Jude Law did his bit for world peace yesterday (Monday May 19), attending the premiere of The Day After Peace, a documentary he worked on with filmmaker pal Jeremy Gilley.
Gilley, the founder of the Peace One Day organization, successfully lobbied world leaders and the United Nations General Assembly, who in 2001, with resolution A/Res/55/282, established an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence on September 21. Gilley documented his journey towards Peace Day in the 1999 film, Peace One Day.
Though he's yet to achieve actual world peace, even for one day, the annual vacation from violence that Gilley helped create has had a profound effect. Last year, 27.6 million people in 200 countries observed Peace Day in some way.
As part of an ongoing quest to persuade those who bear arms to give up the nasty habit for at least 24 hours, Gilley and Law made a secret trip to Afghanistan, where they shot footage for a follow-up film. The resulting documentary, The Day After Peace, features Kofi Annan, The Dalai Lama, Annie Lennox, Jonny Lee Miller, and Angelina Jolie.
U.N. Goodwill Ambassador Jolie is shown in the film meeting with Gilley at his home, which is somewhat more modest than the Hollywood star has become accustomed to. Law and Gilley weren’t tempted to track down other A-listers for their project however. "Organizations can drown under the weight of too many faces," said Law in Cannes.
As an A-lister himself, the handsome star, who was caught by paparazzi sucking face with Kimberly Stewart this past weekend, enjoyed the anonymity his trip to Afghanistan afforded. "They had no idea who I was. I was really there as a B cameraman,” said Law, who is already planning a further foray to the region. He vowed, "I will return to Afghanistan to show the film there."
Eccentric American singer/songwriter Tom Waits staged a fake press conference, which was recorded and posted on YouTube (see video), to announce his upcoming Glitter And Doom Tour. With some recorded crowd noise for company, Waits explained that he was guided by astrology when routing his tour, noting his journey will mirror the snake-like Hydra constellation. The fun loving and free spirited Sagittarius singer, whose vocals have been likened to a two week old cigarette stub at the bottom of an emptied glass of bourbon, further explained that he picked the towns he's due to play according to the principle of Pehdtsckjmba (pronounced peh-ska-JIM-bah).
Tom Cruise has launched his own website as a “thank you” to his fans, and to mark his quarter century in showbiz celebrations. Any references to Scientology are notable by their absence from the site.
Cruise’s very public proselytizing on behalf of the church caused a major rift between the actor and his one-time studio boss Summer Redstone in 2006. After “operation normal” went into effect, with Cruise’s image repairing Oprah appearances, it’s also notable that Cruise and the Paramount chief have kissed and made up, paving the way for the next Mission Impossible installment.
If those two superpowers, who were once divided by faith, can get along for the greater good, what’s stopping China and the Dalai Lama from following suit? Can’t we all just get along?
The world's most entertaining Scientologist, Tom Cruise, is set to return to Oprah's couch, where he will face his most challenging role to date: acting normal. Cruise's previous over-exuberant appearance on Oprah's soft furnishings in 2005, during which he debuted his much imitated scary laugh, proved to be unforgettable for all the wrong reasons, so the move is a Risky Business for the star.
Oprah will tape an interview with Cruise at his Colorado home, in which, according to a press release sent out by the show, he will discuss "his family, his life and the future." Cruise will then head to Oprah's headquarters in Chicago to tape a show on May 5 celebrating his 25 years in show business. The interview is good news for Oprah, but it remains to be seen if the actor who was once Hollywood’s Top Gun can repair his damaged reputation. Regrettably, the Daily Mantra thinks that mission is impossible.
Can you hear that choking sound? That’s the sound of Madonna extracting her thigh-high boot from her mouth, where it appears to have got stuck. When asked by a reporter from New York Magazine if she sympathized with Tom Cruise, Madonna, who is doing the rounds to promote the release of her new album Hard Candy, responded by saying:
"I don't care if people worship turtles or frogs - if they're good people, that's all I care about, and he (Cruise) is a good person. I think he gets a raw deal, just as I think the orphans in Malawi get a raw deal; just as I think a lot of marginalized people get a raw deal."
While the material girl clearly meant well, we can't help but enjoy that fact that she inadvertently called the much maligned Cruise a "marginalized" person, and compared his Scientology beliefs to the deification of amphibians. With friends like this....
Actor Jason Beghe, who became Scientology’s public enemy number one after releasing a three-minute tirade against the celebrity-mad cult on YouTube (see video), has revealed more of the organization’s dirty little secrets in a shocking interview with New York’s Village Voice weekly newspaper.
Beghe got drawn into the church in 1994 after taking acting classes with famed Hollywood acting coach Milton Katselas, who was a Scientologist. A fellow student in his class, Bodie Elfman (who went on to marry Jenna), gave him a copy of What is Scientology, a reference book published by the church. Beghe was hooked by the religion’s promise of superhuman capabilities and the idea of its detoxification rituals. "This clear thing sounded good," said Beghe, speaking to a Voice reporter from his home in Malibu.
The 48-year old actor estimates that he and his wife have paid over a million dollars to the church over the twelve years they were in its fold. He says his move up the ranks was rapid, with church leader David Miscavige considering him a "poster boy" for the organization.
"I was Miscavige's favorite boy, so they were doing all kinds of things to keep me happy," he says. "I moved up the Bridge faster than anyone in history. I went at it 24/7 for about a year. I went clear. Got to OT V. I was a trained auditor."
"I'm farther up the Bridge than Travolta, and he's been in there a thousand years. He's not a trained auditor."
As one of its highly prized celebs, Beghe enjoyed the perks of his special status within the church. He says he had access to the "Celebrity Centre. My own private sauna. Everybody kissing my ass, which I was uncomfortable with. But nice people. Couldn't be nicer.”
Courting celebs was more than a mere PR exercise for the church’s minions however. Founder L. Ron Hubbard was so focused on attracting high profile members, that those who brought them in were given a highly prized incentive. In exchange for a celebrity enrollment, members had their “ethics files” wiped, the Scientologist equivalent of absolution.
Misdeeds were recorded in a member’s ethics file during auditing sessions, an ongoing confessional process that lies at the core of the church’s training. These sessions are supposed to be private and confidential, but Beghe claims that they are all secretly recorded.
This is one of the reasons Beghe chose to speak out. He’s concerned for the welfare of other celebrities that may be ensnared by the church. "Will Smith is supposedly dabbling in Scientology. Let Will Smith know that his shit was fucking recorded. And tell him to look them in the eye and see if he believes it when they deny it."
"Everything's supposed to be confidential. But all they do is chat about it," says Beghe. He also reveals that Tom Cruise virtually severed ties to the church for almost a decade, but was somehow brought back into the fold. "He was out for like ten years. There are people who just aren't doing anything. Some are out but don't talk about it. Why? The church is scary. These are bad motherfuckers."
Ultimately Beghe became disenfranchised with the church after a car crash. His high level training was supposed to give him superhuman powers that would protect him against such incidents. The event was seen as a sign by his superiors that he’d come under the influence of “suppressives,” and his relationship with the church soured.
Beghe left the church seven months ago, and reached out to Andreas Heldal-Lund, who runs the prominent anti-Scientology Operation Clambake website Xenu.net. It was Lund who put Beghe in contact with Mark Bunker, who shot the YouTube video, which is a teaser for a more extensive interview that’s yet to go live.
"They came to my place out here, and we spent the day together. They set up a camera and I blabbed. And I barely scratched the surface," says Beghe. He warns that, "Scientology seduces you into thinking that it's a process through which you can truly become yourself. But ultimately, what it turns you into is a Scientologist, a brainwashed version of yourself."
Breast cancer survivor Olivia Newton John is planning a 21-day walk along the Great Wall of China to raise money for a brand new, state of the art, treatment and research cancer center. Her journey begins on April 7th, and, if all goes to plan, will end in Beijing on April 29th. Fellow cancer survivor Sharon Osbourne is one of the many celebrities planning to join Olivia on her 228 km trek.
“The walk on the Great Wall symbolizes the cancer journey," said Olivia in an interview with ET. "It's long and arduous, but we'll triumph in the end." Click HERE if you’d like to sponsor Olivia and her team, which includes Joan Rivers, Leeza Gibbons, Scott Wolf (Party of Five), Sir Cliff Richard, Toyah Willcox, and Danni Minogue (Kylie’s sister).
PETA is no fan of Aretha Franklin. She upset the animal rights organization by wearing a full-length fur coat to a Grammy event last month. But after the TMZ gossip site reported that ‘The Empress of All Music’ (as she's now calling herself post-Beyoncégate) was about to lose her home due to an IRS claim for approximately $19,000 in back taxes, PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk offered to bury the hatchet, and help out the troubled singer.
PETA has pledged to pay Franklin's tax bill on condition that the pelt-loving diva promises never to wear fur again. They are also asking Franklin to donate her furs to the organization as Mariah Carey and Kim Cattrall have done. "Our offer is a win-win situation," says Newkirk in an open letter. "You get to keep your home, and animals get to keep their lives. We are rooting for you to please give animals the R-E-S-P-E-C-T that they deserve by giving up fur." Sounds like a no-brainer to us.
Regardless of whether you're a man, woman or beast, it seems fame at an early age is not good for your mental health. The Daily Mail is reporting that Berlin Zoo's most famous resident, Knut, the once über cuddly polar bear cub, has grown up to become a "publicity-addicted psycho."
Knut and his twin brother were born in December 2006. Their mother, 20-year old Tosca, caught a serious case of post-partum depression, and rejected the cubs, who were subsequently rescued by zoo workers. Sadly Knut's brother died after just 4 days, but Knut survived, spending 44 days in an incubator before being hand reared by zookeeper Thomas Dörflein.
In March 2007 the German tabloid Bild-Zeitung carried a quote from Frank Albrecht, a radical animal rights activist, who claimed it would be better for Knut to die than be raised by humans "as a domestic pet." A massive public outcry ensued, and Knut shot to fame worldwide. 400 journalists showed up for his public debut, and the bear became the zoo's superstar poster child. Visitors increased by 30% after Knut graced the covers of newspapers and glossy magazines, such as the German edition of Vanity Fair, and merchandising, book and film deals followed. But fame took its toll on the impressionable cub.
"He is addicted to the whole show, the human adulation. It is not healthy," said Markus Roebke, who is a key member of Knut's human entourage. Roebke would like to see Knut enter rehab far away from the glare of the public spotlight. "Knut must go, and the sooner the better."
"We are not allowed to have contact with him any more and have received letters that if we breach this order our jobs are on the line. He is too unpredictable to play with now,' Roebke continued. "He actually cries out or whimpers if he sees that there is not a spectator outside his enclosure ready to ooh and aah at him...When the zoo had to shut because of black ice everywhere he howled until staff members stood before him and calmed him down."
It is estimated that Knut has earned his zoo over $12 million since his birth. That may seem like a lot, but Knut has a lot of catching up to do if he is to rival the earning power of fellow child star Britney Spears, whose economy is estimated by Porfolio.com to be worth $110 million to $120 million annually. Like Britney, Knut's dad is trying to get in on the action, with Neumünster Zoo (the conservators of Knut's father) threatening to file a lawsuit demanding a share of the spoils. Sadly, Knut and Britney have far too much in common. Perhaps they should hit group therapy together before they both turn into Gary Coleman (it'd break our heart to see Knut doing infomercials).
Demi Moore shared one of her unauthodox beauty secrets with David Letterman on his show last night. The eternally youthful star revealed that she recently traveled to a clinic in Austria for some leech therapy to help her get in shape before embarking on promotion for her new movie, ironically entitled Flawless.
"I feel like I've always been someone looking for the cutting edge of things that optimize your health and healing," said Moore. "These aren't just swamp leeches, we're talking about highly trained medical leeches. These aren't just some low level scavengers. These are high level blood suckers."
"It detoxifies your blood. They have a little enzyme, that when they're biting down on you, it gets released into your blood. And generally you bleed quite a bit, and your health is optimized. It detoxifies your blood. I'm feeling very detoxified right now."
"They start in a spot for me that is a horrible spot, which is my belly button. They test it out. They're in a little jar...and they pull it out, and they have to stick it in my belly button. Now I'm telling you, my belly button, if somebody just touches it, I want to literally just punch them."
"So we have the little sampler first, which is in the belly button. It crawls in, and you feel it bite down on you, and you want to go you 'bastard'. And then you relax, you work on your Lemaze breathing just to kind of relax, and then you just watch it swell up and get fatter and fatter. Then when it's super drunk on your blood it just rolls over like it's stumbling out of a bar."
According to Wikipedia, "large adults can consume up to 15 grams of blood in a single meal." Vampires could learn a lot from these little creatures. Before feasting, the hermaphrodite bloodsuckers release an anesthetic, and a powerful anti-coagulant (Hirudin), which stops the blood from clotting and allows unhindered feasting.
Medicinal leech therapy has been popular throughout history, and is still used in hospitals today. The creatures have been used to treat numerous conditions including tonsillitis and piles. They can help reduce swelling, and are therefore commonly used after surgery, and have also been used successfully to treat varicose veins. Hmnn, perhaps Moore's not so flawless after all.
Michael Stipe, frontman of the alt. rock band R.E.M., made a surprising statement today during a video news conference (click HERE to view). It seems that, after years of speculation, his fellow band mates, Mike Mills and Peter Buck, have confirmed they are indeed heterosexual. The duo hope their announcement will encourage more straight people to come out of the closet.
According ex-Scientologist Marc Headley, Tom Cruise auditioned several actresses to play the part of his wife after his split with Penelope Cruz in 2004. Headley, who produced promotional films for the church, also claims that Holmes was not Cruise’s first choice.
Headley alleges that the Mission Impossible star complained to Scientology leader David Miscavige about his problems meeting women. Miscavige apparently then sent out a discreet casting call, telling potential partners that they were being considered for an unnamed Tom Cruise project as a ruse to get them down to the Scientology Celebrity Center in Hollywood, CA for some on-camera video vetting.
“They went for Jennifer Garner, Scarlett Johansson and Jessica Alba, in that order," says Headley. "Jennifer and Jessica didn't bite but Scarlett took the bait and came in for an audition. When she arrived and found out it was the Scientology Center in Hollywood, she freaked out and didn't do a tape..." After getting nowhere with his top three choices, the Scientologist's zoned in on Holmes, who had previously spoken publicly about her crush on Cruise. "They got her to L.A. and introduced her to Tom. The moment he meets her, he's enthralled with her and he told Miscavige later, 'I knew immediately she was the one.'"
The interview with Headley was published prominently in the center pages of U.K tabloid the News of The World. Notably, the tell-all on the highly litigious, celebrity-obsessed church and its most prominent member was not reprinted online on the paper's website, which has an international audience, though the fearless NY-based gossip site PageSix.com reprinted Headley's quotes.
The Daily Mantra empathizes with Cruise. In this difficult dating climate, we appreciate the need for the unorthodox methods employed by the actor and his church to find the perfect partner. Indeed the Daily Mantra used a similar system to find a husband. Our shortlist included Al Gore, Dylan McDermot and George Clooney. In our case, Al Gore didn't bite, Clooney had committed to a date with a friend (making him off-limits to us), and Dylan McDermott proved to be too short during an on camera audition (seriously). As with Cruise, our fourth choice turned out to be "the one."
Patrick Swayze’s publicist has confirmed that the Dirty Dancing star has pancreatic cancer. The National Enquirer first broke the story, leading some to question its validity, but sadly it seems the reports are true. The one-year survival rate for those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is just 20%, and the five-year rate is 4%. If you’d like to make a donation to help find a cure for this highly under-researched disease, click HERE to go to the Hirshberg Pancreatic Cancer Research Center’s website.
It seems Paris Hilton was only acting spiritual on Saturday night when she paraded in front of cameras in West Hollywood with a mysterious personal guru in tow (see previous story). TMZ tracked him down. Turns out he’s a 52-year old actor from Quartz Hill, CA called Maxie Santillan. According to IMDB, his credits include CSI, My Name Is Earl, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.
Showbiz guru Perez Hilton called it when he said it was a publicity stunt since we don’t think Paris will find much enlightenment by keeping company with a man who says, “Burbank can kiss my Ass" on his MySpace page. Then again, perhaps he was just auditioning to be a contestant on Paris’ new, as yet unnamed, reality TV show in which she’ll search for a new best friend.
Can you believe this girl has the nerve to pull a stunt like this then complain that people don’t take her seriously? Well, yes, we can actually. Still, we’re happy that our fav commerce-with-a-conscience coffee shop got some free publicity out of the Hilton spin cycle.
Paris Hilton walked on the path of enlightenment at the weekend (see video), taking a trip to the Bodhi Tree bookstore with a personal spiritual guru in tow. After buying several self-help books at the shop, which is a mecca for those seeking wisdom in the metaphysical realm, the unlikely pair went next door to the Daily Mantra's fav coffee spot, the Urth Café (see previous story).
The duo read from a spiritual pamphlet entitled The Path of the Painted Shaman while sitting at a table on the outside patio with their organic drinks. At one point the guru appeared to bless Paris. He then persuaded the material girl to give the large, diamond encrusted gold heart-shaped pendant she was wearing to a bemused customer at the next table. When asked why she did it, Paris responded, "because the greatest gift is to give."
Faux News is reporting that, according to an inside source, "the former prisoner is turning to shamanism to bring 'love and luck' into her life." Meanwhile the more cynical Perez Hilton is convinced the incident was nothing more than a cheap publicity stunt. Regardless of her true intentions (whatever they may be), The Daily Mantra is happy that Paris has given the gift of publicity to two of our favorite haunts. If it helps even one Paris Hilton wannabe find the pavement to enlightenment, then we're all for it.
Aretha Franklin may have got some respect from the Daily Mantra after we saw her perform last week (see story), but she's not getting any props from Peta. It seems the "Empress of All Music," as she's referring to herself post Beyoncégate, upset the animal rights activist group after she was photographed wearing a white, full-length fur coat to the Grammys.
In an open letter to Franklin, PETA's VP Dan Mathews says, "Music lovers may think of you as a 'queen,' but to animal lovers, you are a court jester. I'm sorry, Aretha, but your furs make you look like a clown. Why not shed the old-fashioned look that adds pounds to your frame and detracts from your beautiful voice? Won't you donate your furs to the poor as "queen of compassion," Mariah Carey, did? You'll get a tax credit for the donation, and we at PETA will all sing your praises."
Indeed today may be a good one for Ms. Franklin to donate her offending coats since the Los Angeles Mission is holding its annual March For Human Dignity but a stones throw from The Nokia Theatre, where Franklin performed last week. The annual event aims to spread awareness about what the Los Angeles Mission is doing to help the homeless of Skid Row. During the event, volunteers are on hand to collect much needed clothing. As well as coats to keep the homeless warm, the Mission distributes around 49,000 pairs of new underwear to the homeless each year. Perhaps Franklin has some diva-size duds she can drop off with her furs.
Last week Celine Dion showed us how to workout like a pop star, this week at a press conference in South Africa she told reporters how to exchange energy like one by using her rather "unique" new age thumbing technique.
Your heart will go on, and on, and on if you follow this hilarious poptastic workout. Canada's greatest export takes you through all the moves you'll need to live life at the top of the charts.
It seems a much-needed intervention may be in play after Britney Spears was admitted to UCLA in the early hours of this morning (January 31). The troubled singer was physically removed from her Studio City home by police after the authorities received a call from her psychiatrist. The Los Angeles Times reports she is currently on a "mental health evaluation hold."
Once Britney is released, her mother Lynne, whom TMZ reports is "upset with the shrink," plans to take her home for some much needed R&R. Britney's lawyer, Michael Flanagan, speaking to PageSix.com, said, "Lynne is extremely concerned for her daughter and would like to take Britney back home to Louisiana and get her out of Hollywood."
"Brit has an amazing support system in Louisiana," Flanagan continued. "Lynne was holding up reasonably well, but her first priority and concern right now is with her daughter and helping her through this very tough situation that she is in."
We're very glad to hear that Britney may be going home. Back in September 2007, our in-house astrologer Maria had urged the singer to "Move back to Mississippi or somewhere completely out of the limelight." In the same story she also predicted Britney would loose her children.
What Britney needs right now is solitude. She needs to learn to love herself again, away from the distractions of Hollywood, and the industry that is earning a living off her very public demise there. With friends, relatives, lovers and TV doctors that are all too willing to sell her out for the publicity and windfalls an association, however vague, brings, we hope that Britney rebuilds a relationship with her mom. And indeed, we hope that Britney's mom takes enough time out from pitching books and reality TV shows about being a celebrity mom to actually be one.
The Scientology fun continues with Crossing Jordan actor Jerry O'Connell parodying Tom Cruise's bizarre AIS Freedom Medal of Valor award acceptance video, in which the Mission Impossible star refers to his religion as "rough and tumble", "wild and wooly", and a "blast" (click HERE if player fails to load). Meanwhile fellow Scientologist John Travolta has come to Cruise's defense, telling a People reporter in Australia this past weekend that, "[Tom] has – we all have – the right to practice how we feel."
Acclaimed Brokeback Mountain actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his New York City apartment today. His was discovered in an unconscious state by Ledger’s housekeeper and a masseuse who entered his bedroom at 3.31 p.m. After attempting to revive him, they called the authorities who pronounced him DOA at the scene. A New York Times report states that pills were found near the body. An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow. Ledger was just 28 and is survived by his 2-year old daughter, Matilda Rose, whom he had with former fiancée Michelle Williams.
Things are getting very silly now. Some wag has mixed Will Smith into Tom Cruise's "rough and tumble", "wild and wooly", "blast" of a Scientology ride. (If player fails to load click HERE to view video.)
Meanwhile TMZ has video of Cruise visiting Jerry Seinfeld at his NYC garage. Apparently Cruise was checking out Seinfeld's Porche (and we all know what that's a replacement for). Seinfeld has previously admitted to a youthful flirtation with Scientology (see story).
In an earlier post we told you about the bizarre Tom Cruise / Scientology video, which has been doing vanishing acts all over the internet, most likely as fast as Church of Scientology lawyers can send out DMCA notices to stop its proliferation. Gawker.com nailed down a copy of the video and posted it on their site yesterday, hosting it on their servers to avoid it self-destructing. "It's newsworthy; and we will not be removing it," they stated.
Predictably, today Gawker got a letter from The Church of Scientology's attorneys demanding that they remove the video from their site. The lawyers claim the video, which was filmed in 2004 when Cruise was honored with a Freedom Medal of Valor award at an International Association of Scientologists event, was stolen from one of their churches. Gawker's lawyer has responded claiming it is "in the public interest" and that therefore their "use is fair." In the meantime, TMZ has tracked down and posted another segment of the video, so expect the legal notices to keep flying.
Now you see it, now you don't. A video of an interview with Tom Cruise about his controversial faith, that was intended for Scientologists's eyes only, has been yanked off YouTube more times than a Viacom video clip.
The video was apparently uploaded to YouTube by a "consortium of church critics." After receiving a tip from investigative reporter Mark Ebner, The Huffington Post put the clip up on their site on Sunday at 10 pm. Within half an hour of posting the clip was yanked from the video sharing site. Since then it has surfaced again on several sites, including PerezHilton.com. Hilton posted it on Tuesday morning, and by noon, like a Mission Impossible tape, it had self-destructed again.
When someone puts this much effort into trying to stop you watching something, naturally it makes you want to see it more. Eager surfers should keep their eyes peeled, since who knows where and when it'll surface next (at time of writing Gawker had posted a viewable version). Fortunately for the curious, gossip mag US Weekly were taking notes, and have published a transcription of some of the highlights:
Tom Cruise: ...I think it's a privilege to call yourself a Scientologist, and it's something that you have to earn because a Scientologist does... has or she the ability to create new and better realities and improve conditions. Being a Scientologist, you look at someone and know absolutely that you can help them.
"Being a Scientologist, when you drive past an accident it's not like anyone else because you know you have to do something about it because you know you're the only one that can really help.
"That's what drives me... I know that we have an opportunity to really help for the first time, effectively change people's lives and I am dedicated to that. I am absolutely, uncompromisingly dedicated to that.
"We have a responsibility....
"We are the authorities on getting people off drugs, we are the authorities on the mind, we are the authorities on improving conditions... we can rehabilitate criminals.
"...We can bring peace and unite cultures...
"Traveling the world and meeting the people that I've met, talking with these leaders in various fields, they want help and they are depending on people who know and who can be effective and do it and that's us. That is our responsibility to do that.
"It is the time now. Now is the time... Being a Scientologist, people are turning to you, so you better know it, you better know it and if you don't, go and learn it, but don't pretend you know it. It's like we're here to help.
"If you're a Scientologist, you see life, you see things the way they are, in all its glory, all of its complexity and the more you know as a Scientologist, you don't become overwhelmed by it.
[very scary, psycho laugh.....and more bizarre rambling]
"Look, I wish the world was a different place. I'd like to go on vacation and go and romp and play and just do that, you know what I mean. That's what I want it to be. There's times I'd like to do that, but I can't because I know, one you know, I have to do something about it.
"I have to do it because I can't live with myself if I don't, and that really is it.
"I'm carrying my load...but I still need to do more."
"So it's our responsibility to educate, create the new reality. We have that responsibility to say, 'Hey, this is the way it should be done because we do it this way and people are actually getting better.'
"And let's get it done. Let's really get it done and have enough love and compassion and toughness that you're really going to do it and do it right.
"I have to tell you something - it is rough and tumble, and it's wild and wooly, and it's a blast, it's a blast, it really is fun because, dammit, there is nothing better than the going out there and fighting the fight and suddenly you see things are better.
"I want to know that I've done everything I could everyday, and I think about those people out there who are depending on us. I think about that and it does make me feel that we've got more work. I need more help, get those spectators either in the playing field or out of the arena. Really, that's how I feel about it.
"I do what I can, and I do it the way I do everything. [laughs] There's nothing part-of-the way for me."
The Huffington Post reports that Will Smith "has joined the ranks of Hollywood power players actively recruiting for the Church of Scientology." Apparently the actor gave crew members who worked with him on his recent project "Hancock" (a comedy which is scheduled for release in July 2008) a gift card for a Scientology personality test. The wrap gift was particularly bizarre given that these initial tests, which serve as a recruiting mechanism for the church, are free anyway.
Smith, who is a close pal of Scientologist Tom Cruise (whom biographer Andrew Morton claims is effectively the church's second in command), has not admitted that he's a member of the church, but did make some complimentary remarks about the religion in an interview with Mens' Vogue last November. "In all of the experiences I've had with Tom and Scientology, like 98 percent of the principles are identical to the principles of the Bible," Smith told writer Hudson Morgan. "The Bible talks about your spirit being immortal, that you were created for existence beyond your physical body. Well, that's no different from Scientology! I don't think that because the word someone uses for spirit is thetan that the definition becomes any different." Yeah, right Will.
Scientology’s policy of targeting stars dates back to the mid fifties (see previous story). To help them achieve their celebrity stalking goals they opened a Celebrity Center in Hollywood on Franklin Avenue. The grand Norman revival style building was originally built as a long-term residential hotel for actors, and once served as home to the likes of Errol Flynn, Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant. It was bought by the church in 1973 for $1 million. New Yorker reporter Dana Goodyear recently ventured inside the church's Celebrity Center. In Goodyear's fascinating feature, Hilary Royce, Scientology's community liaison, explains, "The celebrity is a special public...We've got to help them."
We can only conclude that fawning over celebrities with a special Celebrity Center is one of the other 2% of ideals that Smith doesn't consider “identical to the principles of the Bible,” since we're pretty sure Jesus didn't have a special VIP section at the Sermon on the Mount. But hey, we weren't there, so we could be wrong, perhaps J.C. wasn’t all that egalitarian after all.
After predicting in September of last year that Britney (seen together with her ex K-Fed in this interview during happier times) would lose regular access to her children, our resident astrologer Maria has some more advice for the troubled singer.
It's a known fact that Britney's been in and out of rehab and astrologically speaking she clearly has issues with addiction. To go even deeper into her chart she has even bigger issues with self worth and knowing how to express her emotional, softer side. She is quite demanding in what she wants, and more than anything she feels she is above the law. She wants to be a 'rule maker' trying to get her square life to fit into a round hole. Britney, life doesn't work that way, so sooner or later you must be willing to let go of some of your ego and insecurity or you will never know how to be happy.
I predicted in the past that Britney would loose day-to-day access to her two boys. Britney - let go!! If you ever want any kind of relationship with these precious children let them be with their father in a more stable environment and also let them know you are part of their lives by sending them birthday and Christmas presents and little tokens of love throughout the year. They don't need to be with you to love you, nor should you want them around you while you are seemingly out of control and learning how to heal your own life. A mother's love never fades nor does the longing of a mother's love from the child ever disappear.
Britney if you really want to prove you can be a good mom, hang out with little sister Jamie Lynn when she has her baby ....and just observe. In time you may learn. If you refuse to change your behavior now, you may not be singing Auld Lang Syne come 2009.
Comedian Ricky Gervais debates the merits of God vs. Santa with Anglican church leader Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, in this BBC audiocast (click HERE to listen).
"I think his biggest mistake was giving me free will," says Gervais. "I think a lot of theologians would agree with you there," replies the Archbishop.
Sometimes life is so predictable. As we prophesied in our story two days ago, our always good-for-a-giggle pal over at the Catholic League, Bill Donohue, has got all worked up about the prospect of popwreck Britney Spears playing Madonna (the mother of Jesus of Nazareth rather than David of Malawi) in a modern day nativity film called Sweet Baby Jesus.
"She is seriously miscast," fumed Donohue to New York's Daily News gossip rag. "She would be better suited to play the lead role in a flick called 'Monica' [as in Lewinsky]. If she did, the Catholic League would be delighted to send her a box of cigars!"
US Weekly are reporting that popwreck Britney Spears has been offered the role of a not-exactly-virgin Mary in an updated celluloid version of the nativity story. The film, entitled Sweet Baby Jesus, is about a pregnant teen from Bethlehem, Maryland, who is unsure of her baby's paternity and gives birth on Christmas Eve, sparking rumors of a second coming.
"I had to convince my partners because they were like, 'Oh, no. Britney?'" said the film's French producer Philippe Rebboah. "I thought it was brilliant. It's a bit ironic that she would play the Virgin Mary, no?"
One person who can be counted on to get excited about Britney playing a modern day Madonna is our good friend Bill Donohue over at the Catholic League. The pop-tragic star is certainly no Meryl Streep, with famed film critic Rodger Ebert saying quite bluntly that she "couldn't act" while reviewing her 2002 teen epic Crossroads.
It's unlikely that any film starring Spears would even get the insurance it would need to move into production right now. The troubled singer was 12-hours late to her own music video shoot two weeks ago, and has thrown a high-profile sicky today, as reported by TMZ. The celeb-stalking blog says that according to Kevin Federline's attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, the singer used an "unspecified medical condition or illness" as an excuse for flaking on a court ordered deposition, which was part of her ongoing custody battle with her ex.
This casting joke seems like a desperate ploy for publicity on Rebboah's part. The filmmaker has just two past credits listed on IMDB, the most significant being as an associate producer on the indie picture The Guitar, which is set to premiere at Sundance in January 2008 and stars Boston Legal's elevator sex addict, Saffron Burrows. Rebboah claims Lily Tomlin and Melanie Griffith are both considering roles in his new film, and says Spears “likes the idea." Yeah, right, y'all.
Tom Cruise has launched his own 
installment. 
Can you hear that choking sound? That’s the sound of Madonna extracting her thigh-high boot from her mouth, where it appears to have got stuck. When asked by a reporter from New York Magazine if she sympathized with Tom Cruise, Madonna, who is doing the rounds to promote the release of her new album 
Actor Jason Beghe, who became Scientology’s public enemy number one after releasing a three-minute tirade against the 
Regardless of whether you're a man, woman or beast, it seems fame at an early age is not good for your mental health. 
Demi Moore shared one of her unauthodox beauty secrets with David Letterman on his show last night. The eternally youthful star revealed that she recently traveled to a clinic in Austria for some leech therapy to help her get in shape before embarking on promotion for her new movie, ironically entitled 
According ex-Scientologist 
It seems Paris Hilton was only acting spiritual on Saturday night when she paraded in front of cameras in West Hollywood with a mysterious personal guru in tow (
Aretha Franklin may have got some respect from the Daily Mantra after we saw her perform last week (
It seems a much-needed intervention may be in play after Britney Spears was admitted to UCLA in the early hours of this morning (January 31). The troubled singer was physically removed from her Studio City home by police after the authorities received a call from her psychiatrist. The 
Acclaimed 
In an 
Now you see it, now you don't. A video of an interview with Tom Cruise about his controversial faith, that was intended for Scientologists's eyes only, has been yanked off YouTube more times than a 
Comedian Ricky Gervais debates the merits of God vs. Santa with Anglican church leader Rowan Williams, the 
Sometimes life is so predictable. As we prophesied in our 