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Kimberly Caldwell Relives Bloody Prom Mishap On ‘When I Was 17’

Posted on June 4, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘American Idol’ vet tells all — show airs Saturday at 11 a.m. ET on MTV! By James Montgomery Kimberly Caldwell Photo: MTV News Kimberly Caldwell has turned heads on “American Idol” and the TV Guide Channel, and things were pretty much the same when she was 17 … only, back then, she was turning heads for an entirely different reason: She was the girl positively covered in blood. It seems that, back in high school, Caldwell was the talk of her prom, although not for any of the reasons the bubbly Texas blonde would’ve preferred. And on the next episode of MTV’s ‘When I Was 17,” she spills the details about the prom-night mishap that haunts her to this day. “When I was 17, I got asked out by one of the really hot senior boys to prom and I was, like, so excited,” Caldwell said. “And so I’m with all these seniors, and we go to this really beautiful restaurant, and we’re walking, and I had gotten this really, really pretty dress, and all my friends, like, came over and helped me get ready and everything.” The incident that ensued was not something out of Stephen King’s “Carrie,” but the effect was not that different. “I was so excited, and of course I had put on my ‘I’m so cool, this is not too exciting’ face. So we went to this restaurant, and before we even ate dinner, I tripped and I fell,” she continued. “My dress got split all the way up to my belly button, and my knee got a gash and it started gushing blood. It was a really, really sexy moment for me.” Indeed! For more on Caldwell’s teenaged misadventures — plus equally harrowing tales from Cobra Starship’s Gabe Saporta and Olympic medalist Evan Lysacek — don’t miss the next episode of “When I Was 17,” airing Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV. There will be blood! Don’t miss the latest episode of “When I Was 17” — featuring Saporta, Evan Lysacek and Kimberly Caldwell — airing Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV! Related Videos Sneak Peek: ‘When I Was 17’ Episode 6 Related Photos When I Was 17 | Ep. 6 | Celebrity Photo Flashback

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Kimberly Caldwell Relives Bloody Prom Mishap On ‘When I Was 17’

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‘American Idol’ Season Nine: Neither Lee, Crystal Nor Casey Thought They’d Win

Posted on June 3, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

DeWyze, Bowersox and James never thought of themselves as front-runners. By James Montgomery Crystal Bowersox Photo: MTV News Modesty is an underrated trait — unless you’re a finalist on “American Idol,” a show that exists solely to discover music’s next great megastar. The whole point of appearing on it is to win, thereby securing a recording contract and the opportunity to become unbelievably famous and wealthy. Modesty, it would seem, has no place on the “Idol” stage. Except for the just-completed ninth season, that is. Because, wow, was this season’s top three modest. At no point during the show’s run did any of the contestants seem to think that they could actually win, and despite the best efforts of journalists — who labeled the final three as “the front-runner” (Crystal Bowersox), “the underdog” ( eventual champ Lee DeWyze ) and “the dark horse” (Casey James) — that never really changed. In fact, based on conversations we’ve had with all three finalists, none of them ever remotely considered themselves the favorite. Not in the slightest. “I never considered myself to be the front-runner, simply because ‘American Idol’ is a show where literally anything can happen,” Bowersox said. “A lot of people that went home we never expected them to go home. … My goal was just to do my best each week and see what happened.” “Not only did I not think that I was the front-runner; I knew that I was not,” James laughed. “A lot of people got into reading the things on the Internet, and I just stayed away from all that. So I don’t know if there was anything that said that, but I never feel that way, and I don’t think it was really the case, either.” “I mean, people were saying stuff like that to me, I’m not going to lie about that, they’d be like, ‘Oh, you’re going to win,’ and I’d be like, ‘Oh, well, there’s still seven weeks to go,’ ” DeWyze added. “I never thought I had it in the bag or anything, but I think you have to have a sense of confidence in yourself, especially when you’re in a competition … [but] being a front-runner or an underdog, or whatever people said, it was hard not to listen to that stuff. You have to ignore it, because it is not a good thing.” That modesty holds true even now that the show is over. Sure, DeWyze is happy he won, but Bowersox and James seem positively giddy that they didn’t. “I’m cool with number two,” the dreadlocked dynamo smiled. “I gave it my best shot.” “I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” the Texas heartthrob added. “I mean, honestly, for me, I’m not going to say anything other than I feel like I’m exactly where I should be.” Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos Lee DeWyze: From Illinois Boy To ‘American Idol’ Star Crystal Bowersox’s ‘American Idol’ Experience Related Artists Lee DeWyze

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‘American Idol’ Season Nine: Neither Lee, Crystal Nor Casey Thought They’d Win

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Undercover Investigation Reveals Cruelty (Including Bashing Live Hamsters), Neglect, and Filth at Another Pet Trade Supplier – Video Too Graphic to Watch

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=312… Do NOT watch this video! The description enough should be enough to get you angry enough to help do something about this… Undercover Investigation Reveals Neglect, Cruelty, and Filth at Another Pet Trade Supplier Another PETCO and PetSmart Supplier Caught on Video Mistreating Animals . A PETA investigator went undercover at Sun Pet Ltd., an Atlanta-based wholesale animal dealer that supplies animals to numerous PETCO and PetSmart locations, among other retailers across the U.S. Video footage and photos taken by PETA's investigator show the widespread suffering of hundreds of birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, mice, and rats in Sun Pet's enormous warehouses. On April 22, 2010, Georgia Department of Agriculture representatives descended on Sun Pet, which was, unfortunately, tipped off well in advance and apparently took the opportunity to clean up its act. PETA has requested an investigation into the leak that prepped Sun Pet for the Department of Agriculture's visit, but so far, no one has been held accountable for it. In addition to the misery of confinement to extremely crowded containers, forcing animals to eat, sleep, urinate, and defecate all in the same space, PETA's investigator recorded the violent killing and abusive handling of hundreds of animals. One worker put live hamsters into a bag and then bashed the bag against a table in an attempt to kill them—one of the animals was seen suffering and panting heavily minutes later. Other animals whom Sun Pet could not sell were gassed in a crude, filth-encrusted tank. Animals who got loose in the company's warehouse suffered horribly after ingesting the poison that Sun Pet sets out to kill them. A supervisor trained PETA's investigator to determine animals' genders by forcefully squeezing their abdomens “like a … PlayStation controller handle” to make their genitals “come out.” “You could throw them against the wall and they'll stand back up again and keep on running,” Sun Pet's supervisor said to PETA's investigator when ordering him to pack and handle animals more quickly. In more than three months of employment, not once did PETA's investigator see anyone from PETCO's or PetSmart's corporate offices inspecting Sun Pet's facility. Sun Pet also purchased animals from U.S. Global Exotics, the filthy Texas warehouse from which more than 26,000 animals were seized last December following another PETA undercover investigation. Sun Pet also purchased thousands of animals from unlicensed vendors, in apparent violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act, despite previous warnings by the U.S. Department of Agriculture regarding such practices. PETA's investigator documented that PETCO and PetSmart stores returned animals suffering from illnesses and injuries, sometimes without food or water, to Sun Pet instead of providing them with veterinary care or basic necessities or even putting them out of their misery. The animals were hauled around in cardboard boxes in the backs of trucks traveling hundreds of miles and many hours from store to store until they finally got back to Sun Pet, and many died as a result. View photos taken by PETA's undercover investigator. You can help secure justice for the hamsters and thousands of sensitive individual animals peddled for profit by Sun Pet. PETA has received information indicating that Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard Jr. has instructed his office to halt its investigation of animal suffering at Sun Pet. Please complete the form below to urge Mr. Howard to investigate and file suitable cruelty-to-animals charges against the worker caught bashing hamsters against a table and also to file charges against other appropriate parties. Ask Mr. Howard what he thinks constitutes cruelty to animals if it's not bagging them up and bashing them against a table and then leaving them to suffer and slowly die of their injuries. CLICK ON LINK FOR INSTANT PETITION – THIS MATTERS added by: EthicalVegan

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Dennis Hopper Dead At 74

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘Easy Rider’ star died of prostate cancer Saturday. By Kelley L. Carter and Jem Aswad Dennis Hopper Photo: George Rose/Getty Images Actor Dennis Hopper — star of “Easy Rider,” “Blue Velvet,” “Giant” and many other films — died Saturday of prostate cancer at his Los Angeles-area home, according to The Associated Press. He was 74. The two-time Academy Award nominee, who announced through a manager in the fall of 2009 that he had been diagnosed with the disease, was surrounded by family and friends at the time of his death, family friend Alex Hitz told the AP. The actor directed, co-wrote and starred in directed 1969’s “Easy Rider,” perhaps the most memorable film of his wildly erratic, nearly six-decade-long career. In that classic, generation-defining film — which also established Jack Nicholson as a major star — he and Peter Fonda played motorcycle-riding hippies in search of America. The film was a Hollywood success story; it was produced for less than $500,000 and ultimately earned in excess of $40 million. “Easy Rider” also earned two Academy Award nominations, including a shared screenplay nod for Hopper, Fonda and Terry Southern. Born in Kansas on May 17,1936, and raised in San Diego, Hopper made his mark in movies as a teenager, starring with in James Dean, whom he idolized, in the 1950s classics “Rebel Without a Cause” and “Giant.” His career followed a bumpy path over the decades, veering between fame and obscurity — due in equal measure to substance abuse and his legendarily rebellious personality — before being permanently revived by his memorable 1986 role as the psychotic Frank in “Blue Velvet.” He appeared in dozens of films over the years, including “Apocalypse Now,” “Hoosiers,” “Speed,” “River’s Edge,” “Rumblefish,” “True Romance,” “True Grit,” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2,” to name just a few; he also made many television appearances, including “24” and “The Twlight Zone.” His directing credits included “Colors,” “The Hot Spot,” “Chasers” and “The Last Movie,” his disastrous 1971 follow-up to “Easy Rider,” the production of which was so erratic that it effectively blackballed him from the film industry for years. Hopper’s personal life was no less dramatic than his work: Married five times (including an eight-day marriage to Mamas & the Papas singer Michelle Phillips in 1970), he struggled for many years with alcoholism and drug abuse before becoming sober in the 1980s. He filed for divorce from his fifth wife, Victoria Duffy, in January, after 14 years of marriage and one child (daughter Galen Grier). He was also an avid photographer and art collector. Hopper appeared frail when he was awarded with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in March of this year. His work will still continue; in September he will be heard as one of the lead voices in “Alpha and Omega.” Hopper seemed to be acutely aware of his own mortality, telling Time magazine in 1986: “I thought I’d be dead before I was 30. Turning 40 stunned me. Fifty is a major miracle, and I think I may even make 70.” Share your memories of Dennis Hopper in the comments below. Related Photos Dennis Hopper: A Life In Photos

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Jujubees Italian Frozen Yogurt Sold by Atlanta Restaurant Exchange

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

May 27, 2010 – Atlanta Restaurant Exchange and VR Business Sales/Mergers and Acquisitions in Dallas/Legacy Park Texas is proud to announce the sale of JuJuBee#39;s Frozen Yogurt. JuJuBee#39;s is located in the Chastain Square Shopping Center at 4279 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs and is serving an amazing Italian Frozen Yogurt. The new owner found JuJuBee#39;s through restaurant broker Brian Paul. The new owner will expand business hours to include opening on Sundays. This yogurt shop was

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The Greatest Summer Jams Of The Modern Era

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Just in time for the warm weather, we compile the best sun-drenched tunes since 1991, in Bigger Than the Sound. By James Montgomery Photo: Universal Think back to every awesome/romantic/borderline-insane thing you’ve ever done during the summer. Chances are, there was music playing when you did it. And it was probably playing very, very loudly. That’s because, perhaps more than any other time of the year, summer is practically made for music. It’s when we pump up, strip down, make terrible decisions and basically have the times of our lives. And, somewhat fittingly, music is always there with us. It’s the soundtrack to our every hookup, breakdown and tanning mishap. It’s what’s in the air at the beach, the time-share or the club (well, either that or Axe body spray). It’s part of our memories, along with that terrible tattoo you got down in Panama City. So for a song to become a summer jam, it’s got to be great (and slightly stupid, but that’s a column for another day). And since the official kickoff of summer 2010 is right around the corner, I’ve decided to compile a list of the greatest of the great — the best, brightest, dumbest, funnest, lightest, loosest, freakiest, goofiest summer songs of all time. All of them are special, all of them are classics. And yes, I spent waaay too much time working on this. What can I say? I freaking love the summer. Anyway, rather than just prattle on, I reached out to some of my favorite writers — all of whom are certified summer-jam experts, btw — and had them contribute their favorites too. The only thing I told them was that the cutoff point was 1991 (that’s when Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince released their epochal “Summertime,” after all), and then I sat back and watched the brilliance flood my inbox. Here’s what they submitted, along with my picks. It’s a definitive list, as submitted by some of the best in the business. These are the Greatest Summer Jams of the Modern Era. Amos Barshad, New York magazine’s Vulture blog The Notorious B.I.G., “Hypnotize” : He died a month before it was officially released, and I think it was clear then it’d be awhile until someone else would be making this level of lyrically brilliant, commercially viable hip-hop. Also, the mermaid fish tank in the video was awesome. Young Money, “Every Girl” : Too raunchy to actually take the Song of the Summer crown, but hung around for a while last season, probably because the sentiment is so universal. Rihanna, “Umbrella” : If you don’t like “Umbrella,” do us all a favor and move back to the USSR. Third Eye Blind, “Semi-Charmed Life” : Stephan Jenkins believes in the sand beneath his toes, and so do I. Adam Stewart, MTV News house-music expert/ dude from New Jersey Ti

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Lindsay Lohan Ordered To Wear Alcohol-Monitoring Bracelet By Judge

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Actress lost bid to ease the restrictions of her probation. By Gil Kaufman Lindsay Lohan arrives at court Monday (May 24) Photo: Toby Canham/ Getty Images On Monday (May 24), a stern Superior Court judge warned troubled actress Lindsay Lohan that she needs to keep on the straight and narrow if she wishes to avoid a return trip to jail . After Lohan missed her initial court date last week after claiming that her passport was stolen while she was attending the Cannes film festival in France, CBS News reported that a “somber and concerned” looking Lohan appeared in a Beverly Hills, California, courtroom and lost a bid to ease the restrictions of her probation. Wearing a dark gray suit, Lohan appeared in court with her lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley, who told Superior Court Judge Marsha Revel that her client was scheduled to start filming a movie in Texas soon. The judge was not swayed and said the actress may have to delay the project, ordering Lohan to attach a SCRAM alcohol-monitoring bracelet to her ankle that will require her to undergo mandatory drug testing every week in the Los Angeles area if she wishes to stat free on bail. Revel also set a probation violation hearing for July 6 to following Lohan’s failure to attend last week’s scheduled hearing. In an interview with Hollywood TV published Monday, Lohan argued that she doesn’t need jail or rehab, saying, “I don’t see what reason I would go to prison for. I’ve been more than compliant with everything having to do with the court system.” Though she has frequently been pictured partying until all hours of the morning, Lohan said she didn’t think she needed to make a return trip to rehab. “I don’t see why I would even have to do that,” she said, “considering I’ve been in compliance with everything that occurs when you’re in the court system for two DUIs.” According to TMZ , (Lohan must begin wearing the SCRAM bracelet — which she wore in 2007 following her plea in the DUI cases — within 24 hours and attend all her scheduled alcohol education classes at least once a week. If Revel determines that Lohan violated her probation by not attending her alcohol education classes as ordered, she could face a jail sentence of up to 180 days. Related Photos Lindsay Lohan Goes To Court The Highs And Lows Of Lindsay Lohan

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Rep. Alan Grayson Introduces the "War Is Making You Poor" Act | | AlterNet

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

The bill would cut the DoD's budget and use that money to make the first $35,000 each American earns tax-free. May 23, 2010 | Last week, as Congress prepared to pass yet another “emergency” spending bill to cover America’s costly operations in Iraq and Afghanistan — to the tune of $159 billion this time around — Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Florida, introduced a bill that would force the Pentagon to pick up the tab out of its ample regular budget. The War Is Making You Poor Act is elegant in its simplicity. Instead of financing these longstanding conflicts outside of the regular budgeting process, where they’re not factored into deficit projections, Grayson’s bill would make the DoD work within its means, and the money would instead be used for an across-the-board tax cut that would make the first $35,000 each American earns tax-free. “The purpose of this bill,” wrote Grayson last week, “is to connect the dots, and to show people in a real and concrete way the cost of these endless wars.” It’s not just the costs of active shooting wars; with hundreds of bases overseas, as far as the defense budget is concerned Americans have been on a permanent wartime footing, to varying degrees, since Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941. “War is a permanent feature of our societal landscape,” wrote Grayson, “so much so that no one notices it anymore.” The bill already has several co-sponsors, including at least two Republicans (albeit maverick GOPers Ron Paul of Texas and Walter Jones of South Carolina). But since the Pentagon would have to take money out of its regular budget — largely from the budget for newfangled hardware — the DoD and influential defense contractors will no doubt fight it tooth-and-nail. But the War Is Making You Poor Act might have a major impact on our national dialogue regardless. It highlights in a visceral way what Americans lose by privileging money for guns over butter. “The costs of the war have been rendered invisible,” wrote Grayson. “There's no draft. Instead, we take the most vulnerable elements of our population, and give them a choice between unemployment and missile fodder. Government deficits conceal the need to pay in cash for the war.” Grayson’s measure might just shine a bright light on those “opportunity costs.” Budgeting is all about priorities, and the bill can raise public awareness of that fact. The Right has done a remarkable job convincing the American public that tax dollars used for programs that help the middle class or the poor are dollars “taken out of your pocket,” but no such consideration is given to the trillions spent on financing our military operations. That was apparent during the recent debate over the Affordable Care Act, when Republicans, Blue Dog Democrats and most of the media focused relentlessly on the costs of the bill, and its likely impact on future deficits. No such discussion took place when the invasion of Iraq was being debated. Grayson’s bill makes the same appeal to self-interest the conservatives have used to often devastating effect to oppose everything from Medicare to public education. It says: “We can pay for these wars, or we can make them take it out of the defense contractors’ hides and get our first $35K tax-free.” added by: Monkey_Films

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Drake Brings Out Special Guests At Dallas Away From Home Tour Stop

Posted on May 20, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Baby and Lil Twist join their Young Money/ Cash Money comrade; Drizzy drops a Dallas freestyle. By Sarah Bryant Drake performs in Dallas on Wednesday Photo: Sarah Bryant DALLAS — Drake ‘s Away From Home Tour landed at the Palladium on Wednesday night, and the Young Money MC sounded just like the records you bang in your car — no Auto-Tune necessary. The Toronto native kicked off the show with songs from his breakout mixtape, So Far Gone, and then gave fans a taste of what’s to come on his June 15 debut, Thank Me Later, with “Fireworks,” which will feature Alicia Keys on the album. Drake temporarily diverted the love and attention from himself to his big brother, Lil Wayne. “It’s Young Money all day. Free Weezy,” Drake said between songs. “When I say Young Money, you say Free Weezy.” Birdman then made a special appearance during “4 My Town (Play Ball),” and the crowd got even crazier when the DJ dropped the beat for “Money to Blow.” “We certified getting it CM, YM, Cash Money business,” Baby rapped. Lil Twist also joined Drake onstage during “Bedrock.” The biggest spectacle was made by a fan, not a guest MC. Christina McAlister from Fort Worth, Texas, was picked from the audience to participate in the show. She landed not just a dance with Drake, but a kiss on the lips. The ladies “ooohed” with excitement as Christina tried to keep her cool. Shortly after, Drake pulled out his mic stand covered with bras, and his collection began to rack up, as women threw their bras to the stage. “I’ll make sure to add these to my treasure chest,” he chuckled. Though his newest single, “Find Your Love,” was conspicuously absent, he had to perform his breakthrough track, “Best I Ever Had.” Drake’s fans knew this show couldn’t be missed, because getting tickets wasn’t easy. In Dallas, tickets sold out within the first 24 hours. Devin Smith, a 23-year old senior from the University of North Texas, had to wait until tickets were re-released in mid-April to score his. “Just seeing Drake was on a different level!” Smith exclaimed. He and his friend arrived at the Palladium at 11:30 a.m. for the 8 p.m. performance so they could get the best seats in the house. They camped out in front, studied for summer classes and chatted with their newfound, like-minded friends. “It was worth the wait sitting there. … He put on a great concert,” Smith said. “He had great energy, and it was everything I thought it would be. It sounds cheesy, but it’s true.” Drake must have really loved his time in the D. On Thursday morning (May 20), he released “9 AM in Dallas Freestyle.” “Weezy, I’m just out here reppin’ us,” he raps. “Till I get to shake the hand of the man that’s blessing us/ I know these n—as miss the mean lyrics/ Kush got the room smelling like Teen Spirit/ … Money gets all of my love and affection/ Cars all black like the cover of Essence / I’m allergic to coming in second/ But I never sneeze/ YMO-ney, n—a.” Have you checked out Drake’s Away From Home Tour? Share your thoughts in the comments! Related Artists Drake

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In Memoriam: American Idol’s Casey James

Posted on May 20, 2010 by | Leave a comment

I’m sad. Sure. But I also want to hold up my old Illinois driver’s license with Norma Rae grit and proclaim, “Take that, American South!” For only the second time in American Idol ‘s history, its Final Two has no connections to the dusty south. That’s not good or bad, but it’s a welcome change of pace. (No offense to Kris Allen — I voted for you, tender dawg!) Now, to attend to the business at hand: Our deceased pony Casey James enjoyed a resilient run, establishing himself as season nine’s resident dark horse . His proudest moments involved simple ballads, sincerity, and keeping his shirt on. Let’s reflect on the Cool, Texas, native’s curvy, paisley-print journey on American Idol and guess what might’ve been had he made the finale.

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