Johnny Depp died in car crash? NO Depp's in France

Johnny Depp died in car crash? The Internet is, once again, swirling with the kind of false information that drives Craigslist Founder Craig Newmark nuts. In this video interview, Craig Newmark talked about the false information that's consistently issued. This story of "Johnny Depp, died in car crash" is a good example.

Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter in Alice and Wonderland

This started on Twitter and as of this writing continues with the hashtag "RIP Johnny Depp", but the vast majority of tweets report that the story is a hoax. But even with that, a website URL www.angelfire.com has a fake CNN webpage that reports Johnny Depp died in a car crash in...2004.

This is a terrible hoax on Johnny Depp and CNN. Johnny Depp was very much alive and about to film Pirates of The Caribbean Dead Man's Chest, which was released in 2006. Angelfire is a web hosting service. It's hard to tell just who made the fake CNN page, which is so detailed that if you click on the CNN logo, it takes you to the CNN home page, just as a regular CNN webpage would do.

But the question is who and why?

Regardless, Crispin Glover reportedly ended the talk by calling Johnny Depp via cell. Depp responded: Nope. In France, according to NBC Chicago's Courtney Hazlett, who issued the news last Monday.

Stay tuned.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie split news not new

The rumors that super celeb couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are getting a divorce are not new; In April of 2009, Blogger Ian Halperin reported that Brad and Angelina split and were trying to work out custody of their children, according to ShowBiz Spy:

Brad has told pals that he “can’t take Angie’s volatile temper anymore” and recently met up with ex-wife Jennifer Aniston to seek advice...According to blogger Ian Halperin, a vicious custody battle has started, with Jolie seeking full custody of all the couple’s children — adopted kids Maddox, Pax, and Zahara; and biological children Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne.. The Changeling actress has apparently hired a top lawyer and plans to seek a restraining order against Pitt until the case is resolved.

“At one point she was considering moving to Washington but in the past few days she’s changed her mind. She thinks Brads become an old coot.

At his blog, Halperin says he was roundly criticized for the blog post, which he removed, but now he says he's vindicated.

Stay tuned.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie break up rumors swirl

The rumors are all over that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will break up. The basis for them is an "exclusive" report by the Sunday, January 24th UK publication called News of The World. It claims that "Bradgelina" have hired divorce lawyers to split their $205 million wealth.

 

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, actor and actress, have been a Hollywood gossip stable as publications have hired paparazzi to follow their every move, paying as much as $1 million for a photo. As their fame has grown, the couple have taken on various charitable causes, from famine relief to the rebuilding of New Orleans. In all of this, there was no outward sign of marital trouble. The grew a family of six kids and settled in New Orleans. After Katrina, Brad Pitt started a rebuilding effort. Eventually, Brad Pitt was honored for his work in New Orleans:



Meanwhile, Angelina Jolie has traveled around the World for the past eight years as the Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency. Here she talks about her experiences, particularly in Darfur.



The details of their rumored breakup aside, it will be a shame to see them not working together on their projects. But perhaps they're so busy saving the World, they forgot to save their relationship. That's only if this rumor is true. What is true, is that Pitt was seen backstage at the Hope for Haiti benefit without Angelina Jolie. However, his ex-wife Jennifer Anniston was there, but not with Pitt.

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston were married for four years until their breakup in 2005. Pitt left Jennifer Anniston for Angelina Jolie.   Jolie was married to Jonny Lee Miller and then Billy Bob Thornton before Brad Pitt.

Stay tuned.

Oakland's Lake Chalet reviewed by NY Times

In what's supposed to be a restaurant review, but comes off as more of a general commentary, the New York Times reviewed my favorite Oakland Restaurant, Lake Chalet. (As a note, Lake Chalet was where I had the Oakland YouTube Meetup and I've served as spokesperson which started because I just plain love the place.)

I had to read the review in an effort to get out of my Oscar funk in the wake of the very weird treatment by their communications staff, but I digress. I don't understand what the reviewer means by "inconsistent menu" because the food's quite the same and I might add the menu's new. They changed it about a month ago. The new Half Chicken is fantastic.

What I'm wanting and waiting for is the Zennie62 Burger. It's my dream burger and would consist of:

1 lb. ground italian sausage
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper
sliced mushrooms, drained
sloppy joe and salsa sauce
kaiser rolls, toasted
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese

Then...

In a large skillet saute sausage and onion, and bell peppers, then drain.
Then stir in mushrooms and special sloppy joe and salsa sauce
Heat until almost hot
Place mixture on rolls and top each with 1/4 cup cheese

That's the Zennie62 Burger! Great with a glass of Merlot!

Jeff Bridges wins SAG Best Actor Award for Crazy Heart

Jeff Bridges just won the SAG Best Actor Award for Crazy Heart. It's his first SAG Award. He took the stage to accept his award to a standing ovation. And is now congratulating the actors he competed against, including "My buddy George (Clooney)." Jeff Bridges mentioned his co-workers, his teachers in life, and his wife Sue. "Thank you guys!" Bridges said. "I love playing with you!'

Here's a scene with Jeff Bridges from Crazy Heart:



Stay tuned.

Sandra Bullock wins SAG Best Actress Award for The Blind Side

Sandra Bullock just won the SAG Best Actress Award for her role in The Blind Side. It was her first SAG Award, and led to a very deep and heartfelt explanation that she thanked her friends for sticking with her during a time when she quit acting and elected to go back and start all over again. She auditioned for Crash and was nominated for her role in it.

The Blind Side is an amazing departure for an actress once known for ditzy, pretty woman roles. The Blind Side is the story of now-Baltimore Ravens Offensive Lineman Michael Oher, and the family that takes the homeless Oher in, led by Leigh Anne Tuohy, played by Sandra Bullock.

Bullock won the Golden Globes Best Actress Award last Sunday.

Here's Sandra Bullock, in The Blind Side:



Stay tuned.

Saints v. Vikings: NFC Championship game preview

The 2010 NFC Championship Game is the Saints v. Viking on Sunday. The Minnesota Vikings visit the New Orleans Saints in this battle to determine which team will represent the NFL's National Football Conference in the Super Bowl in Miami. The game will be a battle of quarterbacks: The Vikings' Brett Favre v. The Saints' Drew Brees.

Brett Favre is coming off what many are saying is the best year in his history. Brett Favre's thrown 4,202 yards, 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. Drew Brees has thrown for 4,388 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Both offenses are potent, but the Saint's Offense is the league's 3rd best; the Vikings have the league's 2nd best defense.

The Saints Offense is indeed potent, but the key is not just in Drew Brees' passing, but the game planning and play calling of Head Coach Sean Payton. Coach Payton has not only developed an offense that consists of a plays that he uses as tools to attack a defense' weaknesses in formation structure, he and his staff do a great job of changing their game plan to adjust to a defenses approach.

The Saints did this in their game against The Dallas Cowboys in 2009, when, down 24 to 7 in the third quarter, the Saints went to a hybrid four-receiver set to march back, only to lose 24 to 7. The the one factor of that contest which also works in the Vikings favor is the rush of the Cowboys' front four when they used a four-man rush, which harassed and hurried Brees all evening long.

The Vikings led the NFL in sacks with 48, and have a defensive line paced by Defensive End Jarod Allen, which is every bit as physical as that of the Cowboys. Look for the Saints to use more play-action against the Vikings, but if the Vikings scout well and pass rush and blitz when the Saints line up in single back sets, it could be a long day for Drew Brees.

The Vikings Offense consist of Favre, second-year Runing Back Adrian Peterson, and a set of excellent wide receivers paced by Sidney Rice (with 1,312 yards on 83 catches, and 8 touchdowns). But Percy Harvin, who was not expected to play, practiced with the team Saturday. Harvin has 790 yards on six touchdowns and 60 receptions. Percy Harvin is the Vikings weapon, used in reverses, and even as a running back.

Adrian Peterson is incomparable. He's good for 4.4 yard a carry, has 1,383 yards and 18 touchdowns. But Adrian Peterson hasn't had a breakout 100-yard game since earlier this year when he went crazy against the Cleveland Browns. Adrian Peterson is the key in this entire game; if the Saints can't stop him, they'll lose.

The other factor here is the emerging talent that is the Saints' Reggie Bush. The man who should have been drafted by the Houston Texans in 2006, is finally seeing the field and as a result has become a better running back. His pair of long-distance touchdown runs against the Arizona Cardinals helped them when their NFC Divisional Playoff game 45 to 14.

But that was against Arizona. The Vikings have a better defense. The one question is their ability to craft an offensive game plan that takes the pressure off Brett Favre and keeps the Saints Offense off the field. The key is Adrian Peterson. The Saints' Defense is ranked 25th in the NFL and has given up 400 yards in six games this season.

The other key is the desire of New Orleans itself to escape the shadow of Katrina. That's hard to quantify.

Score: Vikings 24, Saints 21, OT.