WEIRD NEWS: A Boom in Meat Sales

Cops in New Mexico are looking into the delivery of an unusually high-caliber parcel of meat – which included a loaded handgun and seven rounds of ammunition.

The meat, which appears to have been packaged and frozen more than a year ago, originated at a plant in Colorado and was delivered to a supermarket last week. When an employee tore into the case to ready the ribs for sale, he found the semi-automatic tucked inside the frozen meat and quickly called cops – but not before accidentally wiping off whatever fingerprints might have been on the thing.

A police spokesman says "You hear of people finding frogs in their salad or weird stuff like that, but never heard of this one." (MSNBC)

STUDY: Smells That Make People Spend More Money

According to a new study from Washington State University, certain smells motivate you to spend more money.

Researchers found that simple citrus smells in stores boost spending by 20 percent.

So when you’re out shopping and the smell of oranges or lemons are in the air, be extra careful with your buying decisions. (ScienceBlog.com)

HOLIDAYS: Stress to the World

This may the most wonderful time of the year, but for many, it's also one of the most stressful. According to a recent survey, Christmas ranks as the sixth most stressful life event – behind things like divorce, changing jobs and moving to a new home.

So what is it about this time of year that people find so stressful?

• It's the holiday shopping.
   
• It's worrying about being able to afford all of the gifts.
   
• It's also worrying about whether someone will like what you bought them.
   
• Not knowing what to get for someone is another cause of stress. And it's harder on men than women. Most people agree that the hardest person to buy a gift for is dad. (PR Newswire)

WEIRD NEWS: Burglar Calls 911 for Help

A Dallas-area man called 911 to report that another man had pulled a gun on him, but cops weren't terribly sympathetic – since the caller had rung them while he was trying to rob the guy with the weapon.

Christopher Lance Moore had broken into the man's house and began ransacking the place when the homeowner and his stepson woke up and walked in the scene, guns in hand. Moore tried to calmly excuse himself, and made it as far as his truck, which was parked in the driveway, but James Gerow ordered the younger man to shoot Moore if he tried to flee ... but "shoot him in the leg; you ain't gotta kill him."

Both sides then dialed the emergency number and summoned cops, who arrived and asked Moore what he was doing in the home, to which he only replied that he had "bad intentions." (Dallas Morning News)

HOLIDAYS: What Your Christmas Tree Says About You

Everybody is different and everybody has their own unique style – even with their Christmas trees.

Here's a rundown of some things your Christmas tree says about you:

• White lights – You ask houseguests to remove their shoes.
   
• Multi-colored lights – You're an extrovert.
   
• Blinking Lights – You have attention deficit disorder.
   
• Homemade ornaments – You have lots of children.
   
• Strung Popcorn – You have too much time on your hands.
   
• Red balls only – You wish you lived in a department store.
   
• Cutoff top – You didn't measure the tree.
   
• Vague evergreen smell – You bought a healthy tree.
   
• Strong evergreen smell  – You sprayed your tree with Pine-Sol.
   
• Just plain smelly – There's a dead bird in your tree. (Reader's Digest)

CIA SEX SCANDAL: Jill Kelley is Shopping Tell-All Book

For several weeks now it seemed as if the David Petraeus scandal had disappeared. Fear not, Florida socialite Jill Kelley has announced she’s writing a book. She wants to tell her side of the story, and reportedly tell it all.

Kelley was the victim of threatening emails from General Petraeus’s mistress. She asked a friend in the FBI to investigate, and what they found was that General was cheating with his biographer. Since the scandal broke, it’s been revealed that Kelley shared raunchy emails with another four-star general commander. A source says Kelley is writing the tell-all book as “payback for the public humiliation she’s suffered as a result of the scandal.” A scandal which she essentially exposed.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA: New Jersey is Truly the Garden State

The first medical marijuana dispensary in New Jersey opened its doors yesterday. Residents can legally purchase a bag of dope—with a doctor’s prescription.

Medical marijuana was legalized three years ago, but patients had to go out of state to get their weed. People stood in line outside the Greenleaf Compassion Center in Montclair before the grand opening. Six clients had the necessary paperwork to purchase marijuana. The others in line were just there to celebrate and get a contact high.

PSY: Hate,American Style!

Before he became the toast of American music listeners, PSY took some shots at American policies -- in an expletive-laden rant delivered in his native Korea.

Back in 2004, the "Gangnam Style" rapper, who was already a star at home, appeared at a concert protesting U.S. troops in Korea. He spun a freestyle rhyme that urged listeners to "kill the [bleeping] Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives... Kill their daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law and fathers... Kill them all slowly and painfully."

We're not sure if church groups, Boy Scouts and athletes will be rushing to YouTube to cover that one.

UNHAPPY HOLIDAYS: Reasons to Stay Away From the Mall

As Christmas gets closer, the pressure to buy gifts increases. Eventually, you’re going to have to go shopping whether you like it or not. But you can minimize the pain by shopping anywhere but the mall.

Here’s a rundown of some reasons to stay away from that mall:

• Parking sucks
• Gas is more expensive than shipping
• Employees could care less about you
• Small businesses lose out
• Annoying teenagers
• The internet has a better selection (Complex.com)

MIND & BODY: The Effects of Sitting at Your Desk All Day

In modern times, many of us make our living by sitting at desks all day, every day.

While this is definitely better than working in coal mines or picking vegetables, sitting so much does cause big, scary problems.

Here’s a rundown of some of the worst effects of sitting at your desk all day:

1. Deep Vein Thrombosis – It sounds bad because it is bad. This is a condition where potentially deadly blood clots form in your legs when you don’t get up and move.

2. Herniated Disk – This occurs when the disk in between the vertebrae inside the spine begins to bulge out of place from prolonged pressure. Our bodies are not designed to sit slumped in a chair all day, so all that pressure causes the serious issue.

3. Shorter Life Span – In addition to causing injuries and chronic pain, a sedentary lifestyle can cause a slower metabolism, depression, obesity and an increased risk for heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol. With all this in mind, studies have shown that people who work a desk job just don’t live as long. (TheCampusSocialite.com)

SCHOOL DAZE: College Offering Puppy Room for Stressed Out Students

A college in Canada has opened a puppy room to cheer up stressed out students during finals week.

Students at Dalhousie University can spend some time with the dogs – and research suggests they will see their blood pressure decrease, among other benefits.

The dogs were brought in from a group called Therapeutic Paws of Canada, which is a non-profit organization that arranges for regular visits of dogs to hospitals, residences, schools and anyone else who needs cheering up. (Yahoo News)

JENNIFER ANISTON: No Baby On Board

You knew this one was coming -- Jennifer Aniston isn't pregnant. The former Friends star's rep is putting all those soon-to-be mommy rumors to rest, simply saying, "It's crap!"

With the rumor mill insisting that Jen and her future husband are expecting their first child in May, Jen's rep wants everyone to know, "It's just another fabrication!" The flack suggests that anyone who thinks otherwise look back at pictures from October of a very slim Jen, showing some serious skin at the LACMA 2012 Art and Film gala -- when she supposedly would have been three months pregnant.

Source: Us Weekly

WEIRD NEWS: Creamed Over Cheese

A customer at a Pennsylvania McDonald's had a cow when he was served a cheeseburger instead of the hamburger he ordered – and ended up assaulting an employee who tried to defuse the situation.

The man, whose name was not released, unwrapped the cheeseburger and went burger berserk, throwing a high chair across the dining room and overturning a trash can before storming out. A woman who was on duty at the time followed him out to the parking lot to try to get his license plate number, but he attacked her, grabbing her phone and throwing it across the parking lot, before speeding off in his car.

Guess he wasn't lovin' it. (Huffington Post)

HOLIDAYS: A $2500 Christmas Tree?!

Breezewood Gardens, a gardening business in Ohio, is home to the most expensive Christmas tree.

For $2500, you can be the proud owner of this 18-foot "perfect" Christmas tree, handpicked from the forests of North Carolina. Or, you can just go to your local Christmas tree lot and get a great tree for around 40 bucks. (HuffingtonPost)

BATTLE OF THE BULGE: Stop Holiday Weight Gain With Lemon Water

Health experts say that the majority of weight people gain each year is directly related to the increased eating done between Thanksgiving and New Year's.

This doesn't mean you have to avoid all your favorite holiday treats – just be conscious of how much you are eating. And, most importantly, KEEP HYDRATED. Three liters of water a day with fresh lemon helps speed up your metabolism and keep energy levels high. It will also prevent sugar cravings – so when you do indulge, you will eat a lot less. (Glamour)

MATT NATHANSON: Starting Work On # 8

Matt Nathanson started work on his eighth studio album on Friday.

Nathanson posted an update on his website saying he's recording in his hometown of San Francisco. He writes, "I haven’t made a record in town here, start to finish, since 1998. The studio’s a 10-minute walk from my house, which rules. I’m psyched to not have to pack up all my crap and ready myself for a four plus week displacement. This is easy -- just wake up (in my own bed, thank you), eat breakfast and go. The songs feel San Francisco to me, so it makes sense that we’re recording here. They feel overcast, Pacific Ocean, twisted."

WHITNEY HOUSTON: Producer's Book Focuses on Her (audio)

The producer of Whitney Houston's early hits is sharing his experiences in a new book. Narada Michael Walden was at the Grammy Museum in L.A. on Wednesday, promoting Whitney Houston: The Voice, the Music, the Inspiration. He told Reuters, "Her death was so shocking and sudden that I wanted to create something to keep alive the beautiful aspects of her life. The media was lashing out on the addiction and ignoring her musical genius."

Walden also noted:

• The song "How Will I Know" got to Whitney only after Janet Jackson turned the song down.
• Houston nailed "How Will I Know" in just one take -- not uncommon for her.
• He'd like to work with Whitney's daughter Bobbi Kristina. "If she wants to, I'd love to produce her and keep alive the professional image of her mother and focus on the positive."
    

KAT VON D: Removing Jesse James Tattoo

Kat Von D is taking a laser to Jesse James's face -- the that's tattooed on her body. The celebrity tattoo artist has posted a photo of a laser beam pointed at the tattoo of her ex on her rib cage.

After the lovebirds broke up last year, Kat vowed to keep the tattoo because it had "a lot of meaning." Unfortunately, tattoos don't change as easily as the mind.

MIND & BODY: How to Beat the Winter Blues

The winter blues are no joke. Waking up and leaving for work in the dark, then coming home in the dark, not to mention the colder temperatures, can make December through March seem pretty gloomy. Keep your spirits high with these tips, and say goodbye to the doldrums of winter: 

• Get some daily sunshine: Just 20 minutes a day can make all the difference in your mood. Having your lunch near a window or taking a brisk walk outside can drastically help with your mood.
   
• Don't skip your workout: It's easy to put exercise on the back burner when you are feeling sluggish, but a workout will increase your energy levels and boost your mood.
   
• Eat fruits and veggies: Winter comfort foods are tasty, but all those carbs and calories can make you feel weighed down and tired.  Remember to eat fruits and veggies every day, too; your body doesn't stop needing those nutrients just because you are craving sugars and starches.
   
• Socialize: Ggetting in comfy clothes and sitting in front of the TV on a chilly night can seem awfully tempting, but you can get in a winter rut if you don't force yourself out of the house. Don't ditch your weekly outings with friends and family – you'll be glad you went out and had fun.
   
• Pamper yourself: Doing things you enjoy, like taking a bath or going for a facial, can boost serotonin levels, which make you feel good and happy. (PsychCentral)

JENNI RIVERA: Mexican Pop Star Apparently Dead in Plane Crash (audio) UPDATED 7:30 P.M.

UPDATE (7:30 p.m. ET): According to NBC News, Mexican authorities have located the wreckage of the plane carrying Rivera. There were no apparent survivors.

Mexican singing sensation Jenni Rivera is among seven people missing after her plane lost contact with air-traffic control early Sunday morning.

Rivera -- one of People Espanol's 25 most powerful women and the star of the Telemundo mun2 reality show I Love Jenni -- had a concert Saturday night in Monterrey. The plane took off at about 3:15 a.m. and lost contact about 60 miles away.

Two pilots and four other passengers are also missing.

Source: CNN

LINDSAY LOHAN: One Broke Girl

Lindsay Lohan is having trouble making her rent.

TMZ says Linds signed the lease on a Beverly Hills mansion in February, when her career was looking up. But after the IRS seized her bank account, she's been scraping together the money to pay her $8000 rent, often asking pals for cash.

Linds has reportedly tried to get out of the lease, but told the owners of the home told her the penalty for doing so was "massive."

Her financial troubles might explain why Lindsay has returned to theft. The actress allegedly stole a sweatshirt from her latest hookup, Max George. On Saturday she Tweeted the Wanted singer a photo of a black hoodie with the caption: "Missing something?" She may have swiped the sweatshirt while hanging on the musician's tour bus last week.

Source: Us magazine

KATT WILLIAMS: Arrested in California

Once again, Katt Williams has been arrested. This time he was nabbed Friday in Northern California on an outstanding warrant for a reckless driving incident last month. That's the one where he led police on a high-speed chase through Sacramento on his three-wheeled motorcycle.

Last weekend, Katt was arrested three times in Seattle -- after allegedly getting into a bar fight, having onstage meltdown and slapping a Target employee in the face.

Source: TMZ

SHENAE GRIMES: 90210 Star Getting Married

90210 star Shenae Grimes has gotten engaged to British model Josh Beech.

She announced the news Friday via Twitter, writing, "Thanks for all the congratulations everyone, I'm a very happy lady indeed and all the warm wishes are well appreciated! We plan to keep our special day very private and we hope everyone can respect that. Thanks for the love, right back atcha!"

BROOKE MUELLER: Hospitalized

Charlie Sheen's ex-wife Brooke Mueller was hospitalized Friday in L.A. after allegedly overdosing on drugs.

According to TMZ, the mother of two has been "abusing drugs for several weeks and people around her were 'deeply concerned.'" 

Her rep, Steve Honig, insists the whole thing was just a misunderstanding. He explained that "an assistant thought Brooke was non-responsive while she was napping and hastily called an ambulance. As a precaution, Brooke was brought to a local hospital and discharged after an hour. She was diagnosed with exhaustion and dehydration and is now fine and resting at home. That's it."

Brooke has had a long history of drug abuse and has entered rehab 15 times.

KIM KARDASHIAN: Back to Being Besties With Paris?

Have former besties Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton finally kissed and made up? Sure looks like it.

The two were spotted at the same Miami club last week -- and they "engaged in an actual casual conversation with each other," according to TMZ. Witnesses said that "there was even some laughing taking place."

This is supposedly the second time in recent weeks that the former BFFs hooked up. They were seen hugging and dancing together at a mutual friend's birthday in Las Vegas last month.

SOURCE: 

GWEN STEFANI, GAVIN ROSSDALE: Surprise Duet

So much for all that talk of imminent divorce -- Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani performed together on Saturday night.

Gwen came on stage during Gavin and his band Bush's set at a radio show in L.A. The two combined forces on "Glycerine," with Gwen singing the second verse.

After the song wound down, the rest of the band took the stage and the apparently happy couple shared a quick kiss. It was the first time they'd performed together in at least a decade.

Source: People

TRENDING NOW

Football tops trends on Twitter and Google.

• Manny Pacquiao: Juan Manuel Marquez knocked out Pacquiao in the sixth round in Las Vegas on Saturday.
• Cody Simpson: The singer wowed a crowd with a performance in Kansas City on Saturday.
• Arizona Cardinals: The Seahawks destroyed the Cardinals 58-0 on Sunday.
• Jenni Rivera: The Mexican-American music star is apparently dead in plane crash.
• Kirk Cousins: The rookie quarterback rallied the Redskins to a 31-28 overtime win over the Baltimore Ravens after Robert Griffin the third suffered a knee injury.

TOP CELEBRITY TWEETS

The NFL, the holidays and The Big Lebowski top celebrity Tweets.

• Rainn Wilson: "A young Hermione Granger could have played QB for the Cardinals."
• Rob Lowe: "Seahawks humiliating the Cards. Wonder if their coach will shake Pete's hand or punch him."
• Steve Martin: "Are we so morally bankrupt in this country that Giants can defeat Saints?"
• Alec Baldwin: "For Christmas, I want to be Placido. Or Luciano. Or Jose."
• Neil Patrick Harris: "Ah, the holidays. I’m trimming the tree, decorating the house,and marveling at how f-ing glitter manages to f-ing get f-ing everywhere."
• Jonah Hill: "Been sick all weekend. The Big Lebowski cures all. I marvel at every frame of this film. We are lucky as humans we get to view it."
• Adam Levine: "Most under-appreciated part of Lebowski is that Walter was right about every single thing that happened. Genius. Except Larry Sellers."
• Eva Longoria: "My heart breaks for the loss of Jenni Rivera and everyone on the plane."
• Lisa Lampanelli: "PSY apologizes for singing 2004 song about killing Americans. No worries. Much like the song, you’ll be soon forgotten too!"
• Tom Arnold: "Now I will watch Duck Dynasty. Bearded gay marriage photo shows equality in new light."

BRYAN ADAMS: Exposing Exposed (audio)

Brian Adams signed copies of Exposed, the new book of his celebrity photographs, Friday at the Fahey-Klein Gallery in Los Angeles.

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TOPIC STARTERS

The first issue of Playboy was published on this day in 1953. Have you ever read the mag for anything other than the articles?

Do you prefer to be surprised on Christmas or do you tell everyone exactly what you want?

Is food an appropriate Christmas gift?

It's Human Rights Day.

BIRTHDAY SHOUT-OUTS

Celebs with birthdays today: Raven-Symone, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Nia Peeples, Kenneth Branagh, Susan Dey