British Author, Philip Pullman, Risks Offending Christians with Latest Book, "The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ"

Bestselling British author Philip Pullman's latest novel, "The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ," may offend many Christians.

According to Reuters, bestselling British author Philip Pullman risks offending Christians with his latest book, a fictional account of the "good man Jesus" and the "scoundrel Christ." This will no doubt rile Christians, as much as "The DaVinci Code" did when the book was first released and then opened old wounds when the movie was released to box office acclaim. The same holds true for "Passion of the Christ," which sparked widespread controversy.

The 63-year-old, an outspoken atheist, angered some members of the Catholic Church with a thinly veiled attack on organized religion in his hugely successful "His Dark Materials" trilogy, the first of which was turned into a Hollywood blockbuster.

But "The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ" is a far more direct exploration of the foundations of Christianity and the church as well as an examination of the fascination and power of storytelling. In the novel, Jesus has a twin brother called Christ who secretly records and embellishes his brother's teachings.

Speaking about the book to an audience in Oxford on Sunday, Pullman acknowledged that it was likely to cause offense.

The controversy the book will most likely spark, will undoubted push it to the top of the bestsellers' lists across the globe.

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Jamie Foxx Picks Up Sketch Comedy Pilot on Fox

 Hollywood Reporter -- Almost two decades after his breakout stint on “In Living Color,” Oscar winner Jamie Foxx is back at Fox with another sketch-comedy show.

The network has ordered a pilot for an untitled project executive produced by Foxx and two of his fellow “Color” writers, “MadTV” creators Fax Bahr and Adam Small, with “Wild ‘N Out” alumnus Affion Crockett attached as one of the stars.

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Patti Labelle Says Some 'American Idol' Judges Aren't Qualified

R&B legend Patti Labelle told it like it really is about "American Idol." She said some "American Idol" judges aren't qualified to judge. I am pretty sure she isn't dissing Ellen DeGeneres, who I believes she likes a whole lot. We know it wasn't Randy Jackson or possibly Simon Cowell. Patti Labelle is a class act and I am glad she told them like it really is!

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Actor Charlie Sheen Enters Rehab, Takes Break from Show "Two and a Half Men"

Actor Charlie Sheen has entered rehab and has taken a break from his show, "Two and a Half Men." Gee, I wondered when the pressure for him to step aside was going to manifest itself, since other "celebrities,"  most notably black ones, are always forced out. CBS has also announced that it is temporarily halting production of the show. So, here's my question -- who's taking care of the couple's kids since they are both in rehab? Wow. This is golden. Can you imagine if this scenario was playing out for Denzel Washington, for example? Talk about a double standard.

Sorry, but I have no pity for Charlie Sheen. He has been portrayed as a verbally abusive man by former wife Denise Richardson and Brooke Mueller, as well as by past girlfriends. He should have been forced to take a break from the show when the news first broke that he was arrested last year for allegedly assaulting his wife in Aspen, Colo. He was charged with felony menacing and misdemeanor charges of third-degree assault and criminal mischief.

It is also interesting to note that this move comes after Los Angeles child protective services visited the actor and the couple's infant sons last weekend. Some people just shouldn't have kids. The network should have forced Sheen off the air when the news broke that he assaulted his wife. Chris Brown was black-listed for his fight with Rihanna, as he should. The same treatment should be meted out to Charlie Sheen, who is no stranger to being in trouble with the law.

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Gary Coleman Curses Out Lisa Bloom on National Television

Washed-up child actor Gary Coleman literally cursed Lisa Bloom out on national television. This guy needs some medication fast. I am no fan of Lisa Bloom and her mother Gloria Allred, but she pushed him and she knew he was volatile. Still, there's no excuse for his behavior. The guy is a ticking time bomb who needs some help fast.

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Devar Hurd Gets Two Years in Jail for Stalking Singer Ashanti Through Text Messages

Devar Hurd, 31, a delusional fan of singer Ashanti, who sent a barrage of text messages about her to her mother Tina Douglas, was sentenced Thursday to two years in jail. He said he didn't mean to annoy or alarm the singer and her family when he sent the messages. Duh!

Some of the messages included photos of his genitals and a picture of the family's Long Island home with a comment about stopping by to visit, according to media reports.

He was convicted in December of stalking and aggravated harassment.

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Prince Harry Throws Hissy Fit After Being Thrown from Horse During Polo Match in Barbados

Prince Harry threw a hissy fit after he was thrown from his horse during the annual Sentebale Polo Cup in Barbados last weekend. He told Sky News that he tried throwing himself clear of the falling horse after it slipped. He was "a bit sore" but otherwise uninjured. Prince Harry, who was visibly upset, threw his polo mallet and punched his helmet after the fall.

I guess he had a good reason to be ticked off.  A "mystery benefactor" promised to donate $100,000 Barbados dollars ($50,000 USD) to the his charity if he stayed on his horse for the entire match. The donor has since reportedly told the prince that it's "clear that the horse fell over, rather than [Harry] fell off it" and has honored his $100,000 donation.

Prince Harry raised $47,700 USD for his charity Sentebale, which helps poor children in the African kingdom of Lesotho.

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Mary J. Blige to Headline 2010 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans

R&B singer Mary J. Blige will headline the 2010 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. The event, which is billed as one of the nation's largest annual events, celebrating black music and culture, will be held July 2 - 4.

A full list of performers have not been released yet. The performers will hit the stage at the Louisiana Superdome and motivational seminars will be held during the day at the Morial Convention Center.

Mary J. Blige has performed at Essence eight times. This year she is expected to perform songs from her latest studio album, "Stronger with Each Tear."

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Billboard Live Presents Alicia Keys at The Apollo in HD on Jan. 7, 2010, in Downloadable Free Concert

BillboardLive.com has teamed up with R&B powerhouse Alicia Keys to show off its new technology which allows fans to watch free concerts broadcast in high definition (HD) via iPhone or iPod Touch. You can access the live performance, which will be available on January 7, 2010, by logging on and downloading the Microsoft Silverlight and OWL (Our World Live) HD player onto your computer free of charge. Once the download is completed, fans will have the ability, for the first time ever, to view the concert from up to five different camera angles of their preference, according to Eurweb. Of course, this depends on the viewers' bandwidth.

The concert, featuring the 12-time Grammy Award winning singer, will take place at 6 p.m. PST at The Apollo Theater in New York City. Keys will also be introducing new artists who will also perform during this broadcast. Alicia Keys latest album, The Element of Freedom, debuted in the No. 1 spot on Billboard's R&B
Albums and Digital Albums charts and No. 2 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums charts, according to Nielsen/Soundscan.

To watch the promo for the concert on BillboardLive.com, CLICK HERE.

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Beverly Johnson Sued by Former Boyfriend Mark Burk, Claims They Had Oral Agreement for Money

Beverly Johnson has been sued by her former boyfriend, Mark Burk, who claimed she failed to live up the an oral agreement in which she promised to pay him half of whatever she earned while they were together. He said they agreed that they would act like husband and wife.

According to TMZ, in the lawsuit, which was filed in California, Burk claims Johnson agreed to support him "for the rest of his life in the same style and manner that was established" during their relationship.      

Burk's lawsuit states they broke up in December 2008 and Johnson has yet to pay him any money.  Burk is seeking $5 million in damages. This is laughable and I hope the judge throws this case out. I find it hard to believe that Beverly Johnson had to resort to a "pretend" husband because she couldn't find a real one.

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Patrick Disney Miller, Grandson of Late Walt Disney, Arrested on Suspicion of Illegal Gun Possession

Patrick Disney Miller, grandson of Walt Disney, has been arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of illegal gun possession.

Los Angeles Police Officer Karen Rayner told the Los Angeles Times that Miller, 42, was taken into custody about 5:30 a.m. at his home in Woodland Hills. She said a LAPD gun unit was there to serve a search-and-arrest warrant.

Miller was booked in Van Nuys for investigation of possession of a firearm by a felon and selling ammunition or reloaded ammunition for a handgun. Miller is currently being held in lieu of $70,000 bail.

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Barry Carpenter, Former Martins Ferrry, OH, Police Chief Sentenced to Prison in Parker-Broderick Surrogate Break-in Case

Barry Carpenter, a former Martins Ferry, Ohio police chief, has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison in connection with the break-in at the home of the surrogate who bore twins for Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick. He was convicted last month on charges of receiving stolen property, theft in office and evidence tampering but he was acquitted of other counts, including burglary.

Carpenter tendered his resignation two weeks ago as chief in Martins Ferry, where the celebrity couple’s surrogate lived. Carpenter and Police Chief Chad Dojack of neighboring Bridgeport were accused of conspiring to steal items from the woman’s home to sell to paparazzi. Dojack’s trial is scheduled for February.

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Tyra Banks Announces the End of the "Tyra Banks Show" at the End of Fifth Season in Spring 2010

Tyra Banks has decided to bid adieu to her show after five seasons and two Daytime Emmy awards. She told People magazine that this will be the last season for her show in the spring of 2010. She said, “I’ve been loving having fun, coming into your living rooms, bedrooms, hair salons for the past 5 years.”

Don't cry for Tyra Banks. She will reportedly turn her focus to the launch of Bankable Studios, a N.Y.-based film production company currently reviewing possible projects. Staying true to a stated mission of hers, she told People, “My next huge steps will allow me to reach more women and young girls to help us all feel as fierce as we truly are.” Banks says.

She wrote in an open letter on her Web site, “There’s a lot cooking right now and a lot of fire burning in my heart.” “And I salute you my amazing family of viewers; without you there never would have been a Tyra Show. I really love you all.”

Well, Tyra Banks certainly won't make as enormous a dent as the reigning Daytime talk show queen Oprah Winfrey. who made a similar announcement about the end of her show earlier this fall, but still she managed to reach an audience of young women who adored her. Tyra Banks isn't departing the world of television. On the contrary. She will be back on "America's Next Top Model," which is slated to return for its 15th season in February, as well as her ABC show "True Beauty."

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Ivana Trump Escorted Off New York-Bound Plane from Florida After Becoming Belligerent

Police say Ivana Trump, 60, was escorted off a New York City-bound Delta Air Lines in Florida after she became belligerent because children were running and screaming in the aisles. Hmm. Where were their parents while they did this and I didn't realize that kids could run around in a plane before it takes off. 

Authorities said Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump, cursed at the children Saturday and at flight attendants who tried to calm her. A flight attendant reportedly offered to switch her seat in first class and she became even more irate.

Ivana Trump has not been charged in the incident at Palm Beach International Airport. Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies asked her to voluntarily exit the plane, but they said she refused and was then escorted off. Well, I guess the recession has affected even Ivana Trump. I would have guessed right off that she would fly private instead of commercial. Besides, for a woman her age, her behavior was a disgrace. She could have handled this matter more diplomatically instead of treating first class to a "blue light" special.

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Georgia-Based Singer-Songwriter Vic Chesnutt Dies After Spending Several Days in a Coma

Georgia-based singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt died Friday in Athens, Ga., after spending several days in a coma caused by an overdose of muscle relaxers. He was confined to a wheelchair after a car accident at age 19. Chesnutt was discovered in the late 1980s by R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe, who was the producer of his first two albums, Little and West of Rome. 

Chestnutt's persistent medical problems made him an extremely harsh critic of the healthcare system in the United States. He told Spinner earlier this year that he was $35,000 in debt to a hospital despite the fact that he was insured.

According to Rolling Stone Magazine, Chesnutt gained national prominence thanks to 1996’s Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, which featured Smashing Pumpkins, R.E.M., Garbage and more bands covering his songs to raise money for the Sweet Relief charity, which aids musicians in need of health care. Vic Chesnutt released 13 albums, with his most recent release being Skitter on Take-Off. He was well-known in Athens, where he collaborated with many local indie rock bands. 

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Actor Charlie Sheen Arrested in Aspen Colorado on Charges Related to Domestic Violence

Actor Charlie Sheen has been arrested in Aspen, Colorado on charges related to domestic violence. According to the Aspen Times, police spokeswoman Stephanie Dasaro said Sheen was taken into custody Friday on suspicion of second-degree assault and menacing, which are both felonies, as well as being charged with criminal mischief, which is a misdemeanor. His wife, Brooke Mueller, reportedly called police after he allegedly pushed her.

Since he is charged with committing domestic violence, he will remain behind bars without bond until he is advised of the charges, according to the Aspen Times. According to media reports, Colorado law requires protection orders between people arrested on domestic violence cases and their alleged victims. The court was closed for Christmas and no date has been set for his appearance.

Sheen, who is the son of actor Martin Sheen, married Mueller in May 2008, following his acrimonious divorce from actress Denise Richards. His screen credits include "Platoon," "Wall Street" and the "Hot Shots!" movies. He is the star of CBS series "Two and a Half Men."

Photo credit: Charlie Sheen, Aspen Police Department (Aspen Times)

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Mary J. Blige Reportedly Punches Husband, Kendu Isaacs, in the Face After She Thought He was Flirting With Waitress

Well, there is drama with R&B singer Mary J. Blige. NY Post's Page Six is reporting that Blige punched her husband Kendu Isaacs in the face at the release party for her new album at club M2 Tuesday night. Ms. Blige reportedly drew blood with that punch, which landed on Isaacs after she thought he was flirting with a waitress. Welcome to the Age of the Tiger. Tiger Woods's alleged beatdown by his wife Elin Nordegren. Here's an excerpt from Page Six:

"She turned to him and was screaming, 'You're not going to ruin my night,' " our witness says. "They got up in each other's faces before someone tried to separate them, at which point she shoved the guy aside, pulled back and popped [Isaacs] in the face."

The source said Blige, Isaacs and their entourage were whisked through a door to the attached club Pink, which was closed. Our witness relates, "She was yelling at him, 'What are you gonna do, Chris Brown me?' Four of her bodyguards and two of the club's kept them apart."

Isaacs was kicked out. Blige went to the bathroom to fix her hair and makeup, but soon fled, creating an uncomfortable scene for partygoers Jay-Z, Beyoncé and Busta Rhymes. Her rep said only, "People lie and don't know what they're talking about." Source: NY Post Page Six

Well, if Mr. Isaacs was flirting with his wife right next to him, that is just disrespectful and rude. Mary should not have hit him, but I guess she was caught up in the heat of the moment. Dang people, can we all get along?

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FBI Delays Release of Documents Pertaining to Michael Jackson Extortion Plots

The FBI will not release documents about Michael Jackson relating to the molestation investigation as well as extortion attempts. The formerly classified documents, about 333 pages, were to be released today, but the near-blizzard conditions have delayed the release for at least one day.

According to TMZ sources state that the documents pertain to the 1993 Michael Jackson child molestation investigation and that the late Johnnie Cochran contacted the FBI, claiming the accuser's family was trying to extort money from Jackson with false allegations.

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Actress Brittany Murphy, 32, Dies After Going into Cardiac Arrest

Actress Brittany Murphy has died at age 32. She reportedly went into full cardiac arrest this morning and could not be revived, according to TMZ

TMZ reports that a 911 call was made at 8:00 a.m. from a home in Los Angeles that is listed as belonging to her husband, Simon Monjack. She was reportedly taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Murphy starred in such films as "Clueless," "8 Mile," and "Don't Say a Word."

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Jamie Jungers, Las Vegas Model, Set to Tell British Tabloid About Sexual Relationship with the Embattled Tiger Woods

And the Tiger Woods sex scandal continues with yet another woman's name being thrown in the ring.  Radaronline is reporting that Jamie Jungers, a Las Vegas model, is set to go public with her story of an affair with Tiger Woods.

Christmas has come early for these skanks. Jungers will be featured in one British newspaper while a competing paper is set to tell the story of another Tiger mistress. Tiger Woods wife should force him to take an AIDS test. No telling what these skanks have contracted through the years.

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