Birthdays today: Drew Brees, Eddie Cahill, Regina King, Chad Lowe, Mario Van Peebles, Randy White, Andrea Martin, HappyBirthday to Charo. The "cuchi-cuchi" star turns 72 today, but she insists she's 62.

GUILTY: Judge Rules Boy Knew Killing Neo-Nazi Dad Was Wrong

A Riverside, California judge ruled Monday that a 12-year-old boy was responsible for killing his neo-Nazi father, adding that the family and social workers failed to protect the youngster before he turned to the gun.

Superior Court Judge Jean P. Leonard said the boy, who was 10 when the shooting occurred, knew that killing his father was wrong. Leonard added that the boy planned the murder and then tried to cover his steps by hiding the .357 magnum revolver under his bed. He was found guilty of second-degree murder and of using a fire arm while committing a felony.

The boy's father was Jeffrey Hall, a West Coast leader for the neo-Nazi group known as the National Socialist Movement.

The judge has yet to decide what will happen with the boy, who he said was also a victim because of his father's influence, adding, "It's clear that this minor know more than the average child about guns, hate and violence."

Source: Los Angeles Times

NEWTOWN TRAGEDY: New School Building to be Named for Slain Teacher

Victoria Soto, one of six staffers killed during December's horrific school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, will never be forgotten. On Monday, the town council at nearby Stratford voted to name a new elementary school building after her.

Soto, who was only 27 when she was killed, grew up in Stratford, which is located about 22 miles southeast from Newtown. She died on December 14th, when she reportedly attempted to protect her first-grade students from the gunman who killed 20 children and five other adults in the second-worst school shooting in U.S. history.

Source: NBC News

KIM & KANYE: To Exchange Rings in Commitment Ceremony

Kanye West wants to marry Kim Kardashian, but there's a hitch before they can get hitched. Kim's still married to Kris Humphries.

But according to one report, the couple has found a way around that. They're planning to have a "commitment ceremony, where they will exchange vows and rings in front of close family and friends."

A source says, "Kanye is very traditional. He’d have liked to marry Kim now that they are having a baby."

Kris refuses to grant Kim a divorce until she admits their 72-day marriage was a publicity stunt. Kim and Kanye's baby is due in July.

SOURCE: Britain's The Sun

TOP CELEBRITY TWEETS

Lance Armstrong’s doping and Golden-Globe nipples top celebrity tweets.

• Chris Rock: "Today Lance Armstrong, tomorrow OJ."
• Keith Olbermann: “Before anybody accepts his ‘apology,’ a partial list of the people Lance Armstrong threatened with ruin or violence.”
• Donald Trump: “Lance Armstrong is now going to admit guilt -- can that be possible after many years of denying? Just go away, Lance.”
• Arsenio Hall: "Golden Globe's 'Nipple Year' on the carpet! The only great thing about LA's weather this week! Most women were on high beam."
• Jimmy Fallon: "The Ravens beat the Broncos in 2 OT. Not saying it went too long, but even Jodie Foster was like, 'Wrap it up!'"
• David Spade: "During MTV dirtball party show Buckwild they show promo of Snookie talking about babies on her show. Zzz."
• Paris Hilton: "A true friend is just like a piece of a puzzle. Without that particular piece, your life wouldn't be complete."
• Rosie O'Donnell: "I want to play Pam in the Biggest Loser musical."
• Larry King: "A college professor recently asked me what is my number-one rule when interviewing-my answer? I never learned anything when I was talking."
• Kirstie Alley: "I think I accidentally murdered my pet spider."

TRENDING NOW

Anonymous against the Westboro Baptist Church and Lance Armstrong’s confession are trending on Twitter and Google.

• Op Angel: Anonymous has launched #OpAngel campaign to carry on the work of the late hacktivist Aaron Swartz, and as a warning the Westboro Baptist Church not to go through with their alleged plan to picket Swartz’s funeral on Tuesday.
• Lance Armstrong: Everyone's waiting for that confession with Oprah.
• Bones is Back: It returned to FOX on Monday.
• Justin Bieber: He posted an Instagram photo of his switch from baggy jeans to skinny.
• WWE Raw 20: Monday Night Raw celebrated its 20th in Houston on Monday with a special featuring The Rock, and Kaitlyn against Eve Torres for the WWE Divas title.
• Martin Luther King, Jr.: The late civil rights leader is honored on Tuesday.
• Jodie Foster: Lesbian? Yes. Retiring? No.

McDONALD'S: Offering Happy Meals With Books in the U.K.

While McDonald's in the U.S. is focusing on making their Happy Meals healthier, in the U.K. they're trying to make them smarter -- by replacing the traditional toy that accompanies the meals with a book.

Under the plan, Mickey D's plans to distribute 15 million books over the next two years after teaming with the National Literacy Trust, Dorling Kindersley and WH Smith. The currently featured books are in the Amazing World series, which focuses on star and planets, big cats, the rainforest and the Arctic and Antarctic.

Source: The Daily Meal

LANCE ARMSTRONG: Comes Clean to Oprah

As expected, Lance Armstrong admitted to Oprah Winfrey Monday that he used performance-enhancing drugs to keep a leg up on the competition during his cycling career.

The details of the interview were supposed to remain a secret until it airs on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on the Oprah Winfrey Network, but an anonymous source confirmed Armstrong's apology to USA Today. Oprah herself didn't confirm what Armstrong said, but took to Twitter to reveal the interview lasted more than two-and-half hours and that Armstrong "came ready!" She'll appear on CBS This Morning to promote the interview.

Prior to sitting down with Oprah, Armstrong gave a "very sincere and heartfelt apology" to the staff of about 100 at his Livestrong charity's headquarters in Austin, Texas, a spokesman said.

Source: USA Today

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OBAMA: "We're Not a Deadbeat Nation" ()

President Obama spoke out about the nation's latest fiscal crisis on Monday, saying that Republicans are attempting to hold the country ransom in exchange for not trashing the U.S. economy.

The latest battle is about the debt ceiling, which puts a limits on how much the government can borrow, and once again the U.S. is in danger of defaulting on its debt if Congress doesn't raise the borrowing limit. Republicans are asking for cuts in government spending in exchange for raising debt ceiling, but so far the president isn't going for it.

Obama said, "What I will not do is to have that negotiation with a gun at the head of the American people."

Source: Reuters

LINDSAY LOHAN: Fires Her Attorney

Lindsay Lohan has made what looks to be another dumb decision. She's fired the woman most responsible for keeping her out of prison -- lawyer Shawn Holley.

As TMZ points out, Shawn has kept Linds "out of the pokey in the jewelry heist case as well as several probation violation cases. And she's almost magically made some criminal investigations disappear." This comes while the actress faces criminal prosecution in both California and New York. Attorney Mark Heller is repping her in the New York assault case, while Shawn Holley was repping her in multiple criminal cases in L.A. (Yes, Lindsay had lawyers for both coasts!)

Sources say Mark -- who's been called a "menace to the public" by some lawyers -- sent a letter to Shawn saying he was now representing Lindsay on all criminal matters.

BRADLEY COOPER, JENNIFER LAWRENCE: We Are Not Dating

Though they're both single at the moment, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence both insist they are not dating.

The Silver Linings Playbook stars were asked about their rumored romance on the red carpet of the Golden Globes Sunday. Bradley, who's 38, said, "No, no, no, no, no. Not even close. First of all, I could be her father. No, I'm kidding. But no, not even close." Jennifer, by the way, is 22.

He added, "We've done two movies together. If it didn't happen by now, it's not going to happen." That other movie is the upcoming Serena.

When J-Law heard of Brad's denial, she told Entertainment Tonight, "True. I agree. I concur."

Jennifer split from boyfriend Nicholas Hoult last week after two years of dating, and Bradley broke up with Zoe Saldana for a second time just before the holidays.

SOURCE: Us Magazine

Emma Stone revealed in a recent interview, that she prefers flats and hates wearing heels because they make her feel like a giant, towering over everyone else. So how tall is Emma? A whopping 5-foot-6. (JaneDough)

SAME-NAME COUPLE GETTING DIVORCED

Kelly Hildebrandt thought it would be cute to search Facebook for people with the same name as her. And guess what? She found someone – a guy!

That guy – Kelly Hildebrandt – and Kelly Hildebrandt hit it off and ended up becoming romantically involved and eventually got married!

Well, after 3 years, the same-name couple are getting divorced. Turns out they shared little in common other than their name. (Newser)

WHY BEING SICK ISN'T ALL THAT BAD

The flu epidemic that seems to be infecting everyone is no joke. But if you are unlucky and come down with the virus, don't get bummed out! Believe it or not, there are actually some perks to being sick that should keep your spirits up! So drink lots of fluids and snuggle under your warmest blanket – here's why being sick isn't all bad:

• Sick Day: Whether it's school or work – you get a couple of free days to enjoy at home. Sure, you might not feel that great ... but it's better than being at work!
   
• No cooking or cleaning: OK, this might not be the case for everyone, but having the flu is the perfect excuse to eat canned soup and not worry about the dishes and laundry getting done.
   
• You get waited on: Be it family, close friends or your significant other – someone is there to buy you tissues and cough drops and take care of you when you are feeling icky.
   
• Staying in your PJs all day and watching horrible television: You can doze off on the couch all day with daytime TV keeping you company – or maybe even a marathon of some cheesy reality show that you just can't seem to stop watching. And no one complains about what you are watching!
   
• You have an excuse to eat lots of ice cream: Yup – it soothes your throat and your soul! (Frisky)

KENNEDY'S CAVIAR

Jackie Kennedy has always been known for her impeccable taste and her refined demeanor, but now we're finding out that she had one of the strangest diets we've ever heard of.

According to legend, one of her diets consisted of a baked potato, stuffed with caviar and sour cream – and that would be her one meal for the entire day.

At least it's nice to know that crazy fad diets were a thing long before any of us were around! (Yahoo)

GERMS: The Dirtiest Spots in Your Kitchen

Moisture and food residue make the kitchen the perfect breeding ground for germs that can make you and your family sick. You might think your kitchen is squeaky clean, but there are plenty of hiding places where bacteria can multiply. The dirtiest spots in your kitchen that you need to keep properly disinfected are:

• The Sink: Disease-causing germs love to cling to the sink, drain and the rubber seal of the drain or garbage disposal. Remember to clean your sink immediately after washing foods and dishes – don't just wipe and go. Use a kitchen cleaner and let the product sit for the time instructed before washing it away.
   
• Your Sponge and Dish Brush: A recent study found that 75% of household sponges and dish rags carry E coli. Change dishrags daily or microwave damp sponges for 2 minutes to disinfect, and wash dish brushes in the dishwasher to prevent bacteria from growing.
   
• Your Coffee Maker: Yeast and mold are found in abundance in coffee pot reservoirs. Once a month fill the reservoir with vinegar, let it sit for about a half an hour and then run a cycle through the machine. Afterwards, be sure to run clean water through the machine 2 or three times to get rid of the vinegar residue.
   
• Refrigerator Handles and Stove Knobs: Your hands touch these surfaces so frequently that they easily become contaminated, whether or not they look dirty. Be sure to wipe them down with disinfectant daily.
   
• Countertops: It is incredibly important to disinfect counters before and immediately after any food preparation to reduce bacteria. Remember – a wipe down is not sufficient for proper cleaning.
   
• Reusable Grocery Bags: Sure you are helping the environment, but E Coli has been found in abundance in these bags, especially if meat is being transported. Make sure your reusable bag is washable in hot water to prevent cross contamination. (Woman'sDay)

JODIE FOSTER: Not Retiring

Jodie Foster's coming out during Sunday's Golden Globes wasn't really news, but her hint that she's calling it a career was.

Most folks interpreted her comments about her long career as a resignation. But her publicist confirms to the New York Daily News that the 50-year-old actress and director "is definitely not retiring from acting."

The confusion came after Jodie, who received a Lifetime Achievement award, used her acceptance speech to acknowledge her sexual orientation and say she was at the "end of an era... I'll never be on this stage again. On any stage for that matter. Change, ya gotta love it!"

Jodie also backtracked on the comments later, saying, "I could never stop acting. You'd have to drag me behind a team of horses. No, I'm not retiring from acting. And, you know, I'd like to be directing tomorrow... I'm actually more into it than I have ever been."

MADONNA: Mansion for Sale

Madonna has listed her Beverly Hills mansion for $22.5 million.

She's hired a service, which the L.A. Times reports that is a sign that Madge may be getting more serious about selling the property, which was only shown privately last year. She's owned the 1.17-acre estate for almost 10 years and completed a renovation on it a couple of years back. The paper says it includes a nine-bedroom main house, two guesthouses, a resort-size swimming pool and tennis court, a two-story dining room, a gym, a theater/screening room, an art studio, a bar and 17,000 square feet of living space.

WEIRD NEWS: Club in Japan Offering Butt-Pillows

It seems like Japan is always starting the hottest new trends. A club called Soineya, which is described as a "cuddle club," is a place where guests can receive all types of TLC services, from foot massages to an innocent snuggle in bed.

But its newest service is starting to get a lot of attention. For $11 a minute, customers can ask for the "oshiri makura," or "butt-pillow." The service lets patrons rest their weary heads on the tush of a female staff member. Sound like something you'd be interested in? There's also a less-expensive option. You could spend $11 for three minutes of resting your head on an employee's lap. (Kotaku.com)

STUDY: Brief Interruptions Lead to Big Mistakes

According to a new study from Michigan State University, people are more likely to make mistakes when they are interrupted – even for a few seconds.

Researchers found that error rates doubled when people were trying to complete a task on a computer and were interrupted for just three seconds.

This, of course, could have serious consequences – especially for people with life-and-death jobs like emergency room doctors. (MensHealth.com)

ADELE: The Pressure of Being Bond ()

Adele admits she had a lot of reservations about doing a theme for a James Bond film.

She tells us doing a theme for any movie, let alone one with such a strong history of themes as the Bond series, was pretty daunting. She adds that her pregnancy and the notoriety that came with the success of her album 21 made the decision even more difficult.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK: Send Direct Messages to Celebrities on Facebook

Facebook is testing a new feature that would allow users to send a direct message to celebrities … for the low, low price of $100.

The messages would be guaranteed to reach the celebrity’s Facebook account without being diverted to their junk inboxes. (iDigitalTimes.com)

HEALTH: Home Remedies for Fast Flu Relief

With the flu epidemic sweeping the nation, WebMD has issued a list of home remedies for fast flu relief:

For Stuffy Sinuses:

• Breathe aromatic steam.
• Take a warm shower.
• Increase liquids.
• Use moist heat compresses
• Try nasal irrigation.
• Consider decongestant nasal sprays.

For Cough Relief:

• Try cough syrup or cough drops

For a Scatchy Throat and Congestion:

• Eat hot chicken soup.
• Add spice to your meal.
• Try an expectorant.

For Fever And Muscle Aches:

• Try an OTC analgesic like aspirin, Tylenol or Advil.
• Drink more fluids.
• Stay in bed and rest.

For Nighttime Congestion and Loss of Sleep

• Try a humidifier.
• Use nasal strips.
• Elevate your head.

WEIRD NEWS: Teacher Has Fear of Children

A teacher in Ohio is suing her school district for discrimination, claiming they transferred her from the high school to the middle school – knowing that she has a fear of young kids. Wait, a teacher with a fear of kids?

61-year-old Maria C. Waltherr-Willard taught high school Spanish and French for 35 years before the district re-assigned her to a middle school. This did not go over well with her, since she suffers from pedo-phobia – a very rare but serious fear of young kids.

Being around kids causes her a great deal of stress, high blood pressure, nausea and nightmares. Maria claims in the lawsuit that the school district is aware of her condition and re-assigned her as a way to force her exit. (NY Daily News)

MADONNA: Top Moneymaker of 2012

Madonna has topped the L.A. Times' annual "Ultimate Top 10" list, which combines artists' earnings from touring with their take from record sales. The Material Mom took in $144 million in North America last year, of which $133 million was from her MDNA tour. The remainder included $8.2 million in physical and digital album sales, and a relatively paltry $2.1 million in digital tracks sales, way below most current hit artists.

With tour revenue accounting for a greater percentage of an artist's take these days, its not surprising that some of the year's best-selling artists -- such as Taylor Swift, One Direction, Mumford and Sons and Maroon 5 -- failed to make the Ultimate Top 10. They just didn't spend enough time on the road. Look for Swift, for one, to rebound next year, following this spring and summer's arena tour.

Justin Bieber and Jason Aldean were the artists whose combined touring and recording got them into the Top 10. Adele -- who didn't do a single tour date due to a throat operation followed by pregnancy -- was the only artist whose Top 10 status was based solely on sales.

The Ultimate Top 10 (North America only):

1. Madonna - $144 million
2. Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw (co-headliners of a stadium tour, so counted together) - $124.2 million
3. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - $115.1 million
4. Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour - $112.9 million
5. Roger Waters - $94.7 million
6. Justin Bieber - $71.6 million
7. Coldplay - 68.3 million
8. Jason Aldean - $65.2 million
9. Adele - $63.8 million
10. Van Halen - $59.7 million

HEALTH: The Flu Is Now an Epidemic in America

When it comes to the flu, things are getting bad out there.

We are approaching a flu epidemic with 47 states reporting “widespread” flu activity. Flu activity is considered to be “high” in 24 states and “moderate” in 16 states.

Only Kentucky, Maine, California, Montana, and Connecticut seem to be in good shape with “minimal” flu activity. (Washington Post)

GOLDEN GLOBES: OMG Moments

Jennifer Lawrence in Dior, Claire Danes’ post-baby bod and Jodie Foster’s acceptance speech are among Self magazine’s most buzzworthy moments from Sunday night’s Golden Globes.

Fans were all a-Twitter over Jennifer’s look, trending #JLaw throughout the night. Claire debuted a slim figure on the red carpet after giving birth to her first child just last month. Cecil B. DeMille Award recipient Jodie also got mixed reviews for her revealing acceptance speech. Other trending moments include:

• Taylor Swift’s retro glam, revenge look.
   
• Lena Dunham, who won two categories for her HBO show Girls.
   
• Katherine McPhee and her candid tweets from her table at the show.
   
• The love between Les Miserables actresses Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried.
   
• Hayden Panettiere snacking on cookies with Eva Longoria
   
• Jessica Chastain, who delivered Self’s favorite acceptance speech of the night

KELLY CLARKSON: Catching Her Breath ()

Kelly Clarkson says her new single "Catch My Breath," off her Greatest Hits - Chapter One album, sums up her decade-long career -- both the good and the bumpy times. Kelly tells us, "It's a nice, happy song, but kinda wraps up the darker moments and everything. The roller coaster ride of it all."

Kelly has lots to look forward to -- planning a wedding with fiance Brandon Blackstock and performing at the presidential inauguration next week in Washington, D.C.

NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE QUIZ

Only 23 percent of Americans say they'd be interested in taking part in this experiment -- even if the price came down. What is it?
ANSWER: Taking a commercial space flight.