Tuesday, November 30, 2010

AWESOME!!!

Just had a minor freak out after finding an email from Perez Hilton in my inbox!  YAY!!!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Leslie Nielsen of 'Naked Gun' fame dies at age 84 (AP)

FILE - This file photo taken in November 1991, shows actor Leslie Nielsen. The Canadian-born Nielsen, who went from drama to inspired bumbling as a hapless doctor in 'Airplane!' and the accident-prone detective Frank Drebin in 'The Naked Gun' comedies, has died. He was 84. His agent John S. Kelly says Nielsen died Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010, at a hospital near his home in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., where he was being treated for pneumonia. (AP Photo/Doug Pizac, file)

LOS ANGELES - Leslie Nielsen, who traded in his dramatic persona for inspired bumbling as a hapless doctor in "Airplane!" and the accident-prone detective Frank Drebin in "The Naked Gun" comedies, died on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was 84.
The Canadian-born actor died from complications from pneumonia at a hospital near his home at 5:34 p.m., surrounded by his wife, Barbaree, and friends, his agent John S. Kelly said in a statement.
"We are saddened by the passing of beloved actor Leslie Nielsen, probably best remembered as Lt. Frank Drebin in 'The Naked Gun' series of pictures, but who enjoyed a more than 60-year career in motion pictures and television," said Kelly.
Nielsen came to Hollywood in the mid-1950s after performing in 150 live television dramas in New York. With a craggily handsome face, blond hair and 6-foot-2 height, he seemed ideal for a movie leading man.
Nielsen first performed as the king of France in the Paramount operetta "The Vagabond King" with Kathryn Grayson.
The film — he called it "The Vagabond Turkey" — flopped, but MGM signed him to a seven-year contract.
His first film for that studio was auspicious — as the space ship commander in the science fiction classic "Forbidden Planet." He found his best dramatic role as the captain of an overturned ocean liner in the 1972 disaster movie, "The Poseidon Adventure."
He became known as a serious actor, although behind the camera he was a prankster. That was an aspect of his personality never exploited, however, until "Airplane!" was released in 1980 and became a huge hit.
As the doctor aboard a plane in which the pilots, and some of the passengers, become violently ill, Nielsen says they must get to a hospital right away.
"A hospital? What is it?" a flight attendant asks, inquiring about the illness.
"It's a big building with patients, but that's not important right now," Nielsen deadpans.
When he asks a passenger if he can fly the plane, the man replies, "Surely you can't be serious."
Nielsen responds: "I am serious, and don't call me Shirley."
Critics argued he was being cast against type, but Nielsen disagreed.
"I've always been cast against type before," he said, adding comedy was what he'd really always wanted to do.
It was what he would do for most of the rest of his career, appearing in such comedies as "Repossessed" (a takeoff on the demonic possession movies like "The Exorcist") and "Mr. Magoo," in which he played the title role of the good-natured bumbler.
Nielsen did play Debbie Reynolds' sweetheart in the popular "Tammy and the Bachelor," a loanout to Universal, and he became well known to baby boomers for his role as the Revolutionary War fighter Francis Marion in the Disney TV adventure series "The Swamp Fox."
Unhappy with his roles at MGM, he asked to be released from his contract. As a freelancer, he appeared in a series of undistinguished movies.
"I played a lot of leaders, autocratic sorts; perhaps it was my Canadian accent," he reasoned.
Meanwhile, he remained active in television in guest roles. He also starred in his own series, "The New Breed," "The Protectors" and "Bracken's World," but all were short-lived.
Then "Airplane!" captivated audiences and changed everything.
Producers-directors-writers Jim Abrahams, David and Jerry Zucker had hired Robert Stack, Peter Graves, Lloyd Bridges and Nielsen to spoof their heroic TV images in a satire of flight-in-jeopardy movies.
After the movie's success, the filmmaking trio cast their newfound comic star as Detective Drebin in a TV series, "Police Squad," which trashed the cliches of "Dragnet" and other cop shows. Despite good reviews, NBC canceled it after only four episodes.
"It didn't belong on TV," Nielsen later commented. "It had the kind of humor you had to pay attention to."
The Zuckers and Abraham converted the series into a feature film, "The Naked Gun," with George Kennedy, O.J. Simpson and Priscilla Presley as Nielsen's co-stars. Its huge success led to sequels "The Naked Gun 2 1/2" and "The Naked Gun 33 1/3."
His later movies included "All I Want for Christmas," "Dracula: Dead and Loving It" and "Spy Hard."
Between films he often turned serious, touring with his one-man show on the life of the great defense lawyer, Clarence Darrow.
Nielsen was born Feb. 11, 1926 in Regina, Saskatchewan.
He grew up 200 miles south of the Arctic Circle at Fort Norman, where his father was an officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The parents had three sons, and Nielsen once recalled, "There were 15 people in the village, including five of us. If my father arrested somebody in the winter, he'd have to wait until the thaw to turn him in."
The elder Nielsen was a troubled man who beat his wife and sons, and Leslie longed to escape. As soon as he graduated from high school at 17, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, even though he was legally deaf (he wore hearing aids most of his life.)
After the war, Nielsen worked as a disc jockey at a Calgary radio station, then studied at a Toronto radio school operated by Lorne Greene, who would go on to star on the hit TV series "Bonanza." A scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse brought him to New York, where he immersed himself in live television.
Nielsen also was married to: Monica Boyer, 1950-1955; Sandy Ullman, 1958-74; and Brooks Oliver, 1981-85.
Nielsen and his second wife had two daughters, Thea and Maura.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie: Pax Birthday Boat!

Source - Just Jared
Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie: Pax Birthday Boat!
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie throw a fun little birthday party for their son, Pax Jolie-Pitt, aboard the Josephine river boat along the Siene River on Sunday night (November 28) in Paris, France.
Some of Pax’s siblings were also in attendance: Maddox, 9, Zahara, 5, and Shiloh, 4. Looks like twins Knox and Vivienne napped this birthday bash out!
Check out Pax’s birthday cake, Brad video taping Shiloh and Zahara, and Pax blowing up birthday balloons!
Pax turns 7 tomorrow (November 29). Happy Birthday, Pax!!!

CHRAJ expresses shock at the woman set ablaze for witchcraft

Accra, Nov. 26, GNA - The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Friday expressed shock to grasp how Madam Ama Hemmah, a 72-year-old woman was subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment resulting in her death in Tema.

A statement issued in Accra by Mrs Comfort Akosua Edu, Head of Public Relations said: "The Commission finds the action of the perpetrators of this atrocious crime as very barbaric and one that greatly dims the nation's human rights record".

"That they came and met her in their room does not in any way warrant. branding her as a notorious witch who deserved to be subjected to such an ordeal.

"It is, indeed, very disheartening that some men of God, whose responsibility it is to help save lives, could rather orchestrate the killing of innocent souls, all in the name of God."

The Commission applauded the Ghana Police Service for acting swiftly on the matter and called on the Attorney General's Department to offer the needed advice to ensure that the culprits were made to dance to the tune of their action to serve as a deterrent to others.

It said Ms Deborah Pearl Adumoah, the student-nurse, who chanced upon Madam Hemmah and offered her a helping hand, must be commended by all for her efforts.

The statement called on all Ghanaians to emulate her example and to desist from being involved in mob attacks. Available information indicated that the deceased was reported to have been found in the room of one Emelia Opoku at a time when the lady had sent her children to school. The alarm was raised, which incited a group of persons in the neighbourhood at Site 15, Tema who allegedly tortured and extracted confessions of witchcraft from the deceased. The mob then drenched the poor old lady in kerosene and set her ablaze. She died within 24 hours of arrival in hospital. 26 Nov. 10

12 women and 23 men arrested for practicing collective witchcraft

image
The national police have recently succeeded in arresting 35 people who practiced witchcraft in group in a village situated south of the town of Bordj Bouarreridj, not far from El Anasser university center.

Based on information received about the presence of strangers who would come the provinces of M'sila, Setif, Mila and Constantine, in addition to others originating from BBA, who practiced collective witchcraft in a house at the place indicated.
The group was accused of practicing witchcraft and debauchery. The network is composed of 12 women and 23 men aged between 22 and 45. Among them, an old lady of 83.
The elements of the national gendarmerie, about fifty elements, have surrounded the house where the group was engaging in witchcraft around midnight and arrested the accused and seized a quantity of "B'khour" (a substance used) and various other products.
According to our sources, the accused claimed to cure diseases and exorcise the sick.
They were presented before the public prosecutor at the court of BBA, pending their trial.

Christian Review of the Week - 'Tangled'

Another Week, Another AWESOME Review on ChristianAnswers.net - 'Tangled'

"Negative - I saw “Tangled” last night with my husband, and I left the theater feeling as though my soul was vexed. I regretted that I had spent money on this film, because of its blasphemous aspects. Do you know who has the power to heal the sick and raise the dead? Well, according to Disney's new movie “Tangled,” Rapunzel does. I wrongly assumed that this would be a cute movie about a girl exploring the world for the first time and falling in love with a handsome young man who initially rubbed her the wrong way. But, no, it was the usual Disney movie filled with magic, dark elements, and (like I said previously) blasphemy. I don't know how the …reviewer could have given this movie a moral rating of better than average. How can a movie be “better than average” if it introduces precious young children to magic and takes the Lord's attributes and power and gives it to plants and humans? There is nothing better than average about blasphemy, confusion, or “Tangled.”
My Ratings: Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4½"
                                                              —Rena, age 45 (USA)

Joss Whedon Explains Why He Left TV For Film

"It’s time to do something else."
November 28th, 2010
Last Monday we heard the HORRID news that plans are moving forward to reboot Buffy the Vampire Slayer without Joss Whedon‘s support, input or blessing. A day later, Whedon himself went on the record to voice his displeasure at hearing the Buffy reboot news and reiterate how much he is AGAINST plans for a new Buffy movie. Today we get to hear from Joss again but this new interview with SciFiNow magazine has NOTHING at all to do with the Buffy reboot, instead he talks about his other creations Firefly and Dollhouse and he explains why he’s no longer (at least for now) interested in working in TV:

On Dollhouse and Firefly: “The situation with Firefly was that I always knew exactly what I was doing and Fox was ignorant… The situation with Dollhouse was that Fox was trying to get it, but we had come at two different shows, we had done that accidentally, and it got to a point where I didn’t know what I was trying to accomplish, and you can’t go into a story room with that feeling, because it’s already really hard. I remember thinking this is the difference between this and Firefly, because with Firefly, I knew, and here, now I’m not even sure. I was just thinking, ‘I’m writing a shoot-out on a dock – I’m a whore.’ They’re like, ‘No, that doesn’t make you a whore,’ and I’m, like, ‘I’m fairly certain it does!’ They explained that, actually, having sex for money makes you a whore. But I also did that.”
On Dollhouse in retrospect: “It accomplished some of the things I wanted to accomplish. The questions of identity and humanity I thought were out there front and centre, and I’ve heard people respond really well to that, and I’ve heard people say the show even helped them. I never conceived of a more pure journey from helplessness to power, which is what I always write about, and in that sense I feel we accomplished a lot of it. I do feel that part of what we tried to get at kind of got taken out at the beginning – and it really was more important to how the show would work than I even realised when they took it out – which was sex. The show was supposed to be, on some level, a celebration of perversion, as something that makes us unique. Sort of our hidden selves … I feel when we had to take sex out of the equation, it became kind of a joke or almost unsettling. Because we couldn’t hit it head on – and so much of our identity is wrapped up in our sexuality, and this is something Eliza [Dushku] was talking to me about, as something she wanted to examine before I even came up with the idea, and to have that sort of excised and marginalised and sanitised, and not to be able to hit on the head what they were doing, made the show a little bit limited and a little bit creepy at times. I think we still did some fairly out-there stuff, and I’m proud of what we did, given the circumstances, but with those circumstances, it was never really going to happen the way it should have.”
I can’t even imagine how awesome a Joss Whedon project would be on TV if the powers that be would actually let him do the things he wants to do unfettered and uncensored … but, alas, we may never find out. Whedon‘s interview goes on to discuss why he’s not really interested in working on TV anymore. Read those excerpts, after the jump …
On leaving television for The Avengers: “I think I already had left television. The plan had been to dive into the world of self-produced, internet, tiny stuff, which my wife was very excited about – I mean it, she said, ‘I’ve been waiting my entire life for you to do this’ – and then I turned around and said, ‘I’m doing the opposite’ and she said, ‘Great, okay!’ She’s good that way. Obviously there were basically two roads we talked about – one was a huge project that needs a total re-write that you can walk into and make, but there’s no reason to think that that would ever happen. And the other is self-producing stuff, either having something really big or really small, but not trying to truck down the middle road where you have all the interference of a big project, and the feeling of a small project. It’s more about doing it by the seat of your pants, but definitely one or the other. It doesn’t mean I won’t be doing TV forever, it just means it’s time to do something else.”
I really REALLY want Joss Whedon to have huge success with The Avengers because it sounds like he’s got a lot of license to do exactly what he wants to do with the story. If Whedon can prove to be a box office hit then it *may* give him more clout to tell his stories, his way in any medium he chooses. I just love his work … Buffy the Vampire Slayer, most of all (which is why the reboot angers me so much but I shant get into that again right now). With mega success comes power … I would LOVE for Joss to attain the kind of power that would allow him to bless us with his genius in his own way … here’s hoping. Whedon‘s full interview with SciFiNow magazine is available in Issue No. 46 (which, I believe, is only available in the UK) — check it out if you can.

Source - Pink is the New Blog

Brangelina Goes Shopping...Like Humans. Weird...

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Go Holiday Shopping in Paris

Saturday November 27, 2010 03:45 PM EST
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Go Holiday Shopping in Paris
Angelina Jolie (center) with Zahara (left) and Shiloh Jolie-Pitt
Splash News Online
On the first day of Christmas, my sisters gave to me ... a large plastic alligator?
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie took daughters Zahara and Shiloh holiday shopping in Paris Saturday and it looks like they'll be able to check quite a few things of their gift list, including pants, pajamas, gloves, sweaters, boots, stuffed animals, knights' costumes (complete with tunics, swords and shields) and one large green plastic alligator, according to staff at the Bonpoint boutique on rue de Tournon near the Luxembourg Gardens.

"Angelina was great," an onlooker tells PEOPLE. "She's patient, and a very hands-on mother, making certain everything fits."

Pitt was "very agreeable, absolutely polite and excellent with the girls" as well, a store employee says.

In town to promote film projects – Pitt's Megamind and Jolie's The Tourist – the couple squeezed in more than an hour of shopping with Zahara, 5, and Shiloh, 4, at the celeb-friendly boutique, where
Salma Hayek, Jessica Alba and Michelle Obama have visited.

"[Shiloh] wanted pants and picked out a pair of zebra-patterned boots," a clerk says of Saturday's stop.

Zahara, the employee says, chose "black suede boots and a 'Duchess' dress."

The Bonpoint store contains one fun feature which the girls enjoyed: an entire room that holds a child-sized farmhouse with several levels, meandering passages and see-through walls. Both girls played inside, according to a witness, while a laughing Jolie took pictures of her daughters.

Helping Shiloh try on a medieval knight's tunic, Pitt watched while she playfully waved around a wooden sword and shield. After deciding on both the costume and its accessories, Shiloh told the shop assistant that she wanted two complete sets. "'One is for me,' she explained," the clerk tells PEOPLE. "'The other is for my brother, Pax.' "

Pax may get his presents before the holidays – he turns 7 on Nov. 29.

And the large plastic alligator Shiloh selected at the last minute? "That's good for Knox," she told the sales staff.

Can't We Please Get Rid of This Woman?!?

Dr. Laura Goes To Satellite Radio

Perez Hilton Filed under: Icky Icky Poo
dr-laura-goes-to-satellite-radio.jpg
Ugh.
Dr. Laura Schlessinger won't be taking much of a break when her current syndicated advice program, Dr. Laura, ends on December 31.
The controversial talk show host has signed a multi-year deal with Sirius XM radio that will begin on Monday, January 2, 2011. Her new talk show will include new segments "that are relevant to the morals, values, principles and ethics that I nag about everyday."
When asked about her decision to move to satellite radio, Schlessinger said:
"The first and most important thing that appealed to me was the freedom to speak my mind without advertisers and affiliates being attacked by activist groups that just love to censor anything they don't agree with. That just about made my heart and head explode."
Oh great. Now she can be a bigger and more obnoxious loud mouth.

***Note - She is listed here as being a Hater.  Know your enemy to know yourself, I always say...
Dr. Laura VS. Wicca (Witchcraft/ Paganism) - http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_laur.htm

Look who's riding the Harry Potter Coaster in FL

Michael Douglas And Catherine Zeta-Jones Ride Harry Potter!

Perez Hilton Filed under: Harry Potter > Catherine Zeta Jones
michael-douglas-catherine-zeta-jones-harry-potter-ride.jpg
He's looking great!
Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and their two kids Dylan, 10, and Carys, 7, rode the Hippogriff ride at Universal Orlando's The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The family sampled Butterbeer, got fitted for wants at Ollivanders, and toured Hogwarts Castle.
We're glad Michael's looking healthy and having fun. Such a lovely family.

We knew it was going to happen, even though 'Tangled' put up an amazing fight.

'Harry Potter' leads holiday weekend with $50.3M

LOS ANGELES – A fairy-tale princess gave young wizard Harry Potter a run for his money at the weekend box office.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" remained the No. 1 movie with $50.3 million over Thanksgiving weekend, closely followed by the animated musical "Tangled" with $49.1 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The next-to-last "Harry Potter" movie raised its domestic total to $220.4 million after just 10 days in theaters, according to distributor Warner Bros.

"Tangled" is the latest Disney cartoon musical, with Mandy Moore providing the voice of fairy-tale princess Rapunzel. The movie raised its five-day total to $69 million since opening the day before Thanksgiving.
While "Deathly Hallows" continued to work box-office magic, Disney's "Tangled" far exceeded industry expectations, delivering the second-biggest Thanksgiving debut ever behind "Toy Story 2," which had a $57.4 million opening.

Disney head of distribution Chuck Viane said the studio would have been happy if "Tangled" had matched the $34 million debut of its hit "Enchanted" over Thanksgiving 2007. "Tangled" not only shot past that mark but also challenged "Harry Potter" for the No. 1 spot.

"That was the last thing we were thinking of, but it sure is nice to be even thought of in that situation," Viane said. "'Potter' is such a huge hit. To be that close, it was amazing."

Three other new wide releases had so-so openings, led by Christina Aguilera and Cher's song-and-dance tale "Burlesque" at No. 4 with $11.8 million for the weekend and a five-day total of $17.2 million since premiering Wednesday.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway's romance "Love & Other Drugs" debuted at No. 6 with a three-day haul of $9.9 million and a total of $14 million since opening Wednesday.
Dwayne Johnson's action tale "Faster" opened at No. 7 with $8.7 million for the weekend and $12.2 million since its Wednesday debut.

With a $125 million opening weekend, "Deathly Hallows" had the biggest start yet for the franchise about the young wizard. Its 10-day total also surpasses the previous high of $201 million set by "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and last year's "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," according to Warner Bros.
"That kind of tells you how big the last `Potter' is going to be," said Jeff Goldstein, general sales manager for Warner Bros. "If you look at films like `Lord of the Rings,' when you get to the last one, anticipation is just overwhelming."

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," the final installment, hits theaters next July.

Despite big business for "Harry Potter" and "Tangled," Hollywood fell short of the Thanksgiving revenue record set last year, when "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" and "The Blind Side" led the box office.

According to box-office tracker Hollywood.com, revenues from Wednesday to Sunday last Thanksgiving totaled $273 million, compared to $267 million this season.

"This one was really close. I thought we might eke out a record," said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com.

Other than "Tangled," the new wide releases did not draw huge crowds, each catering to a segment of the audience.

Sony's "Burlesque," with Aguilera as a waitress seeking stardom at a Hollywood musical club, drew women; 20th Century Fox's "Love and Other Drugs," with Gyllenhaal as a pharmaceutical salesman who falls for an ailing woman (Hathaway), brought in date crowds; and CBS Films' "Faster," starring Johnson as an ex-con out for revenge, attracted male action fans.
 
In limited release, the Weinstein Co. drama "The King's Speech" got off to a majestic start with $349,791 in four theaters in New York City and Los Angeles. That gave it a whopping average of $87,448 a theater, compared to $13,628 in 3,603 theaters for "Tangled."
 
"The King's Speech" stars Colin Firth as British monarch George VI, father of Queen Elizabeth II, as he comes to power in 1936 while struggling to overcome a lifelong stammer. The film, which has early Academy Awards buzz as a potential front-runner, gradually expands to more theaters through the holidays.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.
 
1. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1," $50.3 million.
2. "Tangled," $49.1 million.
3. "Megamind," $12.9 million.
4. "Burlesque," $11.8 million.
5. "Unstoppable," $11.75 million.
6. "Love & Other Drugs," $9.9 million.
7. "Faster," $8.7 million.
8. "Due Date," $7.3 million.
9. "The Next Three Days," $4.8 million.
10. "Morning Glory," $4 million.

This is just funny:-) - Man Shoots TV Over Bristol Palin Dancing

Man Shoots TV Over Bristol Palin Dancing

Suspect surrendered after 15-hour standoff with cops

Bristol Palin

View Document

Palin DWTS Shooting

NOVEMBER 17--Like most Americans, Steven Cowan has been perplexed by Bristol Palin’s curious ability to keep advancing in TV’s "Dancing with the Stars" competition.
However, unlike other viewers, Cowan, 67, allegedly became so enraged by Palin’s success that he actually fired a shotgun round into his television, triggering a 15-hour standoff with Wisconsin cops.
According to a criminal complaint, Cowan’s wife called police Monday evening to report that her husband had blasted the TV and was threatening to kill himself. Cowan, who had been drinking, became angry while watching Palin, 20, perform on the ABC program.
As Palin, pictured at left, was dancing, Cowan “jumped up and swore, saying something to the effect of, ‘The fucking politics.’ Steven was upset that a political figure’s daughter was dancing on this particular show when Steven did not think that she was a good dancer,” the complaint notes. Cowan is pictured in the above mug shot.
Janice Cowan told Dane County Sheriff's Office deputies that she called 911 after her husband blasted the TV and then pointed the shotgun at her. She added that Cowan warned her that he would kill himself if she brought anyone back to their home in the town of Vermont.
After a lengthy standoff with cops, Cowan surrendered yesterday at 11 AM. He is facing disorderly conduct and weapons charges.
He was sitting in the Dane County jail last night when Palin landed a spot in the “Dancing with the Stars” finals. However, a sheriff’s spokesperson told TSG that Cowan “currently does not have access to television.” (3 pages)

Tony Blair defends religious faith

Tony Blair defends religious faith

Tony Blair has defended religious faith as a force for good in the world during a televised debate with atheist and columnist Christopher Hitchens.

11:13AM GMT 27 Nov 2010
But Mr Blair, who converted to Catholicism after leaving government in 2007, said it was also true that religion inspires acts of extraordinary good.
He said it was important not to condemn all people of religious faith because of the "bigotry or prejudice shown by some".

Mr Blair also told the 2,700-strong audience in Toronto, Canada, the invasion of Iraq was "not about religious faith" but decisions on the war were "based on policy".
He said it was "futile" to try to "drive religion out" and it was more important to concentrate on how to get people of different faiths to work together, particularly in the Middle East where the conflict would only be resolved if people worked across the "faith divide".
Sceptic Mr Hitchens, who has terminal cancer, likened God to a "celestial dictatorship, a kind of divine North Korea".
He appeared to win over the audience, which voted two-to-one in his favour following the debate, which argued the motion "be it resolved, religion is a force for good in the world".
Mr Blair, 57, who became a practising Christian while studying at Oxford University, said: "It is undoubtedly true that people commit horrific acts of evil in the name of religion.
"It is also undoubtedly true that people do acts of extraordinary common good inspired by religion."
He pointed to the good done by faith based organisations, including the millions of lives saved in Africa and care for the mentally ill, disabled and destitute.
He added: "The proposition that religion is unadulterated poison is unsustainable.
"It can be destructive, it can also create a deep well of compassion, and frequently does."
Mr Blair said the common thread running through all faiths was to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and continued: "(Faith) answers a profound spiritual yearning, something we feel and sense instinctively.
"This is a spiritual presence, bigger, more important, more meaningful than just us alone, that has its own power separate from our power, and that even as the world's marvels multiply, makes us kneel in humility not swagger in pride.
"If faith is seen in this way, science and religion are not incompatible, destined to fight each other, until eventually the cool reason of science extinguishes the fanatical flames of religion.
"Rather science educates us as to how the physical world is and how it functions, and faiths educates us as to the purpose to which such knowledge is put, the values that should guide its use, and the limits of what science and technology can do not to make our lives materially richer but rather richer in spirit."
Mr Hitchens, 61, said: "Once you assume a creator and a plan, it makes us objects, in a cruel experiment, whereby we are created sick, and commanded to be well.
"And over us, to supervise this, is installed a celestial dictatorship, a kind of divine North Korea."
He said it was not necessary to have "divine permission to know right from wrong".
And he said religion may promise salvation but the price was the "surrender of your critical faculties".
He continued: "Religion forces nice people to do unkind things, and also makes intelligent people say stupid things."
In a question from the audience Mr Blair was asked what role faith played in his decision to invade Iraq.
He said: "I think we can nail this one pretty easily. It was not about religious faith.
"You know, one of the things that I sometimes say to people is, look, the thing about religion and religious faith is if you are a person of faith, it's part of your character, it defines you in many ways as a human being.
"It doesn't do the policy answers, I am afraid.
"Even on the major decisions that are to do with war and peace that I've taken, they were decisions based on policy, and so they should be, and you may disagree with those decisions, but they were taken because I genuinely believed them to be right."

Depp bans phones at home - I would LOVE to do this...

Depp bans phones at home
 

Johnny Depp. (Ivan Nikolov/WENN.COM photo)
Johnny Depp has banned phones from his house in France to ensure his private time with his family is uninterrupted.
The Hollywood actor shares a luxury home in the country with his partner Vanessa Paradis and their two children, and he makes sure they can relax during their stays there by cutting contact with the outside world.
He tells Britain's The Sun, "When I'm at our house in France I totally cut myself off from the rest of the world. I never have to listen to phones ringing and that's because - and Vanessa would confirm this - phones are banned from the house.
"We have a beautiful life and I feel that spending time in France has just calmed me down and made me stop worrying about things which aren't really important."

FREE WILLIE!!!

FREE WILLIE!

Arresting Willie Nelson for being possession of the good shit is like arrested Jessica Simpson for farting. But that's exactly what officers in Texas did to him yesterday morning at a Border Patrol checkpoint in Sierra Blanca. When Willie's tour bus rolled up, BP agents smelled the delicious scent of marijuana floating out of the windows. That was just Willie burping again. Seriously, if Willie's tour rolled up and the officers didn't get a contact high from a good shit cloud wafting out of the windows, then they should arrest his ass! I'm clutching my bong with my mouth out of SHOCK about this.

E! News says that officials found 6 ounces of weed on the bus and Willie admitted it was his. They took him down to jail, charged him with a misdemeanor, and he was later released on $2,500 bail. Obviously, this has happened before.

Can't the government just grant Willie Nelson a pardon from all future marijuana arrests? It's Willie Fucking Nelson! The history books will tell you that he came out of the womb smoking pot. He'll smoke a joint on his bus, or in a jail cell. Dude doesn't care as long as he's got a joint between his lips.

**Couldn't have put it better Dlisted!

Dan Aykroyd confirms recent Ghostbusters 3 casting rumours

Dan Aykroyd confirms recent Ghostbusters 3 casting rumours

Hader and Faris are strong possibilities
By Matt Maytum | Nov 28th 2010

Barely a day goes by when some new Ghostbusters 3 rumour doesn't hit the web.

But this one comes from the horse's mouth (sort of). Bloody Disgusting are reporting that Dan Aykroyd recently confirmed some casting news via an interview on WGN Radio Chicago.

Aykroyd admitted that Bill Hader and Anna Faris have been mentioned as strong possibilities, although apparently nothing is close to official yet. We could definitely imagine them fitting in and nailing the required tone.

The Ghostbusters writer and actor also brought up Eliza Dushku's (Buffy, Dollhouse) name, so perhaps they're planning to have an ass-kicking team member along with the funny faces.

Aykroyd also apparently confirmed the long-running, on-and-off rumour that Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver will be returning.

The rumour mill has been churning so long on this now that some kind of official announcement surely can't be too far off.

Source: Bloody Disgusting via WorstPreviews

Box office update: 'Harry Potter' ekes out Friday victory with $20.8 mil

Box office update: 'Harry Potter' ekes out Friday victory with $20.8 mil

Entertainment Weekly Categories: Box Office, Harry Potter, Movie Biz, News
deathly-hallows-part-1-004Image Credit: Jaap Buitendijk

In a surprisingly close race, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 held on to its box-office crown Friday by grossing $20.8 million, according to early estimates. That’s a 66 percent drop from the fantasy film’s opening last Friday, which was inflated due to an enormous turnout at Thursday midnight screenings. If Deathly Hallows follows the Thanksgiving trajectory of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire — the last Potter film to open in November — the PG-13 movie should finish the weekend with about $50 million. That would bring Deathly Hallows‘ 10-day tally to $220 million, making it the 10th greatest 10-day gross in box-office history and the best ever for a Potter flick.

But Friday wasn’t only a celebration for wizards, as Disney’s animated musical Tangled came in close behind with $19.7 million. The PG movie, which debuted Wednesday, has grossed $39.7 million so far, and has a shot at overtaking Deathly Hallows for the three-day weekend. If that happens, it’d be due to one reason: incredible word-of-mouth. CinemaScore audiences rated the fairy-tale film an “A+” — the first movie this year to garner the rare grade. Even more impressive is the fact that while moviegoers under the age of 25 rated Tangled an “A,” those over the age of 25 gave it an “A+.” Clearly this retelling of Rapunzel is delivering for all age groups, and when that happens, watch out. Tangled is on pace to finish second this weekend with about $47 million, but again, it could very well upset Potter for first place. Seems the lesson here is: Never underestimate a woman with ridiculously long hair.

The next five films are fairly clumped together, and their positions could swap by Sunday night. DreamWorks Animation’s Megamind came in third on Friday, grossing $5.3 million for an actual increase of 41 percent from last week. In fourth place was the action thriller Unstoppable, which gained 13 percent from last week for $4.6 million. After that were this week’s three other new releases. The Cher-Christina Aguilera musical Burlesque fared best, bringing in $4.5 million on Friday. Despite mediocre reviews, audiences liked the PG-13 film — CinemaScore moviegoers graded it an “A-.”. The R-rated romantic comedy Love and Other Drugs, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway, was next in sixth place with $3.8 million. And Faster, Dwayne Johnson’s return to the action genre, rounded out the top seven with $3.2 million. Check back here on Sunday for the complete box office report.

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 — $20.8 mil
2. Tangled — $19.7 mil
3. Megamind — $5.3 mil
4. Unstoppable — $4.6 mil
5. Burlesque — $4.5 mil
6. Love and Other Drugs — $3.8 mil
7. Faster — $3.2 mil

Saturday, November 27, 2010

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Tips to Help You Get Ready for Cyber Monday from Marie Claire

12 Cyber Monday Shopping Tips

Forget Black Friday! It's all about online bargains this year. Hollywood stylist and shopping pro Phillip Bloch shares his tips for getting the best deal.

Last year, more than 96 million people clicked their way through their holiday shopping lists on Cyber Monday, a somewhat new tradition in the Thanksgiving-to-Christmas spending frenzy. But, how do you find the best bargain online? Celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch — who wrote The Shopping Diet: Spend Less & Get More, on bookshelves now — offers up some of his best tricks of the trade for navigating the e-sales bins without emptying your wallet.
1. Do Some Recon
Just because you plan to do a bulk of your shopping online doesn't mean you shouldn't go to the old-school brick-and-mortar stores you'll be buying from several days in advance. "Look and see what's around," Bloch says, adding that it's a good excuse to check out the quality of the product — the material and the craftsmanship — and notice details you couldn't on a computer screen. "And know what things cost regularly so you aren't caught up in some faux bargain."

2. Avoid Buying Clothes or Shoes Online
"I find clothes and
shoes highly personal," Bloch says of his tendency to avoid making those purchases online. "But everybody's different." One rule: Don't buy jeans online. The fit is too particular to get just right without trying them on first. Another rule: More generic pieces that aren't all about fit, like sweaters or cute PJs, are easier to get right, as are accessories and purses.
3. Know Your Measurements
If you do decide to buy clothes online, know the exact measurements of the person you are shopping for — not just sizes, but the inches around your waist, hips, and bust. "And know what size you usually take in that brand or
designer," the stylist explains. "For instance, Donna Karan's size 4 is really a 6."
4. Triple Check the Return Policy
"Stores are really cracking down on returns during this holiday season — even with a receipt — so you want to make sure you know what their real return policy is in advance," Bloch says, noting that you should make extra certain that their online return policy is the same as their in-store one. "Get confirmation of the return policy in writing, if you can. You want a paper trail." While you're at it, Bloch advises, find out your credit card's policy for protecting you against fraudulent charges. "They often provide good protection," he says.

5. Negotiate Shipping Costs
When it comes to shopping over the internet, "be aware of inevitable shipping and handling charges," Bloch says. "Often items will be shipped separately and you will incur each individual charge." And that adds up. Bloch's advice? Try to buy from places that only give one overall shipping charge, like Overstock.com. Otherwise, he says, "Feel free to negotiate alternative shipping solutions."

6. Remember a Sale Isn't Always a Bargain
"Don't lose your head," Bloch says, noting that just because it's marked down 75 percent doesn't mean it was worth buying in the first place. Often, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. "When you see a pair of Prada shoes online for only $399, double check that they aren't actually three seasons old and would be that price anyway."

7. Know What Your Time Is Worth
The blessing and curse of online shopping is that you can do it 24/7. "Know what your time is worth, and calculate that into what you are spending," he says. "Set a time limit for yourself and literally set a timer or alarm clock next to your computer. Otherwise you can get lost in cyberland." And the best way to maximize time is to do that preliminary in-store research in advance. "Five minutes then can save you five hours later," he says.

8. Ask Questions
Just because you can't ask a question to a salesperson in, well, person, doesn't mean you have to be confused about your purchases. Call a store or look for a customer service page on an e-commerce site. "All the sites you'll be shopping on have phone numbers," the stylist says.

9. Subscribe to Great Shopping Sites
"Don't forget to check the sites for department stores, which often offer specific promotions for online shoppers as well as different inventory than what you would find on the retail floor," Bloch says. You should also subscribe to savvy e-commerce sites — and just because it's an online-only store, doesn't mean you can't get luxury goods. He recommends ShopItToMe.com, Gilt Groupe, Bluefly, RueLaLa.com, and Net-A-Porter. Bonus: "Internet-only stores don't charge sales tax."

10. Go to Reputable Sites You Know
If you haven't heard of the site, you probably don't want to give them your credit card information. "Stick with retailers you've heard of and that have a good reputation," Bloch says. And read customer reviews to see how well they deal with problems, shipping charges, and especially returns.

11. Be Wary of Email Scams
If you get an email from an e-commerce site or store offering a deal if you "click here," proceed with extreme caution. According to David Perry, the global director of education for Trend Micro, a leader in antivirus software and internet security, it may be a virus or money-making scam. "Never click on a link like this from your email," he says. "Always go to the site directly."

12. Don't Just Shop for Christmas Gifts
"Make a list of everyone you are shopping for in advance, and make a list of all the other occasions throughout the year that you'll be celebrating," Bloch says, like birthdays, graduations, and weddings. You can save both time and money by taking care of all of those purchases at once. His bargain of choice is the Marc Jacobs holiday item. "He has those great little gifts, like $9 wallets or fingerless gloves for $4," he says. "Buy 10 pairs and give them out throughout the year."

A Serbian Film is 'most cut' movie in 16 years

A Serbian Film is 'most cut' movie in 16 years


A scene from A Serbian Film Producers have said the movie is allegorical
Controversial movie A Serbian Film has become the most cut film in 16 years, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has said.
The dark thriller, which features disturbing scenes of violence and sex, has had four minutes and 11 seconds of its original content removed.
The BBFC said that it "rarely cuts" cinema releases with an 18 certificate.
In 1994 the Indian movie Nammavar was cut by five minutes and eight seconds for violent content.
A BBFC spokeswoman said: "A number of cuts were required to remove elements of sexual violence that tend to eroticise or endorse sexual violence."
'Immensely indecent'
The film is scheduled for UK release on the 10 December, although distributors Revolver Entertainment said it does not yet know how many cinemas it will be shown in.
A spokesman from the company said: "Revolver remain committed to releasing the closest possible version of the film to the director's original cut.
"The company recognises that the film is an uncompromising, artistic and political statement from a unique film-making vision and remains fully supportive to the director.
"I think the film is tragic, sickening, disturbing, twisted, absurd, infuriated, and actually quite intelligent”
Scott Weinberg Film critic
"Revolver believes this is a film that deserves to be seen by both a theatrical and home entertainment UK audience," he added.
The movie was written by Serbian horror film critic Aleksandar Radivojevic and directed by Srdjan Spasojevic.
Radivojevic has defended the movie, calling it an "a diary of our molestation by the Serbian government".
He said it was designed to show the "monolithic power of leaders who hypnotise you to do things you don't want to do".
Variety called the film a "well-crafted, immensely indecent smut-slasher", while The Sun newspaper labelled it "sick".
Film critic Scott Weinberg wrote: "I think the film is tragic, sickening, disturbing, twisted, absurd, infuriated, and actually quite intelligent.
"I admire and detest it at the same time. And I will never watch it again. Ever."
In August Westminster Council refused to allow the movie to be shown during the annual Frightfest film festival.
Earlier this month trade magazine Variety reported that Spain had banned public screenings of the film at the Terror Film Week in San Sebastian.
A temporary injunction also prompted the Molins de Rei and Malaga film festival to cancel screenings.