THE PENNY: Retired in Canada
The penny is history -- at least in Canada. The government there has begun to phase out their version of the one-cent coin, saying it's too expensive to produce.
The last pennies were distributed in Canada on Monday. Now they'll be pulled from circulation and retailers are being asked to price items accordingly by rounding up to the nearest five-cent mark. The Canadian government estimates that the plan will save taxpayers there about $11 million annually.
In the U.S., the penny has cost more to make than its face value since 2006, with it currently costing 2.41 cents to make every one, which now contain mostly zinc. While U.S. officials have been researching alternatives to the penny, they say more research is needed before it can make a decision about its future here.
Source: Chicago Tribune
SHERIFF JOE: Credit Card Info Stolen
Arizona's Joe Arpaio calls himself the "toughest sheriff in America," but apparently he's not too tough for a credit card thief.
Sheriff Joe has revealed that his credit card information wasn't only swiped, it was stolen, and used to buy $291 worth of products at a Chicago grocery story last weekend.
When representatives from Discover Card contacted the sheriff, he was quick to point out that it was fraudulent activity, since he hasn't visited Chicago since 1957. No one knows exactly how the crooks got Joe's card number, but for now, his card has been canceled as authorities investigate the crime.
Source: AP
GANG RAPES: Six Spaniards Attacked in Acapulco
A group of armed masked men raped six Spanish tourists in the Mexican resort town of Acapulco early Monday morning.
The attack, which lasted for hours, occurred at a beach-side home that six Spanish men, six Spanish women and a Mexican woman had rented.
The five attackers approached two of the Spaniards in the front yard of the home at gunpoint and forced their way into the house where they tied up the six men with phone cords and bath suits and then sexually assaulted the six Spanish women, but did not attack the Mexican woman.
According to authorities, the Mexican woman begged the men not to rape her and they agreed because she was Mexican.
The attack is likely to further tarnish the reputation of Acapulco, which was once considered glamorous resort spot.
Source: AP
TRENDING NOW
A boyfriend killer, Waka Flocka’s mix tape and the Sexiest Man Alive top trends on Google and Twitter.
- Jodi Arias: The 32-year-old admitted to killing her ex boyfriend Travis Alexander on the stand during her murder trial on Tuesday. The proven liar said it was in self defense.
- Waka Flocka: The rapper's new mix tape dropped on Tuesday night.
- Channing Tatum: There's a reason he was voted Sexiest Man Alive.
- IHOP: They gave away stacks of pancakes for charity on Tuesday.
- Lindsey Vonn: The Olympic skier tore two knee ligaments in a crash on Tuesday and will need surgery.
- President Obama: On Tuesday, President Obama gave a statement saying our economy is headed in the right direction, but budget cuts will cost jobs and slow recovery.
GAY MARRIAGE: Bill Approved in the U.K.
Gay marriage is on its way to becoming legal in Britain. The House of Commons voted on Tuesday to approve a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in the U.K., and it's likely to become law after advancing through further legislative branches.
Not surprisingly, it appears that half of the members of the Conservative Party either voted against the bill or abstained, which is considered a blow to British Prime Minister David Cameron, who is a major supporter of the bill.
The legislation will allow civil marriage between gay couples, but exempts the Church of England and other religions from performing such weddings if they're against same-sex unions.
Source: The New York Times
TOP CELEBRITY TWEETS
Ryan Seacrest’s height problem, Adam Levine’s new smell and the reunion of Destiny's Child top celebrity tweets.
- Ryan Seacrest: "Everyone keeps calling me 'Short Stack' today."
- Adam Levine: "Proud to release my fragrance. It's like other celebrity fragrances but tastefully done and actually smells good."
- Lisa Lampanelli: "Fall Out Boy back together for tour, new CD after hiatus. Just when I was not giving two [craps] about Destiny's Child getting back together."
- Anderson Cooper: "A former White House doctor refers to Governor Christie's health as 'almost a time bomb waiting to happen.' Is that fair?"
- Betty White: "I am so touched by all the wonderful stars that took part in my birthday special."
- Jay Leno: "The bones of King Richard III have been found under a parking lot in Britain. How'd he die? In a fight over a parking spot."
- Ricky Martin: "8 millions followers! Gracias, thanx, merci, obrigado, danke, teşekkürler..."
- Daniel Tosh: "I pooped my pants recently while driving on the Pacific Coast Highway."
- Stephen Colbert: "My guest is Oscar-winning actress Julie Andrews. I assume she's here because I'm one of her favorite things."
KRIS HUMPHRIES: In No Rush to Divorce Kim
Kris Humphries is in no rush to divorce Kim Kardashian.
Kris filed legal papers yesterday (Tuesday) saying he doesn't understand the urgency for a quick divorce, and he shouldn't have to rush just because Kim got pregnant. Which is a strange to say, since the divorce proceedings have been going on for more than a year. The marriage lasted 72 days.
Kris's lawyer, Marshall Waller, said in the docs, "What is really going on here is that an 'urgency' in the form of an apparently unplanned pregnancy, something [Kris] had nothing to do with, is perceived by [Kim] as an opportunity to gain a litigation advantage by trying to force this court to prematurely set this matter for trial." The legal eagly asks in the in legal papers, "Why would [Kim] plan to get pregnant in the midst of divorce proceedings?"
TMZ expects the judge to set the divorce trial for March.
AMERICAN IDOL: Hollywood Week Begins 
American Idol kicks off Hollywood Week on Wednesday. Producer Nigel Lythgoe says of Season 12's stay in Tinseltown, "For the first time ever, we split the weeks up and gave a week to the boys and a week to the girls, which really gave us an awful lot more focus on our talent this year." A total of 276 performers will be cut down to the Top 40 in Hollywood, with the gender split continuing up to the Top 10 in Las Vegas.
SPOILER ALERT: American Idol Top 40
Top 20 Females
1. Adriana Latonio
2. Amber Holcomb
3. Angela Miller
4. Aubrey Cleland
5. Brandy Hotard
6. Breanna Steer
7. Candice Glover
8. Cristabel Clack
9. Isabel Pasqualone
10. Janelle Arthur
11. Jenny Beth Willis
12. Jett Hermano
13. Juliana Chahayed
14. Kamaria Ousley
15. Kree Harrison
16. Melinda Ademi
17. Rachel Hale
18. Shubha Vedula
19. Tenna Torres
20. Zoanette Johnson
Top 20 Males
1. Bryant Tadeo
2. Burnell Taylor
3. Charlie Askew
4. Chris Watson
5. Cortez Shaw
6. Curtis Finch, Jr.
7. David Willis
8. Devin Velez
9. Elijah Liu
10. Gurpreet Singh Sarin
11. Jimmy Smith
12. Johnny Keyser
13. Joshua “Josh” Holiday
14. Joshua “Josh” Jada Davila
15. Kevin Harris
16. Lazaro Arbos
17. Mathenee Treco
18. Nick Boddington
19. Paul Jolley
20. Vincent “Vince” Powell
Source: WetPaint.com
ANNE HATHAWAY: Wardrobe Malfunction Prone
Anne Hathaway should be worried about a wardrobe malfunction on Oscar night. Hathaway famously had a wardrobe malfunction at the New York premiere of Les Miserables, prompting Matt Lauer to get creepy in asking her about exposing her privates in public. After that, a busted zipper almost caused Hathaway to have a wardrobe malfunction at the SAG Awards.
CHRIS CHRISTIE: Jokes About Weight but Ex-W.H. Dr. Isn't Laughing
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has a sense of humor about his weight. The other night he appeared on the Late Show With David Letterman munching on a donut and bragging that he's "basically the healthiest fat guy you've ever seen in your life."
But not everyone is laughing. Former White House doctor Connie Mariano, who served as President Clinton's doctor during his time in office, tells CNN, "I'm worried about this man dying in office. I'm worried he may have a heart attack. I'm worried he may have a stroke."
Mariano adds that Christie's weight will be an issue if he decides to run for president in 2016, saying, "It's almost like a time bomb waiting to happen unless he addresses those issues before running for office."
Source: CNN
JOHN TRAVOLTA: Former Cruise Ship Staffer Drops Sexual Assault Case
John Travolta is three-for-three in his gay sexual assault cases. The former cruise ship staffer who claimed the actor gave him an unwelcome, naked hug has dropped his lawsuit.
This comes just three days after a federal judge denied Travolta's request to force the matter into private arbitration -- a decision that cleared the way for a public trial.
Fabian Zanzi claimed in a lawsuit last June that Travolta came on to him in 2009 after he delivered a room service meal to the star aboard a Royal Caribbean ship. According to the complaint, "Travolta forced his naked person and his erect penis against plaintiff's person causing plaintiff to experience pain, shock, embarrassment, distress and fear."
Zanzi's claim followed sexual battery lawsuits filed by masseurs in Beverly Hills and Atlanta last year. Both those men eventually dropped their cases against the star, too.
SOURCE: NY Daily News
ROBERT DE NIRO: Cries on Katie
Robert De Niro showed his emotional side on Katie Couric's talk show this morning (Tuesday).
The tough guy actor got all choked up while talking about his film Silver Linings Playbook. Katie asked him if he felt a greater responsibility doing a project that director David O. Russell -- whose bi-polar son inspired Bradley Cooper's character -- was "personally invested in." "Of course, I understand," De Niro replied. After a long pause, he tried to continue, but then he began to break down. He continued, "I don’t like to get emotional, but I know exactly what he goes through."
De Niro's father was believed to be bipolar and suffered from bouts of depression.
SOURCE: NY Post
LINDSEY VONN: Seriously Hurt on the Slopes
If you watch the video, you might want to look away -- Lindsey Vonn was seriously injured in a skiing competition today.
Lindsey lost her balance on a Super G run at the world championships in Austria, took a tumble and apparently tore a ligament in her knee. She had to be airlifted to a hospital. The injury doesn't require immediate surgery, and U.S. skiing officials are debating the merits of flying her home versus having her treated locally.
Source: CNN
