Okonedo and Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet’s daughter, Zoe Isabella Kravitz.

For a full gallery of the premiere click here.

[Image via Photo Works / Shutterstock.com]

Justin Bieber Supports ‘Bro’ Jaden At Smith Family Affair ‘After Earth’ Premiere is a post from: The Inquisitr

Grumpy Cat is headed to a theater near you very soon.

Tardar Sauce, otherwise known as the unhappiest cat on the internet, is getting her very own movie. Broken Road’s Todd Garner and Sean Robins will produce the motion picture, which is described as being in the same vein as Garfield.

In order to bring Grumpy Cat to life, the filmmakers will give the cat her very own voice. It’s currently unknown which actress will tackle the role.

Since the Meme of the Year award winner has more fans than a lot of celebrities, it’s not altogether surprising that she is getting her own film. Tardar Sauce has already appeared on Today, Good Morning America, CBS Evening News, Anderson Cooper Live, VH1 Morning Buzz, and The Soup.

While a Grumpy Cat movie sounds like a good idea, it’s probably not a good idea to get your hopes up just yet. Broken Road Productions doesn’t exactly have the strong track record for quality films. The company is largely responsible for churning out Jack and Jill, The Zookeeper, and Here Comes the Boom.

It’s unclear who will direct the project. Story details are also unavailable as of this writing. Broken Road Productions has yet to comment on the reports.

Grumpy Cat isn’t the only online feline taking the world of film by storm. Directors Andy Capper and Juliette Eisner’s documentary Lil Bub & Friendz was a hit at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival. After an online vote, viewers declared it to be this year’s Best Feature Film.

What do you think about the Grumpy Cat movie? Is the adorable feline close to jumping the shark?

Grumpy Cat Movie Is In The Works is a post from: The Inquisitr

Obamacare starts when in 2014 private health insurance becomes a requirement for all employed United States citizens. But in actuality a huge chunk of Obamacare has already been implemented in the form of taxes and organizational changes.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, even before Obamacare starts some doctors are stopping insurance coverage. One doctor claims this allows them to eliminate the insurance paperwork and improve both patient care and the bottom line.

When Obamacare starts in 2014 the NY Times claims the goal is to pay less yet get more by giving incentives to doctors:

“Doctors and hospitals are paid primarily for procedures and tests, not health outcomes. The goal of the health care law is to flip this fee-for-services system (which some insurance companies are emulating) to one where the government pays doctors and hospitals to keep Medicare patients healthy and the services they do render are reimbursed more for their value than volume.”

To meet this goal all doctors will have to switch to electronic patient records which can be shared between providers. Gathering all this data would allow computer programs to analyze patient’s records in order to provide preemptive health care. For example, there might be early signs of cancer that could be screened via computer based analysis.

But critics are already saying Obamacare is being implemented poorly. Even Harry Reid, who helped pass the Affordable Care Act, calls Obamacare’s rough start a “train wreck.”.

What’s more troubling is that the IRS will be in charge of implementing Obamacare. The Obamacare taxes started being collected in 2010, but this money only covers six years of coverage to 2020 for 10 years of taxes. When Obamacare starts in 2014, the IRS leader in charge of Obamacare is also the same person who was in charge of targeting conservatives as part of the IRS Scandal.

When Obamacare starts in 2014, anyone who does not purchase qualifying health insurance must pay an Obamacare individual mandate non-compliance tax, which is estimated to affect six million Americans mostly in the middle class. All families will be required to provide estimates of future income at the end of 2013. But if projections are wrong Obamacare could trigger large tax surprises years down the road.

Other Obamacare taxes already implemented include a capital gains tax, a medicare payroll (FICA) tax increase, taxes on high medical bills, medical device taxes, and taxes on Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). When Obamacare starts in 2014, businesses face penalties ranging from $2,000 to $3,000 per employee for not offering health coverage. As Obamacare starts some taxes will not be phased in until 2018, which includes extra taxes on health insurance companies, union members, and early retirees.

When Obamacare starts in 2014, what do you plan on doing?

When Obamacare Starts In 2014 Health Insurance Is Required, But We’re Taxed Now is a post from: The Inquisitr

The NCAA has strict rules about student athletes receiving special treatment. The rules are so strict, apparently, that washing a car can be viewed as an ethical violation.

According to Yahoo, an unnamed female golfer in the West Coast Conference was fined $20 after she used a school hose and school water to wash her car on campus.

So how did the NCAA find out about this egregious disregard of the NCAA conduct policy? Well, apparently the school self-reported itself to the NCAA. And instead of laughing at the ridiculous report, the NCAA actually requested that the golfer pay a $20 to cover the cost of hose rental and used water.

The NCAA hasn’t commented on the fine but a source close to the situation said that the organization decided that the impromptu car wash violated NCAA policy because the hose wasn’t regularly available to other students.

The NCAA has seen some major violations in the past regarding players and illegal gifts but this has got to be the first time that the “gift” has been hose water. And seriously? $20 for one-time use of a hose? The golfer should at least be able to keep the hose as a reminder that she is no better than anyone else.

Portland Basketball coach Eric Reveno tweeted about the violation earlier this week with the hashtag #stopinsanity. Reveno also noted that a WCC coach violated NCAA regulations after he texted a potential recruit “who is this?”

Just heard about two NCAA violations in WCC.1) athlete using Univ. water to wash car, 2) coach text recruit “who is this?”. #stopinsanity

— Eric Reveno (@CoachReveno) May 29, 2013

Golfer Fined $20 By NCAA After Washing Car On School Property is a post from: The Inquisitr

A man was arrested for firing a warning shot at a burglar. Corey Thompson of Medford, Oregon, fired the shot when he found Jonathon Kinsella trying to break into his home. He has now been arrested for firing his weapon.

As a veteran, Thompson explains that grabbing his AR-15 was a natural reaction. He contends that it was never his intention to harm Kinsella, he simply wanted to frighten him off the property. Thompson reportedly warned the burglar that he would fire the warning shot before it happened.

As reported by MSN, Thompson served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Kinsella is a convicted felon who was wanted at the time of the break-in. Despite the circumstances and the backgrounds of both men, Thompson was arrested for discharging his weapon.

Medford Police Lieutenant Mike Budreau states that Thompson simply went too far:

“There was nothing that the suspect was doing that was aggressive enough to justify the shooting. In fact, the suspect was walking  away.”

As reported by KDRV News, Thompson admits he did fire the weapon:

“I can see where they’re coming from, with those kinds of  ordinances and stuff … I understand yes, I did discharge my  weapon but I was careful not to fire it at anybody’s residence. It  was at the ground specifically.”

Despite his explanation, Corey Thompson was arrested for firing a warning shot at the burglar. Authorities explain that bullets from an assault rifle can ricochet after hitting their intended target. As the area was residential, police are concerned that someone else may have been harmed.

Thompson had to surrender his weapon as it was used in the commission of an alleged crime. He has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, and reckless endangerment. If found not guilty, his weapon will be returned.

People often purchase weapons to defend themselves and their homes. However, discharging a weapon may lead to criminal charges. Corey Thompson was arrested for firing a warning shot at a burglar that attempted to break into his home.

[Image via Wikimedia]

Man Arrested For Firing Warning Shot At Burglar is a post from: The Inquisitr

Throughout his near 400 visits to Florida clinics since July 7, 1977, 84-year-old Harold Mendenhall has reached a rare milestone – donating 100 gallons of lifesaving blood.

To understand the scope of his achievement, 100 gallons would fill the gas tanks of eight Honda Civics.

In smaller terms, there are 8 pints in a gallon, and per the average donation a person usually gives a single pint of blood. There are about 10 pints of blood circulating within an adult human body.

Mendenhall was inspired to start donating blood when his wife, Frankie, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She died seven years later. Mendenhall stopped by the blood bank on his way home from work on that particular day, because he found seven to be his lucky number, and began donating.

The charitable act seemed to aid in the bereavement process with the loss of Mendenhall’s wife, and later the death of his two sons, as the blood platelets he regularly donates help others in need.

One pint of whole blood can yield up to eight units of concentrated platelets, blood’s essential clotting factor. Patients with blood cancers, such as leukemia, often require platelet transfusions.

Extracted in a process called apheresis, platelet donors like Mendenhall typically give two pints of blood at a time. For plateletpheresis, the blood goes through an apparatus that separates the platelets from the other blood components and returns the fluid back to the patient. The ability to give two pints at once is the reason Mendenhall required only 400 donations to yield 100 gallons of blood and not 800, reports The Palm Beach Post.

Blood is a bodily fluid is responsible for delivering necessary nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transporting metabolic waste away from those same cells. It is composed of blood cells suspended in plasma. Plasma, which constitutes 55 percent of blood fluid, is mostly water and dissipated proteins, glucose, mineral ions like calcium, electrolytes like sodium, hormones, carbon dioxide, and actual blood cells.

Albumin is the main protein in plasma, regulating the colloidal osmotic pressure of blood. The blood cells are mainly red blood cells (erythrocytes) and white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets (thrombocytes).

Red blood cells are the most abundant and contain hemoglobin, an iron-dense protein which facilitates transportation of oxygen. In contrast, carbon dioxide is transported extracellularly as a dissolved bicarbonate ion within the plasma.

[Video, example of what to expect when giving blood for the first time]

As blood itself cannot be replicated or manufactured, donated blood is needed and used in a variety of medical situations – whether it be an emergency, surgical, or treatment based – as in the case of cancer, blood cells are often ravaged by chemo.

On average, one donation can save as many as three lives. Which means, in Mendenhall’s case he potentially aided 2,400 people. According to the American Red Cross – who supplies approximately 40 percent of the nation’s blood stock – every two seconds someone in the US needs blood, requiring at least 44,000 blood donations every day from eligible donors – healthy individuals who do not use or have a history of intravenous drugs or blood-borne diseases.

Healthy bone marrow produces a constant supply of red cells, plasma, and platelets. Therefore, the body of a donor is able to replenish theses elements within a matter of hours or weeks.

Only seven percent of people in the US have an O-negative blood type, which is considered universal – given to people of all blood types, and is typically used first in emergency situations before the receiver’s type is identified. Three percent of people in the US have AB-positive blood type which are universal donors of plasma. This type is often used in emergencies for patients requiring massive transfusions.

All contributed blood is tested for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and other infectious diseases before it can be released to hospitals.

People mistakenly assume blood and plasma can be stored indefinitely, but it is not the case. Once collected, on average, red blood cells are good for nearly 40 days, platelets are good for two to five days, and plasma can be frozen and used for up to one year.

[Image via Shutterstock]

Florida Man Donates 100 Gallons Of Blood is a post from: The Inquisitr

Obamacare starts in 2014, but 54 percent of Americans oppose the implementation of the Affordable Care Act passed several years ago in 2010.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, Obamacare starts when in 2014 private health insurance becomes a requirement for all employed United States citizens. But in actuality a huge chunk of Obamacare has already been implemented in the form of taxes and organizational changes within the IRS, which will oversee Obamacare.

Even before Obamacare starts some doctors are stopping insurance coverage. One doctor claims this allows them to eliminate the insurance paperwork and improve both patient care and the bottom line. But Obamacare supporters claim the electronic patient data required to be collected will allow doctors to provide better health care for less money.

When Obamacare starts the Affordable Care Act is likely to be unpopular. A CNN/ORC International poll reports 54 percent of Americans saying they oppose Obamacare. As might be predicted, only 16 percent of Republicans approve of Obamacare while 75 percent of Democrats support it. But 16 percent say they don’t support Obamacare because it does not go far enough and implement a government controlled single payer system.

CNN polling director Keating Holland explains the other statistical results:

“A majority of younger Americans favor the new health care law; support among other age groups falls as low as 31% among senior citizens. Only a third of whites support the law, compared to six in 10 nonwhites. Obamacare also wins majority support in urban areas and in the Northeast, the bluest region of the country.”

What’s most disconcerting is that even as Obamacare starts soon health insurance companies “don’t know what their costs will be next year. So they’re guessing. They’re guessing who will enter the exchanges. They’re guessing who will choose to buy their coverage. They’re guessing whether healthy, young people will obey the individual mandate or pay the penalty. They’re guessing what price they’ll need to be competitive against other insurers, given differences in the networks, benefits, etc. But as they’ll admit to you with a bit of anxiety, they really are just guessing.”

When Obamacare starts in 2014, what do you plan on doing?

Obamacare Starts In 2014, But 54 Percent Oppose The Affordable Care Act is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mermaids aren’t real but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t fascinating. More than 3.5 million people tuned in to watch the new mermaid hoax documentary on Animal Planet.

The fake documentary, called Mermaids: The New Evidence, brought in 3.6 million viewers and set a new ratings record for Animal Planet.

This is the second mermaid hoax documentary for Animal Planet. Last year they released Mermaid: The Body Found and an internet debate about the existence of mermaids. NOAA even released a statement to assure people that there was no evidence of aquatic sea people.

NOAA writes: “The belief in mermaids may have arisen at the very dawn of our species. Magical female figures first appear in cave paintings in the late Paleolithic (Stone Age) period some 30,000 years ago, when modern humans gained dominion over the land and, presumably, began to sail the seas. Half-human creatures, called chimeras, also abound in mythology — in addition to mermaids, there were wise centaurs, wild satyrs, and frightful minotaurs, to name but a few. But are mermaids real? No evidence of aquatic humanoids has ever been found.”

Animal Planet did its best to avoid the controversy this time around by adding a disclaimer before the documentary. Biologist Dr. Paul Robertson also said earlier this week that the documentary was based on questionable science. Robertson said that the information was presented in documentary form because they wanted to make it believable.

Robertson said: “I wanted the story to appeal to a sense of genuine possibility, and incorporating real science and evolutionary theory and real-world scientific examples — such as animals that have made the transition from land to sea, much as we suggest mermaids did — and citing real, albeit controversial theories like the Aquatic Ape Hypothesis, grounded it. Using a straight, documentarian approach made the story more persuasive by appealing more to a sense of intellectual possibility as well as emotional possibility.”

Mermaids: The New Evidence didn’t actually uncover any new evidence about mermaids but Animal Planet president Marjorie Kaplan is still proud of the mermaid hoax documentary for bringing in a big audience.

Kaplan said: “The phenomenon of Mermaids has truly been a watershed – and a watercooler – moment for Animal Planet … These extraordinary television specials have electrified, challenged and entertained television audiences and online fans alike.”

Mermaid Hoax Documentary Brings Record Ratings For Animal Planet is a post from: The Inquisitr

A Spanish-language trailer for Machete Kills has arrived online.

The first proper preview of director Robert Rodriguez’s action-packed sequel was made for the Spanish-speaking market. However, you can still appreciate the clip if you don’t understand the language. Anyone can enjoy what it has to offer.

After a brief introduction by Rodriguez and star Danny Trejo, the clip gets underway. It doesn’t waste anytime showcasing some of the madness moviegoers can expect from Machete Kills. The trailer also shows off many of the movie’s numerous cameos.

If you blink at any point during the embedded clip, then you run the risk of missing something. Feel free to run through the clip several times, as it only gets better on repeat viewings.

Featured among the familiar faces in the Machete Kills clips are Lady Gaga, William Sadler, Mel Gibson, a mustachioed Antonio Banderas, Amber Heard, and Sofia Vergara, among many others. You’ll even get a glimpse of the Modern Family star’s bra gun towards the end of the clip.

The first trailer also gives fans a sneak peek at Charlie Sheen (aka Carlos Estevez) as the President of the United States. The very idea of Sheen tackling this role may sound ridiculous, but it’s certainly in keeping with the film’s outrageous tone.

Here’s how Open Road Films is describing the sequel:

“Danny Trejo returns as ex-Federale agent Machete, who is recruited by the President of the United States for a mission which would be impossible for any mortal man – he must take down a madman revolutionary and an eccentric billionaire arms dealer who has hatched a plan to spread war and anarchy across the planet.”

Machete Kills isn’t the only flick Robert Rodriguez will be promoting later this year. The highly-anticipated follow-up Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is slated to arrive in theaters on October 4.

What do you think about the new Machete Kills trailer? Are you planning to catch the flick when it hits theaters on September 13?

‘Machete Kills’ Trailer Features Lady Gaga, Sofia Vergara [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

One look at the camera ready Brit Marling, and it’s easy to assume the blond actress must have had an easy path into the industry. Interestingly enough her story is a bit more unique. The 29-year-old beauty did what some actors are only now learning to do; she paved her own way by creating roles for herself. Gaining major attention from Sundance hits like Sound Of My Voice, and the sci-fi drama Another Earth, Marling has found the tricky medium of finding her voice while also being heard within the industry.

A graduate from Georgetown University with a degree in economics, Marling has written incredibly strong women. Her characters have distinctive passions that represent modern women more than anything one is bound to see in a good chunk of the top 10 box office films.  It can be argued that if the industry had more women writing the type of roles Marling features in her films, the conversation about women in the industry would be far different.

Marling’s latest film The East is with her like-minded collaborators Zal Batmanglij, and Mike Cahill.  The two classmates often trade off on directing Marling’s features. For her third feature she pairs back up with director and writing partner Zal Batmanglij. The East sees Marling as Sarah, a former FBI agent turned spy, whose job is to protect big corporations from eco-terrorist groups retaliating. In order to do this, Sarah infiltrates the latest collective “The East” and in the process her moral compass and beliefs shift.

For Marling it’s a complex story as she and Batmanglij tell their experience of spending a summer freegan-living, and embracing their gained perspective of the modern world.

 The Inquisitr’s Niki Cruz sat down with co-writer, producer, and actress Brit Marling to discuss the environmental issues featured in The East, and her experience with freegan living.

******

THE INQUISITR: What’s your perspective on the balance of the group you created? They consider themselves anarchists and yet in many ways the group can be oppressive.  There’s a certain amount of conformity, and yet they believe in individualism.

BRIT MARLING: I guess it’s true that whenever people come together in a group, there is this kind of group dynamic that takes over. Even if you’re a fringe group and you think you’re promoting freegan behavior you still assimilate to the people around you. I think it also stems from their politics. I think what’s interesting about these anarchist movements is that some of their activism is in the way they live their lives by being off the grid and not using the same energy sources. It could become its own rulebook. Part of it comes from the focus and persistence of their mission. They’re all there to wake people up and part of that is living in a way that keeps them awake.

THE INQUISITR: You and Zal [Batmanglij] immersed yourself into that freegan lifestyle for a summer. Did any of that carry over to the present time? Do you do any of those practices? Like dumpster diving?

MARLING: Yeah I think that when you have an experience like that it changes you. I don’t think we ever went back to the people that we were. It opens your perspective and you can never really close that again. It’s a hard thing figuring out how to live an accountable life where your existence isn’t imposing on all these people all over the world that you haven’t met before. It’s hard to break away from that. I think we all think about it all the time, and are frustrated about things. I think that’s why we wrote the movie.

THE INQUISITR: Did you have any specific scenarios in your real life adventures with that freegan life that made it into the movie? Were you tested in certain ways in terms of your authenticity?

MARLING: It was very hard. You can’t romanticize it, but there was also so much meaning in it by living in a tribe and sharing with everyone. I still think about it. Modern life can be really alienating. It’s funny, The East was totally made up. We never met anyone like The East, but we were certainly inspired by the philosophy from what they’re doing and how they’re living. Things like harvesting food and train hopping – we did all these things, but in terms of the culture jams that’s all made up. What isn’t made up is all the corporate crimes that happened in the movie.

THE INQUISITR: When you were writing Sarah did you devise her moral compass first and then work from the inside out as far as creating that character?

MARLING: Yeah I think what’s interesting is that there is a desire to get to the top. Sarah looks up to Sharon [Patricia Clarkson] for having the same tunnel vision and persistence to get to the corner office, and to get to the head of the company. I think that’s where her mind is set and then I think her moral compass is set in a different direction.

THE INQUISITR: Some people will take away from The East by saying it’s an issues driven film.

MARLING: I don’t think we could make something that’s didactic because I don’t think we know any of the answers. Sometimes I think when you’re making an issues movie it’s because you have an idea for a solution, and we don’t have one. It was nice to make a movie that promotes a dialogue that we’re all having.  If knowledge is some sort of mechanism for the cure, then you kind of have to have that knowledge to be talking about it first. That’s what we were trying to do. We wanted it to be about emotions.

THE INQUISITR: How about the material dealing with the pharmaceutical companies and the lack of testing they’re doing with these medications?

MARLING: That portion was actually pulled from a PBS special. People were taking these medications and were having a very adverse reaction to them. This woman took it as a preventative thing post sinus surgery and is now in a wheelchair. It’s complicated. It’s not like we’re against all pharmaceuticals. A lot of drugs save peoples lives.

THE INQUISITR: You get to develop the projects that you make and not a lot of actresses get to do that. You have the ability that if you don’t like the script you can just sit down and write one.

MARLING: It’s so competitive. There’s so many fiercely talented female actresses. It’s a necessity. You feel like you got to write not only to get yourself a job, but for all the women whose work you love.  There’s so many great women and not enough women writing for all of the great women that should be doing really challenging, cool stuff.

THE EAST HITS THEATERS ON MAY 31.

‘The East’s’ Brit Marling On Freegan Living And Dumpster Diving [Exclusive] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Spider-Man and Captain America recently got into a fight on the streets of Hollywood, California.

Being a superhero impersonator is a tough business when other like-minded individuals are trying to make a buck. Since there can only be so many heroes in the same space, apparently a trio of performers decided to fight it out front of the Dolby Theater on Wednesday.

Witnesses said that no less than three superhero impersonators, one Spider-Man and two Captain Americas, started shoving each other around in a dispute over this particular section of Hollywood Boulevard. Apparently all three couldn’t decide who deserved to pose for photos with tourists.

Madame Tussauds’ kiosk worker Vernardo Stroud said the argument soon started getting very ugly. All three superhero impersonators began circling the kiosk as amused tourists looked on.

“Captain America just hit one of [the Captain Americas], and Spider-Man started bleeding. I was just stunned at the moment. Then all of a sudden, it just got to me … I got to get them out of the way. The tourists just looked around like they were enjoying the moment,” Stroud explained.

Juan Diego, one of the Captain America impersonators involved in the fight, said the argument was over who deserved to work the area. Diego added that some of the people dressed as superheroes are giving everyone else a bad name.

“That is not good for the image, the perception, for the spirit of Hollywood,” he added.

An area Batman impersonator also weighed in on the villainous superheroes who are plaguing the area. According to the Caped Crusdar, some of the these wannabes are putting tourists in a very tight spot.

“There are a group of characters who are actually strong-arming tourists and actually asking for $20 tips, which is ridiculous. And they force them to pay,” Batman (aka A.C. Simmons) explained.

Although Spider-Man was left bleeding and the Captain Americas were knocking each other around at one point, no arrests have been made. The superhero impersonators live on to fight another day.

Spider-Man, Captain America Impersonators Fight In Hollywood is a post from: The Inquisitr

I use to collect coupon machine coupons like they were candy … or crack rocks.

The Only Reason We Wanted To Go Shopping With Mom [Childhood Memories] is a post from: The Inquisitr