A much needed nature break...baby goslings, geese, and a deer with yours truly and background music by Natalie Merchant; Michael Moore filming a sequel to Fahrenheit 9/11; GreenLivingOnline says hand sanitizers can be dangerous for children and soap and water is still the best method; Charles Barkley faces gambling debts and possible criminal charges; Senate defies President George W. Bush and passes farm bill; Republican candidate Ron Paul was on news radio talking about a possible Ron Paul Revolution at the GOP Convention; all this and more in our May 15th News Roundup!

Unswayed by the leaps in converts to the Democratic Party this year, and also by the million or so voters just tacked on for Ron Paul, Senator John McCain's campaign is stepping it up a notch and embracing green stuff. Not to be outdone by climate change references in the Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama campaigns, McCain's campaign manager Rick Davis announced new Eco Friendly Clothes this week.

Very sad. For our human rights article of the day - in honor of Blog Catalog's Unite For Human Rights Day - the spotlight is on Myanmar and Burma. As we reported earlier this week, it is estimated that 1.5 million Burmese are on the brink of a massive public health catastrophe. Today, the International Red Cross has announced an estimate that shows the death toll from the disastrous cyclones in Myanmar is looking to be around 128,000.

Angelina Jolie sat down for The Today Show with Kung Fu Panda costar Jack Black, to discuss the new film and...babies! Everyone on the set was expecting, strangely. Natalie Morales - the Today Show host; Angelina Jolie; and Jack Black's wife. Angelina confirmed that she is in fact having twins - a rumor which has been going around the mags and the blogosphere for quite some time (the rumor also reports that it's twin girls, but Angie and Brad Pitt have decided not to reveal the sexes of the babies).

Alright, we've totally jumped on the bandwagon of loving Rihanna's brand new single, Take A Bow. And we're not the only ones: upon its release, Take A Bow soared to #1 on the Billboard's Hot 100, bumping Leona Lewis' Bleeding Love (which we also love!) from having held the Number 1 spot for four weeks in a row.

Look, I love my fellow Italians, believe me. But we can't let this one pass by without a mention. Roberto Cavalli, famous Italian fashion designer, recently said in an interview, I give into my emotions all the time. I cry easily, whether at a movie, music or vulnerable young animals, and I could never trust anyone who didn't do the same.

We love sites that offer opportunities for bloggers and writers to band together for a common cause...and tomorrow is a very important blogger holiday! There are many human rights issues going on worldwide this month. From the worst earthquake to hit China in 32 years (nearly 15,000 have been killed in the quake that hit northwest of Sichuan's capital Chengdu); to the humanitarian crises in Darfur, Sudan, Tibet, Burma and Myanmar; to children and families that still need regular food and aid from Africa and Asia to right here at home.

Hugh Hefner okay'd Miley Cyrus for Playboy Magazine...in three more years that is. He didn't get the controversy over her recent Vanity Fair shoot.

If you're looking to expand your theme park you may have trouble finding designers. That's because there's a massive new park being built in Dubia, United Arab Emirates.

In October of 2007, we posted an article about Sgt. First Class Trey A. Corrales, a highly decorated U.S. soldier for over a decade who was facing a charge of premeditated murder for killing an unidentified Iraqi civilian that his platoon believed was an insurgent, planting roadside bombs near Kirkuk in northern Iraq. Here's the good news!! ConnieTalk has been in contacted with Sgt. Corrales' wife, Lily, and this month she sent us the news that her family had been hoping and praying for, for over nine months.

We were totally shocked at the overwhelming response we got on this month's article, The Obama-Paul Dream Ticket. It quickly shot to #3 on our Most Read articles of the month, but the most surprising part of it was the poll response: about 500 of you voted, and 86% of you said that if you could vote for Democratic candidate Barack Obama and Republican candidate Ron Paul on the same ticket, you would (as opposed to only 14% of you who said you would not).

It's hard to believe but here's what the new reality shows are looking for: Mothers who drink or take medication for a pick me up.

Madonna did a live interview in England that was broadcast over television and radio. During the short segment she used the f-word twice.

The temperature has recently dropped more than half a degree C due mostly to cooler surface sea temperatures. It is estimated that the next couple of years will be cooler until the hotter side of the cycle combines with elevated atmospheric greenhouse gas to cause record high surface air temperatures. Ecosystems are sensitive to such temperature increase.

We told you before that we love these Whatever Hollywood girls. Suri, Apple and Shiloh were the third-place winners of the YouTube Sketchies II Contest (should've been first!), and since then we've become addicted to their femme-fantastic video shorts on WhateverHollywood.com. This week, the girls got together for a Mother's Day Tribute that consisted of cleaning the attic / costume room / nook.

The US Campaign for Burma is led by Aung Din, Jeremy Woodrum, Jennifer Quigley, Thelma Young, and others, on behalf of 1991 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Aung San Suu Kyi - the world's only currently imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize Recipient. On Saturday, the campaign sent out an e-mail advising that the world is trying to rush aid to the Burmese people hit by the Cyclone disaster, but that the regime is refusing all support, leaving hundreds of thousands in imminent danger of disease and death.

And speaking of the Burma and Myanmar cyclone crisis, new parents Nicole Richie and Joel Madden (we finally typed her name right! - for years I thought it was Ritchie) have done a video on behalf of UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund that was created by the UN to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries devastated by disaster(s).

Seriously? We're kinda scared even watching this. A vintage meltdown of FOX anchor Bill O'Reilly surfaced on YouTube this week (only to be quickly taken down by a copyright claim from CBS Broadcasting, Inc). Why CBS? Well, it was a video clip from O'Reilly's younger days as an announcer on CBS' Inside Edition, in which he lets loose a tirade on the writer for a blank, and then unsatisfactory, teleprompter.

Too much press in America? Take a break and do a Russian magazine! That's what these celebs have done. Paris Hilton was named the #1 most Overexposed celebrity in March, according to a poll by E-Poll Market Research that was published in Forbes Magazine. According to the poll, which asked Americans for rankings of over 3,000 celebrities, 70% of the US population surveyed used overexposed to describe Miss Hilton. Meaning...we've had enough! So this month, Paris Hilton did the cover of Russia's GQ Magazine and an inside spread.

Paris Hilton recently launched her new line of hair extensions. Called the Clipin-Go they're available at Sally Beauty Supply. The online site is www.parisandsally.com. They come in ten shades, are all 18" long and cost $80 bucks a pop.

Lindsay Lohan will be making an appearance on this season's finale of Ugly Betty. It's also rumored that she'll be in five more episodes next season.

NKOTB sent out a message to their fans this morning, advising that they've been in the rehearsal studio and have exclusive footage on their site regarding the new tour. The New Kids On The Block will be touring in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Quebec, Ontario, and Illinois in the upcoming months.

Nick Hogan, 17, was sentenced in the Sixth Judicial Court of Pinellas County, Florida this afternoon. The judge imposed a sentence of 8 months in the Pinellas County Jail. Nick could have received up to five years behind bars, although the victim's family - former longtime friends of the Hogan Bollea's, did not ask the judge for that maximum to be imposed. He will also have 5 years of probation (of which he'll receive 8 months credit served during his incarceration period). His license will be suspended for 3 years of those 5 of probation. He will not be allowed to consume alcohol - as John Graziano's mother requested of the court - for 5 years.

Nick Bollea, also known as Nick Hogan, is in the courtroom in Pinellas County in Florida right now. He has entered a plea of no contest to the charges stemming from the August 2007 incident in which Nick crashed his Toyota Supra after drinking and street racing it. Terry Hulk Hogan Bollea, Linda Hogan Bollea, Brooke Hogan, and Nick's grandparents are also there. It is all live on webcast right now here. Marine John Graziano, who was twice deployed to Iraq before suffering the devastating accident in August that put him into a coma, is still in need of longterm care and is in only a semiconscious state.

CBS...CNN...MSNBC...many commentators across the MSM board are claiming it's over for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. The results from Tuesday's primaries in Indiana and North Carolina - though not 100% reported yet - have Clinton the projected winner in Indiana with 51% of the vote (37 delegates), and Barack Obama the projected winer in North Carolina with 56% of the vote (62 delegates). Although the mainstream implies it's a done deal - Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee - it's worth keeping in mind that these same channels have aired for months on end those who said Clinton should drop out of the race to give the Dems a push.

If you thought that the Hells Angels no longer struck fear in the heart of the masses then you'd be wrong. The Custom Rock and Blues Festival that to have featured Glenn Hughes, Blackfoot, Hanoi Rocks, Molly Hatchet and others has been canceled. The festival was to have been held in Derbyshire near London this August.

US Marines leave Afghan opium poppy fields untouched; Reuters writer cut off from Western banks for living in Iran; Iran's oil minister says $200 per barrel of oil is not out of reach; Clay Aiken on The View talks music, Mother's Day, and performs title track; one of Tyra Banks' strangest guests, man with 'stomping' fetish.

Papa John's pizza hit the billion dollar mark in web sales. That includes computer and text message sales. Other companies have also seen a rise in online ordering.

I know, you're totally shocked. We thought they were rumors, the publicity machine on overgrind as word hit the 'net that Mariah Carey, 38, had married Nick Cannon, a 27-year-old who got his TV debut on Nickelodeon and claims various occupation titles, from rapper to comedian to record producer and actor. Yet, the wedding veil don't lie: Cannon's family confirmed that the pair wed at Mariah's private estate in the Bahamas - after just six weeks of dating - and the Carey-Cannon's have gone to People Magazine with their private wedding snapshots this week.

It's been a long time coming - the better part of a year. Nick Hogan, nee Nick Bollea, is due in Pinellas County Court tomorrow and is expected to enter a plea in the case of the August 2007 car crash that left Marine John Graziano in a coma. Nick Bollea had been classified as being under the influence of alcohol, as well as speeding, by police. Nick was arrested and charged, bailed out, and the pre-trial moved forward. Tomorrow, Bollea will enter his plea of guilty or no contest before the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida.

It looks like I will not have to digest a scarf. President George W. Bush has given no indication that he will boycott any part of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, despite an international cry for action.

Barack Obama and Ron Paul for President. Impossible, right? But who makes it that way? There is perhaps no one more skilled in the effort of pitting left and right against each other than the two-party system itself. For example, on April 10th, Rick Davis - the Campaign Manager for Republican Candidate John McCain - sent out an e-mail to Republicans entitled, 40 Million Attacks By The Far Left. Terms like liberal megadonor, billionaire left-wing Democrats, and liberal left were tossed around as liberally (pun intended) as the April 30th e-mail from the National GOP Headquarters itself, which boldly announced the left-wing attack machine is spewing venomous falsehoods again...the extreme left playbook.

I was surfing the internet looking for something interesting and what did I find but a blog dedicated to men's underwear. I guess that shouldn't have surprised me. People blog about everything now.

Keira Knightley recently shared that she was initially embarrassed to be a part of the Pirates of the Carribean project.

Well, its May 6th, the day that Indiana and North Carolina voters head to the polls for their primary elections, for both the Democratic and Republican Parties. This month will also see Nebraska's primary and West Virginia's (May 13th), Kentucky and Oregon (May 20th), and the Republican primary for Idaho on May 27th.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck was on the Rachael Ray Show today, all bubbly and cheerful and carrying her favorite things (wet wipes, running shoes, and paint chips. Yeah). Though she and Rachael seemed to get on well, something felt awkward: Elisabeth's jokes were only laughed at by herself, more than a few times. Perhaps its because she literally said, I'm like, 'Can I get an amen for McCain?' and they're like...'I don't know about you.' Can I get an amen for McCain? Was she dropped on the head as a child? Maybe she ought to put on the medieval wear, go on Geraldo, and be done with it.

Rosie O'Donnell was on the Today Show yesterday. Though it was a day before Barbara Walters appearance on Oprah aired - in which, among other topics, Barbara discussed what she felt to be Rosie's emotional and rage issues - Rosie apparently had already gotten wind of what was said of her in Walter's memoir Audition, and joked that she would fly out of control and start breaking things. Ro did, actually, later on, throw a few things at the cameras in jest. Rosie also said she agrees with Reverend Wright and understands where he's coming from?

We've got word for you that Dan Rather's attorneys at Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal, are expected to file an amended complaint with Judge Ira Gammerman in the $70 million lawsuit against CBS Corp. The revised complaint, 51 pages in length, reportedly will be filed on Wednesday morning.

If you ask us, we think America's Next Top Model judge, famous photographer, and animal rights pioneer Nigel Barker needs his own TV show. He does so much for charity organizations and good causes...he needs a show, like Nigel's Big Give or America's Next Top Fur Protestor. Anywho Barker's 36th birthday was on April 23rd, and we totally missed it, so HAPPY BELATED!

In Ron Paul news today, Kentucky's derby may be over, but here's another great reason to visit the Bluegrass State: Republican candidate and Congressman Ron Paul is coming to KY!

Scott Ritter was born into a military family. He was a Private in the U.S. Army, an intelligence officer in the U.S. Marine Corps for twelve years, and a lead analyst for the Marines Rapid Deployment Force. He also served as a chief United Nations weapons inspector in Iraq from 1991 to 1998. Before the United States invaded Iraq in March of 2003, William Scott Ritter went public with his belief that Iraq did not possess any weapons of mass destruction. Since then, he's been a known anti-war commentator; and last month, he gave an interview to Matthew Rothschild of The Progressive, warning that in the waning months of the Bush Administration, we are at the greatest risk of American military action against Iran.

Just after crossing the finish line in the Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2008, a young filly named Eight Belles collapsed when both of her front ankles snapped. She was euthanized in the dirt where she lay, the latest victim of the dirty business of thoroughbred racing.

The Washington Wizards, out of Washington, D.C., were dishing out fouls left, right and center in their playoff run against the Cleveland Cavaliers - specifically, against Cavs' star player LeBron James. Some of the fouls were called; other fouls were completely ignored. When LeBron finally complained about getting struck by the hard fouls, Wizards' center Brendan Haywood called LeBron a crybaby. Shortly thereafter, Papa John's Pizza printed t-shirts with the number 23 (LeBron's number), that said CRYBABY.

American Idol usually does their bit to help the earth by giving the winner a hybrid car. This year they're doing something much better.

The mainstream media is as split as the public over whether or not there are still Reverend Jeremiah Wright questions to be answered by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. CNN's John Roberts, for one, has decided to cease and desist Reverend Wright references. Roberts interviewed both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton airing today, and discussed gas taxes, the economy, and other pressing issues.

The crisis in Burma has changed. A cyclone hit Burma, the most devastating cyclone in Asia since that in Bangladesh in 1991, which killed 143,000 people. At least 10,000 have been declared dead in this current disaster, and Myanmar officials say the death toll will grow much higher. While Laura Bush and the U.S. government are asking Myanmar to allow US disaster teams to enter the area, the U.S. Campaign for Burma is taking its own form of action. Its campaign, Burma: It Can't Wait, has celebrities Will Ferrell, Jennifer Aniston, Woody Harrelson, Jason Biggs, Jenny Mollen, Sarah Silverman, Julie Benz, and Eddie Izzard (so far...its only Day 6!) asking for your help in getting 1 million people signed up in 30 days.

In celebration of Tom Cruise's 25 years in the business, Oprah delivered taped messages from a bunch of random star friends of Cruise - actors Will Smith & Jada Pinkett-Smith, Renee Zellweger, Dustin Hoffman; soccer player David Beckham and singer Victoria Posh Spice Beckham; director Steven Spielburg. They all praised him as an amazing actor, but above all, a good, real human being. You've got to hand it to Tom's new PR outlook: how could any of us have poked fun at this family man who takes the time to chat with movie set caterers, professes love for his in-laws, dresses up as Santa Claus, still dreams to work with Al Pacino or Robert DeNiro, has a blue-eyed baby and a beautiful wife who makes sure to have cupcakes around (all pastelled and fluffy, noless) whenever company is coming? In fact, sugar and cupcakes were how wife Katie Holmes first won over his children from his first marriage (with Nicole Kidman), Tom revealed.

Scarlett Johansson And Ryan Reynolds Are Engaged. That's the buzz anyways. And you know the guy has to love her. Why do I say that?

Sam Miller, prominent Cleveland businessman - Jewish, not Catholic - is fighting mad about the seemingly concentrated effort by the media to disparage the Catholic Church in the United States. The following are excerpts of a speech by well-known Cleveland businessman Mr. Miller at the City Club of Cleveland, given on Thursday, March 6. Even though of the Jewish faith, Miller has been a staunch supporter of the Cleveland Diocese and Bishop Anthony Pilla. It was published in the May-June issue of the Buckeye Bulletin.

Ah, but it gets crazier by the month. For the latest totals of campaign contributions, the Democrats have collected $524.6 million dollars, and the Republican $334.8 million. Democratic Senator Barack Obama has collected the most contributions, at $234.7 million, followed by Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton at $189.1 million. Next comes Republican drop-out Mitt Romney at $104.8 million, and then Republican Senator John McCain at $80.6 million. Republican Congressman Ron Paul is seventh in line (at $34.4 million) after former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Democratic candidate John Edwards.

It seems open-and-shut: Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the 52-year-old woman dubbed in the press as the DC Madam, was convicted in federal court two weeks ago of running an illegal prostitution ring for the Washington DC's elite. Yesterday, she was found hanging in a shed by her mother Blanche Palfrey and was said to have committed suicide. Police announced that they did not expect foul play. But PrisonPlanet.com, one of the homes of The Alex Jones Show, has interviews posted on their site that tell a much different tale than that seen in Time Magazine.

Sesame Workshop - who owns Sesame Street - released a new Sesame Street Video called Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployment, Homecoming, Changes. The video is for children who have a parent or parents that left for, or returned from the Middle East or the Iraq War, and addresses how children can deal with their emotions about it; even their emotions about parent returning with a war injury. In it, Elmo says his father was deployed three times, and Elmo became sad and more dependent on his mother.

Michael Brodkorb of Minnesota Democrats Exposed has Senator Al Franken's campaign reeling, and Franken paying $70,000 in backed taxes to 17 different states; Rebellious teen says animals saved her life; Seattle man denied liver transplant due to medicinal marijuana dies of liver failure; Barbara Walters is appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show and will be discussing details of her affair with moderate Republican Senator Edward Brooke; all this and more on our May 2nd News Roundup.

CNN's Wolf Blitzer had Ron Paul in the Situation Room today via satellite to talk to him about Paul's new book, the Republican and Democratic Parties, why Paul is hasn't dropped out of the presidential race, and more. Blitzer said that Paul's Revolution: A Manifesto is already a huge best-seller. Paul mentioned the voting records of John McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama; but when Wolf asked if Ron Paul had to pick one of those three candidates for President, he said I would think the one who would most likely keep us from expanding the war is probably Obama.

Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger was given the minimum sentence at his court date Thursday. Chad was tested at twice the legal limit when he got his DUI. His punishment? $600 fine and a year without his drivers license. Woohoo!!

The Federal Communications Commission has ruled that TMZ's magazine show is a bona fide news program. Before you get all freaked out keep in mind they said the same thing about the 700 Club and ABC Family.

NBC will be streaming full episodes of vintage shows on various websites. Ads and all. Some of the shows you’ll be seeing are Battlestar Galactica( the original one), Kojak, Miami Vice, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and The A-Team.

Bret Michaels now says that he's found true love with season 2 contestant Ambre Lake and he's handing the reigns over to Richie Sambora. There's no word on what Bret will do next other than this week's appearance on Don't Forget the Lyrics.

John McCain sent out another e-mail yesterday, this time on health care. Today, there are 47 million uninsured individuals in the U.S., and nearly a quarter of them are children, McCain wrote. As if we didn't know that. In fact, an extension of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was a key issue and conflict between President George W. Bush and the Democratic-led Congress at the end of 2007. In August of '07, the House introduced HR 976, a bipartisan bill that would have expanded SCHIP to over 4 million more children by 2012; Sen. John McCain voted no. The bill passed in the Senate anyway, but Pres. Bush vetoed it.

Tensions have significantly heated up between Whoopi Goldberg and Elisabeth Hasselbeck on ABC's The View lately. The two women's political viewpoints are like oil and water; and this might turn into a grease fire! It doesn't escape us that Whoopi is in the seat that Rosie O'Donnell once held, who herself famously clashed with Hasselbeck's Republican ideals. Actually, it was almost one year ago to the day (April 25th of '07) that Rosie announced on The View that she would not renew her contract as a cohost.

Notice the new Google page today? It's part of the new iGoogle Artist Themes. Now in addition to being able to add a calendar, weather, videos, news, and various game and miscellaneous widgets to your Google homepage, you can also add an artist's theme.

I'm sorry, but this is Weird with a capital W. First Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who takes virtually any chance he can get to show himself off, meets with Tyra Banks to congratulate her on her 500th episode and plant a tree with her. Then - brace yourselves - both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama gave congratulations to Tyra via satellite.

I don't know about you, but I'm on my way out the door today to go buy The Revolution: A Manifesto by Congressman Ron Paul. I know, I can get it cheaper on Amazon, and I intended to, but it will feel so good to march into Border's and plop it on the counter. Ron Paul sent out an e-mail to supporters today announcing the official release of the book, after various appearances this week in the mainstream media to discuss the Ron Paul Revolution and the book.

What an overly-dramatic week on Dancing With The Stars. Overly - not because there was a lot of real drama - but because we had to hear and see the replay where Cristian de la Fuente hurt his arm ad infinitum, and hear Samantha Harris reflect upon how sad it was ad infinitum. He hurt it during the samba with Cheryl Burke. At first Tom Bergeron told the audience that an EMT diagnosed it as a severe muscle cramp. But last night, de la Fuente announced that his doctor said he'd torn a tendon. Here's the kicker: the doctor told him he needed surgery to repair it, and Cristian said that he chose to delay the surgery and continue on with Dancing With The Stars. Now: if you have a serious tendon injury, are you even able to compete in full-out professional dancing? It makes no sense to us.

Gavin DeGraw, the multi-platinum singer who came out with a couple of our faves, I Don't Want To Be and Chariot, is coming out with a brand new self-titled album on May 6th, Gavin Degraw including his new single In Love With A Girl. This week he's on The Heyman Hustle with Paul Heyman (watch here). Heyman notes that Elliot Spitzer could be throwing the biggest party in New York and he would have finished his corn beef on rye first; but for Gavin, he put down the sandwich and made the trip.

The Federal Reserve and its Chairman Ben Bernanke announced through a statement on the Federal Reserve's website today that they will cut the key interest rate for America down to 2%. The Fed believes this is a way to combat the recession. As you may know, one of our top articles of this month was Hey Bernanke, Ron Paul's Been Prescribing The Salve For Years, in which we compared Ron Paul's prediction of a recession (as early as back in the year 2000) to Bernanke's moves in the opposite direction of Paul's solutions.

After an appearance on The Today Show to confirm rumors that they are officially getting back together, NKOTB sent out an e-mail to their fans last night announcing the initial dates for their reunion tour. The New Kids On The Block will be back on The Today Show on NBC with Meredith Vierra on Friday, May 16th.

Reverend Jeremiah Wright has been the topic of the day for days and days and days now, so we've kind of avoided it (you can find it everywhere already, that kind of thing). But since Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama held a press conference today to discuss recent comments by the Reverend - and since some of Wright's comments at this week's symposium were rather explosive - we figured we'd address it today.

The New York Times published an article by David Barstow exposing a media Trojan horse. If you're not familiar with what a Trojan horse is, it's commonly used to describe a computer virus. In this case, it's meant to desribe a virus spreading in the mass media. An investigation by the Times uncovered military analysts and retired military officers that were showing up on network news to appear objective and discuss terrorism and the Iraq War--after being given briefings from the White House, State Department, and Justice Department (including Vice President Dick Cheney himself, and former Secretary Donald Rumsfeld). They'd been given talking points; and internal Pentagon documents repeatedly referred to these people as message force multipliers, surrogates, and those counted on to deliver the current administration's themes and messages to America.

President Bush blames Congress for inaction over economic issues; the CDC says children are undervaccinated; former UCLA Medical Center employee indicted by a federal grand jury for snooping into celebrity medical records including Farah Fawcett and Maria Shriver; John McCain and his money; all this and more in the April 29th News Roundup.

We happened to have ESPN on last night when the ticker at the bottom of the screen began saying, Roger Clemens had an inappropriate relationship with country singer Mindy McCready. The story stemmed from a New York Daily News story at midnight on Sunday, which cited unnamed sources and claimed that professional baseball player Roger Clemens carried on a 10 year affair with McCready - beginning when she was a teen and he 28 years old, already married and the father of two kids. Our first thought was that someone wants to discredit Clemens, who filed a defamation lawsuit after the Mitchell Report listed Roger Clemens as having used Human Growth Hormone (HGH).

Kendra Wilkinson, one of Hugh Hefner's girls, has made it no secret that she love Olive Garden. What you may not know is that she finds their servers to be extremely hot.

We totally want this outfit (from the neck down)! 20-year-old Anna Lynne McCord plays Eden Lord in the most recent season of Nip/Tuck. She was previous a star in horror flicks, The O.C., Ugly Betty, and has just signed up for the spin-off series of Beverly Hills, 90210. Lori Loughlin (formerly of Full House) and Dustin Milligan will also be in the new CW Series.

Designer Amanda Parkes has figured out a way to harness all that static electricity that builds up. She's actually designed clothing that creates a piezoelectric effect on purpose. Which I'm pretty sure means they get static build up deliberately. The only difference is that her clothes have a small battery that stores the energy for later.

Richard Gere and Hilary Swank are currently filming Amelia, directed by Mira Nair and written by Susan Butler, Mary Lovell, Elgen Long, and Ronald Bass. Its a movie about the life of the famous American pilot Amelia Earhart, who disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean in 1937. Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and was a women's advocate who set many records in aviation. Swank is a phenomenal actress - and who doesn't love Richard Gere?

Oh, Rosie O! Sometimes, Rosie O'Donnell says things we strongly disagree with. Yet other times, many times, it's like hearing ourselves talk. Rosie posted a Talky Blog yesterday in which she mentioned the whole Miley Cyrus cover photo for Vanity Fair that made news articles every which way from Sunday. Now, yesterday we posted an article on Hilary Duff and started it out with, We're going to skip the whole Miley Cyrus / Vanity Fair...drama today.

Stop the presses. CNN, FOX, and Bloomberg TV all have Ron Paul on today. We say stop the presses because anyone who's been following Republican presidential candidate and Congressman Ron Paul's campaign knows that the mainstream media has given him very little airtime for the past year plus--GOP debates included, even--leading many supporters to call it a media blackout on Paul. But over the weekend, the Nevada GOP Convention was actually suspended due to Paul supporters pushing a rule change to allow other delegates besides presumptive nominee John McCain.

Angela Bassett will be joining the cast of ER in its fifteenth and final season. She'll play the part of an attending physician who did a stint in Indonesia.

We felt kinda good about providing an update on the third party Presidential candidates this month. It didn't get as many comments as other things might, but it's somewhat fulfilling to cover those that are out there struggling to campaign without the recognition that top-dollar candidates do. Maybe one day the Presidential elections in the US will be set up so that it's all on public broadcasting and campaigns don't need to accrue a combined $859.4 million + that could be spent on pressing issues. Anyhow, here's the update for third party events in May.

Rocky the Bear who was recently featured in Semi-Pro is officially blacklisted from the business after fatally injuring his trainer, Stephan Miller. Nothing like trying to snack on the boss to put a crimp in your career. PETA investigated the same facility where Rocky resides just last year.

Coca-Cola pours $100 million into Beijing Olympics; Four U.S. Soldiers killed in Iraq today, and the deadliest month since September; Following the Clinton, Obama, and McCain campaign trails; Texas officials announce more than half the teenage girls at the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado, Texas were pregnant.

Dawn Wells, the actress that played Maryanne on the famous TV series Gilligan's Island was on The View today and discussed her Idaho arrest in February. Wells was charged with one count of reckless driving and paid a fine, after failing a field sobriety test. Dawn told Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd about the incident and what she says really happened.

We're going to skip the whole Miley Cyrus / Vanity Fair did she agree to the cover photo, did she not agree to the cover drama today and go with Hillary Duff on Regis & Kelly. Regis Philbin marveled about how much older she is now (20 years old) since they first had her on the show. Duff was there to promote the new movie War, Inc. with John Cusack, Marisa Tomei, Joan Cusack, Dan Akroyd and others.

Tom Cruise is reportedly returning to Oprah Winfrey's couch. Either that or they're going to roll in a whole new set at his request, who knows. It was only a matter of time before Tom made a TV appearance: rumors have been ricocheting between celeb rags and the internet about the state of his marriage to Katie Holmes; other recent Tom-related headlines have included the musings of Jason Beghe, an actor who just denounced his 14-year affiliation with the Church of Scientology.

So we go shopping recently, and while hunting the laundry detergent aisle, thought for a second we'd walked through Rick Moranis' enlarging machine on Honey, I Blew Up The Kids. Everything had shrunk overnight. We search and search for the large detergent bottles--who wants to go to the grocery store for that every week?--and they're all gone. Tide's bottles are tinier, Purex compressed, Gain got smaller, Cheer...all the way down the line.

Commercial bakers and general consumers are stocking up on flour and rice in fear that US supplies are dwindling; Tyra Banks takes on the subject of 'fatsploitation' talking to morbidly obese women like Queen Raqui about fat acceptance; President George W. Bush speaks at the White House Correspondents Dinner; 30 Ohio inmates seek new DNA tests to prove their innocence; Bette Midler goes outdoors with the Blue Man Group to plant trees for Arbor Day; all this and more in our April 27th News Roundup, the news you don't want to miss!

We understand that it was kind of a slow news week last week, depending on where you're looking. But, really: can you imagine the press following any of the other presidential candidates bowling or playing basketball? Eh, maybe they would. Anyhow, The Associated Press has a YouTube channel on which they post the top news of the moment, and one of yesterday's top stories is Barack Obama Hoops It Up in Hoosier State.

Oh, no, no, no, no no. This is the kind of clip that is almost morbidly horrifying to watch, but at the same time you want to watch it because you're glad you are not one of these people. Two women - Barbara Baskin and Jamie Robin (no relation to the ice cream brand that we're aware of) - that call themselves The McCain Girls went on Geraldo At Large today and sang a song they call, It's Raining John McCain. One of them is wearing a dress that looks just like the medieval number I picked up for Halloween a few years back.

Don't expect blogger Perez Hilton to practice what he preaches. Perhaps in an attempt to counteract the typical venom he selectively spews at Hollywood F-listers, Perez has created a relatively new section on his Hollywood's Most Hated blog dedicated to Inspiration. In a recent post, he lists the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)'s very worthy campaign to stop Puppy Mills. I'm sure it is pure coincidence that it's the same month Oprah Winfrey spoke out about it.

Actor Jason Beghe played Jeffrey Lindley on Melrose Place, and has had parts in many series such as The X-Files, CSI, Dharma & Greg, and Veronica Mars, just to name a few. In his personal life, Beghe was an OT5 Scientology member, and a loyal follower of what some call a religion - others a cult - for 14 years. Now, Beghe is no longer a Scientologist, and is speaking out about the belief he followed for so long, referring to it as empty and slavery of the mind. At one point, referring to the story of Xenu and the loyal officers, Beghe says, its retarded.

Clay Aiken's run on Broadway with Spamalot will end on May 4th. So what's next for the former American Idol contestant-turned actor and pop star? Aiken will be releasing a new album reportedly titled On My Way Here, to be released on May 6th; the first single off the album will be On My Way Here, a song written by Ryan Tedder of One Republic. Amazon has a preview of the title track here. He'll be on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Jimmy Kimmel Show, and even QVC in May.

These two faces would be more than welcome at most any dinner table in America. Am I wrong? And, I'm sure more than a few thousand million internationally. But in Tinseltown, veteran actors Robert De Niro and Al Pacino have been given an icy cold shoulder this month. 88 Minutes, the newly-released movie starring De Niro and Pacino, opened last Friday at the box office with about $2.37 million. It has been torn to shreds by critics, and Hollywood blogs that are posting a quote shakily attributed to a CAA agent that heavily disses De Niro, who broke off from Creative Artists Agency (CAA) last week.

For more than 25 years, Operation Smile has been helping children around the world afflicted with facial deformities such as cleft lips and cleft palates. Stars like Jessica Simpson, Roma Downey, Billy Bush, and Mariah Carey have all volunteered on behalf of the nonprofit organization in recent years. A child born with a facial deformity is mocked and ridiculed. Eating and speaking are difficult. These children often end up totally dependent on their families who may even shut them away, believing they are cursed. Children who grow up with unrepaired cleft lips and cleft palates have difficulty developing social skills or leading productive lives.

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul posted a YouTube video yesterday thanking all of the volunteers and supporters in Pennsylvania, and insisting that he's continuing to run. As we mentioned Tuesday, it will not be until next Tuesday (April 29th) that all of the provisional ballots for PA will be validated and counted; but Paul accepted and referenced the 16% of the PA vote that the media has projected.

Democratic candidates have had 25 televised debates and 1 radio debate, and still have at least two more debates coming up: in Raleigh, North Carolina and in Portland, Oregon. But Hillary Rodham Clinton wants to participate in a debate in Indiana as well - who will be holding their primary the same date as North Carolina, on May 6th - and has accepted the invitation from the Indiana Debate Commission to participate. Barack Obama, however, has not said that he will not participate in an IN debate, but a campaign spokesman for Obama said yesterday that it's not his top priority; his number one priority is being able to have a direct conversation with Hoosiers about the issues impacting their lives.

Wow. This is shocking. Nicholas Cage, take heed! After battling the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for years, Wesley Snipes was given the maximum sentence yesterday by US Federal Judge William Terell Hodges for willfully failing to file tax returns: he was given three years in prison. Had he been found guilty of the other counts that were pending against him - felony tax fraud and conspiracy - he could have gotten up to 13 additional years in the pen. The AP reports that hours before his sentencing, Snipes wrote three checks to the feds for $5 million, but it was too little, too late.

Life & Style magazine is reporting an exclusive interview with Lynne Spears, mother of Jamie Lynn and Britney Spears. She expresses her regret at Jamie Lynn's early pregnancy and her hopes for Britney's recovery. The only thing is she said she never gave this interview. The reporter allegedly sat on a flight next to her and after identifying himself proceeded to interview Lynne.

As the World Turns has been on the air for 52 years yet is still increasing it's ratings in the 18-49 and 25-54 women viewers demographics. So why is it they're doing better than most soaps who are merely trying to maintain? It's all about the drama. It's most recent being the controversy over their teenage gay couple Luke and Noah.

Rob Van Dam has posted a blog online in which he reveals he and his wife Sonya got some very disturbing news recently. As always, Robert and Sonya Szatkowski (Rob Van Dam and his wife) remain very positive, and are obviously handling this situation with a great deal of class and dignity.

Mary J. Blige makes me saaaaad. She's a beautiful woman; one look at the photo above (at an Elton John AIDS fundraiser earlier this year) and it's easy to see that Mary J. can look just as sophisticated without the excessive fur trim. But nearly every time Blige releases a video, she's dressed to the nine's in animal carcasses: and her new music video, Staying Down--which was just released--is no different.

DNA samples have been collected from all of the children - most of whom's paternity is in question - from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) ranch raid near Eldorado, Texas. DNA samples are still being taken from the parents at the ranch, and the children are currently being moved into foster homes per an order from State District Judge Barbara Walther yesterday. ConnieTalk's Recommended Read: Escape by Carolyn Jessop.

After a huge blow out wedding three years ago that is rumored to have cost her employment as a host of The View, Star Jones is filing for divorce. Papers were filed with the New York Supreme court on March 26th.

Toy Story Mania is the latest ride at Walt Disney World in Florida. Located at MGM Studios it's their first collaboration with Pixar since they acquired the studio in 2006. They had hoped to hold a Cast Member preview this weekend but have been forced to cancel it because they haven't got the bugs worked out of the $70 million dollar attraction.

Good grief. New Zealand's Stuff Entertainment News published an article today called Let the Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis feud begin. Poor Mariah. After being in the spotlight for about 18 years, Mariah has been compared to everyone from Ciara to Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson to Celine Dion, and countless up-and-comers that never quite made it.

The Court's rulings today make clear that Mr. Rather's lawsuit following the Court's April 10 opinion is not just a 'garden variety contract claim,' as CBS previously announced, said Martin R. Gold, Lead Counsel for Dan Rather. The Court has allowed discovery to proceed with respect to Mr. Rather's allegations about deficiencies in the Thornburgh Panel's investigation of the Bush Air National Guard broadcast, including depositions of the two panelists, Louis Boccardi and Richard Thornburgh, as well as witnesses interviewed by the Panel.

If I hear John McCain say my friends one more time...well, actually, I'll do nothing, because I know he'll say it again so I'd just be setting myself up. Since John McCain was announced the presumptive nominee by President George W. Bush and the National GOP in March, McCain has sent out e-mails to registered Republicans in which he used the phrase my friends 11 times. And he doesn't send out e-mails that often. The most recent e-mail from the McCain camp - today's - used my friends three times, an all-time high since McCain was announced the nominee over fellow Republican contenders Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul.

Seriously. Since when are paparazzi allowed this far inside a church to take photos of somebody praying? Dlisted posted some photos today of Inga Marchand aka Foxy Brown from Splash News Online, in which Foxy Brown was on her knees before some heavenly statues at a New York City church on Sunday. Splash News Online is one of the photo agencies that got us fired up a few months ago over snapping pics of Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger's family after Ledger's untimely death - private memorial service included.

I ask the employee - whom I recognize as having worked there for quite a long time - why the prices vary so greatly from Amazon.com, with whom Borders has been affiliated in an online partnership since April of 2001, almost seven years to the day. In fact, Borders Group announced over a year ago that they were severing ties with Amazon--though the split has not been executed on the web--and its been reported that Borders plans to launch it's own site independent of Amazon as soon as this month.

It seems that Nicholas Cage needs a new tax adviser. The IRS is questioning his writeoffs of limos, meals, gifts, and personal jet travel in the amount of $3.3 million dollars. The write-offs were taken by his production company Saturn. Once they deny those deductions they will go back and amend his personal taxes to reflect that income.

The state of Pennsylvania is holding its primary election today. Ballots are cast in a variety of ways in Pennsylvania and each county selects their own voting system. Some political commentators and journalists have said that the PA primary may tip the nomination in favor of either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Party - the AP has called Pennsylvania a must-win state for Clinton; but others say it isn't expected to clarify anything. On the Republican side, John McCain was declared the presumed nominee for the GOP in March, but Ron Paul has been campaigning in the state in recent weeks and looks to gain delegates in PA, the state where he was born.

Sandra Bullock and Jesse James were involved in a head-on collision in Gloucester, Mass. on Sunday. Jesse, Sandra and the driver of their rented SUV were fine. They were struck by Lucille Gatchell, 64, who blew a .20 on the breathalyzer. That's two and a half times over the legal limit. The driver behind her was calling 911 to report her erratic driving when the accident occurred.

Alicia Keys is a woman with a powerful voice. She was on The Today Show with Meredith Vierra today, and sang her hit single No One, which you know is one of ConnieTalk's faves! It was part of the TODAY Show's Summer Concert Series. Check out the video. How many pop singers really belt it out live like this? Keys is currently touring for As I Am, and stopped by Rockefeller Plaza to perform and chat with Matt Lauer. Lauer asked her about the recent interview she did with Blender Magazine, which got her some harsh criticism from the hip hop community, primarily rapper 50 Cent.

Danica Patrick became the first female winner in IndyCar history yesterday after 50 races. Danica took the lead from Dancing with the Stars winner Helio Castroneves in the 198th lap of a 200 lap race. She finished 5.8594 seconds ahead of him.

Hillary Clinton's campaign has just released a new commercial, called Kitchen. In the video, the narrator describes the toughest job in the world, skyrocketing oil prices, two wars, and an economy in crisis. Harry Truman said it best, If you can't stand the HEAT, get out of the kitchen. Is this ill-timed or well-timed? President George W. Bush has talked about being a modern-day Harry Truman himself, and Hillary's campaign ad comes less than a week after the Houston Chronicle's article that Bush has beat Harry S. Truman in the record for extended presidential unpopularity.

Dancing With The Stars is back on tonight and five of the twelve original contestants are already gone. That went by so fast! Adam Carolla, Steve Guttenberg, Penn Jillette, Priscilla Presley, and Monica Seles are all out of the running: after pushing it too far last week, Priscilla Presley was eliminated. Mario Barrett, Shannon Elizabeth, Cristian de La Fuente, Marlee Matlin, Jason Taylor, Marissa Winokur, and Kristi Yamaguchi are left to compete tonight.

The Susan G. Komen For The Cure 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk is coming to a city near you! ConnieTalk has a few very brave friends that will be walking 60 miles in 3 days to support a cure for breast cancer. They deserve some major kudos as they will be sleeping in a tent with no bathrooms and each person has to rally to raise $2200 to participate.

Cindy McCain was on The View today. I was waiting for them to ask her about her tax return, but alas, they did not. They talked about how John McCain likes to cook and is interested in horticulture. I have to completely agree with the sentiment that even the media is getting bored with their own coverage of the Democratic debates with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama - but that doesn't mean the lead Democratic candidates weren't/aren't worthy of coverage - just, no one forced the MSM to ignore all of the other candidates and third parties in the race. Wouldn't it have been far more interesting (and efficient) with equal coverage all around?

The latest celeb fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship is none other than Mandy Moore, the 24-year-old pop singer and actress who recently joined Kelly Clarkson on her Australian tour. We dig the UFC, but $40 per event is getting a little steep for us so we missed last night's UFC 83 event in Montreal, Canada. The scoop, though, is that George St-Pierre regained the UFC Welterweight Championship on his home turf last night. Moore wore a UFC tee and took in the crowd and event at what the UFC says was the largest live crowd in UFC history: more than 21,000 fans in one arena.

Not that I make it a habit of watching Fox & Friends, but I find it interesting to occasionally try to figure out what Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is talking about. Arnold was on FOX yesterday and Brian Kilmeade asked the Republican Governor why a lot of Republicans in particular don't believe there is Global Warming [or] Climate Change. I think Kilmeade phrased that question wrong: many Republicans don't believe there's manmade climate change as a result of carbon emissions. And I'm not saying there is or there isn't because I'm not a scientist, I'm just going by the many opinions I've heard from others, and the gist of the Manhattan Declaration, etc.

Evidently the United States is not the only country encumbered by lack luster reality programming. Sources say that Paris Hilton is launching a show on the UK's satellite channel Living TV about Paris managing a doggie beauty parlor. It's rumored that Paris has about 600 pets total. The show is supposed to help prove her love for animals. And it's a good way for her to break into British television.

If you've turned CNN on at all last week than you probably already know more than those in the Texas courtroom this week about the latest news on the FLDS alleged polygamy scandal. CNN has been providing nearly 24/7 coverage on the removal of 416 children from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from the religious sect's compound near Eldorado, Texas. It's like they live for this stuff: it's become as big as the first O.J. Simpson trial as far as media coverage, with the potential to become much bigger.

This is super-important, please read this because you may be seeing an e-mail like this within the next few days! Several days ago, I received an e-mail forward from a family member that warned of a Real Virus Alert, saying get this e-mail message around to your contacts ASAP. You should be alert during the next few days. Do not open any message with an attachment entitled POSTCARD, regardless of who sent it to you. It is a virus which opens a POSTCARD IMAGE, which burns the whole hard disc C:/ of your computer. I checked with Snopes and it was something that was reported there almost a year ago (June of 2007). But, lo and behold, in our general inbox today (not our Bulk & Spam Mail), we received an e-mail called You have received a card from a family member. The subject is now modified and doesn't include "postcard" until you open the message.

So here we are in April of 2008: spring has sprung. The mainstream has long ago abandoned any of the few polling reference(s) to Ron Paul they'd shown last year; NewsMeat turned off Paul's live odds at winning a while back (though left him on the list of those running); last week someone removed Paul's photo from the list of Republican nominees on wikipedia, and someone else put him back up days later. Just as many didn't know who Paul was last year (hence the grassroots chalk signs that said Google Ron Paul), this year many people don't know Paul is still running for the nomination.

Kelly Clarkson just returned from touring in Australia and Europe, and was in Yonkers, New York yesterday performing at a rally with seminarians and youth at Saint Joseph Seminary. Hey, remember when Jessica Simpson was the token pop performer for Christian events? So much for that! Kell-Kell sang 'Ave Maria' for Pope Benedict XVI on his visit to New York at the end of his U.S. trip.

One of PETA's (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) latest projects poses a good question: why do animals in the U.S. need to be injected by Botox until they become paralyzed, ill, or suffocate when there are modern and non-animal methods to test the neurotoxin? From StopAnimalTests.com: As a recent Washington Post investigation reveals, the entity put in place by Congress to reduce the use of animals in toxicity testing—the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM)—has failed miserably and has, in fact, become a major obstacle to the incorporation of non-animal test methods. In its 10 years of existence, ICCVAM has only recommended four 'alternative' test methods to regulatory agencies. During the same period of time, its European counterpart recommended more than two dozen!

Some scientists and medical professionals believe that Aspartame, one of the sweeteners in many diet sodas, can cause serious illnesses like cancer, brain tumors, brain lesions, lymphoma when consumed in large quantities. Some also have produced findings that sodium benzoate (another ingredient in many diet beverages) combines with ascorbic acid to form a carcinogen - and God knows I get enough of that through my cigarettes. There are all kinds of other things about soft drinks that make me wary, so I'm finally choosing to make a permanent switch, and this week I have begun drinking Glaceau Vitamin Water. No one is paying me to say this so you'd better appreciate it!

When is the last time you read about Ground Zero in the news? I haven't seen articles on it - or even the progress of construction there - in a long time. On the last day of his stay in America, Pope Benedict XVI visited the site of the 9/11 World Trade Center attack at 9:15 am today, asking God to bless those who suffered death, injury and loss and asked for peace to be brought to our violent world. Twenty-four people affected by the September 11th, 2001 attacks came with the Pope and hundreds of others gathered around just beyond police barricades, Catholics and non-Catholic's alike, hoping to see the Pope in person.

CW has decided to stop streaming new episodes of Gossip Girls when it comes back on the air. They were previously releasing each episode about a week after it originally aired on their website www.CWTV.com.

Different variations of possible movie promo posters for the new X-Files 2 movie have been popping up here and there....and now Gillian Anderson has done an interview and photo spread in Maxim Magazine for their May 2008 issue, where they asked her about the upcoming flick. How gorgeous does she look? Gillian will be 40 this year, but you'd never guess it from her fab figure, smooth complexion and long redheaded Rapunzel locks.

At a glance, she might pass for Angelina Jolie. Mila Kunis - who rose to fame with That Seventies Show and Family Guy, among other roles - has grown into her striking facial structure and feminine poise in a way women everywhere envy: just how does she manage to look better every time we see her? At just 24 years old, the Ukranian-American beauty who moved to LA at 8 years old and learned English from watching The Price Is Right, is now a Hollywood star traveling all over the US for her starring role in the film Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which is in theatres today!

Republican Presidential candidate Senator John McCain talked a lot about taxes this week. On April 16th, his campaign sent out an e-mail called Have You Filed Your Taxes? claiming that if one of my Democratic opponents is elected in November, you can be certain your tax rate will increase across the board. Today, another e-mail about taxes called Lower Gas Prices? It said that McCain has laid out an economic plan this week aimed at providing immediate and long-term relief for American families by suspending the federal gas tax on gasoline from Memorial Day to Labor Day of this year. This is one sly move by the GOP: gas prices and taxes are two of the most moaned-about topics related to the economy right now. Sen. McCain called it a Gas Tax Holiday, claiming the move would be an economic stimulus with lasting effects.

Yes, Sherri Shepherd had a freak-out on The View, but it was cute and pretty funny! She was star-struck by Lawrence Fishburne, who made a guest appearance on the episode that aired today. Fishburne is an Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor whose done a wide variety of work in film and on stage, and apparently Sherri Shepherd saw him on a plane a while back and asked him if she could study acting with him.

Time Magazine (who's partnered with CNN) has just released their April 28th issue, and the cover of the magazine is a Photoshopped version of the United States Marines and U.S. Navy corpsman who raised the United States flag on Mount Suribachi - the iconic photo by Joe Rosenthal that has it's own place in history from the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. With one huge difference: in Time's version, the Marines are raising a tree, and the issue is dedicated to global warming.

In February, we posted an article about the largest beef recall in United States history, which took place after The Humane Society of the United States launched an inside investigation (January of '08) into Hallmark / Westland Meat Packing Co. and discovered animals who appeared sick, injured, and unable to walk being pushed into slaughter for beef. Today, an update: the HSUS' efforts at that California meat plant launched nationwide attention, and we have the response from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, as well as HSUS' continued effort to raise awareness.

We've all heard about the February 17,2009 deadline for all stations to convert to a digital signal. This means that those of you using an antenna for local stations must purchase a box to convert your signal into something your television can use if your set doesn't already have a digital tuner integrated into it.

Were you following the YouTube Sketchies II Contest? It was a contest on YouTube where users were challenged to create an original sketch comedy video incorporating a musical instrument and a road trip. The winner received $25,000 in cash, $15,000 in production gear, and the opportunity to meet with UTA Online Agents; it was all sponsored by Toyota Corolla. The lucky winner was announced after two months of competition with multiple submission and vote rounds, and the winner was Waverly Films, who submitted this video entitled Sherlockbot & The Case of the Purloined Piggybank.

Think political campaigns are costing too much money? You're not alone. At last count (the last campaign spending disclosure period), the Democratic presidential candidates - both present and former - had spent $391.9 million; and the Republican presidential candidates had spent $299.5 million. Since it's Fair Elections Week, we thought we'd post these totals for everyone to get an idea of how much money has been funneled from the public and into presidential campaigns this election.

It's still Autism Awareness month, and Jenny McCarthy continues to speak in support of the epidemic of autism this month as she has been for years. April 2nd was the very first World Autism Awareness Day, which the MSM largely recognized, but the message continues all of this month. Jenny was on Larry King Live on CNN that day for a full hour discussing the brain development disorder and its possible causes or triggers. Yesterday Jenny traveled to Troy, Michigan for a Living With Autism Workshop, where parents, teachers, and the general public had the chance to participate and converse with experts on a range of topics related to autism. It was sponsored by the Henry Ford Health System, Oakland University, and Metro Parent Magazine.

Her Madge-esty Madonna added a video blog to her YouTube channel yesterday where she takes a vacuum to the set of her latest video. A woman's work is never done...I love it. Remember this week's post on Miley Cyrus' version of Justin Timberlake, Timbaland and Madonna's 4 Minutes video? I have a feeling Madonna saw it and liked it...because in her new video blog she says, all you people out there who are making videos to my single, 4 Minutes, keep up the good work, nice job, nice one. Thumbs up.

The latest on the campaign trails of the Democratic, Republican, Constitution, Green, and Independent Party's. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John McCain, Ron Paul, Alan Keyes, Cynthia McKinney, Kat Swift, Bob Barr, Mike Gravel, Steve Kubby, George Phillies, Wayne Allyn Root, Mary Ruwart, and Ralph Nader...what are they up to? Bet you didn't know that many people were still running, didja? Mass media...sigh.

After being imprisoned at Camp Cropper by US Military in Iraq for over two years, 36-year old Pulitzer Prize-winning Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein has been freed. An Iraqi judicial panel dismissed the pending charges against him for alleged links to insurgents, and ordered that he be released from US custody. On Monday, the US Military released a statement saying they no longer considered Bilal to be a threat. Today, Hussein met tearful relatives at a checkpoint in Iraq, where he was released from a prisoner bus and given back his freedom.

This month Oprah Winfrey's 13-year old cocker spaniel Sophie passed away after suffering kidney failure, and Oprah gave a special episode dedicated to Sophie and to stopping puppy mills. Today, fellow talk show host Martha Stewart posted a blog announcing that her adorable redheaded Chow Kublai Khan Paw Paw Chow Chow Chow died on Saturday approaching his 13th year. That really is an unlucky number! Poor pups...I hope they're all in doggie heaven!

Actress Cameron Diaz was riding high...she was filming My Sister's Keeper based on one of my favorite books of all time (by Jodi Picoult) in production right now alongside costars Abigail Breslin, Alec Baldwin, Joan Cusack. Cameron's on the May 2008 cover of British GQ Magazine, in which she gave a light-hearted interview to Adrian Deevoy about how she's a woman who's boy crazy but loyal and committed, and opened up about her breakup with Justin Timberlake and her dating habits. But today, terrible news hit: Cameron's 58-year-old father Emilio Diaz passed away suddenly from complications due to pneumonia.

61-year-old Suzanne Somers (I thought it was spelled Summers until just now) was on the Ellen DeGeneres Show today. After two autobiographies, two self-help books, four diet books, a book about hormone replacement therapy, a ThighMaster, a Buttmaster, and designs on the Home Shopping Network, Suzanne Somers is also the spokesperson for her own FaceMaster 18-minute Facial Toning System. She first announced it in 1999 but the product was changed after a few disputes with the Federal Food and Drug Administration. The new version has been cleared as a cosmetic device by the FDA.

Harry Potter author, JK Rowling is suing Steve Vander Ark and his publisher RDR books. They attempted to publish a book entitled Harry Potter Lexicon last fall. The book includes, an atlas of the wizarding world, Quidditch Handbook, and encyclopedia of spells and a ton of other info. There are references to where each spell etc may be found in the Harry Potter books.

Beginning in May Jimmy Kimmel will add live commercials to his lineup. They were popular until the '70's and then like tie dye and bell bottoms they fell out of favor. Thirty years later they're the latest way to catch people's attention. Garmin ,the GPS people, did a live ad on Leno last year and they found it to be more effective than a taped commercial. It was probably watched more closely because it looked like a skit and there for was perceived to be part of the show.

Now you probably didn’t know this, but the Country Music Awards were held April 13th in Nashville (of course, Nashville; Boston, Mass. and Pierre, SD were both booked). Now, now, don’t panic. It’s not the CMAs. I know, that scared me too. The Country Music Awards are actually in November. Oh, so it’s the Academy of Country Music awards that happened tonight? Wow, I can’t wait to see who won. What’s that you say? It’s not the ACM awards either?

Last night, Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama participated in a Compassion Forum on CNN, which wasn't so much a presidential debate as it was a separate interview with each candidate, filled with slow, carefully-chosen, politically-correct phrases and many references to God, faith, love, grace, and mysteries. Essentially, both candidates said the same types of things. They don't know if God wants either of them to be President of the United States. They are people of great faith. They respect other's faiths.The calm setting was a far cry from the nail-biting, selectively-enforced response times allotted to the Republican presidential candidates in their debates. The last GOP debate - excluding the February 2nd New York MySpace forum in which only two of the Republicans (Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee) participated - was on January 30th, 2008 in Simi Valley, California, hosted by CNN at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

AP Photographer Bilal Hussein granted amnesty but not yet freed; Ivana Trump's wedding photos sell for over half a million dollars; Rupert Murdoch and Sam Zell join the AP Board of Directors; Gucci tells PETA it will quit selling seal fur; A bad week in Iraq for US soldiers; Marilyn Monroe sex video sold to some rich sleaze in Manhattan; all this and more in our April 14th news roundup!

If you have access to a radio in any way, shape or form, you've probably heard Madonna and Justin Timberlake's 4 Minutes song, which was released from Madge's eleventh studio album Hard Candy on March 17, 2008. The song, written with Nat Danja Hills and Timothy Timbaland Mosley is also called 4 Minutes to Save the World. 15-year-old Miley Cyrus took to her YouTube channel and made her own rendition of the already-hit song with her BFF Mandy Jiroux. I'm not sure where the accent came from, but the dancing is cute.

If you had any doubt that there are sick people out there: wake up, because there are sick people out there. And by sick I mean disturbed. On Friday, the Vanderburgh Humane Society of Evansville, Indiana found a steel leghold trap set in one of the fenced-in yards where the shelter's dogs are exercised. Set, as in if any dog or human had stepped on while walking through the yard, they could have been seriously injured.

Did you watch A Night Of Too Many Stars on Comedy Central last night? It was decent. I say decent because it benefited a great cause - education and awareness for children with autism; but it also was more than a little gross. There was a bit too much of the White Castle Executive Marketing Director grabbing Tina Fey's boob and Sarah Silverman pretending to sing Amazing Grace with her private parts than one might expect from a children's benefit function. And Adam Sandler cursed so much that I haven't a clue what he was saying...I just know my ears buzzed for half an hour afterwards from Comedy Central's bleep-outs.

The teenagers, ranging in age from 14 to 18, who showed up at a Central Florida girl's home to harass and beat her on videotape, are out of jail...and one of them was bailed out by the Dr. Phil Show. Mercades Nichols' mother appeared on the news saying that she could not afford to bail out her daughter, who is facing charges of kidnapping and misdemeanor battery. Mercades is the girl who is accused of not only participating in, but arranging the meetup at the victim's house. The state attorney's office has said that all eight of the teens - Nichols, Zachary Ashley, Brittini Hardcastle, April Cooper, Kayla Hassell, Cara Murphy, Britney Mayes, and Stephen Schumaker- involved will be tried as adults.