AUGUST BLOOD DRIVES IN TRI STATE AREA

CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENTS 702-562-2166

Monday, August 3

8:00am to 1:00pm

River Palms Hotel and Casino-Crystal Sands Room

Laughlin

Call Katrina Tookey at 702-298-4200 ext 6226

Or visit website www.bloodhero.com Sponsor Code: river palms

Monday, August 3

10:00am to 4:00pm

Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall- Granny’s

Call Wanda Keenan at (702) 298-2442

Drawing for great prizes

Monday, August 3

12:00 to 4:00pm

MadDog Fitness

2350 Miracle Mile (Riverview Mall)

Call (702) 562-2166 or visit website www.bloodhero.com Sponsor code: MadDog Fitness

Monday, August 3

11:00am to 4:00pm

Ivy Steel and Wire

(employee only)

Kingman Air Park

Tuesday, August 4

7:00am to 1:00pm

Unisource

Kingman

(employee only)

Contact Jennifer Washington at (928) 681-8912

Tuesday, August 4

1:00pm to 7:00pm

Golden Nugget – Laughlin

Contact Cari Peddycord at (702) 298-7130

Or visit website www.bloodhero.com Sponsor Code: L1680

Tuesday, August 4

2:00pm to 7:00pm

Davis House

Visit website www.bloodhero.com Sponsor Code: Davis House or call (702) 562-2166

Drawing for $50.00 Maverick gas card

1^st 20 donors will receive a coupon for Baskin Robbins

Wednesday, August 5

8:00am to 2:00pm

Golden Nugget Laughlin

Contact: Cari Peddycord at (702) 298-7130

Or visit website www.bloodhero.com Sponsor Code: L1680

Wednesday, August 5

9:00am to 2:00pm

Laughlin Community Church

Needles Highway-Laughlin

Contact Barbara Barker at (702) 989-1228

Wednesday, August 5

10:00am to 6:00pm

Kingman Community

KRMC Wellness Center

No appointments necessary

Drawing for 2 Roundtrip tickets with Great Lakes Airlines

First 20 donors will receive coupon for Papa Murphy’s Bake and Take Pizza

Thursday, August 6

9:00am to 5:00pm

Kingman Community

KRMC Wellness Center

No appointments necessary

Drawing for 2 Roundtrip tickets with Great Lakes Airlines

First 20 donors will receive coupon for Papa Murphy’s Bake and Take Pizza

Thursday, August 6

8:00am to 3:00pm

Parker Senior Center

Contact Darla Tilley at (928) 669-9514 or visit website www.bloodhero.com Sponsor Code: Parker community

Thursday, August 6

Noon to 6:00pm

Quartzsite Senior Center

Contact Jeannia at (928) 927-5800

t-shirts for all donors

Friday, August 7

9:00am to 2:00pm

Tropicana Express – Coronado Room

Call Katrina Tookey at (702) 298-4200 ext. 6226

Or visit website www.bloodhero.com Sponsor Code: Tropicana Express

One Free buffet for every donor

Friday, August 7

11:00am to 6:00pm

Blue Water Resort and Casino

Parker

Call BLUE WATER GIFT SHOP AT (928) -669-7078 or visit website www.bloodhero.com Sponsor Code Bluewater

Saturday, August 8

8:00am to 2:00pm

St. John’s United Methodist Church

Kingman

Call Lorraine Tucker at (928) 565-4841 for appointment

Saturday, August 8

8:00am to 12:00PM

Marine Corps League Auxiliary

Aquatic Center Rooms 155-156 West end of building

Lake Havasu City

Call (702) 562-2166 or visit website www.bloodhero.com Sponsor Code: Marine auxiliary

Free Dilly ice cream bars for each donor

Friday, August 21

7:00am to 11:00am

Southwest District Kiwanis Convention(not open to the public)

Aquarius Hotel and Casino – Scorpio Room

Laughlin

Wednesday, August 268:00am to 6:00pm

Edgewater/Colorado Belle Employee’s Health Fair

Edgewater – Rio Vista room)

(employees only)

Laughlin

If you attend a blood drive, and are not eligible to donate that day, due to low iron, etc., please try to donate at another location in your area. Often times, donors are eligible 24 hours after they have been deferred. Eat a meal high in iron content, i.e., meat, poultry, green vegetables, nuts, peanut butter, and beans, the night before donating. Another helpful hint is to drink 6-8 bottles of water the night before donating to help hydrate your body.

Avoid caffeine drinks, dairy products and alcohol the morning of your donation.

Eligible blood donors are encouraged to give blood three times a year¾once in the summer—to keep hospital shelves stocked with lifesaving blood. Volunteer blood donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. Additional height/weight requirements apply to donors 22 and younger, and donors who are 17, must have signed permission from a parent or guardian. All blood donors receive a free cholesterol test and are automatically recognized in the Hero in Me rewards program. The program uses Gold, Silver and Bronze recognition levels to offer benefits to donors who give regularly during a calendar year.

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Tim McGraw seems like quite the gentleman, given his history of booting rude male fans out of his shows, but bluegrass great Ralph Stanley knows a different side of the singer. In his upcoming autobiography, called Man of Constant Sorrow: The Life and Times of a Music Legend, Stanley claims that McGraw treated him disrespectfully after he beat McGraw out for the Best Male Country Performance Grammy back in 2002, according to reports. Stanley is also quoted as saying, "He (McGraw) wouldn't know a real country song if it kicked him in the ass."

• Stanley's memoir will be released on October 15th.

FAST FACT

• In 2002, McGraw's Grammy nomination was for "Grown Men Don't Cry," while Stanley took home the trophy for "O Death."

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Blake Shelton said the musical arrangement of his latest hit, "I'll Just Hold On," was key to making the song a favorite among listeners. Shelton tells us he needed to jazz it up just a bit to catch peoples' attention after hearing the demo. "I was listening to different demos and things when we were makin' the record and heard 'I'll Just Hold On.' The first time I heard it I liked it, and then (I) listened to it again and then I loved it, and then I listened to it again and then I really loved it. It's just one of those songs that started to grow on me, so when we went in the studio, I wanted to be sure that when people heard it on the radio that it wouldn't take them as long to fall in love with it as I did."

• "I'll Just Hold On" is a Top 15 hit on the Billboard country chart.
• Shelton continues to tour with George Strait, in addition to performing some of his own headlining shows.

Kellie Pickler and the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition crew surprised the Terpenning family on Thursday (July 30th) morning at their home in Beavercreek, Ohio. The unsuspecting family learned that their home had been chosen to receive a makeover. Pickler will trade in her stiletto heels for a hard hat and hammer as she helps with the demolition and building process. She will also perform at the family's emotional final reveal.

• Pickler said, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is such a magical show because it is all about giving back. I'm thrilled to be a part of it."
• The episode is set to air on ABC in the fall.

SIDE NOTES

• Pickler's current single, "Best Days Of Your Life," just became her first Top 10 hit.
• Digital sales of "Best Days Of Your Life" have passed the 600,000 mark. The song is included on Pickler's self-titled sophomore CD.

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With a name like Shine, it's hard to believe that Martina McBride's latest album is anything but sunny. McBride says that while not all of the 11 songs on the CD are upbeat, the project as a whole is cheery. "I don't think it's intentional. Like, it's not a decision that I sit down and say, 'I'm gonna make a positive record.' I'm drawn to certain songs at certain times in my life or whatever based on what I'm drawn to and what I'm feeling and what moves me. I always have been drawn to kind of positive lyrics and positive songs, atleast a song with some kind of hope, but overall I would say it has a good positive energy to it."

McBride says the album captures a particularly happy time in her life. "I'm in a great place. I feel like I have a renewed kind of energy and passion and creativity and inspiration. I feel similar to the way I felt on all those fronts with when I made Evolution and Emotion. That was just such a creative time for me. I felt like I really grew as an artist during that time, and I feel that way again. It's a great feeling!"

Shine was released in March of this year.

• Her new single, "I Just Call You Mine," continues to climb the country charts.

Julianne Hough is among the five new additions to the American Red Cross' National Celebrity Cabinet. As such, Hough will help promote Red Cross services by donating her time, helping neighbors prepare for emergencies, responding to disasters and lending a helping hand to those in need.

• Hough said, "I am honored to be a part of the American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet and help support an organization that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war and aid to victims of devastating natural disasters. Being part of this amazing organization will provide me with an opportunity to join its efforts to help others and encourage the American public to become involved with their local Red Cross and make a difference."
• Other new members include Tony Award-winner and actress Anika Noni Rose; singer and Disney Channel star Demi Lovato; actress Sally Pressman from Lifetime's Army Wives; and actress Amanda Peet.
• Sara Evans, Miley Cyrus, Pat Green, and Rascal Flatts are all also members of the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet.

FAST FACTS

• Hough is currently on tour with George Strait.
• The singer will make her movie debut in the new feature film, Footloose, which will be released sometime next year.

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Lee Ann Womack's new video, "Solitary Thinkin'," will premier online at people.com on Friday (July 31st). The site will also feature Womack talking about filming the clip, which was shot in downtown Nashville in historic Printers Alley.

• "Solitary Thinkin'" is included on Womack's 2008 CD, Call Me Crazy.

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. What was the name of the tour on which Tim McGraw and Faith Hill met and started dating?
A. Spontaneous Combustion tour

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!

CMT TOP 20 COUNTDOWN/CMT 11:00AM (ET)
Jack Ingram

MASTER SERIES/GAC 12:00PM (ET)
Barbara Mandrell Hall of Fame Medallion

INTO THE CIRCLE/GAC 1:00PM (ET)
Trace Adkins, Kellie Pickler

THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW/SYN (check local listings)
Lady Antebellum

DRAFTING PARTNERS/GAC 5:30PM (ET)
Ryan Newman, Josh Turner

TOP 20 COUNTRY COUNTDOWN/GAC 8:00PM (ET)
Dierks Bentley, Jimmy Wayne, Brad Paisley

PURE COUNTRY/CMT 9:00PM (ET)
George Strait

ON THE STREETS/GAC 10:30PM (ET)
Terri Clark, Dolly Parton, Blake Shelton

BROKEN BRIDGES/CMT 11:30PM (ET)
Toby Keith

HOW TO BE FUNNY (AskMen.com)

• Chill out: Okay, the first thing you need to do is relax. No one's going to throw tomatoes at you if you strike out, and you're not going for some life-altering test. You just want to add some spice to your life and conversations, and appear more easygoing. So don't put so much pressure on yourself -- you just want to get people to laugh, or at least smile.
• Don't take things seriously: Ease up on life and yourself; get used to taking things with a grain of salt. See the humor in situations; you'll see that most situations, even getting a $200 dollar speeding ticket or falling down on a banana peel have humor written all over them -- the trick is finding them and being able to laugh at yourself.
• Be pop culture savvy: You can't be funny if you don't have any references or material. The broader your general knowledge is, the funnier the remarks you'll make. You can't say a Homer-esque comment if you don't know who The Simpsons are, and Allllrrriiighttty then! doesn't have the same effect if you've never seen Ace Ventura: Pet Detective .
• Don't imitate others: You want to know about famous actors and comedians, but by the same token, you don't want to get caught using someone else's material. So rather than reciting that great Chris Rock line you heard the other night and passing it off as your own, use the joke in Chris Rock's intonation. That way, people know you're using his joke, and it can still be considered hysterical.
• Find your style: Another reason to avoid imitating actors and comedians is because it may not suit your style. If you're not a very sarcastic or cynical person, it makes it hard to imitate someone like David Letterman or Chandler from Friends (besides, your friends will get annoyed when you keep saying, "Could this BE more [fill in the blank]?"). If you're rather quiet and subdued, it'll be nearly impossible to take on Robin Williams' or Jim Carrey's humor.
• Have a joke pool: You never know when a situation calls for a joke, like if you're at a lame party, chatting with some acquaintances. This is where a reserve of jokes can come in handy. Humor yourself with a joke a day to take a break from your daily tasks, and keep the ones you like best in mind. That way, you'll always have several in stock for when the time is right.
• Know your audience: There's a time and a place for everything, and just like you need to know your audience when giving a speech, you need to know whom you're delivering a joke to. This said, save the dirty jokes for your friends, and the witty comments for your girlfriend's parents.
• Get your delivery and timing right: Being funny isn't only about telling great jokes; it's all in your mannerism, attitude, how you project yourself, and your delivery. Be animated and alive when you speak, and you can make any story funny.
• Use people as props: You're not Carrot Top so drop the props. Rather than using objects as props, use people (I didn't say to use people as the butt of your jokes). What always gets a rise out of the ladies is trying to sell things to strangers on the street, like selling your wallet to an old lady. Or start talking to your invisible friend -- just make sure others know you're kidding around and haven't gone crazy.
• Don't worry about bombing: Your goal isn't to strike a 10 on the Laugh-o-Meter, and every great comedian bombs every now and then. So don't worry if no one gets your joke -- just ignore it or laugh at yourself, and whatever you do: do not delve into your bag of jokes and continue trying to make everyone laugh -- you don't want to try too hard.

TIPS FOR TURNING YOUR LAYOFF INTO THE GOOD LIFE (AOL.com)

• Pick a Recession-Proof New Career: Ernie Zelinsky, author of "The Joy of Not Working," mentions debt collector, shoe repairman and bankruptcy lawyer as evergreen jobs that always survive a recession. His rundown of "Best Recession Jobs" also cites alcohol, gambling, pharmaceuticals and "erotic services" as fail-safe careers -- proving that sex, drugs and vice are the best ways to survive the meltdown of capitalism.
• Start a Business, Outsource All the Work: Empty your savings account to start a new business, and then find cheap contractors around the globe willing to do all your work for peanuts. Sound heartless? Welcome to the 21st-century economy, baby. Zelinski recommends Elance.com; other post-work gurus like Tim Ferriss, author of "The 4-Hour Workweek," swear by the hire-an-Indian service, Brickwork.
• Make Cash As a Hack Writer: While all of the writing you encounter at Asylum is Pulitzer-Prize-winning caliber, it's not vital to be as articulate and ingenious as we are. In fact, as Zelinski attests, you can be a crap writer and still make a killing. Itching to write a book, but don't have the chops? "DO IT BADLY -- BUT AT LEAST DO IT! Jump in! Once you get into it, you will improve," he promises. His "badly written" guide, "The Joy of Not Being Married," earned him $50,000 before taxes.
• Self-Employment Is a Tax Haven: One reason not to miss cubicle hell: You can reimagine yourself as a freelancer and take advantage of creative accounting. "Suddenly, your home office, travel expenses, even your book purchases, may qualify as tax deductions," explains Barbara Winter. "This is one of those invisible perks of self-employment, although it becomes more apparent at tax time." Save every single receipt and just hope the IRS doesn't come a-knockin' with a magnifying glass.
• Don't Let Joblessness Affect Your Mojo: If you're young and savvy, Zelinski suggests, unemployment won't affect your chances of getting laid. "Read Double Your Dating by David de Angelo and remember not to come across as being a 'nice guy,'" he says, somewhat sinisterly. "An unemployed funny, cocky young man will do a lot better with young women than an employed, 'nice' young guy." If all else fails, we suggest lying.

THE NASCAR REPORT FOR JULY 31st 2009

• CROWN ROYAL BECOMES KENSETH'S SPONSOR: Roush Fenway Racing announced today that Diageo, parent company of Crown Royal, has renewed its multi-year sponsorship. Crown Royal will serve as the primary sponsor for Matt Kenseth and the No. 17 Sprint Cup team at 18 Cup events in 2010. "I'm excited about teaming up with Crown Royal," said Kenseth, one of only five drivers in NASCAR history to win the Sprint Cup rookie of the year award, a Sprint Cup Championship and the Daytona 500.
• 
  
• MUSTANG COMES TO NASCAR: Mustang may very well be the most successful nameplate in professional racing, but Ford's pony car has never had a presence in NASCAR. That will all change in 2010. When NASCAR's Nationwide Series rolls out a Car of Tomorrow for limited competition next year, the Ford model will be the 2010 Mustang."We're excited about Mustang coming to NASCAR," said Director of Ford North America Motorsports Brian Wolfe. "It's the most successful product nameplate in racing history, and it seems only right that it should be coming to the most popular form of racing in North America."

Sunco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 takes place at Pocono Raceway
U.S. Cellular 250 takes place at Iowa Speedway
Toyota Tundra 200 takes place at Nashville Superspeedway
(All Times Eastern)

• Sunco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 practice is today at Noon (SPEED)
• Sunco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 qualifying is today at 3:30pm (ESPN2)
• U.S. Cellular 250 final practice is today at 6:00pm (ESPN2)
• Sunco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 practice is on Saturday morning at 10:30 (ESPN2)
• Sunco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 final practice is on Saturday morning at 11:30 (ESPN2)
• U.S. Cellular qualifying is Saturday at 1:00pm (ESPN2)
• U.S. Cellular 250 is Saturday at 4:00pm (ESPN)
• Toyota Tundra 200 is Saturday at 7:30pm (SPEED)
• Sunco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 is Sunday at 1:00pm (ESPN)

MOVIES OPENING THIS WEEKEND

The third film from director Judd Apatow, Funny People, opens today (July 31st). Funny People is the story a famous comedian, played by Adam Sandler, who has a near death experience and what he does with his second chance. The film also stars Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman and Jonah Hill.

• Funny People is rated R and has a running time of 2 hours and 16 minutes.

Aliens in the Attic, the story of a group of young children who battle aliens invaders to save their hometown, opens today (July 31st). The movie stars Ashely Tisdale, Carter Jennings and Doris Roberts.

• Aliens in the Attic is rated PG and has a running time of 1 hour and 26 minutes.

JUDE LAW HAS ANOTHER CHILD ON THE WAY

Movie star Jude Law, is going to be father to a fourth child. The According to TMZ.com, the mother is Samantha Burke, an actress and model. Her lawyer released a statement Thursday saying, "Ms. Burke can confirm that she did in fact have a relationship with Mr. Law and that she has informed Mr. Law that she is expecting his child later this fall. Since informing Mr. Law of the pregnancy, he has been nothing but responsive and supportive of Ms. Burke and the pregnancy."

• Law's spokesman made a statement about the whole situation saying, "Mr Law is no longer in a relationship with the individual concerned but he intends to be a fully supportive part of the child's life."
• According to People.com, Burke is from Florida.
• Law has two movies coming out on Christmas this year, Sherlock Holmes and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.
• The 36-year-old actor also has two other movies expected to be released this year, Rage and Repo Men!
• He has a stepson with his past wife Sadie Frost, who is the mother of Jude's three biological children.

OFFICER, OFFICER, MEL GIBSON RIPPED MY FAVORITE T SHIRT!

CHECK THIS OUTHere's a tempest in a teapot, or at least in a Hollywood nightspot. "Mel Gibson Attacks Man In Club!"

That was the headline Thursday (July 31st), on the hollyscoop.com site. It seems Mel and his pregnant girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva, were partying at a new nightclub Wednesday night when an innocent fan tried to take a snapshot, and Mel just attacked the poor guy, like a lethal weapon or something. Well, not exactly. It seems a reporter who had been turned away earlier talked a pal into trying to sneak a photo of the hot-tempered star, and Mel hauled off and ripped the guy's shirt open. Or maybe not. Anyway, the guy hot-footed it to the police station to file a report. Police told TMZ.com they suspect he invented the whole incident, since eyewitnesses say he and his tshirt were uninjured when they left the club. Now the guy's picture is all over the internet, looking like a fool in a torn tshirt.

• This story was widely reported on the web before the LAPD squashed it flat.
• Mel Gibson is trying to be good after a stream of bad publicity that started with a 2006 DUI arrest and continued through the dissolution of his long marriage to Robyn, mother of their seven children. Eyewitness reports of this latest incident say Mel actually tried to politely refuse photos.
• Meanwhile, there's talk of a Mad Max 4. But the sequel to the movie series that made Mel famous would be a 3D animated feature.
• Variety reports Mel Gibson has signed to star in a movie directed by his Maverick co-star Jodie Foster.

• A blogger for The Los Angeles Times is trying to keep the facts straight on this fast-moving story. See http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/07/police-say-mel-gibsons-shirtripping-pap-attack-is-a-bunch-of-bull.html
• See a picture of a jerk in a torn tshirt at http://www.tmz.com/2009/07/30/alleged-mel-gibson-photographer-victim-torn-shirt-photo/

PSYCH WILL INCLUDE A NEW ROMANTIC STORYLINES THIS SEASON

USA's action-comedy Psych returns next week with the premiere of the first half of the show's fourth season. James Roday stars as phony psychic detective Shawn Spencer and Dule Hill is back as Shawn's best pal Gus. Last season ended with Shawn deciding to get back together with his old flame Abigail, rather than start something up with Detective Juliet O'Hara (Maggie Swanson). But, Roday tells us, there may still be a future for Jules and Shawn: "It's a marathon, that relationship. I think everybody gets that. There's gonna to be a lot of going in circles and missed timing and hurdles that have to be cleared in order for something to ever actually happen."

• Hill tells us that Gus will finally get a chance at love this season. He said, "It's been a long time coming, so Gus has a bit of pent-up energy. That will be taken care of the second half of the season." At last week's Comic-Con, he joked that he was hoping to get Halle Berry to play his girlfriend -- but "for some reason she doesn't want to come do our show, I don't understand."
• According to Roday, Rachel Leigh Cook, who plays Shawn's love interest Abigail, will be seen "sporadically" on the show throughout the whole fourth season.
• In this clip from the premiere episode of season 4, airing Friday, August 7th, Gus and Shawn go skiing in Canada, but it looks like they won't be picking up girls: (Shawn): Man a month ago I would have had us styled up with those girls tonight. (Gus): What? (Shawn) But, I'm spoken for now. I have Abigail and she has me."

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

ON AND KATE'S "ICONIC COUCH" IS GONE: The TLC network announced Thursday that the divorcing couple won't be sitting on the couch together during their interviews -- they'll have separate chairs. There will be more footage of them raising eight children as single parents, rather than doing it together.

KARA DIOGUARDI WILL RETURN TO AMERICAN IDOL: People magazine confirmed Thursday that the songwriter will be a judge on next season's American Idol. What's still not confirmed is whether or not Paula Abdul will be back.

AMY POEHLER TO GUEST STAR IN FIRST TWO EPISODES OF 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: WEEKEND UPDATE THURSDAY:' The former SNL regular will reunite with "co-anchor" Seth Myers on the live half-hour primetime shows. The episodes air September 17th and September 24th.

DIANE KEATON SET FOR HBO COMEDY: This untitled comedy features Keaton as a feminist icon who attempts to reignite the movement by starting a sexually explicit magazine for women.

Celebrity Gossip

POLICE CHIEFS ARRESTED IN SARAH JESSICA PARKER SURROGATE BREAK-IN - Two police chiefs who are under investigation for masterminding a break-in at the home of a surrogate mother for Sarah Jessica Parker were booked and released Wednesday. According to People.com, authorities say that the charges should become public today (July 31st). Last month, local news outlets reported that the police chiefs intended to gather information in the home that they could sell to the tabloids.

MISCHA BARTON PUBLICIST DENIES ACTRESS TRIED TO KILL HERSELF: Mischa Barton's publicist is denying rumors that the actress' recent hospital stay was due to apparent "suicidal actions." Separate sources made the claim to E-Online's Ted Casablanca, but the publicist told him, "Absolutely false your source is far from knowledgeable, as nothing they've told you is true, inclusive of the suicide attempt." Barton is back in New York, shooting the TV show Beautiful Life. Her co-star Sara Paxton told People "We had our first read-through (Wednesday) and we're all so very excited to have her back. She's such a great girl."

MC HAMMER'S COUSIN, BIG MARV, PICKED UP ON RAPE CHARGE: Marvin Turrell Grant, better known to fans of MC Hammer's reality show as Bigg Marv, was arrested Thursday on rape charges. A woman told cops that she met Marv on Twitter and after meeting for dinner they went back to her hotel room where he assaulted her. Hammer confirmed the arrest on Twitter, sending out a tweet saying: "Marv has been picked up. We're standing by him. Welcome to Fame Cousin Marv. We're praying for you." Hammer tweeted later that someone was on their way to bail his cousin out.

HEIDI AND SPENCER GO SHOPPING FOR BABY CLOTHES WHILE CAMERAS ROLL: The Hills' Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt were at Kitson Kids in L.A. Wednesday to film a scene from their reality show. According to OK magazine, the couple made out for the cameras and then shopped for toys and onesies in the newborn section. With these two, it's more likely that they just want to start rumors she's expecting than it is that she actually is pregnant.

AMERICAN IDOL SEMI-FINALIST SAYS SHOW IS RIGGED: Season 8's Ju'Not Joyner says he's thankful for the opportunity to sing for America, but the reality show is not a talent contest. He tells AI Now, "It's a reality show with writers! We're all actors. All these shows have writers that guide the public opinion. The Hills, Real World. All of them." He went on to say that the producers "know what they want and they slant it to reflect that. They fix it in a way that makes you surprised but it's still manipulated."

GEORGE CLOONEY'S NEW ITALIAN GIRL FRIEND: People Magazine spotted George Clooney and his newly revealed girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis riding together on Clooney's motorbike.

THE CHURCH OF SHIATOLOGY: According to E! News, fans created the church as a way to worship movie star Shia LaBeouf. They even went as far as superimposing his face on iconic religious works of art. (To see "Shiart" click here http://shiantology.com/2009/

HIGH-TECH HEALTH TIPS (Ladies' Home Journal)

Protect yourself from annoying little gadget injuries:

• Cell Phone -- Tech trap balancing a cell between your neck and shoulder can put pressure on nerves, cramping your neck muscles and sending pain down your arms. Cradling these small phones strains your neck far more than a regular size phone, says Alan Hedge, Ph.D., director of the Human Factors and Ergonomics program at Cornell University. The Fix - Use the speaker phone or a hands free headset or go cordless with a Bluetooth or similar earpiece.
• Computer Screen -- Tech trap staring at your computer screen for long periods can strain your eyes and give you headaches. You may also get dry eyes from blinking less. The Fix - Place your screen an arm's length away so it's easier to focus, says James Salz, M.D., clinical professor of ophthalmology at USC. If you have to strain to read the screen, get tested for computer glasses. Use OTC eyedrops to relieve stinging eyes and look away from the screen every 20 minutes.
• BlackBerry and PDA -- Tech trap "BlackBerry thumb" is the price you pay for too much texting the tendons that connect thumbs to wrists swell, so it hurts to lift things. Reading the tiny screen can also make distant objects look blurry after a long PDA session. The Fix - Hold your PDA in one hand and type with your opposite pointer finger to give thumbs a break, says Dr. Hedge. If you use it constantly, try an external keyboard. To help eyes, look up often and focus on a spot far away.
• iPod -- Tech trap forthcoming research from the University of Colorado at Boulder and Children's Hospital Boston shows that up to 24 percent of users rock out to their iPods at volumes and for durations that can cause hearing loss. The Fix - The 80/90 rule: "Listen to you MP3 player at full volume for one song or 80 percent volume for 90 minutes," says Brian Fligor, Sc.D., director of diagnostic audiology at Children's Hospital Boston. "To listen all day long, set the volume at 60 percent."
• Laptop -- Tech trap it's a Catch-22: Place the laptop so the screen's at a comfortable height for your neck and shoulders and the keyboard is too high for your wrists. At a good wrist height, bending to read the screen can strain your neck and upper back. The Fix - When you can, place the laptop in a computer docking station and attach an external monitor, mouse and keyboard, says Margot Miller of the American Physical Therapy Association. This gives your laptop the ergonomic comforts of a desktop.
• Wii Sports -- Tech trap nicknamed "Wii-itis," it's the tennis elbow of virtual sports, caused by overextending yourself when you're playing Wii Sports tennis, golf, baseball, bowling or boxing. The Fix - Watch your form. "Technique is just as important with Wii Sports as when you're playing an actual sport," says Dr. Hedge. He suggest warming up with some shoulder shrugs and taking a one to two minute break every 20 minutes. End with a few minutes of stretching.

EFFECTIVE WAYS OF TALKING

You can increase your popularity with the opposite sex by using the most effective ways of talking, according to psychiatrist Dr. Jack Chernus. He offers these tips on using your speech to enhance your sex appeal:

• Be direct and honest -- Never fake an interest. Fake people are instantly recognized by others.
• Never have a superior attitude when approaching a person -- If you communicate that you think you're better, you'll be rejected.
• Give sincere compliments -- If you like the way a person looks, dresses or talks, say so.
• Learn to listen and respond to the person you want to attract -- Some people ask a question, then jump in with another question or remark without waiting for the response.
• Think of the person as very special -- Try to get the person to open up and talk about his or her life.
• Don't underplay or overplay your remarks -- Never say, "You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen!" Instead, make a simple straight statement such as "You look very attractive."
• Don't interrogate the person -- If you want to find out something about him, be casual.
• Express your true feelings -- People quickly sense dishonesty and are turned off by it.

Arizona Lawmakers Considering Selling Capitol Buildings for Cash

Arizona lawmakers, facing a $3.4 billion budget shortfall, are considering selling the state House and Senate buildings, and then leasing them back over several years before assuming ownership again. The same could be done with dozens of other state buildings, providing an estimated $735 million in cash. Under the plan, state government services would continue without interruption, while investors would gain long-term lease payments from a stable source. A spokesman for Republican Governor Jan Brewer told the Arizona Republic the idea is, quote, "one of the governor's least favorite options." But Brewer budget adviser Tom Manos told the paper, "This is the predicament we find ourselves in. We've exhausted the better options."

DID YOU KNOW?

NEW YORK IS BEST CITY FOR SINGLES: New York has been rated the best U.S. city for singles for the first time, bumping Atlanta out of the top spot in the Forbes.com survey. The Big Apple also edged past Boston, Chicago, Seattle and Washington, D.C. Atlanta fell to No. 6, followed by San Francisco, Los Angeles, Milwaukee and Philadelphia. The annual poll that assessed 40 of the largest U.S. urban areas for coolness, cost of living alone, culture, job growth, online dating, nightlife and ratio of singles to the entire population in the area. But it was online dating that pushed it to the No. 1 position because it has more people with active online dating accounts than any other city in the country.

CHECK IT OUT: BossBitching.com -- "It is a great resource for the worker who's just had enough. Short of screaming at your superior, you can instead type out your story furiously and have other sympathetic office-dwellers comment on your conundrum and say whether your bitch is valid or just pathetic whining."

FORMER CHAMPION OF RAISING DRINKING AGE REGRETS MOVEMENT: One of the people who was instrumental in pushing for laws to increase the legal drinking age to 21 now calls his actions "the single most regrettable decision" of his career. Dr. Morris Chafetz, a psychiatrist who was on the presidential commission in the 1980s that recommended raising the drinking age to 21, made his remarks in an editorial that he is shopping for publication and which he released to the advocacy group Choose Responsibility. Chafetz said that the law has resulted in "collateral, off-road damage" such as binge drinking that occurs in underage youth and crimes like date rape, assaults and property damage.

DYE IN BLUE M&MS COULD TREAT SPINAL CORD INJURIES: A common and safe blue food dye -- that is most notably used in blue M&Ms -- might provide the best treatment available so far for spinal cord injuries. Fox News reported that tests in rats showed the dye, called brilliant blue G, a close relative of the common food dye Blue no. one, crossed into the spinal fluid and helped block inflammation. Dr. Steven Goldman, who worked on the study, said, "We have no effective treatment now for patients who have an acute spinal cord injury. Our hope is that this work will lead to a practical, safe agent that can be given to patients shortly after injury, for the purpose of decreasing the secondary damage that we have to otherwise expect."

CHECK IT OUT: Make your own Mad Men avatar! http://www.amctv.com/originals/madmen/madmenyourself/

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Tim McGraw likely has one less fan after having a man at his weekend show at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles removed from his concert. The singer abruptly stopped his performance to scold the man by saying, "You don't treat a woman like that." He then waited for security to escort the concert-goer out of the Main Grandstand Arena before continuing the show.

• There are no details yet on exactly what the man did to provoke McGraw's anger.
• Fans attending the Oregon Jamboree in Sweet Home better be on their best behavior, as McGraw will be performing there on Friday (July 31st).
• McGraw's new album, Southern Voice, will be released on October 20th.

Taylor Swift earns another page in the Billboard history books this week as her current CD, Fearless, holds the Number One spot on the Top Country Albums chart for the 20th week. The feat puts Swift in an elite group with Shania Twain and Garth Brooks as being the only country artists in the Billboard SoundScan era to have two albums spend 20 weeks at the top of the Country Albums sales chart.

• Fearless reclaimed the Number One spot last week, 36 weeks after its initial release.
• Swift's self-titled debut CD, which was released in 2006, also remains one of country's top sellers, claiming the Number 11 spot on the sales chart this week.
• Swift is the only artist this decade to have two albums spend 20 weeks at Number One on the Top Country Albums chart.
• Fearless is the top-selling album in all genres of music so far this year.

FAST FACTS

• To date, Swift's career CD sales top 7.75 million albums. Her paid song downloads now exceed 18 million, and her MySpace music streams are over 246 million.
• Her current single, "You Belong With Me," holds the Number Three spot and climbing on both the Billboard Top Country Songs and Hot 100 charts.
• Swift's current Fearless tour recently set a record at the North Dakota State Fair, with over 50,600 people in attendance that day. That's the first time ever the fair's crowd has topped the 40,000 mark.
• The Fearless 2009 tour continues through mid-October.

One listen to Keith Urban's latest album, Defying Gravity, and you know that his wife, Nicole Kidman, is the catalyst for most of the new music. Urban tells us she has completey changed his life, so naturally Kidman has made her way into the songs, like his latest hit, "Only You Can Love Me This Way." "She's the inspiration for that. She's the one that's brought this love into my life and opened up a whole new . . . just stretched everything. My heart's just stretched since meeting her and becoming her husband and now a father and, yeah, it's just continuing to stretch open. It's beautiful!"

• Urban's Escape Together World tour heads to Boston on Friday (July 31st) with special guest Taylor Swift.
• The tour wraps on October 9th in Buffalo, New York.

On the heels of her split with longtime label, Sony Nashville, Gretchen Wilson has announced plans to open her own record label. Entertainment Weekly reports that Wilson hopes to release a new single and album sometime this fall. The label will be called -- what else -- Redneck Records!

• While on the Sony roster, Wilson release three albums -- Here For The Party, All Jacked Up, and One Of The Boys.
• She was slated to release a fourth, called I've Got Your Country Right Here, in the fall.

Reba McEntire has been added to the lineup of performers at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards (CCMA) taking place on September 13th at GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia. The show will be broadcast nationally on CBC TV, with encore airings on CMT in Canada.

• The two-hour CCMA's will also feature performances by Martina McBride, Terri Clark, George Canyon, Doc Walker, Jessie Farrell, Aaron Pritchett, and Johnny Reid.

SIDE NOTES

• McEntire's new album, Keep On Loving You, will be released on August 18th.
• This CD is McEntire's first new solo studio album in six years.

---

Joe Nichols will be packing his bags and moving to New York City later this year to begin rehearsals for his first Broadway show. He will play the lead in the new musical, Pure Country, which opens early next year. After two months of preparation for the show, Nichols will call Manhattan home for an additional six to eight months.

Nichols talked with us about his anticipated culture shock. "I'm lookin' forward to that. I've never lived in New York City. I think it's gonna be a gigantic shock for me. I'm from Arkansas, so (there's a) little bit of difference between Arkansas and New York, but it's gonna be really cool, I think. I'm lookin' forward to the lights and the big city thing. I've never been to New York longer than seven to 10 days at a time, but what time I have spent there I've had a lot of fun."

• In the meantime, Nichols' latest single, "Believers," continues to climb the country charts.
• His new album, called Old Things New, is set for a September 29th release.

Lady Antebellum's first Number One hit, "I Run To You," is now the group's first gold-selling digital single, signifying more than 500,000 downloads.

• Lady Antebellum member Charles Kelley said, "When we write, we never know which of our songs will end up connecting with people. The minute we put 'I Run To You' in our show, we knew that people were starting to respond to it because the voices were growing louder every night. I still can't believe that 500,000 people even know who we are...much less downloaded a song we wrote at the Loveless Café over lunch one day. It's crazy!"
• Lady Antebellum is currently on the road with Kenny Chesney playing arenas and stadiums across the country.
• They will join Keith Urban for their first trek to Canada later this fall.
• Fans can catch the trio performing on the two-hour special, CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock, airing on August 31st on ABC.

FAST FACTS

• Lady Antebellum's self-titled album debuted at Number One on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart last year.
• Their hits "Love Don't Live Here" and "Lookin' For A Good Time" helped the trio land two awards -- the Academy of Country Music's Best New Vocal Group award and the Country Music Association's New Artist of the Year.

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw appeared in which Toby Keith video?

A. "I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight"

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!

CAN YOU DUET SEASON 2/CMT 12:00PM, 1:00PM (ET)
Naomi Judd, Big Kenny

THE COLLECTION: RASCAL FLATTS/GAC 1:00PM (ET)

SOUNDSTAGE FEATURING TRACE ADKINS/GAC 5:00PM (ET)

MASTER SERIES/GAC 8:00PM (ET)
Barbara Mandrell Hall of Fame Medallion

INTO THE CIRCLE/GAC 9:30PM (ET)
Kellie Pickler, Trace Adkins

DRAFTING PARTNERS/GAC 10:00PM (ET)
Ryan Newman, Josh Turner

ON THIS DAY IN COUNTRY

• Martina McBride's "My Baby Loves Me" charted in 1993.
• Johnny Cash recorded the Number One single, "Daddy Sang Bass," in 1968.
• Alan Jackson's Good Time album went gold in 2008.
• Travis Tritt's Country Club album was certified platinum in 1991.
• Alabama became the first country act to go quadruple-platinum, as the Mountain Music and Feels So Right albums were certified for shipments of four million copies in 1985.

Celebrity Gossip

BAR REFAELI MOVING ON: Bar Refaeli has reportedly rebounded from Leonardo DiCaprio with Brazilian playboy Ricardo Mansur. Brazilian Web site Glamurama reported that the couple was recently spotted in St. Tropez together, as a witness said, "On Saturday, they were all over each other at Hotel Byblos at the swimming pool bar, and then in a club later that night." Mansur is somewhat of a DiCaprio patch, as he previously dated the actor's other famous ex, Gisele Bundchen.

JOHNNY KNOXVILLE DIVORCE FINALIZED: Johnny Knoxville's divorce has reportedly been finalized. RadarOnline.com reports that the Jackass star -- whose real name is Philip John Clapp -- has agreed to pay his ex-wife Melanie $6,000 a month in child support for their 13-year-old daughter. The former couple, who had been married for 12 years, also agreed to split their assets evenly - including residuals from the Jackass franchise and his Dukes of Hazard movie.

RYAN REYNOLDS NOT FIGHTING WITH SCARLETT JOHANSSON: Ryan Reynolds did not skip Comic-Con because he got into a fight with his wife, Scarlet Johansson. Reps for both actors told People magazine, "[The report] is completely untrue. Warner Brothers never planned to have Green Lantern as part of their panel at this year's Comic-Con and Ryan is in Europe shooting a film."

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

'REAL HOUSEWIVES' STAR RELEASING MEMOIR: The Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes is releasing her memoir, Never Make the Same Mistake Twice, on August 11th. The New York Daily News reports that the book will share her "rags-to-riches" story as well as spilling secrets about her co-star/nemesis, Kim Zolciak -- including that the blond used to work as an Atlantic City stripper who went by the name of Barbie. An insider told the paper, "NeNe and Kim were friends back in the day, and now that they're enemies, she's ready to dish some dirt."

TV FANS EXCITED FOR JAY LENO: According to a New York-based research company NewMediaMetrics, television fans are most excited for the fall premieres of NCIS: Los Angeles and The Jay Leno Show. Including midseason replacements V and Happy Town, ABC boasts nine of the top 20 new shows including FlashForward, Cougar Town and Eastwick.

DAVID ALAN GRIER GOING BROADWAY: David Alan Grier is joining the cast of David Mamet's Broadway play, Race. The Associated Press confirmed that the 53-year-old actor will star alongside James Spader, Richard Thomas and Kerry Washington when the show opens on December 6th.

BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD REPLACING "TWILIGHT" ACTRESS IN "ECLIPSE"

Twilight fans can expect a major cast change in the third installment of the franchise when Bryce Dallas Howard assumes the role of Victoria, which had been played by Rachelle Lefevre. Summit Entertainment executive Erik Feig said, "Rachelle brought Victoria to great screen life, and Bryce will bring a new dimension to the character. The franchise is lucky to have such a talented actress as Bryce coming in to fill the role."

• The studio claims that Lefevre is leaving because of scheduling conflicts with her new movie, the independent film Barney's Version, which co-stars Dustin Hoffman.

INTERNET COMMENTS: DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE?

• From justjemma says on PerezHilton.com: "nooo, keep Rachelle Lefevre, a new victoria will not be the same, and too true that i was a bit disappointed that it wasnt k stew getting the boot, the girl cant act and is not bella."
• From ChelleBelly on PerezHilton.com: "Rachelle is crazy to leave this role. Eclipse would have been her biggest role in all three movies. Nuts! She should have gotten out of her other "commitments."
• From elizk says on PerezHilton.com: "Bad idea. Should have kept it the same. They should have put Bryce in there first if she was going to end up with the part in the end..."

ASHTON KUTCHER ADMITS HE'S AN IDIOT

Ashton Kutcher became famous playing a dim-witted teenager on That 70's Show and by executing pranks on his friends via Punk'd -- and the actor embraces his zany image. He admitted to Parade magazine, "I'm an idiot. I don't do things by the rules sometimes. I say things that I probably shouldn't say. I push buttons. I deserve to be made fun of."

• Despite his self-proclaimed idiocy, Kutcher says that he's succeeded by putting himself around people he admires -- including wife Demi Moore. He said of Moore, "My relationship with Demi is so solid, thank God, and we're so communicative about the way that we're feeling, that we don't allow space to come between us. I definitely believe that if you stop working at relationships, they go away."
• Regardless of his success, Kutcher confesses that "I'm still looking for trouble. I'm disruptive. I'm still doing some things that other people don't like."

CHECK IT OUT: The benefits of self-deprecating humor: http://tinyurl.com/nlkpk8

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Gary Oldman let it slip at Comic-Con that the next Batman with Christian Bale will start filming early next year.
• Kim Kardashian has split with New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush. Her spokewoman, Jill Fritzo, confirmed the longtime couple has called it quits. They had dated for two years.
• Cosmopolitan reports only about 10% of people with big smiles in childhood photos wind up getting divorced later in life.
• Octomom Nadya Suleman inked a deal for a reality show in which each of her 14 children will earn $250 a day while filming.
• Applebee's is facing a class-action lawsuit after an E.W. Scripps media investigation showed that it, along with several other chain restaurants, falsely printed calorie and fat information about its so-called "healthy" dishes.
• Simon Cowell has arranged for his protege, Leona Lewis, to get hypnotherapy... to help her with her confidence.
• "Sex and the City" star Kim Cattrall recently appeared on a British reality TV series called "Who Do You Think You Are?," a show that traces celebrities' family tree -- only to learn that her material grandfather was a bigamist.
• Bank of America says it's getting rid of 10% of its branches.
• GM says it's going to drop sponsorship of the Buick open.

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Sugarland will be debuting the upcoming DVD from their CD/DVD release, Live On The Inside, in 35 theaters across the country on August 6th. The DVD features the duo performing 16 songs from their nationwide tour.

Following is a list of cities and theaters that will be showing Live On The Inside:

Surprise, AZ - UltraStar Surprise Pointe 14
Lake Havasu, AZ - UltraStar Lake Havasu 10
Apple Valley, CA - UltraStar Apple Valley 14
Oceanside, CA - UltraStar Mission Marketplace
Riverside, CA - UltraStar University Village 10
San Diego, CA - UltraStar Poway Creekside Plaza

• The concert footage was shot at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
• The Live On The Inside CD/DVD set will be available exclusively at Walmart beginning on August 4th.

FAST FACTS

• Sugarland's first major network special, also called Live On The Inside, is set to air on August 3rd on ABC at 8 p.m. ET.
• That morning, the duo will appear on Good Morning America.

---

Gretchen Wilson has parted ways with her longtime label, Sony Music Nashville. While on their roster, Wilson release three albums -- Here For The Party, All Jacked Up, and One Of The Boys.

• She was slated to release a fourth, called I've Got Your Country Right Here, in the fall.
• There is no word on whether Wilson has another label lined up or what her future plans include.

FAST FACTS

• Wilson shot to fame with her debut chart-topping single, 'Redneck Woman," in 2004.
• She has sold more than six million albums.
• Her last single, "Don't Do Me No Good," recently peaked at Number 43 on the Billboard charts.

---

Tim McGraw fans can circle October 20th on their calendar as the release date of his new CD, called Southern Voice. This is McGraw's first new studio album in two-and-a-half years. His debut single, "It's A Business Doing Pleasure With You," is currently available at all digital retailers.

• There's a few months to go before McGraw has to get busy promoting the new project, but in the meantime, he tells us he's hardly letting the grass grow under his feet. "I'm doing some festivals and stuff this summer, probably another movie. I haven't decided yet -- there's a couple different options -- and then the album comes out in the fall so I'll be busy doing that stuff, and then school starts in the fall, so I'll have two in junior high this year."
• Southern Voice was recorded in Nashville. It is the follow-up to Let It Go, which debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200 chart in April of 2007.
• McGraw will support Southern Voice with an extensive tour in 2010.
• "It's A Business Doing Pleasure With You" was co-written by Nickelback lead singer Chad Kroeger. The song currently sits at Number 15 on the Billboard Country Singles chart.

Reba McEntire is scheduled to make her QVC music debut on Friday (July 31st) at 7 p.m. ET to preview music from her new album, Keep On Loving You. During the QVC Presents Q Sessions Live Featuring Reba McEntire broadcast, McEntire will give viewers a sneak peek of the project with a special live performance that will include her new Top 10 single "Strange," the album's next single, "Consider Me Gone," and the current dance club hit, "I Want A Cowboy."

Shoppers will also have the opportunity to pre-order Keep On Loving You, which has been specially packaged for QVC with a bonus hard-back copy of her best-selling autobiography, Reba: My Story, more than two weeks before street date.

• Keep On Loving You will be at music retailers everywhere on August 18th.

FAST FACTS

• To pre-order Keep On Loving You through QVC, called 1.800.345.1515 or log onto QVC.com.
• Keep On Loving You is McEntire's first new solo studio album in six years.

---

The new single from Kenny Chesney's Greatest Hits II album is a duet with Dave Matthews called, "I'm Alive." Chesney wrote the song after his short-lived marriage to actress Renee Zellweger.

"I'm Alive" appeared on Willie Nelson's Moment Of Forever album, as well as being included on Chesney's 2008 studio CD, as he tells us: "It's on the Lucky Old Sun album also, and we almost released that song after 'Down The Road,' and I don't mind tellin' ya, I didn't want to release two duets back-to-back because I felt like if we did that, that it would diminish both of 'em."

Chesney says he always hoped this song would get radio airplay, so he brought it back to his Greatest Hits II. "I went, 'Well, you know what? I'm gonna put this thing with Dave Matthews on my Greatest Hits because if I've heard that comment once, I've heard it a hundred times since that album came out -- that they love that song -- and I think that that song has an unbelievable message, and I didn't want to let it go just yet."

• Chesney will appear on Good Morning America on August 14th.

SIDE NOTES

• Chesney will kick off his own online radio station, called No Shoes Radio, at noon ET on August 6th from the parking lot of his Sun City Carnival tour stop in Orange Beach, Alabama. Fans around the country can also tune it online at noshoesradio.com.
• Chesney will be joined on the air by tourmates Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum for the inaugural broadcast. That night's Orange Beach show will be simulcast on NoShoesRadio.com.
• No Shoes Radio will reflect Chesney's musical tastes, including country, rock and reggae. It will also feature interviews with the superstar and his friends.

Vince Gill will be the honoree at the first Grammy Salute To Country Music event on September 9th at The Loveless Barn in Nashville. The star-studded tribute will feature Amy Grant, Alison Krauss, Steve Martin, Michael McDonald, and Brad Paisley. The evening will also include a special presentation of The Recording Academy President's Merit Award to 20-time Grammy winner Gill in honor of his "professional achievements and remarkable career," according to a release.

FAST FACTS

• Throughout his 30-year career, Gill has recorded 21 albums and sold more than 26 million albums.
• In 2007, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Gill has been active in hundreds of charity events including his own Pro-Celebrity Golf Tournament ("The Vinny"), which supports junior golf programs in Tennessee.

---

Although Demi Lovato recently split with Miley Cyrus's brother Trace, the two girls are still close friends who talk every day. Lovato told the U.K. magazine Sugar that she even has a nickname for her fellow teen star, admitting that she calls Cyrus "Dragon," after "our fave film, Step Brothers."

Lovato revealed that although they're the same age, Miley also acts as a mentor to her. She explained, "Recently she sent me this four-page text message encouraging me and telling me she has faith in me. It was so inspiring and made me feel great -- because I do get a bit overwhelmed by the paps sometimes."

• Meanwhile, PerezHilton.com is speculating that there's some drama going on in Cyrus's own love life at the moment. Although the status of her relationship with Nick Jonas is unclear, Perez suspected that Miley is pining for her ex, 20-year-old Justin Gaston. He deduced the her recent tweet, "Listening to Comfortable and thinking of you. I miss your voice" was directed at Gaston as he tweeted the lyrics to that John Mayer tune shortly thereafter.
• In other Miley news, Hollyscoop.com claims that she recently auditioned for the role of Batgirl for a future part in the Batman franchise. An unidentified source claimed, "She was sort of hopping around the room and had even written some dialogue for herself. The problem is some people aren't really convinced Miley has the acting chops to pull it off."

INTERNET COMMENTS: DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE?

On Miley and Justin:

• From NiKiRoLLeRbLaDeS on PerezHilton.com: "my opinion (since it matters so much) is that she probably wrote it to nick, and justin assumed it was about him, and trying to grab a little more fame (because he knew you'd post it on your site) he wrote back the lyrics. or maybe nick dumped her and she wants him back.."
• From shayna1234 on PerezHilton.com: "i think its good. they seemed happy together. and here comes the pedophile again! i do think she needs someone more mature than her thjough cause she's sure as hell not mature."

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. In what city and state is Garth Brooks Boulevard located?
A. Yukon, Oklahoma

ON THE TUBE

MASTER SERIES: CHARLIE McCOY HALL OF FAME MEDALLION/GAC 12:00PM (ET)

SOUNDSTAGE FEATURING TRACE ADKINS/GAC 9:00PM (ET)

THE COLLECTION: RASCAL FLATTS/GAC 10:00PM (ET)

ON THIS DAY IN COUNTRY

• Barbara Mandrell joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1972.
• Johnny Cash recorded the Top Five Sun Records single, "Folsom Prison Blues," in 1955.
• George Strait's Somewhere Down In Texas album was certified gold and platinum in 2005.
• Josh Turner's single "Long Black Train" was released in 2003.
• Deana Carter's "Strawberry Wine" was released in 1996.
• Reba McEntire hit Number One on the Billboard country chart with a remake of the old Everly Brothers hit "Cathy's Clown" in 1989.

Celebrity Gossip

'UGLY BETTY' STAR PREGNANT: Ugly Betty star Ashley Jensen and her husband Terence Beesley are expecting their first child. The 38-year-old confirmed to People magazine that the new arrival is due in the fall. Coincidentally , Jensen found out that she was pregnant after her character on the show "gave birth" this past season.

GEORGE CLOONEY'S NEW GIRLFRIEND? George Clooney's latest arm candy is 30-year-old Italian TV host, Elisabetta Canalis. RadarOnline.com reports that the pair has recently been spotted out together in Rome. Clooney owns a villa by Lake Como and is preparing to start filming a new movie in the region next month.

POWER RANGER ARRESTED: The man best known for his role on the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was arrested for DUI last weekend. TMZ.com reports that 38-year-old Zack Taylor -- the black Power Ranger -- was taken into custody in Alabama on Sunday (July 26th) night. The site added that Taylor made bail and has since been released.

SIENNA MILLER UNHAPPY WITH DOLL: Sienna Miller is unhappy with the doll made in her likeness from the upcoming G.I. Joe movie. The actress complained to the The Sun, "My doll is cross-eyed and has the biggest chin you have ever seen. She looks sort of possessed."

DAVID BOREANAZ EXPECTING A DAUGHTER: David Boreanaz is going to have a daughter. The actor, who skipped last week's Comic-Con because his wife is expecting their second child, taped a special video for the crowd in which he revealed, "I'm a little bit stuck in Los Angeles due to the fact that my wife is on her 34th week (of pregnancy with) our second child. And I'd like you to know that it's going to be a girl." The pair has a seven-year-old son named Jaden.

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

LAUREN CONRAD WORKING ON MOVIE ADAPTATION OF BOOK: Lauren Conrad's best-selling novel could be getting the big screen treatment. The former reality star talked about L.A. Candy to the New York Daily News, telling the paper, "We're hoping for a movie deal. I'm working on [adapting the book for the movies] right now, but I don't want to commit to anything until I see all my options. We have had a lot of exciting news in that respect, though." Conrad added that she's currently writing her second novel as part of the three-book that she signed with the publisher.

MISCHA BARTON LEAVES FOR WORK: Mischa Barton boarded a plane in California on Tuesday (July 28th) on her way to New York, where she'll begin work on her new CW show The Beautiful Life. RadarOnline.com reports that it was the first time the 23-year-old had been seen in public since her hospitalization nearly two weeks ago.

TOBEY MAGUIRE'S FAMILY GETTING REALITY SHOW: Tobey Maguire's mother is about to become a reality star. The New York Post reports that Wendy Maguire and Tobey's 15-year-old brother Weston will be featured in Growing Up Maguire, which will be produced by Find Me Guilty's Bob DeBrino. The paper adds that the show will follow how Wendy, a single mother, shields her children from the downside of the entertainment industry. It's unclear where the show will air.

GABRIELLE UNION JOINS 'FLASHFORWARD': Gabrielle Union is joining the cast of the upcoming ABC series, Flashforward. The show's executive producer announced that the actress will play Zoey, a criminal defense attorney who will have a romantic arc on the program. In FlashForward, the world's population is given a glimpse of their future, forcing everyone to come to grips with whether their destinies can be fulfilled or avoided.

SIMON COWELL LOOKING FOR NEW ROCK BAND: Simon Cowell is reportedly creating a new talent show for rock bands. The Daily Mirror reported that the proposed show is a cross between America's Got Talent and the hit British series, X Factor and would try to find the best, unsigned rock bands and give the bands an opportunity to record. The Mirror added that Kate Moss would likely be among those to judge the talent.

Hulk Hogan's ugly divorce battle is finally over

Hulk Hogan's ugly divorce battle is finally over, he announced on Tuesday (July 28th) after telling a Florida judge that he and his wife Linda had reached a settlement in their case. After the brief hearing in court, Linda told the press, "The war is over."

A local ABC affiliate reported that Hulk and Linda were both spotted smiling before the proceedings, and at one point Linda even kissed his cheek.

• As for what split the couple so bitterly that they spent the last year fighting over money and alleged threats, Hulk told the Tampa Tribune, "When you're married to someone for 23 years ... you hope for the best .... We just got torn apart."
• Linda filed for divorce in November of 2007, which he supposedly learned from a newspaper reporter. Upon being told of the filing nearly two years ago, Hulk responded, "Holy smokes. Wow, you just knocked the bottom out of me."
• The couple has two children, Nick and Brooke, who starred with them on the VH1 reality show, Hogan Knows Best.

CHECK IT OUT: See Hollywood's ugliest divorces: http://tinyurl.com/nbbd4n

INTERNET COMMENTS: DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE?

• From Anonymous on Usmagazine.com: "I wish Hulk the very best! Can't say much for Linda. Just hope she didn't get more than she deserved handed to her."
• From Anonymous on Usmagazine.com: "She just made the biggest mistake of her life. I know Hulk will move on. She will then feel the pain. She turned into an evil woman. The excitment of a 19 year old will grow old. I like Hulks new girlfriend much better."

Leonardo DiCaprio is wasting no time with the ladies

Leonardo DiCaprio is wasting no time with the ladies in the wake of his split from Bar Refaeli. After being linked to Cameron Diaz last week, the U.K.'s Evening Standard reported that the actor is zeroing in on Pussycat Dolls star Ashley Roberts after meeting her an a Polo event in England this past weekend. An insider told the paper, "Leo's table was surrounded by some of the girls he had met at the polo. But he seemed more interested in talking to Ashley than anyone else and the pair were getting on really well."

• Another witness corroborated the account to the Daily Mirror, saying, "There was a swarm of ladies around him but it was Ashley who caught his eye. They chatted for two hours as he hid in the corner wearing his cap."

Adam Sandler goes back to his roots to play a famous stand-up comic

Adam Sandler goes back to his roots to play a famous stand-up comic in his new movie Funny People. Sandler started his career doing stand-up when he was still in his teens, but he says as he gets older telling jokes in front of an audience gets harder to do. He told us: "Doing stand-up when you're 42 years old is a lot more pressure then it was when I was in my twenties. I had a goal and that was to become a movie star, I was pretty crazy I don't know why I was like that. So I would go on stage. If I did great I was like, 'Alright I am getting closer to me getting to what I need.'"

• Funny People comes out in theaters Friday, July 31st.
• The movie also stars Seth Rogan and Leslie Mann and is directed by Judd Apatow.
• Sandler is currently filming his next big movie titled Grown Ups which is expected to be released sometime in 2010. The movie's cast also includes Chris Rock and Kevin James.

WHAT NOT TO WEAR TO WORK (Forbes)

Too much cleavage: Showing too much cleavage at work is the No. 1 fashion faux pas on our list. Studies show that women who dress in sexy attire in a professional environment are more often passed over for promotions than women who dress more conservatively. Bottom line: If you want to get ahead, ditch the low-cut top.

• Too-short skirt: Wearing a micro-mini may send the message that you're trying to compensate for skills you lack in other areas. Also, the knee is a visual anchor, says Barbara Pachter, an etiquette expert. People's attention will be drawn downward when they approach you, instead of toward your face where it should be. Save your minis for after office hours and, while it doesn't need to be knee length, put on a skirt that you can sit down in without showing too much thigh.
• See-through clothes: Summer materials such as organza and liquid jersey look and feel cool and pretty, but in the light of a staff meeting, they can reveal the outlines of your legs -- and much more. The best solution is to check out your ensemble in a bright, naturally lit room before leaving for work. Always wear transparent blouses over camis or under jackets; transparent dresses and skirts should be layered over a slip or leggings. Ginger Burr of Total Image Consultants notes that buying clothes with lining -- especially white pants and skirts -- is always a safe choice.
• Over-accessorizing: A rule of thumb when it comes to accessories in the workplace: Less is more. Costume jewelry, when worn in bulk, tends to look tacky. The real thing, on the other hand, can come off as gaudy. A boardroom-ready look includes one show stopper plus subtle accessories. That means if you're going to put on a chunky beaded necklace, stick to minimal earrings and arm candy.
• Bringing the beach into the office: Sundresses, spaghetti straps, flip-flops. Nothing makes you look less professional than coming to the office like you're dressed for the beach. Having a cover-up like a pashmina, neutral blazer or cardigan on hand will always make an outfit look more professional. Truth be told, however, these summer staples are best avoided at the office. Trade your tank top for a silk shell and Havaianas for backless mules.

DID YOU KNOW?

THE NEW iPEDO: A new application was just released for Apples iPhone and iPod touch. It is called iPedo. It allows one to track registered sex offenders from the convince of your iPod/iPhone. The application is extremely accurate and has all registered sex offenders from all 50 states, in its database. (Godbitesman.com)

AT&T OFFERS A DISCOUNT FEE: Humphrey is a part time employee of AT&T, which gives her a 25 percent discount on her AT&T bills. She began going through the steps to receive the discount. After going through the proper steps, she received her next bill in the mail with her discount put in place. However she received a new charge of 36 dollars. The charge was a "discount activation fee." AT&T really does not want to lose any money.

CRAZY CAT LADY' STEREOTYPE STILL EXISTS: A study from the Tidy Cats Campaign to End Cattiness reveals people who do not own cat describe 75 percent of people with more than one cat as being a homebody, 69 percent as lonely and 58 percent as crazy cat lady. Non-owners say 75 percent would describe multiple cat owners' homes as smelly, 85 percent say furniture and bedding is covered in cat hair and 66 percent say it is cluttered. However, the survey found that 88 percent of multiple cat owners credit their cats with making their lives more fulfilling and rewarding.

TOUCHING CAN REDUCE PAIN: Touching money can reduce physical pain and feelings of social alienation. Asylum.com reports that researchers had 96 volunteers either count hundred dollar bills or blank pieces of paper before having their fingers dipped in 122-degree water. The volunteers who had handled the money reported feeling less physical pain than those who counted paper. In a similarly structured experiment, the researchers found that those who were made to get the short end of the stick in an unfair multiplayer game responded with a lower level of social distress if they had been in the group which counted money -- not paper -- before playing.

DIVORCE IS BAD FOR HEALTH, EVEN IF YOU REMARRY: Divorce and widowhood have a long-term negative effect on physical well-being that is only marginally helped if the person finds a new partner. But while the health benefits of marriage -- which are believed to stem from financial security and the positive impact of wives on their husbands' diets and lifestyles -- are well known, the new study shows that they are significantly reduced the second and third times around. People who divorce and then remarry still have 12 percent more chronic problems and 19 per cent more mobility problems than those who have been continuously married, the analysis showed. indicates.

RED WINE LINKED TO SEX DRIVE: In a recent study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, Italian researchers claim that sex drives are higher in women who prefer red wine as opposed to those who favor other alcoholic beverages. University of Florence doctors surveyed 800 women, all between the ages of 18 and 50, and separated them into three groups based on their drinking habits: red wine drinkers, those who prefer alternative alcoholic drinks and those who abstain entirely. The women were then asked to complete a questionnaire assessing their interest in sex. On average, women who drank one or two glasses of red wine a day scored 27.3 points, compared to 25.9 for non-red wine imbibers and 24.4 for those who abstain. The results indicate a possible relationship between regular red wine consumption and sexual appetite.

WANT A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP?

Insomnia is a serious health hazard that afflicts 50% of all Americans, especially women. You don't have to take drugs to get that much needed good night's sleep. Try these simple tricks instead and you'll be in sweet dreamland shortly after your head hits the pillow:

• Straighten up your bedroom. You'll reduce stress and sleep better. * Keep your bedroom cool. Snuggle under a blanket if you feel chilly.
• An hour before you hit the sack, eat a slice of whole grain bread with peanut butter and a glass of milk to give yourself a dose of the sleep inducing amino acid tryptophan.
• Wear an eye mask to keep light from interrupting your brain's production of melatonin, a hormone that plays a key role in sleep.
• Listen to soothing music. Try to match the tempo to the normal human heart rate of 60 to 80 beats per minute. Studies show that music makes you drowsy.

Michael Vick is back in the NFL...

On a conditional basis after serving 18 months in prison for running a dogfighting ring. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced the news on Monday (July 27th), but says there are conditions. First the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback has to find a new team. Then according to the Associated Press, he can immediately take part in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the last two preseason games. Once the regular season begins, Vick can take part in all team activities except games. By October 18th, Goddell will have a decision on whether to fully reinstate Vick completely. There's no word on if Vick will get picked up. Some teams have already said they won't bring him on board.

Goodell told Vick that full reinstatement "will be based on reports from outside professionals, your probation officer and others charged with supervising your activities, the quality of your work outside football," as well as factors. Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely in August 2007 after the NFL star admitted bankrolling a dogfighting operation in Virginia.

Vick is happy to get a second chance, saying in a statement, "I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to commissioner Goodell for allowing me to be readmitted to the National Football League. I fully understand that playing football in the NFL is a privilege, not a right, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity I have been given." He added, "As you can imagine, the last two years have given me time to revaluate my life, mature as an individual and fully understand the terrible mistakes I have made in the past and what type of life I must lead moving forward."

WHAT NOT TO SAY TO A GUY WHOSE BEEN LAID-OFF (Lemondrop.com)

"Oh my god! What are we gonna do?" For starters, let's not freak out. Right now your guy needs support, not another fire to put out, and losing your cool is only going to make things worse.

• "Why?" Dude, he just got the ax -- making him highlight his incompetence by explaining why is like kicking him in the head with your hooker boots.
• "You better start looking ... " ... for a new job, or a more supportive girlfriend?
• "Great, now I'm gonna have to work twice as hard." Perfect. That means you'll have half as much time to make us feel like crap.
• "(Insert friend's boyfriend's name) just got a job." Really? His girlfriend must be so proud.
• "Here's what we're gonna do ... " We already feel a crippling loss of control in our own lives. Don't amplify that insecurity by trying to take over.
• "Maybe I could get you a job at my father's company." Thanks for the offer. Does his desk have a place for our balls and dignity?
• "It's no big deal." Your heart is in the right place -- cool and collected. But this may come across as aloof and indifferent. Rather than lack of interest, offer support and compassion.
• "A lot of people are losing their jobs." Yeah, but those people are all not us. Job-loss statistics (just like miracle-diet and Thighmaster statistics) are pretty meaningless until you become one of them.
• "Maybe it's a blessing in disguise." Give us a healthy day of self-loathing and moping around before you part the clouds and start looking for the rainbow. Remember, misery loves company (and cheer-up sex).

WHAT YOUR FAVORITE SANDWICH SAYS ABOUT YOU:

According to a study by Hellmann's and Best Foods Mayonnaise, there's a correlation between people's personality types and their sandwich choices.

Club sandwich

• Personality traits: Agreeable and unselfish. Seek comfort in close, secure relationships. Strongly devoted to work as well as relationships, they can always be counted upon.
• Best described as: Committed and loyal.
• Compatibility: Those who prefer club sandwich are most compatible with those who love club, BLT or turkey sandwiches.

Ham and cheese sandwich

• Personality traits: Those who prefer ham and cheese find their inquisitive nature directs them to a wide range of interests. Their serious nature can point them into the arena of existential concerns. They are more productive when allowed to work on their own, without micromanagement from supervisors. Down time allows their creativity to blossom.
• Best described as: Curious and intuitively oriented.
• Compatibility: Those who prefer ham and cheese sandwich function best without strong romantic entanglements.

Egg salad sandwich

• Personality traits: Entertaining, lively, energetic, thrive as the center of attention. Egg salad sandwich lovers crave novelty, excitement and adventure. They tend to be seductive, provocative and charming, but are also overly trusting and vulnerable to the influence of others who surround them.
• Best described as: Universal romantic.
• Compatibility: Egg salad sandwich lovers are compatible with all sandwich lovers.

Seafood salad sandwich

• Personality traits: Agreeable, unselfish, seek comfort in close, secure relationships. Strongly devoted to work as well as relationships, they can always be counted upon.
• Best described as: Committed and loyal.
• Compatibility: Romantic compatibility is with those who prefer BLT and seafood salad.

Turkey sandwich

• Personality traits: Those who love turkey sandwich are their own boss and function best at work and in relationships when given "space" or when left to their own device. If not careful, they can become mired down in a swamp of existential philosophy.
• Best described as: Free-thinkers who naturally rebel against authority.
• Compatibility: They're most romantically compatible with others who also prefer turkey sandwiches.

Tuna sandwich

• Personality traits: Aggressive, achievement-oriented and natural leaders, who are driven to succeed in both work and interpersonal relationships. Intolerant of failure, tuna sandwich lovers demand the best from themselves and those that surround them. However, they become irritated with the minor vicissitudes of life and are impatient with long lines, rush hour traffic or slow internet connections.
• Best described as: Competitive and driven.
• Compatibility: Those who prefer tuna sandwich are most romantically compatible with those who prefer egg salad and others who like tuna.

Chicken salad sandwich

• Personality traits: Easy-going, well-adjusted, empathic and understanding.
• Best described as: The perfect spouse or partner.
• Compatibility: Those who prefer chicken salad sandwich are most romantically compatible with those who prefer egg salad sandwich.

Bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich

• Personality traits: Conscientious, perfectionist and devoted to work, home or relationship. BLT-lovers are task-oriented and maintain the moral high ground at all times. They're honest and forthright.
• Best described as: People with integrity.
• Compatibility: BLT sandwich lovers are most compatible with those who prefer seafood salad sandwich.

DID YOU KNOW?

MOST EXERCISERS WORK OUT FOR HEALTH, NOT BEAUTY: A new poll from EveryDay Health and the American Council on Fitness found that most dedicated exercisers work out to be healthy, not to look good. The study found that 54 percent of the 2,882 Americans who responded to the online poll said they want to stay fit for their loved ones. Only 40 percent said they work out to look good on beach. One researcher said, "Some of us probably would have guessed appearance and weight control first. The fact that it is health was I think very reassuring."

BEAUTIFUL WOMEN HAVE MORE BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS: Researchers at the University of Helsinki have found beautiful women have more children than their plainer counterparts and that a higher proportion of those children are female. Those daughters, once adult, also tend to be attractive and so repeat the pattern. This builds on previous work by Satoshi Kanazawa, an evolutionary psychologist at the London School of Economics, who found that good-looking parents were far more likely to conceive daughters. He suggested this was an evolutionary strategy subtly programmed into human DNA.

MORE ADULT MEN LIVING AT HOME: A study reported on by the Daily Mail has found one in three men aged between 20 and 40 is still living with their parents. This compares with one in five women of the same age. It also emerged that one in four men who has moved out has kept a fully-furnished bedroom at their parents' home, just in case. The study of 3,000 men and women revealed that almost a quarter (24 percent) still lived at home with their parents. Cost was the main factor for 59 percent of them, but 57 percent of women and 16 percent of men also admitted that they liked being looked after by mom. Another 11 percent of men said they would miss their parents too much if they left.

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Keith Urban has been suffering from a pinched nerve in his neck while on the road, but he plugged on during a concert last week in Sacramento, California. According to the Sacramento Bee, he told the crowd that the injury was "wicked." But Urban managed to get through the performance and didn't even tell the audience about his pain until the very end. Despite the ailment, Urban has been having a great time on the road and says he tries to channel what he feels while at a concert, saying, "The best concerts I've been to give me a sense of hope. When I go to a concert, I don't want to be impressed, but I do want to be inspired."

• Urban has been on his Escape Together World tour with rotating opening acts including Taylor Swift, Sugarland, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, Little Big Town, Dierks Bentley and Glen Campbell.

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Kenny Chesney is in the midst of his Sun City Carnival tour, which makes stops all over the country. The country star will play for thousands of people this summer, and despite all of the fame and attention, Chesney tries to keep his life low-key as much as possible. When asked how he's been able to keep a good reputation while being in showbiz, Chesney says it just comes down to being himself: "I might be afforded a little bit of leeway to be rude to people but I've never seen a reason to do it (laughs), unless they really deserved it, which has happened a few times, but I just feel like that what I do, I feel very lucky to do it no matter how big it gets. I think I'm smart enough to know that I'm not gonna be in this spot forever, which I don't think I will. I think history has taught us that nobody does. I just try to be myself as much as I can and try not to take this too seriously. I've always tried to live by the rule treat people that way you want to be treated."

• The outing pulls into Lake Tahoe, Nevada tomorrow (Wednesday, July 29th) and wraps September 19th in Indianapolis.
• His new Greatest Hits II album features the single "Our Last Night."

Taylor Swift has her eyes on her next album, as well as which collaborators she may want to team up with for the upcoming effort. Right now, Swift as her eyes on Jack White of the White Stripes and the Raconteurs. She tells MTV News that she'd love to work with White because he's "awesome," adding, "I love his style. I love his writing and I think he's an amazing player too, so any kind of collaboration there would be really awesome." White has already tackled some country when he produced and performed on Loretta Lynn's 2004 album Van Lear Rose.

Meanwhile, Swift has started planting the seeds for her follow-up to 2008's Fearless, saying, "As soon as I put out my last album, Fearless, the next day I was writing for the next album. So I'm always thinking ahead. love organizing and planning and getting a theme going for the next record." Swift has a lot of real life material to pull from, but won't reveal what themes she plans to tackle on her next set. Either way, she doesn't want to rush it, noting, "So I like to take a lot of time and really develop an album and take a year and a half ... two years to make an album so that it's not thrown together."

• Swift will perform "You Belong With Me" at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 13th.

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Jason Aldean will release his concert DVD, Wide Open Live And More, on August 25th. The show was shot in March at a concert in Knoxville, Tennesse and features 15 tracks, including "She's Country" and his latest single, "Big Green Tractor." According to CMT.com, the DVD also features interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. Aldean says, "This is the coolest thing we've ever done together as a band. The energy in Knoxville was off the charts, and it's just really special for us to have that night recorded. Now, people who might not be able to make it to one of the shows, but are curious to know what we do, can check it out, too."

• Aldean will tape an epsidoe of of E!'s Chelsea Lately show today (Tuesday, July 28th).

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Miley Cyrus has already been a big hit on the pop charts, but now she's trickling into country radio with her single "The Climb." As the daughter of country star Billy Ray Cyrus, it may come as no surprise. But for Cyrus, it's new territory. She tells us how it feels to have a country hit: "I'm always looking for a new challenge, so country is always something that's been around in my family, so now that I'm kind of stepping out and doing it a little bit as well . . . Pop is definitely my thing, and I'm really into rock & roll and country music and all different kinds of music, but what I've grown up in is country music, and not to say that I'm a country artist, but I think that's pretty cool."

• Cyrus will take part in the VH1 Divas special in September, along with Kelly Clarkson, Adele and others.
• Cyrus will be on tour this fall.

CHECK IT OUT: Cyrus debuts a new hair color:

http://www.mileycyrus.com/official

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. What superstar's real last name is Covel?
A. Toby Keith

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!

CAN YOU DUET SEASON 2/CMT 10:00AM (ET)
Naomi Judd, Big Kenny

ON THE STREETS/GAC 1:30PM, 10:30PM (ET)
Dolly Parton, Terry Clark, Blake Shelton

MASTER SERIES: CHARLIE McCOY HALL OF FAME MEDALLION/GAC 8:00PM (ET)

ON THIS DAY IN COUNTRY

• Bill Anderson's first Number One single, "Mama Sang A Song," charted in 1962.
• "Angel in Disguise," by Earl Thomas Conley, went to Number One in 1984 making Don't Make It Easy for Me the first country album to produce four chart-topping singles.
• Tammy Wynette recorded the Number One hit "Stand By Your Man" in 1968.
• Charley Pride recorded the chart-topping single "Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'" in 1971.
• Jerry Lee Lewis made his television debut on The Steve Allen Show in 1957.

Celebrity Gossip

DAKOTA FANNING DATING 'CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY' STAR? Dakota Fanning was photographed on what appeared to be a date with fellow actor, Freddie Highmore. X17online.com spotted the 15-year-old dining with 17-year-old Highmore, who most notably starred as Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, on Saturday (July 25th) night in Los Angeles.

JOHN TRAVOLTA STILL A SCIENTOLOGIST: John Travolta is still a devoted Scientologist. Despite a report in Britain's Daily Mail that the 55-year-old became "disenchanted" with the religion after his son's death, his rep said, "There's no change in the relationship between the Church of Scientology and John. He is a member and it's as it was, now and forever."

HOLLY MADISON AND HEF ARE STILL 'CLOSE': Holly Madison and Hugh Hefner have reportedly managed to remain "close" since splitting last year. A friend of the former couple told the New York Post that after Hef went to Las Vegas to see Madison's performance in Peepshow, the reality star went to great length to thank him. The source revealed, "She spent 30 minutes putting together a package of his favorite candies . . . chocolate-covered raisins."

'UGLY BETTY' DAD SUED: Ugly Betty dad Tony Plana is being sued by his former manager. TMZ.com reports that Tracy Quinn filed a lawsuit on Monday (July 27th), alleging that she hasn't been receiving commission from his salary on the ABC hit -- a role that she claims to have landed for him. Quinn is hoping to get at least $500,000 from Plana.

RELEASED ON BAIL: Billy Bob Thorton's daughter has been freed from jail after posting $279,000. The Orlando Sentinel confirmed 29-year-old Amanda Brumfield's release, adding that her court case on first-degree murder charges is still pending. Brumfield has been charged with murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter over the death of a one-year-old girl who she was baby-sitting.

ANGIE EVERHART GIVES BIRTH: Angie Everhart gave birth to a baby boy last Friday (July 24th). The 39-year-old has not revealed who her son's father is, but recently told Life & Style magazine that being a single mother, "Doesn't really bother me. I have so many good people around. I'm not afraid." Everhart named her son Kayden Bobby Everhart.

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

EVA LONGORIA PARKER CO-HOSTING ALMA AWARDS: Eva Longoria Parker and George Lopez have been tapped to host the 2009 ALMA Awards, which celebrate Latino achievement in entertainment. Reuters reported that for the first time, the awards will air in September, during National Hispanic Heritage Month. Longoria Parker, who is also an executive producer of the ceremony, said on Monday (July 27th), "The ALMA Awards is a special show because it represents the determined spirit and soul of the Latino people, and I cannot think of a better person to help celebrate and co-host with me than my good friend George Lopez."

KATIE HOLMES ESCAPES INJURY ON MOVIE SET: Katie Holmes reportedly narrowly escaped injury over the weekend on the set of her new movie, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark. RadarOnline.com reports that Holmes was shooting a scene inside a car on the film's Australia set when the vehicle's battery suddenly exploded. The website said that although the car eventually caught fire, Holmes was uninjured.

MISCHA BARTON REPORTEDLY RETURNING TO WORK: Mischa Barton will reportedly join the cast of her new CW show, The Beautiful Life when production begins later this week. Barton's future with the show was doubtful after she was reportedly hospitalized under an involuntary psychiatric hold, but her rep confirmed that she's been discharged from Cedars-Sinai and said that she intends to resume working with the show. The Beautiful Life producer, Ashton Kutcher, also said recently, "I can tell you right now that Mischa Barton is doing great."

ALFRE WOODARD DIRECTS NELSON MANDELA FOLKTALES PROJECT: Oscar nominated actress Alfre Woodard is the artistic director for the star-studded new three-CD audiobook version of Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales. The project, released this week, is a fundraiser for Artists for a New South Africa, or ANSA, which in turn supports South African children orphaned or impacted by the HIV/AIDS virus. Woodard, a founding member of ANSA, got permission from the original book's publisher and Mandela himself to record this collection of stories from all over the African continent. Reading the various tales of princesses, chieftains, mischievous animals, and fair maidens is a who's who of international stars. These include: Blair Underwood, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Benjamin Bratt, Samuel L. Jackson, LaTanya Richardson, Alan Rickman, and Whoopi Goldberg.

JESSE METCALFE RETURNING TO 'DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES': Jesse Metcalfe will reportedly be reprising his role on Desperate Housewives. OK magazine reports that the actor will appear in six to eight episodes of the following season and has the possibility of returning full-time.

MAN WHO MURDERED KELSEY GRAMMER'S SISTER DENIED PAROLE

A man convicted of killing Kelsey Grammer's sister in 1975 was denied parole on Monday (July 27th). Grammer, who was unable to attend the parole hearing after bad weather caused him to miss a connecting flight, wrote a letter that was read aloud, in which he pleaded with the parole board not to release the 52-year-old Freddie Glenn, who "abducted ... raped ... savaged ... butchered" his sister Karen when she was only 18-years-old.

• In the letter, Grammer described Karen as "smart and good and decent," and said "I can never escape the horror of what happened" to her, adding, "Please do not release this man from prison."
• Glenn, who received a life sentence for the crime, will next be eligible for parole in 2014.

CHECK IT OUT: Read Grammer's letter: http://tinyurl.com/nzvtlb

INTERNET COMMENTS: DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE?

• From teresa on TMZ.com: "What a powerful letter, especially the part about how it colored their life. I am glad the man was kept in prison and for his sake, i am glad that Kelsey has forgiven, hopefully he has forgiven himself, as well."
• From nachomamma on TMZ.com: "OMG - I had no idea his family went through this. What a horrible, horrible tragedy. how is it possible that this monster is even up for Parole?? I don't get our justice system.. Death penalty should have been instituted. No wonder Mr. Grammer turned to drugs and alcohol, trying to deaden the pain. I am glad that he was able to get sober and deal with the pain. My heart aches for him and any other victim's family. Tragedies like this should not take place, it's just so sad."

Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush have ended their two-and-a-half-year relationship

A source close to the couple told Usmagazine.com, "Nobody cheated. This is just a case of conflicting schedules and their lives going in different directions. It was a totally mutual decision."

• Although Kim denied rumors of an engagement last month, she's frequently talked to the media about marrying the 24-year-old football star. When asked last December what would happen if Bush proposed, Kim said, "Of course, I would say yes!"
• A different source told PerezHilton.com about the split, "Reggie is not big into the Hollywood scene. He starts training camp this week and he asked Kim to move out to New Orleans and be with him. Unfortunately, she is set to begin filming the next season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians and couldn't make that commitment. They are both very sad about the split and are not ruling out a reconciliation but this is what's best for them both right now."

CHECK IT OUT: Top reasons why couples break up: http://tinyurl.com/lkh7u6

FARRAH REPORTEDLY LEAVES RYAN OUT OF THE WILL

Farrah Fawcett's troubled son Redmond, not her longtime partner Ryan O'Neal, is reportedly the sole beneficiary of the late actress's estate. Britain's Daily Mail reported that 24-year-old Redmond, who is currently incarcerate on drug charges, stands to inherit approximately $6 million from his mother, under the conditions of her 2007 will. The paper adds that Ryan was excluded from the document.

• A source reportedly told the paper, "Farrah appointed two trustees to make sure the money supports her son's journey into sobriety rather than giving him the means to destroy himself. Redmond's inheritance will be tightly controlled."
• Fawcett reportedly wrote her last will in 2007 after learning that her anal cancer had returned and spread to her liver.

INTERNET COMMENTS: DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE?

• From Joanjmak05 on Popeater.com: "I think it's fantastic that she left NOTHING to Ryan. Now when her only son gets out of rehab he can get is own place and be rid of that abusive, phoney a** he calls a father. Farrah definetly knew what she was doing when she made her will and I truly hope that Redmond does the right thing when he gets out.
• From LivinginharmonyM on Popeater.com: "Congratulations to Farrah for making wise decisions regarding her will. She is making sure that her son will be provided for in a good way. Hopefully, he will get the help that he needs to end his addictions. Ryan doesn't need her money because he, himself, had some addiction problems. He came across as being rather phony anyway."
• From PropMuseum on Popeater.com: "Wow I would have thought she would have been worth more than 5.5 mill. Thats not a lot of money if you think about it. Most new stars get paid that for doing 1 movie."

SIMON COWELL GETS SURPRISE 5OTH BIRTHDAY PARTY

Simon Cowell's ex-girlfriend Jackie St. Claire threw the American Idol judge a surprise 50th birthday party on Saturday (July 25th) -- three months ahead of milestone. The Daily Mirror reports that the soiree was held so early because Cowell will be too busy filming X Factor in October to celebrate the event properly. St. Claire got Cowell to the party under the rouse that it was for her own birthday.

American Idol's Randy Jackson, America's Got Talent's Piers Morgan and his X Factor colleagues Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh were all in attendance for the party and joined forces to serenade Cowell with a rendition of Carly Simon's "You're So Vain."

• A source told the paper, "Jackie went to extraordinary lengths to organize the bash for Simon. She even told the guys performing they were singing for her -- but it turned out they were there for Simon. She knew the performance would really make him laugh. Dannii took the lead vocals and the others came out providing the comedy for the show. Jackie knew Simon would find it hysterically funny especially when Louis joined in the singing. Simon is so vain but, unlike some, he is the first to admit it. So it was the perfect joke."
• Cowell himself said, "It was a fun night. I went on my own, well with my mum, and had no say over the guest list. But it was all fine."
• Cowell turns 50 on October 7th.

CHECK IT OUT: How to throw a surprise party: http://tinyurl.com/cx4y5r

TOP 10 RISKIEST SEARCH TERMS

Searching online for "music" or "screensavers" may seem like a fun idea, but beware! These are two of the riskiest search terms you can use since they often produce malicious results that could harm your computer or even steal your personal and financial information. McAfee, the anti-virus software specialist, analyzed more than 2,600 of the most popular search terms to assess the degree of risk for each one. The top 10 riskiest search terms and the%age that contain malware:

1. Screensavers (59.1%)
2. Free work from home (40%)
3. Free (21.3%)
4. Free music downloads (20.7%)
5. Game cheats (16.7%)
6. Word unscrambler (16.1%)
7. Lyrics (14.8%)
8. Free games (6.8%)
9. Work from home (3.1%)
10. Rihanna (2.4%)

What's your favorite dating line or tactic?

With 80 percent of human interaction based on nonverbal body language, what is a man to do? The key to impressing her right off the bat is to be different from all the other men who are approaching her that evening. Here a few sure-fire ways to make your approach more powerful and convincing, even if you are not sure what you are going to say (by David Wygant - Yahoo! Personals):

• Walk with confidence. When you see a woman that you are attracted to, walk right over. Stand up straight and walk over slowly but with confidence. Make sure your chest is puffed out and your posture is looking strong and not slumped over. Keep eye contact as you approach. Do not hesitate.
• Lose the male pack. When out on the town, avoid being seen with the drunken testosterone pack of males. One of the biggest turn-offs for women is the "male pack" -- you with five of your buddies high-fiving each other, drinking and checking out other women.
• Dress for a strong appearance. Make sure you're not sabotaging your efforts with your attire. If you look like a slob, it will not matter what your body language says, because you will look like every other man who put no thought into what he was going to wear that night to attract women. Buy clothing that makes you stand out from the rest of the men.
• Create a spark within her. Most men's conversation will center on being agreeable and non-confrontational in the hopes that she likes you. In the mind of a woman, playing it safe equals boring! You need to spark her interest by being a bit disagreeable. For example, you get into a conversation about summer movies and she says that "Spiderman III" was her favorite Spidey movie so far. Instead of being agreeable, look her right in the eye with confidence and tell her that she is so wrong -- the first Spiderman was superior.
• Maintain some tension. Flirting with women is all about gathering information, so the better listener you are, the better your chances. When you call her, you will have more things to talk about.

DID YOU KNOW?

Drivers of hybrid cars not only drive more, but also they get more traffic tickets than drivers of conventional cars, according to a study by Quality Planning. The data on 359,309 vehicles, gleaned from insurance company records in 2007 and 2008, show that while hybrid owners can save on gas, they eat up those savings by driving more for pleasure. Although their commutes are about the same as owners of conventional cars, hybrid owners log up to 25% more mileage on non-work travel -- an average of 10,500 miles over and above their commuting mileage.

Men, if you want to impress a woman, learn to cook. More women are impressed by a man's cooking ability than the kind of car he owns, according to a survey conducted by Great Britain's Department of Health. Almost one-third of young Britons lied and claimed a precooked, ready-to-eat meal was something they had actually cooked themselves. Women are the worst offenders when it comes to lying about what they cooked. 40% of women had claimed food they bought in a store was homemade, compared with 22% of men. 7% said they regularly claim cooking credit for food they have bought that someone else made. 10% of young Brits have never cooked a meal for themselves because they don't know how to do it.

So why does your man give one-word answers? "The simple excuse is that men don't want to get in trouble," says psychologist Steve Stephens, PhD, author of "Lost in Translation." "Men want to feel like the authorities, and the more they say, the more information women have to analyze." And ultimately, that can lead to being proven wrong on any given subject. If you really want him to open up, says Stephens, validate his answer with an offhand remark like "That's interesting." He'll be encouraged to keep going. (Cosmopolitan)

Women have a well-earned reputation for chatting endless on the phone. But when it comes to gabbing on a cell, guys actually spend 35% more of their time with it glued to their ear than women do.

If you're overweight, your brain may age faster. According to a study from the San Francisco VA Medical Center, being overweight in your 40s and 50s causes a lower level of certain brain chemicals that signal good brain health and function. Without these chemicals, the brain's aging process speeds up, putting you at a significantly higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Sugarland has canceled three more concerts, in order to give Jennifer Nettles' voice a bit more rest.
• We all know Jon Gosselin is dating Hailey Glassman... but apparently he's also seeing Kate Major, a tabloid reporter for Star magazine, who is now being referred to as "Kate 2.0."
• When women ages 30 to 70 who had all been in a steady relationship for the last month were polled, 36.2% admitted that in the past 30 days they had experienced a tepid sexual desire.
• Meryl Streep is proposing that the Oscars be moved up to January 2nd, so they happen before the Golden Globes and all those other awards shows.
• Brian Austin Green is selling his L.A. home: 4-bedrooms, 3.5 baths and a swimming pool for just $2.395-million. It's a 1920 Tudor style, if that makes a difference.
• The federal minimum wage jumped from $6.55 to $7.25 per hour on Friday.
• Tennis god Roger Federer became the father of twins last Thursday night in Switzerland, Charlene and Myla... or as he puts it, "Love-Love."
• Starbucks opened it's first Coffee boutique store on Friday in Seattle. It's not called a "Starbucks" -- it's "The 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea, inspired by Starbucks" -- not even a Starbucks logo on the front door. The idea is to give it that smaller, neighborhood feel.
• "Christmas Creep" is starting to happen... as anxious retailers can't wait until the Christmas season for sales to pick up, so they're having huge sails now.
• The world's largest telescope is going to be built in Hawaii.

THE NASCAR REPORT FOR JULY 27TH, 2009

JIMMIE JOHNSON WINS HIS 3RD BRICKYARD 400 AT INDY: Three Time Cup Series Champion becomes a 3 time Indy winner and the first driver to win it back to back...of course I'm talking about Jimmie Johnson. It's also the 7th Brickyard win for Hendrick Motorsports

OTHER STORIES ON THE DAY

• Robby Gordon spun on lap 1, Elliott Sadler was black flagged for smoke
• Denny Hamlin said "the shifter came off the transmission!" Hamlin finished 34th
• Kyle Busch blew a right front tire and pounded the wall on lap 58, and is now outside the top 12 in points ending up 38th in this race
• Sam Hornish Jr. blew a right front tire and slapped the wall
• Juan Pablo Montoya dominated this race, leading the most laps and was caught speeding on the last pit cycle in two different segments, and finishes 11th

FROM @NASCARSAYS ON TWITTER (OFFICIAL NASCAR ACCOUNT)

• Don't know why fans think we wouldn't want Montoya to win. Would be a great story. #NASCAR
• Sorry to kill the conspiracy theories, but pit road speeds are computerized. Not a judgement call. #NASCAR
• He sped in two zones on pit road (60.06 and 60.11 mphs). Limit was 55 with 4.99 mph tolerance.
• The #88 of Dale Earnhardt Jr. blew an engine and blames himself, saying he shifted wrong coming out of pit road, Dale Jr. finshed 36th

Sprint Cup Brickyard 400 (Unofficial results)

1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Mark Martin
3. Tony Stewart
4. Greg Biffle
5. Brian Vickers
6. Kevin Harvick
7. Kasey Kahne
8. David Reutimann
9. Jeff Gordon
10. Matt Kenseth

EDWARDS MUSCLES PAST BUSCH FOR NASCAR NATIONWIDE WIN: Carl Edwards passed Kyle Busch with 22 laps to go Saturday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park and went on to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series Kroger 200.

Edwards had the dominant car after starting from the rear of the field because he missed qualifying to participate in a practice session for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at nearby Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Edwards led twice for 72 of the race's 200 laps but lost the lead with 30 laps to go under caution. Edwards' No. 60 Ford was pinned behind Scott Wimmer's Chevrolet in the pits, and Edwards mistakenly put his car in the wrong gear.

Busch led coming to the green flag on Lap 174, but Edwards battled him hard and finally made the pass for the lead on Lap 179.

Nationwide Series Kroger 200 (Unofficial results)

1. Carl Edwards
2. Kyle Busch
3. Matt Kenseth
4. Brad Keselowski
5. Steve Wallace
6. Ron Hornaday
7. Trevor Bayne
8. Jason Leffler
9. Scott Wimmer
10. Kenny Wallace

HORNADY WINS 4TH TRUCK RACE IN A ROW: Ron Hornaday Jr. set a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series record by winning his fourth consecutive race, holding off longtime nemesis Mike Skinner in Friday night's AAA Insurance 200 at O'Reilly Raceway Park.

Skinner pitted later than Hornaday for tires and charged through the top 10 to challenge for the lead. Skinner passed Colin Braun for second with nine laps to go and chased down Hornaday four laps later.

Hornaday used the preferred outside lane and held off repeated inside moves by Skinner to win his 44th NASCAR Camping World Truck race.

Skinner finished second, with Aric Almirola coming from a lap down to finish third. Dennis Setzer was fourth, with Braun fifth.

Rookies James Buescher and Tayler Malsam, followed by Stacy Compton, David Starr and Kyle Busch completed the top 10.

Hornaday had taken the lead from Todd Bodine on the outside in Turn 3 on Lap 169 of 200. Bodine then tried to squeeze Braun two laps later off Turn 4 but wasn't clear and spun, eliminating himself from contention.

Bodine had fought for more than 20 laps to get around Busch, finally getting the lead from the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series regular on Lap 147.

Camping World Truck Series AAA Insurance 200 (Unofficial results)

1. Ron Hornaday
2. Mike Skinner
3. Matt Crafton
4. Todd Bodine
5. David Starr
6. Brian Scott
7. Tayler Malsam
8. Dennis Setzer
9. Terry Cook
10. Colin Braun

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Stephen Barker Liles of Love and Theft says that the group's single "Runaway" has a universal theme: reaching the end of your rope. He tells us: "You know, we all kind of picked up and left our hometowns in search of somethin' new, and this song is about that breaking point where you leave either an unhealthy relationship or a job you don't like. It's just about the thing where, 'I'm not talking about it anymore. I'm gonna do it,' and we're all kind of runaways in our own sense."

SIDE NOTES

• The band's new album, World Wide Open, hits stores on August 25th.
• Love And Theft opened for Taylor Swift in 2008.
• Swift's song, "Hey Stephen," featured on her Fearless album, is about Liles.

The music business has changed a lot in the last 20 years, but Brooks & Dunn hasn't let that get in the way of being one of country music's most enduring duos. They tell us that they keep the focus on being out there and playing for the fans: "(Kix Brooks) Everything's changing. The internet is becoming a huge part of our lives from YouTube to MySpace to how you're gonna get your songs, what you're gonna buy, what music you're gonna hear. All of those things. It's a rapidly changing world in terms of just music and how you're gonna hear it and how you're gonna get it and all those things. Nobody's really sure where it's gonna wind up. (Ronnie Dunn) How it's gonna get out there. You know, in the meantime, I think it's as important as we can to take it as far as we can... (Kix Brooks) Yeah, to keep going out and performing and touring. Those are the constants that people...they know what that is. They know they can hopefully pay their money, go into a show, and they're gonna get their money's worth there."

• Brooks & Dunn's latest single, "Indian Summer" has moved up to Number 16 on the Billboard Country Songs chart. The song, about a high school girl cheerleader who gets pregnant after a fling with a boy on the football team, is the first single from the duo's upcoming #1s and then some, out September 8th. The album will also include 23 No. 1 songs, other classic hits and a second new track.

Singer Trace Adkins, who's out on tour with Toby Keith this summer, says that he has no trouble staying sober despite the temptations of the road. Adkins tells the Worcester Telegraph, "There really is no situation that I get into anymore that makes it any harder for me than it is in just normal everyday life because I was the kind of addict/alcoholic that didn't need a reason. It didn't matter if the sun was shining or it was raining or whether it was good times or bad. If it was good times, you celebrated. If it was bad times, you drowned your sorrows. It didn't matter. My environment doesn't change whether I want to use or have a drink."

• Adkins got sober during a 2003 stint in rehab, which he said gave him the chance to realize just how much he had in his life. He said, "I was in there for four weeks and the light bulb went off over my head and I went 'Oh my God. You idiot. You've got the world by the short hairs and all you've got to do is just keep it together for a few more years and you can probably retire.' And I don't know, I just grew up. "

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Julianne Hough has confirmed rumors she'll star in the remake of Footloose. She tells Fox411: "We're just working out the nitty gritty details, especially with Dancing With The Stars. But the plan is . . . I'm doing Footloose. I'm ecstatic about it, but I'm holding my breath until I'm actually eating popcorn in the movie theater watching it. You never know until it is filmed and on screen." The movie will star Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford. Hough said that she didn't see Crawford's dance audition but he was great in their screen test together.

• As for her recording career, Hough says that she'll have a new single out by the end of the year, and her sophomore album in 2010.
• Hough said that she thinks that a lot is riding on the success of her second album. She told the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, "This is the one, I think, that's going to make me or break me. I could stay where I'm at or, hopefully, catapult."

The original cast recording of 9 to 5 The Musical comes out tomorrow (July 28th), and the show's composer, Dolly Parton, couldn't be more excited. She told TheBoot.com, "This is real special to me. A whole soundtrack album is something I've never done before -- to write a Broadway musical and hear the huge orchestra on it. I've never recorded with any sound like that."

• Parton does not appear on the album, but she has recorded her own version of one of the songs, "Change It," which will be available on iTunes. It will also be available on a future edition of the soundtrack.
  

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Michelle Branch is searching for a leading man to star in her new music video. She's asking fans to chime in on who should play the love interest for the accompanying clip to her new single "Sooner Or Later." According to her website: "She wants YOU to help her choose the love interest/guitar player in her video." The track will appear on Branch's upcoming solo album, Everything Comes And Goes, due out this year.

• Starting tomorrow (Tuesday, July 28th), "Sooner or Later" will be featured as the "Premiere Of The Week" on iTunes.
• Since releasing her last solo album, Branch has been performing with her country duo, the Wreckers.
• She first came on the scene in 2001 with the single "Everywhere." The following year, Branch scored a bit hit with Santana thanks to the success of "The Game Of Love."

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. Who was the first artist to sign a recording contract live on television?
A. Barbara Mandrell

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!

SOUNDSTAGE FEATURING TRACE ADKINS/GAC 7:00PM (ET)

ON THIS DAY IN COUNTRY

• Shania Twain gave a free concert at Chicago's Grant Park in 2003. The event was taped for an NBC-TV special, Shania Twain UP! Live In Chicago.
• Kenny Chesney's "The Good Stuff" began a seven-week ride at the top of the Billboard country chart in 2002.
• Ricky Van Shelton hit the top of the Billboard country charts with "I Am A Simple Man" in 1991.
• "Ring Of Fire" earned Johnny Cash the Number One position on the Billboard country singles chart in 1963.

Celebrity Gossip

GERARD BUTLER IS ASHAMED OF BEING OUT OF SHAPE: Gerard Butler has been hitting the gym to regain his 300 physique, but the New York Post reports that the actor is ashamed to have slipped out of shape. A source told the paper, "He's so embarrassed that his six-pack abs have gone, he works out wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses." He's reportedly joined a discreet gym that's located on the eighth floor of a Manhattan building and is "strictly limited to approved members."

ROGER FEDERER WELCOMES TWINS: The tennis great announced that his wife Mirka gave birth to twins last Thursday (July 23rd) in Switzerland. In a statement on his website, Federer wrote, "This is the greatest day of our lives. Mirka, Myla and Charlene are all healthy and doing very well."

'SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE' CO-STARS SHY ABOUT RELATIONSHIP: It's been widely reported that Slumdog Millionaire co-stars Dev Patel and Frieda Pinto are a couple, but the pair is still not open about their relationship status. The New York Post reports that when the stars left a romantic dinner last week, "Patel made a comedic dash away from his other half, leaving Pinto in the dust."

CAT CORA GIVES BIRTH: Cat Cora gave birth to a son on July 19th. Star magazine confirmed that the Iron Chef welcomed son Nash Lemuel Cora, just three months after her partner gave birth to another son named Thatcher Julius. The women, who both underwent in-vitro processes at the same time, also have two other young sons, two-year-old Caje and five-year-old Zoran.

WHAT IS HOT ON YOU TUBE

A Minnesota turned their walk down the aisle into a dance routine, filmed it and then put it on YouTube. Now it's one of the most popular viral videos, nabbing more than 8 million views since it went up a week ago. The five-minute video is performed to the Chris Brown song "Forever" as the groom, bride, bridesmaids and groomsmen dance, twirl and somersault up and down the aisle. The best part is the guests look like they've been totally taken by surprise. The couple, Kevin Heinz and Jill Peterson of St. Paul, said on the Today show that the dance was her idea and that her parents were the only people other than that wedding party who knew what was going to happen. The bride said she has always, "loved dance as a way to express yourself and share joy." They say they only had one 90-minute rehearsal before the ceremony.

CHECK IT OUT: Watch the video here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

MILLIONS TUNE IN TO SEE KATIE HOLMES DANCE: Katie Holmes's appearance on last Thursday's (July 23rd) So You Think You Can Dance gave the show a 17 percent increase in total viewers. Usmagazine.com reports that 8.4 million people tuned in to watch Holmes perform a Judy Garland tribute -- the proceeds from which went to the Dizzy Feet Foundation, which offers dance scholarships to kids. Show producer Nigel Lythgoe told the site, "She put herself out there and she didn't have to do that, so I'm very delighted in her performance."

DOMINIC MONAGHAN JOINS NEW FANTASY DRAMA: Former Lost star Dominic Monaghan has joined the cast of ABC's Flash Forward. He is best known to Lost fans for his role of Charlie Pace, who died in the show's third season. Flash Forward is about the aftermath of a mysterious event when everyone blacks out and gets a glimpse of he future. Courtney B. Vance and John Cho also star on the drama, which premieres this fall.

ANOTHER KING KONG MOVIE?: Producers at Spirit Pictures have picked up the rights to the prequel book Kong: King Of Skull Island. The book explains how the giant gorilla became king of the island and includes other giant gorillas and dinosaurs. The plan is to bring the big guy back to life using motion-capture technology seen in The Polar Express and Beouwulf.

COMIC - CON WRAP UP

Here are some of the highlights from his year's Comic-Con which ran from Thursday through Sunday in San Diego.

• The festival drew 125,000 fans who waited in line -- sometimes for days -- to see their favorite stars at various panels about upcoming film and television projects.
• The biggest events were the New Moon panel, James Cameron showing Avatar footage and the unveiling of footage from Iron Man 2 which drove people crazy.
• People waited on line overnight to get into the Iron Man 2 panel. Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson and Jon Favreau were all at the Iron Man panel. but, Mickey Rourke was not.
• Fans apparently camped out for Thursday morning's New Moon panel since Tuesday.
• Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Peter Jackson, David Tennant (Doctor Who) and Tom Welling (Smallville) made their first-ever Comic Con appearances. Supposedly they'd been trying to get Oldman for the past 10 years. He and Denzel were there for Book of Eli.

JENNIFER'S BODY/JONAH HEX: Megan Fox made an appearance at panels to promote two upcoming films. In Jennifer's Body, written by Diablo Cody, she plays a demon-possessed cheerleader on a murderous rampage. Jonah Hex is a comic book adaptation that stars Josh Brolin as a scared bounty hunter battling supernatural villains in the Old West.

IRON MAN 2: Fans were treated to a four-minute preview featuring Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark not wanting to give up his Iron Man suit to authorities, Scarlet Johansson in a fight scene as the Black Widow, Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer and Don Cheadle as War Machine.

DISTRICT 9 - Producer Peter Jackson was on hand to promote the new sci-fi flick which debuted at Comic-Con on Friday. The documentary-style movie is about aliens forced into South African ghettos hits theaters August 14th. Jackson did not announce any Hobbit casting as heavily rumored.

AVATAR - The 3-D extravaganza is director James Cameron's first movie in 12 years. He spent four years creating the technology behind the film. It's about a war between humans and the native inhabitants of a plant called Pandora. He got a standing ovation after the 25 minute preview of the film was shown. The movie comes out on December 18th, but they'll be showing a sneak peek for free in Imax and 3-D theaters nationwide on August 21st.

NEW MOON - Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner took the stage in front of 6,500 screaming fans who were treated to a sneak peek of The Twilight Saga: New Moon due out in November.

TRUE BLOOD - Actor Alexander Skarsgard, who plays Eric on HBO's hit vampire drama True Blood said that there will be a romantic triangle between him, the vampire Bill, played by Stephen Moyer, and the clairvoyant Sookie, played by Anna Paquin. All three actors were there for a panel about the show along with the series creator who said that although it's not official, viewers can expect that there will be a third season.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, in a surprise appearance, showed a brief 3-D teaser of Disney's Alice In Wonderland, due out March 5th. Depp Will play the Mad Hatter. Burton also confirmed that he's working on bring the 1960s horror soap opera Dark Shadows to the big screen with Depp as vampire Barnabas Collins.

HEROES: A packed audience attend the panel for NBC's Heroes with Hayden Panettiere and the show's creator, Tim King. King said that there will be less stories per episode this season. Panettiere's character will go to college and make friends with a new character played by Madeline Zima, who played bad girl Mia on Showtime's Californication.

FAMILY GUY: Creator Seth MacFarlane and voice actors Mila Kunis, Seth Green and Alex Borstein dished about the next season of the Emmy-nominated comedy: Brian, while driving drunk, hits another dog. Peter has an affair with a cardboard cutout of Kathy Ireland. Meg toughens up after serving time in prison. MacFarlane also mentioned that they did an abortion episode that was too controversial for FOX so they're putting it on the DVD for the season.

LOST: Expect a lot of loose ends to be tied up in the show's six and final season. The show's creators, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cruise were at a panel for the show where they revealed that there will be: a back story about Richard Alpert, Juliet and Faraday will both return, characters who haven't been seen since season one will return. They also showed a couple of commercials for the upcoming season in which they had Oceanic Airlines promoting its perfect safety record -- that could mean the bomb changed events so there was no plane crash. Maybe.

24: Jack Bauer will be back at a re-built CTU in season 8 of the FOX thriller. The show's executive producer said that when the day begins, Jack will be shown with his daughter and granddaughter enjoying a peaceful life until he has to come out of retirement after an assassination attempt on the president. Kiefer Sutherland, who plays Bauer, told the audience at the panel, "This season is more grounded in what possibly could happen. There's a sense of reality that almost brings it back to season one." Freddie Prinze, Jr. joins the cast as a CTU agent.

EASY OR NOT BRAINTEASERS

• Do they have a 4th of July in England? Yes, they have a 4th of July, but they don't celebrate that day!
• How many birthdays does the average man have? One birthday, the day he was born, but he celebrates is yearly.
• Some months have 31 days; how many have 28 days? All of them (12) have at least 28 days.
• You are participating in a race. You overtake the second person. What position do you finish? If you said "first", you are wrong! You arrive second! If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you arrive second.
• If there are 3 apples and you take away 2, how many do you have?You have 2 apples, because you took away two.
• I have two U.S. coins totaling 55 cents. One is not a nickel. What are the coins? A fifty cent piece and a nickel -- is said one wasn't a nickel, but the other one was.
• How far can a dog run into the woods? To the middle of he woods (the halfway point), because after that, he's running out.
• A doctor gives you three pills telling you to take one every half hour. How long would the pills last? One hour -- you take one at the start of the hour, one after 30 minutes and the one at the end of the hour.
• A farmer has 17 sheep, and all but 9 die. How many are left? Nine are left because all but nine died.
• How many two cent stamps are there in a dozen? 12! A dozen of anything is still 12.

SLIP ME YOUR HAND!

Guys, you can get to know her faster by a brief palm reading:

• First, the thumb. If the top is bigger than the bottom of the thumb (look for the dividing line), then she is strong-willed. She likes to have control and make all the decisions. If the bottom is bigger, then she is controlled by logic and doesn't like to take risks, proceed with caution.
• Next, her fingertips. We're looking for "pointed" or "square" fingertips. Pointed figertips means your dealing with a dreamer. She lives for the moment and is looking for someone just as wild. Square fingertips means practicality. Don't plan on slipping anything past her. The romantic encounters may be bland, though.
• Finally, her hands. Soft hands means she's a lover of art. She'll take a museum over dinner and a movie. You need to be a bit more creative for this woman. Course hands means a woman with intense personality. She may lack tact, and may be a bit too forward. Her honesty may be a bit overwhelming.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 
  
• Actor Stephen Baldwin has officially filed for bankruptcy.
• Nearly half of U.S. women say they'd rather give up sex for two weeks than go without the Internet for the same period, a Harris Interactive poll finds.
• The new musical "The Addams Family," starring Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth as Gomez and Morticia, will open April 8th on Broadway.
• "So You Think You Can Dance" judge Nigel Lythgoe said he would "certainly consider" having Paula Abdul as a judge if she can't reach an agreement with "American Idol."
• Actor Deezer D, who played Nurse Malik McGrath on "ER," has been discharged from a Los Angeles hospital just days after undergoing major heart surgery.
• Getting to bed 30 minutes earlier and waking up 30 minutes later than normal can help you make better food choices.
• When Simon Cowell celebrates his 50th birthday this weekend, he'll be joined at the party by 17 of his ex-girlfriends. Ex-girlfriend Jackie Claire thought of that idea and is hosting the party.
• If he's into you, you'll know it. Women tend to send vague signals until we make up our mind, but men give a date sure signs of interest or not from the outset, finds a study from Indiana University at Bloomington.
• Les Lye, who played all the adult roles in "You Can't Do That on Television" has died at the age of 84.
• The annual Santa Claus World Congress is meeting this week in Copenhagen.

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Continuing voice problems have forced doctors to put Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles on voice rest for the next week. The duo have already canceled a handful of shows, but there are a couple more to come. The latest dates affected are on Friday (July 24th) in Primm, Nevada and Saturday (July 25th) in Phoenix with Keith Urban. The Primm show has already been rescheduled for August 6th.

• Nettles' problems are due to "vocal strain" and "over-use related to the health issues the singer has been battling since January", according to Sugarland's website.
• Sugarland's Love On The Inside tour will resume on July 30th in Bend, Oregon.

Brad Paisley says his two-year-old son, Huck, is a chip off the old block. The toddler seems to be like his dad in every way, while the family's new addition, three-month-old Jasper, is his own little person, as Paisley tells us: "He's a lot like me. I don't know that this new one is. This new baby doesn't look like me so far and doesn't act anything like Huck did. He's not temperamental or impatient. He's a very quiet. Huck is quiet, but Huck is me. Man, he's just exactly like I was at that age. Exactly! From what I've seen of video footage of me and audio stuff that they've recorded of me. He sounds like me, looks like me."

Paisley says that as a child, he and Huck look so much alike that he often fools people."I have a picture in the middle of pictures at the house of me at that age in with all of his, and I take people over and I'll say, 'Who's that?' and they'll say, 'Well, that's Huck!' It's like, 'No,' and they're literally, 'Are you kidding me??' Cause it is that absolutely dead on. It's scary!"

• Paisley is away from the kids this weekend as he continues on his American Saturday Night tour. He takes the stage tonight (Friday, July 24th) in Virginia Beach.

This year marks Rascal Flatts' 10th anniversary as a recording act. The trio hit the ground running with the release of their self-titled debut album back in 2000, and haven't stopped since. Jay DeMarcus tells us they never anticipated this level of success. "We set our sights pretty high, but we never . . . nobody could ever, I don't think, predicted what was gonna happen. It's kind of blown us away and we've been on such a fast-paced ride the past 10 years, it's been hard for us at times to step back and take a deep breath and enjoy the moment that we're in and really let it all sink in."

The guys have been able to take a breather recently, which has allowed them to reflect on their accomplishments. "In the past couple years we've been able to take a little bit of time off and enjoy some of the success that we've been able to have. We're very, very grateful and very humbled by it. There's no formula anybody can create to make anybody successful. We've just been blessed to have great fans and great music and great radio support."

• To date, the trio has charted 10 Number One hits and sold more than 16 million albums.
• Rascal Flatts' American Living Unstoppable tour rolls through Florida this weekend, with stops on Friday (July 24th) in West Palm Beach, followed by Tampa on Saturday (July 25th).

Martina McBride's current hit, 'I Just Call You Mine," will be used by ABC in the season finale of The Bachelorette, airing on Monday (July 27th) at 8 p.m. ET. McBride appeared on the show earlier in the season as part of a dream date episode, where she serenaded the couple with the song. Now it will be used as the background for a look back at special moments throughout the season of The Bacherlorette.

• McBride appeared on the Today show's special "Today Throws A Wedding" event recently to perform "I Just Call You Mine" at the winning couple's wedding reception.
• The song is the second release from McBride's latest album, Shine.

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The status of their relationship is unknown, but one thing is certain -- Nick Jonas did not give Miley Cyrus a promise ring. Cyrus dispelled the rumor via Twitter after reading reports that her on-off boyfriend had presented her with a diamond commitment ring to mark their dedication to one another.

• Cyrus tweeted, "I woke up this morning and thought I'd check up on the daily gossip and apparently Nick Jonas gave me a $75,000 ring? It's all true. Ha! Don't believe anything until I Tweet it. (Unless it's good news of course)."
• The couple dated in 2007 and reportedly reunited over the past couple of months -- though there have already been reports that they split again.

CHECK IT OUT: Want to know all about promise rings? http://www.promise-rings.info/

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. Which Opry member's nickname is "Tater"?
A. Little Jimmy Dickens

ON THIS DAY IN COUNTRY

• Billy Dean's "Billy the Kid" went to Number One in 1992.
• Johnny Cash recorded his first sides for Columbia in 1958.
• Marty Robbins signed with MCA Records in 1973.
• Toby Keith headlined his first stadium date at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts in 2004. The bill also featured Scotty Emerick, Hal Ketchum, Gretchen Wilson, Montgomery Gentry and Jo Dee Messina.
• Kathy Mattea realized her first gold album, for Willow In The Wind, in 1990.
• Ricky Van Shelton earned his first platinum award for the Wild-Eyed Dream album in 1989.

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!

GAC NIGHTS/GAC 12:00PM (ET)
Tanya Tucker, Lane Turner

TAYLOR SWIFT ON THE SET: YOU BELONG WITH ME/GAC 1:00PM (ET)

DRAFTING PARTNERS/GAC 5:30PM (ET)
Rodney Atkins

Celebrity Gossip

JUDE LAW DENIES HITTING PHOTOGRAPHER ON PURPOSE: Jude Law is denying that he deliberately hit a female photographer as he left a London restaurant in the early hours of Thursday (July 23rd) morning. The woman, 28-year-old Harsha Gopal, is quoted as saying, "He hit me full in the face. It was a real stinger, it was very sore." The actor's lawyers contend any physical contact was accidental, saying, "This is all nonsense. Last night's incident was an accident. Jude was blinded by the camera flashes when he left the restaurant, raised his hand to shield himself and inadvertently struck somebody standing very close. He apologized and left. Pictures of this sort can often be misleading."

MISCHA BARTON DOESN'T GET TABLOID-LOVE: Mischa Barton's personal problem are not tabloid-cover worthy. The New York Post reports that the actress's publicist was "pushing hard" to get the 23-year-old on the cover a celebrity weekly in light of her recent hospitalization, but no one was interested. Barton's publicist, Craig Schneider, denied the claim, telling the Post, "I can assure you that I've been inundated with requests and inquiries from the celebrity weeklies . . . If none of them care, then by all means, please stop calling and e-mailing."

'GOSSIP GIRL' ROMANCE OVER? The relationship between Gossip Girl co-stars Jessica Szohr and Ed Westwick might have run its course. The New York Post reports that Westwick failed to show up at a party his girlfriend hosted last weekend -- supposedly because the couple has been fighting. A spy told the Post, "He was supposed to join her, but he didn't." Westwick's rep had no comment on the evening.

NICK HOGAN FILES LAWSUIT: Nick Hogan has filed a lawsuit for breach of contract against two men he tried to start a business with. TMZ.com reports that Hogan agreed to invest $50,000 in a record production company called "Confidential South, LLC" -- which founders Louis Adkinson and Damon Elliot also claimed they would shell out $50,000 to get off the ground. Hogan alleges that they men never paid their share and reneged on their promise to return his money if things didn't work out. Additionally, Hogan claims the men ran up $80,767.75 on his American Express card without his permission and is also suing them for fraud. He's seeking at least $130,000.

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

HEIDI PRATT PERFORMING AT MISS UNIVERSE: Heidi Pratt will be performing at next month's Miss Universe Pageant. Usmagazine.com reports that the reality star will treat the audience to a rendition of "Turn Ya Head," off of her upcoming debut album, Unleashed. Access Hollywood added that Flo Rida, Kelly Rowland and dancer David Guetta are also scheduled to take the stage. Unleashed is set to be released on September 23rd.

SUSAN BOYLE DOESN'T GIVE BOOST TO 'AMERICA'S GOT TALENT' RATINGS: Susan Boyle's heavily-promoted appearance on America's Got Talent reportedly didn't deliver NBC any over-the-top ratings. EOnline.com reports that preliminary estimates show that a "relatively weak" audience of 11.1 million viewers tuned into see Boyle -- even though the network made it known it wouldn't air President Barack Obama's press conference if that show meant preempting America's Got Talent.

MEGAN FOX DID NOT REJECT BOND GIRL ROLE: Megan Fox did not diss James Bond. Despite rumors to the contrary, the actresses rep told People magazine, "The report about Megan Fox turning down a Bond movie is completely not true. There have been no discussions nor any offers. Megan is a fan of the Bond movies."

KENDRA WILKINSON WRITING MEMOIR: Kendra Wilkinson is writing a memoir. The newlywed, pregnant reality star said in a statement, "I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. I have a husband I adore, a baby on the way, and now my memoir is going to be published!" The book, scheduled to be released next summer, will touch on Wilkinson's childhood, her years in the Playboy mansion and the experience of being followed by cameras 24-7.

'GREEN HORNET' GETS NEW DIRECTOR: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind director Michael Gondry has replaced Stephen Chow as the director of the upcoming film, The Green Hornet. Seth Rogen is set to star in the project, while Nicolas Cage and Cameron Diaz are both is talks to join the cast.

JOHN STAMOS LANDS NEW ROLE: John Stamos has signed on to co-star in Kevin Spacey's upcoming film, Father on Invention. Variety reports that the movie is a comedy centered on a crazy inventor.

THE ORPHAN OPENS TODAY

Orphan, the new thriller starring Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard with Isabelle Fuhrman as the evil Esther, opens today (July 24th). Orphan centers on a couple who decides to adopt after Kate, played by Farmiga, suffers a miscarriage, and they bring home the seemingly innocent Esther. But after a series of horrible events, Kate begins to suspect that under Esther's innocent exterior something evil is lurking inside of her. Orphan was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra.

• Orphan is rated R and has a running time of 2 hours and 3 minutes.
• Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the producers of Orphan.

THE UGLY TRUTH OPEN TODAY

The new romantic comedy The Ugly Truth, starring Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler, opens today (July 24th). The film centers on Abby Richter, played by Heigl, a TV producer who is hopelessly single until Abby's employers team her up with TV celebrity Mike Chadway, played by Butler, who puts Abby through the wringer to prove his own theories about what makes men and women tick.

• The Ugly Truth is rated R and has a running time of 1 hour and 35 minutes.
• The Ugly Truth also stars Cheryl Hines, John Michael Higgins and Nick Searcy. It was directed by Robert Luketic (who also directed 21, Monster-In-Law and Legally Blonde).

The new 3D film from Disney, G-Force, opens today

G-Force is about a secret government program that trains animals to work as spies. The G-Force, a group of highly trained guinea pigs, a mole and a fly, is made up of Darwin, the squad leader, Blaster, the weapons expert, Juarez, the martial arts pro, Mooch, the reconnaissance expert, and Speckles, a computer and information specialist. The highly equipped team, with the help of the pet shop guinea pig Hurley, discovers that the fate of the world is in the paws.

• G-Force is rated PG and has a running time of 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• The G-Force is voiced by Sam Rockwell (Darwin), Tracy Morgan (Blaster), Penelope Cruz (Juarez), Nicholas Cage (Speckles) and Jon Favreau (Hurley). Steve Buscemi also lends his voice to play Bucky the hamster.
• G-Force also stars Bill Nighy, Will Arnett and Zach Galifianakis

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT MEN AND WOMEN THINK ABOUT IN THE SHOWER: According to a recent survey by Water Pik, Inc., men think about work, sex and daydreams while they lather up, whereas women think about chores, problems and their weight. Although it appears as though mens' showers would be more enjoyable, the survey showed that women still shower about two minutes longer than men do, clocking in at an average of 14 minutes compared to men's 12-minute scrub-downs. The study asked 1,000 Americans about their bathroom behavior and also unearthed interesting tidbits like the fact that only one in ten women take baths more often than showers and that a quarter of all people sing while they soap up.

CHECK IT OUT: Think you have a messy room/apartment/house? Check out these putrid pads: http://tinyurl.com/ktp8a9

WE RECOGNIZE PEOPLE BY THEIR EYES: According to a new study, when you see someone you know, you first identify them by the eyes. Asylum.com reports that after that, people tend to notice the nose, and then the mouth. The Spanish researchers who analyzed 868 female faces and 868 male faces also found that while it was common to be able to identify someone by just the eyes, this rarely happens when the nose or mouth is isolated. Furthermore, the research found the brain seems to have no interest in "high frequency" details -- such as wrinkles -- when first attempting to identify a face.

BIT IDEA

• Try and make a conscious effort to hold eye contact with every person you talk to at work, throughout the entire conversation. It will make you realize how little you probably make eye contact during a conversation!

CHECK IT OUT: http://www.11points.com/

SOME PEOPLE SUFFER SUMMER DEPRESSION: Summer-onset depression, a warm weather variation of what's called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, often starts in the spring and tapers off between September and November. The New York Daily News reports that it's a relatively new disorder. Dr. Alfred Lewy, director of the Sleep and Mood Disorders Laboratory at Oregon Health and Science University, said, "In people with summer depression, you see a decreased appetite and insomnia; with winter depression, you get an increased appetite and increased sleep." He added, "The contrast to the summertime norm of people being outside and enjoying activities only highlights the symptoms. There is an obvious physical connection to this disorder as the heat leads to exhaustion and lethargy."

WEIRD ANSWERS TO JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS (CareerBuilder.com)

Do you have any questions?

• "If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be?"
• "Can we wrap this up fairly quickly? I have someplace I have to go."
• "What is your company's policy on Monday absences?"
• "If this doesn't work out can I call you to go out sometime?"
• "If I get an offer, how long do I have before I have to take the drug test?"
• "When you do background checks on candidates, do things like public drunkenness arrests come up?"

Why are you leaving your current job?

• "Because I (expletive) my pants every time I enter the building."
• "I was fired from my last job because they were forcing me to attend anger management classes."

Why are you looking for a job?

• "Cigarettes are getting more expensive, so I need another job."
• "My parents told me I need to get a job so that is why I'm here."
• "Just for the benefits."
• "My old boss didn't like me, so one day, I just left and never came back. And here I am!"

What are your weaknesses?

• "I get angry easily and I went to jail for domestic violence. But I won't get mad at you."
• "I am an alcoholic and do not deserve this job."
• "I'm really not a big learner. You know ... some people love learning and are always picking up new things, but that's just not me. I'd much rather work at a place where the job is pretty stagnant and doesn't change a lot."

Things to think about as you're heading to the theater to check out the week's newest releases.

'THE UGLY TRUTH': The film stars Katherine Heigl as a romantically-challenged morning show producer who is teamed up with a "hardcore" TV personality who "promises to spill the ugly truth on what makes men and women tick."

ANNOYING FEMALE BEHAVIOR (Lemondrop.com)

• Wearing skintight black leggings as pants. Certain intimate contours of your body should be a precious secret between you and your lover (and gynecologist).
• Twirling your hair. Is that supposed to be cute? Because if so, here's a news flash: Unless you're 3 years old, it's one of the most inexcusably annoying habits in the universe. We'd rather date Sinead O'Connor than suffer through a relationship with a chronic hair-twirler.
• Using the phrase "mani & pedi." Let's forget the wrongness of having some poor Asian woman slaving over your cuticles. The expression itself? Not cool. It makes dudes retch.
• Smoking. Sure, it's a crap habit for both genders, but there's something especially boner-crushing about female puffers. Also: it'll make your lips look like a cat's anus by the time you hit 30. Forewarned!
• Pretending you're Carrie Bradshaw. Everyone has sex! Tons of people live in the city! But unfortunately, your mundane bedroom escapades don't deserve their own beloved HBO sitcom. Put the Cosmo down, take a deep breath, and start over.
• Believing that knitting is sexy. You're shooting for that Tina Fey 'hot nerd' vibe when you whip out the crochet gear. But guess what? It makes us think of sex-starved librarians who own too many cats.
• Buying thongs. Unless you're a stripper in New Jersey, these shouldn't have a place in your wardrobe.
• Getting tattoos. Ink should be reserved for men -- preferably men who are members of biker gangs, bass players in punk bands, or who have killed people in prison.
• Pretending to be lesbians when you're drunk. Unless you're prepared to go the full Ellen, you forfeit the right to hump your girlfriends on the dance floor. "Tequila made me do it" will not hold up in a court of law.

ANNYONG MALE BEHAVIOR (AllWomenTalk.com)

• Empty containers: Men have a habit of leaving empty containers everywhere but in the trash! This starts when they share student accommodation, and have to replace anything that they finish.
• Leaving hair in the sink: Whether they are shaving, or malting, they never pick their hairs out of the sink, in a silent revolt against having to look clean and respectable.
• Using ten cups, instead of one: It just defies male logic to use the same glass when they can get a clean, sanitized one for each drink. This leads to a sprinkling of dirty glasses all over the house, and no clean glasses when you actually need one.
• Selective hearing: Well we've all experience this one, so the best way to cure it? Drop some bombshells when you think he's no longer paying attention. "I'm pregnant" tends to work wonders! After a few shocks, he's sure to get the hint and stop his mind wondering.
• Not doing housework: This one will be slightly tougher to solve, so try negotiating. Agree that if he runs the Hoover around once a week, you'll greet him from work with a bacon sarnie, or let him watch the rugby without interrupting.
• Burping and farting: The easiest way to solve this one would be to adopt the habits yourself, but if your much too ladylike for that, remind him that you'd be so much more likely to seduce him if he could be discreet.
• Absolute helplessness when sick: Man flu is alive and prospering in men these days, so when he gets sick, expect him to need the same treatment and attention as a child.
• Channel surfing! Take the remote control away from him, or threaten to cancel the cable subscription.
• Wearing the same old thing over and over: Many men have the strangest attachment to some weird looking old piece of clothes they just wouldn't let go off. It might be old sneakers or a terrible T-Shirt with an offensive message.

WHAT MAKES YOU A WINNER?

(Sun) How you go about making your dreams come true reveals stunning insights into your personality. Answer these questions, then give yourself "5 points" for every "a" and "10 points" for every "b." Total the points and see what the analysis reveals about you:

Driving someplace new is:

1. Nerve racking.
2. No big deal.

On the walls in your home, you've hung:

1. Photos of friends and family.
2. Artwork you've collected.

You like to travel with:

1. Your closest friend.
2. Your three best buddies.

If you see a shooting star, you:

1. Make a wish.
2. Enjoy its beauty.

You're considering acupuncture, and you:

1. Find a practitioner in the phone book.
2. Ask a friend to recommend someone.

Analysis

25 to 30 - You're a practical person who achieve success by methodically approaching problems. Your confident assessment and dead-on solutions make you a champ.

35 to 40 - You're a risk taker who accepts challenges with a positive enthusiasm. Whether in your community or at work, you thrive on new experiences and important responsibilities.

45 to 50 - You believe that organizing a group to accomplish a set of goals is the most efficient way to achieve success. And you never scrimp on offering your own time and talents.

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. Of which season of American Idol was Carrie Underwood named the winner?
A. Season four.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Hailey Glassman says she's dating Jon Gosselin, but they're not engaged, as tabloids report.
• Gidget the Chihuahua, whose Taco Bell commercials made her a star from 1997 to 2000, has died. She was 15.
• Eddie Cibrian's wife says she's been keeping tabs of her husband's "secret" meetings with Leann Rimes and she's had enough.
• ESPN reported Erin Andrews is caught up in a nude peephole video.
• Harry Potter star Jamie Waylett was sentenced to 120 hours of community service for growing pot.
• Actor Dennis Franz and his sister have filed lawsuits over alleged injuries suffered when a chandelier fell at his Franz's Idaho house in 2007.
• A new book by former Washington Post reporter Ronald Kessler details how Jenna and Barbara Bush gave the Secret Service "fits" during George W.Bush's presidency and could prove potentially embarrassing for them now.
• Did you know the Bush twins are still receiving secret service protection? Their dad signed a special bill before leaving office. Bill Clinton did the same for Chelsea.
• Former Miss California Carrie Prejean has landed a book deal. Her story will be out in November.
• The massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck New Zealand on July 16 did minimal damage since the epicenter was in the remote southwest Fiordland region of the South Island. But it did leave a lasting mark: It actually moved New Zealand closer to Australia.
• Those charges against Kiefer Sutherland have now been officially dropped over that head-butting incident.
• Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles canceled two shows over the weekend and is on "voice rest."
• "Astro Boy" will blast into theaters October 23rd.
• Stephen Baldwin, brother of Emmy winner and "30 Rock" star Alec Baldwin, filed for bankruptcy in New York on Tuesday. The 43-year-old actor claims he owes more than $2.3 million.
• Looks like Nicholas Cage is going to play the villain in the new "Green Hornet" movie.
• If you want to be in on Google Wave, sign up at wave.google.com

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

LeAnn Rimes and her Lifetime movie co-star, actor Eddie Cibrian, just can't seem to call it quits. The two are reportedly still seeing each other, months after reports they began an affair on the set of their TV movie, Northern Lights. A recent motorcycle ride together in Los Angeles coupled with their frequent reported rendezvous at the Malibu home of a friend of Rimes and her husband, Dean Sheremet's, was enough for Cibrian's wife. Brandi Glanville told US Weekly that she has left the actor to do "what is best for our children." She added, "Eddie and LeAnn deserve each other."

• US Weekly first broke the news of Rimes' affair with Cibrian back in March.
• She responded to the report on her website, stating, "This is a difficult time for me and my loved ones, but I appreciate all your continued support. I would like to assure all of you that this is a place for you to hear things directly from me and as you all know, not everything in our lives is always black and white."
• Rimes and Sheremet's Nashville home is currently on the market.
• While Rimes and Sheremet have not announced a split, the two are often living apart, with Rimes in Los Angeles and Sheremet remaining in Nashville.

SIDE NOTE

• Around the time that Cibrian's affair with Rimes made news, he was also reportedly busted having an affair with 24-year-old model Scheana Marie Jancan.

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Kenny Chesney is rushing to the defense of his tourmate, Sugarland, after hearing fans' negative reactions to the duo's cancellations of some of their scheduled Sun City Carnival tour dates brought on by Jennifer Nettles' voice problems. Fans have been voicing their displeasure on various blog sites, and those postings haven't gone unnoticed by Chesney. He issued a statement on Wednesday (July 22nd) saying, "It was really sad to see the way some people reacted to Jennifer needing to cancel her appearance in San Francisco last weekend -- and it seems to me we should all be concerned about her long term vocal health more than any single show that she may not be able to do. Naturally I'm disappointed she's not out here with us -- cause she is a friend as well as an act I know the fans enjoy -- but I think it's more important that she have the time to heal properly, rather than forcing herself to try and rush back onstage. I know she'll be back before the summer, and can't wait to have her back out there. But it's about doing the right thing, and we should all be supporting her in that."

• Fans learned of Sugarland's cancellation in San Francisco on Saturday (July 18th) by reading signs posted by gate entrances as they entered AT&T Park Stadium for the show. The duo also canceled their appearances on Chesney's tour in Dallas and on Thursday (July 23rd) in Salt Lake City.
• Chesney will fill their slot with extended performances by openers Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert.

SIDE NOTES

• Sugarland's Nettles and Kristian Bush released a video message to fans explaining the situation via their website on Monday (July 20th). Nettles said that she's been struggling with voice problems since January.
• The singer was put on a 10-day voice rest back in May.

---

Jamey Johnson has been added to the Farm Aid lineup this fall. He will join event founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews, as well as newly announced acts Wilco, Jason Mraz and Phosphorescent. This year's Farm Aid will take place in St. Louis on October 4th.

Johnson is also scheduled to release a new album sometime this fall on vinyl. His debut single,"My Way To You," is currently making its way to radio. The song will be available as a free download on Johnson's website on August 3rd, and for sale digitally on August 11th.

FAST FACTS

• Johnson's current album, That Lonesome Song, was certified gold for sales of 500,000 copies.
• Johnson won this year's ACM award for Song of the Year for his Top 10 hit, "In Color."

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Jack Ingram has already crossed one dream duet off his list after his collaboration with Willie Nelson on Roger Miller's "Dang Me" back in 2006. Now Ingram tells us he's set his sights on another fellow Texan. "I wanna do a duet with Miranda Lambert. I've told her that, so I throw it out there every time I get a chance. The list of where it started was Willie Nelson. I've done that, and I would love to do that again, but when it comes down to who I'm hangin' with and who my friends are and who I think would be an interesting couple . . . uh . . . pairing -- she's already a couple with somebody else and so am I -- but she knows where I am. I love 'er."

• Ingram's new album, Big Dreams & High Hopes, will be out on August 25th.
• It features his current Top 15 hit, "Barefoot And Crazy."

Jake Owen is catching fans' attention with his latest single, "Eight Second Ride." That's just what he had in mind when he wrote the song years ago while trying to get noticed, Owen tells us: "I don't know what it is about that song. I really don't. I wrote the song when I was in college, which was almost eight years ago, and when I wrote it I was tired of playin' 'Sweet Home Alabama.' I wanted to play one of my own songs on the barstool that people didn't get up and go get a drink when I put in an original tune, and so I had to write something rockin' and uptempo."

The song has survived two albums now -- it was on his debut release, Startin' With Me, and has finally seen the light of day as a single on his latest CD, Easy Does It. "It was on the first record. People loved the song, and then we put it on the second record and here we are. We play all of our shows and before we get to the end of the show people are already chanting 'Eight Second Ride', so I'm excited it's a song that's lived that song, and we'll see what happens."

• Owen continues on tour this summer, playing various fairs and festivals around the country.

ON THE TUBE

CAN YOU DUET SEASON 2/CMT 10:00AM (ET)
Naomi Judd, Big Kenny

GAC NIGHTS/GAC 12:00PM (ET)
Brad Paisley

SOUNDSTAGE FEATURING ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION/GAC 5:00PM (ET)

GAC NIGHTS/GAC 8:00PM (ET)
Tanya Tucker, Lane Turner

INTRODUCING . . . LADY ANTEBELLUM/GAC 9:00PM (ET)

INTRODUCING . . . LUKE BRYAN/GAC 9:30PM (ET)

DRAFTING PARTNERS/GAC 10:00PM (ET)
Rodney Atkins

THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH CONAN O'BRIEN/NBC 11:3PM (ET)
Jason Aldean

ON THIS DAY IN COUNTRY

Alabama debuted on the charts with "I Wanna Be With You Tonight" in 1977.

• Reba McEntire's "It's Your Call" went to Number One in 1993.
• Toby Keith began a six-week stay at the top of the Billboard country chart with "As Good As I Once Was" in 2005.
• Joe Nichols' debut album, Man With A Memory, was released in 2002.
• Alan Jackson's remake of "Summertime Blues" topped the Billboard country singles chart in 1994.
• Vern Gosdin picked up a Number One single in Billboard with a song that celebrated Ernest Tubb, "Set 'Em Up Joe," in 1988.
• "Pancho And Lefty" took Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard to the top spot on the Billboard country chart in 1983.

Celebrity Gossip

JON GOSSELIN REPORTEDLY IN HAMPTONS WITH NEW GIRL: Jon Gosselin is reportedly vacationing in the Hamptons with tabloid reporter Kate Major, who he was photographed dining with last weekend. When asked if the two were dating, a source told Usmagazine.com, "Not sure! She said they needed to get away." Gosselin has been dating 22-year-old Hailey Glassman since his wife Kate filed for divorce last month. Gosselin and Glassman have been spotted together since Jon's initial dinner with Major, although it's unclear if she's with her supposed boyfriend in the Hamptons.

MISCHA BARTON REPORTEDLY RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL: Mischa Barton has reportedly left Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she had been receiving treatment since being placed under a psychiatric evaluation last week. People magazine reported that the release was unconfirmed, but the 23-year-old's rep did say that Barton is "still seeking treatment" but plans to return to work on the CW drama, The Beautiful Life.

TACO BELL CHIHUAHUA DIES: Gidget the Chihuahua, who rose to fame in the popular Taco Bell ads, died from a stroke on Tuesday (July 21st) at the age of 15. Her trainer Sue Chipperton told People magazine, "She made so many people happy." Chipperton added that Gidget spent most of her post-Taco Bell days lying in the sun and entertaining anyone she met with her playful nature.

PATRICK SWAYZE IS DOING 'VERY WELL': Patrick Swayze has not suffered a heart attack, contrary to a report in the National Enquirer. A rep for the cancer-stricken actor denied the claim, stating that Swayze is actually doing quite well. The rep told Access Hollywood, "He's continuing his treatment and doing very well, actually. Contrary to reports, he did not suffer a heart attack and has even gained a little weight."

HULK HOGAN'S DIVORCE REPORTEDLY NEARING SETTLEMENT: The ugly divorce battle between Hulk and Linda Hogan may soon be over. Sources close to the situation told TMZ.com that the estranged couple has begun negotiations and a settlement could be announced as early as next week. Linda filed for divorce in 2007 and the pair have since been mainstays in the courtroom and the tabloids with conflicts over monthly alimony payments and abuse allegations.

EDDIE CIBRIAN ADDRESSES SEPARATION REPORTS: Although Eddie Cibrian's wife told the tabloids that she was splitting from him in the wake of his infidelities, a rep for the actor claims the pair is working through their issues. The rep for Cibrian -- who allegedly had an affair with LeAnn Rimes after meeting on a Lifetime movie -- released a statement saying, "Apparently the press wishes to continue to play out Eddie Cibrian's domestic situation publicly with an unfair flair of tabloid fervor. Eddie is a devoted and loving father first and foremost and the speed bump he and Brandi are experiencing needs to be worked out privately for everyone's benefit."

DENNIS FRANZ SUES OVER CHANDELIER ACCIDENT: Dennis Franz is suing various construction and lighting companies over injuries sustained when a chandelier fell at the actor's house on Lake Coeur d'Alene in 2007. The suit, filed last week in Idaho District Court, alleges that the NYPD Blue actor's sister, and a toddler she was holding, suffered serious injuries from the incident and that the companies' negligence forced him to forgo an unspecified $16 million personal services contract. An attorney for the electric company involved said, "The accident is unfortunate. The parties are still in investigation to determine the cause of the accident," but said that allegations that they potentially tampered with evidence in the aftermath of the incident are "absolutely not true."

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

NEW MOON' WEBSITE DEBUTS: The official website for the highly anticipated Twilight sequel, New Moon, was launched on Wednesday (July 22nd). Fans can check out new photos, sound clips and other fun features relating to the movie ahead of its November 20th release. To access the site, go to: http://www.newmoonthemovie.com/

OLSENS GET FASHION RECOGNITION: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have been inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of American. British Vogue reports that the famous twins join respected fashionistas like Alexander Wang, Jason Wu and Maria Pinto as new members of the CFDA, who will all be welcomed to the council with an "intimate dinner" in New York City later this year.

SAM RAMI TAPPED FOR 'WORLD OF WARCRAFT' MOVIE: The director behind Spider-Man has signed on to helm a movie version of World of Warcraft. E! reports that Sam Rami has teamed with Legendary Pictures to translate the hit online game and fantasy universe into what they hope will be another blockbuster franchise. Early estimates project that the film will hit theaters in 2012.

MEGAN FOX REPORTEDLY TURNS DOWN BOND GIRL ROLE: Megan Fox reportedly turned down the opportunity to play a Bond girl in the next installment of the 007 franchise. The Daily Star reports that the 23-year-old actress turned down the part because she wanted to have a bigger part in the film playing the secret agent's love interest.

'THE NOTEBOOK' MUSICAL IN DEVELOPMENT: The tear-inducing movie The Notebook is reportedly being turned into a musical. PerezHilton.com reports that One Tree Hill actress Bethany Joy Galeotti and record producer Rom Aniello are developing the show, which is currently in the early stages as a workshop based in North Carolina. Auditions are being held in August and Broadway has not picked up the project.

KATIE HOLMES APPEARING ON "SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE TONIGHT"

Katie Holmes is set to perform on tonight's So You Think You Can Dance in celebration of the show's 100th episode. The actress described her routine to the show's host Cat Deeley, revealing, "This is an homage to Judy Garland and I am very excited about it. I like to sing and dance so it is really fun."

Usmagazine.com previously reported that Holmes will dance and sing to Garland's "Get Happy" from the 1950s musical Summer Stock, wearing an all-black ensemble similar to one Garland once wore.

• The website adds that at one point in the routine, Holmes is lifted through the air over three dancers' heads and finishes the act by tossing a black velvet fedora in the air.
• Holmes became involved with the show after teaming up with So You Think You Can Dance co-creator Nigel Lythgoe, Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba and director and choreographer Adam Shankman to create the Dizzy Feet Foundation, which "will provide assistance to talented underprivileged youth to help them realize their dreams of becoming professional dancers, and create awareness about the positive impact that dance can have on the growth and development of our nation's youth."
• Although Holmes' rehearsals have reportedly been well received, she doesn't have to be the world's greatest dancer to make a splash on the show. Earlier this year, Cat Deeley told us that interesting performers are more important than boring ones with talent. She explained, "We're looking for America's favorite dancer, we're not necessarily looking for the best dancer. So we're looking for somebody with that X factor, that certain je ne sais quoi, that star quality that you can't quite put your finger on, you know? And people either have it or they don't"

CHECK IT OUT: Watch Holmes' interview with Deeley: http://tinyurl.com/mbc92y

JAMIE LEE CURTIS PAINKILLER ADDICTION

Jamie Lee Curtis has revealed that she battled a painkiller addiction in her past. The admission came in the actress's Huffington Post blog, in which she expressed empathy for the challenges Michael Jackson faced in his own apparent struggle with prescription drugs.

Curtis wrote, "I too found painkillers after a routine cosmetic surgical procedure and I too became addicted. The morphine becomes the warm bath from which to escape painful reality. I was a lucky one. I was able to see that the pain had started long ago and far away and that the finding the narcotic was merely a matter of time."

• Although she didn't provide a timeline for her addiction, the 50-year-old has since recovered. She boasted, "My recovery from drug addiction is the single greatest accomplishment of my life. But it takes work -- hard, painful work."
• As for Jackson, Curtis said, "I believe Mr. Jackson was in pain. Mr. Jackson was an addict. It is coming out. Everywhere. He wanted relief and would get it in any name, place or method he could. It was and is a conspiracy of silence and I'm sure there were attempts to intervene and I'm sure his family and friends tried ... but the addict gets what the addict wants, relief from the pain of their life."

CHECK IT OUT: Read Curtis's entire blog entry: http://tinyurl.com/ltv7r6

INTERNET COMMENTS: DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE?

• From godivademaus on HuffingtonPost.com: "This was the most insightful article regarding Michael Jackson that I've seen. It neither vilifies him, nor glorifies him, but shows him as the human being who, because of his immense talent, was exploited as a child, which caused a damaged and fragile adult"
• From Atservice on HuffingtonPost.com: "Finally, a voice of compassion and common sense. Treatment works and recovery is possible! Thank you JLK!"
• From kenny67 on HuffingtonPost.com: "Jamie, you hit the nail on the head with your article. I think having soooo soooo many cosmetic surgeries was a good indication of this poor mans unhappiness. He was trying so hard to change, but forgot the simple truth that change comes from within. May he rest in peace. Congrats on your success as a blogger!"

FAVORITE BAD ACTIVITIES THAT MAKE US FEEL GOOD:

Courtesy of a survey in the Daily Mail

• Buying something expensive and unnecessary
• Taking a sick day from work
• Not cleaning the house
• Using the internet at work for personal reasons
• Eating at a fast food restaurant
• Choosing a nap instead of the gym
• Flirting with a friend's partner
• Line-cutting
• Parking illegally
• Spending the children's inheritance
• Watching reality TV

HOW TO PICK OUT MEN'S JEANS:

Men's Health gives some advice so you don't end up getting ridiculed like President Obama and his "Dad jeans."

• The perfect pair of jeans for you: The perfect blue jeans are the DNA of a man's casual wardrobe. They take the million random possibilities of style and organize them into a coherent system. So pick a classic pair, like dark denim. They're versatile in a way well-worn jeans are not. Indigo jeans are cool with a plain T-shirt and sneakers, but clean-cut enough to hold their own with a dress shirt and tie or a casual blazer when occasion calls. Choose a pair that fits low on your hips (below the navel), and make sure they're straight-leg or boot cut. (The tapered look repels ladies.)
• How to get a pair that molds to your body: No pair of pants looks better on a man than blue jeans that were stiff and dark when they came home from the store and have been softened and sculpted and battered against his body by life. Buy a single pair that starts out looking like something Potsie wore on Happy Days. Over time, they'll mature into your favorite pair. Hers, too.
• How to tell if your pair is too baggy or tight: I call it the anatomy test. If I--or you--can see any of your frontal anatomy through your pants, they're too tight. If we can see any of your gluteal anatomy above your jeans, they're too loose. Please leave the extra-baggy jeans for rappers, skate punks, and Weight Watchers commercials. And trust me, no one wants to see a man in tight jeans. Ever.
• How to make jeans go with everything: Blue jeans, which by rights ought to be casual, have evolved into the ultimate in flexibility. Used with wit, they can work in many different situations. For example, though in most venues you shouldn't wear blue jeans (casual) with shiny slip-ons (somewhat formal), there are certain urban, art-gallery moments and late-summer cocktail-party-on-the-deck situations in which jeans and fancy loafers are okay, assuming of course no socks are involved.
• The jacket to wear with jeans: The full-denim outfit is a little too country for most gals. Instead, add a buttery suede or leather jacket.

HOW YOU KNOW YOU'RE ADDICTED TO TWITTER: (HuffingtonPost.com)

You know what at least three people you don't know had for breakfast.

• You're obsessed with how many followers you have or don't have and possess a master plan for getting your numbers up.
• You search popular news sites just to link information that makes you look smart.
• You spend more than two minutes planning out the cleverness of each tweet and give yourself a hi-5 when you figure out new ways to shrink words.
• You've got regular Twitter, tweet deck, and twitter mobile for complete uninterrupted professional tweeting.
• You get in frequent back and forth Twitter arguments over senseless topics that you actually don't care about. This starts to enter your real life.
• Twitter is your home page.
• You paid the Wi-Fi fee on Virgin America so you could get extra cool points by tweeting at 36,000 feet. It's the new 5 mile high club.
• You've already tweeted about this post.
• You've tweeted at least three times before getting to #10.

DID YOU KNOW?

GIRLS LIKE BEST FRIENDS; GUYS LIKE GROUPS: A study conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) found that girls are hardwired to care about one-on-one relationships with their BFFs, while the brains of boys are more attuned to group dynamics and competition with other boys. The results suggest that as girls progress from early puberty to late adolescence, certain regions of their brains become more active when they face a potential social interaction. Specifically, when an older girl anticipates meeting someone new -- someone she believes will be interested in her -- certain biological functions all become more active. By contrast, boys in the same situation show no such increase in activity in these areas. Time magazine speculates that evolution has programmed boys to compete within large groups, so they can learn to eliminate rivals for women -- and that girls have been programmed to judge, one-on-one, who would be the most protective father for offspring.

BOYS WITH WEIRD NAMES ARE PROBLEM CHILDREN: Having an offbeat name increases a boy's tendency towards juvenile delinquency. Asylum.com reports that researchers tracked the behavior of 15,000 boys born between 1987 and 1991 and found that those who had been given staid old biblical names like Michael and David were less likely to get into trouble than those given less popular, girly or strange first names. While Garland, Tyrell, Alec (think "smart"), Ernest and Malcolm made the list as names linked to serious behavior problems, the research suggests it's not the name itself, but rather the "social factors of being tagged with an offbeat moniker" which lead to this increase in crime.

GADGET TRANSLATES DOGS' BARKS: Japanese inventors have come up with a device they claim can detect a dog's emotion from its bark. The Telegraph reports that the Bowlingual Voice will go on sale for over $200 in Japan from next month and is a more technologically advanced version of a basic model launched seven years ago. The gadget, which will be sold initially only in Japan, consists of a microphone which is placed around the dog's neck alongside a hand-held unit operating device. When the dog barks, the microphone records the sound and sends the data to the owner's hand-held device which then "translates" it into what the dog is apparently trying to say. A speech synthesizer audibly informs the owner of the dog's apparent intentions as well as appearing on the screen of the wireless hand-held unit. A new answering machine function can also record the dog's expressions of desire when owners are absent.

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Anyone who follows Blake Shelton on Twitter knows the singer has a bit of an obsession. Shelton "tweets" several times an hour on a daily basis, but he freely admits to us that he has developed a problem. "I'm addicted to it. I love it. Just the ability to have a thought and not have to hold it in, that's my favorite thing. It's one thing to be sittin' here talkin' to the guys about girls and boobs and whatever, and it's another thing whenever I can express that I've always felt that my pinky toe was lazy. It just kind of lays on its side and doesn't really help with the others. Now that is something that you can tweet."

While the majority of Shelton's Twitter followers think he's hilarious, he says there are those who don't get his sense of humor. "I get as many haters as I do people that think what I say is funny. I'm never serious on there. If I say something smartass on there, that's really all it is is just me trying to be funny and make light of a situation . . . that I'm a little bit hungover and walkin' through an airport at 5:30 in the mornin' and my pants are too tight. It bothers me (laughs)."

• Shelton's latest single, "I'll Just Hold On," is a Top 15 hit and climbing on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.

Billy Currington earns his fourth Number One hit this week with "People Are Crazy." It's the second chart-topper from Currington's Little Bit Of Everything album, which is at Number 10 on Billboard's Top Country Albums Chart.

• Currrington didn't write "People Are Crazy," but he decided to add his own creative touch at the end of the song, as he tells us: "We were in the studio and sang it down and when we got to the end, they were still playing the music, so I just started whistling. It was kind of a joke, really. But we just kept it on there. It wasn't planned to be on the album like that, but it was natural. After I did it, they kind of laughed in the studio, but then I went back and heard it and we all agreed that it was kind of funny just to keep it on there. It was Andy Griffith-ish anyway."

Keith Urban has recorded an exclusive set of six songs for fans at iTunes. The "iTunes Originals" were recorded live in-studio. They include three tracks from Urban's current Defying Gravity CD, as well as never-before-heard interview clips covering such topics as how Urban got his start, receiving his first Grammy award, and his appreciation for people and his work.

• Urban said, "People don't understand that when we walk out on stage and people say that the music makes them feel this incredible way, that the audience has the same effect on me. I feel touched when I see people singing along with the songs and you just see the love, the want and the joy and the fact that they're so with you in the moment. It's a really blessed job that I have that I get to see that."
• Urban continues on his Escape Together World tour with rotating opening acts including Taylor Swift, Sugarland, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, Little Big Town, Dierks Bentley and Glen Campbell.

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Rascal Flatts' iTunes Pass is available starting this week. With the Pass, fans will receive automatic weekly downloads of never before released music each week this summer, including live concert recordings, studio rehearsals and lost demos.

The first wave of songs was released on Tuesday (July 21st), with new content made available every Tuesday through September 1st. Offerings include live concert recordings of "I'm Movin' On," "Mayberry" and "Bless The Broken Road," live in-studio cuts of "What Hurts The Most," "Take Me There" and "Here Comes Goodbye" along with unreleased demo recordings. A total of 28 Rascal Flatts recordings are scheduled to be released during this timeframe.

• The trio is the first country act to offer an iTunes Pass.

SIDE NOTES

• Rascal Flatts' current American Living Unstoppable tour will visit 40 cities before wrapping up on October 18th in Kelseyville, California.
• The trio headlined their first stadium show on Saturday (July 18th) at Chicago's Wrigley Field. They were the first country act to play the stadium.

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A star-studded lineup of acts from this summer's CMA Music Festival will be featured on the ABC prime time special, Country's Night To Rock, airing on August 31st. The list of performers includes Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Julianne Hough, Jamey Johnson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, John Rich, Darius Rucker, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, and Zac Brown Band. Kid Rock's "Picture" duet with McBride, as well as Wynonna and Naomi Judd's reunion will also be featured during the special.

• CMA Music Festival: Country's Night To Rock will air from 8-11 p.m. ET.

FAST FACTS

• This year's CMA Music Festival was held from June 11-14 in Nashville.
• An average of 56,000 fans attended each day of CMA Music Festival.

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Terri Clark's new album, called Live: Road Rage, will be released on Thursday (July 23rd). Culled from a series of performances over the past few years, Road Rage includes Clark's hits like "You're Easy On The Eyes" and "Better Things To Do," as well as a few surprises, like her take on the Black Crowes' "Hard To Handle."

• Clark said, "Anyone who's ever been out to see us live - or who knows how much I love to play - knows that my heart and my soul are on that stage! For some people, it's about perfectly recreating the record... For me and my band, though, it's about w here can we take those songs, how hard can we play'em, what else can we get out of them emotionally. So, in some ways, I feel like all these songs are getting to be heard as what they grew up to be!"
• Terri Clark Live: Road Rage will be available at all of Clark's shows and on her official website at terriclark.com.

FAST FACTS

• Clark's last studio album, Life Goes On, was released in 2005.
• She has charted six Number Ones since her debut album was released in 1995.

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Kelly Clarkson and Miley Cyrus are among the young women who have been selected to headline VH1 Divas after the show's four-year hiatus. Cyrus and Clarkson will take the stage live along with Leona Lewis and Adele on September 17th as the show is broadcast from the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

VH1 executive Lee Rolontz said, "An amazingly talented group of young women have successfully launched themselves into the global music scene since our last VH1 Divas show. We're very excited to have so many of them join us at this year's momentous event. Adele, Kelly, Leona and Miley have all captured the world's attention with their talent and have earned their designation as VH1 Divas this year. Don't let some of their young ages fool you -- these women are among the best entertainers in the world and will continue to thrill music fans for a long time to come."

• Previous performers at the Divas concerts include Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Cher, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Whitney Houston, Beyonce, and Chaka Khan.
• Additional performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.
• Fans are encouraged to go to Divas.VH1.com to submit a "Diva Story" text or video testimonial about their favorite diva and to find more information about the show.

CHECK IT OUT: See footage from a previous Divas show featuring the likes of Aretha Franklin and Celine Dion: http://tinyurl.com/l4cbgp

INTERNET COMMENTS: DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE?

• From Natalie M. on EW.com: "I can't fathom why in the heck Miley Cyrus was added to this lineup... Adele and Leona I get... Kelly I get somewhat.. Miley just makes my brain hurt.. Vh1 made a major faux pas"
• From dave on EW.com: "Miley Cyrus??? WTF???? She's no diva. What person that watches Divas Live wants to see a Disney Channel star perform on the show. Do 10-year-olds watch this show? Plus, Miley's voice isn't even that great."
• From Hunter on EW.com: "Miley Cyrus is in no way shape or form a "diva"... The producers obviously think they can attract a larger audience by catering to the tween set."
• From K on EW.com: "That is a terrible lineup. Even if they added better people, the show would already be tainted by these chicks' presence. They ain't no divas. Why even bring the show back if you're not gonna do it right. Four years hiatus and this is what they come up with?"

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!

TAYLOR SWIFT ON THE SET: YOU BELONG WITH ME/GAC 12:00PM (ET)

INTRODUCING: JAMEY JOHNSON/GAC 12:30PM, 10:00PM (ET)

GAC NIGHTS/GAC 8:00PM (ET)
Brad Paisley

SOUNDSTAGE FEATURING ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION/GAC 9:00PM (ET)

CHELSEA LATELY/ETV 10:00PM (ET)
Jewel

JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE/ABC 12:05AM (ET)
Jewel

ON THIS DAY IN COUNTRY

Shania Twain scored her first Number One single with "Any Man of Mine" in 1995.

• Loretta Lynn's son, Jack Benny Lynn, drowned in Waverly, Tennessee in 1984.
• Sugarland's Love On The Inside album was released in 2008.
• Brad Paisley's "The World" climbed to Number One in Billboard in 2006.
• Brad Paisley's Mud On The Tires album was released in 2003.
• Earl Scruggs and Minnie Pearl received National Medals of Arts from President George Bush at a White House ceremony in 1992.
• George Strait climbed to Number One on the Billboard chart with "What's Going On In Your World" in 1989.
• Charley Pride topped the Billboard chart with "It's Gonna Take A Little Bit Longer" in 1972.

Celebrity Gossip

JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT NOT ENGAGED: Contrary to rumors, Jamie Kennedy and Jennifer Love Hewitt are not walking down the aisle quite yet. The New York Post reported that the couple became "spontaneously engaged" over the weekend at a California comedy club, when Kennedy supposedly dropped to one knee after an audience member shouted that Kennedy should marry his girlfriend. Hewitt's rep told Usmagazine.com, "There is no truth to the report." Hewitt, who has been dating Kennedy for most of 2009, recently told a Los Angeles radio stations of wedding plans, "By this time next year, if we're not planning something, then there's a situation."

BAM MARGERA DENIES OVERDOSE REPORTS: Bam Margera says that he was rushed to the hospital last Sunday (July 19th) while after a four-day drinking binge -- not because of a possible drug overdose as originally reported. The former Jackass star told TMZ.com said that the bender stemmed from marital problems, explaining, "I may get a divorce ... booze helps." Margera added that his kidney and leg muscles were "a mess" from not eating or drinking enough water over the previous days. The hospital flushed out his system and he was released after speaking to a psychiatrist.

EDDIE CIBRIAN SPLITS FROM WIFE: The wife of Eddie Cibrian -- the actor who reportedly had had affair with LeAnn Rimes -- has left him over his alleged infidelities. Brandi Glanville told Us Weekly, "Eddie and I have decided to take some time apart. I want to do what is best for our children. Eddie and LeAnn deserve each other." Both parties denied the affair, but Cibrian and Rimes have repeatedly been spotted together during and after the filming of their Lifetime movie. Cibrian and Glanville have two children under the age of seven.

'TWILIGHT' STAR DATING PARIS HILTON'S EX: Twilight star Nikki Reed is reportedly dating Paris Hilton's ex-fiance, Paris Latsis. A source told EOnline.com, "They met about six months ago and have been together since. The reason she traveled over to Greece was to be with [Paris]." Things are reportedly serious enough that the couple's families have been introduced to one another. Another insider added, "Both families have met, and really like each other."

'ER' ACTOR RECOVERING AFTER SURGERY: ER actor Deezer D has been released from the hospital after undergoing surgery to correct potentially fatal heart problems. The actor, who played Nurse Malik McGrath on the show, told RadarOnline.com, ""Most of the cast from ER supported me -- Eriq La Salle, Noah Wiley were at my bedside before and after my surgery. Shi McBride came and stayed with me and supported me." He also expressed his appreciation for the fans, adding, "Thanks for all prayers and love, the entire experience made God more tangible in my life," he said. "I just can't explain in words what I felt."

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

LINDSAY LOHAN MOVIE DOESN'T IMPRESS IN THE RATINGS: Lindsay Lohan's straight-to-TV movie Labor Pains did not quite bomb on Sunday (July 19th), but the ratings certainly were not impressive. E! reports that the flick drew an audience of 2.1 million viewers, which is a better-than-average prime-time audience for ABC Family -- but about half of what the network scored the previous Sunday when airing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

TLC LAUNCHING FAT FAMILY REALITY SHOW: TLC is launching a new reality series that will chronicle the loves of a morbidly obese family. The documentary-style program has been tentatively titled One Big Happy Family and will follow a 340-pound, 40-year-old man along with his nearly 400-pound wife, and their two 300-pound-plus teenage children.

NICOLAS CAGE IN TALKS FOR 'GREEN HORNET': Nicolas Cage is in negotiations to play the villain in the upcoming Green Hornet film. Seth Rogen has already been cast as the masked crime fighter and Variety adds that Cameron Diaz is in talks to play his love interest.

JAMIE-LYNN SIGLER JOINS 'UGLY BETTY': Jamie-Lynn Sigler is joining the cast of Ugly Betty. Entertainment Weekly reports that the Sopranos vet will play the recurring role of Natalie, Daniel's sexy, spiritual, funny new assistant. Sigler's first appearance will be the show's two-hour season premiere on October 9th.

'TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES' COMING BACK TO THEATERS: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are returning to theaters. Variety reports that John Fusco has been tapped to write a script for the live-action picture, which executives hope will kick off a new franchise in 2011. The characters were featured in four films in the early 1990s which grossed over $323 million.

ALICIA SILVERSTONE GOING TO BROADWAY: Alicia Silverstone will join Laura Linney on Broadway next year in Time Stands Still. Reuters reported that Linney will play a photojournalist who was wounded while covering the Iraq war while Silverstone will portray the young girlfriend of the woman's photo editor. Previews of the show begin in early January.

LEGAL ISSUES

STEPHEN BALDWIN IS BANKRUPT: Stephen Baldwin filed for bankruptcy in New York on Tuesday (July 21st). Reuters reported that the 43-year-old filed for Chapter 11 protection claiming he owes more than $2.3 million and owns a New York property valued at only $1.1 million. Court papers show that the actor and reality star owes about $1.2 million on two mortgages on the New York property, more than $1 million in taxes and also has credit card debt.

'HARRY POTTER' ACTOR GETS OFF EASY FOR GROWING POT: Harry Potter actor Jamie Waylett has been sentenced to 120 hours of community service after pleading guilty to growing marijuana. A London judge handed down the decision on Tuesday (July 21st), the week after he admitted to harvesting ten cannabis plants in a bedroom at his mother's house. The crime carried a maximum 14-year sentence, but the judge acknowledged that the cultivation was intended only for Waylett's personal use, rather than a large-scale operation.

VANESSA HUDGENS SUES FORMER MANAGER: Vanessa Hudgens is suing her former manager for allegedly violating the terms of a settlement deal stemming from his lawsuit against her. TMZ.com reports that the High School Musical star settled a dispute over commission fees with Johnny Vieira back in April, but Hudgens claims he has since broken the undisclosed terms of the settlement by making it look like he still represented her on his MySpace page. She is now claiming that since Vieira broke their agreement, she should get back the money paid to him in the settlement.

CASE AGAINST DANE COOK'S MANAGER-BROTHER KEEPS BUILDING: Dane Cook's half brother pleaded not guilty to additional charges that he stole millions of dollars from the comedian. Reuters reports that Darryl McCauley was arraigned Tuesday (July 21st) in Massachusetts on 20 additional charges of larceny over $250. Prosecutors allege that he wrote company checks to himself and transferred funds into his personal bank accounts while working as Cook's business manager. He was arrested in December and is currently being held on $1 million bail.

Kiefer Sutherland head-butted a fashion designer

The Manhattan District Attorney rejected the assault case against Kiefer Sutherland stemming from a May incident during which the 24 actor allegedly head-butted a fashion designer for bumping into Brooke Shields. The D.A. said on Tuesday (July 21st), "We declined to prosecute after a full investigation. And that included speaking to the complaining witness who was quite uncooperative... Therefore, the D.A. declined to prosecute."

• The news gets better for Sutherland, as TMZ.com added that the L.A. City Attorney chose not to take the incident seriously enough to reverse his probation from a prior DUI conviction.

INTERNET COMMENTS: DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE?

• From Linda on TMZ.com: "I'm glad for him, because I think he was trying to be gallant and it backfired."
• From NYCResident on TMZ.com: "Since when was headbutting someone not a crime? That is great! Now I can randomly headbutt people outside my house."

Cameron Diaz is reportedly at the center of an A-list love triangle

Cameron Diaz is reportedly at the center of an A-list love triangle involving Jude Law and Leonardo DiCaprio. London's The Sun reports that the actors -- who both previously starred opposite Diaz in movies -- recently took her out on dates and are continuing to vie for her affections.

• As for Leo, who recently split from a model Bar Refaeli, a source told the paper, "Cameron has been showing a lot of interest while he is in London filming. She was back at his rented apartment in Knightsbridge, west London, a couple of times last week after a series of secret dates. They were joking with friends that they played chess together."
• Diaz and Jude Law on the other hand, are reportedly considering taking their friendship to the next level. An insider revealed, "Jude and Cameron have been good friends since they filmed The Holiday together a few years ago. Now they are both single, things are a bit different between them. Jude has been flirting with her and she has been playing along."

CHECK IT OUT: How to choose when you're in a love triangle: http://tinyurl.com/m4dk6o

5 THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER EAT

Diet is the key to well-being, and there are five definite no-nos if you want to live a long and healthy life.

1. High-fructose corn syrup is found in many processed foods, so check labels carefully. This insidious substance makes your body crave fatty foods.
2. Hydrogenated oil also known as trans fats promotes hardening of the arteries.
3. Sugar gives you an insatiable urge to eat more carbohydrates. If you do eat sugar, a diet high in fiber will minimize its effects.
4. White flower, and products made from it, is nothing more than empty calories. It will also send blood glucose levels soaring.
5. Saturated fat is a major artery-clogger.

That's real interesting and all, but we made our own list things you should never eat:

1. A SPAM milk shake
2. Green meat
3. A serving of "Survivorman" casserole
4. Leftover Thanksgiving turkey... 6 months later!
5. Peanut butter and petroleum jelly sandwich

10 SUREFIRE WAYS TO TICK OFF YOUR CO-WORKERS

Do you have a coworker that drives you crazy? What do they do that frustrates you so? Well, Careerbuilder.com offers 10 surefire ways to "tick off" your co-workers. Now let us count the ways:

• Is it always all about you? Are you preoccupied with your own career path and looking good at the expense of others? Do you put others down while you pump yourself up? Instead, conduct yourself in such a way that other people will want to see you succeed -- let their genuine support and admiration of who you are pull you to success.
• Answering cell phone calls during meetings. A surefire way to aggravate people is to consistently respond to calls, e-mails and pagers when in conversation with others.
• Sending voice mails that go on and on and on. At the end of a voice message, replay it and hear how you sound. Difficulty in getting to the point?
• Acting like a bureaucrat. Do you drag out turnaround times and play control games? Do you create obstacles or barriers for others to do their work? Making mountains out of molehills is another surefire way to alienate people.
• "I'm like, ya know..." You are your words even more so in virtual relationships. You may be communicating with people worldwide who know you only by the sound of your voice or the tone of your e-mails. Become conscious of how you use language and stop communicating in ways that cause you to sound inexperienced or unprofessional.
• Doing your bills at the office. Whether you are paying your bills, planning your wedding, or placing an online order for a special gift, avoid doing them on office time.
• Skirting around the dress code. Dressing for work has never been more complicated - especially if you work at multiple locations. Prioritize matching your customer's dress code and if visiting more than one on a given day and the codes conflict, go for a classic, neutral look.
• Taking it too easy on telecommute days. Run a few errands and throw in a load of laundry? Hey, you're a hard worker and deserve work-life balance. Telecommuting can be a tremendous win-win but if you stretch it to its limits, you may blow the policy for yourself and others.
• Acting unethically. Make sure you are clear on your organization's ethics policies and have the courage and conviction to uphold them. It's easy to draw the line on major violations but watch for the subtle ways you may be pulling others in the wrong direction to achieve goals

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Paula Abdul's agent says she is "hurt," "angry" and may not return to "American Idol."
• A book is already being shopped around about a less-than-likeable Walter Cronkite. We'll see if anyone publishes it.
• Sony's movie studio has bid $50 million to acquire the rights to a film based on rehearsal footage for Michael Jackson's "This Is It" comeback concert series.
• Scientists are now saying Aloe is great for toothpastes, that it helps clean teeth and prevent cavities.
• Whoops! Sienna Miller burned her cleavage while filming her new movie, "G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra" after getting too close to a controlled explosion. "Luckily it wasn't my breasts, it was the bit in-between. It got a bit burnt," Miller told reporters at a news conference in Sydney, Australia.
• Frank McCourt, the author of the best-selling memoir "Angela's Ashes," died on July 19 at age 78 of melanoma.
• There will be a New York funeral for Walter Cronkite, but he'll be buried next to his wife in Missouri.
• Miami Beach police arrested "Burn Notice" star Jeffrey Donovan on suspicion of drunken driving.
• Shaquille O'Neal will star in "Shaq Vs.," a TV series where the 15-time All-Star center will challenge top athletes in their respective sports.
• Fred Durst has a new wife -- his girlfriend Esther and Fred tied the knot last week and are honeymooning in Vegas this week.
• The custody hearing for Micheal Jackson's kids has been moved to August 3, but now we're hearing there's a big push for Janet Jackson to get them.
• Jorja Fox, who left "C.S.I." two years, will return this fall for the season-opener and for a few more episodes throughout the season.
• The hooker that brought down New York Governor Eliot Spitzer claims that she also serviced a governor from another state.
• President Obama has hit the 6-month mark of his presidency.

National Junk Food Day --

Dr. Alan Hirsch from the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago conducted an 8-year study with 800 volunteers and claims the results show that people's snack food preferences reveal their personality type. He says the link between food preferences and personality is much like a Rorschach ink blot test long used by psychologists for insight into personality. Here's the true meaning of all that junk food you eat:

• Pretzels mean you're a flirt and you're very lively and energetic.
• Cheese curls mean you have great integrity and maintain a high moral ground.
• Potato chips mean you are aggressive, a real go-getter who will not take no for an answer.
• Tortilla chips mean you're a perfectionist. An "A" is not good enough for you. It has to be an "A+."
• Beef jerky means you're the life of the party. You're outgoing and gregarious.

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

As the first country act to ever play Wrigley Stadium in Chicago, Rascal Flatts didn't do half bad. The trio told out the venue on Saturday (July 18th) night, filling 37,000 seats with some help from special guests Darius Rucker and Vince Gill. Rascal Flatts' show was one of only four concerts ever played in the Chicago Cubs home stadium.

• Highlights of the four-hour long show included Gill joining Rascal Flatts mid-way through the trio's set to perform "Whenever You Come Around." Rucker also joined the trio during their finale on the Hootie & The Blowfish hit "Hold My Hand" as well as "Life Is A Highway," from the Cars movie soundtrack.
• Wrigley Field was the first stadium show that Rascal Flatts has ever headlined. The band will bring their American Living Unstoppable tour to its second stadium show at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on August 9th.

Tim McGraw is champing at the bit to get his first new studio album in more than two years into the hands of his fans. The CD, called Southern Voice, will hit retail outlets this fall.

In the meantime, fans are getting a taste of the new project with McGraw's debut single, "It's A Business Doing Pleasure With You." The song, which was co-written by Nickelback lead singer Chad Kroeger, is already a Top 25 hit on the Billboard chart

McGraw's last release was Greatest Hits 3, so he tells us he's very excited about finally having some new music to offer fans. ["I am! I've been workin' on this for awhile, for a long while -- seems like most of my life I've been workin' on this album. I'm very excited to have it out. We've been playing some stuff off this record live for a year now, and so to finally get it out there and get people to hear it and get the record out is really cool. I can't wait for people to hear the rest of the album also."

• McGraw's last studio album, Let It Go, was released in 2007.

The performances of Brad Paisley, Alison Krauss and Charley Pride in the East Room at the White House on Tuesday (July 21st) will be livestreamed on whitehouse.gov/live on Tuesday, July 21. President Obama will kick things off with opening remarks at 7:25 p.m ET. The First Lady, White House staff and members of congress will be in attendance.

FAST FACTS

• The White House Music Series is hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama.
• Its goal is to celebrate the arts and the importance of arts education.
• The series launched last month with a focus on jazz and will continue in the fall with classical music.

Carrie Underwood's fast climb to the top taught her one thing very quickly -- to keep her friends and family very close. The singer told us that those are really the only people she allows in her small circle of trust these days. "I think it's really important to keep the people around me that have been there all along . . . not too many new people, cause I don't know if I can trust them or not, but people like my mom and my sisters and my best friends that were my friends before. They like me for me."

Underwood added that she counts on these same folks to keep her grounded from day to day. "Those are the ones that'll tell you if you're acting like a jerk, and they're the ones you can take it from and think, 'Okay, well they must really mean this.' Nobody's said that to me yet and I hope they don't have to, but I do think it's important to keep them close."

• Underwood is currently hunkered down in the studio working on her third album. The untitled new project is due out on November 3rd. A brand new single will be heading to radio later this summer.
• Underwood's previous two albums -- Some Hearts and Carnival Ride -- have sold a combined total of more than 10 million albums.
• Earlier this year, Underwood became the first country artist in history to chart 10 Number One singles from their first two albums.
• "I Told You So" became the fifth consecutive chart-topper from her 2007 album, Carnival Ride.

Trace Adkins has inspired a new comic book action hero. Tough southern guy "Luke McBain" will be the star of a new four-issue comic book being released on November 12th by Gauge Comics. The writer and publisher of the series spent a lot of time with Adkins to make sure McBain felt authentic. The title character of Luke McBain was drawn to Adkins' likeness and reflects some of his life philosophy.

• The story takes place when McBain returns home to rural Louisiana after serving 14 years in prison, having taken the fall for a crime he didn't commit. He finds himself in a town now controlled by greed and corruption, and he's the only one with the courage to set things right. Although the book contains some violence, it is generally suitable for all ages.
• Adkins is the first country artist to be featured as a fictional character in a comic book project.
• Other artists that have been involved with the comic book scene include Gerald Way of My Chemical Romance and Tori Amos.

SIDE NOTES

• Adkins is currently on the road as part of Toby Keith's America's Toughest tour.
• Adkins recently taped an episode of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The air date is yet to be announced.

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Jack Ingram is on the edge of his seat waiting for the release of his new album, Big Dreams & High Hopes, which hits stores on August 25th. The CD includes 11 tracks, seven of which Ingram had a hand in writing.

Special guests on the album include Patty Griffin, Dierks Bentley, Little Big Town, Randy Houser, James Otto and The Lost Trailers.

• Ingram said, "I'm proud of this album like crazy. We started to put it out a few times earlier this year, but then I'd hold everything up and go back to the studio and tweak this or mess with that, but now I'm finally ready. There are a few rowdy barroom sing-a-longs on there and also a few songs that are meant to be listened to when you're all alone...lots of long days and fun nights were spent making this one."
• The album's debut single, "Barefoot and Crazy," is closing in on the Top 10 on the Billboard chart.

SIDE NOTE

• Ingram will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for "Most Consecutive Radio Interviews In A 24 Hour Period," beginning in the early hours of August 25th. The record is currently held by Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy.

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. How many consecutive years did Reba McEntire hold the title of CMA female vocalist of the year?
A. Four (1984-1987)

ON THE TUBE

TAYLOR SWIFT ON THE SET: YOU BELONG WITH ME/GAC 8:00PM (ET)

CMT MUSIC AWARDS 2009/CMT 9:00PM, 11:30PM (ET)
Sugarland, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift, Toby Keith

ON THIS DAY IN COUNTRY

• Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line" went to Number One in 1956. It was his first record to top the charts.
• Michael Martin Murphey's single "Wildfire" was certified gold in 1975.
• Lefty Frizzell joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1951.
• Shania Twain's longform video Shania Twain Live was certified platinum in 1999.
• Blake Shelton's single "She Wouldn't Be Gone" was released to radio in 2008.
• Big & Rich's "Lost In This Moment" went to the top of the Billboard country chart in 2007.
• Charley Pride received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999.
• Anne Murray's "Shadows In The Moonlight" hit Number One on the Billboard country singles chart in 1979.
• Jeanne Pruett joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1973. She was the last artist added to the cast before the show transfered from Nashville's Ryman Auditorium to the Grand Ole Opry House.

Celebrity Gossip

BURN NOTICE' STAR ARRESTED: Jeffrey Donovan was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence on July 11th in Miami Beach. RadarOnline.com reports that the Burn Notice star was booked on suspicion of DUI after nearly crashing into a patrol car, and released several hours after his arrest. The police report indicated that Donovan flunked a field sobriety test before being taken into custody, at which point he said, "I really think I'm only borderline and not too drunk -- the only mistake I made tonight was drinking Benadryl with 3 glasses of wine."

DEMI AND ASHTON JOKE AROUND ON TWITTER: Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher continue to joke with fans via Twitter. Kutcher recently posted a doctored picture of his wife sporting a mohawk, writing, "[W]ifey just got a new hair cut what do you guys think? I love it." to which Moore responded, "I have the buzzer ready baby!" Her husband, however, copped to photoshopping the picture, tweeting, "I'm (sic) just playing baby but I think you'd look great with that cut."

'JACKASS' STAR HOSPITALIZED: Former Jackass star Bam Margera was hospitalized on Sunday (July 19th) after paramedics responded to a 911 call for a "possible overdose," but his mother claims that he was just dehydrated. After TMZ.com reported the news of Margera's hospitalization, his mother April called a local radio station, explaining that her son had been filming for the MTV show Nitro Circus" and had become "severely dehydrated." She added that "basic partying" played a factor, but said that she was told Bam was able to walk himself to the ambulance.

DESIGNER CLOTHES FOR ANGELINA JOLIE REPORTEDLY STOLEN: Designer clothes sent to a Los Angeles stylist for consideration by Angelina Jolie have been stolen. The New York Post reports that three boxes of unique threads were sent to Jennifer Rade last week were swiped a day before she was to meet with Jolie. A source explained, "Every designer who was sending pieces was trying to send their best stuff. Angelina was just starting the fitting process for pieces to wear when she begins promoting Salt.

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

'TOP CHEF' HOST GETTING SITCOM: Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi is reportedly getting her own sitcom. Variety reports that the foodie has signed a development deal with NBC and Universal Media to create a half hour comedy. The show will star Laksmi as a woman working in the culinary world and is tentatively titled, Single Serving.

SHAQ TV SHOW OPPONENTS REVEALED: Shaq will take on some of the world's most accomplished athletes on his new ABC show, Shaq Vs., in which he tries to beat the likes of Michael Phelps and Serena Williams in their own sports. The series, which premieres on August 18th, will follow Shaq as he trains and endures the pre-game hype before his challenges. Other athletes he'll face off against include Ben Roethlisberger, Super Bowl-winning quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, NL MVP and St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols and Olympic gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor in beach volleyball.

FUTURAMA' MUST RE-CAST VOICE TALENT: Futurama must recast its entire voice cast before returning to television in 2010. PerezHilton.com reports that Comedy Central was unable to negotiate a deal with the original cast -- including Katey Sagal and Billy West -- because of money issues. The studio reportedly offered a "modest pay increase," but all of the actors rejected the deal. The show is a product from Simpsons' creator Matt Groening.

BROOKE BURNS JOINS 'MELROSE PLACE': Brooke Burns is reportedly joining the cast of the CW's upcoming Melrose Place remake. E! reports that the actress will play the wife of Thomas Calabro's character and the mother of his younger son, Noah.

MORGAN FREEMAN TO STAR WITH BRUCE WILLIS? Morgan Freeman is reported negotiating to co-star in the upcoming spy thriller Red opposite Bruce Willis. E! reports that the movie is based on the WildStorm/DC Comic about a former black-ops CIA agent who's forced to come out of retirement when a deadly hitman wants to kill him.

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PAULA ABDUL WANTS 20 MILLION!

Paula Abdul's future with American Idol is in doubt, reportedly because she is demanding a $20 million deal to continue with the show. RadarOnline.com reports that the show wants her to re-sign for a mere $10 million, which is what led her manager David Sonenberg to tell the Los Angeles Times, "Very sadly, it does not appear she's going to be back on Idol."

Adding to the tension, Abdul is also reportedly annoyed that Ryan Seacrest finalized his $45 million - three-year deal before she had one in place.

Simon Cowell, however, doesn't seem to think Abdul will be unemployed next year. He told Extra, "She'll be fine. She'll be on the show. I don't get a lot of say. I've just made it clear that I want Paula on the show."

• Meanwhile, Radar adds that Kara DioGuardi is "miffed" at the show and production company for axing her single "No Boundaries" from Kris Allen's set on the current Idol tour.
• In other news, fans and past Idol contestants have stormed Twitter with a "Keep Paula" campaign. Usmagazine.com reports that Matt Giraud, Anoop Desai and Danny Gokey are among those who have joined the fight using the hashtag "#keeppaula," while season seven's Syesha Mercado tweeted, "No Paula = No American Idol."
• Abdul herself addressed her supporters on the social networking site, writing, "I'm actually moved 2 tears upon reading the enormous amount of tweets showing me your kindness, love & undying support. God bless all you! If it weren't for you, this specific time and situation would feel a lot worse! xoP"

WORKPLACE LIES THAT EVERYONE TELLS (MSN.com)

"Everything is under control." Bosses like to see employees who are in charge of a situation. "Come to me with solutions, not problems" is cliché, but it's true for most employers. So you're understandably loath to admit you've lost control of a situation and your life is crumbling down. Yet, you don't want to look incompetent (and overly dramatic), either. Just be honest with someone, whether it's your boss, a co-worker or another resource who can help you. Explain that you're working on a task that isn't going as you had envisioned and you'd like to bounce some ideas around to find a resolution while you still have time to get back on track.

• "It would be my pleasure." Work isn't all fun. That's a lesson we learn early in life, so we're used to smiling while we take on tasks we don't want. Still, you want to be certain you balance your enthusiasm and willingness to be unhappy with honesty. If your boss hands you a project that's going to be torture, you probably can't get out of it. But given the opportunity to discuss what you like and dislike about your job, tactfully stress which tasks make the best use of your skills and which ones don't. That's not to say you can get out of doing unpleasant tasks, but you don't want to give the illusion that you love doing these projects -- otherwise the boss will think you want them and make them your primary job. Then it's too late to remedy the situation.
• "I got stuck in traffic." If you're late, just own up to it. You might think it's professional suicide to admit you were too lazy not to hit the snooze button seven times, but it's not. Unless you have a draconian boss, occasional tardiness isn't going to hurt your chances of a promotion and your co-workers will understand. Everyone's been in the situation.
• "I was thinking the exact same thing." Everyone hates a suck-up. Even the boss. So don't try to win favors by agreeing with everything he or she says. You probably didn't have the same idea because if you did, you'd have said it.
• "Let's get together soon." Ever since you graduated from high school and started running into former classmates, you've been using the "Let's get lunch" lie on a regular basis. The truth is that you have no intention of getting together with these people (and they probably feel the same way). In business, you're bound to bump into people you're not eager to break bread with, either at a meeting or a conference, or in a social setting. Now, telling someone, "I just don't find you interesting enough to sit at the same table for an hour!" isn't good business. So this lie might not be so bad.

DID YOU KNOW?

TONS OF PEOPLE CLICK ON SPAM: Whether intentionally or by mistake, over half of Internet users click on spam ads. Asylum.com reports that spam constitutes between 85 and 98 percent of all email traffic, and a survey from the Messaging Anti-Abuse Group has shed light on why it is so ubiquitous: It works. While most spam clickers claim they only did so by mistake, and a smaller percentage because they "wanted to see what happens," almost 20 percent of all Internet users admit to hitting the link because they were interested in the products being offered.

CHECK IT OUT: The new Land Rover S1 cell phone is being billed as the world's first 'indestructible' cell phone. Wrapped in a tough rubber coating, the Land Rover S1 phone has been approved for use by the military. A spokesperson said, "It is the first phone in the world to be as tough as a Land Rover car. It's the world's only military-rated phone -- making it resistant to humidity, dust, shock, salt and heat. Add to that the ability to survive drops on to concrete and extreme temperatures, and resistance against being dropped into public lavatories and you have the most resilient phone the world. We think it will save people money." However, the product is only available through the retailer Tesco and costs upwards of $400. http://www.tescocontractmobilephones.com/landrover-s1/

BAD MARRIAGES ARE UNHEALTHY: Women's Health reports that investigators found that women in rocky relationships were up to 40 percent more likely than happily hitched women to have metabolic syndrome -- a cluster of health issues including obesity and high cholesterol that can lead to heart disease. Chronic stress stimulates the release of the hormone cortisol, which causes the body to store fat in the belly. Excess ab fat is a major risk factor for metabolic syndrome, says study author Tim Smith, Ph.D., of the University of Utah.

LONGEST ECLIPSE OF THE CENTURY ON WEDNESDAY:

People across Asia will witness that longest solar eclipse of the century on Wednesday (July 22nd), which will darken the sky for about six minutes and 39 seconds at its maximum point. The eclipse will begin at dawn in India's Gulf of Khambhat, just north of Mumbai, and then move east across India, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan and China before crossing some southern Japanese islands. It will be last visible from land in the South Pacific nation of Kiribati. Other parts of Asia will have a partial eclipse.

• The last total eclipse took place in August 2008 and lasted two minutes and 27 seconds.

NEW TO DVD JULY 21ST, 2009:

MOVIES

• Watchmen
• Coraline
• The Great Buck Howard

TV SHOWS

• Prison Break: The Final Break
• Pushing Daisies Season 2
• Monk Season 7
• Jon & Kate Plus 8 Season 4
• This American Life Season 2

NEW TO BLU-RAY

• Midnight Express
• I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
• The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

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The film adaptaion of the graphic novel Watchmen is out on DVD today (July 21st). The movie takes place in an alternate 1985 America where costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the "Doomsday Clock" - which charts the USA's tension with the Soviet Union - is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When the Comedian -- one of the superheroes -- is murdered, the masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion -- a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers -- Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity...but who is watching the watchmen? Watchmen stars Billy Crudup, Malin Akerman, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Patrick Wilson.

The movie is based on the acclaimed comic book of the same name written by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. It will be out on DVD Tuesday (July 21st)

FARRAH'S LAST MOMENTS

Ryan O'Neal is opening up about the last moments of Farrah Fawcett's life. In an interview airing on the Today show, O'Neal said that the atmosphere in the hospital before she died was "horrible." He revealed, It was-- he thought that she would live just another couple of hours, and she lived a couple of days. So I had a bed put in the room for me. And I just lay by her side. And she wouldn't-- move on. She wouldn't pass. She just-- she just looked at us with-- with a slight smile. Was awful. And then-- and then all the machines flat lined. After about-- 16 hours. And she was-- she was gone."

• He added that their son Redmond is having difficulty coping with Farrah's death as he's currently in a facility dealing with the ramifications of a drug arrest, but O'Neal said that his mother has inspired him to get well. He explained, "He is her legacy. And he now knows that, finally, it's clear. And he has a plan. A wonderful plan in mind to restore order in his life. And he will, with my help."
• O'Neal added that one way he's coping with his own grief is by answering the mail that came in for Farrah over the last few weeks expressing condolences. He said, "I'm answering them. Every one. That's my life now. It's gonna take a while."

YOU ARE WHAT YOU WEAR

Feeling blue? Improving your mood - even your health - may be as simple as slipping on something yellow or red. Wearing clothes that make you feel good is especially important when you're feeling under the weather, says Emily Spivack, found of Shop Well with You, an organization that shows women with cancer how to nurture themselves with clothes. Here's her advice:

• Red -- exudes power and passion. Wear it if you feel tired and need a boosts. Avoid it if you suffer from high blood pressure and anxiety.
• Orange -- is associated with health and energy. It heals emotions and heightens creativity, but it could also make you feel restless.
• Yellow -- is known to heal the digestive tract and skin problems. Wear it when you need to stay alert and add some joy to your life.
• Green -- heals the heart, eases tension and regenerates cells. Wear it when you need space or to see things from a different perspective.
• Blue -- is the color of truth and serenity. It is cooling, calming and a good choice if you want to exude authority and communicate better.

BUT WILL IT LAST?

Okay, you're engaged to the person of your dreams. Do you have what it takes to live happily ever after? Thanks to a 22-question quiz from Dr. John Gottman of Washington University in St. Louis, you can find out. The tests couples on how much they know -- and don't know -- about one another. Answer these 22 questions and then see below to find out what your answers mean.

1. I can name my partner's best friends.
2. I know what stresses my partner is currently facing.
3. I know the names of some people who have been irritating my partner lately.
4. I can tell you some of my partner's life dreams.
5. I know my partner's basic philosophy of life.
6. I can list the relatives my partner likes the least.
7. I feel that my partner knows me pretty well.
8. When we're apart, I think fondly of my partner.
9. I often touch or kiss my partner affectionately.
10. My partner really respects me.
11. There is passion in our relationship.
12. Romance is still part of our relationship.
13. My partner appreciates the things I do.
14. My partner likes my personality.
15. Our sex life is mostly satisfying.
16. At the end of the day my partner is glad to see me.
17. My partner is one of my best friends.
18. We just love talking to each other.
19. There is lots of give and take (both people have influence) in our discussions.
20. My partner listens respectfully even when we disagree.
21. My partner is usually a great help as a problem solver.
22. We generally mesh well on basic values and goals in life.

What your answers mean:

15 or more positive answers: You have a lot of strength in your relationship.

8 to 14 positive answers: This is a pivotal time in your relationship as there are strengths you can build upon, but do focus on the weaknesses that need your attention.

7 or fewer: Your relationship may be in serious trouble and could be headed for the rocks. If you're concerned about this, it means you probably still value the relationship enough to get help.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Those watching the "Big Brother 11" eviction episode on Thursday only heard part of contestant Chima Simone's petition to stay on the CBS reality show using a derogatory term for people of Mexican descent that fellow nominee Braden Bacha, a 28-year-old model-actor, had used against two other contestants.
• According to a Los Angeles Times report, David Sonenberg says he doesn't have a proposal for a new contract for Paula Abdul. He says it doesn't appear she'll be back.
• Burglars broke into Orlando Bloom's Hollywood home last week and made off with half a million dollars worth of jewelry. The good news: police have fingerprints and are working on leads.
• Women who drink coffee appear to have a lower risk of stroke than their friends who don't reports a study from the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid in Spain.
• The L.A. Coroner's office now says Jackson's autopsy results won't be available for another two weeks.
• James Caviezel got into a minor motorcycle accident last week when a man threw a bicycle into the path of his cycle in Leavenworth, Washington, a tourist town made up to look like a village in Germany.
• Mischa Barton's been hospitalized, but that's all her rep will say. Rumor has it that she's in a psych ward.
• Tori Spelling is sitting next to Kathie Lee Gifford for that 4th hour of the Today show, today through Wednesday.
• Actress Jorja Fox, who left the CBS crime drama CSI as a regular two years ago, will return as Sara for the 10th-season debut and other episodes.
• Sarah Silverman said she had no idea she would get an Emmy nomination. So when she woke up last week with a bunch of messages on her phone, she was scared: Sarah thought someone had died.
• Ivanka Trump is engaged to her long-time boyfriend, Jared Kushner.
• ABC has dropped the ax on that Christina Applegate series, "Samantha Who?"
• The next new Michael Jackson song you'll be hearing appears to be Michael's remake of the America song, "Horse with No Name." He re-worded it to "Place with no name."
• The biggest movie ever in China's history? "Transformers 2"
• Men who eat a diet rich in meat and dairy products may want to put down their forks for a minute. Meat and dairy raise levels