Will The Unemployment Disaster Be Obama's Katrina?

There's a Category 5 storm about to make landfall, and the president and the officials in charge of preparing for the approaching disaster don't seem to be particularly worried. Sound familiar? Just as Katrina exposed critical weaknesses in the priorities and competence of the Bush administration, the unfolding unemployment disaster is threatening to do the same for the Obama White House. The members of the Obama administration may not be attending a birthday party at John McCain's ranch in Sedona or shopping for expensive Ferragamo shoes in New York as a great American city is destroyed, but their decidedly lackadaisical response to what job losses are doing to multiple great American cities raises the question: will unemployment be Barack Obama's Katrina?

Read the full story at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/will-the-unemployment-dis_b_368329.html

Man Loses 260 Pounds: Now He's an Ironman!

Imagine being so overweight that when you tried and failed with a diet, you would gain back between 75 and 120 pounds. Imagine being so encumbered by your own body weight that you suffered from everything imaginable, from hypertension and gastroesophageal reflux disease to high blood pressure, depression and sleep apnea. Finally, imagine being so helpless in your own skin that it cost you your career in the military.

That 'was' the life of Chad Soileau, who in March 2006 weighed in at 464 pounds. But after his obesity prevented him from accepting a promotion to 1st Lieutenant in the Army and drastically threatened his health, Soileau underwent the procedure of RNY gastric bypass surgery to initially shed some pounds. Afterwards, he vowed to change his eating habits and exercise regularly to eventually hit his target weight of 205 pounds.

Along the way, his mini-goals were simple, realistic ones, including driving his truck without having his belly touch the steering wheel, riding a roller coaster again, to fly in an airplane without having to wear an extender belt, and, eventually be able to walk one mile.

Today -- 260 pounds lighter -- Soileau is now a competitive triathlete and has completed over 50 races since the start of 2008, including his most recent challenge: the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater, Florida on November 14, 2009. Competing against 1,500 athletes from around the globe, he swam 1.2 miles, rode his bike 56 miles and ran 13.1 miles, finishing in just over 7 hours.

From 464 pounds to the finish line? What's Soileau's secret? You'll be surprised how his simple approach to weight loss may do wonders for you. Here's what he told That's Fit:

That's Fit: How did you feel physically prior to losing the weight?

Chad Soileau: I felt terrible. It's humorous to me now when I think about how the world associates fat people with being jolly. I hated who I was and I hated where I was headed. Physically, I always felt like I was going to snap every chair that I sat in (I actually snapped the legs of three computer chairs and broke my toilet seat when I was overweight.) It was a dark, dismal time in my life.

TF: When did you first know that you would succeed in reaching your weight loss goal?

CS: There wasn't really an exact time. As I crossed goals off my goal list, I knew I was making progress toward living a healthy life. It was all about making progress with the small things, which I knew would eventually lead to the big things. I never tried to take a big step. Instead, it was a bunch of little steps.

TF: What were the foods that you had the hardest time giving up?

CS: I had a tough time giving up candy and soft drinks. I don't believe in dieting. Instead, I believe in moderation. That's why I'll still have a coke and an occasional piece of candy, but now I will drink one coke instead of twelve, or have a piece of candy, rather than the entire bag.

TF: What was the first change you made to your diet that helped you lose weight?

CS: I started eating more protein. I consider protein to be the building block of weight loss. Picture your metabolism as a fireplace. What would you put in there to keep it burning for a longer period of time: a log or a bunch of papers? Obviously, a log gives off more heat and burns a lot more efficiently than a bunch of papers that burn up quickly. That's the difference between protein and carbs. Protein is like throwing a log into the fire because they rev your metabolism and take slower to burn for energy, whereas carbohydrates are like pieces of paper. Once you eat them, they burn quickly and do little to stoke your metabolism.

TF: What did you initially do to begin losing weight when it comes to exercise?

CS: Initially, I walked. For me, it was being able to walk from my driveway to the first stop sign down the street. The next day, it was being able to walk from my driveway to the second stop sign down the street. Each day, I slowly and gradually increased how far I was walking, then started to mix up how far I would walk versus run. I started by running to the stop sign, then walking the rest of the way. Pretty soon, I realized I was running most of the way. Next thing you know, I was running exclusively.

TF: Give us a timeline on how quickly the weight came off?

CS: In March 2006, I was 464 pounds. By May 2006, I was 400 pounds and losing 30 pounds a month. By March 2007, I was down to 264 pounds and by August 2007, I hit my goal weight of 205 pounds.

TF: What are your official health stats right now?

CS: Right now, my body fat is only 13.8 percent and I weigh 218 (due to tapering and hydrating for the Ironman). My resting pulse is only 45 beats per minute and my waist size is 43 inches (I was a 64-inch waist).

TF: What's a typical training day for you now?

CS: A typical week for me is getting in a 90-minute run, followed by a 60-minute swim one day, then a 90-minute bike ride along with a 30-minute run on another day.

TF: What mistakes do you see other men make when it comes to eating and exercise that you wish they would change?

CS: Simply put, many men don't move around enough and eat too much. Eat less and move around more is the soundest advice.

TF: What advice would you give to men that think they will never lose the weight?

CS: It goes back to persistence and realizing it isn't going to happen overnight, and, that it takes determination and heart to realize any weight loss goal you may have (no matter if you have 20 pounds or 200 to lose). Maintaining my weight loss will always be a daily struggle for me, but I now feel like I am finally the exception to the rule. It's really about taking small steps and never focusing too much on the big ones.

To read more about Soileau's amazing life-transformation, check out his website.

Emmanuel DelCour of 'Chef Academy' Revealed as Former Porn Star

Bravo has a hit on its hands with 'Chef Academy,' so the Bravo TV Official News Site has every right to brag about the cast.

Of gorgeous French chef Emmanuel Delcour, the blog brags that in his four years living in Los Angeles, he's been full of commercial and television appearances. They say he enjoys swimming (cage-free!) with sharks, and has even served as a personal trainer.

Yeah, they ain't whistling Dixie. Because Delcour is getting Googled today more for his physical prowess out of an apron than in the kitchen.

We come to find out that Delcour is also said to be former French porn star Jean Val Jean (a Les Miz reference; how cultured!). Though the network is being a bit coy about Delcour's shady past, they are obviously pleased that it's cooking up ratings. And the word is out that Val Jean, ahem, Delcour, will reveal his past in an upcoming episode.

On the show, acclaimed chef Jean Christophe Novelli demonstrates cooking techniques and eliminates one contestant per episode. Currently, the show is moving up in the ratings. But of course, Delcour is garnering some ratings of his own, trending number one on Google, as viewers scramble to learn more about the contestant who does admit on his IMDB page that he "made a successful cross-over from modeling in straight adult entertainment."

Racier sites contain clips of Delcour describing how the French determine the perfect bra size, and many detail his specific talents in the XXX business. In this clip from 'Keeping up with the Kardashians,' Delcour apparently sticks his tongue down Khloe's throat in acting class. Judging from some of our Google searches this morning, he could have taught her a lot more.

Meanwhile, a Bravo press release delights in informing the media that, yes, its young star is "raising more than Cosette," and has a prior career in "the movies ... the grown up movies." EatMeDaily even released a video clip of the other cast members "stumbling" upon a raunchy website or two in an upcoming episode.

Whatever happens, it's clear that things will continue to heat up both inside and outside the kitchen for Emmanuel Delcour.

ABC Stops Production on 'FlashForward': Is It in Trouble?

News flash: ABC's 'FlashForward' may be in trouble -- or just in need of a little tune up.

The Hollywood Reporter is suggesting both, with news that the show is going on a short production hiatus this week.

But according to a network rep, this was something that was planned from the get-go.

Still, the news comes at a time when 'FlashForward''s ratings are beginning to fall off. The show debuted to an impressive 12.4 million viewers at the end of September; last week, the show fell to 8 million viewers total -- a series low.

A steady decline like this is something that is hard to recover from, but data also suggests that 'FlashForward' might be a popular show for DVR users. When you factor those numbers in, the show is still being watched by over 10 million every week. So, maybe it's not bad news after all.

The show's premise involves a "global flash forward," in which everyone on the planet loses consciousness for 137 seconds. During that time, characters are able to see their lives six months into the future.

Whether or not ABC is having its own "flash forward" moment here remains to be seen. But between the show's sinking audience and today's news, 'FlashForward' is already falling below expectations, expectations that were admittedly high from the start (some had predicted that it would become the next 'Lost').

Taylor Lautner: I Was Bullied as a Kid

With his buffer-than-ever bod, no one would ever think of picking on New Moon star Taylor Lautner.

But when he was younger, it was a different story.

"I was never extremely confident," the actor, now 17, tells the new issue of Rolling Stone. "Because I was an actor, when I was in school there was a little bullying going on. Not physical bullying but people making fun of what I do ... I just had to tell myself I can't let this get to me. This is what love to do. And I'm going to continue to do it."

He says he is still amazed at how fast his career has taken off.

"Nobody knew what Twilight was going to be," he says. "Nobody. We thought we were making it just for passionate fans of the book. People just kept telling Us, 'Oh, yeah, the movie is going to do so good.' And we were like, 'All right, whatever. We'll see.' But when the movie came out, I was just blown away. That's when I realized, 'Boy, what am I getting myself into?'"

In New Moon, Lautner gets nearly as much screen time as Robert Pattinson, who plays vampire Edward.

But he is staying modest about his career.

"This could have happened to anybody who played Jacob," says Lautner, who famously packed on 26 lbs. of muscle for New Moon. "I was just lucky enough to be the one that has the opportunity. I'm so grateful. It's Twilight. It's not me personally."

When the topic turns to new girlfriend Taylor Swift, Lautner plays it coy.

Asked if they're together, he teases, "Possibly."

While shooting the the 2010 ensemble romantic comedy Valentine's Day, he says, "We got along great. We instantly clicked. And she's -- she's an amazing girl. Aside from being beautiful, she's extremely funny, charismatic and fun to be around, so we definitely got along. We're close."

Courteney Cox Returning to Cougar Town Set

Cougar Town is getting back its Realtor.

The ABC show, which stopped filming briefly last week so star Courteney Cox could attend to a "family matter," resumes production Nov. 30 following an already-planned weeklong break for Thanksgiving, the network says.

The nature of the family issue wasn't disclosed. But Cox's reps confirm to PEOPLE the actress and her family are fine and that she'll be returning to work following the Thanksgiving hiatus.

Cox's costar Busy Phillips wrote in a Twitter message Monday that Cougar Town was "only down one day" and that "we're back shooting after Thanksgiving. I'll pass along the love to CC."

Lambert's 'GMA' Gig Nixed After Racy AMA Performance

Adam Lambert shocked the world with his racy, pelvis-thrusting performance at the American Music Awards this weekend, and aside from just overall furor and upset viewers, it's now affecting his promotional schedule. A performance on 'Good Morning America' -- which runs on ABC, the same station that aired the AMAs -- has been called off for the former 'American Idol' star, likely as a result of the uproar he's facing this week.

ABC now claims that Lambert's sex-heavy number isn't appropriate for an early morning venue.

Lambert's ultra-risque performance drew the ire of many viewers, as ABC announced yesterday they received thousands of complaints following the number. On the West Coast, Lambert's performance was censored because it was so explicit.

During his performance of his song 'For Your Entertainment,' Lambert -- complete with bondage-styled dancers and band members -- made many squirm thanks to dancers on leashes, and thrusting the face of a male dancer into his crotch several times. He later went on to passionately kiss his keyboardist for several seconds, and gave the crowd/camera the finger in the closing moments.

Lambert, who is openly gay, responded to the controversy, telling Access Hollywood that he's "not an artist that does things for every single person," likening the censoring of his performance to "discrimination."

"If it's edited, that's discrimination. I will be a little disappointed because there is a little bit of discrimination going in this country. There's a big double standard, female pop artists have been doing things provocative like that for years, and the fact that I'm a male, and I'll be edited and discriminated against could be a problem," he said.

50 Cent smacks down Taco Bell for stealing his image

Pity clueless musicians who spend more time on their music than their image. If they want to be rich, really rich, they should follow the model of one of rap's richest stars, Curtis James Jackson III, a.k.a. 50 Cent. He may have gained his fame at the microphone or by receiving nine non-fatal gunshots, but his $400 million-plus fortune comes from another source: endorsements. Taco Bell, which attempted to use his image without paying him for it, has found just how jealously he guards his money-maker image.

In 2008, Taco Bell publicly asked 50 Cent to consider changing his name to 79 or 89 or 99 Cent, to promote the chain's "79-89-99-Cent Why Pay More?" campaign. The company even sent copies of the request letter to news outlets, as well as the artist.

They had not, however, made any arrangements with 50 Cent to use his name. When the rapper filed a $4 million lawsuit against Taco Bell for using his image without permission, the company countered with the charge that 50 Cent was attempting to enhance his street cred and notoriety by making an issue of the issue.

The suit has now been settled, and while terms have not been released, I'm presuming The Bell took a hit. And rightly so.

How, I wonder, could Taco Bell have been so clueless in its theft of 50 Cent's image? The value of such endorsements is enormous. Much of his personal fortune came from the sale of Glacéau Vitaminwater to Coca-Cola in 2008. Since 50 Cent owned a piece of the company as part of his endorsement deal, he netted an estimated $100 million.

And 50 Cent is no naive celebrity likely to overlook such an appropriation; in fact, he's an aggressive businessman when it comes to parlaying his brand. For example, Macy's recently began selling his fragrance, Power by 50. Reebok has done very well since 2003 with the 50-Cent-endorsed G Unit line of shoes. He has inked contracts with Right Guard for body spray (Pure 50 body spray) and has been laying plans to market his own brand of platinum (the metal, not the record sales award). He has also developed his own line of condoms, Magic Stick, and even co-wrote a novel, The Ski Mask Way.

Perhaps not coincidentally, 50 Cent and MTV have just announced that the performer will act as host for a reality show, which revolves around 16 hip-hop-hopefuls who will share a house and compete in business-related challenges to determine which one has the right stuff to become a mogul. I'm guessing endorsements will be one of the contests.

Perhaps Taco Bell should send one of its marketing people to compete; they might learn something.

Jerry Orbach's Love Letters to his Wife

The late Jerry Orbach might be best remembered for roles such as tough New York detective Lennie Briscoe on "Law & Order" or the man who tries to put Baby in a corner in Dirty Dancing, but who knew that he was such a romantic?

Over the course of their 25-year relationship, Jerry wrote love poems to his wife Elaine. Now they're compiled in 'Remember How I Love You: Love Letters From an Extraordinary Marriage.'

Jerry would leave the short-but-sweet notes next to her coffee cup so that she'd have a "good morning poem" when she woke up.

(His tough "Law & Order" shooting schedule often required him to come home when Elaine was asleep, and he'd still be sleeping when she was awake.)

When Jerry died in 2004, a family friend asked to read some of the poems at his memorial service, and that's where the idea for the book took shape. It's a collection of the notes and Elaine's memories of life with Jerry.

Elaine passed away earlier this year right after the book was completed.

Tax Lien Placed On Gosselin Home

Lancaster County officials have hit Jon and Kate Gosselin with a tax lien on their Elizabethtown, Penn. home.

The municipal tax lien is due to an unpaid $2,691.75 “water tapping fee,” according to a story by MyFoxPhilly.com. The couple's arbitration agreement shows that Kate Gosselin is responsible for water and sewage at the home that the couple once shared with their eight children, the story said.

MyFoxPhilly.com reported last month that the couple may also owe a mortgage on the home, which is still on the market.

Shocking Ad Shows Polar Bears Plummeting to Their Deaths

Hundreds of polar bears hurtle from the sky and land with a thud in a deserted city center—it's not a bad horror film, it's a new ad from airline pollution activists Plane Stupid.

The ad features CGI polar bears plummeting from the sky, some hitting the edges of buildings, before making a blood-spattered landing on car rooftops and sidewalks. The scene is accompanied only by the bone-crunching sounds of the bears landing, and the crescendo of an airplane’s jet engine.

The video’s message is this: "An average European flight produces over 400 kilograms of greenhouse gases for every passenger. That's the weight of an adult polar bear."

The makers of the ad hope to shock people into action.



“We wanted to confront people with the impact that short-haul flights have on the climate,” Robert Saville, a director at Mother, the ad agency that developed the video, told The Guardian. “We used polar bears because they are a well understood symbol of the effect that climate change is having on the natural world.”

The ad, which debuted in movie theaters across the UK and online Friday, November 20th, has been garnering a lot of attention and criticism.

“Plane Stupid's own powerful imagery threatens to weaken their message” wrote Gazelle Emami in The Huffington Post’s Green Blog. “The imagery of polar bears falling to their deaths is a hard one to relate to and might get you sympathizing more with the polar bears than with their cause.”

Ed Gillespie, co-director of the sustainable communications agency Futerra, also weighed in on The Guardian’s Environment Blog:

“The danger is that by pumping up the high octane drama of an ad, you increase the risk of viewers feeling manipulated and dismissing it as pure propaganda. Or lapsing into highly questionable failures of tact and taste in pursuit of 'edginess’.”

What do you think? Do you think that the ad serves a purpose or loses its message?