New information has come in regarding the death of a paparazzi member who was trailing Justin Bieber’s car in Los Angeles last night. TMZ has identified the celebrity gossip reporter as Chris Guerra . Guerra was reportedly trailing Bieber throughout New Year’s Day, phoning someone associated with his photo agency around 5:30 p.m. and telling him Bieber’s car had just pulled into the Beverly Hills Four Seasons. Guerra then told his colleague that Bieber’s Ferrari was pulling away and he had to follow it. As we now know, Bieber was not actually in the vehicle when Guerra later spotted in getting pulled over by highway patrol. He was asked to move back by a police officer and was struck dead by an oncoming vehicle. Guerra was in his late 20s; had been working in a Las Vegas casino until moving to Los Angeles last spring; and was unmarried without any children. For the past few months, he had been assigned exclusively to the Justin Bieber beat.
Research on the street drug known as “bath salts” has uncovered some disturbing findings… via UK Daily Mail : As lethal bath salts continue to take young lives, researchers have discovered the shocking strength of a key ingredient that leaves users struggling with the after effects for days. MDPV, commonly found in the street drug is ten times stronger than “yayo”, according to the National Science Foundation. It causes users to become paranoid, violent and agitated, at times leading to hallucinations. But unlike with other drugs, such as “yayo” or “molly,” doctors are noticing a worrying trend of people suffering these symptoms for days after snorting the legal high. ‘They’re selling time bombs,’ Louisiana Poison Control Center Director Dr. Mark Ryan told ABC News. ‘We’ve had some people show up who are complaining of chest pains so severe that they think they’re having a heart attack. They think they’re dying. They have extreme paranoia. They’re having hallucinations. They see things, they hear things, monsters, demons, aliens.’ One such victim was 21-year-old Dickie Sanders. He suffered severe hallucinations after snorting a packet of bath salts, labelled ‘Cloud Nine’, became convinced he was being hunted by police and sliced at his throat with a kitchen knife. Saunders survived his horrific injuries, returning home with stitches and telling his mother: ‘I can’t handle what this drug has done to me. I’m never going to touch anything again.’ The side effects persisted, Saunders’ father ended up having to sleep beside him, holding his son in his arms and trying to comfort him. He eventually calmed and drifted off to sleep. But hours later, suddenly and without warning, Saunders left the protective arms of his father and in the midst of another psychotic episode shot himself with a rifle. As Saunders’ tragic became mirrored in more and more incidents across the country, Ryan compiled a database of every bath salts-related case in Louisiana, hit especially hard by the problem, and Kentucky. Ryan noticed that upon snorting the powder, labelled with names including Hurricane Charlie, NOLA Diamond and Bayou Ivory Flower, users all suffered repetitive psychotic episodes. ‘Some patients were in the hospital for 5 days, 10 days, 14 days,’ Ryan said. ‘In some cases, they were under heavy sedation. As you try to taper off the sedation, the paranoia came back and the delusions.’ ‘MDPV is irreversible, it won’t let go,’ his colleague Louise De Felice said. ‘I don’t know of any other drug that has that same feature of not allowing you to escape from it.’ Scientists ran tests to try to determine the drug’s chemistry, finding it to be laced with MDPV, ten times the potency of cocaine. The dangerous combination of the drug’s ingredients ‘flood the brain,’ they said, leading to repeated episodes of psychotic behaviour. In December the Louisiana Poison Centre received more than 110 calls about bath salts, compared with four in October and 24 in November. That trend was being mirrored all around the states. Drastic measures were taken early January to ban the five ingredients commonly found in bath salts products: MDPV and mephedrone, methylone, methedrone and flephedrone. What’s worrying is that drug makers have simply tweaked the formula, skirting around the law. ‘What [drugmakers] are looking for is the side effects,’ said Jimmy Guidry, Louisiana State Health officer. ‘They just have to change the chemistry, and they’ve got something that’s not on the list, and it’s not illegal. They continue to make it legal to have these horrible side effects.’ ‘It’s like that arcade game Whac-a-Mole,’ Ryan added. ‘Every time you think you’ve got a handle on it — boom — it pops up in three different places.’ We never planned on trying bath salts in the first place, but this information is even more disturbing than we imagined — there is a drug that people can’t come down from — the side effects of this isht is PERMANENT! It seems like users either end up killing themselves or others before it’s all said and done. That said — who is making this stuff? Clearly not your average neighborhood drug dealer… So how did something that was made in a lab get into the hands of all these people across the country? That’s what we really want to know!
As President Obama explained a major immigration policy switch Friday in a Rose Garden statement, he got into an unexpected tussle with a reporter. Obama seemed bewildered, then downright angry, at Neil Munro, a reporter for the conservative website Daily Caller who interrupted him more than once. The reporter shouted a question President Obama’s decision to halt deportations of some illegal immigrants while he was in mid-speech. Check it out: Reporter Interrupts Obama “Excuse me, sir,” Obama told Munro after Munro shouted a question in the middle of his speech on the Dream Act. “It’s not time for questions, sir.” “No, you have to take questions,” Munro responded, according to an official White House transcript. Obama shot back, “Not while I’m speaking.” Obama went on to complete his speech but not before jousting again with Munro, who he chastised for not letting him finish his statement. Munro again shouted questions at Obama before he was done. “I didn’t ask for an argument,” Obama said. “I’m answering your question.” In a statement on the Daily Caller website, Munro defended himself : “I always go to the White House prepared with questions for our president. I timed the question believing the president was closing his remarks, because naturally I have no intention of interrupting the President of the United States.” “I know he rarely takes questions before walking away from the podium. When I asked the question as he finished his speech, he turned his back on the many reporters, and walked away while I and at least one other reporter asked questions.” Tucker Carlson, his Editor-in-Chief, added: “I don’t remember Diane Sawyer scolding her colleague Sam Donaldson for heckling President Reagan. And she shouldn’t have.” “A reporter’s job is to ask questions and get answers. Our job is to find out what the federal government is up to. Politicians often don’t want to tell us. A good reporter gets the story. We’re proud of Neil Munro.” The exchange came as Obama announced a new policy at his Department of Homeland Security , which will immediately stop deportation procedures for some young illegal immigrants who entered the country as children. As long as they came in while they were under 16, are under 30 right now, have stayed out of trouble and have gone on to attend school or serve in the military, illegal immigrants will not be pursued and deported any longer. What do you think? Did the reporter cross the line?
Councilman Fidler (Photo: Facebook) Councilman Lew Fidler, who’s running for the State Senate in the special election to replace Carl Kruger, went onto Assemblyman Dov Hikind’s radio show late Saturday night to make his case before the program’s primarily Jewish audience. The guest host, Joe Lazar, who once ran for the City Council himself with Assemblyman Hikind’s backing, asked Councilman Fidler… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : The Politicker Discovery Date : 16/01/2012 02:29 Number of articles : 2
This is just wonderful to see. Jesse LaGreca, also known as the Daily Kos blogger MinistryOfTruth , gets in front of a Fox News reporter and lets him know what he and the other 99 percent think of their news coverage. Here’s the transcript: Fox: Jesse, so Ray, your partner here, your .. Ray: comrade. Fox: Your colleague, she’d seen the protests in Greece and Europe and elsewhere. Did you guys take… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Crooks and Liars Discovery Date : 03/10/2011 07:13 Number of articles : 4
Anthony Weiner should really just resign already. Under mounting pressure from fellow politicians, and with police getting involved in his recent spat of Twitter exchanges, the embattled Congressman has announced a leave of absence from his post. Can one seek professional help for being a horny moron? A statement from Weiner’s camp reads: “[Congressman Weiner] will request a short leave of absence from the House of Representatives so that he can get evaluated and map out a course of treatment to make himself well. Congressman Weiner takes the views of his colleagues very seriously and has determined that he needs this time to get healthy and make the best decision possible for himself, his family and his constituents.” The move comes after Nancy Pelosi said her colleague ought to see assistance “”without the pressures of being a member of Congress.” It also takes place shortly after police interviewed a teen in Delaware. She admitted to exchange Tweets with Weiner, but said nothing “inappropriate” took place. With his wife pregnant , there certainly do appear to be pressing personal matters for Weiner to attend to. Let’s hope someone confiscates his cell phone while he’s away. [Photo: WENN.com]
Character’s name ironically the same as Taylor Lautner’s in ‘Twilight Saga.’ By Eric Ditzian Robert Pattinson in “Water For Elephants” Photo: FOX From what he laughingly dubbed “the middle of nowhere Canada,” Robert Pattinson called in to Ryan Seacrest’s radio show on Thursday morning (March 3) to chat about working with vampire babies in “Breaking Dawn” and animals in “Water for Elephants,” an upcoming drama in which — taking an inadvertent cue from Taylor Lautner’s “Twilight” character — he plays a man named Jacob. “It is quite funny. After I read it, that was actually one of my main concerns — my only concern,” Pattinson said of taking on the role. “The fact that he’s Polish — Jacob Jankowski — kind of takes away from it. It’s very different from ‘Twilight.’ ” The British actor described “Water for Elephants” as a “big, beautiful, old-fashioned love story” set in a 1930s circus and starring himself and Reese Witherspoon as “lovers.” We got our first look at footage from the new movie, which hits theaters April 22, late last year, and more official video footage is slated to pop up online on Thursday. Of working with elephants, Pattinson said, “They’re the most sophisticated, gentle creatures you could possibly hope to work with.” He was less forthcoming about working with those much-discussed vampire babies in “Breaking Dawn.” “It’s all secret. I’m going to get beaten if I say anything,” he laughed. When Seacrest pointed out that he read about the young vampires in the current issue of Vanity Fair, in an interview with RPattz himself, the actor responded, “Oh really? That’s why I got beaten last night!” Pattinson said he’s got two more months of shooting in Canada on “Breaking Dawn” before heading straight into the press tour for “Water for Elephants.” There will be no post-“Twilight” vacation for the guy, but he doesn’t seem to mind. “I’m just about catching up to where it took off,” he said of adjusting to his fame. “I’m pretty happy about the way things have gone.” Check out everything we’ve got on “Water for Elephants.” For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com . Related Photos Robert Pattinson’s 10 Smoldering Looks In The ‘Water For Elephants’ Trailer
We grade Pia Toscano, Lauren Turner and the rest of the ladies while waiting to see who makes the finals. By Eric Ditzian Photo: Michael Becker / FOX On Wednesday morning, following the top 12 men’s debut on “American Idol,” MTV News sized up the competition with our first report card of the season. We doled out high marks to Paul McDonald and Casey Abrams, and delivered some tough love in the form of failing grades to Robbie Rosen and Jordan Dorsey. Now it’s the top 12 women’s turn to soar or suffer. When the ladies took the stage on Wednesday night, they busted out praiseworthy tuneage and showed off vocal chops that aren’t quite ready for the big time. Who’s up, who’s down, who might be out by next week? It’s report card time! Excellent Pia Toscano : She alone lands in this category because she alone blew us away with the iron-man strength of her vocals. Some of those sustains during the Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand by You” were dizzying. Pia made a savvy song choice, avoiding the voice-crowding din of an up-tempo tune (unlike Lauren Alaina), and showcased nothing but her best-in-show vocals. Welcome to the head of the class, Miss Toscano! Good Kendra Chantelle : Unlike her Hollywood Week duet partner Paul McDonald, who broke out of the crowd on Tuesday, Kendra didn’t fully separate herself from the pack. At least not yet. She showed off an impressive range and a soulful tone while singing, a tad boringly, Christina Aguilera’s “Impossible.” We look forward to Kendra following McDonald’s lead and delivering a breakout performance soon. Lauren Turner : Though her take on Etta James’ “Seven Day Fool” was a tad bit Broadway, there’s no denying the strength of her vocals. Still, we’re not yet ready to join our colleague Jim Cantiello in we’re-not-worthy praise of Turner. We’ll be looking for a more contemporary and radio-relevant tune before thrusting her into the upper echelon. Ashthon Jones : Steven Tyler was right: Jones has a trainload of confidence, and it’s on the strength of her self-assurance and personality, rather than her song choice of Monica’s “Love Over Me,” that she sneaks into this range. We dig her sultry, R&B soul, though we’ll stop way short, unlike Jennifer Lopez, of saying she’s a diva-in-the-making. Thia Megia : It took guts for this teen to strip down Irene Cara’s “Out Here on My Own,” stand out there on the stage under a spotlight, and live and die on the strength of her vocals. Live she did, and she came close to having a “moment.” Close. Lauren Alaina : Let’s just pretend the judges didn’t anoint Lauren as the artistic goddaughter of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. We get it; she’s an internal “Idol” favorite. For us, her high-energy take on Reba McEntire’s “Turn On the Radio” veered too far into “Coyote Ugly” territory. Who knew she wanted to be a country rocker? But we give her credit for going big early. Satisfactory Naima Adedapo : Perhaps Naima isn’t a student of “Idol” history, because even casual viewers know that a) you can’t sing “Summertime” without being compared to Fantasia and b) you’ll never come off on top in that comparison. That being said, her vocals were solid, the arrangement had a nice, jazzy feel to it, and she ended strong. We’re expecting more from Naima going forward, and we’ll be disappointed if she doesn’t rise up next week. Karen Rodriguez : Like Naima, Karen chose a song that simply would not lead to favorable comparisons. It doesn’t matter if she sang “Hero” in English, Spanish, Dutch and Mandarin, the “Idol” contestant is never going to wow us more than Mariah Carey. Unsatisfactory Ta-Tynisa Wilson : There was something inhumanely tinny about her voice during a take on Rihanna’s “Only Girl.” Not only were there pitch problems galore, but the performance very much reeked of girl-singing-into-a-hairbrush-in-her-bedroom syndrome. Rachel Zevita : We were praying, “Please don’t throw off that cape and reveal some skimpy outfit!” Then we were praying, “Please don’t try to act all sultry!” Then we were praying, “Please just stay still because you’re running around the room like a loon, trying to hit your marks, and your vocals are suffering.” Despite our prayers, Rachel made all these mistakes and more in an all-too-“Chicago” performance. She’s in serious danger this week. (There is a god!) Julie Zorrilla : Above and beyond the unpleasant, nasal tone to her voice, the performance was all sorts of wrong. Maybe it was the dress or the forever-waving arm, but the whole thing came off as very pageant-y and practiced. Haley Reinhart : Haley’s take on Alicia Keys’ “Fallin’ ” was yet another example of poor song choice by the women. She brought nothing new to the tune, overused her rasp and growl, and unleashed the single worst note of the night when her voice actually cracked toward the end. Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” at 10 p.m. Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances
The only person in America who’s had a more interesting week than this guy is Charlie Sheen. Last Monday, he was the left’s new hero for his bravura, screeching, truth-to-power grandstanding on the Wisconsin assembly floor. The next day, local police revealed that he’d recently been cited in connection with a prostitution sting on a Hotair: Wisconsin Dem Assemblyman to GOP Colleague: “You Are… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Katy Pundit Discovery Date : 01/03/2011 03:31 Number of articles : 2
Laura Govan checking Gilbert Arenas assets all the way to the bank!!! How in the world do you get served during the NBA game??? Did they have to buy a ticket to the game in order to do this??? A process server stopped Arenas as he walked off the court Thursday night against the Miami Heat. The court documents, obtained by The Associated Press, were a California petition filed by Laura Mendoza Govan. She identifies herself as his ex-girlfriend in the documents. The petition seeks custody and child support for three children that Govan says Arenas fathered and has since “financially cut off.” She is also seeking support for another unborn child. After being outed on his lavish spending, Gilbert Arenas called into a radio show to dispute the lies: People facing expensive court battles usually keep quiet, but the former Wizard was awfully chatty in his call into our colleague Mike Wise’s 106.7 FM radio show. It’s all lies, Arenas claimed — except the bit about what Govan said he spends on his legendary shark tank. Yes, it’s really five grand a month: “I’d rather spend $5,000 on my fish than have a drinking problem.” The sharks, he claimed, have died, because of “somebody throwing pennies in the fish tank.” No names. Otherwise, he accused Govan of overhyping his finances. “If you look back at the last couple breakups of any NBA athlete… it’s a format they all go by to get more child support money… This is not ‘Basketball Wives.’… These girls got to stop living a fantasy world.” As for him: “You make bad choices as an adult, and we pick the wrong woman sometime.” Ouch. Govan did not reply by press time. These two are really something else. What we don’t understand is… if this fool kept putting you out every other weekend, why in the hell did you have 4 babies by him??? Source
