Rise of the Planet of the Apes

James Franco looks more bored and distracted in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" than he did when he was hosting the Oscars: Watching the movie, I kept waiting for him to pull out his iPhone, aim it at the camera and take a snapshot while mugging sheepishly.

Has there ever been a film with a less engaged protagonist? Claude Rains made more of an impact in 1933's "The Invisible Man," and you couldn't even see him. In "Apes," the vibrant and charismatic Franco, who carried the whole of "127 Hours" practically by himself, has the look of someone fulfilling a contract - the look of someone who realizes what he's gotten into and just wants to get it over with.

That's the same effect "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" has on the viewer. You can't wait for the film to get past its endless set-up and exposition and get to the fun stuff. But the wait is long.

This prequel to the 1968 sci-fi classic explains exactly how Earth came to be overrun by hyper-intelligent apes while the human population died out. The idea is genius - what a creative way to relaunch a dormant franchise! - but the execution is something else entirely.

RIP Bubba...

Charles "Bubba" Smith, an NFL lineman who won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Colts and had a second career acting in several "Police Academy" films, has died. He was 66.

Smith's body was found on Wednesday at his home in the Baldwin Hills suburb of Los Angeles, said Los Angeles police spokesman Officer Gregory Baek.

He is believed to have died of natural causes, but the coroner's office has not made a final determination, police said.

Smith played for Michigan State University and entered the National Football League when he was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1967.

Aside from winning a Super Bowl with the Colts in 1971, Smith also went on to play with the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Oilers before he retired in 1976, after being twice selected to the Pro Bowl.

After retiring, Smith appeared in small television roles before he gained fame in "Police Academy" for playing Moses Hightower, a police recruit who was as soft-spoken as he was physically imposing.

Smith, who stood 6 foot 7 inches, starred in the first six "Police Academy" films, and also appeared in several Miller Lite commercials in which he ripped off the tops of beer cans.

Source: kgmi.com

Salmonella just got more dangerous!

Meat giant Cargill is recalling 36 million pounds of turkey after a government hunt for the source of a salmonella outbreak that has killed one person in California and sickened dozens more.

The Agriculture Department and the Minnesota-based company announced Wednesday evening that Cargill is recalling fresh and frozen ground turkey products produced at the company's Springdale, Ark., plant from Feb. 20 through Aug. 2 due to possible contamination from the strain of salmonella linked to 76 illnesses and the one death.

 

Illnesses in the outbreak date back to March and have been reported in 26 states coast to coast. Both the Agriculture Department and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are still working to identify the source. Meanwhile, the Agriculture Department has warned consumers to properly cook ground turkey.

Just before the recall announcement Wednesday, CDC epidemiologist Christopher Braden said he thought health authorities were closing in on the suspect. He said some leftover turkey in a package at a victim's house was confirmed to contain the strain of salmonella linked to the outbreak.

In announcing the recall, Cargill officials said all ground turkey production has been suspended at the Springdale plant until the company is able to determine the source of the contamination.

"Given our concern for what has happened, and our desire to do what is right for our consumers and customers, we are voluntarily removing our ground turkey products from the marketplace," said Steve Willardsen, president of Cargill's turkey processing business.

The Minnesota-based company said it was initiating the recall after its own internal investigation, an Agriculture Department investigation and the information about the illnesses released by the CDC this week.

All of the packages recalled include the code "Est. P-963," according to Cargill. The packages were labeled with many different brands, including Cargill's Honeysuckle White.

According to food safety attorney Bill Marler, who publishes a database of outbreak statistics, the ground turkey recall is one of the largest meat recalls ever.

A chart on the CDC's website shows cases have occurred every month since early March, with spikes in May and early June. The latest reported cases were in mid-July, although the CDC said some recent cases may not have been reported yet. The CDC said the strain is resistant to many commonly prescribed antibiotics, which can make treatment more difficult.

The states reporting the highest number sickened are Michigan and Ohio, with 10 each. Texas has reported nine illnesses; Illinois, seven; California, six; and Pennsylvania, five.

Twenty states have one to three reported illnesses linked to the outbreak, according to the CDC. They are Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

The CDC estimates that 50 million Americans each year get sick from food poisoning, including about 3,000 who die. Salmonella causes most of these cases, and federal health officials say they've made virtually no progress against it.

Government officials say that even contaminated ground turkey is safe to eat if it is cooked to 165 degrees. But it's also important that raw meat be handled properly before it is cooked and that people wash their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling the meat. Turkey and other meats should also be properly refrigerated or frozen and leftovers heated.

The most common symptoms of salmonella are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within eight to 72 hours of eating a contaminated product. It can be life-threatening to some with weakened immune systems.

Cargill executive Willardsen said, "Public health and the safety of consumers cannot be compromised."

"It is regrettable that people may have become ill from eating one of our ground turkey products," he said, "and, for anyone who did, we are truly sorry."

Source:connectmidmissouri.com

Alliance with Islamists in Libya - claims Qadhafi's son

The son of Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi claimed that his family had forged an alliance with Islamist rebels, state-run Libyan television said Thursday.

Seif al-Islam Qadhafi, who terms the internal opposition to his father’s regime as radical extremists, was quoted as telling the New York Times that “the liberal (rebels) will escape or be killed... We will do it together.” He claimed to have negotiated the pact with Ali Sallabi, a leading Islamist in the rebel-held east.

The Qadhafi regime has termed the revolt in Libya an al-Qaeda plot to ignite civil strife in the country.

Mr. Qadhafi’s son, his father’s mouthpiece since the uprising started in February, hinted there was a deep split between the Islamists and liberal rebels in Libya.

Casey Anthony: return to Florida for probation?

Casey Anthony, the Florida mother acquitted last month of involvement in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, does not have to return to Orlando on Thursday to report to a probation officer.

Instead, Chief Judge Belvin Perry will conduct a hearing on Friday morning to determine whether Ms. Anthony will be required to serve an additional one year of probation now that she had been released from the Orange County Jail.

Anthony is not required to attend the Friday hearing either.

The dispute arose last week when the judge who handled Anthony’s 2010 guilty plea for writing fraudulent checks discovered that the probation department had conducted her one-year supervised probation at the jail while she was still being detained pretrial for her upcoming murder trial.

Anthony was sentenced in January 2010 by Judge Stan Strickland to serve 412 days in the county jail in the fraudulent check case. She was given credit for time served since she was already being detained on the murder charge. But Judge Strickland also ordered that Anthony complete one year of supervised probation “once released.”

Somehow, those two words “once released” were never recorded on Anthony’s sentencing order. Probation officials began conducting their supervision of Anthony while she was still in the jail.

Probation department records document that all the required checks and verifications were performed. A year later, on Jan. 25, 2011, the department sent a letter to Anthony confirming that she had satisfied the probation requirement of her sentence.

“You are hereby notified that you completed your term of supervision on 1-24-2011 … and are no longer under the supervision of the Department of Corrections,” the letter says in part.

It adds: “I would like to extend to you best wishes for a very successful future.”

The letter arrived as Anthony and her defense team were making final preparations earlier this year for her approaching trial on charges that she murdered her daughter, Caylee. Florida prosecutors were seeking the death penalty.

After her acquittal on the murder charges, Anthony was released from jail on July 17 after being given credit for time served. She was whisked out of Orlando amid multiple threats and has since been living in an undisclosed location.

The probation issue arose last week when Judge Strickland discovered that his probation order had not been carried out. Last Friday, he issued an order correcting his previous written order, which required Anthony to serve a year of supervised probation now that she is out of jail.

Anthony’s lawyers complain that the action was taken without notice to them or their client, and that any attempt to return her to Orlando might place her in danger given continuing threats issued against her.

They also argue that Strickland, who had already been disqualified from presiding over the murder trial, was biased against Anthony.

They cite as proof, Stickland’s appearance on the Nancy Grace television program shortly after the not guilty verdict. The judge said in part: “I guess I’m just shocked. We opened a big can of justice, didn’t we?”

source:csmonitor.com

Multiracial Spiderman!!!

In the Ultimate Universe of Marvel Comics, Peter Parker -- the original alter ego of Spider-Man -- is dead, and his replacement is a half-African-American, half-Latino teenager named Miles Morales.

Wednesday, a new book -- Ultimate Comics Fallout #4 -- debuts, and the world will get to see the new web-slinging super hero. The book will be a glimpse into the Ultimate Comics universe after Peter Parker, when a new, multi-racial Spider-Man arrives on the scene.

"He swings into action, kicks butt, and when he pulls back his mask, there is another face there," said Axel Alonso, editor in chief of Marvel Comics.

"When the opportunity arose to create a new Spider-Man, we knew it had to be a character that represents the diversity -- in background and experience -- of the 21st century," Alonso said. "We have a president of mixed heritage; in fact, I'm of mixed heritage, this is just the world we live in," he continued.

With Spider-Man one of Marvel's most iconic super heroes, the simple fact that Peter Parker will no longer be the man in the Spider-Man costume will be enough to turn heads, regardless of his ethnic background.

"The key thing is (that) the 'wow' factor goes without saying," Alonso said, but he believes Miles Morales will be loveable and recognizable to long-time fans of Spider-Man, as well as relatable to a whole new demographic of readers.

"Miles is on the same journey of self discovery (as Peter Parker), he's nerdy, is good at math, and lives with his parents in Brooklyn," he said.

Peter Parker, a white orphan from Queens, died in Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #160 fighting his arch-enemy, Green Goblin.

"He died a hero, he died fulfilled," Alonso said. "He's really dead too, not come-back-to-life dead," he added, referring to the occasional propensity in the comic-book genre for reviving supposedly dead characters.

Ultimate Comics Fallout #4 will only be a preview of the new Spider-Man, according to Alonso. He will be the main character of a new series called Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1, which debuts in September, Alonso told CNN. He said this new series will explain how Miles Morales took over for Peter Parker, introduce his family, and let the reader get to know him better as a character.

Spider-Man is one of Marvel's most recognized heroes around the globe, according to Alonso. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 in 1962, created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. Since then, Spidey, as he is often called, has appeared in several animated and live-action television shows. Spider-Man comic strips have appeared in syndicated newspaper comic strips and many films for the big screen.

Marvel released the first Ultimate Marvel imprint of comic books in 2000. The Ultimate imprint is an alternate world from Marvel's regular universe, where Parker is still alive and fighting. "The Ultimate Universe is known for its aesthetic and its attitude," Alonso said. "It is responsible for a lot of comic book innovation."

Source:cnn.com

Charlie Sheen got disappointed!

Charlie Sheen recently withdrew his lawsuit filed against Capri Anderson, the porn film star and escort who accused the unstable actor of assault and battery late last year while staying in New York City’s Plaza Hotel together.

Anderson claimed that Sheen threatened to kill her when she rejected him inside the hotel room, though she admitted that the interest was consensual at first, and revealed to the press that the 41-year-old actor reacted violently, throwing objects around in the hotel room. Trying to escape, she locked herself in the bathroom.

Sheen, however, denied the allegations and sued Anderson, also known as Christina Walsh, in November of 2010 for extortion, according to On The Red Carpet.

He stated that the claim was nothing more than a publicity stunt and further revealed that Anderson locked herself in the bathroom because she purportedly stole his $165,000 watch. Sheen also revealed in the claim that the porn star asked him for $1 million to keep quiet about the incident.

For reasons unknown, Sheen requested that the case be dismissed, which a judge granted without prejudice on Friday, according to The Associated Press.

Not the first incident of anger, several others have testified to the actor’s short temper and aggressive behavior, including ex-wife Brooke Mueller. Prior to the hotel incident last year, Sheen was found guilty of assaulting Mueller, and served time at a rehabilitation center as a result.

Source:christianpost.com

Ashton Kutcher strikes again

CBS dropped a few details Wednesday about its newly refurbished "Two and a Half Men" -- but somehow neglected to bring along the new star of its No. 1-rated sitcom, Ashton Kutcher.

Speaking to reporters at the TV press tour in Beverly Hills, Entertainment President Nina Tassler revealed that when the former star of "That '70s Show" joins the "Men" cast this fall, he'll play Walden Schmidt, an Internet billionaire with a broken heart. Kutcher, whose character will be introduced in a two-part season premiere, is replacing Charlie Sheen, who was sacked from the show earlier this year after suffering well-publicized drug problems and openly tangling with the producers.

"Who could have predicted that we would be here six months ago?" Tassler told reporters -- although, as one journalist pointed out, Sheen's lengthy history of trouble pointed to just such an outcome long before it happened.

"Our whole focus right now is moving forward," Tassler added.

Apparently moving forward meant walling off Kutcher from the prying questions of reporters, at least for now. Although CBS dedicated an entire day to marketing its shows at the press tour, it did not include a panel for "Two and a Half Men," the most-watched comedy on TV, which is undergoing the most high-stakes revamping of any series in years.

Tassler explained the lack of a "Men" session by saying that the show is in production. "Men" did its first table read earlier this week and is due to shoot the season premiere on Friday.

"When everyone walked on that set on Monday, you could cut the air with a knife," Tassler said. "Do you pay extra special attention to the first season? Absolutely."

Keeping viewers in the dark is an important part of getting them to tune in to see how Sheen's exit is handled, she added. She declined to confirm stories that have suggested the premiere will open with the funeral of Sheen’s character, swinging bachelor Charlie Harper.

"Men" isn't the only signature show getting a reboot. CBS is doing much the same thing with its forensics drama "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," with Ted Danson replacing Laurence Fishburne, who exited abruptly after getting a cool reception from fans for his work the last few seasons.

The network is hoping both Danson and Kutcher have the type of broad fan bases that can keep ratings aloft for at least a few more seasons. 

"He is a huge TV star, he has a tremendous amount of charisma," Tassler said of Danson.

But she admitted that viewing for the two aging franchises could taper off once the initial curiosity dies down: "I don't know if the numbers will be where they once were," she conceded.

Tassler largely deflected questions about what lessons CBS learned through the Sheen affair, preferring instead to hail the "extraordinary" cast and producers behind the show.

When asked if the network would institute new policies about hiring troubled performers, she cracked: "That would probably be every actor in the business."

Source:latimesblogs.latimes.com

Finally FAA shuts down and Congress goes byebye!

WASHINGTON -- Barely a day after the dust cleared from the long, bruising battle over raising the debt ceiling, Democrats and Republicans in Congress launched their next war of words, this time over a once-routine reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Congress has passed 20 short-term funding bills for the agency since 2007 without much controversy. But because Senate Democrats object to certain provisions that Republicans in the House of Representatives attached to the current legislation to keep the FAA functioning, it's turned into a stalemate, with neither side backing down.

The Senate went into recess Tuesday without acting on the House bill, and Congress isn't scheduled to return until after Labor Day. While the impasse won't affect the flying public, it leaves thousands of FAA employees without paychecks for weeks and airport construction projects across the country at a standstill.

Congressional leaders blame each other for the deadlock.

"The House has done its job, and now it's time for senators to do theirs," said House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.

Democrats would have none of it on Wednesday. They want a "clean" bill, with none of the Republican strings attached.

"I call upon Speaker Boehner to end this," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "They should send us a clean extension so these people can get back to work."

President Barack Obama made it clear Wednesday that he wants Congress to act, preferably by the end of the week.

"I'm urging the House and the Senate to take care of this," Obama said at the White House. "This is an example of a self-inflicted wound that is unnecessary."

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, in a White House appearance, urged Congress to return from its summer recess and finish the job.

"Come back to Washington. Leave your vacations, just for a couple hours. Come back, Congress," he said.

The partial shutdown of the agency, which started July 23, has idled nearly 4,000 FAA employees and tens of thousands of private-sector construction workers.

Paychecks continue for air-traffic controllers, but dozens of airport safety inspectors are working without pay because the FAA has deemed them essential to the safety of the traveling public. LaHood said that Americans shouldn't worry about the safety of flying.

"No safety issues will be compromised," he said. "Flying is safe."

Democrats object to two Republican provisions in particular: One would cut $16 million in subsidies for commercial flights to 13 rural airports, some in the home states of top Senate Democrats, including Reid's Nevada. The other would make it harder for some airline workers to unionize.

If the partial FAA shutdown continues, the government could lose as much as $1 billion in revenue that it is no longer collecting from taxes on airline tickets.

"This is from the party that is worried about fiscal responsibility," said House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md.

Rep. John Mica of Florida, the chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said Senate Democrats had two weeks to act after the House passed the bill, but didn't.

"Senate Democrats have no one to blame but themselves for this partial shutdown of FAA programs and airport projects," Mica said.

But Norman Ornstein, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative research center, described the Republican provisions as a "poison pill" that they knew Democrats wouldn't accept.

Source:miamiherald.com 

Oprah Winfrey, James Earl Jones to receive Oscars

Oprah Winfrey, James Earl Jones and makeup artist Dick Smith will be getting Oscars.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences says the three will be honored with Oscar statuettes at the Governors Awards in November. The academy’s Board of Governors voted Tuesday to recognize the entertainment industry veterans.

Winfrey will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, which honors philanthropic and humanitarian contributions. The 57-year-old media mogul, who was nominated for a supporting actress Oscar for 1985’s "The Color Purple," supports various charitable and educational causes, including her own namesake foundations and Academy for Girls in South Africa.