House leaders Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner [[ BAY-nur ]] want answers after hackers apparently overtook 49 websites operated by committees and members in the House of Representatives after this week's State of the Union address. Officials expect all of those sites to be fully functioning again by the end of today. Some of the affected websites include the ones run by Congressmen John Murtha of Pennylvania and Joe Wilson of South Carolina, as well as the House Energy and Commerce Committee. All of the affected sites are run by Alexandria, Virginia-based GovTrends. In all, about 40 percent of the House's websites are contracted out to private vendors. Back in August, hackers attacked 18 House websites.
President Obama has expressed his condolences to the family of a young Manhattan girl who who inspired thousands with her brave battle against leukemia. Six-year-old Jasmina Anema died late Wednesday night. The little girl was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia in January of last year and underwent a transplant last summer that ended up being unsuccessful. Jasmina saw one of her final wishes come true last month when she got to meet President Obama. The President, in a statement, says "Jasmina showed tremendous bravery in the face of adversity, and her ability to stay positive ... was an inspiration to me and to all those she touched."
Go Daddy.com has had its share of rejected Super Bowl spots, but the latest commercial to get the boot comes as a surprise to the Arizona company's CEO. Bob Parsons told the "Phoenix Business Journal" the ad in question does not feature half-dressed women, but rather a fictitious "effeminate" former football star that designs lingerie. The rejection letter from CBS, the network carrying the big game, said the spot quote, "had the potential to offend a significant number of people." Despite that rejection, the Internet service provider will still have some racy ads appearing during the broadcast.
WWE stars Chris "Jericho" Irvine and Greg "Hurricane" Helms are out on bail after their early Wednesday morning arrests at an Erlanger, Kentucky, gas station on public intoxication charges after a smackdown in a taxi cab. The taxi driver called police and reported them and others fighting in the back of his cab after he picked up the group outside a local bar. One of the fight's so-called victims, Ashley Storer, came forward and told TMZ Thursday that she did take an elbow in the cheek from Helms but she's not pressing any charges. She said she got stuck sitting between the two of them when they started play fighting and things just got out of hand. She said she was part of a group of five who crammed into the cab after boozing it up following the taping of the "WWE Smackdown" Tuesday at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati. Storer said wrestling star Matt Hardy was part of the group but stayed sober. Hardy and Helms fled the scene but police caught Helms. WWE claims Hardy was merely trying to retrieve Helms.
Pop superstar Beyonce is leading the list of nominees for music's biggest night. The 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards are set to take place this Sunday in Los Angeles. Beyonce is up for ten Grammy Awards, including the coveted Album of the Year Grammy for her hit album "I Am... Sasha Fierce." Not far behind in the nominations count is country music sensation Taylor Swift with eight nods. Swift's album "Fearless" is also up for Album of the Year. Other multiple nominees include the Black Eyed Peas, R&B singer Maxwell, and rapper Kanye West who each nabbed six nominations. Lady GaGa and rapper Jay-Z received five nods a piece. Look for performances by Beyonce, Swift, Jamie Foxx, Elton John, Lady GaGa, Lil' Wayne, Jennifer Nettles, Slash, Lady Antebellum, Maxwell, Pink, Green Day, among others. This year's ceremony will also include a special tribute to the late King Of Pop, Michael Jackson. Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, Carrie Underwood and Usher are expected to participate in the tribute segment which will also feature a 3-D mini-movie for Jackson's "Earth Song." The never-before-seen film was supposed to be included in Jackson's This Is It engagement, the London concert series he was preparing for before his sudden death last June. The majority of GRAMMY Awards will be presented during a pre-televised ceremony set to take place on Sunday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm Eastern Time. The Recording Academy will present awards in 99 of Grammy's 109 categories during the pre-telecast. CBS will televise the remaining award presentations live from L.A.'s Staples Center, starting at 7:00 pm.
Author Jerome David or "J.D." Salinger, who wrote the 1951 literary classic "The Catcher in the Rye," has died at the age of 91. Known for being reclusive, he had not published an original work since 1965. The author's agent Phyllis Westberg said Salinger died Wednesday of natural causes at his home in New Hampshire. Born in New York City in 1919, Salinger sought to seclude himself from the fame he garnered because of "The Catcher in the Rye." Salinger also is known for his works "Nine Stories," "Franny and Zooey," "Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters" and "Seymour: An Introduction."
Brand-new "American Idol" judge Ellen DeGeneres and veteran judge Simon Cowell have only just begun working together on this season's show, but there are already reports circulating that say the two aren't talking. Reports suggest the two didn't get off to a good start when Cowell arrived late to a taping of the show recently. "Deadline Hollywood" reported earlier this week that DeGeneres "stewed" while waiting for Cowell to arrive. She was reportedly so steamed she requested that Fox alternative programming chief Mike Darnell should, quote, "hurry up and pick" Cowell's replacement. Meanwhile, a source tells RadarOnline.com, quote, "There's two camps on the show this season...It seems as if Ellen has decided to try to take control since Simon is on his way out and that's created problems." DeGeneres is currently taping "American Idol" as well as her own talk show, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." The TV host and new "Idol" judge has had to move up her schedule to fit in both endeavors. She tapes her talk show first before heading to the "Idol" set. DeGeneres made it to the "Idol" taping on time and called Cowell a "prima donna" for not doing the same. RadarOnline.com reports that Cowell was only 14 minutes late, while other reports this week have suggested that DeGeneres has spent more time than that waiting for her fellow judge to show up.
Coldplay's Chris Martin visits Springfield this weekend, providing the voice for his animated self on a new episode of "The Simpsons." The singer admits he jumped at the chance to participate in the long-running series. He says he, quote, "got pretty happy about it, and excited," noting he and Coldplay's manager are huge fans of the show. He adds that it was interesting to work with Dan Castellaneta, who provides the voice of Homer Simpson, saying he's, quote, "like a guy who does a really good Homer Simpson impression, and comes up with really good lines that Homer Simpson might come up with." In the episode, Homer Simpson wins the lottery, but is afraid to divulge his winnings after blowing off a date with Marge to buy his lotto ticket. When Bart finds out, he convinces Homer to go on a secret spending spree that includes buying front row seats to a Coldplay concert. The Coldplay episode of "The Simpsons" airs on FOX this Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Country music star Carrie Underwood has been tapped to sing the national anthem at this year's Super Bowl. The season four "American Idol" winner will perform the anthem before the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints take to the field to do battle in the NFL championship game. Underwood follows Oscar winner and season three "American Idol"' finalist Jennifer Hudson who performed the anthem at last year's big game. The NFL has also announced that Queen Latifah will perform "America the Beautiful" during pre-game festivities. Veteran British rockers The Who will rock this year's halftime show. The Super Bowl takes place Sunday, February 7th at Sun Life Stadium in Miami.
Tom Bergeron will be without a partner for the upcoming season of ABC's "Dancing With The Stars." "People" magazine is reporting that Bergeron's longtime co-host, Samantha Harris, is leaving the show after eight seasons. Harris will be spending her time focusing on her jobs at "The Insider" and "Entertainment Tonight Weekend." Harris says her experience on "DWTS," quote, "could not have been more of a dream job," adding, quote, "I loved every single second of it and I've made lifelong friends at the show." While Tom Bergeron will miss working with Samantha Harris, he is hoping that her departure, quote, "frees her up for us to have her as a contestant." The tenth season of ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" is set to debut on March 22nd. The celebrity lineup is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Singer Etta James is staying at Riverside Community Hospital in Riverside, California as she continues to battle various ailments. James' son tells the "Riverside Press-Enterprise" the R&B legend, best known for the song "At Last," entered a detox program in Hemet about a month ago to fight dependencies on over-the-counter medicines and painkillers. James was transferred to Riverside Hospital after her physical condition worsened. The 72-year-old Woodcrest resident is recovering from a urinary tract infection that led to several bacterial infections. Her son says Etta's doing better and is expected to be released from the hospital in three weeks -- depending on her progress.
Tom Cruise has reportedly fired his public relations team. Deadline.com reports that the "Top Gun" superstar had been repped by Paul Bloch at Rogers & Cowan, but no longer. Cruise has reportedly hired 42 West's Amanda Lundberg. Lundberg also personally represents MGM Chief Executive Officer Mary Parent. The link is relevant because Cruise is the head of United Artists in title, the studio that is now seemingly inactive due to MGM's financial troubles. The publicist shuffle isn't a new game for Cruise, who was a longtime client of PMK's Pat Kingsley until 2004. It was then that Cruise replaced Kingsley with his sister and fellow Scientologist Lee Anne DeVette. DeVette oversaw her brother's public image during the infamous "couch jumping" incident on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in 2005.
Oscar winner Matt Damon is in line for another prestigious honor. American Cinematheque has announced Damon as the recipient of the 24th American Cinematheque Award. Touted as a "mid-career" honor, the award will be presented during the group's annual benefit gala event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 27th. ABC will televise the event. American Cinematheque chairman Rick Nicita cites Damon's "extraordinary contribution to the art of motion picture" in honoring the "Good Will Hunting" and "Bourne Identity" star. He says, quote, "Already, he has garnered an Academy Award for screenwriting as well as leading roles in two major movie franchises -- the 'Bourne' and 'Oceans' series. His choice of projects ranges from daring independents to commercial megahits, which have been received with both public and critical acclaim." Damon, who currently stars in the film "Invictus" with Morgan Freeman, joins a long list of American Cinematheque honorees dating back to 1986. Eddie Murphy received the first award. Other honorees have included Robin Williams, Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese, Sean Connery, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Jodie Foster, Tom Cruise, George Clooney, among others.
Oscar-nominated actor Leonardo DiCaprio is using social networking to promote an environmental bill in Washington. People.com reports that the "Titanic" star has teamed up with actors Chace Crawford, Justin Long, Edward Norton, and others on a campaign based on viral videos and social networking. DiCaprio is a trustee of the National Resource Defense Council or NRDC, which has launched the "This Is Our Moment" promotion. The effort urges Congress to pass the Clean Energy, Jobs, and American Power Act. DiCaprio comments on the campaign's website saying, quote, "We're going to be watching all you senators, very closely." For more information or to see an all-star "This Is Our Moment" PSA visit www.nrdcactionfund.org/thisisourmoment.
It's been three and a half years since Mel Gibson made news for a DUI arrest in Malibu, California. The heavily-publicized incident seemed to end the superstar's winning streak. A temporary departure from film acting followed. Now, Gibson is returning to the big screen with "Edge Of Darkness," opening nationwide this weekend. Gibson said that his time off helped to fuel his creativity. "In Edge Of Darkness," the 54-year-old actor stars as Thomas Craven, a Boston homicide detective investigating his daughter's murder. Gibson is also in preproduction on "How I Spent My Summer Vacation," about a career criminal who must learn to survive in a Mexican prison. The actor and director both wrote and stars in that upcoming film.
A home rented by the late Michael Jackson from late 2006 to 2007 has just sold for three-point-one-million-dollars. The "King of Pop" lived in the home for six months after returning to the United States from his self-imposed overseas exile. After the singer died last June, Las Vegas fans gathered at the mansion's gated entrance to build an impromptu memorial with flowers. The 15-thousand-foot Monte Cristo Way residence features seven bedrooms, ten bathrooms, a tennis court, basketball court, and a theater that seats 20 people. Jackson paid one-million-dollars to rent the property for him and his family over the six-month period they stayed there. The home's buyer is said to be a Michael Jackson fan who paid cash in the sale.
Cable network VH1 has picked up four new series to its lineup. According to "The Hollywood Reporter," the network has added the shows "Transform Me," "Undateable," "Famous Crime Scene," and "Peak Season: Vancouver." "Transform Me" debuts on March 15th and will showcase women getting an "inside and out" transformation from the show's makeover team. "Undatebale" will follow a similar premise, providing people with advice based on the upcoming book "Undateable: 311 Things Guys Do That Guarantee They Won't be Dating or Having Sex." That show will premiere on April 19th. "Famous Crime Scene," which kicks off February 12th, will feature a more serious tone. It investigates the deaths of celebrities like Tupac Shakur, John Lennon and Michael Jackson. "Peak Season: Vancouver," a show that first debuted on MTV Canada, chronicles the lives of a group of young people living at a ski resort. That show gets underway on February 14th.
Michael Lohan is brushing up against the wrong side of the law again this week. TMZ.com reports that the father to actress Lindsay Lohan was picked up by police Thursday after allegedly calling his ex-girlfriend Erin Muller. He tried to reach her January 21 at her place of business. Muller is protected by a restraining order against Lohan. Nassau County Police have confirmed that Lohan was arrested and booked on a criminal contempt charge. It's the second time in as many months that the 49-year-old has been arrested for contacting Muller. Lohan is due back in court on February 25th.
Actresses Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore are reportedly in talks to sign on for an English-language remake of the successful French film, "L.O.L.: Laughing Out Loud." Variety.com reports that Cyrus would play Moore's daughter in the flick. The storyline revolves around a teenage girl who chases her ex-boyfriend's best friend after they break up. A tense mother-daughter relationship, paired with the teen's obsession with text messaging, add interesting plot twists to the film. The mother-daughter roles in the original French version of "L.O.L: Laughing Out Loud" were played by actresses Sophie Marceau and Christa Theret. The original film grossed over 20-million-dollars in France.
DJ Pauly D of MTV's "Jersey Shore" is raking in the dough as a nightclub disc jockey. According to TMZ, before the reality series, Pauly Delvecchio was paid one-thousand-dollars per night to play clubs in Providence, Rhode Island four or five nights a week. But now Pauly D is expanding his DJ empire across the U.S. and he's asking for ten-to-25-thousand-dollars a gig. He will also work less, aiming to book one gig every six weeks at a few clubs. DJ Pauly D is the "Jersey Shore" cast member infamous for his signature "blowout" hairstyle that takes him 25 minutes a day to sculpt. He recently recreated the hairdo for actor Michael Cera. The makeover happened because Cera, a "Jersey Shore" fan, wanted to do it as a way to promote his latest "Youth In Revolt Film."
Britney Spears is due a 50-thousand-dollar payout, but it's not all hers. TMZ.com reports that Spears shares the payout with her ex-husband, dancer Kevin Federline. The money comes from an unclaimed interest fund and the Louisiana State Department of Revenue is waiting for Spears and Federline to claim the cash. It's been suggested that the windfall may have come from either interest Spears and Federline earned on a jointly-owned property, or from a shared income tax that was filed during their marriage. All Spears and Federline have to do now is claim the dough and decide how to split it. Federline stars in the upcoming season of "Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp" on Vh1. The first episode of the weight-loss reality show starts on Monday, February 8th.
