Mereja

Author: Amanda Crum

  • Diane Sawyer Rumors: Is She Retiring?

    Not so long ago, there were rumors of a very specific kind going around about Diane Sawyer; namely, that she was drunk during her coverage of the election results. Of course, Sawyer, like most news reporters, was exhausted after extensive coverage of Hurricane Sandy and hadn’t had much sleep, which caused her to act a little loopy on air.

    Now, the latest scuttlebutt is that she’s retiring from the business altogether in order to deal with some pressing family issues.

    “She has discussed with a few close friends and some people at ABC that she is seriously considering retiring,” a source told The New York Daily News. “She said she’ll be ready to hang it up not long down the road. She loves work and what she does and has endless energy, but she’s overwhelmed with personal problems and she is thinking about leaving to take care of her family.”

    But Sawyer’s rep says it’s just not true, and that while she’s been taking time off to go home and take care of her family’s problems, she isn’t going anywhere for the long term.

    “That is not true,” Jeffrey Schneider, SVP of ABC News, said. “And had the Daily News actually asked us if Diane was considering retiring we would have told them yesterday that it wasn’t true.”

  • Ashley Judd Splits From Husband Of 11 Years

    Ashley Judd has announced that she and racecar-driver hubby Dario Franchitti are divorcing after eleven years of marriage.

    The couple married in 2001 and Judd has been a supportive presence during Franchitti’s career, cheering him on at the dangerous races where he made his living. Indeed, the news comes as something of a surprise to Judd’s fans, as there has been no sign of trouble for the star’s marriage. But the two said in a joint statement that the split is amicable.

    “We’ll always be family and continue to cherish our relationship based on the special love, integrity, and respect we have always enjoyed,” the statement read.

    Of course, this may factor into Judd’s decision on whether or not to pursue a career in the Kentucky Senate; the actress has spoken a bit about it and seems anxious to prove she has what it takes to be a leader for the state she grew up in.

    “I am incredibly honored and frankly overwhelmed by the outpouring of support — that the people of Kentucky are interested in having me represent them is the greatest honor of my life so far, and I am certainly taking a close look at it,” Judd said recently. “The people of Kentucky need a fighter and certainly going back 10 generations, I’ve got some fighters from those hills in my family and as soon as I know anything — after I’ve told the family members to whom I’ve made my promises that they’ll be the first to know — you will be up to date in real time.”

  • Alec Baldwin Rumors: Is A Baby On The Way?

    Alec Baldwin is fighting off rumors that his wife Hilaria is pregnant and insists that when it happens, they’ll tell the world when they’re ready.

    In Touch first reported the news, saying that because the couple is so private, they have only shared it with close friends and family.

    “[Hilaria] has not said much to anyone as far as how far along she is,” a source told the magazine. “She is so healthy and a yoga freak, so everyone could tell right away something was different.”

    As with any celebrity baby rumor, everyone is now looking for the slightest change in Hilaria’s physique, but the couple are still adamantly denying the stories.

  • Cat With Eyebrows Gains Thousands Of Instagram Followers

    “Cat with eyebrows” is exactly what is sounds like: an adorable white cat with eyebrow-like markings on his forehead. And while that’s pretty much his sole claim to fame, Sam the cat has garnered thousands of Instagram followers…almost 6,500, to be exact.

    People love cats, it’s no secret. Cats have pretty much ruled the internet over the past few years as they take over memes, funny videos, and adorable pictures for the express purpose of making your day a little brighter. Sam is no exception; with his curious markings, he looks perpetually surprised, and every photo of him is made a little better because of it.

    I’m pretty sure he could get away with murder in my house and it would be impossible to stay mad at him.

    cat with eyebrows

    cat with eyebrows

    cat with eyebrows

  • Chris Brown: Jesus Painting/Comparisons Draw Ire

    Chris Brown has landed himself in the headlines once again for violence, this time after an altercation with fellow entertainer Frank Ocean.

    “Deputies talked to witnesses who stated that Chris Brown and the victim were involved in an altercation over a parking space,” read a statement by the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. “The altercation allegedly led to Chris Brown punching the victim.”

    Now the media is focusing on a photo Brown uploaded to Instagram which features a painting he did of a crucified Jesus. The caption? “Painting the way I feel today. Focus on what matters!”

    Brown has garnered several comments on the photo, which are a mix of negative (“You are not MJ, much less Jesus. All the BS that happens to you could be easily avoided by YOU”) and positive (“Stay positive love. Do not listen to negativity. Try & stay closer to God. He will protect you from all of this ❤”).

    Since Brown’s arrest following a violent altercation with then-girlfriend Rihanna which left her beaten and bloody, he has gained some vocal supporters and detractors. And while many celebrities would rather not give their opinion on the singer, Justin Bieber recently said he thinks Brown is talented, and that’s what matters.

    “His music is really good. That’s what they should focus on: the music.”

    chris brown jesus

  • Girl Found Locked In Cage So Family Could See Movie

    An 8-year old girl with a developmental disability was found locked in a cage inside her family’s New Mexico home, police say.

    The girl–who suffers from microcephaly–was found after her caregivers, Cindy Patriarchias and Edmond Gonzales, took Patriarchias’ three children to see a movie. When her ex-husband discovered they didn’t have the girl with them, he became concerned and phoned police. She was later found in a wooden cage about 2 1/2 feet wide by 4 feet tall which had a crib mattress inside. She was unharmed; however, the couple have been charged with child abuse and are being held on $25,000 bonds. The girl has been placed in protective custody as she is not the biological child of either caregiver. Patriarchias has reportedly been trying to adopt the child, but hasn’t been able to get the consent of her birth mother.

    A similar story made headlines late last year when a Tulsa father was arrested for locking a toddler in a cage while he was passed out on a drug/alcohol fueled binge. Another child in the home was found locked out and naked, crying to be let inside. The children were placed into protective custody.

  • Mindy McCready Denies Shooting Boyfriend To Death

    Mindy McCready, who was at one time a promising country music star, has battled so many demons in the past decade it’s hard to keep up with them all. In 2005, she suffered brutal abuse at the hands of her ex, who choked and punched her after a disagreement, inflicting serious damage to her face. In the subsequent years, she’s been arrested for prescription drug fraud, arrested for DUI, arrested for identity theft, and allegedly attempted suicide. She also suffered a serious dependence on drugs and was a cast member of “Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew” in 2009.

    The latest story to surface about the troubled star involves her boyfriend and father of her baby, 34-year old David Wilson, who allegedly shot and killed himself earlier this month. Now, investigators are looking at McCready as a possible suspect in his death, as Wilson reportedly didn’t die immediately after the shot was fired. The fact that McCready didn’t attend Wilson’s memorial service is also being looked at.

    McCready contends she had nothing to do with the shooting, although she was there when it happened.

    “Oh, my God, no. He was my life. We were each others’ life…I have never gone through anything this painful. He didn’t just touch my heart, he touched my soul. He was my soulmate,” she said.

    Rumors have already begun to fly that Wilson was having an affair, providing ample motive for the country singer to want revenge. Investigators are trying to determine conclusively whether Wilson died by suicide or at someone else’s hands, but it will take a few weeks for tests to come back.

  • Ben & Jerry’s Create “30 Rock” Tribute Ice Cream

    A few years ago, it was still possible to be one of those people on the receiving end of an incredulous stare when confronted with the question, “You haven’t seen “30 Rock”?!” Now, however–seven seasons into the show–many are familiar with the escapades of Liz Lemon and her coworkers, and the show has garnered so many awards it’s near-impossible to think of a time when it will all come to an end. Even if you came into it in the middle of its run, you more than likely loved it and quoted it the next day at work.

    Unfortunately for fans, the end is indeed nigh. The show will unveil its finale on Thursday night, and for all those who lament its departure from the NBC lineup, there is a nice little consolation prize: a new flavor of Ben & Jerry’s, created especially for the show.

    The ice cream, which will be in Ben & Jerry’s stores throughout the month of February before heading to grocery stores, is getting a rare spring release in order to be available at the time of the finale. And while creators aren’t saying what the flavor is, it’s almost guaranteed to be a hit with fans of the show, who just might need a pint of it when they’re sitting on the couch in sweats, reliving their favorite moments on DVD.

  • Chick-Fil-A: Gay Marriage Debacle Didn’t Affect Growth

    When Chick-Fil-A president Dan Cathy made remarks last summer regarding his beliefs on marriage, he sparked outrage across the country as gay rights activists and members of the LGBT community fired back, calling him out for the statements.

    Cathy said that he and his company–which is rooted firmly in Christian values and keeps all stores closed on Sundays–are “very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives”, adding “we’re inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.”

    His words led to immediate backlash and even created protests staged at some of the restaurants, where there were also “Chick-Fil-A Appreciation” and “National Same-Sex Kiss” days set up in response.

    But despite the chain of events that Cathy set off with his remarks, the company hasn’t suffered, according to sales data. In fact, they actually saw a spike in sales, pulling in a whopping $4.6 billion in 2012, compared to $4.1. billion the year before. And while the company has laid fairly low after the incident–only stepping forward a few times to comment on Cathy’s remarks or thank their customers through social media–some think they handled it just the right way. And despite the backlash, the ever-growing company offers up dozens of new jobs every time they expand, which is always welcome in communities.

    “I think the flap last summer will not have any effect at all long term,” said Georgeia State University professor Ken Bernhardt. “When they open stores, they hire 50 or 60 people and that is good for the community. That means jobs.”

    Image: Chick-Fil-A

  • Jamie-Lynn Sigler Engaged To Baseball Player

    Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who most of us will always remember fondly as Meadow Soprano, is engaged to ballplayer Cutter Dykstra.

    The couple–who have been together about a year–announced the happy news on Twitter, along with a photo of the new rock taking up residence on Sigler’s left hand. This will be the second marriage for 31-year old Sigler; she was formerly married to her manager, A.J. Discala. The two divorced in 2005.

    The pair were introduced by mutual friends last year and hit it off despite their 8-year age difference.

  • Bradley Cooper Rumors: Is He Playing Lance?

    Since the news broke that beloved American cyclist Lance Armstrong was actually hiding a big doping secret for years, filmmakers have been clamoring to get the rights to tell his story, and along with that comes rumors that different big-name actors are attached to the project. The latest is Bradley Cooper.

    J.J. Abrams, who has hold of the film rights, was reportedly in talks with Cooper to play Armstrong; however, Cooper says he’s not close to the project and that the rumors are getting out of control.

    “Oh my god, that’s so nuts!” he said in an interview with Access Hollywood. “I was in Manchester, doing the BBC morning show… I had no idea what [the interviewer] was talking about. I didn’t even know that J.J. [Abrams] has the rights, I had no idea. I don’t know anything about it.”

    Cooper has been approached about the rumor several times, but for right now he’s attached to no fewer than three projects that will be coming out in 2013, so time is definitely a factor. He did say that, if given the opportunity, he wouldn’t turn the role down.

    “I would be interested in that. I think he’s fascinating. What a fascinating character,” he said.

  • Chanting “Jesus” Scared Intruder With A Gun

    A group of Florida women say they had the power of prayer on their side when a man broke into the home where they were holding a jewelry party and brandished a gun, threatening to shoot someone.

    Jacquie Hagler was hosting 14 friends in her home recently when 24-year old Derick Lee burst in with a gun and demanded money. At first, the women thought it was part of the party and played along, even pushing the gun away and proclaiming it to be a water gun. But that just incensed Lee, who showed them the bullets and then threatened to use them if they didn’t hand over some cash.

    “When I realized what was going on, I stood up and said, ‘In the name of Jesus, get out of my house now,’” Hagler said. And he said, ‘I’m going to shoot someone.’ And I said it again, real boldly,” Hagler continued. “Everybody started chanting, ‘Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,’ and he did a quick scan of the room, and ran out the door as fast as he could go.”

    Lee was later pointed out to police from a photo lineup and is being held on a $200,000 bond. He is also being investigated for an ATM robbery.

    Image: Lake City Police Dept.

  • Montag & Pratt: “I Feel Like A Cartoon Character”

    Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, who first found fame on the MTV “reality” show “The Hills”, admit they have become the go-to guys when a television show needs a villain or two.

    The couple’s most recent foray into reality television was on the UK version of “Big Brother”, where they say they felt bullied by certain housemates and were genuinely scared to go to sleep.

    “We didn’t sleep much at all. I always had one eye open. We were watching them thinking they were going to try and kill us in our sleep. We were constantly nervous something might happen. Every time we saw any of them near knives we left the kitchen straight away. Some of them would itch their own face with a butcher’s knife – it was mentally insane. If they’ll hold knives by their own faces I didn’t know what they were capable of,” Pratt said.

    But he’s not afraid to admit that he and wife Heidi are sometimes held to a certain stereotype when they participate in these types of shows.

    “They brought us in to be Speidi and stir it all up. I feel like a cartoon character. My talent for some odd reason, is being an a**hole,” he said.

    But in the past, the couple has made it clear that they just want to be in the spotlight again. In 2011, after a disastrous bout of plastic surgery for Heidi and a sudden downturn in their popularity, the couple spoke openly about doing whatever they had to do to make money.

    “If they called me right now and said, ‘We want you to be on ‘Jersey Shore’ and be a bully, and we’ll bring your paycheck back,’ I’d say, ‘Get me on a plane to Italy,’” Pratt said of MTV.

    They might start to reconsider their image, however, now that their time on “Big Brother” has come to an end with death threats in hot pursuit. The couple so enraged fans of the show that many took to Twitter to voice their displeasure and have been reportedly threatening in nature.

    “The American couple have become the most reviled contestants in the history of the show and Big Brother chiefs will ensure they get close protection from minders when they eventually exit the house,” said The Daily Star.

  • Doctor Killed In Office, Gunman In Custody

    A doctor in Newport Beach was fatally shot on Monday in his office by a 70-year old assailant, who is now in custody.

    The doctor, whose identity hasn’t been released, had an office at Orange Coast Urology. It’s unclear at this time what the gunman’s motives were for the shooting, but the office building was closed down for the rest of the day as co-workers struggled to make sense of the scene.

    “I sit right at the front desk; I would have caught the first bullet,” said Becky Calderwood, who works just feet away from the office. “This is nuts; people are just shooting everyone all the time.”

    Witnesses who were in the building at the time said they heard six or seven gunshots, but some thought the noise was part of the construction that was going on nearby. The doctor was found dead in an exam room when officers responded.

    The shooting comes at a time when any gun-related story is going to make national news, due to the extreme violence the nation has seen recently. Immediately after the Newtown tragedy, several states saw school shootings occur, although on a much smaller scale. People are nervous, and those who were left to see the aftermath of yesterday’s killing have a lot of unanswered questions.

    “What’s going on with the world today?” said Kristen Cotty, who works on the floor above where the shooting took place. “I mean, schools, now I got to worry about going to work. This has got to stop.”

  • 44 Years, No Sick Days Makes Retirement Sweeter

    An employee of the Detroit Postal Service retired recently after 44 years on the job, an incredible feat in itself. What impressed her bosses the most, however, was her perfect attendance over all that time.

    Deborah Ford says she took vacation time for doctor’s appointments rather than call in, and when she did feel sick, she’d just “shake it off”.

    “You know what we say…”rain, sleet or snow, can’t stop the U.S. mail”, and that’s what I live by. I’m coming in,” Ford said.

    The impressive employee got a surprise send-off earlier this month, complete with a party and a certificate proclaiming she was leaving with 4,508 sick-leave hours, which will be taken into account for her pension. According to Detroit’s laws, Ford will gain a 5% increase in her take-away pay for all those unused hours.

    Paid sick days are one of the many perks of working for the Postal Service, as employees are given one a month which can accrue over time without limitations. Despite numerous post office closings over the past year and rumors that the entire service is dying out, the U.S.P.S. is still trying to take care of its employees.

    Ford said she’ll miss the people the most.

    “It’s been my honor to serve the postal system all these years. You don’t miss the brick and mortar, but you certainly miss the people,” she said.

  • Burt Reynolds Hospitalized With Nasty Bout Of Flu

    Burt Reynolds, everyone’s favorite badass, has been hospitalized after coming down with a severe case of the flu bug that’s going around.

    Reynolds apparently had the symptoms for several days and was trying to deal with it in his own badass way, but it finally got the better of him and he checked into a hospital. His reps say that despite being severely dehydrated, he’s expected to make a full recovery.

    The flu has taken down thousands of people so far this year and has even caused several deaths. Some states have declared medical emergencies as their hospitals are having to turn people away due to overcrowding. The CDC warns that very young children and the elderly are most susceptible to the virus; as always, the best defense is constant hand-washing, especially after coming into contact with publicly-used surfaces or handling money. Many grocery stores have taken to placing anti-bacterial wipes beside their stash of shopping carts for customers to use on the germ-laden trolley they put their food in. Wipe that sucker down, people, and then nuke the entire thing from orbit; it’s the only way to be sure. If that doesn’t do the trick, have some Influenza Sorbet and call in sick, because your co-workers don’t want to be in the same room with an incubus of viral plague.

  • Elle Magazine Mistake Prompts Twitter Reaction

    When a magazine as popular as Elle makes a mistake on a social media site as popular as Instagram, people are bound to notice in a hurry. And when someone from the magazine mistakenly captioned a photo of “The Walking Dead” actress Danai Gurira as Nene Leakes from “The Real Housewives Of Atlanta”, the incident gained some negative attention pretty fast.

    “#NeNeLeakes looking gorgeous in #alexanderwang and @hot diamonds #ellewitv”, read the caption, and followers immediately responded. They also took to Twitter to call out the perpetrator for making such a blatant mistake and demanded an apology. The caption has since been taken down and replaced with, “Apologies—clearly someone on our team needs glasses! The fabulous Danai Gurira looking stunning as ever!”

    elle magazine mistake

    This is Nene Leakes.

    nene leakes

  • Texting Woman Falls Into Canal Full Of Ice

    A woman in Birmingham, England was so engrossed in her texting session that she didn’t realize what she thought was pavement was actually a large sheet of ice covering a watery canal.

    Radio personality Laura Safe plunged into the icy water despite the cries of a man who happened to be walking by and realized what was about to happen; he ran over and managed to pull her to safety.

    “I realized her focus was on her mobile phone and that she was going to walk straight into the water. I shouted to her to stop but it was too late. I dropped my phone and ran over to her. I had to lay down on the side with my arms in the water because she was submerged and pulled her out,” Neil Edginton said.

    Much to Safe’s chagrin, the entire incident was captured on surveillance video, which is of course now making the rounds on the web.

    “Oh dear. I should really be called Laura UNsafe after the day I’ve had!” she said. “I thought ice on the canal was pavement because it looked dark in the corner of my eye. I heard a man called out ’stop’ to me and I looked up at him, but it was too late by that point. I tried to get my balance and ended up slipping into the canal. But not before I’d saved my handbag and mobile phone. This man came running up Baywatch style, grabbed my hand and pulled me up. He was a hero and saved my life.”

    Of course, Safe isn’t the first (or last, more than likely) person to take a spill while absorbed in her phone; a Michigan woman tumbled off a pier while texting, and a young girl in China learned that even the sidewalk is dangerous when you’re distracted by a device.

  • Welfare Lottery Ban: Proposal Not Going Over Well

    Some North Carolina residents are upset over a new measure to ban welfare recipients from buying Lottery tickets. The legislation is currently being drafted and would see all lottery ticket merchants refusing to sell to individuals who receive government assistance or who are going through bankruptcy.

    Representative Paul Stam, who is helping to draft the proposal, says the measure would ensure that government money is not being misdirected.

    “We’re giving them welfare to help them live, and yet by selling them a ticket, we’re taking away their money that is there to provide them the barest of necessities,” Stam said.

    But many think the local government is missing the bigger picture, and should be focusing on eliminating the need for welfare in the first place before cracking down on something which may or may not be enforceable.

    “The NAACP, we didn’t agree with the lottery to start with. Rather than Mr. Stam having a side argument, ask him to stop blocking labor rights for poor people and working people. Ask him to have a real conversation about real wage,” NAACP President Rev. William Barber said.

  • 7-Month Old Baby Dances To “Gangnam Style”

    By now, despite the massive amount of fans PSY has accrued, some of you may be getting a little tired of hearing “Gangnam Style”. It’s been a web sensation since it premiered last year, with the Korean pop star performing at awards shows and events all over the country and even pairing up with MC Hammer for the AMA’s.

    But, seriously, this will probably make your day. Curb your over-itness and take a look.