spratt89

Lindsay Lohan and Sam Ronson looked especially tight at Rite Aid in L.A. yesterday ...and speaking of tight, it looks like daddy Michael Lohan's lips may be belatedly following suit.
In a post on his website this morning, Michael writes "There is a truce between Lindsay and I, so please stop adding any fuel to the fire. I respectfully ask that all sources, so called friends and mouthpieces refrain from any more comments or suggestions on her blog." This, from the man who had been on a trash-talking tirade against Sam and his own daughter for the last week.  P.S. -- on the "sane scale," Sam Ronson seems to register at a respectable level ... Michael seems to be off the charts, and not in a good way.

spratt89

William Balfour, the man charged with the murders of Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew, was indicted Tuesday. ET has the details.
ET has learned that Balfour, 27, has been indicted on three counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion. He is set to be arraigned on January 20, when he will make a formal plea and a trial judge will be assigned.
Balfour is the estranged husband of Academy Award winning actress/singer Jennifer Hudson's sister, Julia. Prosecutors believe Balfour was upset with Julia because he believed she was dating other men, says the Chicago Sun Times.
The bodies of Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and brother Jason Hudson, 29, were found shot to death last October in Donerson's South Side Chicago home -- and the body of Hudson's 7-year-old nephew Julian was found three days later in an SUV.

spratt89

Perhaps DMX has seen the error of his ways and is looking to make a fresh start in 2009.
Just in time to make New Year's resolutions, the oft-arrested rapper has cut a deal in his pending animal cruelty, drug possession and identity theft cases in order to avoid being prosecuted for more than a dozen crimes.
Instead, DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, pleaded guilty Tuesday in a Phoenix court to one count apiece of animal cruelty and theft, both misdemeanors, and felony marijuana possession and possession of a narcotic.
Sentencing has been set for Jan. 30 in Maricopa County Superior Court. Additional charges will be dismissed at that time.
The Great Depression artist had previously pleaded not guilty to mistreating a pack of pit bulls at his Dave Creek, Ariz., home over the past year. He had also maintained that he was innocent of possessing a significant amount of pot and drug paraphernalia, which authorities claimed to have discovered during two raids on the rapper's property in connection with the animal-cruelty allegations.
DMX had also been accused of trying to avoid paying a $7,500 hospital bill in April by giving a false name and contact info to officials at a Scottsdale clinic. He was subsequently busted on suspicion of identity theft in July.
An attorney for the Cradle 2 the Grave star, who also had a coke-and-pot-related run-in with the law in Florida in June, said earlier this month that his client had checked into rehab

spratt89

Will the newest addition to Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's family arrive just in time to ring in the New Year?
Cameras spotted a very pregnant Garner and Affleck arriving at a Los Angeles area hospital on Wednesday. No word yet on whether the family is ready to welcome a little brother or sister for their 3-year-old daughter Violet.

spratt89

Actor Matt Dillon was arrested in Vermont last night, according to police.
The actor was taken into custody at 10 p.m. on Tuesday night for driving 106 miles per hour in the town of Newbury in the Green Mountain state.
Police tell ET that the actor was photographed, finger printed and released. He was given a citation to appear in Orange County court on January 21.

spratt89

Tom Cruise and wife Katie Holmes have reportedly received death threats from groups opposed to their Scientology religion.

The FBI is now investigating the threats, which began four months ago when the Top Gun star was warned that anthrax would be placed in the vents of his LA office, according to the Daily Star.

Cruise is reported to be so concerned about the safety of his wife and two-year-old daughter Suri that he has hired extra security, travels in bullet-proof cars and has spent $10 million (£6.9 million) on an underground bunker at his Colorado home.

An insider revealed that the couple have also turned to close friends David and Victoria Beckham, who have previously been subjected to death threats, for advice on how to handle the situation.

"Tom is terrified," said the source. "He doesn't feel safe anywhere.

"He and Katie know the Beckhams have had to live in the shadow of similar threats and have asked them for advice on how to cope.

"They have had to take the threats seriously. Unfortunaely there are plenty of cranks out there - particularly in LA."

Cruise is also said to have received threats from people angry at his portrayal of anti-Hitler plotter Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg in upcoming movie Valkyrie.

spratt89

Continuing the tradition started in 2005 by President George W. Bush, the Presidential Inaugural Committee announced today that President-elect Barack Obama will host the Commander-in-Chief's inaugural ball to honor the country's active duty and reserve military.
"It is a privilege to honor our men and women in uniform during our inaugural festivities by continuing the tradition of the Commander in Chief's Ball," said President-elect Obama. "Our troops represent the best America has to offer, and without their dedication and sacrifice we would not be able to enjoy the freedoms that we are coming together to celebrate on January 20th. They deserve our thanks and our gratitude. Michelle and I look forward to attending the Commander in Chief's Ball and sharing this special evening with representatives of our armed forces."
The ball will be held at the National Building Museum. Tickets This event is not open to the public.

spratt89

ET has confirmed that Heather Locklear's DUI in Santa Barabara, Calif., has been dismissed.
Rather, the actress has pleaded no contest to the lesser charge of misdemeanor reckless driving.
A source close to the case told ET that "the DUI charge has been dismissed. Heather now has to pay a $700 fine, attend a 12-hour Driver's Education course and be on informal probation."
Locklear was well represented by attorney Blair Berk, who has a long-standing reputation for helping high-profile celebs out of such legal jams.
The Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office filed a misdemeanor charge against Locklear for driving under the influence of prescription medications in September 2008.

spratt89

Rand Memorial Hospital in the Bahamas tells TMZ the son of John Travolta died today.

We're told 16-year-old Jett was vacationing with Travolta and wife Kelly Preston.

There have been reports that Jett was autistic, though Travolta has denied it, saying he suffers from Kawasaki Syndrome, a condition which often leads to heart disease.

UPDATE 5:15 PM ET -- Police just released more details. According to a report, Jett was last seen going into the bathroom at their private suite at the Old Bahama Bay Resort sometime yesterday. The body was discovered by the caretaker, Jeff Michael Kathrein (pictured bottom right with Travolta in 2006), at 10:00 AM today. The report says Jett suffered from seizures.

An autopsy is being performed to determine the exact cause of death.

UPDATE 4:54 PM ET -- A police spokeswoman says Jett hit his head in a bathtub.

UPDATE: 4:40 PM ET -- Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium in the Bahamas tells TMZ Jett's body would be transferred to Restview on Monday.

UPDATE: 4:00 PM ET -- Travolta's attorney Michael Ossi says Jett suffered a seizure at his family's vacation home at the Old Bahama Bay Hotel on Grand Bahama Island. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he died on scene.

shinny

I just read this. It's so so sad. My heart goes out to them. It's very very hard when a parent loses a child. I think it's something they never get over.

spratt89

Dr Dre's 20-year-old son died of a drug overdose, according to the coroner's report.

Andre Young Jr. was found dead by his mother at their Los Angeles home in August.

Ed Winter, assistant chief of the Los Angeles County coroner's office, ruled the death as accidental. He added that a toxicology test found that Young died from "morphine and heroin intoxication".

The official added that the case is now closed.

spratt89

There's a conflict brewing between the Bahama PD and John Travolta's camp regarding the time line of Jett Travolta's death. (See update below)

People who are with Travolta are bristling at the suggestion Jett might have been left unattended for more than 10 hours, but this morning cops say they are sticking to their story. Meanwhile, we've learned Jett had suffered from grand mal seizures in the past and had taken anti-seizure medicine which the Travolta's say did not work, so the medication was stopped.

As for the time line, we're told Jett, his family and his two nannies had been boating on January 1. They returned to their townhouse at the Old Bahama Bay Hotel at around 6 PM. Jett was tired, went into his bedroom and went to sleep.

We're told nanny Jeff Kathrein watched TV in the adjoining room. The other nanny, Eli, returned to the townhouse at around 11:30 PM. Both Jeff and Eli turned in at around that time. After Jeff got up, he went into the bathroom and discovered Jett laying on the floor.

As for when Jett was last seen, cops say it was the at around 11:30 the night of January 1, when he went to the bathroom. Michael McDermott, John Travolta's lawyer and close friend, says Eli or Jeff may have gone into that bathroom during the middle of the night so the time frame would have been compressed.

McDermott also tells TMZ when Jeff and John Travolta administered CPR there may have been signs of life -- as in there may have been some respiratory function -- though that is not confirmed.

We're told Jett's disabilities included the inability to communicate well, in addition to some physical disabilities. As a result, there was a baby monitor in his room as well as a chime on the bathroom door. It's unclear if the two nannies slept through any signs of movement. The townhouse is relatively small -- around 1,000 square feet -- and the nannies and Jett were all on the bottom floor.

McDermott told us it's not unusual for Jett to sleep 12, even 16 hours a day, so Jett not being present is not unusual.

As for cause of death, the coroner will presumably determine that tomorrow.

As for John Travolta and Kelly Preston, McDermott tells us "they stopped crying long enough last night to try to write a press statement, which they haven't finished."

A number of celebrities, including Tom Cruise, have called Travolta and Preston offering condolences.

UPDATE: 12:38 ET -- Cops in the Bahamas PD tell TMZ "With lots of emotion that goes through a family in a time like this, it's understandable to come to your own ideas or terms, but we have an obligation to assure and convey with our public that the information we give is solid. The investigation is ongoing, but we stand by what we have said."

spratt89

TMZ has learned more about the medical condition of John Travolta's son, Jett, and the medication that ultimately didn't work.

We're now told the grand mal seizures Jett suffered were "frequent and extremely serious." Travolta's lawyers, Michael Ossi and Michael McDermott, tell us "each seizure was like a death," with Jett losing consciousness and convulsing.

We now know Jett was taking a drug called Depokate, a strong anti-seizure medication. There have been reports Travolta refused to give his son anti-seizure meds because of Scientology but those stories are not true.

Jett had been having seizures on an average of every four days, until he started taking Depokate. Ossi and McDermott say the drug initially worked, reducing the frequency to approximately once every three weeks.

Jett took Depokate for "several years," but it eventually lost its effectiveness, according to Ossi and McDermott. They say "it began to cause serious physical damage" including damage to Jett's liver. And, Jett went back to having at least one seizure every four days. So Travolta and Preston, after consulting neurosurgeons, stopped administering the drug.

spratt89

Jonathan Ross will be shadowed by a personal censor when he makes his BBC comeback, a report claims.

The broadcaster will return to his BBC One chatshow and Radio 2 programme later this month after serving a 12-week suspension for his part in the Manuelgate scandal.

BBC chiefs are now said to be planning strict new measures to ensure that there is no repeat of the row, which provoked thousands of complaints.

Speaking about the personal censor idea, an insider told the Daily Star Sunday: "They hope it will be someone who could develop a good personal relationship with him but a lot depends on how co-operative he is.

"There will be no swearing during the recordings, no bleeping out of offensive words. He will comply or someone will be tapping him on the shoulder."

The BBC issued Ross with a final warning over his conduct after he left a series of lewd messages on the voicemail of Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs. The incident occurred as he appeared on Russell Brand's radio show.

gyki98

my best wishes to dre´s family and the travoltas too

gyki98

Vincent Ford, the man credited with writing Bob Marley’s classic “No Woman, No Cry,” passed away in Jamaica on December 28.

According to Intrepid reporter Brittany Somerset, the songwriter’s death comes after a long struggle with diabetes.

Both of Ford’s legs had been amputated due to complications from the disease.

Ford became good friends with Bob Marley as the two grew up in the Trench Town ghetto of Kingston, Jamaica in the 1960s.

The song “No Woman, No Cry” first appeared on Bob Marley’s 1974 album Natty Dread.

The most well known version of the track remains the concert version off the 1975 album Live!

The song later gained even more international fame with its inclusion on the greatest hits compilation Legend (1984), now recognized as the best selling reggae album of all time.

Although Vincent Ford is officially credited as the sole songwriter of the seminal hit, rumors persist that Marley added Ford’s name to ensure his friend would have royalties for the rest of his life.

Despite the whisperings, Ford went on to write three more songs for Marley’s breakthrough album Rastaman Vibration: “Positive Vibration,” “Roots, Rock, Reggae,” and “Crazy Baldhead.”

After Marley succumbed to cancer in 1981, Ford ran a soup kitchen in his native Jamaica and made no further forays into songwriting.

“No Woman, No Cry” continues to be a popular cover song.

Throughout its 35 year history, the song has been reworked by The Fugees, Sean Kingston, Pearl Jam, Jimmy Cliff, Faith Hill, and Tila Tequila.



Vincent Ford was 68 years old.


source: TMZ

gyki98

Just in time for the new year, Nielsen Soundscan shared their annual report with select industry and media. This year’s results of retail and digital music sales included many Hip Hop stars such as Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Flo Rida.
For Wayne, the Cash Money Records veteran rapper had the top-selling album in any genre in his Tha Carter III . His sixth studio album, which included hits “A Milli”, “Lollipop” and “Mrs. Officer,” sold, according to the chart service, approximately 2,874,000 units this year.
The effort, released June 10, edged out Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, by over 700,000 units.
T.I.’s Paper Trail  came in at #8, selling 1,522,000 units, as Beyonce’s I Am…Sasha Fierce , released late this year, drew 1,459,000 units. The trio were the only urban artists in the Top 10, a list consisting of Country sensation Taylor Swift, veteran rockers AC/DC and Metallica, and the onetime Jive Records Rap artist-turned-Rock sensation, Kid Rock.
Despite Tha Carter III being the best-selling album, it was Taylor Swift, who had two Top 10-selling albums, that led all artist-sales, with over four million units from her entire catalog this year. Sampled by Boogie Down Productions in the ’80s, AC/DC also topped Wayne, putting the New Orleans rapper at third, selling 3,382,000 of total catalog in the last year. He was the only Hip Hop artist to make the Top 10.

source:TMZ

spratt89

John Travolta and Kelly Preston have released this statement on the passing of their son Jett:

"We would like to extend our deepest and most heartfelt thanks to everyone who has sent their love and condolences. Jett was the most wonderful son that two parents could ever ask for and lit up the lives of everyone he encountered. We are heartbroken that our time with him was so brief. We will cherish the time we had with him for the rest of our lives. We have received many messages of condolence from around the world and we want to thank everyone for their prayers and support. It has meant so much to us. It is a beautiful reminder of the inherent goodness in the human spirit that gives us a hope for a brighter future."

With love,
John, Kelly and Ella

bala

spratt89

The Ministry of Health in the Bahamas tells TMZ the autopsy findings in the death of John Travolta's son may never be public.

Dr. Hubert Minnis says a pathologist at Rand Memorial Hospital (where Jett Travolta was pronounced dead) is currently performing the autopsy, which should take several hours. Dr. Minnis says he personally decided, because of the high profile nature of the case, to bring in a second pathologist from Nassau, Dr. Karen Sands. Dr. Minnis made a point to us that Dr. Sands is an American.

The doctor says once the pathologists complete a preliminary report, it's forwarded on to a coroner. The coroner then forwards the completed report to the Travolta/Preston family. Dr. Minnis says only the family has authority to release the findings to the public. No word if that will happen.