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Filmmaker Jafar Panahi Freed in Iran?

Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker — and recent Cannes lightning rod — Jafar Panahi is reportedly leaving jail today on $200,000 bail. The director of The White Balloon was said to have been imprisoned for his support of the country’s opposition party and begun a hunger strike last week. His cause was publicized in part by a petition boasting signatures by Robert Redford and Steven Spielberg, while also noted at a festival press conference by compatriot Abbas Kiarostami. Developing… [ AFP ]

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Filmmaker Jafar Panahi Freed in Iran?

Arizona cracks down on teachers with heavy accents

Arizona has been under fire for a controversial anti-illegal immigrant law and now its Department of Education is embarking on a course of action that many critics also believe is being enforced in a discriminatory fashion. “The Arizona Department of Education recently began telling school districts that teachers whose spoken English it deems to be heavily accented or ungrammatical must be removed from classes for students still learning English,” The Wall Street Journal reported. “This is just one more indication of the incredible anti-immigrant sentiment in the state,” said Bruce Merrill, a professor emeritus at Arizona State University who conducts public-opinion research. Nearly half the teachers at Creighton, a K-8 school in a Hispanic neighborhood of Phoenix, are native Spanish speakers. State auditors have reported to the district that some teachers pronounce words such as violet as “biolet,” think as “tink” and swallow the ending sounds of words, as they sometimes do in Spanish. http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0524/arizona-cracks-teachers-accents/ added by: zichi

T.I. Premieres Second Single From King Uncaged

‘Prison ain’t change me, it made me worse,’ an aggressive T.I. raps on ‘Yeah Ya Know (Takers).’ By Jayson Rodriguez T.I. in NYC on April 20, 2010 Photo: Shareif Ziyadat/ FilmMagic T.I. debuted the second song from his upcoming King Uncaged album on Monday evening (May 24), via his personal website, TrapMuzik.com . Produced by longtime collaborator DJ Toomp, “Yeah Ya Know (Takers)” appears to double as a number from the forthcoming film “Takers,” in which T.I. stars alongside Chris Brown and Matt Dillon. A representative from the rapper’s label, Atlantic, was unable to confirm this as of press time. A more aggressive T.I. can be heard on “Yeah Ya Know (Takers)” — a harder posture than the one he takes on his previous King Uncaged effort, “I’m Back,” which marked the Atlanta MC’s first output since his federal imprisonment ended earlier this year. T.I. shouts during the song’s spoken outro, “Prison ain’t change me, it made me worse. Right, ‘Pac? If I want it, I’ma come get it. I ain’t asking for it — I’mma take it. We takers.” On the chorus, he references his drug-dealing past and the transition to becoming a superstar lyricist. “I went from rolling with the rocks on the block,” T.I. raps. “To controlling my position at the top of every chart, and I will not stop/ Then we ride, then we roll, then you stop, and we go, yeah ya know.” The charismatic MC has kept a low profile since he finished serving out his post-jail sentence in a halfway house. He released “I’m Back” and later appeared with CNN’s Larry King for his first interview, telling the legendary host “depression and paranoia” led to his arrest. “It came from an attempt that was made on my life,” Tip explained. “My best friend [Philant Johnson] had died in my arms. It caused a state of depression and paranoia. My judgment was jaded, and I felt my life was in danger. … At the time, when I felt the need to have these [weapons], I never took into consideration the legalities; I only took into consideration the protection of my life and family.” On Monday, T.I. is also slated to post an interview on his website that was conducted by Jamie Foxx. His album is due August 17. Are you excited to hear new T.I. music? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists T.I.

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T.I. Premieres Second Single From King Uncaged

Going the Distance Trailer: Barrymore and Long Have Fun, Won’t Travel

In 23 seasons of The Real World , there have been countless roommates who spend the bulk of their running time either a) on the phone with the significant others they left behind, b) moaning to the camera about the significant others they left behind, or c) cheating on the significant others they left behind. The Drew Barrymore/Justin Long romcom Going the Distance is about a young couple doing a) and b) but fearing the possibility of c).

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Going the Distance Trailer: Barrymore and Long Have Fun, Won’t Travel

Inventors say BP ignoring oil spill ideas

Please Note: This post is actually 2 different points of view. The video represents BP and their explanation for micro managing the oil spill. (sry..that was a biased statement but i am not looking for a Pulitzer) The article is from the AP and is self explanatory. I have provided links for both and I really hope the video will keep running ok. This thing has been spewing poison into our eco-system for 35 days…in ungodly amounts. Somebody needs to wake the hell up. http://www.cnn.com/video/ ?/video/us/2010/05/24/intv.suttles.bp.oil.options.cnn NEW ORLEANS – A suggestion box or publicity stunt? BP has received thousands of ideas from the public on how to stop the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, but some inventors are complaining that their efforts are getting ignored. Oil-eating bacteria, bombs and a device that resembles a giant shower curtain are among the 10,000 fixes people have proposed to counter the growing environmental threat. BP is taking a closer look at 700 of the ideas, but the oil company has yet to use any of them nearly a month after the deadly explosion that caused the leak. “They're clearly out of ideas, and there's a whole world of people willing to do this free of charge,” said Dwayne Spradlin, CEO of InnoCentive Inc., which has created an online network of experts to solve problems. BP spokesman Mark Salt said the company wants the public's help, but that considering proposed fixes takes time. “They're taking bits of ideas from lots of places,” Salt said. “This is not just a PR stunt.” BP said Wednesday it hopes to begin shooting a mixture known as drilling mud into the blown-out well in the Gulf of Mexico by Sunday. The “top kill” method involves shooting heavy mud into crippled equipment on top of the well, then aiming cement at the well to permanently keep down the oil. Even if it works it could take several weeks to complete. “This is all being done at a depth of 5,000 feet and it's never been done at these depths before,” said Doug Suttles of BP PLC, which leased the rig that exploded April 20 off the coast of Louisiana. If the top kill effort fails, BP is considering a “junk shot,” which involves shooting knotted rope, pieces of tires and golf balls into the blowout preventer. Crews hope they will lodge into the nooks and crannies of the device to plug it. About 70 BP workers are taking more suggestions at a tip line center in Houston. The company plans to test one idea from actor Kevin Costner — a centrifuge device to vacuum up the oil — but that was not delivered through the suggestion-box system. Gerald Graham, a marine environmental consultant and oil spill response expert from Victoria, British Columbia, said he suggested a similar idea at the end of April to the joint incident command center run by BP, government agencies and Transocean Ltd., which owned the rig. The command center had him forward the idea to NOAA, which didn't respond. In the weeks before BP hooked up the tube, it tried but failed to use a four-story concrete-and-metal box to funnel the oil into a pipe and to the surface. Salt said ideas for stopping the leak “have to be taken through loads of different stages” before BP can try to use them. “We're dealing with things at a depth that has never been done before. They have to go through lots of vigorous tests,” he said. Spradlin, the InnoCentive CEO, denounced BP's call for help as a “publicity maneuver.” His Massachusetts-based company challenged its Web-connected network of scientists, engineers, academics and other professionals to come up with possible solutions to stop the spill. Hundreds of ideas have poured in, but the company says BP has not responded. Ideas submitted through InnoCentive include spreading oil-eating bacteria and dropping bombs to implode the leaking well. Even the director of EPA's Gulf of Mexico Program Office is waiting to see if his idea will get used. Bryon O. Griffith worked in his spare time to develop an umbrella-style plug that could be deployed inside the damaged pipe, an idea that has been placed on a short list for consideration. BP has fielded some 60,000 calls from the public that led to 10,000 tips. About 2,500 people sent in forms spelling out their ideas in greater detail, and BP advanced 700 to the next phase. “And then we ask, is this something new?” BP spokesman David Nicholassaid. “Can we incorporate it into our stuff, or is there an overlap? There hasn't been one that's come from that system that's come all the way.” Costner, the “Waterworld” and “Field of Dreams” actor, has invested more than $24 million in developing the centrifuge invention, along with business partner John Houghtaling II of New Orleans. On Tuesday, Houghtaling said BP has agreed to test the devices, which can be dropped into the oil spill and separate water from oil, storing the petroleum in tanks. The smallest weighs 150 pounds (68 kilograms); the largest 4,500 pounds (2,040 kilograms). “It's like a big vacuum cleaner,” Houghtaling said. “These machines are ready to be employed. The technology is familiar to the industry.” It's not just BP that's been receiving ideas. “You name it, it's been suggested. At least 15 times a day we get something about exploding the well — bombs, nuclear bombs, torpedoes,” said Coast Guard Senior Chief Steve Carleton. He said he receives about a dozen emails a day with a link to a YouTube video of a man using hay to sop up oil. “Think of a giant shower curtain at 5,000 feet that goes to the bottom of the ocean,” Badger said. Badger said the proposal hasn't received much response from BP despite a series of attempts to discuss it with company officials. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37241470/ns/business-oil_and_energy/page/2/ added by: onemalefla

‘Predators’ Star Adrien Brody Talks 3-D And Arnold Schwarzenegger

Actor thinks 3-D would be a ‘pretty great idea’ for the film but hasn’t heard of any plans. By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Adrien Brody Photo: MTV News We’re not entirely certain, but has there been a commandment laid down in Hollywood that declares, “Thou shalt not make a blockbuster in only two measly dimensions?” It’s hard to tell these days, as the likes of “The Last Airbender,” “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” and “The Green Hornet” race furiously to convert their 2-D flicks into 3-D releases. It’s enough to make you think that no film is safe. Thus, we have to wonder about every single high-profile release in this summer-movie season. Case in point: “Predators,” the Adrien Brody-led reboot of the classic sci-fi/horror franchise. Might we see those vicious aliens wreaking bloody havoc in three dimensions? Don’t count on it, Brody told us, even though he thinks the idea would be pretty cool. “No one’s talked to me about that,” he said. “I think it’d be a really pretty great idea. I don’t know. I’m not in the loop.” Whether “Predators” gets the 3-D conversion — and with its July 9 release date rapidly approaching, we’re fairly certain another dimension won’t be slapped on — Brody is looking forward to checking out one scene in particular. “The finale is probably the most dramatic aspect of most movies, but I think that as it builds, the stakes build, and eventually you get to that iconic face-off,” he said. “So that’s pretty great. I can’t wait for that.” Brody hasn’t yet seen the finished cut. Who knows? He might not catch a screening until the premiere itself. Will original franchise star Arnold Schwarzenegger be walking the red carpet as well to welcome in this newest version of the series? “I would imagine,” Brody said. “I hope he has time in his busy schedule.” Brody’s pretty busy himself. His sci-fi flick “Splice” arrives in June, and he recently signed on to Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris.” But he seems excited about the prospect of filming a sequel to “Predators,” if the opportunity should arise. He’s less excited about once again packing on the muscles to play the part of the ex-military man trying to survive on a strange planet packed with vicious aliens. “Six-packs are not the difficult part about it,” he laughed. “There was another 20 pounds on me which I’d have to put back.” Check out everything we’ve got on “Predators.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .

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‘Predators’ Star Adrien Brody Talks 3-D And Arnold Schwarzenegger

Father of Joe Jonas to Demi Lovato: It’s Over!

It seems like only last week Demi Lovato was gushing about Joe Jonas and even thanking fans for her relationship with the singer. Oh, wait… it was! Now, just days later, “impeccable sources” allegedly tell Perez Hilton that Jonas has ended it with Lovato – in an astoundingly, hilariously immature way. “Joe had his dad call Demi to break things off,” an insider claims . We’re working to verify the rumor of this break-up and the way in which it was supposedly handled. But we can say this: Perez Hilton may be a self-serving, talentless moron who draws penises on photos because he finds that funny, but he does typically come through with reliable information. Fortunately, pals of Demi say the recent Grey’s Anatomy guest star “had a good cry” but is doing okay: “Demi is single and already exploring her options.” Hear that, Nick Jonas? Make the call! Demi and Joe are still expected to go on tour together this summer. That could be more awkward than a meeting between LeBron James and Delonte West .

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Father of Joe Jonas to Demi Lovato: It’s Over!

Rocko ‘Starting Over’ After Losing 100 Songs On A Stolen Hard Drive

‘I’m not gonna cry about it,’ Atlanta MC tells MTV News of the setback. By Shaheem Reid Rocko Photo: Rocky Road Records While out to lunch in Atlanta for his son’s birthday on Friday, someone broke into Rocko’s truck and stole a hard drive that contained more than 100 of his new songs. After the incident, Rocko took to his Twitter page : “Wats Good twit Fam! Dey broke in my truck and stole my computer and my hard drive w/ all my music on! But Ima do 100 songs next week live!!” Later that afternoon, Rocko spoke to MTV News and promised that the setback was only temporary. “They got all my sh–,” he said. “Yup. I’m starting over. I ain’t trippin’.” Among the records stolen were some high-profile collaborations. “I had quite a few,” the ATL MC said. “I had a few features. I had a couple records I had with Gucci [Mane]. I had a record I did with Jadakiss, Rock City, [ex-fianc

Tonight in NYC: Come Meet Some of the Toughest Docs Alive

Yes, lame pun, but I can explain: Tonight a few of the subjects of the Oscar-shortlisted documentary Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders will join me and filmmaker Mark Hopkins for a discussion at the Apple Store SoHo . We got docs and docs, and all of them have stirring, jaw-dropping stories to tell. Read on for details.

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Tonight in NYC: Come Meet Some of the Toughest Docs Alive

‘Twilight’ Trio Have A Long History With MTV Awards Shows

The story continues when Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner present at the 2010 Movie Awards. By Kara Warner Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart at the 2009 Movie Awards Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic Over the course of the past few MTV Movie Awards and Video Music Awards, “Twilight” superstars Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart have become staples. With Thursday’s (May 20) announcement that the big three will continue the trend with an appearance at the 2010 Movie Awards, we take a look back at their MTV awards-show history. Pattinson, Stewart and “Twilight” baddie Cam Gigandet made their first MTV Movie Awards appearance in 2008. They casually made their way down the gold carpet to introduce an exclusive film clip on MTV’s pre-show. That would mark their last low-key appearance. Three months later at the 2008 VMAs, “Twilight” fever had caught on in a big way, and Stewart, Pattinson, Gigandet and Lautner were greeted with plenty of high-pitched screams from fans in the audience. The castmembers introduced “Twilight” soundtrack band Paramore for their big performance. Twilighters were furious with host Russell Brand for allegedly cutting Pattinson off before he finished his line in the introduction. In addition to cleaning up at the 2009 Movie Awards — “Twilight” took home five awards, including Best Movie — Stewart, Pattinson and Lautner took center stage yet again to introduce the first “New Moon” trailer , which Pattinson called “a thank you to the fans.” Stewart glossed over the fact that the trailer boasted not one but two shirtless stars (Pattinson and Lautner) and instead bragged that “New Moon” has “amazing special effects.” Lautner merely assured the audience they’d want to watch the trailer more than once. Last fall, at the 2009 Video Music Awards — amid the Taylor Swift/ Kanye West controversy — Pattinson and Stewart seemed to be seasoned pros. They skipped the red-carpet mayhem, leaving Lautner to work the crowds and the press. They later joined their co-star onstage and marked yet another “Twilight” MTV moment when they presented the extended trailer for “New Moon.” Tune in Sunday, June 6, at 9 p.m. ET/PT to this year’s MTV Movie Awards to see what “Twilight” moments will be added to an already storied history. Check out everything we’ve got on “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.” For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com . Related Photos A History Of ‘Twilight’ At The MTV Movie Awards

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‘Twilight’ Trio Have A Long History With MTV Awards Shows