Clooney's 'American' Wins Top Spot at Box Office, Raking in $16M Tuesday, 07 September 2010 George Clooney's hitman tale "The American" has captured the top spot at the box office with a $16.4 million debut over the long U.S. Labor Day holiday weekend. The revenge romp "Machete" and the heist thriller "Takers" were in a duel for second-place. "Machete" led with $14 million from Friday to Monday. "Takers" followed with $13.5 million, though the two movies were close enough that rankings could change once final numbers are released Tuesday. "Takers," which had been the No. 1 movie the previous weekend, raised its 10-day total to $40 million. Since opening Wednesday, "The American" has taken in $19.5 million. The weekend's other new wide release, Drew Barrymore's romance "Going the Distance," opened with $8.6 million. Source:  ap Add Comment (0)

Bahamas Drops Charges In Travolta Extortion Case Tuesday, 07 September 2010 A judge in the Bahamas dismissed charges Monday against two people accused of trying to extort money from John Travolta after the actor decided he no longer wanted to face the pain of a new trial stemming from the death of his teenage son on the island chain. Prosecutor Neil Braithwaite had submitted a motion to drop the case just as a retrial was about to start for the two defendants. "The Travolta family has said that this matter has caused them unbelievable stress and pain and they wish to put this whole thing behind them," Braithwaite told the court after a jury had been picked to hear the case. Ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne and his attorney, politician Pleasant Bridgewater, were accused of threatening to release private information about the January 2009 death of Travolta's 16-year-old son, Jett, at the family vacation home in Grand Bahama. Lightbourne, who was among the medics who treated Jett, allegedly sought $25 million from the actor with the assistance of Bridgewater, who resigned her seat in the Bahamas Senate after she was charged in the case. A judge declared a mistrial in October after a Bahamian lawmaker suggested the still-deliberating jury had acquitted one of the suspects. Travolta had testified during that trial — describing how he desperately tried to save the life of his seizure-prone son — and his attorneys said in October that he was prepared to return to the stand if necessary. But the actor said Monday that the passage of time had changed his mind. "The long-pending status of this matter continued to take a heavy emotional toll on my family, causing us to conclude that it was finally time to put this matter behind us," the actor said in a written statement. "Therefore, after much reflection I concluded that it was in my family's best interest for me not to voluntarily return to The Bahamas to testify a second time at trial." Travolta thanked Bahamian authorities for their work on the case and said his cooperation had come at "great emotional cost to my family." The defendants had mixed reactions to the dismissal. Bridgewater was relieved. "I'm just happy to be free and put this all behind me," she said outside court. She later called the case against her the "greatest nightmare of my life" and said it forced her to resign to focus on her defense. "I must add that I am deeply saddened that the Travoltas had to endure the pain at the loss of their son," Bridgewater said. "It is my prayer that they will be able to bring closure to this sad chapter in their lives and open a brand new one, filled with joy and peace." But Lightbourne said he wanted a trial to prove his innocence. "I'm not totally satisfied," he said. "I wanted to have my name cleared. Jett Travolta suffered a seizure and collapsed at the family's home. The actor testified that he performed CPR on the teen after a nanny alerted him and his wife, actress Kelly Preston. John Travolta told the court — apparently for the first time in public — that his 16-year-old son was autistic, confirming speculation that had swirled for years. The developmental disorder is frequently accompanied by seizures. Travolta testified that Lightbourne, one of the paramedics who responded to the home on Grand Bahama island, threatened to sell stories to the news media suggesting the movie star was at fault in Jett's death. If he did not pay $25 million, Travolta told the jury, Lightbourne indicated he would use against him a consent document that the actor initially signed refusing to have his son taken to a local hospital. The document cleared Lightbourne of any liability. The actor testified that he signed the document because, after waiting about 30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive, he intially wanted his son flown to Florida for treatment. In the end, he was taken to a Bahamian hospital. Source:  ap                                                                         Add Comment (0)   Kanye West: 'I Bled Hard' Over Swift Debacle Monday, 06 September 2010 Hip-Hop Star Expressing His Pain All Over Twitter...Hip-hop star Kanye West is still feeling the pain over his ambush of Taylor Swift last year - and he's expressing his pain all over Twitter. West unleashed a torrent of emotions on his official Twitter account Saturday, acknowledging once again that he was wrong for jumping on stage, grabbing the microphone from Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards and saying her trophy should have gone to Beyonce. But the rapper-producer said that he has experienced enormous pain, been the subject of death wishes and suffered tremendous setback to his career. "How deep is the scar ... I bled hard ... cancelled tour with the number one pop star in the world ... closed the doors of my clothing office," he tweeted. The multiplatinum, Grammy-winning superstar had been one of the decade's most successful and critically acclaimed stars, despite sometimes boorish behavior and meltdowns at other awards shows when things did not go his way. However, when he upstaged Swift - the then-teenage darling of pop and country music worlds -the public had had enough. There was tremendous backlash against West - even President Barack Obama was caught calling him a "jackass." At the time, he went on Jay Leno's prime-time show to apologize and said he still had not recovered from his mother's death two years prior. He said he would be taking time off from the public eye. That time off came sooner than expected. He canceled a joint tour with Lady Gaga that fall, apparently due to low ticket sales. On Twitter, West talked about the backlash. "I'm the guy who at one point could perform the Justin Timberlake on stage and everyone would be sooo happy that I was there," he wrote. After the incident, he said, "People tweeted that they wish I was dead ... No listen. They wanted me to die people. I carry that. I smile and take pictures through that." West said he's now "ready to get out of my own way. The ego is overdone." He also apologized to Swift again, and said he has written a song for her that he hopes she will perform. "If she won't take it then I will perform it for her," he said. West is working on a new album that is supposed to come out sometime this fall. A recent member of Twitter, West has been an active user, posting not only his feelings, but new songs and other updates. He has over 900,000 followers since he joined earlier this summer. "Man I love Twitter ... I've always been at the mercy of the press but no more ... The media tried to demonize me," he tweeted Saturday. Source:  ap Add Comment (0)   Sacramento Mayor Rolls In New $51K SUV Monday, 06 September 2010 Hybrid Purchase Part Of City's Environmental Efforts, Johnson Says...Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson's got a new car -- a jet-black sport utility vehicle with tinted windows, a hybrid engine and a satellite television dish on its roof. An invoice obtained by KCRA 3 shows the SUV came from a dealer near Fresno with a price tag of $51,250. To pay for it, the city of Sacramento used funding initially scheduled to replace two police vehicles; an aging Ford Expedition and a forklift used at the police department's property division. "So it's basically cost-neutral," Johnson said. The mayor's office said no taxpayer dollars were used to purchase the onboard television system. Previous Mayor Heather Fargo also had a chauffeured city vehicle, but a few months ago, Johnson decided he needed an upgrade. The Sacramento Police Department purchased the vehicle last spring at Johnson's request. "For the mayor of Sacramento, you have to lead by example," Johnson said. When asked about the purchase at a Thursday news conference, Johnson said it's part of his efforts to make the city more environmentally-friendly. "We talked about transitioning the city fleet by purchasing hybrid and low-emission vehicles and retiring those that we don't need and greening up," Johnson said. The mayor said the hybrid gets six more miles to the gallon than his previous car -- a 2007 Chevy Tahoe with 78,000 miles. The police department said it still has Johnson's old car and uses it as a backup car for the mayor and other city officials. Source:  kcra.com Add Comment (0)   Who's Who In West Hollywood; Up Dog Yoga + Cycling Monday, 06 September 2010 WHC's latest hotspot discovery is Up Dog Yoga + Cycling. I am absolutely loving this spot! Located in the heart of West Hollywood,  it's a great place to work your body and soothe your soul. I appreciate the friendly exuberance of the staff, as well as the bright clean feel of the studio.  The instructors are attentive and knowledgeable, with a true desire to motivate and guide students in achieving their maximum potential.        I haven't found anything quite like this.  My attitude towards spin has been completely turned around, I used to dread it, but had been making an attempt to get into it because it's such a great work out. Now, I truly enjoy it, the classes are focused on posture, breathing, and really learning to do the sport correctly, with quite a bit of entertainment thrown in.  Be sure to check out Mimi's class, I had a great time with her, and found Sandra's class great for really pushing yourself to the max.      Combining spin with Yoga is such a fantastic idea. Though new to spin, yoga I have practiced for years and can be picky about, having tried several studios and found some really great ones, I know what I like. I hadn't found a "home" for yoga in West Hollywood, and initially figured the yoga at a spin studio wouldn't be what I was looking for. Boy was I excited to find out how wrong I was about that!  The yoga at Up Dog is fantastic, I have taken so many amazing and transforming classes there already. They have many different varieties and levels and I've been able to get great work out of all of them, from deep meditation with Siri Shiva, to probably, one of the best workouts of my life with Meaghan in "Full Blast."       This place is no joke, they've got the energy right, I feel that they really care and are in it for the right reasons.  I am so glad Up Dog was created and that I've discovered it.  It's great to finally have a "home" so close to home.  I also find it to be the best deal around, for the price you would pay for just unlimited monthly yoga, you get the added benefit of spin.  The ease of parking is a big perk as well.  We all know how difficult that can be to find in West Hollywood.  The upper level of the Ramada garage is dedicated to Up Dog and they validate, free for 2 hours, there's always plenty of space and it's super easy.  There are so many classes available, that no matter what my schedule I can always find something that works.  The mixture of people that attend the studio is great, I've seen all ages, types and fitness levels, and everyone seems to love it.  So I recommend this one for everyone. Up Dog has really managed to create an environment that will make you look forward to your work out.  With an introductory special of 2 weeks unlimited for just $30, it's a must try. Source:  Crystal Dominguez Add Comment (0) Read more...   Thousands Rally Against Gay Marriage At State Capitol In Sacramento Sunday, 05 September 2010 Christian Conservatives Gather At State Capitol...Thousands of Christian conservatives spent 12 hours Saturday praying and fasting in front of the state Capitol at a gathering organizers described as spiritual repentance "when there is no hope for a nation." The daylong religious event, titled "TheCall to Conscience," was led by Lou Engle as well as other pastors and speakers to protest gay marriage, pornography and abortion. Many of those attending slapped red "Life" stickers over their shirts and set up blankets and folding chairs facing a large stage with banners that read: "Only One Hope God." People close to the front of the stage held up their hands when called to prayer. They jumped and danced to musical performances between sermons. The gathering filled the west lawn of the state Capitol and hundreds of people spilled into the next block, but the rest of Capitol Mall's five-block-long lawn went unused, despite large screens and barricades set up for the occasion. Offering stations were set up throughout the area. Ken and Antoinette Rodrigues, who described themselves as born-again Christians, drove in from Fremont to attend Saturday's rally after their daughter-in-law saw it over the Internet. "It's a little more blunt than I anticipated, not that I'm opposed to that, but the things they are speaking, it's bold, very bold," said Antoinette Rodrigues, 48. "But I feel that it's very appropriate and timely." Engle said it was the 17th fast hosted by TheCall in 10 years. Previous events have been held in New York, Boston and Nashville, Tenn., as well as in other parts of California, including Pasadena and San Francisco. It follows a similar prayer march and rally to a Houston abortion clinic held back in January. The Sacramento event, Engle said, helped to highlight immoral laws being passed out of the Capitol and called on traditional marriage to be restored. "If marriage is going to be upheld between a man and a woman, which we believe is the best for families and children and society, then right now, it seems we need divine intervention," Engle said in an interview between appearances on stage. "That's part of the reason we're coming here, to pray, but also to take a stand and be a prophetic voice to stand for truth." Last month, Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker struck down Proposition 8 as unconstitutional. The measure, approved by 52 percent of California voters in November 2008, amended the state Constitution to outlaw same-sex unions five months after the state Supreme Court legalized them. The state has until Sept. 11 to challenge Walker's ruling. Both Attorney General Jerry Brown and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have said they don't plan an appeal. Telephone calls to Equality California weren't immediately returned Saturday. Source:  ap Add Comment (0)   Kara DioGuardi Is Officially Out At "American Idol." Sunday, 05 September 2010 After months of speculation, Fox announced Friday that the songwriter who joined the Fox singing competition's judging panel during its eighth season in 2009 was stepping down from her role as a judge. DioGuardi's exit follows the departures of judges Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres. DioGuardi said in a statement that it felt like "the best time to leave 'Idol."' Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are the reported front-runners to join the panel. The show returns to the air in January. Source: ap Add Comment (0)   Michael Douglas; Cigarettes And Alcohol Caused My Cancer Saturday, 04 September 2010 Veteran actor Michael Douglas has blamed years of drinking and smoking for causing his throat cancer. "I smoked cigarettes and I drank alcohol a lot and this particular type of cancer is caused by alcohol... but it's been a long year and I do think this is stress related," contactmusic. com quoted him as saying. Add Comment (0)   Tiger Woods Takes Out $54 Million Mortgage On New Property Saturday, 04 September 2010 A huge chunk of Tiger Woods' sponsors and fanbase may have abandoned the beleaguered golfer in the wake of his revelations of infidelity, but if some newly filed financial documents are to be believed, there's one person who still has tremendous faith in Woods: Tiger himself. [Photos: See latest images of Tiger] In a story first reported by TMZ and confirmed by Yahoo! Sports (via Waggle Room), Woods has taken out a $54.5 million mortgage for a brand-new mansion he's building on Jupiter Island, Fla. And no "go-for-the-adjustable-rate-and-pray" route for Tiger; no, he intends to pay back the loan by Jan. 15, 2016. (See, folks? That's sound financial strategy. If you've got a spare $54 million lying around, go ahead and get your mortgage paid off.) You can get a look at the full documentation right here (PDF format, and remember, this is all public record.) Among the findings: • This consolidates Woods' holdings in three properties on Jupiter Island, Fla. Woods is listed as "a single man," and for the record, signs his name "Eldrick," not "Tiger." • At standard interest rates, Woods will pay about $1 million a month in mortgage payments. • The law firm retained by Woods' ex-wife Elin Nordegren, McGuireWoods, is listed as receiving a copy as well.   [Photos: See images of Tiger's ex Elin Nordegren] Woods' estate spans three properties and will include all the requisite perks for someone of Woods' stature -- pools, tennis courts, fitness center, miles of hallways. That'll cost plenty to buy and maintain, so obviously Woods has faith that he'll play well in a few golf tournaments between now and 2016. He gets his next chance this week at the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second round of the FedEx Cup playoffs, which tees off Friday.   Source:  yahoo.com Add Comment (0)

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