TopNews - California

Meteor shower behind loud boom in Northern California

Jamie Williamson — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:06:30 +0000

California, Apr 23 : A loud boom sounded over much of Northern California early Sunday, as an apparent result of a meteor shower.

National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist in Sacramento, California, Stefanie Henry said the meteor was streaking across the sky when it broke up above the Earth, sending the sound reverberating across the area.

According to NWS reports, the meteor was seen in California from Sacramento to Orange County, hundreds of miles to the south, Henry told Los Angeles Times.

Researchers develop model to ‘predict stock market using Twitter’

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:46:32 +0000

California, Mar 27 : Researchers have reportedly developed a new model that uses data from micro blogging site Twitter to help predict the traded volume and value of a stock the following day.

Vagelis Hristidis, an associate professor at the University of California, with one of his graduate students and three researchers at Yahoo, studied how activity in Twitter is correlated to stock prices and traded volume.

They obtained the daily closing price and the number of trades from Yahoo Finance for 150 randomly selected companies in the S&P 500 Index for the first half of 2010.

Tea Party activist unleashes racist Facebook screed on Obama

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:14:18 +0000

California (US), Dec 20 : California Tea Party activist Jules Manson has unleashed a racist Facebook screed against President Obama and the First Family.

According to the New York Post, the rabid Tea Party wannabe politician called for the assassination of President Obama and his "monkey children" in a recent Facebook rant - and then defended his right to do so on Monday.

Manson said Obama''s support of a revised military authorization bill last week was an act of "treason" that "eroded" constitutional protections.

Thousands remain without power supply in California

Jamie Williamson — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 02:55:16 +0000

Washington, Dec 4 - Tens of thousands of US houses were witnessing blackout Saturday morning even as most of them affected by the strong winds that blew out southern California Wednesday night had regained power supply.

According to the Department of Water and Power, 24,000 of its 1.4 million customers were still without power as of 6 a. m. Saturday, Xinhua reported.

The department said that their crews were working round the clock to restore power and over 189,000 customers regained power supply.

YouTube unveils new design ‘to marry the best of TV with the best of online’

Jamie Williamson — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:12:15 +0000

San Bruno , Dec 2 : YouTube, the world's most popular video-sharing website, has unveiled the biggest change in its history.

According to the Daily Express, the website's new design will direct visitors to `channels' of content instead of individual clips.

"We are trying hard to marry the best of TV with the best of online - so you get regular programming and come back often," product development chief Shishir Mehrotra said.

"The new homepage ensures you can take channels you care about and interact with them in ways you couldn't do on TV," he added.

‘Time-tested’ Pak-US ties shouldn’t succumb to ‘fleeting estrangements’: Haqqani

Jamie Williamson — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:38:46 +0000

Berkeley (California), Oct 19 : Pakistan and the United States must iron out their differences to bring their terms back to normal, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Washington, Husain Haqqani, has said.

Speaking at the University of California, Haqqani said that mending bilateral ties was vital to both ‘war on terror’ allies.

“These time-tested ties should not succumb to any fleeting estrangements,” Geo News quoted Haqqani, as saying.

Stressing the need for better understanding, the Pakistan envoy pointed out that conflicting statements coming out of both countries are the biggest challenge at hand.

Facebook shows users how to turn off ‘facial recognition’ feature over privacy outcry

Jamie Williamson — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 06:44:34 +0000

Palo Alto, July 28 : Facebook has responded to the privacy outcry over its new facial recognition system, by running advertisements that show users how to turn it off.

Facebook had quietly opted users into the “Tag Suggestions” feature earlier this year.

The feature uses facial recognition technology to identify people in photographs posted on Facebook, and then suggests to their friends that they should “tag” them so they are easier to find.

Soon, Google online maps in real time videos

Jamie Williamson — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 10:26:51 +0000

Southern California (US), July 13 : At first glance it looks like any other three dimensional map, but zoom in a little closer, and you will see cars moving and people walking around - all in real-time.

This is the world of ‘geo-immersion’ that blends the real and virtual worlds together to give the user the most interactive maps in the world.

Now, you can get real-time updates of your friends'' locations, and real-time movements of public transportation, thanks to software developed by University of Southern California researchers.

US Supreme Court repeals California ban on violent video games access to minors

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 07:41:18 +0000

California, June 28: The United States Supreme Court has struck down a Californian law banning the sale or renting of violent video games to minors.

The Court voted 7-2 to uphold an appeal court ruling that declared the law contrary to free speech rights enshrined in the US Constitution.

US kidnap victim ‘hated every second of every day’ of her 18 years in captivity

Jamie Williamson — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:06:04 +0000

California, June 3: US kidnap victim Jaycee Lee Dugard has said that her life was stolen when she was abducted by Phillip and Nancy Garrido at the age of 11 in June 1991, and she hated every second of her
18 years in captivity.

Now 31, she made her first public statement, read in El Dorado County Superior Court by her mother, as Phillip and Nancy were sentenced for kidnapping and rape.

Philip was sentenced to 431 years, while his wife received 36 years to life.

Dugard was kept with her two daughters, now aged 13 and 16, in the backyard of the Garrido home in California in a compound of tents and sheds.

Obama blames soaring gas prices for approval ratings dip

Jamie Williamson — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 11:00:03 +0000

Culver City (California, US), Apr. 23 : U. S. President Barack Obama has blamed the soaring prices of gasoline for the dip in his approval ratings.

Speaking at a fundraiser dinner in Culver City, California, Obama said: "My poll numbers go up and down depending on the latest crisis, and right now gas prices are weighing heavily on people."

Fuel currently costs four dollars a gallon nationwide, the New York Daily News reports.

A recent Gallup poll shows just one in four (41 percent) of Americans approve of Obama''s performance, which ties his all time low from the fall of 2010.

American Sikh Day celebrated at California Capitol

Jamie Williamson — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 08:28:51 +0000

Sacramento, April 14 - The Sikh American community celebrated the first ever American Sikh Day in California on the steps of the California State Capitol with dozens of California elected officials.

The event Wednesday highlighted the history and contributions of Sikh Americans in California and the challenges the community faces, according to the Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF), a community civil rights group.

At the event, organized by Sacramento Sikh Temple and Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg Steinberg, officials and interfaith and advocacy groups expressed their solidarity with the Sikh American community following recent attacks against them in California.

Small plane crashes in California

Jamie Williamson — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 01:53:37 +0000

Los Angeles, March 21 - A small aircraft crashed Sunday in the US state of California, but there was no report of casualties, authorities said.

The plane was believed to be a Cessna 210, which crashed at about 12.40 p. m. local time (1940 GMT) near Barstow city, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

The airplane, which can carry up to six people, was fully engulfed in flames. (IANS)

Robert F.Kennedy''s assassin to say he doesn''t remember 1968 shooting

Jamie Williamson — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:05:29 +0000

California (US), Mar. 2 : A lawyer representing Sirhan Sirhan, the assassin of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, has said that his client plans to present new evidence at a parole board hearing suggesting that he did not act alone, was potentially brain washed and cannot remember anything about the 43-year-old shooting.

"There is no question he was hypno-programmed. He was set up. He was used. He was manipulated," lawyer William F. Pepper told ABCNews. com.

Sirhan will appear before a California parole board on Wednesday for the 14th time since his May 1969 sentencing. It is the first time he will be represented by Pepper.

Palin aide rejects media report that she dropped words retreat, reloading from her speech

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 08:52:45 +0000

Reno (California, US), Feb. 1 : A key aide of former Alaska Governor and 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin has confirmed that the latter did use two controversial phrases – “Don’t retreat, reload” and “Don’t retreat, stand tall” – during a recent speech here.

Indian students of sham US varsity face deportation

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:43:04 +0000

Washington, Jan 25 : Hundreds of Indian students, mostly from Andhra Pradesh, face the prospect of being deported from the US after a "sham" university in California was shut down for allegedly selling US visa to willing students.

The Tri-Valley University in Pleasanton, a suburb in San Francisco Bay Area, was raided Tuesday and charged with helping foreign nationals illegally acquire immigration status, according to local media reports.

Kamala Harris is California attorney general

Jamie Williamson — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 04:33:44 +0000

Pompeii (Italy), Dec 1 - Another part of the world-famous ancient Roman city of Pompeii in southern Italy has collapsed, archaeological officials said Tuesday.

Following days of heavy rains, a section of a wall belonging to the House of the Moralist gave way.

The building is close one of the most archaeologically important houses in Pompeii, the 2,000-year-old House of the Gladiators, whose collapse Nov 6 shocked the world and drew calls for Italy's Culture Minister Sandro Bondi to resign.

He has remained in his post and denies accusations that he has neglected the world-heritage site.

Maria Shriver says Arnie has earned public''s plaudit as California Guv

Jamie Williamson — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:26:43 +0000

California (US), July 1 : California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's wife, Maria Shriver, is confident that Americans will also issue an optimistic round-of-applause as he wraps his second and final term in the job.

"Just to become governor is a huge thing, and to do it twice is a huge accomplishment," Fox News quoted Shriver as telling Pop Tarts at the Million Plates Campaign in Los Angeles on Monday.

"I think he has so much to be proud of - certainly his work on the environment, job creation, selling California on all the reforms he''s been able to institute. I think when all is said and done, people will look at him as a great performer," she added.

Samsung Electronics heiress busted with 230kg marijuana in luggage

Jamie Williamson — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:44:58 +0000

California, June 17 : A potential heir to the Samsung Electronics empire has been arrested in U. S. after police found over 230 kilograms of marijuana in her luggage.

Lisette Lee was arrested by Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officials at Port Columbus International Airport in Ohio.

She was flying from California to Columbus in a private jet when officials said that they becoming suspicious of her luggage.

Officials also confiscated three mobile phones, cocaine, drug paraphernalia and suspected drug ledgers that showed some 300,000 dollars in transactions.

The 28-year-old has been charged with conspiracy and possession of drugs with intent to distribute, Sky News reports.

Schwarzenegger mistakenly votes for two California Senate primary candidates

Jamie Williamson — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:17:41 +0000

California, June 9 : California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had to recast his ballot for the state's Senate primary because he selected two candidates instead of one.

Los Angeles polling place worker, Keta Hodgson, said that a scanning machine rejected Schwarzenegger's first ballot due to his double vote, so he was given the choice of filling out a new ballot or not having his Senate choice count. He chose to cast a fresh ballot.

Schwarzenegger's term as governor will expire in January next year.

The California Senate race is one of the most closely watched in the country as voters head to the polls in 12 states.

Wikipedia’s parent company distributing child porn: Co-founder

Jamie Williamson — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:17:03 +0000

California, Apr 28 : Wikipedia’s co-founder, Larry Sanger, has said that the online encyclopedia’s parent company, Wikimedia Commons, is knowingly distributing child pornography in their products.

Sanger, who left Wikipedia in 2002, said the Wiki products, including Wikipedia, Wiktionary, Wikinews and Wikiquote, is rife with renderings of children performing sexual acts.

He said he has sent a letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) outlining his concerns and identifying two specific categories, which he believes violate federal obscenity laws.

6.0 earthquake strikes off northern California

Jamie Williamson — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:03:43 +0000

Sacremento (California), Feb. 5 : A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northern California Thursday, the U. S. Geological Survey said.

The quake hit at 12:20 p. m. PT and its epicenter was 47 miles west-southwest of Eureka, California, the USGS reported.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, Sacramento television station KTXL said.

The earthquake was strong enough to be felt some 275 miles away in San Francisco, residents said.

Northern California was hit by two major earthquakes in 1992 and 2005, both of which measured 7.2. (ANI)

GOP signature-gathering firm owner arrested

Jamie Williamson — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:29:54 +0000

The California Secretary of State said that Mark Anthony Jacoby, the owner of Young Political Majors - a signature-gathering firm hired by the California Republican Party to sign up Southland voters - was arrested today in Ontario on suspicion of committing voter registration fraud in Los Angeles.

Arrested in Ontario by Canadian and California investigators late Saturday, the Los Angeles Times reported that Jacoby fraudulently registered himself to vote at a childhood California home, where he grew up but no longer lives.

‘Max Payne’ Leads At The Box Office

Robert Murray — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 08:46:33 +0000

‘Beverley Hills Chihuahua’’s long reign at the box office has ended, with Mark Wahlberg’s action film ‘Max Payne’ pushing it to second place.

Grossing $18-million in its premiere show, ‘Max Payne’ out performed ‘W.’, Oliver Stone’s film biography of George W. Bush, whose $10.6-million opening saw it finish in fourth place. ‘The Secret Life of Bees’, a sweet as honey Southern drama grabbed the third spot making $11.1-million.

Hollywood revenues continue to rise with the top 12-movies raking in $86.4-million, up 10% from the same weekend last year.

Bonnie Somerville’s Friend Shot Outside Hollywood Party

Robert Murray — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 06:46:26 +0000

An unidentified man, and a friend of actress Bonnie Somerville were shot while they were leaving a Hollywood party with the actress. All three were departing after the T-Mobile G1 launch party when the two were shot in an attempted robbery.

According to Los Angeles Police Department spokesman, "It appears the shooting occurred during an attempted robbery. Two male suspects approached a white male on foot and attempted to rob him."

A robber demanded Somerville’s purse which resulted in a struggle. One of the suspects shot the man with a .22-caliber pistol. The robbers fled in a tan-colored SUV.

Eye witnesses said that the robbers threatened Bonnie, “Bitch, gimme your purse or you’ll get shot, too,”

Britney Spears License Deliberations

Robert Murray — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 05:04:40 +0000

The jury is out deliberating whether Britney Spears should be convicted for driving without a licence. Spears, 26, faces one count of misdemeanor, with a maximum penalty of six months jail time and fine.

Former Director of UCLA Willed Body Program Pleads Guilty to Body Trafficking

Carina Rose — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:52:30 +0000

Henry Reid, the former director of UCLA’s willed body program, pleaded guilty for his role in selling donated body parts to drug companies. The years long investigation into the body-for-parts profit scheme culminated when Reid pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit grand theft, said Nancy Greenstein, a university police spokeswoman.

Survey USA: Obama Leads In California; McCain Edges Ahead In Florida

Jamie Williamson — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:41:11 +0000

Survey USA’s latest Obama vs McCain opinion polls show that Barack Obama is presently way out front in the presidential race in California, but John McCain has taken lead over Obama in Florida. According to the polls, Obama has huge lead over McCain in California, while McCain has taken slim lead in Florida.

Conducted from October 15 to October 16, Survey USA’s Obama vs McCain California poll shows Obama leading McCain by 24 % points — 59 % to 35 % among the likely voters of Florida.

Psoriasis Drug Raptiva gets FDA Warning

Carina Rose — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:58:56 +0000

The Food and Drug Administration is giving a "black box" warning to Raptiva, the psoriasis drug, about the risk of life-threatening infections including a rare brain infection and meningitis.

Genentech Inc.'s drug Raptiva will now have a Boxed Warning highlighting the risk of bacterial sepsis, viral meningitis, invasive fungal disease, PML and other opportunistic infections. The label will also include data from juvenile animal studies in mice, which indicate a potential risk for the permanent suppression of the immune system with repeat administration of Raptiva juveniles.

Parents not notified about teacher’s gender reassignment surgery

Tracy Dahle — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:48:39 +0000

Parents of some students of Foxboro Elementary School, in Vacaville, California, have complained that they were not informed about a music teacher’s gender reassignment surgery.

According to KCRA-TV, Sacramento reports Thursday, the irked parents told the Travis Unified School District that they believe they should have been notified about the gender switch of the teacher in advance, before the school year began.

Google Posts 26% Profit Increase For The Third Quarter

Robert Murray — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:08:47 +0000

Showing its resilience in the midst of the economic turbulence, Internet giant Google Inc. posted a 26% profit increase and a 31% revenue jump for the third quarter. The reassuring performance, surpassing forecasts by analysts, lifted Google shares by more than 10% late Thursday.

Volatile Economy impacts Hollywood Studios

Tracy Dahle — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:59:07 +0000

Hollywood may be resistant to recession, but a volatile economy has Paramount Pictures paring back film releases to 20-films in 2009, down from 25-films in 2008 and 28-films in 2007. With shares in its parent company - Viacom Inc. closing down nearly 8.9%, Paramount has been seen cutting costs to the tune of $50-million.

Britney Spears’ trial - jury selection begins

Jane Kornblut — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:32:23 +0000

The selection of jury has begun in Britney Spears’ trial, on a driving-without-a-license charge, at the San Fernando Valley courtroom. The first slate of potential jurors, identified only by numbers, who arrived on Wednesday morning expressed doubts about the 26-year-old pop star’s innocence.

One of the jurors, an elderly woman who works as a substitute teacher, said: “I’m sure that she’s guilty. From what I see in the media, I cannot be fair, I have bias.”

Key Test often Skipped before Angioplasty by Doctors

Carina Rose — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:53:28 +0000

U.S. researchers said on Tuesday that people on Medicare who elect for non-emergency artery-opening procedures for heart disease do not get the recommended cardiac stress test beforehand. The surgery, known as PCI or percutaneous coronary intervention, costs Medicare, the U.S. government's health insurance program $10,000 to $15,000 per procedure for people aged 65 and older.

Intel reports record revenue and earnings in 3Q

Jim Huckabee — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:23:30 +0000

Intel Corp., the world’s largest chipmaker on Tuesday reported record revenue and earnings for the third quarter, saying that its profit during the quarter rose 12%, beating the estimates of the analysts.

In a statement, Paul Otellini, the CEO of the chip giant, said: “Intel delivered the best third-quarter revenue in its history,” and added: “We were solidly profitable.”

Mel Gibson Turns Down Lethal Weapon 5

Robert Murray — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:25:02 +0000

Mel Gibson Turns Down Lethal Weapon 5

Lethal Weapon 4 slated for a reboot has been turned down by Mel Gibson, who, playing the role of Officer Riggs, has been part of all four Lethal Weapon movies.

And, without Mel Gibson, it seems that Lethal Weapon 5 probably won’t happen at all!

Wildfire In North-east Of Los Angeles Burns 2,000-Acres

Robert Murray — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:46:44 +0000

A wildfire that broke out early Sunday morning just 2-miles of downtown Los Angeles has burnt through 2,066 acres in the Angeles National Forest, damaging a house, a garage, several sheds and three mobile homes.

More than 1,200-people evacuated from 450-homes to a shelter set up at nearby San Fernando High School, while horses and farm animals have been evacuated to Hansen Dam.

There are some 1,000 people fighting the fire together with water-spraying helicopters and planes. No injuries have been reported so far, while the cause of fire is under investigation.

‘Beverly Hills Chihuahua’ Tops The Box Office

Robert Murray — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:19:33 +0000

‘Beverly Hills Chihuahua’, a movie about talking dogs topped the weekend box office, trampling Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe’s ‘Body of Lies’ based on Iraq and the mess called the Middle East, proving movie stars seem to have lost their ability to rake in theatre audiences. The terrorism thriller only managed to collect an anaemic $13.1-million, despite starring DiCaprio and Crowe, who are considered two of the biggest draws in the movie business.

Latest Polls: Obama Leads McCain In California, Colorado

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 07:31:21 +0000

Obama is presently hot popular in California and Colorado; that’s what the latest Obama vs McCain California, Colorado opinion polls indicate. According to the polls, Barack Obama is having hefty lead over John McCain, in presidential race, in California and Colorado.

Rasmussen Reports poll shows Obama’s lead in California, and Public Policy Polling poll shows Obama leading in Colorado. Let’s check out what these latest McCain vs Obama California, Colorado opinion polls show.

Opinion Polls: Obama’s Having Hefty Lead Over McCain In California, Delaware, Iowa, Maine

Jamie Williamson — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:35:50 +0000

According to recent Obama vs McCain polls conducted in California, Delaware, Iowa, and Maine, Barack Obama is presently having hefty lead over John McCain in these states.

Surely, California, Delaware, Iowa, and Maine are strongholds of Democratic Party. Let’s check out the recent Obama vs McCain polls conducted in California, Delaware, Iowa, and Maine.

CALIFORNIA POLL —

Scripps’ Study To Access Change In Behavior Of People Undergoing Genetic Testing

Carina Rose — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:38:34 +0000

San Diego’s Scripps Translational Science Institute will pioneer a study to assess if people undergoing genetic testing experience a change in their behavior.

The aim of the study is to analyze if the testing has any positive effects on the health by motivating them for changes in lifestyle. The changes include exercising, better eating habits and quitting smoking.

Genome scan using saliva of people, above the age of 18, is used for analysis. The analysts will study their genetic risk for more than 20 diseases including diabetes, obesity, heart diseases and some types of cancer. The researchers will find the effect of life style on these diseases.

Full TV shows, with ads, on YouTube

Jane Kornblut — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:55:28 +0000

Months of experimenting with long-form video has yielded fruit for the Google Inc.’s website – YouTube. On Friday, the website announced that it would start offering full-length episodes of some television shows. The longer videos will include commercial slots for advertising before, during and after each episode, enabling Google to raise more revenue from its nearly four-year-old video sharing site.

Golden Gate Bridge To Have Hanging Nets To Check Suicides

Robert Murray — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:05:12 +0000

San Francisco officials voted on Friday in favor of hanging stainless steel nets, costing up to $50 million, from the sides of the Golden Gate Bridge in an effort to ‘catch’ would-be suicide jumpers. Officials said the steel nets, hanging 6 meters below the bridge and extending about 6 meters from each side, would save lives without any defacement to the appearance of California’s world-famous landmark.

Walgreen Shares Hit 10-Year Low; CEO Rein Resigns

Robert Murray — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:57:04 +0000

After Walgreen Co.’s failed bid to take over California-based smaller rival Longs Drug Stores Corp., its chairman and chief executive officer, Jeffrey A. Rein, resigned effective immediately. This announcement resulted in the shares of Walgreen sinking to their lowest price in a decade on Friday - $23.22 following a drop of 8.2%.

Jolie Breastfeeds Twins For W Magazine Cover

Robert Murray — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:32:26 +0000

Due to hit the stands on 21st October 2008, the November issue of W magazine carries an exclusive 21-personal photo spread of Jolie, the 33-year old mother-of-six soon after she gave birth to twins - Vivienne and Knox in July. With barely any make-up, the actress shown breastfeeding her newborn twins on the cover of W magazine, still manages to look serenely beautiful though somewhat tired. The tastefully shot black and white intimate photo taken by Pitt, shows Jolie comfortably relaxed in a sleeveless top opened to reveal a tiny hand on her left breast.

Judge Denies Restraining Order Against Brinkley’s Ex-Husband

Robert Murray — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:25:44 +0000

Three months after their divorce settlement, a Long Island Judge has denied Christie Brinkley’s request for a temporary restraining order barring ex-husband Peter Cook from seeing their children over the weekend. Divorce proceedings revealed Cook not only spent thousands of dollars each month on porn, he also posted videos of himself masturbating on the internet, including trying to bribe his mistress with $300,000.

Paris Hilton Advices Sarah Palin To Flaunt Her Hot Body

Robert Murray — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:19:49 +0000

In typically Paris Hilton style, the November issue of Harper’s Bazaar has the American hotel heiress advising Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska and the Republican nominee for the Vice Presidential post, to ‘flaunt it if you have it’, going on to ask Palin not to keep her ‘hot bod’ under wraps by covering it with a pantsuit, when she could be wearing a swimsuit, instead.

Jamie Lynn Pregnant Again!

Robert Murray — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:09:21 +0000

The hottest rumor around is that Jamie Lynn Spears, Britney Spears’ sixteen-year-old sister, has got herself pregnant again, soon after giving birth to a daughter in July. The source that confirmed the rumor, to the National Enquirer that Jamie Lynn was 8-weeks pregnant, which has both her and her mother Lynne hysterical, as neither of them know what to do, though they are trying to keep the news from getting out.

Debra Messing Back In The Spotlight With ‘Starter Wife’

Robert Murray — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:56:35 +0000

Debra Messing, with an Emmy under her belt for NBC’s Will & Grace, has got under the spotlight once again. She reappears as the glamorous, sexy, funny, warm and thoroughly, beautifully ‘Starter Wife’ aka newly divorce Molly Kagan. While, in ‘Will & Grace’ Messing was overshadowed by her outrageous best friend, the characters in ‘Starter Wife’ actually complement each other.

Walgreen withdraws its $2.8 billion bid for Longs

Peter Welsh — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:39:05 +0000

Walgreen Co. has dropped its $2.8 billion offer to buy the pharmacy chain, Longs Drug Stores, leaving CVS Caremark, with its $2.7 billion bid, as the sole suitor for the California-based store. The decision has dashed the hopes of the shareholders hoping for a better price.

Analysts opine that CVS may seek to re-negotiate its offer to buy Longs. CVS on August 13 said it had agreed to pay $71.50 a share for Longs. A month later, Walgreen emerged with a $75-a-share bid. In after-hours trades, Longs fell to about $70 a share, down 2.3%.

Peter Cook Speaks About Reasons Of Divorce

Robert Murray — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:20:50 +0000

Christie Brinkley’s ex-husband blamed her for compelling him to cheat her. He said that the supermodel did not meet his demands, needs and attention that he wanted.

"I was seeking a connection I could not find in my own marriage," Cook said. "I think the emotional aspect of our lives had changed. I think we were both feeling more like we were living with a brother and sister than a life partner."

Narrow Escape For Nick Nolte

Robert Murray — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:04:49 +0000

Actor Nick Nolte had a narrow escape in a fire at his home in Malibu, California. The actor escaped with minor injuries after trying to douse the flames that had engulfed his living room, with a garden hose.

Nolte was twice nominated for an Oscar for his roles in "The Prince of Tides" and "Affliction."

Inspector James Barnes of the fire department said, "Nick Nolte was there apparently with a water hose trying to extinguish the fire himself and of course we came to help him out.

Stomach Virus Outbreak at University of Southern California

Carina Rose — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:01:06 +0000

The contagious gastrointestinal virus outbreak at the University of Southern California (USC) has risen to about 275, days after 200-Georgetown University students were infected with a similar virus. However, the outbreak may have peaked, as there has been a decline in the number of students looking for medical help since Sunday.

The infection hospitalized ten students were experiencing vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps, while intravenous fluids had to be given to those suffering from serious dehydration.

Misty May-Treanor Quits ‘Dancing With The Stars’

Robert Murray — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:55:19 +0000

Olympic gold medal-winning volleyball player Misty May-Treanor, 31, has dropped out of ABC’s ‘Dancing With the Stars’, after tearing an Achilles tendon during Lindy Hop rehearsals held on Friday. With an almost to her knee cast on her left leg, Treanor is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday.

A born winner, only two weeks into the competition, she scored high (21-points) each week, and was beginning to establish herself as a dancer to watch for, she has expressed interest in returning to the show sometime in the future.

Duchovny Completes Sex-Addiction Rehab

Robert Murray — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:50:36 +0000

David Duchovny, who checked into rehab for sex addiction over the summer, is out after successfully completing his stint, and will begin filming for his new movie shortly, according to his lawyer, Larry Stein.

Duchovny, 48 voluntarily sought help for his sex addiction. He married actress Téa Leoni in 1997 and has a son and daughter with her. He most recently starred in ‘The X Files: I Want To Believe’, a big screen version of his popular X-files TV series.

Janet Jackson Cancels More Concert Tours

Robert Murray — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:26:04 +0000

Janet Jackson, hospitalized in Montreal for exhaustion last week, though released two hours later, has had to cancel three more concert dates of her ‘Rock Witchu’ tour, as doctors refuse to let the still recuperating 42-year old singer and actress to get back to her grinding schedule of back-to-back concerts, till she is fully recovered.

Talking to People magazine, Jermaine Dupri, record producer and Jackson’s fiancée says it is difficult for a 42-year-old body to perform like a 22-year-old one. Back-to-back, three-hour shows has left Jackson tired and exhausted.

‘Chihuahua’ Top Dog At The Box Office

Robert Murray — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:21:10 +0000

Notwithstanding critical backlash, ‘Beverley Hills Chihuahua’, a Disney talking canines offering about Chole, a thoroughly pampered Chihuahua kidnapped south of the border and then left to fend for herself, grabbed an estimated $29-million, at the weekend box office, Disney’s biggest October opening since Ladder 49’s $22.1-million in 2004.

None of the six new releases could shake DreamWorks / Paramount’s ‘Eagle Eye’ thriller. The Shia LaBeouf starrer collected an estimated $17.7-million in its second weekend, with a domestic box office total of $54.6 million.

Clint Eastwood Says Angelina Jolie Talented and Beautiful

Robert Murray — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:14:09 +0000

Oscar winner and top box office star – Clint Eastwood, 78 and director of ‘Changeling’, a period drama, talking to veteran movie journalist Lillian Ross at a Saturday Q&A sponsored by the New Yorker magazine at the Directors Guild of America stated, he finds Angelina Jolie, his leading lady to be extremely talented, but a talent that can be overlooked due to her having the most ‘gorgeous face on the planet’.

David Duchovny Successfully Completes Rehabilitation Successfully Completes Rehabilitation

Robert Murray — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:49:45 +0000

David Duchovny has checked out of a rehabilitation facility for treatment of sex addiction. David’s release was declared by his attorney. His lawyer Stanton Stein said, "David has successfully completed his rehabilitation, he is out of rehab and will be starting a movie soon."

The actor's admission to a rehab facility for treatment of sex addiction was also revealed by his attorney, in late August. Stein, however, declined to comment when the actor had been treated or when he left the center.

Duchovny won a Golden Globe Award as best actor in a comedy for his role as Hank Moody in January. He played the role of an oversexed single dad and novelist struggling with writer's block in the Showtime series "Californication."

Anne Hathaway On SNL; Ratings Go Up

Robert Murray — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:56:04 +0000

When Anne Hathaway was questioned about her ex boyfriend Rafaello Follieri on Saturday Nights Live, she joked, "I broke up with my boyfriend... and two weeks later he was sent to prison for fraud ... I mean, we've all been there, right, ladies?"

Though "SNL" averaged a 7.4 household rating, Hathaway's appearance on "SNL" helped the show score one of its highest-ratings since 2002.

Hathaway’s close friends remarked that they weren't surprised that Hathaway was a good sport.