Actor Michael Douglas claims oral sex caused his throat cancer.

Speaking to The Guardian Douglas says he contracted HPV after performing oral sex. Douglas was diagnosed with HPV three years ago.

Douglas, also a drinker and smoker, was asked if he ever regretted his vices to which he responded:

“No, because without wanting to get too specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV [human papillomavirus], which actually comes about from cunnilingus. I did worry if the stress caused by my son’s incarceration didn’t help trigger it. But yeah, it’s a sexually transmitted disease that causes cancer. And if you have it, cunnilingus is also the best cure for it.”

Diagnosed with stage four cancer in August 2010 the 68-year-old actor eventually managed to beat the disease with the support of wife Catherine Zeta-Zones and his children.

Digital Spy quotes Douglas who recalls discovering he had cancer:

“I will always remember the look on his face [Douglas' doctor] … He said: ‘We need a biopsy’. There was a walnut-size tumour at the base of my tongue that no other doctor had seen.”

Douglas was able to beat his bout with throat cancer after undergoing a heavy round of chemotherapy over an eight-week period. Douglas followed his chemo with radiation.

It should be noted that HPV type 16 has been established beyond a reasonable doubt to cause oropharyngeal cancer.

Doctors note that Douglas’ claim that oral sex can actually help cure the condition is false.

Michael Douglas‘ oral sex actions may have helped contribute to his cancer scare but two years later he is still cancer free and living life.

While determining if Michael Douglas’ penchant for oral sex led to his disease is hard, it sure gives him a much better excuse than smoking or drinking too much.

Michael Douglas Says Oral Sex Caused His Cancer is a post from: The Inquisitr

Google Glass wearers will not be able to download and utilize facial tracking apps in the near future. The Project Glass team on Friday announced that Google Glassware, the new name for Google Glass apps, will not feature the ability to easily track the faces of people Google Glass wearers stare at on the streets.

Announced on the official Google Glass page on Google+ the developers promise that feedback already submitted will keep them from impacting privacy with facial recognition.

Here’s what the Google Glass develop team has to say about facial recognition apps:

“When we started the Explorer Program nearly a year ago our goal was simple: we wanted to make people active participants in shaping the future of this technology ahead of a broader consumer launch. We’ve been listening closely to you, and many have expressed both interest and concern around the possibilities of facial recognition in Glass. As Google has said for several years, we won’t add facial recognition features to our products without having strong privacy protections in place. With that in mind, we won’t be approving any facial recognition Glassware at this time.

We’ve learned a lot from you in just a few weeks and we’ll continue to learn more as we update the software and evolve our policies in the weeks and months ahead.”

This isn’t the first time project managers for Google Glass have spoken out against facial recognition. Two weeks ago they wrote that face recognition will not arrive  ”unless we have strong privacy protections in place.”

Google Glass in the meantime has already been hacked for side-loading apps which means Google could be powerless in stopping the use of third-party facial recognition software.

Google Glass has been questioned because of privacy protection issues, the question now will be whether or not those issues can be resolved or if Google Glass etiquette will ultimately fall in the hands of Google customers.

Google Glass Won’t Get Facial Recognition Apps, For Now is a post from: The Inquisitr

The sci-fi blockbuster After Earth was expected to top the box office this weekend but the father son duo of Will and Jaden Smith couldn’t derail Fast And Furious 6.

The sixth installment in the car chase series topped the box office again this weekend adding another $34.5 million to its global total of $480 million.

After Earth also finished behind Now You See Me. The street magician movie starring Jesse Eisenberg took in a total of $28.1 million at the domestic box office this weekend, narrowly beating the new Smith movie which brought in a disappointing $27 million.

‘Fast And Furious 6′ Tops Box Office Again is a post from: The Inquisitr

A teenager has filed a lawsuit against United Airlines, claiming the company failed to protect its passengers from inappropriate, sexually lewd behavior on a flight from New York to Los Angeles last October.

Monica Amestoy, 18, alleges that while on the aforementioned flight she, then 17, observed a seatmate across the aisle exposing and pleasuring himself, reports the local CBS News affiliate. The girl alerted a flight attendant and the perpetrator ceased self-service until the attendant left, then resumed, blatantly exposing his penis.

When Amestoy complained again she was told by the flight crew there was nothing more they could do. Yet in a recent Alaska Airlines Flight 132 incident, when a disruptive passenger attempted to open the emergency exit during the flight, he was subdued, restrained, and arrested. Why were crew members on the Los Angeles-bound flight unwilling to do the same?

According to the plaintiff, “I was terrified and disgusted throughout the flight and kept hoping that the man would stop, but he did not.” Alternately seeking some sort of workable resolution, the offended teen asked to be relocated, or have the man reseated elsewhere. Amestoy was told there were no available seats in their class and the crew continued to dismiss her grievance – taking no further action.

The girl’s father reported the incident to authorities and the in-flight masturbator admitted guilt.

Amestoy is being represented by Gloria Allred, an American civil rights attorney who is noted for taking high-profile and often controversial cases, particularly involving the protection of women’s rights. The suit accuses United Airlines of negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment – for an undisclosed amount of damages.

United Airlines has released a statement since saying, “The comfort and security of our customers is our top priority, and we will closely review this complaint when we receive it.”

[Image via Shutterstock]

Teen Sues United Airlines Over Masturbating Passenger is a post from: The Inquisitr

Justin Bieber has an army of critics, but one man who’s firmly in his corner is his former mentor, Usher.

The 34-year-old singer addressed the tide of negative headlines and seemingly never-ending incidents engulfing the teen singer in a candid sit-down on The Ellen DeGeneres Show last week.

DeGeneres has herself been supportive of the teen singer for years, and the 55-year-old host approached the subject with noticeable tact.

“Can we talk about young Justin Bieber for a second?”she asked.

Degeneres continued: “Justin Bieber, who is you know, I love him, he’s been here many times. We had him on the show first.”

At this point Usher cut in, agreeing: “I brought him here first, right.”

Awkwardly searching for words, DeGeneres added: “We’ve been with him the whole way. He seems to be um — he’s um — he’s um …”

Usher interjected: “Keyword. You started with young.”

More than likely thinking of his own precocious start in the music business — he signed his first record deal aged 15, as did Bieber — the “OMG” star said:

“I think all of us in some way you know have humble beginnings that pan out to be incredible, and we hope that you know that in his transition — his friends and family who have helped him be who he is — that he’ll continue to just mature.”

Unwittingly, Usher raises an interesting point. He was, after all, instrumental in, well, ushering in the Canadian’s ascent to uber fame and fortune.

Scooter Braun, Bieber’s then and now manager, brought the then only Internet star into The Voice judge’s orbit in late 2007. Himself already a superstar and keen to develop younger artists, Usher loved what he heard and saw. Together with Braun, the pair signed the Stratford, Ontario native to a production deal under an umbrella 360 deal inked by L.A Reid at Island Def Jam Music Group.

What followed next was a carefully orchestrated plan to turn Bieber into the biggest child star on the planet. And it worked like a dream.

Hits flew from his debut EP My World in 2009, encored by My World 2.0 and My World Acoustic in 2010. The following year produced a Christmas album packed with high profile collaborations such as Mariah Carey and Boys II Men, then 2012′s Believe and 2013′s Believe Acoustic. Sell out world tours, ceaseless promo, 2011′s nearly $100 million grossing concert-biopic Never Say Never, brand endorsements, notable award wins as Artist of the Year at the 2010 and 2012 American Music Awards, nominations at the 2011 Grammys, 15 million plus record sales, with Bieber named Forbes’ third most powerful celebrity in the world in 2012 and “Baby” now the highest certified single in history.

But, has the price Bieber paid for stratospheric success been too high?

Two challenged paternity suits, almost criminal levels of paparazzi attention, the tabloidization of his personal life, numerous dedicated hate blogs, constant media mocking of his physique, dress-sense, remarks — and over the last three months — excruciating headlines generated by an admittedly bizarre string of incidents on the singer’s Believe world tour, and off it.

The 19-year-old is also the subject of two police investigations: one for alleged battery of a neighbor in his Calabasas, Los Angeles gated community in March. The other a days-old alleged reckless driving incident that has just been thrown a curve ball by rapper-producer Tyler, The Creator, who says he was driving the singer’s Ferrari at the time in question.

But what part does possible burn out play in these events? And, if not that last case scenario, how much of Bieber’s so-called “erratic behavior” is due to the trauma of fame, the frenzied scrutiny of his every move, and the distortion that kind of violation undoubtedly produces?

Usher was part of the decision to set a young boy on a path that offered huge gains but also huge risks. He even admitted on DeGeneres’ show that child stars often crash and burn. While he didn’t deny his protege’s own responsibility for his actions, he instead talked about the pervasiveness of social media.

“In this days and age of social media, there is no privacy and that kind of trial and elimination period is kind of done in front of a camera,” Usher said.

He added: “It’s been done and many many other celebrities are a product of it and some come out bad and some come out good.”

Sounds like a roll of the dice, but he’s talking about the act of thrusting a minor into a life and a lifestyle that has felled bigger and badder adults. Think Robert Judy Garland, Michael Jackson, Robert Downey Jr. (pre- turnaround), Heath Ledger, Sean Penn circa Madonna and Matthew Perry.

And among the younger generation: River Phoenix, Macaulay Culkin, Eddie Furlong, Drew Barrymore, Aaron Carter, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and many more.

“I am hoping for the best,” Usher said towards the end of the episode. “I don’t look at it as a negative though, I look at it as a teenager — he’s a teenager having to live his life in front of a camera. Imagine if you had to do that as a teenager.”

All good points. But who helped push Justin Bieber in front of those cameras and made a fortune while doing it if not Braun and Usher, who failed to tell a boy and his naive mother what they were really letting themselves in for?

[Image via Featureflash / Shutterstock.com]

Usher Backs Bieber Against Backlash, But Is He Partly To Blame? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Bernadette Hernandez, the mother of Grammy winner Bruno Mars, died in Hawaii Saturday.

According to a publicist for Mars’ label, Atlantic Records, Hernandez died from a brain aneurysm at Queens Medical Center in Honolulu. She was 55 years old.

Bernadette Hernandez was a hula dancer and singer who moved from the Philippines to Hawaii. She was supportive of her six children’s early musical ambitions, and a 4-year-old Mars even wrote a song about her called, “I Love You Mom.” In the song, he says, “My mommy helps me with my voice, cuz a superstar singer is my first choice.” Mars’ brother, Eric, plays the drums in his bands, and his four sisters — Presley, Tahiti, Tiara, and Jamie — created their own group, the Lylas (Love you like a sister).

The sisters landed a reality series of the same name on WEtv, which will chronicle their move from Honolulu to L.A. to pursue their own music career. The network has committed to eight hour-long episodes, which will premiere in the fall.

It was initially reported by Star magazine that Hernandez suffered a heart attack Friday and had been rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Family friend Anita Sojot told the rag, “Bernadette is in the hospital and the grandkids are all here, I’m looking after them. The family is on its way here right now and we are going to discuss what to do next.”

Mars spoke to Rolling Stone magazine about his childhood in April, including how he impersonated Elvis Presley in the family band when he was two, and how, when the band broke up, the family struggled to pay its bills. But Mars said he doesn’t regret the experience.

“I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Because I feel like I can enjoy this so much,” he said.

Bruno Mars was set to begin his “Moonshine Jungle Tour” this month, but there is no word yet on whether his mother’s death will affect the tour schedule.

We here at The Inquisitr extend our condolences to Bruno Mars and the Hernandez family.

[Photo credit: Presley Hernandez / Instagram]

Bruno Mars’ Mother Dies Of Brain Aneurysm [Report] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Steven Seagal is apparently an international man of mystery with a deep and abiding friendship with Russian president Vladimir Putin that rivals the sickeningly sweet bromance between Kim Jong Un and Dennis Rodman himself. But it still wasn’t enough to help him find any meaningful clues to the Boston Bombing for a six-member US Congressional delegation currently in Russia.

The Washington Post reported that Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) spoke at a news conference at the US Embassy in Moscow, with Steven Seagal in attendance. Rohrabacher summed up the results of multiple conferences, including separate meetings with Vladimir Putin and Chechnyan strongman Ramzan Kadyrov.

As Todd Rigney reported earlier, Seagal had made plans to accompany Rohrabacher into Chechnya — and he even attempted to arrange for Putin to come along. However, Rohrabacher explained that the delegation couldn’t accept that invitation because of House rules about accepting expensive gifts — including the flights on Seagal’s private jet.

At Sunday’s press conference, Rorhabacher also acknowledged that the delegation actually uncovered few, if any, clues to the Boston bombing in Russia. However, the representative said that the trip was productive anyway because it underlined the need for Russia and the United States to work together to fight a common enemy.

“Radical Islam is at our throat in the United States, and is at the throat of the Russian people,” Rorhabacher said.

He thanked Seagal several times for his help, although it wasn’t entirely clear what the action star had contributed to the investigation of the Boston bombing case other than setting up some meetings that ultimately didn’t lead to any new information.

I hope Steven Seagal was genuinely trying to be helpful, instead of just wanting to impress us all again that he’s such good friends with Vladimir Putin. Because if he was really using the Boston bombing tragedy for a new publicity stunt, that’s just sad.

What do you think about Steven Seagal?

[Steven Seagal photo by K. Zhestovskaya via Wikimedia Commons]

Steven Seagal Somehow Fails To Find Boston Bombing Clues In Russia is a post from: The Inquisitr

A 50-year-old man was arrested for having sex with a pit bull while touring a city pound.

Gerardo Perez was taking a tour of the Chicago Animal Care and Control Facility last Wednesday, but left the group. A pound employee later found him in a restricted are of the facility and told him to leave.  The employee returned shortly afterward and “found [the] defendant still in a cage with a white and gray pit bull,” according to Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Amanda Pillsbury.

“Defendant made inculpatory statements regarding sexual conduct with the dog to other facility employees,” she added.

A security guard at the facility demanded that Perez hand over his driver’s license, and police arrested him at his home Friday on two charges: felony sexual conduct with an animal and burglary.

At the time of this writing, Perez was still being held on $80,000 bond. Perez is scheduled to appear in court on June 7.

Gerardo Perez isn’t the only person to get busted engaging in sexual activity with a canine this year. In February, a Las Vegas woman was arrested for having sex with a pit bull in her backyard. Kara Vandereyk was in plain view of her neighbors and also appeared to be under the influence when police arrested her. The 23-year-old claimed that she was engaging in sexual activity with the pit bull because she is bipolar, and she admitted to taking prescription medication, which she couldn’t identify. Vandereyk was charged with open and gross lewdness.

Last month, a North Carolina man was arrested for doing … something with a chihuahua. Jeffrey Edward Bynner was arrested and charged with “unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously” committing an “abominable and detestable crime against nature” with the little dog. However, police aren’t revealing the exact details of the 24-year-old’s crime, which is probably for the best.

Man Arrested For Sex With Pit Bull At Chicago Pound is a post from: The Inquisitr

Harrisburg, PA – A federal civil rights probe has discovered that a Pennsylvania state prison kept seriously mentally ill inmates in solitary confinement for months, even years at a time.

According to the findings of the US Justice Department investigation, the State Correctional Institution at Cresson off US Route 22 – an all-male medium-security facility – violated the constitutional rights of inmates with mental illness and intellectual disabilities, under the terms of the Constitution and Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Cresson prison, which was built in 1913, houses about 1,500 inmates.

Prisoners suffering with extreme mental illness were often retained inside their cells nearly 24 hours a day – left to languish, decompensate, and harm themselves – reflecting the serious deficiencies in its mental health program. The review also revealed a denial of basic needs and use of excessive force.

On January 8, 2013 the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections officials announced the prison would be closing in June. However, the Justice Department is concerned the misuse of solitary confinement could extend to prisons statewide. Therefore, the department is expanding its investigation to include all state prisons.

Solitary confinement is a special form of imprisonment in which a prisoner is isolated from human contact, with the exception of members of prison staff. It is sometimes employed as a form of punishment beyond incarceration for a prisoner and has been cited as an additional measure of protection from the inmate or is given for violations of prison regulations. Solitary is also used as a form of protective custody and to implement a suicide watch.

Critics argue that this method of punishment does not rehabilitate inmates but rather serves to promote psychological harm. Solitary Confinement is considered to be a form of psychological torture when the period of confinement is longer than a few weeks or is continued indefinitely.

The abuse of solitary or prolonged detention where individuals are forcibly isolated can cause or add to preexisting bouts of depression, mental strain, psychosis, encourage self-mutilation and suicidal tendencies.

[Image via Shutterstock]

Solitary Confinement Misused In Pennsylvania Prison is a post from: The Inquisitr

Two American Idol contestants got married on Saturday evening in a ceremony at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard hotel in Los Angeles. According to People, 32-year-old Ace Young and 25-year-old Diana DeGarmo exchanged wedding vows they had written themselves.

Neither contestant was a winner, but DeGarmo was a runner-up in season three. Young appeared in season five.

In a romantic gesture, Ace Young proposed to Diana DeGarmo live during the American Idol 11th season finale.

There were 250 guests that included several other people associated with American Idol, as well as DeGarmo’s costars from The Young and the Restless.

Renée Strauss, the wedding planner, told People’s Steve Heller that the couple wanted to put a personal touch on their nuptials. It sounds like they did.

In addition to composing their own vows, the bride wore custom made blue cowboy boots with her white beaded wedding dress. The newly wedded pair apparently departed together to the musical blasts of Led Zeppelin’s “All of My Love.” So you know, it was a typical broke couple’s wedding in 1978 — only at a luxury hotel in Los Angeles for about $100,000 more than the original.

I know. You thought all those champagne corks popping off were to celebrate the too-long delayed departure of feuding Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj from the American Idol panel.

The Carey/Minaj feud was — dare I say it? — stale and boring. American Idol ratings have continued their slow slide in the highly desirable age 18-49 demographic, also known as the group of people who actually have money to spend on what advertisers are selling.

The recent finale hit an all-time ratings low for the Fox competition show.

So if Young had decided to propose to DeGarmo on the season 12 finale instead, I guess nobody would have seen it. Heh.

All joking aside, congratulations to the happy couple that might never have come together without American Idol.

[Diana DeGarmo photo by carrie-nelson / Shutterstock.com]

‘American Idol’ Contestants Ace Young And Diana DeGarmo Marry is a post from: The Inquisitr

Former Glee star Charice has officially put an end to speculation about her sexuality.

The Filipina singer told The Buzz host Boy Abunda, “Opo, tomboy po ako,” which means “Yes, I’m a lesbian” in Tagalog.

“Now I feel free,” she said. “I can go out of the house without fear and certain that I’m not stepping on anybody’s toe.”

The 21-year-old tearfully asked for forgiveness from those who might not be able to accept her sexuality.

“To those who can accept me, thank you very much,” she said. “We are all equal, whether you are gay or straight.”

She also reportedly had a “coming out” party for her 21st birthday, and thanked her fans for their support.

Charice had previously avoided answering questions about her sexual preference once rumors started spreading that she was gay when she started opting for a more “tomboyish” look, which she described as “edgy and rock.” She said it was her “evolving” and dismissed the transformation as a sort of a rebellion.

Charice, who was dubbed by Oprah as the “Most Talented Girl in the World,” released her first international studio album, Charice, in 2010. The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at #8, making Charice the first Asian solo singer ever to land in the top 10 on the chart. That same year, she made her debut in the second season of Glee as Sunshine Corazon, an exchange student from the Philippines and a rival to Rachel Berry (Lea Michele). Charice didn’t return for the third season, but said that working on the show was a “great experience.”

In March 2012, Charice signed on to be a judge and mentor for the Filipino version of The X Factor, which premiered on ABS-CBN in June. The second season will premiere in mid-2014, but it is unclear whether Charice will be returning, as she is hoping to continue pursuing a musical career in the US.

You can watch Charice’s interview with Boy Abunda below.

Former ‘Glee’ Star Charice Comes Out: ‘Yes, I’m A Lesbian’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Three storm chasers were killed this week while tracking a tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma.

The three men, Tim Samaras, his son Paul Samaras, and Carl Young, were once featured on the Discovery Channel show Storm Chasers. Samaras also founded the company Twistex,  the Tactical Weather Instrumented Sampling in Tornadoes Experiment, which studied tornadoes and other violent storms.

The company released a statement on its Facebook page, saying: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share this news… on Friday, May 31, Tim Samaras, his son, Paul Samaras, and Carl Young lost their lives in the El Reno, OK tornado. This is a devastating loss to the meteorological, research, and storm chasing communities. I ask that you keep the families in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time. There is some comfort in knowing these men passed on doing what they loved… Your support means the world. Thank you.”

According to CNN, the storm chasers’ car was found at an intersection on Sunday morning. The vehicle had been “crushed like a tin can” and was “twisted beyond recognition.”

Local authorities did not provide details about the incident but Canadian County Undersheriff Chris West praised the man for their efforts to educate people about storms.

West said: “We also want to say that storm chasers and meteorologists and news stations, that’s part of the vital link in getting the word out to people so that they don’t become victims. A lot of these individuals have dedicated many years of their lives to going out and assisting and tracking storms, and getting footage and putting themselves in harm’s way so they can educate the public to the destructive power of these storms.”

The storm chasers were three of at least nine people killed in the tornadoes this weekend. Dozens more were killed earlier this week when a series of tornadoes ripped through Moore, Oklahoma.

Three Storm Chasers Killed By Tornado In Oklahoma is a post from: The Inquisitr

Channing Tatum and his wife, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, have welcomed their first baby together in London, according to several media outlets.

Us Weekly and MSN report that the couple’s child was born Thursday, May 30 in London. The gender and name of the child are not yet known.

Tatum and his wife are currently in London while the Magic Mike actor films Jupiter Ascending.

The 33-year-old star and his actress wife of four years announced their pregnancy in December. In a previous interview with Ryan Seacrest, Tatum confirmed that his wife would deliver the couple’s baby in London due to his commitment to the upcoming Wachowski-helmed science fiction film.

“We’re going to actually have the baby in London while I’m shooting, and then there will be no downtime whatsoever after that,” he revealed.

Tatum-Dewan, whose acting credits include Witches of East End and American Horror Story: Asylum revealed that her husband has been nothing but supportive while she has been pregnant.

“Channing has been great,” she told Glamour in April. “Who knows what kind of parents we’ll be? We have two dogs, so we’ve had some practice! And as soon as this baby comes into the world, Channing and I will figure it out real fast.”

Though they married in 2009, Tatum and his wife have been together for nearly eight years. In a separate interview, he talked a bit about what he and Jenna do to keep their relationship strong.

“You have to want it. Jenna’s and my thing is checking in with each other all the time, like ‘On a scale from 1 to 10, how much do you love me right now?’ And you gotta be honest, and you’ve got to want an honest answer.”

Are you a fan of Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan-Tatum? Leave your congrats for the new parents in the comments below!

[Image via: s_bukley / Shutterstock]

Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan Welcome Baby In London [Report] is a post from: The Inquisitr

In 1903, the New York Highlanders officially became the New York Yankees. At the time, Bernando LaPallo was already three-years-old. The 111-year-old fan has been watching his favorite baseball team for more than a century and this weekend he got a chance to meet the latest generation of Yankee players throw the ball around at the new Yankee Stadium.

LaPallo has collected countless memories over the last 100 years.

He remembers meeting Babe Ruth when he first came to the team 93 years ago. He remembers going to games at Hilltop Park, the team’s first stadium. And he remembers going to opening day at the first Yankee Stadium in 1923.

The 111-year-old fan made a new memory this weekend when he visited the new Yankee Stadium, built in 2009, to meet the team’s latest generation of all-stars. According to MLB.com, LaPallo got to talk to Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter and manager Joe Girardi about the Yankees’ rich history.

LaPallo said: “This day has got me choked up … I never thought I would live to see a new Yankee Stadium when I lived before the first one. I never thought about it.”

In addition to being a 111-year-old baseball fan, LaPallo is also a World War II veteran, a massage therapist, a hotel manager, and an author. LaPallo published his first book, Age Less Live More, in 2007 and will soon be releasing his second book, Beyond 100 – How To Live Well Into Your Second Century.

111 years old. Same age as American League. Met Babe Ruth. Has zero wrinkles. Bernando LaPallo is amazing: atmlb.com/12nPffD

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 1, 2013

The captain catches up with the #Yankees oldest fan, Bernando LaPallo. Bernando is 111 years old. vine.co/v/b3azDV1dMjM

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 1, 2013

[Image Via Wikipedia]

111-Year-Old Fan Is Older Than The Yankees is a post from: The Inquisitr

Most women will tell you that giving birth is anything but pleasurable, but for a small percentage of women, the experience can result in orgasm.

“Orgasmic” or “ecstatic” birth isn’t terribly common — it only occurs in about 0.3 percent of births, according to a study in the journal Sexologies — but anatomically, it makes sense, according to Barry Komisaruk, a professor of psychology at Rutgers University.

“It’s stimulation of the birth canal, stimulation of the cervix, the vagina and the clitoris and uterine contractions,” he said. “A lot of women say during sexual orgasms, uterine contractions feel pleasurable.”

Studies have also shown that orgasms can relieve pain, which lends more credence to the notion of an orgasmic birth. Part of that can be attributed to oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone,” which is released before and during an orgasm. And according to Beverley Whipple, professor emerita at Rutgers, in women who masturbated to achieve orgasm, “the pain tolerance threshold and pain detection threshold increased significantly by 74.6 percent and 106.7 percent respectively.”

Childbirth educator Debra Pascali-Bonaro, however, said that the idea of orgasmic birth is off-putting to some people.

“People see ‘birth’ and ‘orgasmic’ together on paper, and it pushes all their buttons on sexuality,” she said. She also said that American women are often unable to move around freely during the birthing process, which makes it less likely that they will experience a pleasurable birth.

That’s not all. Women are also capable of experience multiple orgasms during birth, with each lasting between 10 and 15 seconds. Again, not entirely surprising when you consider that women are capable of experiencing multiple orgasms during intercourse, by sheer force of will, or even while thinking about Popeyes chicken.

The Sexologies study, which was conducted by French psychologist Thierry Postel, surveyed 956 midwifes. He received 109 complete responses from midwives who, combined, had assisted in 206,000 births. What Postel found was that “obstetrical pleasure exists,” and that in 668 cases, the midwives said the mothers felt orgasmic sensations during birth. In 868 cases, the midwives reported witnessing signs of pleasure during birth. Finally, nine mothers reported experiencing orgasm during birth. Pascali-Bonaro, however, said the numbers may be lower since Postel asked midwives and not the mothers themselves.

At one of the screenings for her documentary, Orgasmic Birth: The Best-Kept Secret, Pascali-Bonaro said a woman stood up and said, “Doctor, I gave birth with you three years ago, and I had a very orgasmic birth, with an orgasm, but what makes you think I would tell you?”

Perhaps another study, one that goes directly to the source, will find that orgasmic births occur in a larger percentage of women.

Are you surprised to learn that some women have orgasms during birth?

Orgasms During Childbirth Are Real, Study Suggests is a post from: The Inquisitr

Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine recently revealed that marriage is on his radar, so long as it’s the right time, in a recent interview on Oprah’s Next Chapter. Interestingly, it was fellow Voice judge Blake Shelton’s marriage that has warmed Levine to the idea of matrimony.

Levine, whose own parents separated when he was seven, said in a May 2013 interview that he wasn’t likely to marry, saying that he didn’t want to chance getting divorced.

“If you don’t get married, you can’t get divorced,” he said. ”Why couldn’t we learn from the devastatingly low percentage of successful marriages that our last generation went through?”

But it seems that observing Voice co-judge Blake Shelton, who is married to country singer Miranda Lambert, has softened the Maroon 5 singer to the idea of marriage.

“Hearing Blake talk about [marriage], it’s great,” he said. “I’m a fan of marriage. People think that I keep pooh-poohing marriage, but I love it.”

He also implied that if the timing is right, he’d like to be married sooner rather than later.

“I want to probably be married at some point,” he said. ”I don’t feel pressure to get married. I think that when it’s time, it’s going to be obvious and I’m going to do it and I’m going to really enjoy it.”

Levine has a reputation as a ladies’ man, most recently linked to 21-year-old supermodel Nina Agdal. But sources say that the relationship isn’t too serious yet.

“It’s still new,” a source explained to Us Weekly.

Before Agdal, Levine dated model Behati Prinsloo. Prior to her, he was in a two-year relationship with Victoria’s Secret model Anne Vyalitsyna. He definitely has a type.

You can check out a video of Adam Levine’s comments on marriage below, and tune in to the full interview June 2, at 9pm ET on OWN.

[Image via: Helga Esteb / Shutterstock]

Adam Levine Hopes To Be Married Someday [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

We frequently hear about gas prices being too high, jumping $.20 to $.35 quickly, seemingly overnight without obvious provocation, and sluggishly falling in contrast by a few mere pennies when they do drop.

We’ve seen record peaks of gas prices well above $4 a gallon. But is it possible for gas prices to be too low? My answer, as well as the majority of people putting an average of $200 to $400 a month into their gas tanks: no. I long for the days when it cost $15 to fill my car for the week. But Wisconsin’s official answer: yes, it is possible for prices to be too low.

Wisconsin state authorities have stepped in to investigate after a month-long price war between four local gas stations in Oconto County went awry, recently offering prices as low as $3.39 a gallon – nearly $.50 less than other stations in the area. During the price war, stations consistently had vehicles lined up to fill up.

You’d think the authorities wouldn’t care how the businesses price their fuel in order to entice customers as long as they are not criminally ripping off patrons, but per Wisconsin state law the gas distributed must be sold at a minimum mark up of nine percent above wholesale cost. This is meant to protect smaller companies from being out-discounted.

Investigators from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection are looking in to whether the prices offered by the Krist, Mobil, Shell, and BP stations were illegally low. The argument could be they’re not necessarily guilty of criminal behavior, but simply price-matching their competition.

To the disappointment of locals, the prices have since returned to a nationally similar price-point of around $3.73.

Several factors can influence the price at the pump. Crude oil is traded in a global market whereas gasoline is part of a regional market. However, crude oil prices are important in determining gasoline prices because crude is the primary raw material used to produce gasoline and may account for over half the price of a gallon of gasoline.

Short-term availability in supply versus the market demand can affect the pricing of gasoline. Many states require specific formulations – as many as 18 separate gasoline formulas for different regions of the country – and it is often difficult to import gasoline supplies from one region to another. Each gallon of gasoline is also subject to numerous taxes and fees, which vary by state.

Do you feel gas prices are too high? How much would be considered a fair price for a gallon of gas?

[Image via Shutterstock]

Can Gas Prices Be Too Low is a post from: The Inquisitr

Next time you go to a fast food restaurant and get a soda, you might want to skip the ice. Restaurant ice might be dirtier than toilet water, according to bacterial testing done in major chains.

Though we can’t speak for The States, six out of ten of Britain’s most popular high street restaurants had their ice tested for bacteria, and the results were positively stomach-turning.

Branches of McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, and even Starbucks were tested, with their ice apparently containing more bacteria than that found in toilet water, meaning that if you’re parched after a Big Mac combo, you might be better off taking a straw to the ‘loo with you.

Though the information is puzzling, experts say that ice is probably dirtier than toilet water because bathrooms are routinely cleaned, while an ice machine generally isn’t. 

Thankfully, none of the samples proved immediately dangerous to the health of restaurant patrons, but four such samples did contain such high levels of microbes that the ice could be considered a “hygiene risk.”

Many other samples simply showed “poor hygiene,” with a few containing more bacteria than experts normally see in drinking water. About twice the amount, actually.

“This is a warning,” said Dr. Melody Greenwood, a former laboratory director for the Health Protection Agency.

“It is easy to forget ice can carry bacteria because they think it is too cold for germs, but that is far from the truth. Nasty bugs such as E.coli can lurk in ice machines. In some cases, such as Nando’s, we found double the amount of bacteria we would expect to find [in drinking water]. This is caused by things such as a failure to clean machines and scoops used by staff.”

Three companies have disputed the findings, while the rest are reviewing their cleaning procedures.

“We are working with the franchisee to investigate the situation,” said a Burger King spokesperson. KFC and Cafe Rouge echoed with similar statements.

McDonald’s and Starbucks disputed the tests, with the former claiming that their ice contained acceptable levels of bacteria and the latter claiming that an employee accidentally contaminated the ice sample tested.

Nando’s refuted the tests outright, claiming that the results do not “demonstrate any failings.”

What do you think? Could ice be dirtier than toilet water at your local restaurant.

[Image via: Boule / Shutterstock]

Restaurant Ice Is Dirtier Than Toilet Water Says Disgusting New Report is a post from: The Inquisitr

The deadly MERS-CoV virus has arrived in Italy, according to a statement this weekend from the World Health Organization (WHO).

As The Inquisitr previously reported, the new SARS-like coronavirus may have the potential to pose a worldwide threat. At the time of that report, WHO said that all known cases had either been discovered in the Middle East or else involved patients who either traveled to the Middle East themselves or had a close contact who did.

WHO’s update on MERS-CoV on Friday said that there had been 50 confirmed cases with 30 deaths — an extremely high percentage for a contagious respiratory disease.

On Sunday, WHO confirmed that the first three cases of the MERS-CoV deadly virus had now appeared in Italy. A 45-year-old man who traveled to Jordan returned home and apparently infected two female contacts, a 42-year-old woman and a 2-year-old girl.

So far, all three patients are in stable condition.  The man, who spent 40 days traveling in Jordan, is reportedly in good condition now.

MERS-CoV is a coronavirus, which means that in addition to being related to the deadly SARS which killed 800 people in 2003, it’s also a relative of the common cold.

At the moment, WHO doesn’t fully understand how MERS-CoV is spread. It is contagious but it may not be that easy to get it from a casual contact. Their statement noted that:

“Thus far, all clusters of cases have occurred in a health care setting or among close family contacts.  Human-to-human transmission has been documented on several occasions in which secondary cases had not traveled to affected areas and is strongly suspected in others. Transmission does not appear to have extended beyond these clusters into the larger community in any of the events.”

Let’s hope that the three MERS-CoV deadly virus cases in Italy will be the last.

[virus photo by Psim via Shutterstock]

MERS-CoV Deadly Virus: Italy Reports Its First Cases Of Spreading Disease [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ben Daniels could be the next Doctor Who protagonist.

It’s time once again for The Doctor to regenerate. Doctor who, you may ask? Exactly.

Matt Smith is stepping down as the infamous Time Lord after the Christmas special this year, sparking cries of outrage from Doctor Who fans everywhere. And as the actors change, the story goes that The Doctor maintains his life by regenerating from serious injury every once in a while, explaining the new face, new voice, new personality, and generally new everything.

The TARDIS might not be changing, as British TV tends to be more faithful to its roots than Hollywood on the most part. The TARDIS is the time machine that the alien humanoid Time Lord uses to, you know, travel through time, and inside the TARDIS is a giant machine that aids in his time travel. Yes, apparently Doctor Who travels through time a lot.

Also, as The Doctor goes along his merry way, he encounters problems and enemies he helps sort out. He usually has a female companion who helps Whovians identify with the Time Lord as he goes about saving the world time and again.

Several actors have been singled out to be Doctor Who‘s 12th incarnation, the most popular of which being Ben Daniels. Ben Daniels has been in such successful shows as Merlin, a fantasy adventure show about the young wizard of King Arthur lore; and Law and Order, the four-part UK television mini-series told from the perspectives of four different characters, one per episode. Ben Daniels ranks above the rest in fan favorite re-castings for the infamous role.

Other possible actors being considered are:

• Chiwetel Ejiofor, with several accolades to his credit
• Damien Molony of Being Human
• David Harewood and Russell Tovey of Homeland

Matt Smith says it has been an honor to be part of the legendary British TV series, and his companion played by Jenna Louise Coleman will continue to star alongside the new Doctor in 2014.

Who do you think should play The Doctor next after Matt Smith leaves? Should Ben Daniels be the next lead for Doctor Who?

‘Doctor Who’: Ben Daniels Could Be Next is a post from: The Inquisitr