Obese fathers who ate a high-fat diet were more likely to have offspring that also had a higher level of body fat — even if the youngsters were maintained on a healthy, lower fat diet. The effect was especially noticeable in the male offspring.

That’s the findings of a study done on mice at Ohio University which was presented Sunday at the annual meeting of The Endocrine Society in San Francisco, California. Lead author of the study, biomedical sciences professor Felicia Nowak, said:

“We’ve identified a number of traits that may affect metabolism and behavior of offspring dependent on the pre-conception diet of the father.”

The news isn’t the best gift a man ever got on Father’s Day, but it seemed to provide new evidence that a father’s diet can have a significant effect on his children’s health.

In the new study, researchers fed the male mice a high-fat diet for 13 weeks before they mated them. The females and the youngsters were fed a standard low-fat diet.

Compared to the control fathers, who also had a low-fat diet, the children of obese fathers had higher body weight at six weeks, six months, and again at 12 months.

As if that wasn’t enough bad news for fathers, a different mouse study published a few days earlier in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggested that those green coffee bean supplements might not be doing much to help you keep the weight off.

According to that Australian study’s authors, people who drink more coffee seem to have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes in population studies. Supplement marketers have pointed to an ingredient in coffee called chlorogenic acid (CGA) that has taken the diet fad world by storm.

Unfortunately, the new mouse research suggested that the CGA supplements don’t work. In fact, the CGA mice were more likely to develop disorders that would eventually lead to diabetes type 2 in humans.

A magic weight loss supplement still doesn’t exist. Apparently, obese fathers might be advised to drink more coffee and eat less fat.

Obese and normal lab rat

[Obese vs. normal rat photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons]
[top photo obese mouse by EvaStudio via Shutterstock]

Obese Fathers Have Offspring With Higher Body Fat, Says Mouse Study is a post from: The Inquisitr

A New York EMT remained on the phone with an elderly stroke victim for nearly eight hours as rescuers tried to determine the woman’s location.

Joann Hillman-Payne received a call from Mary Thomas around 1 pm Monday, and stayed on the phone with her until about 8:30 pm, when Verizon Wireless was able to locate Thomas’ cellphone signal.

According to The New York Post, rescue workers were first dispatched to an East 71st Street address based on a cellphone tower relaying Thomas’ call. However, Thomas was nowhere to be found when rescuers reached the location.

Hillman-Payne continued to try to communicate with Thomas, whose speech was badly slurred, and keep her conscious. Hillman-Payne’s boss, Lt. Arlene Simmons, then reached out to the Fire Marshal’s Office for help. She proceeded to call a list of people with the stroke victim‘s name, while first responders tried to get an access a database of patient information.

Eventually, a Manhattan address for Thomas was located, but she didn’t live there — she only worked there as a housekeeper.

It was then that Emergency Medical Dispatch Capt. Philip Weiss got in touch with Verizon Wireless and the NYPD to trace Thomas’ cellphone location. The NYPD reviewed information from Hillman-Payne’s conversation with Thomas, and led rescue workers to several addresses in Manhattan. Thomas wasn’t at any of them.

Finally, Verizon was able to pinpoint Thomas’ location, and EMTs were sent to an apartment on East 72nd Street, where they finally found the victim. Thomas was working as a maid in the apartment when she suffered the stroke, according to a doorman at the building. She was then rushed to Lenox Hill Hospital, where she is being treated in the ICU.

Weiss, in a letter asking that Hillman-Payne and her colleagues be recognized for the heroic efforts, wrote, “I have no doubt that without the efforts of all involved [Thomas’] outcome would not have been positive.”

What do you think of the EMT that remained on the phone with a stroke victim for almost eight hours?

EMT Stays On Phone With Stroke Victim For 8 Hours is a post from: The Inquisitr

According to recent Boston Celtics trade rumors, the Los Angeles Clippers have expressed interest in a deal that would bring head coach Doc Divers and center Kevin Garnett to the West Coast.

The deal would also send Clippers center DeAndre Jordan and guard Eric Bledsoe, as well as two first-round draft picks, to the Celtics. By some accounts, L.A. doesn’t want to include Bledsoe — who was originally selected as the 18th overall draft pick in the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2010 — in the package, but the Celtics want him included.

NESN reported Saturday that the Clippers and Celtics were in “deep” talks about the trade. In order for the deal to work, KG would have to waive his no-trade clause to head to L.A.

Celtics president of basketball operations has said that Rivers will be back in Boston next season. Clippers owner Donald Sterling, however, was willing to offer Rivers — who has been the Celtics’ head coach since 2004 — $7 million a year, which is similar to his current three-year, $21 million contract with the C’s.

Sterling could have ended up paying more for Rivers because of a strict non-compete clause included in his contract, which Boston insisted on when they signed Rivers to a five-year extension in 2011.

However, whatever interest the Clippers had in Doc Rivers apparently waned by Sunday, with Los Angeles Times reporter Brad Turner writing that the Clippers wanted to move forward without the 51-year-old former All-Star.

Clippers moving forward without Doc Rivers, now prepared to offer job to Brian Shaw or Lionel Hollins next week, sources

— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) June 15, 2013

Doc Rivers been informed Clippers won’t accept Celtics offer. Rivers prepared to stay in Boston, sources.

— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) June 15, 2013

Not only is the team no longer interested in Rivers, but they also appeared to not be budging on sending Bledsoe and a second No.1 draft pick to Boston.

Clippers won’t budge on their offer of DeAndre Jordan, one No. 1 pick. Clippers will not give Celtics Eric Bledsoe and another No.1 pick.

— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) June 16, 2013

What do you think of the Celtics trade rumors? Do you think Boston would or should trade Kevin Garnett to the Clippers, even without Eric Bledsoe and a second No. 1 draft pick?

[Photo credit: Keith Alison / Flickr]

Celtics Trade Rumors: Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett To L.A. Clippers? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tarvaris Jackson is officially with the Seattle Seahawks again. The team’s 2011 starting quarterback agreed to contract terms on Thursday with the signing being official the next day.

There was speculation that Jackson would return to the Seahawks after the Bills released him on Tuesday. The quarterback flew to Seattle on Thursday, underwent a physical, then signed his contract.

To make room on their roster for Jackson, the Hawks released quarterback Jerrod Johnson. Coach Pete Carroll expressed his excitement at the return of the former starter. Jackson will compete with Brady Quinn to be starting quarterback Russell Wilson’s backup.

On Thursday Carroll stated:

“I think it’s a great boost for us in a competitive sense. We thought of Tarvaris as a tremendously tough football player and competitive kid that battled for us.”

Jackson was signed by the Seahawks in 2011 when he was a free agent. He was named the starter after the 136-day lockout. Jackson’s knowledge of defensive coordinator Darrell Bevell’s system gave the team a competitive edge.

But Jackson became expendable last year when Matt Flynn was signed and Wilson was added during the draft. The Bills re-signed Jackson this off season, only to release him soon after.

Flynn’s trade to the Raiders in April gave Quinn the opportunity to fill his role as the Seahawks’ backup quarterback. That gave Carroll the opportunity to again sign Tarvaris Jackson. The Hawks head coach added that the team decided to seize the opportunity to re-sign Jackson, adding, “And he’ll be able to help us.”

And Jackson will help the team. He will compete with Quinn to be the backup for starter Wilson. Jackson started 14 games, but he played the last half of the season with an injured pectoral in his passing chair. Jackson also passed for 3,091 yards and made 14 touchdowns.

Do you think Tarvaris Jackson is a good fit for the Seattle Seahawks?

Tarvaris Jackson And Seattle Seahawks Make It Official Again is a post from: The Inquisitr

Last night’s Miss Utah flub during the Miss USA pageant is the sort of contestant freeze up to which we’ve become accustomed, and poor 21-year-old Marissa Powell was clearly out of her depth when asked about the gender pay gap.

The question from Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes prompting the Miss Utah flub referenced a common issue women in the workforce face. In addition to the physical and medical setbacks caused by pregnancy for mothers, women in general still make more than twenty cents less on the dollar than men.

While the Miss Utah flub definitely reflected poorly on Powell, it’s a common area of ignorance in the American population at large. Many are simply unaware that women are paid less money for equal work, and Powell’s clear panic at the question is just another prominent example.

Leakes posed the query during that part of the pageant during which contestants are made to answer questions, addressing recent reports that female workers are outpacing their husbands in terms of earnings but still yield less.

She said:

“A recent report shows that in 40 percent of American families with children, women are the primary earners, yet they continue to earn less than men. What does it say about society?”

Powell was less than clear in not only her answer, but it would appear her basic understanding of the question at hand. She replied:

“I think we can relate this back to education, and how we are continuing to try to strive  … to  … figure out how to create jobs right now. That is the biggest problem right now.”

It gets worse.

Going full on “what?” mode, Miss Utah’s flub continued as she answered:

“I think, especially the men are … um … seen as the leaders of this, and so we need to see how to … create education better. So that we can solve this problem. Thank you.”

If anything, the Miss Utah flub does indeed suggest we need to “create education better,” and perhaps we should start with briefing pageant contestants on feminism and gender pay gap issues.

Miss Utah Flub Demonstrates Gender Pay Gap’s PR Problem is a post from: The Inquisitr

Keeping with the extremely hilarious, but not safe for work trailer, Don Jon released a very special clip for Father’s Day. Jon “Don Jon” Martello’s father (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is the quintessential Italian dad Tony Danza. He’s the type of dad any new filmmaker could ask for while making a film about the fabric of an Italian household.

For Danza, his role in Don Jon is a great departure from his famous Who’s The Boss? character. Devoid of its own comedic laugh track, Danza seems to be scoring a lot of laughs as the brash, and sometimes tactless father in Don Jon.

In this exclusive clip from the film Don Jon, Jon Sr (Danza) is highlighted in a scene, which seems to take place early on in the film. While some have suggested that this scene, where Don Jon introduces girlfriend Barbara (Scarlett Johansson) to his parents, is extremely important, this clip suggests the moment is more comedic than anything else.

Tony Danza’s character seems to be more than impressed with Barbara’s attributes, than what she can or can not offer his son. Danza even makes some typical fatherly comments about how proud he is of his son getting some ScarJo tail. It’s a nice clip of one out of a few treasured family moments in Don Jon.

Going by Don Jon’s synopsis, his scenes particularly with his father go much deeper than is suggested from the clip. Don Jon’s synopsis is listed as follows:

“Jon Martello (Gordon-Levitt) is a modern day Don Juan who objectifies everything in his life, especially women. But his addiction to porn has made him dissatisfied with life and he sets out on a journey to find a more gratifying sex life. However, he ends up seeing the bigger picture and learning more about life and love through two different women”

Are you excited for Don Jon?

Tony Danza F-Bombs It Up For ‘Don Jon’ Clip [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

A poster by Bristol City Council appears to depict a young child eating dog poo and shows the infant with the animal’s waste all around her mouth.

The advert was created after local authorities in Bristol, England grew tired at its inhabitants leaving their dog’s poop on the streets.

In order to get people’s attention, they decided to create a striking and memorable campaign that would have made Mad Men’s Don Draper, Peggy Olson, and Pete Campbell tip their hats in appreciation.

They have released a poster across the city that showed a small kid sat in the park with dog poop smeared across its hands and mouth with the text, “children will put anything in their mouths,” adjacent to it.

Below the replenished infant there is the image of a steaming pile of dog waste with the warning, “pick it up or face a £1000 [$1,575] fine,” before asking people to report those who don’t pick up.

Of course, I’m sure that the child in the advertisement was actually eating some kind of chocolate food, but it is still enough to make your stomach churn.

Residents of the English city have now taken to various social networking sites to register their surprise at the evoking advert.

TV magician, Derren Brown, was one of the first people to tell his followers about it, retweeting @JRhodesPianist’s picture, which featured the words, “what were you thinking” and also insinuated that he was made to miss his breakfast after seeing the picture. Brown appeared to be charmed by the advert though, telling his followers, “I miss Bristol!”

Bristol City Council though were unapologetic, responding to @JRhodesPianist’s post by stating, “Shocking imagery, but perhaps it will help encourage a few more dog owners to do the responsible thing.”

What do you think of Bristol City Council’s poster? Do find it nauseating?

[Image via scigelova/Shutterstock]

Bristol City Council Poster Sort Of Shows A Child Eating Dog Poo is a post from: The Inquisitr

Approval rating numbers for Obama show a decline over the past month as the president faces a series of major controversies including leaks about privacy rights straddling US intelligence operations.

Monday morning poll numbers released by the CNN/ORC International survey show President Obama’s approval at 45 percent, a drop of eight points in the past month.

The results put the president’s approval among Americans at the lowest they have been in over a year and a half.

The declining numbers can likely be attributed to the various controversies and allegations of scandal hitting the White House over the last few weeks.

These include a renewed interest in the possibility of negligence involved in the attack in Benghazi, Libya, investigations into whether the IRS targeted conservative political groups, and recent leaks regarding secret intelligence gathering programs.

Poll numbers regarding American opinion are seen to be split on the recent revelation to the public of various National Security Agency programs. These programs involve tracking and examining phone records.

A majority of poll responders, however, approve of the NSA targeting the online communications of foreign suspects as part of the top secret PRISM program.

Looking at Obama’s approval ratings, it’s clear Americans in general are not pleased though. Half of Americans responded, for the first time, that they do not find the president to be honest or trustworthy. Even more have said they worry about government overreach threatening Americans’ freedoms.

Perhaps the most dramatic change was Obama’s approval among people under 30, which has dropped 17 points in the last month.

It is also interesting to note that disapproval of Obama’s handling of surveillance programs is at 60 percent, higher than the 52 percent disapproval Bush received when similar programs were in the news.

While the public opinion of the recently leaked details of the NSA’s data mining programs seem to be split, the revelations are beginning to take their toll on President Obama’s approval rating, dipping to an 18 month low last week.

[Image via maxhphoto / Shutterstock.com]

Obama Approval Rating Falls In Wake Of Major Controversies is a post from: The Inquisitr

Twist-off wine corks could change everything.

One of the biggest boons to the wine industry has been that once the cork came out, there was no putting it back in, forcing wine drinkers to either drink the whole bottle in one sitting or get creative and find something else to stop up the bottle.

Thanks to a recent invention, corkscrews may soon be a thing of the past. No longer will we need a separate kitchen utensil to break into our beverage or jerry-rig a way to stop up the bottle.

Twist-off wine corks (Helix corks) have been designed to not only be easier to take out of the bottle but also make it possible to put them back in. Using almost a reverse of the style that most pop bottles use to cap off the beverage and save it for later, Helix corks use a “threaded” design on the cork and the bottle itself, making the removal and replacement of the cork much easier as the parts just slide together on grooves.

Cork manufacturer Amorim and bottle-making company O-I worked together to create this ingenious new design in wine-stopping technology. It took four years of research to ensure perfection of the design, but be assured that the time was taken to ensure that the redesign of the cork would not impact the taste, aroma, or color.

The Helix cork is made of harder stuff, meaning that it won’t expand or shrink as much. Where previous corks required the presence of gas interaction to keep the bottle sealed, there is nowhere for the oxygen to go with the new twist-off cork.

Erik Bouts, president of O-I Europe, has said, “Cork is still by far the preferred stopper. Our research has found that at least 80 [percent] of consumers prefer the cork and glass combination for their wine. It has the highest-quality image in the market and now we have made it easier to use. And it is still the most sustainable option.”

The Helix cork won’t change what you love about wine, but it will make it easier to remove and replace the cork.

What do you think about twist-off wine corks? Would they change how you feel about wine?

Twist-Off Wine Cork Could Change Everything is a post from: The Inquisitr

There are some brands of various clothing lines that do extremely well from celebrity endorsement. There’s James Franco as the face of Gucci’s Made-To-Measure collection, and for years the Gap had Sarah Jessica Parker involved in their campaign. However, if you’re Ed Hardy of the Ed Hardy clothing line, the celebrity endorsement of Jon Gosselin probably doesn’t help an empire expand.

During his messy divorce from wife Kate Gosselin, Jon Gosselin lived in Ed Hardy clothes, which might have put the brand in a douchetastic light, putting the company in a position that enabled them to fight their negative image. Tacky designs aside, Ed Hardy said that it was Gosselin who killed the clothing brand.

There was a certain period of backlash that Gosselin received after putting his family in turmoil after splitting from the mother of their eight children. After the announcement of their split, Gosselin seemed to go through an image overall and practically slept in his Ed Hardy wear. Soon after, Ed Hardy was splashed all over tabloids as Gosselin was spotted traipsing around town with much younger then-girlfriend Hailey Glassman.

So how much did Jon Gosselin’s endorsement hurt Ed Hardy? A lot. Despite Jon’s friendship with Christian Audigier, who licensed Hardy’s art for shirts and other assorted products, Hardy said the friendship certainly didn’t do his company any favors.

Hardy recently told the New York Post:
“That Jon Gosselin thing was the nail in the coffin. That’s what tanked it. Macy’s used to have a huge window display with Ed Hardy, and it filtered down and that’s why Macy’s dropped the brand.”

Although Hardy is blaming Jon Gosselin, he isn’t putting the weight of his empire all on Gosselin’s shoulders. He puts a hefty amount of the blame on French businessman Audigier:

“Christian worships celebrities so much, he will get next to anyone who is famous for anything. If he could have gotten Charles Manson in a shirt, he would have.”

Do you think Jon Gosselin is at fault for Ed Hardy’s collapse or do you think it has more to do with the fashion line itself?

Jon Gosselin Killed Ed Hardy Brand, Says Ed Hardy is a post from: The Inquisitr

A new interview during which exiled NSA leaker Edward Snowden takes questions following his unmasking by journalist Glenn Greenwald with The Guardian was published by the paper, shedding light on at least some of the major questions left in the wake of Snowden’s shocking actions.

In the press, Edward Snowden has been equally lauded as a hero and lambasted as a reckless attention whore, with opinion divided about his revelation on NSA spying.

Snowden had his first real chance to speak directly to the Western world following his coming out last weekend as the source of the information (at his own insistence, Greenwald said), and was able to explain some of his actions in the live chat with Guardian readers.

In the first question posed, Snowden answers about why he chose Hong Kong, speaks about leaks regarding spying on that location, and addresses what he believes is one outcome of the leaks:

First, the US Government, just as they did with other whistleblowers, immediately and predictably destroyed any possibility of a fair trial at home, openly declaring me guilty of treason and that the disclosure of secret, criminal, and even unconstitutional acts is an unforgivable crime. That’s not justice, and it would be foolish to volunteer yourself to it if you can do more good outside of prison than in it.

He continues:

Second, let’s be clear: I did not reveal any US operations against legitimate military targets. I pointed out where the NSA has hacked civilian infrastructure such as universities, hospitals, and private businesses because it is dangerous. These nakedly, aggressively criminal acts are wrong no matter the target. Not only that, when NSA makes a technical mistake during an exploitation operation, critical systems crash. Congress hasn’t declared war on the countries – the majority of them are our allies – but without asking for public permission, NSA is running network operations against them that affect millions of innocent people.

He adds:

All I can say right now is the US Government is not going to be able to cover this up by jailing or murdering me. Truth is coming, and it cannot be stopped.

In further questioning, Greenwald and Snowden touch on the scope of NSA spying, and Greenwald asks Snowden to clarify whether the NSA has a record of communications alone, or a record of the content of communications.

Snowden replies:

Both. If I target for example an email address, for example under FAA 702, and that email address sent something to you, Joe America, the analyst gets it. All of it. IPs, raw data, content, headers, attachments, everything. And it gets saved for a very long time – and can be extended further with waivers rather than warrants.

Edward Snowden also clarifies that he did not act sooner due to the fact he had faith President Obama may change the course in issues of domestic spying, but felt the need to act once it became clear nothing had changed.

Edward Snowden: “Being called a traitor by Dick Cheney is the highest honor you can give an American” http://t.co/Yx8gaV38rp

— Gawker (@Gawker) June 17, 2013

You can read Edward Snowden’s live Guardian chat with Glenn Greenwald over at the paper’s site.

Edward Snowden Vows ‘Truth Is Coming’ In Live Chat is a post from: The Inquisitr

Update 4:30 pm

The CDC has inspected and cleared the plane Boeing 777. The man who caused the panic has been taken to a New Jersey hospital for evaluation. No criminal charges have been filed at this time. CNN reports that the pane is currently parked at the airport.

Update 2:30 pm

The man who claimed New Jersey flight passengers were poisoned is reportedly now in custody. He was reportedly escorted from the plan in handcuffs. Witnesses report that he was wearing a blue shirt, a dark colored hoodie, and khaki pants.

As reported by Daily Mail, he was taken into custody at approximately 2:00 pm.

Update 2:10 pm

United Airlines flight 116 reportedly landed in New Jersey at around 1:30 pm. Authorities have surrounded the plane. Several buses are on scene to transport passengers from the plane. Authorities with the FBI have stated that the passengers have not had any adverse reactions consistent with poisoning, according to My Fox Phoenix.

Initial Report

A man claims that New Jersey Flight Passengers were poisoned. United Airlines flight 116 is currently scheduled to land at Newark Liberty Airport. The FBI reports that the man has been restrained in his seat and is being monitored closely by the flight crew and several passengers.

The flight originated in Hong Kong. At some point, one of the male passengers became increasingly disturbed, claiming that all passengers on the flight were poisoned.

As reported by CBS, the man may be mentally disturbed. However, authorities are not willing to take any risks. Authorities decided against diverting the flight to an alternate airport. The plane will land as scheduled at Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey.

Officials with the Port Authority and the FBI will be on hand to meet the plane upon landing.

Initial reports that the man admitted poisoning the other passengers were unfounded. A correction was posted by the Associated Press.

This is a breaking story. Updates will be added as more information comes available.

[Image via Wikimedia]

Man Claims NJ Flight Passengers Were Poisoned is a post from: The Inquisitr

Edward Snowden’s father gave an interview to Fox News, begging his son to be cautious in his actions and to consider coming home after he fled to Hong Kong and leaked details of massive NSA surveillance.

Speaking to the network, Edward Snowden’s father Lonnie expressed fears the younger Snowden may inadvertently commit treason, and urged his son to return to the US soon.

The elder Snowden said:

“I hope, I pray and I ask that you will not release any secrets that could constitute treason … I sense that you’re under much stress [from] what I’ve read recently, and [ask] that you not succumb to that stress … and make a bad decision.”

And while Edward Snowden has consistently stated he fears execution or assassination, father Lonnie feels the US is a safer place for his son than anywhere abroad:

“I would like to see Ed come home and face this. I shared that with the government when I spoke with them. I love my son.”

Lonnie Snowden also told Fox that he believes there are people who would induce his son to ”cross that line and do something that constitutes treason, or they would like to see him disappear.” Optimistically, he adds “that the moment [Edward] landed that there would be a line of attorneys waiting to defend him.”

In a live chat today, Edward Snowden did not seem inclined to return to the US of his own accord, saying:

“The US Government, just as they did with other whistle-blowers, immediately and predictably destroyed any possibility of a fair trial at home, openly declaring me guilty of treason and that the disclosure of secret, criminal and even unconstitutional acts is an unforgivable crime. That’s not justice, and it would be foolish to volunteer yourself to it if you can do more good outside of prison than in it.”

Lonnie Snowden stressed to Edward that he understands his son’s motivations in the NSA leaking scandal:

“We want you to be safe, we want you to be happy, but I know you’re your own man and you’re going to do what you feel that you have to do … I believe firmly that you are a man of principle, I believe in your character, I don’t know what you’ve seen, but I just ask that you measure what you’re going to do and not release any more information.”

An extended interview with Edward Snowden’s father Lonnie will air on Fox this afternoon.

Edward Snowden’s Father Pleads With Son, ‘Come Home, Stop Leaking’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Since we already have Heathers the television show coming soon, what would be better than a Heathers remake? Try this on for size Heathers meets Fight Club, starring Natalie Portman. It isn’t completely locked yet, but it looks like the genre twisting film Dare Me may score Portman in its coveted role.

The film is an adaptation of the Megan Abbott novel, which is officially described as Heathers meets Fight Club, with teenage cheerleaders. Now where does Natalie Portman come into this? She’s too mature to pass for a high school cheerleader these days.

From our guess Portman will play the young new coach that disables the power trip of two queen bee cheerleaders. So where’s the catch? A suicide in the high school grabs the police’s attention, and a full blown investigation on the coach and her squad takes place.

The official abridged synopsis of Dare Me goes on to explain the novel:

“Addy Hanlon has always been Beth Cassidy’s best friend and trusted lieutenant. Beth calls the shots and Addy carries them out, a long-established order of things that has brought them to the pinnacle of their high-school careers, until the young new coach arrives. Only Beth, unsettled by the new regime, remains outside Coach’s golden circle. A suicide focuses a police investigation on Coach and her squad. After the first wave of shock and grief, Addy tries to uncover the truth behind the death—and learns that the boundary between loyalty and love can be dangerous terrain.”

Sounds like this could be a much welcomed teen adult film. In recent years, Portman has taken a step back to focus her attention on motherhood, but, since then, she has set up a bunch of interesting roles. In the upcoming film Jane Got A Gun, Portman plays an ex-lover out to save her outlaw husband from a gang. She also steps into Terrence Malick’s world pretty soon in Knight of Cups which has been described as “a man, temptations, celebrity, and excess.”

Aside from Portman’s dark turn in Black Swan, we haven’t seen such a gutsy line of roles on her resume since 2004′s Closer. For Dare Me, Michael Sucsy of The Vow and Grey Gardens is set to direct the adaptation. Lets hope it’s more Grey Gardens than it is The Vow.

Do you think Natalie Portman fits the role of the cheerleader coach?

Natalie Portman In Sight For ‘Fight Club’ Meets ‘Heathers’ Film is a post from: The Inquisitr

Feminist Taylor Swift has nearly as many followers as the actual singer. OK, so the parody account is still far from Swift’s 29 million followers, but the hilarious novelty account is still racking up followers at a pretty rapid rate.

The Feminist Taylor Swift account, which tweaks the singer’s lyrics into statements about gender equality, has gained 75,000 followers since it was started a few days ago.

According to Buzzfeed, the account was started by feminist and Brown University student Clara Beyer.

Beyer said: “I consider myself a feminist, and I blog about that kind of thing all the time, but I also LOVE Taylor Swift … Being a feminist Taylor Swift fan isn’t always easy, but it led to @FeministTSwift, so I’m not really complaining.”

Swift, unlike Beyer, isn’t much of a feminist. The singer recently told the Daily Beast that she doesn’t like to compare men and women.

Swift said: “I don’t really think about things as guys versus girls … I never have. I was raised by parents who brought me up to think if you work as hard as guys, you can go far in life.”

Do you like Taylor Swift? Do you think she’s a good role model for young girls? Are you following the Feminist Taylor Swift account? If you’re not, here’s a look at what you’re missing.

He opens up my door and / I get into his car / And he says “You drove last time so I figured it was my turn. And you look beautiful tonight”

— FeministTaylorSwift (@feministtswift) June 17, 2013

I’ll be strong, I’ll be wrong / Oh but life goes on / Oh I’m just a girl / Making mistakes that shouldn’t indicate my gender’s incompetence — FeministTaylorSwift (@feministtswift) June 17, 2013

You cry / But you don’t tell anyone / Because women’s sadness is often trivialized / And men’s sadness is downright condemned

— FeministTaylorSwift (@feministtswift) June 17, 2013

Here’s to you and your temper / Yes I remember what you said last night / And I won’t stay with a man who thinks that behavior is acceptable

— FeministTaylorSwift (@feministtswift) June 17, 2013

Feminist Taylor Swift Account Gains 750,000 Twitter Followers In Five Days is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Supreme Court has struck down an Arizona law requiring residents to show identification in order to register to vote.

The 7-2 ruling issued Monday said Arizona is not authorized to make changes to federal voter registration requirements, an action that could have consequences on a number of other states. Liberals had fought for the Supreme Court to overturn the law, which they believed restricted mostly poor, minority voters from reaching the polls.

Four states — Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, and Tennessee — also required proof of citizenship for residents looking to register.

Even traditionally conservative Justice Antonin Scalia voted against the law, writing in his decision that Arizona’s proof of citizenship requirement ushered in by voters in 2004 went against the 1993 federal law making it easier to register to vote. Scalia did appear to show sympathy for the state but said it must take a different approach than changing a federal law without approval.

Federal voter registration law requires registrants to claim citizenship under penalty of perjury, but Arizona required a separate prof of citizenship.

Justice Clarence Thomas, who dissented, said the Constitution did allow for Arizona’s action.

“I would construe the (federal) law as only requiring Arizona to accept and use the form as part of its voter registration process, leaving the state free to request whatever additional information it determines is necessary,” Thomas said.

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Arizona’s voter registration law was met with praise by voting rights groups.

“Today’s decision sends a strong message that states cannot block their citizens from registering to vote by superimposing burdensome paperwork requirements on top of federal law,” said Nina Perales of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which worked on a case against the Arizona law.

Arizona had passed its voter registration law in 2004, when voters passed the ballot initiative Proposition 200. The law was meant to stop people living in the country illegally.

Supreme Court Strikes Down Arizona Law Requiring Identification For Voter Registration is a post from: The Inquisitr

Miley Cyrus opened up in a radio interview released Monday for Atlanta’s The Bert Show. The outspoken twerking sensation turned out to have a lot to say about social media, particularly Twitter.

The Bert Show host actually claimed that they’re the ones who told Miley Cyrus about Twitter. I don’t know about that. It sounded like Cyrus might or might not remember it exactly that way.

In any event, she made it clear that Twitter is her preferred form of social media. She really seems to know how to use it to give fans a peek into her life.

For instance, I reported yesterday on her fun “no pants” tweets from Chicago. Miley Cyrus was in the city to promote “We Can’t Stop” and have dinner with her mother, who is divorcing her father Billy Ray Cyrus.

However, there’s a dark side to Twitter, as she acknowledged in the new Bert Show interview. She brushed off specific examples of celebrity bullying, but we all know that she was recently one of the victims of a verbal attack by Twitter heckler Amanda Bynes.

Cyrus noted that the attack seemed to be planned to take advantage of her popularity: “I was trending worldwide on Twitter…a big part of the world is talking about you and talking about your music…”

It sounded like she went out of her way to avoid giving Bynes any more publicity by mentioning her name. Cyrus kept it classy as she explained that she has talked to Twitter about “finding a better way to filter out haters.”

Right now, Miley Cyrus can’t follow back her fans because she doesn’t want to become overwhelmed with the haters. She said that she doesn’t have a solution but she speculated that there could be a way to block someone from using Twitter who gets a lot of requests from other users to block their account.

“Right now I can’t reply back to the good ones…”

But she’s still putting herself out there for fans. I’ve posted just a few of her many recent tweets down below to give you a taste.

As for those Justin Bieber rumors?

“There’s a 100 percent chance that I will collaborate with him because I already have,” she said. However, she refused to put a number on the chances that a Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus collaboration will ever be released.

You can visit their website to hear the entire The Bert Show interview with Miley Cyrus.

PURRRRTY pic.twitter.com/LCBta5TK5L

— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) June 15, 2013

Dinner with the most beautiful mommy in the world @tishcyrus pic.twitter.com/A7u69KeD5D

— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) June 15, 2013

#billboard pic.twitter.com/A2JUlF0m9T

— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) June 14, 2013

[Miley Cyrus top photo by s_bukley / Shutterstock.com]

Miley Cyrus Talks Social Media, Celeb Bullying, Bieber, And More is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sibling bullying is something that affects millions of people, especially children. In a recent study researchers questioned 3600 adolescents aged 10-17. The study found that 32% of the people questioned had experienced at least one type of sibling bullying in the last year.

The study showed that children who are bullied are at a much higher risk of developing mental health issues. It was also noted that regardless of how mild or severe the sibling bullying is, the effect on the child being bullied can be severe leading to various types of mental health issues.

Corinna Jenkins Tucker, associate professor of family studies at the University of New Hampshire said: “There is a natural emotional intensity to sibling relationships. There is a lot of love, but also the potential for a lot of conflicts.”

Professor Tucker then compares sibling bullying with peer bullying saying:

“Our work is showing that in some cases, the mental distress associated with sibling aggression is similar to what we see with peer aggression. It is something to be taken seriously.”

The research into sibling bullying, carried out by The National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence defined ‘Bullying’ according to specific parameters. Namely, physical assault, property victimization and psychological aggression.

Interestingly, the study found that children who were even mildly assaulted or bullied by a sibling had greater mental distress than adolescents who were not.

Adolescents and children who were bullied by a sibling, as opposed to peers at school, fared a bit better than the victims of sibling bullying. Among other things, the study highlighted the distress caused to children who suffer the abuse and victimization of bullying, in their own homes and on a regular basis.

What can be done about the type of sibling bullying revealed in this study ? Do schools do enough to monitor their students and detect any potential abuse or does the responsibility rest more with the parent ? Share your comments below

Sibling Bullying Causes Mental Heath Problems In Children is a post from: The Inquisitr

Was Justin Bieber responsible for the apocalypse in The Last of Us?

We had thought that a fungus growing out of control was the cause of the apocalypse in The Last of Us, but according to a recently discovered Easter Egg in the game, it may have been Justin Bieber’s fault.

Wait, what?

A video showing a newspaper in The Last of Us clearly states in the headlines, “Uncharted 13: A Lush Movie, Justin Bieber as Drake.” While you may be thinking this has nothing to do with it, Drake is the main character in Uncharted, Naughty Dog’s other major game franchise, and may be tied in with the story of The Last of Us, so much in fact that in the game, his adventures may have inspired movies.

As we know by now, movies that do well, or have directors with a serious level of persistence, usually get a lot of sequels. The Fast and The Furious is already almost halfway there, and James Bond has seen his share of films by now. Unlike the latter, most films that have so many sequels are usually terrible by that point, and Uncharted 13 may have been so bad it caused the collapse of society.

Of course, when a movie is bad, it’s usually because the director didn’t know what he was doing or the lead actor (in this case Justin Bieber) was such a terrible choice that it destroyed the whole film.

Apparently in The Last of Us, the film Uncharted 13 was an unmitigated disaster, and Justin Bieber playing the role of Drake was the last straw. Now we’ve heard of movies so bad that the director won’t acknowledge their existence (George Lucas’ Star Wars Christmas Special, anyone?), but it would have to be beyond atrocious to cause the collapse of society and turn us all into zombies and cannibals.

And we thought Spice World, Crossroads, and Batman and Robin were bad.

What do you think of the Easter Egg in The Last of Us about Justin Bieber playing Drake in Uncharted 13?

‘The Last Of Us’: Justin Bieber Caused The Apocalypse? [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Britney Spears is giving her two young sons a grand entrance to show business.

The 31-year-old singer is making a song for the soundtrack of the upcoming Smurfs movie and ,for the music video, decided to include her boys — 7-year-old Sean Preston and 6-year-old Jayden.

Britney Spears had hinted that she wanted to include her two young boys in the upcoming song. Earlier this month, while she in the studio recording “Ooh La La,” the song featured in the new Smurfs movie, she tweeted that she was working on a song “for all my boys.”

Will.i.am, who has been working with Britney in the studio, said this will be her most personal album to day. Recording on the rest of the album was expected to start sometime this month.

Will.i.am noted:

“I said, ‘Let’s talk about what you’re excited about. Let’s talk about things you’ve done in you career, what you’re happy about. Let’s talk about spending time with your kids, let’s talk about your breakup. Let’s talk about how now you’re single, how independent you might feel’ … I’m really excited about that and honored that she trusts me. I don’t want to let her down.”

Brittney Spears debuted the “Ooh La La” single on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show Monday morning and revealed that her two sons knew their way around a set.

“They were actually really, really good on set,” she told Seacrest. “They were, like, acting, and my oldest son, Preston, was right on cue every time they would tell him to do something … Later on I got to see what they actually did on camera and it was adorable.”

It helps that her boys seemed obsessed with the Smurfs. Spears said they’ve seen the first movie “a million trillion times.”

With their appearance in the music video for “Ooh La La,” Sean Preston and Jayden have a leg up on their mom. Britney Spears didn’t make her show business debut until she appeared on Star Search at age 10.

Britney Spears Gives Sons A Cameo In Her Next Music Video is a post from: The Inquisitr