Her rep cites ‘exhaustion,’ while TMZ reports substance abuse is behind actress’ trip to the hospital. By Kara Warner Demi Moore Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/ WireImage Demi Moore was reportedly admitted to the hospital for a brief health assessment late Monday night after paramedics responded to an emergency call made to 911 from the actress’ home in Los Angeles. There are currently two conflicting reports surrounding the specific illness that caused Moore’s brief hospitalization. According to TMZ , Moore was taken to the hospital to be treated for substance abuse; People magazine, however, describes the cause of the illness as exhaustion. “Because of the stresses in her life right now, Demi has chosen to seek professional assistance to treat her exhaustion and improve her overall health,” her rep said of Moore’s condition in a statement. “She looks forward to getting well and is grateful for the support of her family and friends.” After enduring a very public and emotional split from husband Ashton Kutcher back in November, it’s easy for fans and the media to assume “the stresses” her rep’s statement refers to are most likely the emotional fallout from her impending divorce. Moore publicly announced the breakup with “sadness and a heavy heart” after months of not-so-quiet rumblings that Kutcher was unfaithful. Check out photos of Demi and Ashton from happier times. Earlier this month, Moore was back in the spotlight, but this time for positive news: It was announced that she had signed on to play feminist icon Gloria Steinem in “Lovelace,” one of two upcoming biopics about adult-film star Linda Lovelace. Unfortunately, due to this setback with her health, her rep told People she will no longer be working on the project.
President wants to require every student stay in school until graduation or they turn 18. By Gil Kaufman Vice President Joe Biden, President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner Photo: CBS The president’s State of the Union address is meant to give the nation an update on what has been accomplished and what is still left to be done. But in a re-election year , the televised appearance before Congress cannot avoid being seen as a sales pitch to the nation for four more years, and on Tuesday night (January 24), during his third such speech, President Obama laid out his vision for the future should he get the job again in November. Touching on everything from education reform to a call for reviving American manufacturing, clean energy, immigration reform and a return to civility in Washington, Obama discussed his successes while challenging his Republican cohorts to pave the way for more opportunity for a middle class that has been hit hard by lingering economic uncertainty and unemployment. Obama opened by reminding voters that he recently welcomed home the last troops from Iraq and oversaw the killing of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden and many of al Qaeda’s top lieutenants. “Imagine what we could accomplish if we were to follow their example,” he said, praising America’s warriors for working together and not being divided by their personal ambitions. In a week when the Megaupload site was taken down , the president promised to stop the piracy of American movies, music and software overseas. With tens of millions out of work, Obama also said he wants to train 2 million workers with skills that will “lead directly to a job” through partnerships between community colleges and local businesses. In another step away from the Bush administration’s “No Child Left Behind” program, Obama praised the value of good teachers, saying, “Stop teaching to the test [and] replace teachers who just aren’t helping kids learn.” He also called on every state to require students to stay in high school until they graduate or turn 18. To further their education, Obama urged Congress to stop interest rates on student loans from doubling as scheduled in July, extending the tuition tax credit and double the number of work-study jobs in the next five years. In a firm challenge to colleges and universities constantly raising tuition rates, the president warned that if they can’t harness technology and redesign courses to help students finish more quickly, they will face less taxpayer funding. Speaking to the thousands of students brought here as children who aren’t American citizens, the president said they should not live under the threat of deportation because Congress can’t agree on a comprehensive immigration plan. “If election-year politics keeps Congress from acting on a comprehensive plan, let’s at least agree to stop expelling responsible young people who want to staff our labs, start new businesses and defend this country,” he said. “Send me a law that gives them the chance to earn their citizenship. I will sign it right away.” Like so many presidents before him, Obama also called for a comprehensive energy strategy that’s “cleaner, cheaper and full of new jobs,” touting a supply of natural gas that could last the nation nearly 100 years and which could create 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade. “I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy,” he said. “I will not cede the wind or solar or battery industry to China or Germany because we refuse to make the same commitment here.” Earlier in the day, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, standing in front of a giant sign reading “Obama Isn’t Working,” offered a “pre-buttal” of the president’s address. Before hearing the speech, the former Massachusetts governor predicted it would be “more divisive rhetoric from a desperate campaigner in chief … it’s shameful for a president to use the State of the Union to divide our nation.” But, in closing, Obama returned to his theme of public service. “Those of us who’ve been sent here to serve can learn from the service of our troops. When you put on that uniform, it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white; Asian or Latino; conservative or liberal; rich or poor; gay or straight,” said the commander in chief who ended the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy . “When you’re marching into battle, you look out for the person next to you, or the mission fails,” he continued. “When you’re in the thick of the fight, you rise or fall as one unit, serving one nation, leaving no one behind. So it is with America. Each time I look at that flag, I’m reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those 50 stars and those 13 stripes. No one built this country on their own. This nation is great because we built it together. This Nation is great because we worked as a team. This nation is great because we get each other’s backs. And if we hold fast to that truth, in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great; no mission too hard.” What did you think of the president’s State of the Union address? Let us know in comments below! Check back for up-to-the-minute coverage on the primary races and stick with PowerOf12.org throughout the 2012 presidential election season.
Following an inspiring return to Congress in August – one that took place just a few months after she was shot in the head during a campaign event in Arizona – Gabrielle Giffords announced today that was is resigning from her position. “A lot has happened over the past year. We cannot change that,” Giffords said in a video on her website. “I don’t remember much from that horrible day, but I will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice. Thank you for your prayers and for giving me time to recover. I have more work to do on my recovery. So to do what is best for Arizona, I will step down this week.” Giffords is expected to attend the State of the Union Address on Tuesday night and then submit a letter of resignation to House Speaker John Boehner and Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. The state will hold a special election to fill the Democrat’s seat later this year.
We also check in with Justin Guarini, Ruben Studdard, Constantine Maroulis and more ‘Idol’ alumni before season 11 kicks off. By Jim Cantiello Katharine McPhee Photo: Getty Images “American Idol” kicks off its 11th season Wednesday night with its first of eight audition episodes. But before we’re inundated with a new batch of contestants (many of whom we’ll forget about by June), let’s play catch-up with some noteworthy alums. Sure, our Kellys and Carries have remained household names throughout the years, but others — like Katharine McPhee and Leah LaBelle — are poised to have their biggest post-“Idol” years yet. Let’s check in with standouts from seasons one through five: Season One The One You Know : Kelly Clarkson’s fifth studio album, Stronger, is selling just fine, even if recent “Ron Paul sales bump” rumors were proven to be a bunch of hooey. The original Idol just kicked off her latest tour last week. On the radio, you’ll hear “Mr. Know It All” approximately 17 times an hour, until it’s replaced by new single “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).” The Goofy One : Justin Guarini hasn’t released a full-length album since 2005’s Stranger Things Have Happened, but the inaugural runner-up kept busy in 2011 appearing in Broadway’s “American Idiot” as well as touring companies of “Rent” and “Chicago.” On a personal note, the crooner and his wife had a baby boy last April. And yes, since “Idol,” he’s chopped his signature “Felicity-meets-Sideshow Bob” locks. Season Two The One You Know : Clay Aiken can be seen in promos for the upcoming season of “Celebrity Apprentice,” accusing a teammate of being patronizing — all in the name of charity. Although his last few albums haven’t made a big dent in pop culture, Clay still remains the fourth-best-selling “Idol” contestant ever, right behind the holy trinity. (That’s Underwood/Clarkson/Daughtry, obviously.) The One You Shouldn’t Count Out Just Yet : Most of America hasn’t paid much attention to the Velvet Teddy Bear since “Sorry (2004),” and Ruben Studdard finally realized fans like him best when he sings about calendars. Studdard kicked off 2012 with a well-reviewed single called “June 28th (I’m Single)” about his recent divorce. The catchy throwback jam is currently climbing the urban charts, so don’t be surprised if his upcoming album moves some serious units when it lands in March. The One You Had No Idea Was On “Idol” : Ashley Hartman had a six-episode stint on the first season of “The O.C.” as Summer and Marissa’s buddy Holly. Turns out Simon Cowell’s “You should act, not sing” critique was correct! Season Three The One You Know : Seventh-placer Jennifer Hudson spent 2011 promoting her sophomore album, I Remember Me, but her turn as Weight Watchers’ official spokesperson kept her skinny body in the spotlight and earned her a book deal. The Oscar winner’s turn as Winnie Mandela has yet to be released in the U.S., but she’ll appear as a nun in the Farrelly Brothers’ “Three Stooges” big-screen update this year. Might we suggest a remake of Lily Tomlin’s “The Incredible Shrinking Woman” next? The One We Can’t Stop Rooting For : Fantasia, Fantasia, Fantasia. Your 2010 album Back to Me was full of retro nuggets like the Grammy-winning “Bittersweet” and shoulda-been-a-hit “Collard Greens and Cornbread,” but just when your music career gets back on track, your life spins out of control. Here’s hoping you can turn your personal drama into big-screen gold when you star as Mahalia Jackson in your first official feature-film role. The One You Shouldn’t Count Out Just Yet : Leah LaBelle barely made the top 12 back in 2004 — when she was a cocky 17-year-old with shaky vocals living under the shadow of a Bulgarian pop-star mother — but the 25-year-old just made headlines by getting signed to L.A. Reid’s Epic Records under the guidance of heavyweights Jermaine Dupri and Pharrell Williams. Seriously! The One You Had No Idea Was On “Idol” : Soap fans might remember Duke Buchanan on “One Life to Live” before he was killed by a tornado in 2006. The Matthew Morrison look-alike got his start on “Idol” as a semifinalist. Season Four The One You Know : In 2011, country megastar Carrie Underwood starred in a hit film, “Soul Surfer,” reached her 11th #1 single on a duet with Brad Paisley and finally surpassed Kelly Clarkson as the biggest-selling “Idol” winner ever. She’s got a new album on the way and hinted that she’ll be participating in “something special” with Steven Tyler, fueling a rumor that she’ll be taking the CMT “Crossroads” stage with the new “Idol” judge and — randomly — ’90s band Sugar Ray. The Goofy One : Constantine Maroulis finally got some respect with a Tony-nominated turn in Broadway’s “Rock of Ages” in 2009. Constantine fans might be bummed that he won’t be reprising the Drew role in the big-screen adaptation coming out in 2012, but keep your eyes peeled, because director Adam Shankman gave him a quick walk-on appearance as a producer. The One You Had No Idea Was On “Idol” : Prior to winning the sixth season of “Nashville Star,” Melissa Lawson made it to the top 75 during Hollywood Week on “Idol.” Season Five The One You Know : Daughtry’s 2011 album Break the Spell went gold in December. Chris and the band will be hitting the road for their second headlining tour this March. The One You Shouldn’t Count Out Just Yet : Katharine McPhee’s career has been full of starts and stops. But now that she’s on NBC’s high-profile midseason replacement “Smash” (including an inescapable ad campaign that claims to be “introducing” McPhee to America’s living rooms), expect to see the season five runner-up reach new heights. You saw her hobnobbing with Hollywood’s elite at the Golden Globes this past Sunday. Twelve months from now, you may just see her onstage holding a Globe of her own. The Goofy One : Taylor Hicks got some love last April when Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert invited him to appear on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” during Colbert’s cover of Rebecca Black’s “Friday,” a performance that instantly went viral and showed that Hicks is still as charmingly offbeat as you remember. The other goofy alum of season five, Kellie Pickler, is ready to show her mature side with a traditional country album, 100 Proof, out next week. On Thursday, Jim will check in with standouts from seasons six through 10. Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos On The Red Carpet At The Golden Globes MTV News Extended Play: Kelly Clarkson Related Artists Katharine McPhee
Thousands of sites blacked out to protest SOPA legislation. By Gil Kaufman Google’s homepage to protest web piracy bills Photo: Google A big black bar over the typically animated Google home page logo. No quick searches on the English-language Wikipedia. Those two internet giants are among the nearly 7,000 sites that voluntarily went dark or posted calls to action on Wednesday (January 18) in a protest against the U.S. House of Representatives’ Stop Online Piracy Act and the Senate’s similar Protect IP Act. The Act is designed to prevent online piracy and copyright infringement by giving the government and large corporations the ability to shut down sites accused of copyright infringement without a trial or hearing. The point of the legislation, according to the Washington Post is to stop foreign web sites that sell pirated and counterfeit goods by imposing restrictions that would force U.S. companies to stop selling online ads to suspected pirates, processing payments for illegal online sales and refusing to link to sites suspected of piracy in search-engine results. “There’s no fundamental First Amendment right to engage in thievery. Nor to advertise thievery,” said Motion Picture Association of America spokesperson Howard Gantman. A few days before the blackout action, Republican Texas Congressman Lamar Smith told Reuters that he did not understand why the protesters were so adamant about protecting offshore operators. “It is amazing to me that the opponents apparently don’t want to protect American consumers and businesses,” Smith said. “Are they somehow benefiting by directing customers to these foreign websites? Do they profit from selling advertising to these foreign websites? And if they do, they need to be stopped. And I don’t mind taking that on.” Among the sites that are participating in Wednesday’s protest: Reddit, Mozilla, WordPress.org, MoveOn.org, TwitPic, BoingBoing, Flickr, the Cheezburger network and Epic Games. Though many major Hollywood movie studios, record labels and networks such as Viacom (MTV News’ parent company), NBC-Universal and Fox News have given support to the legislation, web experts have warned that it could severely cripple the ability of the internet to function by adding huge new costs and rules that would seriously restrict the freewheeling personality of the ‘net and stall innovation. As an example, they say that if an crowd-sourced site like Wikipedia posts an item that links to a site that provides access to copywritten material it could result in sanctions or a takedown of Wikipedia. In essence, it would require tech companies to take a fine-tooth comb to sites bursting with user-generated content. They’ve also objected to a provision that would remove the rogue sites from the internet’s virtual phone book, so that if a U.S. user put in that web address it would seem as if the site didn’t exist. “Imagine a world without free knowledge,” read the Wikipedia home page on Wednesday morning. “For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopedia in human history. Right now, the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open Internet. For 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia.” Members of Congress have been taken aback by the visceral reaction from technology companies and online users, who may have already made headway in stalling the legislation. Just weeks after both bills seemed close to passage, Senate Democrat leaders have said they will not vote on a version of the bill opposed by many of the tech companies and are seeking a slow down of passage and possible revision of their bill. The White House has also signaled that it is concerned about the phone book provision in the bills, which its sponsor said they plan to remove. Several major opponents have submitted a counter proposal that would allow them to police themselves with oversight by an international nonprofit that hunts down online rogues. Editor’s note: Viacom, the home of MTV Networks, continues to be in support of SOPA.
You may have to brush up on your dewey decimal system over the next 24 hours. Wikipedia will go dark tomorrow to protest the SOPA and PIPA bills that congress is debating over. The bills will censor the internet and hold people responsible for “pirating” while also infringing on privacy rights. “This is going to be wow,” Wales said on Twitter. “I hope Wikipedia will melt phone systems in Washington on Wednesday. Tell everyone you know!” Several sources said members of Congress, reacting to the online objections, were pulling back on parts of SOPA and PIPA to which Internet companies object. But the protest movement continued for the time being. Other sites, such as Reddit and Boing Boing, have already said they would go dark on Wednesday. And some of the biggest names online, including Google, Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr, have vocally opposed the proposed legislation, though they have not said they are joining the online blackout. So if you’re trying to get some last minute “research” in before that term paper is due, you might want to crank it out today or at least get the research done because we’ll be without so much of our precious internet tomorrow. It’ll be a taste of what’ll happen if these bills pass. More On Bossip! Gettin’ Served: A Look At Celebrity Owned-Restaurants Making It Rain And Others That Failed Miserably Living Like Rih-Rih: A Gallery Of Other Celebrities Spotted Rolling Up That Bud Wanna Get Away? A List Of The Best 10 Beaches In The World!! Happy MLK Day: 10 Interesting And Surprising Facts You May Not Know About Martin Luther King, Jr.
Hakeem Jeffries announces for Congress. Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries announced his campaign for Congress amid frigid temperatures and a large cheering crowd this afternoon, setting the stage for what will be one of the most high-profile Democratic primaries this election cycle. Standing on the steps of Brooklyn’s Borough Hall, Assemblyman Jeffries outlined his Congressional pitch in short punctual… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : The Politicker Discovery Date : 15/01/2012 21:16 Number of articles : 2
The Library of Congress today announced an eclectic batch of new inductees into the National Film Registry for 2011, ranging from no-brainers (Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid ) to fantastic finds (the 1930s-era Nicholas Brothers Family Home Movies ). And also: Silence of the Lambs ! Forrest Gump ! … El Mariachi ? Which of these 25 newly anointed selections, to be preserved on account of their cultural, historical or aesthetic significance, is the most surprising addition? The 2011 National Film Registry Additions : Allures (1961) Bambi (1942) The Big Heat (1953) A Computer Animated Hand (1972) Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment (1963) The Cry of the Children (1912) A Cure for Pokeritis (1912) El Mariachi (1992) Faces (1968) Fake Fruit Factory (1986) Forrest Gump (1994) Growing Up Female (1971) Hester Stree t (1975) I, an Actress (1977) The Iron Horse (1924) The Kid (1921) The Lost Weekend (1945) The Negro Soldier (1944) Nicholas Brothers Family Home Movies (1930s-1940s) Norma Rae (1979) Porgy and Bess (1959) The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Stand and Deliver (1988) Twentieth Century (1934) War of the Worlds (1953) I could be convinced of El Mariachi ‘s worthiness given Robert Rodriguez’s famed hardscrabble production legend and the fact that he’s created a manageable cottage industry for himself working on the periphery of Hollywood. And yeah, El Mariachi ‘s pretty good, but for my money it’s the weakest new addition of the bunch. Which is not to say it’s the most surprising; Forrest Gump was well-loved and somewhat groundbreaking in its time even if it feels cringe-inducingly dated now, but many of these selections are of a distinct era or creatively, socially, or technically significant. (Ed Catmull’s 3-D grad project A Computer Animated Hand is another inspired choice.) Besides, Groundhog Day made the list back in 2006. Groundhog Day . So here’s what I want to know: How the heck has it taken this long for Bambi to make the list? Read more on each selection from the Library of Congress’s press release over at the Library of Congress website . [ Library of Congress ]
Hosea Feed the Hungry & Homeless is in a new location this year for Christmas day! They are serving those in need at the Georgia World Congress Center, located at 285 Andrew Young International Blvd., Atlanta, GA, 404-223-4300. HFTH is still in great need of donations to be sure they can feed as many of Atlanta’s families as possible. The need is great and donations are down–you help? Please go to their website at hoseafeedthehungry.com right now and donate what you can. It is tax deductable and they will accept your credit cards. Please donate now at hoseafeedthehungry.com . Hosea Feed The Hungry and Homeless has been based in the Atlanta metro since 1971. Hosea’s mission has always been to rescue, restore at-risk & homeless individuals and families so they can thrive and become self-sufficient. Requests for Atlanta family assistance is up 65 % percent and donations to charities are down approximately 30 % percent. Please help HFTH feed as many Atlantians as possible–donations are still sorely needed. Hosea Feed The Hungry and Homeless can be reached at 404-755-3353 or hoseafeedthehungry.com –donate now!
Courtesy of Egypt: Remember that whenever you think about the evil bastards in Congress and the White House who are trying to bring it here . Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : KN@PPSTER Discovery Date : 17/12/2011 18:31 Number of articles : 2
