MAN DENIED ALCOHOL DRIVES INTO SUPERMARKET

Here's proof drinking can inhibit your ability to make good decisions.  An unidentified man in Britain injured six women Wednesday when he crashed his Rolls-Royce through the front of a supermarket after employees refused to sell him alcohol because he was already drunk.   Witnesses said after the man was been turned away from buying liquor, he hopped into his car and tried to ram it through the store's front window.  After failing to make it through on his first try, he backed up, put the car in drive and then jammed on the gas before finally smashing through the window.  Reports say the man remained in his car until police arrived.


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ROBBER NO LONGER TOYING WITH STORES

Committing crime was all fun and games for Max Rodriguez.  Police in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida arrested the 34-year-old man Monday for stealing roughly seven thousand dollars worth of toys from area stores.  Authorities say he committed about 300 thefts, although it's unclear over how long a time they took place.  Police caught Rodriguez after a loss prevention officer at Wal-Mart noticed a receipt for his recent trip was substantially less than what he should've been charged for the merchandise he actually purchased at the register.  Rodriguez admitted he often changed bar codes so their prices rang up for less than the advertised price.

WISCONSIN TOWN TERRORIZED BY PRETEND APE

Somebody is monkeying around in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.  A man dressed in an ape costume has been trying to steal banana displays from area gas stations.  Authorities say the man was spotted Wednesday attempting to take displays from two different stations.  Police also say they've received numerous calls from people claiming to have seen the man walking around town.


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FAMILY DOG HOOKS UP WITH OWNER

(NOTE NATURE, CONTENT)
A 66-year-old man from Spotsylvania, Virginia has found himself in his family's doghouse.  Police arrested Robert Ward on Monday after his family turned him when he admitted he engaged in sexual activity with the family dog.  Ward then admitted to an officer he had the pooch perform sexual acts on him.  A vet who examined the animal said it appeared the dog may have been violated.


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PEREZ HILTON CLAIMS ADAM LAMBERT IS OUT OF THE CLOSET

Amid talk that ADAM LAMBERT may have lost the American Idol finale on Wednesday because of rumors that he's gay, gossip blogger PEREZ HILTON is claiming that Adam is already out of the closet.  Hilton told E! Online, quote, "I went to a party he had last week, and he was openly gay with me there.  If he was really concerned, he wouldn't have done that."  Hilton, who is gay himself, also says he's met a man whom he claims is Adam's boyfriend.


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STAR TREK ACTOR DATING HILLS STAR

CHRIS PINE is reaping the benefits of starring in the hit Star Trek film.  According to Us Weekly, the new James T. Kirk has been hanging out recently with The Hills star AUDRINA PATRIDGE. The 28-year-old Pine met the 24-year-old Patridge last month, and a source says, quote, "They text a lot and are in regular contact."

Audrina's Hills co-star, LAUREN CONRAD, seemed to confirm the romance when she told Us Weekly earlier this week, quote, "He is a really cute guy and I'm happy for her."


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NEW IDOL CHAMP KRIS ALLEN VISITS THE TONIGHT SHOW

One night after winning the American Idol title, KRIS ALLEN stopped by The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night.  He recalled his audition in Louisville, Kentucky, saying he was lucky to have been admitted because he, his brother and a friend were among the last to sign up.

JAY LENO told Kris that when SIMON COWELL was on the show, the Idol judge said Kris should've kept his marriage a secret so he could appeal to a female fan base.  Kris responded that his wife felt similarly and told him, quote, "We gotta get votes somehow."  Kris will continue to make the talk show rounds next week.

SELIG RAMIREZ SUSPENSION PROVES DRUG POLICIES WORK

MANNY RAMIREZ is good for baseball.

Wait! Who said that?

None other that Major League Baseball Commissioner BUD SELIG, that’s who.

Remarking on the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger’s 50-game suspension for using banned substances, Selig said yesterday that the Ramirez case is evidence that the sport’s anti-doping policy actually works.

Selig told a news conference, quote, “What the Manny Ramirez situation proved and no one can miss -- we have a tough program that is working. Everybody should at least take comfort in that.”

The only person not taking comfort is Ramirez, who is one of the most talented yet infuriating players in baseball. He’s out about $7.7 million because of the suspension that will end in July.

The outfielder tested positive for a drug given to women to generate testosterone, a drug that many steroid users take for impotence problems.


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GAS PRICES CLIMB BUT NOT NEAR 2008 LEVELS

For most Americans, it’s the start of a three-day weekend -- Yay! It’s the unofficial start of summer -- Yay!

It’s time to fill up the car with gasoline -- not so Yay!

As you’ve likely noticed, gasoline prices have climbed appreciably over the past couple of weeks with a gallon of unleaded regular now going for an average $2.36. So much for the recession keeping the prices of everything down.

At the start of the month, fuel was selling for about 30 cents less a gallon then it is now.

But look at the bright side: it isn’t 2008, when everyone was griping about gas costing around $3.80 a gallon at the start of that Memorial Day weekend. Eventually, prices climbed to about $4 in mid-July before the long decline.

In any event, the American Automobile Association predicts that about 32.4 million people will hit the road this weekend, a 1.5 percent increase from this time last year.


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MONTGOMERY GENTRY SALUTES THE TROOPS THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

On this Memorial Day weekend, TROY GENTRY of MONTGOMERY GENTRY will be thinking of the U.S. service men and women who are fighting overseas. He says, quote, "It takes a very special person to do that, and I am very thankful that we have men and women today still step up to do that job."

Troy and his duo partner EDDIE MONTGOMERY have always supported military wholeheartedly, and now they've released a special CD through Cracker Barrel to raise funds for the Wounded Warriors Project. The disc is called For Our Heroes, and it features a few MG hits such as "My Town" plus some rarities from special projects and soundtracks released over the years. The Wounded Warrior Project caters to the needs of soldiers hurt in combat as well as their family members. Montgomery Gentry's For Our Heroes CD goes on sale this Monday at Cracker Barrel.


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WHATS NEW IN THEATERS

Terminator Salvation isn't the only option at your local movie theater on Memorial Day weekend.  The sci-fi action film, which opened yesterday (see related story below), will go head-to-head with the sequel to the 2006 BEN STILLER hit Night at the Museum, one of two new movies making their debut today.  Here's a closer look:

* Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian -- Ben Stiller's Larry Daley has ditched his job as a night guard at New York City's Museum of Natural History, but he reunites with his historical friends when they're shipped off to the Smithsonian.  That's where they run into some bad guys with evil plans, including an Egyptian ruler, IVAN THE TERRIBLE, NAPOLEON BONAPARTE and AL CAPONE.  OWEN WILSON, RICKY GERVAIS, ROBIN WILLIAMS, AMY ADAMS and HANK AZARIA are also part of the star-studded cast.  Rated PG.

* Dance Flick -- The WAYANS family, who spoofed the horror genre in Scary Movie, are now poking fun at dance films and musicals such as Save the Last Dance and Hairspray.  SHOSHANA BUSH, SHAWN WAYANS and DAMON WAYANS JR. star.  Rated PG-13.


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TRACE ADKINS PERFORMS ON PBS NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT ON SUNDAY

TRACE ADKINS is set to perform "'Til the Last Shot's Fired" at the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS at 8:00 PM ET on Sunday. He'll be joined by the U.S. Army Chorus, the Soldiers Chorus and the National Symphony Orchestra. You may remember Trace's emotional performance of "'Til The Last Shot's Fired" at the ACM Awards last month. He performed on the National Memorial Day Concert a few years back and says he's looking forward to going back.

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OBAMA PLEDGES TO KEEP AMERICANS SAFE DESPITE GITMO CLOSURE

Despite opposition from most members of his own party, PRESIDENT OBAMA said yesterday that once the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is closed, some terrorist suspects would be locked up in super maximum security prisons located in the U.S.

In what was described as a major speech on national security at the National Archives, Obama said Americans would not be put at risk by relocating detainees here and that a system would be developed for those who can’t be tried or released from Gitmo.

According to Obama, it was, quote, mongering” that was responsible for members of the Senate on Wednesday to overwhelmingly turn down funding for the closure of the Gitmo facility because of concerns that dangerous terrorist suspects might escape U.S. jails.

He also defended his order to shut down the detention center in Cuba, a decision that has been denounced by virtually all Republicans, particularly former Vice President DICK CHENEY, who was making his own speech yesterday to attack White House policies that he claimed made the nation weaker.

Admitting that the Gitmo closing is the toughest decision he’ll have to face as commander in chief, Obama went on the offensive himself, saying he had inherited a mess from the BUSH administration that, quote, “set back the moral authority that is America's strongest currency in the world.”

He stressed that the wrong decision would be to do nothing about Gitmo, adding, quote, “Our security interests won't permit it. Our courts won't allow it. And neither should our conscience.”

Obama also said that 500 of the 740 detainees were released by the Bush White House and 50 currently there have been cleared to be sent to other countries.

The president didn’t get into specifics about what will be done with those who can’t be prosecuted but still, quote, “pose a clear danger to the American people” because of their allegiance to al-Qaeda and their wish to bring harm to Americans.

Obama promised he would work closely with Congress to figure out what to do with these detainees.

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CHENEY DEFENDS BUSH ANTITERRORISM POLICIES

Alternately defending his own administration’s national security policies and attacking those of the present administration, former Vice President DICK CHENEY said yesterday that he had no regrets about the way the BUSH White House dealt with terrorists and terrorism and would make the same decisions again, quote, “without hesitation.”

Cheney, who spoke at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think-tank in Washington, D.C., waited until PRESIDENT OBAMA was done with his own speech about roughly the same issues before launching his assault on the new commander in chief.

Uncommonly outspoken about what he sees as unfair criticisms of Bush anti-terrorism tactics, Chenesy said that Obama’s decision to limit interrogation methods on detainees amounted to, quote, cloaked as righteousness.”

According to Cheney, the so-called enhanced interrogation program -- which other have called torture -- was used on suspects when all other methods had failed to extract important intelligence from them.

Because of these controversial methods of questioning suspects, Cheney claimed that, quote, "specific attacks that were in the planning stages were stopped by the programs we put in place.”

In another dig at the Obama administration, Cheney said that while critics may talk of American values, he insisted that, quote, “no moral value held dear by the American people obliges public servants to sacrifice innocent lives to spare a captured terrorist from unpleasant things.”

Cheney also criticized Obama’s decision to close down the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, insisting that the U.S. would suffer the consequences by bringing the most dangerous al-Qaeda terrorists to the country to be locked up in prisons here.


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JAMEY JOHNSON COMMENTS ON WHY THE US MILITARY SEEMS DRAWN TO COUNTRY MUSIC

As a former member of the U.S. military, JAMEY JOHNSON has a unique view on the bond between country music and service men and women. He says, quote, "The roots of country people run deep in both the military and especially in country music...There's nobody who appreciates freedom nearly as much as the man or woman who's willing to go overseas to fight for it." Jamey's playing a pair of shows in Texas this Memorial Day weekend including a stop of Billy Bob's in Fort Worth tomorrow night.


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TERMINATOR SALVATION COLLECTS 3 MILLION AT MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS

Fans of John Connor helped Terminator Salvation get an early jump on the holiday weekend box office competition by attending midnight screenings Thursday that generated three million dollars in ticket sales.

Warner Brothers didn't announce how many theaters offered a midnight showing for the fourth Terminator film,so it's hard to compare, but X-Men Origins: Wolverine grossed nearly five million dollars at 1,595 midnight screenings earlier this month and Watchmen picked up 4.6 million dollars at an undisclosed number of midnight showings in March.

In Terminator Salvation, CHRISTIAN BALE portrays Connor, the predestined savior of mankind.  It's 2018 and Connor is a member of the resistance that's targeting the evil artificial intelligence network Skynet, which creates and controls the terminators.


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CELEBRITIES GATHER THIS SUNDAY FOR NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT ON PBS

KATIE HOLMES, DIANNE WIEST and country music star TRACE ADKINS join several other celebrities for the 2009 National Memorial Day Concert, airing on PBS from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol this Sunday night at 8 p.m. Eastern time.  Actor JOE MANTEGNA, who will co-host the event with GARY SINISE, says, quote, "It's 90 minutes of portraying what a Memorial Day is all about and I think if anybody watches the show, they'll get it."

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MARTINA MCBRIDE TO PERFORM ON THE BACHELORETTE THIS MONDAY

MARTINA McBRIDE appears on ABC-TV's The Bachelorette this Monday night, performing a private concert for Bachelorette JILLIAN HARRIS and one of the show's contestants. The intimate show takes place at the House of Blues in Hollywood, where Martina sings her recent singles "Ride" and "I Just Call You Mine."


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TOBY KEITH LINES UP IMPRESSIVE AUCTION ITEMS FOR ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC SINGS AT NBA STARS FUNERAL

TOBY KEITH has lined up some very hot items for the auction at his upcoming sixth annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic coming up June 12th and 13th. Perhaps the biggest items for Toby fans are the private dinner with the man himself. Trips to tapings of ABC-TV's Dancing with the Stars and All My Children as well as Dr. Phil are also up for auction, as well as tickets to GEORGE STRAIT and JIMMY BUFFETT concerts. Toby's annual event takes place in his home state of Oklahoma and proceeds benefit the Ally's House charity.

In other Toby news, he performed WILLIE NELSON's "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" at the funeral of his pal WAYMON TISDALE. The service took place yesterday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tisdale was an NBA star playing for the Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings who later made a move into a music career. Toby had written a song about his friend, but he wasn't up to singing it at the funeral. Toby said, quote, "We had so many big plans. Every time I tried to say goodbye to him, he never let me." Toby appeared on Tisdale's most recent jazz music album, singing a cover of BARRY WHITE's "Never Gonna Give You Up."


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HAS TAYLOR SWIFT RECORDED SOMETHING FOR JOHN MAYERS UPCOMING ALBUM

Has TAYLOR SWIFT recorded something for JOHN MAYER's new album? It appears she has, according to one of John's tweets yesterday. He posted a picture of Taylor on his Twitter account, but the post said, quote, "I couldn't get Taylor Swift on my record so I found the world's greatest impersonator, Laura Jacksheimer." In their comments, John's fans indicate that they believe he's joking and that Taylor really is on the album, but Taylor's rep tells us it's all just speculation at this point. In the meantime, Taylor's headlining a sold-out show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles tonight on her Fearless tour.


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SEAN PENN WITHDRAWS MARRIAGE SEPARATION PETITION

SEAN PENN seems to be giving his marriage yet another chance.  He's successfully withdrawn his petition to legally separate from his wife, actress ROBIN WRIGHT PENN.  His separation request, which was filed last month in California's Marin County, was dismissed on Tuesday.  Penn told the New York Daily News that his petition was, quote, "an arrogant mistake."

Wright Penn, who did not legally respond to her husband's petition, hasn't commented on the dismissal.  She's currently serving as a juror at the Cannes Film Festival in France.  A friend of the couple's tells the Daily News that they love each other "like crazy" but also fight a lot.

The 48-year-old Penn and the 43-year-old Wright Penn filed for divorce in December of 2007, but that petition was dismissed the following April.  Recently, Penn has been romantically linked to NATALIE PORTMAN, 27, but the actress says they're just friends.

Penn married his wife in 1996 and has two teenage children with her.


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KELLIE PICKLER SLEEPS AWAY HER DAYS WHILE ON TOUR

If KELLIE PICKLER isn't onstage or meeting with fans while out on TAYLOR SWIFT's Fearless tour, she's most likely counting sheep on her tour bus. Kellie says, quote, "I will sleep until it's time to go onstage. I'm telling you, I can sleep for days." Kellie and Taylor perform at the Staples Center in Los Angeles tonight.

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JASON ALDEAN RELEASES NEW SINGLE SETS UP MEDIA APPEARANCES

JASON ALDEAN is following up his number-one hit "She's Country" with a romantic ballad celebrating the rural life, called "Big Green Tractor." Jason says, quote, "If you live in South Georgia, a Saturday night out on the tractor with your girl is probably not that far-fetched of what could be considered a good date." Jason's also got performances on NBC-TV's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Fox News's' Fox & Friends and the CMT Music Awards in the coming weeks. JASON'S CMT Crossroads performance with BRYAN ADAMS is also set to premiere on June 26th.


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COUNTRY STAR MEMORIAL DAY LINERS

Here's a selection of country star Memorial Day liners for you from MONTGOMERY GENTRY, CRAIG MORGAN, JAKE OWEN, THE LOST TRAILERS and CHUCK WICKS.  Enjoy...

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PAUL MCCARTNEY TELLS GOOGLE LET ME BE

PAUL MCCARTNEY apparently doesn't want anyone using Google to view his home on that long and winding road.  Britain's Sun newspaper says McCartney's London home has been removed from Google Street View after Sir Paul complained.

The newspaper reports McCartney was furious when he learned fans could ogle his home on Google and get a 360-degree view of his property.  A source tells the Sun McCartney's security team monitors access to the North London home 24 hours a day and informed Google the Beatle wanted to hide his house away.  The company obliged after they realized they couldn't work it out.  Thus endeth the BEATLES puns.


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FORGET THE MONEY  SHOW ME THE FUN

The economy may be going south but at least it's going somewhere, unlike many of us this summer.  Here are the results of Dave and Buster's Summer Fun Survey, conducted by Kelton Research:

* 70% of Americans say the dismal state of the economy will prevent them from taking a vacation this summer.
* In lieu of a vacation, 48% intend to remain home and spend time with friends and family.

* 65% have trouble finding affordable, fun activities when making plans for the summer.
* One-third say they are more in need of fun this summer than financial help.

* One-third say they haven't had a fun night in the last six months.
* 14% can't remember the last time they had a fun night out.

* What would people give up for a week in exchange for a month filled with fun each day?
53% - dessert
40% - cell phones
6% - showering


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DONT TEXT AND DRIVE

Bad enough people chat on their cell phones while driving.  Texting while driving has now become a problem, especially among younger drivers.  Take a look at the results of a survey of five thousand cell phone users conducted by independent market researcher Toluna. 

* 83% believe it should be against the law to drive while texting.

* 60% of drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 say they text while driving.
* 49% of drivers between the ages of 20 and 29 say they text while driving.
* 13% of drivers in their 50s say they text while driving.

* People between the ages of 13 and 19 send the most text messages -- an average of 500 per month.

* 60% of people say they text on their cell phones.

* Nearly half say they text from their cell phone just as much as they call from it.

* Of the people who have data plans on their cell phones:
41% don't text.
70% don't surf the Internet.
73% don't use e-mail.


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WHERE TO FIND THE BEST PIZZA

It's official -- Chicago is home to the best pizza in the country.  GQ magazine writer ALAN RICHMAN has come out with his list of the 25 best-tasting pizzas in America.  The Mortadella Pie from the Windy City's Great Lake pizzeria topped his rankings, while the Plain Pie from Lucali pizzeria in Brooklyn, New York took the runner-up spot.  You can read Richman's article in the June issue of GQ, which hits newsstands May 26th.

Here's a complete look at the top 25, featuring the city, restaurant and name of the dish:

1. Chicago: Great Lake - "Mortadella Pie"
2. Brooklyn, New York: Lucali - "Plain Pie"
3. San Francisco: Pizzeria Delfina - "Panna Pie"
4. Phoenix: Pizzeria Bianco - "Margherita With Prosciutto"
5. Providence, Rhode Island: Bob & Timmy's - "Spinach-And-Mushroom Pizza"
6. New Haven, Connecticut: Sally's Apizza - "White Pie With Potato"
7. Los Angeles: Tomato Pie - "The Grandma"
8. New York City: Co. - "Margherita"
9. Philadelphia: Tacconelli's - "White Pie"
10. Brooklyn, New York: Totonno's - "Margherita With Pepperoni"
11. Port Chester, New York: Tarry Lodge - "Clam Pie"
12. New Haven, Connecticut: Frank Pepe - "The Original Tomato Pie"
13. Harrison Township, Michigan.: Luigi's "the Original" - "Gourmet Veggie Pizza"
14. San Francisco: Gialina - "Wild-Nettle Pie"
15. Detroit: Buddys - "Cheese Pizza"
16. Marina Del Rey, California: Antica Pizzeria - "Pizza Del Cafone"
17. San Francisco: A16 - "Romana Pie"
18. Providence, Rhode Island: Al Forno - "Grilled Pizza With Roasted Eggplant"
19. Boston: Galleria Umberto - "Square Slice"
20. New York City: Famous Joes - "Slice"
21. Farmington Hills, Michigan.: Tomatoes Apizza - "Pepperoni Pie"
22. Philadelphia: Osteria - "Zucca Pie"
23. Boston: Santarpio's - "Homemade-Sausage Pie"
24. Detroit: Niki's - "Cheese Pizza With Feta"
25. New York City: Una Pizza Napoletana - "Margherita"


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AMERICANS ON ALL THINGS IDOL

Deciding between KRIS and ADAM is just one choice American Idol viewers are wrestling with these days.  ADAM LAMBERT and KRIS ALLEN will duke it out to win the eighth season of the hit show, which wraps up this week, so AOL Television decided it would be a good time to poll fans about their feelings on other issues related to the show.  Nearly 234 thousand people took part.  Here's a look:

* 44% say new judge Kara DioGuardi is "awful."
* 30% say new judge Kara DioGuardi is "okay".

* 70% feel American Idol is just as exciting this year as it has been in the past.
* 18% say this season's Idol has been "boring."
* 12% say Idol is getting old.

* 49% vow not to watch American Idol anymore if Simon Cowell leaves the show.
* 32% said if Simon Cowell did leave, their decision to keep watching American Idol would depend on who replaces him.

* 59% would vote for an openly gay contestant.


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THE ECONOMY MAY ENDANGER YOUR HEALTH

The economy may kill more than just your bank account.  Here are the results of a survey of a thousand people conducted by the American Heart Association:

* 57% say the economy has had an impact on their ability to take care of their health.

* 42% intend to make changes in the next six months that could affect their health, such as buying fewer fruits and vegetables.

* 32% have made a change in the last six months to save money, such as delaying preventive care appointments, not taking medications or skipping the dentist.

* 25% of people who belong to a gym have canceled their memberships in the last six months.

* According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, physically active people save 330 dollars per year in direct medical expenditures.


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AMERICANS DONT SWIM IN A TOILET BUT 17 PERCENT PEE IN A POOL

It may be a little early in most parts of the country to go swimming, but a council of scientists, health professionals and consumer advocates would like you to know that one in five Americans -- that's 17 percent -- admit peeing in a public or backyard pool.

And eight in ten Americans, or 78 percent, are convinced their fellow swimmers are guilty of relieving themselves in a pool. 

Some additional stats from the survey:

-- 35 percent of respondents don't shower before jumping in a pool, and 73 percent say their fellow swimmers fail to shower before swimming.

-- 63 percent of respondents are unaware of illnesses associated with swallowing or contacting contaminated pool water.

-- Just 36 percent say pool cleanliness is on the top of their mind when they head to the pool.

The survey of 1,000 U.S. adults was commissioned by The Water Quality and Health Council.


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HOW OFTEN DO YOU DRINK ALCOHOL

It could be a cold beer, a glass of chardonnay or a dry martini, but a new survey shows Americans certainly enjoy having a drink or two.

A new Harris Poll finds 29 percent of U.S. adults drink alcohol, including beer or wine, at least once a week, with six percent saying they drink every day.  Among generations, those over the age of 64 have the largest percentage of people who drink every day -- nine percent.

Additional stats from the survey:

-- 20 percent of Americans drink once a month, while 12 percent say they drink several times a year.  A full  25 percent of Americans say they never drink alcohol.

-- The favorite drink among those who drink several times a year is beer, at 67 percent, followed by domestic wine at 49 percent, vodka at 41 percent, rum at 32 percent, foreign wine at 29 percent, tequila at 24 percent and champagne, 18 percent.

-- 40 percent of men say they drink at least once a week compared to just 19 percent of women.

-- 81 percent of men drink beer compared to 51 percent for women.  Men are also more likely than women to drink foreign wine, 31% vs. 26%; bourbon, 21% vs. 7%; and scotch, 19% vs. 5%.

-- Women are more likely to drink domestic wine than men, 56% vs. 43%.  Women are also more likely to drink vodka, 43% vs. 39%; tequila, 25% vs. 23%; and champagne, 20% vs. 17%).

-- 37 percent of Easterners drink at least once a week compared to 26 percent of folks in the Midwest and 28 percent in both the South and West.

-- Among political parties, 33 percent of Democrats admit drinking at least once a week compared to 26 percent of Republicans.

The Harris Poll was conducted online and involved 2,401 U.S. adults.


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THE ECONOMY WOMEN AND RELATIONSHIPS

It's well documented that the current economic crisis has had a profound impact on the average American's wallet.  However, a survey commissioned by Caron Treatment Centers, a leading addiction treatment facility, finds 49 percent of women admit the current economy is having an impact on their relationship.

Of those who say the economy has had an impact, 31 percent say they try not to think about it and hope for the best while 24 percent confess it has resulted in a decreased level of intimacy.  Sixteen percent say the economy is causing relationship problems, but it doesn't make economic sense at the moment to split up.

Additional key findings from the survey:

-- On the upside, 29 percent of women who say the economy has had an impact on their relationship say they are more committed to making it work.

Women say they cope with relationship issues in a variety of ways:
-- 44 percent try to control or fix the problem.
-- 34 percent get critical of partner.
-- 20 percent have a hard time saying "No."
-- 16 percent turn to escapist pursuits such as shopping, drinking and eating.

The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive and involved 1,315 adult women.


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ALEC BALDWIN APOLOGIZES FOR MAILORDER BRIDE JOKE

ALEC BALDWIN is apologizing for a joke he made about getting himself a Filipino mail-order bride.  During an appearance last week on the Late Show With David Letterman, the actor remarked that he would love to have more children and told Dave he was, quote, "thinking about getting a Filipino mail-order bride at this point...or a Russian one."  The joke was most likely a partial response to his bitter divorce and custody battle with ex-wife KIM BASINGER.

Philippine Senator RAMON REVILLA reacted this week to Baldwin's joke, calling it, quote, "insensitive and uncalled for...and an insult to millions of Filipinos." 

Yesterday, Baldwin posted on The Huffington Post that he was apologizing to, quote, "anyone who took offense."  The 30 Rock star added, quote, "I believe that most people understood that this was a joke and took it as such."


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MRS BLAGOJEVICH JOINS IM A CELEBRITYGET ME OUT OF HERE

The wife of ousted Illinois governor ROD BLAGOJEVICH isn't a celebrity, but NBC apparently feels she's high-profile enough to be included on the network's new reality show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here.

PATTI BLAGOJEVICH made the announcement on NBC's Today show Thursday and said she hopes the appearance will show people she's not the foul-mouthed person who was recorded on federal wiretaps when her husband was under investigation.

Former governor Blagojevich originally intended to travel to Costa Rica to be on the show himself, but a federal judge barred him from doing so because of his ongoing legal issues.  The 52-year-old Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to charges he tried to sell or trade PRESIDENT OBAMA’s old Senate seat and used the power of his position as governor to pressure companies to make campaign donations.  Illinois lawmakers impeached Blagojevich and kicked him out of office in January.

The former Illinois first lady joins other I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here contestants including newlyweds HEIDI MONTAG and SPENCER PRATT of MTV’s The Hills, Best Damned Sports Show Period host JOHN SALLEY, former supermodel and reality TV star JANICE DICKINSON, former American Idol contestant SANJAYA MALAKAR, actor STEPHEN BALDWIN, and professional wrestler and beauty queen TORRIE WILSON.  The show debuts June 1st.


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JIM CARREY HOPS ABOARD LAUNCH OF CHRISTMAS CAROL TRAIN TOUR

Christmas came early in Los Angeles yesterday, when a train tour for Disney's A Christmas Carol was launched.  A special train carrying exhibits promoting the movie will visit 40 cities leading up to the theatrical release on November 6th.  JIM CARREY, who stars as Scrooge and also plays several other roles, says kids will enjoy the train, adding, quote, "They're gonna enjoy the interactiveness of it, y'know, putting themselves in the movie."

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WOMAN WHO ALLEGEDLY ATTACKED SIMON COWELLS EX PLEADS NOT GUILTY

TMZ.com reports the woman arrested for allegedly trying to choke Extra correspondent and SIMON COWELL ex TERRI SEYMOUR pleaded not guilty yesterday to misdemeanor charges of battery and assault.  Thirty-three-year-old JANICE THIBODEAUX, who was charged earlier in the day, must return to court on June 4th.  Her bail was set at 20 thousand dollars.

Thibodeaux is accused of attempting to choke Seymour while leaving Tuesday's American Idol taping in Los Angeles.  In an interview with RadarOnline.com, Thibodeaux said she was upset because she thought Cowell acted inappropriately when he recently pretended to choke fellow judge PAULA ABDUL on Idol.

Cowell addressed the incident on RYAN SEACREST's radio show yesterday, saying that he assumed the suspect would be, quote, "somebody who was jealous."  He said Seymour called him following the incident and that he felt sorry for her.

Thibodeaux faces a maximum sentence of 18 months in jail and thousand of dollars in fines if convicted on both charges.


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KISS FROM TWILIGHT HUNK ROBERT PATTINSON SELLS FOR BIG BUCKS

How much would you pay to receive a kiss on the cheek from Twilight star ROBERT PATTINSON?  USA Today reports the actor attended a charity fundraiser in Cannes, France Thursday and offered up a kiss on the cheek for anyone's vampire-obsessed daughter.  He ended up selling two kisses for $27,600 each.

The event was an AmFAR Cinema Against AIDS auction to raise money for AIDS research and prevention.  Other items auctioned off at the event included a saxophone that former President BILL CLINTON played on The Arsenio Hall Show in 1992 during his first run for the White House.  It sold for 179 thousand dollars.

A private screening to QUENTIN TARANTINO's new World War 2 movie Inglourious Basterds sold for almost 83 thousand dollars.  Entertainment Tonight says a vacation with newly-engaged sweethearts HARRISON FORD and CALISTA FLOCKHART was also on the auction block but it's not known how much it sold for.


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THE CW ANNOUNCES 20092010 SCHEDULE

Melrose Place is officially moving into the CW's lineup next season.  The update of the 1990s drama will be paired with 90210 on Tuesday nights this fall.  The two shows compliment each other well, since the original Melrose Place was a spin-off of Beverly Hills, 90210.  ASHLEE SIMPSON-WENTZ and original cast members LAURA LEIGHTON and THOMAS CALABRO star in the new Melrose Place.

Conspicuous by its absence from the CW's 2009-2010 schedule, at least for now, is the much-discussed spin-off of Gossip Girl.  There's a chance it could get picked up as a midseason addition.

The CW is waving the white flag in the comedy department, having axed Everybody Hates Chris and The Game.  It also cancelled the JOANNA GARCIA drama Privileged.  The network will fill the gaps in its weekly schedule with teen-friendly series such as The Vampire Diaries, about two vampire brothers vying for the affections of a high school girl; the ASHTON KUTCHER-produced drama The Beautiful Life, centering around two models; and the midseason entry Parental Discretion Advised, about a foster child who reaches out to her biological parents.

As previously announced, the CW will no longer offer network programming on Sunday nights and is turning over the time slots to its affiliates.

Here's a closer look at the CW's primetime schedule for the fall:

Monday
Gossip Girl
One Tree Hill

Tuesday
90210
Melrose Place

Wednesday
America's Next Top Model
The Beautiful Life

Thursday
The Vampire Diaries
Supernatural

Friday
Smallville
America's Next Top Model rerun

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JACK INGRAM TAPES PERFORMANCE FOR LIFETIME SERIES ARMY WIVES

JACK INGRAM and his band have taped a performance for an upcoming episode of Lifetime's drama series Army Wives. The appearance will air sometime in August. 


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JOE NICHOLS MAKES SPECIAL VISIT TO SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL

JOE NICHOLS surprised school kids at John T. Simpson Alternative School in Easley, South Carolina with a performance recently. They'd adopted Joe's song "The Impossible" as the theme of their new Students Taking Active Responsibility class and launched a letter-writing campaign to Joe. He say, quote, "I think it's great that their teacher is trying to teach them that nothing is impossible, and that you should never give up." Joe's latest single, "Believers," is currently climbing the chart.


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JASON MICHAEL CARROLL WILL BE SPECIAL GUEST FOR CHICAGO CUBS COUNTRY MUSIC NIGHT

JASON MICHAEL CARROLL will be the special guest at the Chicago Cubs' Country Music Night coming up this Tuesday night. He's set to sing the national anthem, throw out the first pitch and then sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley Field.


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COUNTRY STAR TRIVIA

What CMT reality show introduced the new country acts KATE & KACEY, JOEY & RORY and CAITLIN & WILL? ANSWER: CMT Can You Duet?


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NASHVILLE NOTES

WILLIE NELSON has been named the 2009 Texas State Musician.  He says, quote, "I consider it a great honor, and I want to thank everyone who helped make it happen." 

New duo KATE & KACEY will perform at the Tuesday Night Opry Plaza Party at the Grand Ole Opry on June 9th.

STEVE WARINER will perform a benefit concert for the Chet Atkins Music Education Fund at Nashville's Loveless Barn on July 7th.

WYNONNA offers commentary on the new CMT special Hollywood Sings Country, premiering tonight at 9:00 ET.


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VEGAS DELUXE LION KING OPENS NO DOUBT ROCKS FOR CHARITY

It's time for the latest installment of our exclusive feature, Vegas Deluxe, in which everybody's favorite luxury lifestyle expert, ROBIN LEACH, brings you the weekly lowdown on the high-rolling happenings in Sin City.  This week, The Lion King opened at Mandalay Bay, NO DOUBT lent TIGER WOODS a hand for charity, a girl next door announced she'll be joining Peepshow and the cast of an upcoming film came to town...



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ODDS ON IDOL

Welcome to Odds On Idol, your exclusive weekly rundown on who's favored to win, and to lose, on the eighth season of American Idol! ABC ePrep's Las Vegas correspondent Al Mancini asks JOHN AVELLO, oddsmaker for the Wynn Las Vegas Casino, which American Idol contestant he thinks has the best shot at stardom. Remember, the odds are for entertainment only -- Nevada law prohibits betting on reality TV shows.


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SOAP UP WITH ABC DAYTIME

Here's this week's exclusive feature, Soap Up With ABC Daytime!  Each week, we bring you a soap star from one of ABC's big three daytime dramas -- All My Children, One Life To Live and General Hospital -- giving you the dish on what's happening for the upcoming week on ABC soaps!

This week, your host is LAURA WRIGHT, who plays Carly Corinthos Jacks on ABC's General Hospital.


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LIVE FROM THE GREEN ROOM BOB SAGET TRIES TO SURVIVE SUBURBIA

It's time for another installment of our exclusive feature, Live From the Green Room at ABC's Good Morning America!

This time around, we're talking to BOB SAGET, former host of America's Funniest Home Videos, former Full House dad, and now star of the new ABC comedy Surviving Suburbia, which returns with new episodes May 27th.