Grey's Less One -

One of TV’s longest-running dramas has finally (and officially) come to an end: Katherine Heigl confirms in this week’s exclusive Entertainment Weekly cover story — penned by yours truly! — that she is leaving Grey’s Anatomy.

“I am done,” declares Heigl. “We just finalized our agreement. Everyone had been working really hard to find an amicable and gracious way of letting go and moving on. It’s sad but it’s what I wanted.”

The 31-year-old actress reveals that it was family issues, not her burgeoning film career, that prompted her to approach series creator Shonda Rhimes and ask to be let out of her contract 18 months early. “I started a family and it changed everything for me,” says Heigl, who took a three-month family leave from Grey’s this season to bond with her newly-adopted daughter, Naleigh. “It changed my desire to work full-time.”

Although she was scheduled to appear in this season’s final five episodes, that is no longer happening. As a result, the Jan. 21 episode was her last as Izzie. “I know I’m disappointing the fans,” she says. “I just had to make a choice. I hope I made the right one.”

The wide-ranging and candid Q&A, during which Heigl comes clean about every aspect of her rocky six-year tenure — including the fights (Isaiahgate), the feuds (Emmygate), the controversies (Gizzie), and the mistakes she made along the way (17-hour daygate) — hits newsstands on Friday. Look for additional excerpts (as well as details on the afternoon I spent last week in, ahem, Heigl’s home) tomorrow morning right here.

In the meantime, share your thoughts on Heigl’s departure below.

Toyota Repair Document Revealed --- It's a smoking gun in the latest news on Toyota

The document is important as it is one of few -- if any -- official documents from Toyota where the company has acknowledged a known link between engine surging and vehicle electronics, something that has become the subject of much discussion over the last few months.

Snuggie Meet the Booty Buddy Blanket

First there was the Snuggie, followed by the Slanket and now there's the Booty Buddy. It's a blanket AND an oversized, cozy poncho sure to keep you warm no matter what you're doing. Snuggle up in the Booty Buddy, with a super soft fleece lining and allover Southwestern-style print. Topped with an oversized hood, it's like the most comfortable hug ever. Imported. Machine wash cold.
* 66"l, 69"w
* Cotton, polyester fleece

Huge Changes Approved by The House Regarding Student Loans

Legislation hailed by supporters as the most significant change to college student lending in a generation passed the House on Sunday night.

The student aid initiative, which House Democrats attached to their final amendments to the health-care bill, would overhaul the student loan industry, eliminating a $60 billion program that supports private student loans with federal subsidies and replacing it with government lending to students. The House amendments will now go to the Senate.

By ending the subsidies and effectively eliminating the middleman, the student loan bill would generate $61 billion in savings over 10 years, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Most of those savings, $36 billion, would go to Pell grants, funding an era of steady and predictable increases in the massive but underfunded federal aid program for needy students. Smaller portions would go toward reducing the deficit and to various Democratic priorities, including community colleges, historically black colleges and universities, and caps on loan payments.

The bill's greatest impact would fall on the more than 6 million students who rely on Pell grants to finance their education. Pell, launched in 1973, once covered more than two-thirds of total costs at a public university. It now covers about one-third.

The student aid measure was initially framed as a boost to the Pell program. Now it is seen as its salvation. Democratic leaders say that without a massive infusion of cash, the maximum grant could be scaled back by more than half to $2,150 and at least 500,000 students could be dropped from the program.

To read the full Washington Post article by Daniel de Vise go to the link below:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/21/AR2010032103548_pf.html

Ways to Manage Money Stress

Healthcare Changes

Christian Slater set to Join a new Fox Comedy Pilot

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Slater will play the lead in an untilted Fox comedy pilot that revolves around the Titan Team, a group of super-smart twentysomethings who break into complex security systems.

Slater's character, a military vet, is a snarky, renegade womanizer with a "checkered past." The actor will pull double-duty as a producer on the series, which also stars newbie Trevor Moore as one of the Titan Team members, and was created by 'Aliens in America' and 'How to Train Your Dragon' writer Adam F. Goldberg.

Is it just me or does it look like Christian's been doing the botox thing as of late? I like his acting and think he's really great but after seeing him on Extreme Home Make Over this past weekend I was like "What's up with the face? LOVE that Joker!"