Leonardo DiCaprio deserts Mel Gibson movie

(NEW YORK POST) Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio pulled out of Mel Gibson’s next movie project following the disgraced actor’s domestic abuse scandal, RadarOnline reported Thursday. “Inception” star DiCaprio was due to star in a Gibson-directed flick about Vikings, but sources told the celebrity gossip website there was now “not a chance” of his participation. A source close to DiCaprio said the actor did not want to risk his reputation, adding that “Leo has earned the right to pick and choose who he works with, and Mel Gibson is not one of them.” DiCaprio, who is fascinated by Viking culture, was due to play one in the as-yet untitled project, which was due to begin filming…

SURPRISE: Ellen DeGeneres Leaving ‘American Idol’

(ETonline) After one season serving as a judge on “American Idol,” Ellen DeGeneres is stepping down from her post. The comedienne released the following statement to ET: “A couple months ago, I let FOX and the ‘American Idol’ producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me. I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next. It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for. I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent,…

Lorenzen Wright, Ex-NBA Player, Found Dead

(CBS/AP) Updated at 8:35 p.m. ET The uncle of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright said Wednesday that police have told the family the athlete who had been missing for 10 days has been found dead. More Wright Coverage Ex-NBA Player Lorenzen Wright Found Dead, Uncle Says Family of Missing Ex-NBA Player Fears Foul Play Curtis Wright told The Associated Press that police called the player’s father, Herb Wright, a couple of hours ago with the news he had died. There was no immediate word on the cause. Sgt. Alyssa Macon-Moore of the Memphis Police Department wrote in an e-mail to the AP that police were investigating the death of an unidentified man. Asked if the…

President Barack Obama on ‘The View’: Sasha and Malia are at a Great Age

(ETonline) President Barack Obama chatted with the ladies of “The View,” opening up about the females in his own home, First LadyMichelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia. Obama recalls a high point of his month, saying, “A couple of days we took in Maine with Michelle and Sasha and Malia. We went on bike rides and hikes and the girls are getting old enough now where they’re not quite teenagers yet, so they still like you, but they are full of opinions and ideas and observations and it’s just a great age. Malia just turned 12 and Sasha just turned nine and it couldn’t have been a better couple of days.” He reveals why he chose to…

Welcome to Twitterverse, Kanye West

(CNN) From Ice T calling out a cop to 140-character birth announcements, Twitter is more or less the method of choice for celebrities to quickly communicate with the public – and Kanye West is ready to have his say. The rapper, who recently emerged from months of maintaining a low-profile with a “Power”-ful single that he performed at the BET Awards, is now on Twitter as simply @kanyewest. So, about that album that’s supposed to drop in September – West confirms that it’s no longer called “Good Ass Job.” “I’m bouncing a couple of titles around now,” West tweeted Wednesday.   And, yes, he did spell Silicon Valley as “Silicone Valley” in an early tweet,…

Bedbugs gaining ground

(CNN) — “There are bites all over my legs! Room 603, king nonsmoking room. Cheap but costly in the end!” Hotel guest “Megs” posted this bedbug complaint about a room in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Monday on bedbugregistry.com, a website that logs alleged encounters with the blood-feeding insects. This agitated traveler is far from alone. According to a study released Monday, 67 percent of nearly 1,000 pest management companies surveyed have treated bedbug infestations in hotels or motels. Overall, bedbug calls have increased by 81 percent since 2000, according to the National Pest Management Association, which conducted the 2010 Comprehensive Global Bed Bug Study with the University of Kentucky. Infestations tend to occur more frequently in…

Sex Trafficking of Mentally Disabled Girl Puts Focus on Illegal Immigrants and Crime

(ABC NEWS) Mario Laguna-Guerrero had been dating his 17-year-old girlfriend for two years and even lived with her and her mother before he made a decision that would change their relationship forever. Laguna, struggling to repay a debt to smugglers who brought him into the country from Mexico, decided to become a pimp — driving his girlfriend to migrant labor camps in Hillsborough County, Florida, and selling her for sex. Over four months in late 2009, as many as 80 men slept with the teenage girl while Laguna pocketed $25 a head. He later pressured his girlfriend to recruit high school classmates to work as prostitutes too. Law enforcement agents arrested Laguna in April and…

Old Spice Guy Tackles Jennifer Aniston Film

(ETonline) Isaiah Mustafa, the muscle man who’s been know to extol the virtues of Old Spice at top volume on TV, has joined Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman‘s new comedy ‘Horrible Bosses.’ “It’s a smaller role, but who wouldn’t want to be in one of these funny, irreverent comedies? The cast is great,” Mustafa tells The Hollywood Reporter. “I’m playing a cop because I play these authoritative characters well. I don’t know exactly who I’m in the scene with — maybe Jennifer Aniston!” ‘Horrible Bosses’ also stars Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx andColin Farrell and is slated to hit theaters next July.

House Democrats Buck President Obama on Afghanistan

(ABC News) President Obama is facing something of a Democratic revolt against the war in Afghanistan — a revolt dramatically on display today as the House debated a $33 billion bill to fund the war. Democrat after Democrat came forward not just to oppose the war, but to cut off funding for it. “Wake up, America. The Wikileak-leaked documents gave us 92,000 reasons to end the war,” said Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio. “It is wrong to be borrowing money from China [and] laying off American police officers to train police officers in Afghanistan,” said Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash. Last year, when the House last voted on war funding, 32 Democrats voted no. This evening, that…

160-Calorie Dessert: Sugar Plum Champagne Sorbet, Fat-Free Recipe

(CBS) For a guilt-free dessert, it’s hard to beat sorbet. All you need is sweet summer fruit (and a splash of champagne) for a cool, creamy treat. This week, farmer’s markets in New York were filled with tiny sugar plums, bite-size beauties with a concentrated sweetness and big plum punch. Hudson Valley grower Fishkill Farms explained they were Oishiwase plums, a delicate Japanese variety available just a few weeks a year. PICTURES: Sugar Plum Sorbet Bursting with juice, sugar plums are perfect for sorbet. But any juicy plum will work – the riper the better. Simply blend the fruit with a little sugar and champagne, strain, and churn. The key to successful sorbet is the…