Before she entered politics, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn struggled with bulimia and alcoholism. Quinn opened up about those experiences in an interview with the New York Times, and is expected to talk about them publicly at Barnard College on Tuesday.

Quinn’s mother was dying of breast cancer when she was 16 years old, the speaker told the Times. Quinn spent every morning waking her mother, bathing her, making her breakfast and giving her medication. Her mother’s condition wasn’t improving, and when it was all too overwhelming for the teen to handle, she would binge on ice cream and corn muffins — and then make herself throw up.

The habit continued for 10 years until she sought help at the age of 26.

“I just want people to know you can get through stuff,” she told the Times. “I hope people can see that in what my life has been and where it is going.”

The speaker reached out to the Times to share her experience. She will also touch upon the issues in a memoir that is scheduled to be published next month.

Quinn also talked about how although her mother was diagnosed with cancer when she was in the second grade, she didn’t know about it until the eighth grade when a nun at her school told one of her classmates to be nice to her because her mother had cancer.

At this time, Quinn felt that she needed to be perfect — and thinner — in order to save her mother, the Times reports. Secretly eating sweets and then purging brought a sense of relief, she said.

“For a brief moment, you’ve kind of expelled from your being the things that are making you feel bad,” she said. Quinn also began going out and drinking with friends around this time.

Quinn was in her junior year of high school when her mother died. She continued to struggle with her bulimia and drinking throughout college.

Years later, Quinn got a job working as a campaign manager for City Councilman Thomas Duane. When Quinn opened up to Duane about her problems, he urged her to go to rehabilitation, and she did.

Quinn said she is proud of what she has overcome and does not want to hide it anymore. She added that she does not believe her openness about this part of her life will have an effect on the mayoral race, saying it feels “nonpolitical.”

The post Christine Quinn discusses struggle with bulimia, alcoholism appeared first on Metro.us.

Chances are if you’ve heard the name Ben Wheatley, it’s because he last directed “Kill List,” an indescribable mash-up of horror, crime and kitchen sink English drama, with an unmistakably macabre sense of humor — even when one already battered character’s head is repeatedly pounded with a hammer. His latest, “Sightseers,” is a bit nicer, in that it’s an English camping comedy about a couple (Alice Lowe and Steve Oram) who occasionally murder strangers for no reason.

“I think they were worried I was going to make ‘Kill List 2,’” Wheatley recalls, of a project which existed before he came aboard. He points out he has a history in comedy, on television and in viral videos. “I know how to structure a gag. Comedy’s like a flame that you have to feed with fuel. If it dies it’s very hard to get back. After the hammer scene in ‘Kill List,’ I thought no one would ever laugh again.”

Doing a film with comparatively minor head trauma — although there is some — was a relief after making what he describes as “a really horrible horror film,” at least in the sense of its increasing bleakness, and his having to talk about it at length while promoting it. “I made that film and it made people really unhappy.

“I thought it would be nice if they came out having a laugh and were cheered by something I made,” he says. “It’s not the happiest comedy, ‘Sightseers,’ but it’s a step in the right direction.”

“Sightseers” swings back and forth between comedy — both Lowe and Oram, who wrote the script together, have a deep history in British comedy — and horrible gore, as when one pesky rambler’s face is smashed in. “It’s got a lot in common with [Paul] Verhoeven and ‘[Monty] Python’ stuff,” according to him. “[Terry] Gilliam does that often, going from stuff that’s really horrible to stuff that’s funny and satirical, then back to horror. You feel like you’re being pulled and pushed around. I like that feeling.”

Although he offers that the comedy and horror can become one. In “Sightseers,” the victims are often thoroughly nice. He says, “The more innocent the victim, the funnier it is.”

Wheatley also offers up a theory that comics can, sometimes at least, make better dramatic actors than serious thespians. “The difference between a comedian and an actor is a comedian has the life experience of stand-up comedy. They’ve died in front of audiences a lot. They know what sadness is — for f—ing real. And it’s their own material they’ve died with. That is more personal than being in a play that’s s—.”

It ties into his view on humanity. “I think people are funny, generally,” he states. “Everyone has a sense of humor. They certainly have a sense of humor when things are going wrong. When you make films that are very po-faced, where no one has a laugh, they don’t seem real. People aren’t like that. People aren’t stern and miserablist all the time.”

The post ‘Sightseers’ director Ben Wheatley tries to make people laugh again appeared first on Metro.us.

To hear Youngblood Hawke’s Sam Martin talk, you might imagine him some kind of environmentalist, rather than the frontman of a swiftly rising indie-pop outfit. “I think it’s important to conserve nature and take care of our earth, because we’re blessed and fortunate to have it,” he says. “I feel like one day we’re going to look, and it’s going to disappear on us, and we’re going to wish that we had lived a little bit differently.”

He’s talking about the inspiration for the music video for the band’s single “We Come Running,” which was filmed entirely underwater and features the band members swimming alongside live sharks. “At the time there were a lot of shark attacks in California and we wanted to shed light on these animals because they were getting slaughtered by the millions,” he says. “We wanted to show people that they weren’t these man eating killers. They attack surfers occasionally because they think they’re fish … but once they know what you are, they’re not evil manhunters. We can’t keep slaughtering these animals at the rate we’re doing it because we’re going to completely wipe them out. And the ocean would die.”

Indeed, Martin says that if he weren’t making music he’d probably be working in the great outdoors, “maybe a tour guide in a national park or something.” Luckily for Martin (if not visitors to Yellowstone) he’s otherwise employed — making infectious, up-tempo electro-rock with one of his best college buds, producer Simon Katz.

Martin and Katz have been collaborating musically ever since the two decided to move from their college town of Boulder, Colo., to L.A. and start their first band, Iglu & Hartly. The band enjoyed moderate success, scoring a Top 5 hit in Europe, before dissolving suddenly — and painfully, says Martin — due to strained relationships with the other band members. “Simon and I felt like we didn’t really have a voice in the project … and it wasn’t a happy environment for us to be in anymore,” he says. “When you’re making music, but it’s not the music you want to make, there’s really no point. We felt like we could no longer express ourselves, and everything just fell apart.”

The two took the considerable angst of that loss and channeled it into the songs that would become Youngblood Hawke’s debut album, “Wake Up.” “We were really in a dark place and I think, looking back, we really wrote these songs to cheer ourselves up,” he reflects. “We were sitting in our living rooms, dead broke, trying to figure out what to do with our lives. We’d invested eight to 10 years of our lives [in Iglu & Hartly] and then one day it was completely gone. I think it was important to lift ourselves up, I think it was a cathartic experience. We were writing to make ourselves feel better. Definitely the songs have kind of an upbeat feel but I think that if you listen to the lyrics it gets really dark at points.”

When asked to describe the band’s sound, Martin hesitates. “I feel like describing music is like trying to describe a color,” he says. “There’s rock, there’s dance, there’s definitely synth, and there’s some pop elements to it, definitely. But I think what separates us is that we have some weirder lyrics that we balance out with the pop choruses.”

Martin might find their genre difficult to define, but he clearly articulates the band’s unofficial mission statement. “We’re all kind of excited about life,” he says. “In a live show we just like to give people a great experience. I feel like, they come to a show and buy a ticket, they should walk away feeling like we gave all of our effort to entertain them. We walk offstage and we have nothing left. We like to leave it all on the stage for the audience.”

When asked if he ever fears the specter of the one-hit wonder, a fate that befalls many young bands who burst onto the scene with that one catchy hit single and just as quickly fade away, he’s quick to dismiss it. “I feel confident in our album and our songwriting abilities. I think we’re just fortunate to be in this position right now, we’re taking it one day at a time,” he says. “Some bands don’t even get a song. We’re going to continue to write and evolve and get better, so I don’t think that’s something that really freaks me out at all.”

Youngblood Hawke stops in Boston and New York on a club tour before hitting the festival circuit this summer.

NEW YORK
May 13, 8 p.m
Santos Party House
96 Lafayette St., New York
$13-$15
ticketweb.com

BOSTON
May 14, 9 p.m.
Brighton Music Hall
158 Brighton Ave., Allston
$12
ticketmaster.com

The post Youngblood Hawke soars high and swims in the deep appeared first on Metro.us.

In the horror film “No One Lives,” the Welsh actor Luke Evans stars as Driver, a man who reveals himself to be a psychopath of epic proportions when he encounters a gang of thugs. Evans will soon be seen among the cast of “Fast & Furious 6,” which adds to a CV that already includes “Clash of the Titans,” “Immortals” and smaller films like “Tamara Drewe.”

How did you identify with a psychopath like Driver?
I guess I saw him as a tortured soul. He’s a psychopath, and sometimes psychopaths are aware of their condition but can’t do anything about it. The man is basically in love. It’s a twisted love story — one of love and ownership — two emotions that I can relate to as a non-psychopathic human being.

You get to do some pretty amazing and grisly, bloody stuff in the film, such as the unforgettable moment of Driver emerging from the “emptied” corpse of an oversized man. Did you like being covered so thoroughly in blood?
They are so grotesque and unbelievably brutal that I hope people find them entertaining as well as shocking. This is a quintessential popcorn slasher film by a director who utilizes every element of the genre to the extreme.

Should viewers be rooting for your character?
That element is what drew me to the script, because this character essentially becomes an antihero. He might be gratuitously murdering people left, right and center, but all of the people he chooses to murder aren’t the nicest of people. The director and I wanted to challenge the audience’s moral and ethical compass to see if they would start liking him.

What’s the appeal of headlining a small horror film like this?
I was intrigued to find out if making a horror film would be scary or not. I found out that it made me laugh continuously. The darker the scene, the harder I laughed. I’m not sure what that says about me.

‘No One Lives’ introduces Stockholm syndrome in Driver’s relationship with one of his captives. Can you discuss that aspect of the film?
The Stockholm syndrome fascinated me. The thing about psychopaths is that they can’t distinguish between primal emotions like fear vs. happiness, passion vs. violence. So as much as I understand these different emotions, I had to play the psychopath in him, which meant that he could be incredibly terrifying, but switch to being passionate. He is in love with the women in the film and has ownership over them. He is actually quite charismatic and these women fall for him. In doing so, they suspend belief in who this man really is.

Your character is somewhat vulnerable during an early sex scene, but more menacing walking nude to the house where his victims are holed up. Can you talk about how sex/nudity and violence are presented vis-a-vis Driver?
The nudity that my character displays [walking] in the film as opposed to the nudity you see in the sex scene are juxtaposed and represent the two different people that he is — which is a very common trait in a psychopath. Skin and the body both play important roles in this film, and I think Ryûhei [Kitamura, the director] uses them brilliantly. Standing naked covered head to toe in synthetic blood in a forest in Louisiana at 2 a.m. was a very liberating experience.

The post Interview: Luke Evans laughs at the darkest moments in ‘No One Lives’ appeared first on Metro.us.

What do you ask a woman who interviews others for a living? A woman who has forged a lengthy and venerable career out of posing often tough questions to strangers, who have included the likes of Lynne Cheney, Tracy Morgan, Bill O’Reilly and Jay Z, to name just a varied few. Well, to start, you ask her what it feels like to have the tables turned. Does she feel compelled to lead the interview or direct the conversation? “No, no,” says Terry Gross, producer and host of NPR’s “Fresh Air.” “I let the interviewer do the driving.” You’re relieved because, frankly, you were a little worried that you were going to end being the interviewee in this scenario. Tables thusly leveled, you proceed.

(Terry Gross stops in Boston on Friday as part of the Celebrity Series for “Terry Gross: All I Did Was Ask.”)

You’ve been the host of ‘Fresh Air’ for some 30+ years. Does it ever become routine, interviewing people?

Well, you know, although I’ve been doing interviews for a very long time, the people I’m interviewing always change. So it never gets tired, it never gets old for me, in the way that having friends or talking to new people — it’s just like how people never get tired. There are always new people to talk to and the conversation is always changing, the subject matter is always changing. There are always new movies and TV shows and music and books that I’m exited about. There’s always important — and often terrifying — things happening in the news to talk about. It doesn’t get old.

How do you choose your subjects?

Well, we have several producers who work on the show and they spend their days just poring through things, looking for good ideas. They often call people up and talk to them just to see what they would be like as interviewees. We have these super long meetings on Fridays in which we go over all the potential guests we’ve been thinking of and narrow down the list.

Do you do a lot of the research yourself?

I don’t gather the research; the research materials are given to me. So I’m not, like, on the Internet looking for things that I should read, but I’m the one who does the reading. I watch the movies, I listen to the music. I think that if I don’t have a firsthand knowledge of the material myself that I can’t do it. I have to feel some commitment to the subject matter and to the person, and I have to know as much as I can about it.

Can you think of anyone you talked to recently that you were particularly excited about?

Okay, several! I interviewed Matthew Weiner, the creator of “Mad Men.” I love the series so it was a lot of fun to talk with him and talk about why things were happening to Don that are happening to Don. (laughs) I interviewed Matthew McConaughey and he is just really smart and interesting and funny, so that was a lot of fun.

He is? I always had the impression that he was sort of … a surface-level type of guy.

No, no, he’s really very interesting. And very funny. Oh, and I interviewed David Sedaris recently, that was a lot of fun. We had had a drink together a long time ago and then we went out to dinner afterwards. … Actually this is a long story, it’s too long to tell.

How about a bad interview, do you ever have one that’s failing horribly?

Yeah, we kill interviews sometimes. By that I mean we record them and then decide not to run them. Our interviews are prerecorded and edited, but if something is especially confusing, or boring, or we don’t trust the facts in it, we won’t run it. And then sometimes guests walk out on me. I mean Lou Reed, who I’m a big fan of, many years ago just walked out on the interview. I don’t think he really likes being interviewed in the first place, and then I was talking about some early recordings and he said he really hated talking about old music of his. And I think he was in a cranky mood.

Have you ever found yourself at odds with an interviewee or had the whole thing devolve into a fight?

I try not to argue with my guests. I try to let them have their say and ask them challenging questions when I think that’s appropriate. My interview with Gene Simmons is probably a good example of him saying kind of crude things to me and me accusing him of being obnoxious, and then it devolving from there.

How do you handle a bad interview like that?

I don’t take it personally. If someone is being crude, or obnoxious, or insulting to me, I don’t take it personally. Because usually when that happens it’s somebody who doesn’t know who I am, and they don’t know the show, and they’re just working with some stereotype in their heads, some stereotype of what NPR is or who I am. So I just hope that it’s going to sound like good radio. (laughs) Because sometimes when things are going really bad, it’s actually good theater.

Have you ever had to interview somebody whose philosophy or morals were just totally oppositional to your own? I ask because we recently ran an interview with a member of the Westboro Baptist Church, during which our reporter remained very calm and objective, and I’m not sure I, personally, could do that.

Well, you know, I’ve interviewed somebody from the Klan and I can’t remember whether I pointed out to them that I was Jewish or not, but they didn’t say anything anti-Semitic to me, to my face. I’ve interviewed people who I totally disagree with, and I’ll ask them totally challenging questions, but again I won’t take it personally. Even if they’re insulting me, I won’t take it personally.

I imagine you’ve had to develop a thick skin over the years. Did it take a long time?

Yes, yes. I think it took, I don’t know … Well, say Lou Reed had walked out on me early in my career? I think I would have just been heartbroken. And so upset.

What about the best interview you’ve ever had?

I kind of prevent myself from thinking that way because if I had a best interview I’d ever done, then I’d listen to it and I’d go, ‘Really? That’s the best interview you’ve ever done?’ So I don’t. Wait, I’m looking up Matthew McConaughey

I’m on IMDB now too. It’s not ‘Tropic Thunder’ is it?

No, no.

‘Killer Joe’?
‘Killer Joe,’ yes! That’s it. It’s a weird movie, kind of not to everybody’s tastes, kind of a perverted movie. (laughs) He plays a very perverted character, let’s put it that way, but he plays it quite well. It’s a side of him I had no idea was there.

Have you ever been really scared or anxious about interviewing somebody?

Yeah. An example I often use is Stephen Sondheim because I admire him so much and he’s very critical of the interviewers, I think. So it’s not a breezy, relaxed conversation. But I just love his work so much. But I always get a little edgy before interviewing him.

So did it end up being as scary as you thought it would be, the first time you interviewed him?

Well, I’ve interviewed him several times and sometimes I’ve thought it went very well and sometimes I’ve thought he’s been very unhappy with it. Or he’s moderately unhappy with it. There have been times he’s been more forthcoming than others.

I think the way interviews go just depends on people’s moods too.

Yeah, yeah. I think it does. And some people are more often in that mood than others.

Who are some people who you really admire, who do what you do?

I really love Jon Stewart’s interviews. I think he does terrific political interviews. And he manages to be kind of gracious and charming and funny and hold people’s feet to the fire at the same time. And he manages to have pretty big disagreements with guests but still do it in a very friendly, respectful way. I think he’s amazing. I think Ira Glass is a terrific interviewer. I mean he does more hosting, but I think when he does do an interview it’s fantastic. I think Scott Simon is a terrific interviewer.

What would you be doing right now, if you weren’t doing this? In a dream world.

If I could do anything else in the world? OK, I like what I’m doing, I feel so lucky to be doing what I’m doing. Because I wanted to fall in love with work. I wanted to find some form of work that I could love. And I was afraid that it wasn’t going to happen. You know how some people are afraid that they’ll never get married? I was afraid, like, I’m never going to find work I really care about, that’s meaningful to me. So when I found it, I developed a pretty monogamous relationship with it. But if I could make a fantasy come true? I’d be able to sing really well.

Do you ever find your work slipping into your social life, interviewing people at parties, that kind of thing?

Well, first of all, I don’t go to parties often. (laughs) Usually if I’m at a party, it’s like a benefit or a station event or something like that. I go to very few parties outside of official events. But when I’m at an event and I’m being introduced to people I’ve never met before, I feel really lucky that I know how to talk to people now, because I’ve talked to so many people and I know how to get a conversation going. Because I used to be really shy and would have been very uncomfortable doing that.

As a formerly shy person, what made you think that this was the career for you?

Well, actually, it’s a good position for a kind of shy or formerly shy person because the spotlight isn’t on you. It’s on somebody else. And, in fact, in radio, there isn’t even a spotlight. No one is seeing you and what you’re doing is asking questions. You’re not holding forth and you’re not the one who’s the storyteller. Mostly you’re listening and asking questions. So, eventually over time, people get to know who you are and people can read things into the questions you ask and intuit things about who you are, and what you may think, and so on. But when I started in radio I was still pretty shy, but it suited me just fine. And I was used to reading a lot and being curious about what I’d read and so on. And I was always interested in movies, books and television, so having a natural curiosity about that and then wanting to learn and read more, that came really easily. And now, I think, I think it would be wrong to describe myself as shy now — I’d say I was self-conscious describes me now. Because I’m used to making speeches and going to meet-and-greets and things like that, I’ve learned how to do all that and I’m comfortable doing all that. But it took me a while to learn. I’m still a very self-conscious person.

What’s one great interview question, if you were only ever allowed one?

There’s no generic one question to me. It would depend who the person is. I think one of the things about interviewing is that you don’t ask the same thing of everyone. The exceptions to that rule are things like the Proust questionnaire in Vanity Fair, which I really enjoy reading. It’s fun to see all the different answers that people you’re really interested in give to those same questions. But that’s different. It would really depend. Is that person a painter? Are they an avant-garde jazz musician? Are they a politician, a priest? Who are they? Do I want to know about life and death, do I want to know about the cure for cancer? Do I want to know about what they believe the afterlife is? It just really depends.

Who’s on your bucket list of dream interviews?

I kind of no longer have that list in my head because we’ve gotten a lot of the big “gets.” When we first became a national show we had our list of, you know, the 10 people we most wanted. And we’ve gotten them. And Lou Reed was one of those people. And he walked out on me. Robert DeNiro was one of those people. And he’s never been on the show, but I don’t think he’s a great interviewee from what I’ve seen. I think he’s hard to get because I don’t think that’s where he really shines. I think he’s a great actor — I don’t think he’s a great guest. So, at this point, a lot of what’s exciting is finding, you know, the actor that’s just emerging and becoming really wonderful. Or somebody who’s a character actor and you’re realizing how great they are. Or, like, Matthew McConaughey. During his romantic comedy period — I tend to not see a lot of those films — I wasn’t paying attention to him, but he’s gotten so interesting lately.

Well, what about if you could interview anybody, alive or dead, what would your dream interview look like then?

If I could bring back people from the dead, and do a series? Yes, the series I would do would be a series of songwriters, mostly people who did the American Popular Songbook. And they’d be at the piano while I interviewed them. So it would be like the Gershwins, Irving Berlin, Harold Irwin, Duke Ellington would be there. You know, Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein. I would be asking them about their lives and their songs and they’d be performing their songs as I talked to them. Don’t you think that would be fun?

My professor, on the very first day of journalism school, told us all that, well, you know you’re never going to make any money…

Was that the right thing to say? Well, it might be a way of discouraging people who aren’t really serious about it. You know, so many music teachers and acting teachers say that unless you really, really want this, don’t do it. It’s going to be too hard, it’s not going to pay well … unless you’re really super lucky and really super extraordinary.

And sometimes not even then.

Yeah, exactly. Talent is not always recognized.

Well, as you said, I guess you consider yourself lucky if you get to do something you enjoy every day.

Oh, I feel so lucky. So lucky.

If you go

Terry Gross: All I Did Was Ask
Friday, 8 p.m.
Sanders Theatre
45 Quincy St., Cambridge
$30-$40
celebrityseries.org

The post Turning the tables on NPR’s Terry Gross appeared first on Metro.us.

“Well, I knew something was wrong when a little pretty white girl ran into a black man’s arms. Something is wroooong here. Dead giveaway. Dead giveaway. Deeeaaad giveaway.”

You can’t make this stuff up. (Also shout-out to the stone-faced guy to his right in the leather vest. Why so serious, bro?)

Internet meme trollers, we said, get thee to your auto-tune machines! And so they did.

So far, though, the Ramsey auto-tunes are not top-notch. Internet, you can do better. And you will, we know you will. Because you’ve brought us Lady in the Gas Station Backing Up. And Double Rainbow. We’ll be right here waiting.

The post The Charles Ramsey auto-tunes have begun! appeared first on Metro.us.

Robin Amos Kahn is the mind behind “Scrambled Eggs,” a new, women-focused comedy now running off-Broadway. We sat down with the playwright, a former screenwriter for daytime soap operas, to chat about how much of this narrative — starring Amy Van Nostrand, and co-written by Gary Richards — comes from her own life experiences. Plus, how did she face the challenges of transitioning from writing major drama for the small screen to getting big laughs from a live audience?

What is “Scrambled Eggs” about?

For me, it’s really an everywoman’s story about this one character that’s very universal, about this certain crossroads that causes her to look back over her life. … She is physically going through certain symptoms that she doesn’t understand, and she’s at a place in her life where she’s wondering if she’s losing her mind.

How much of it is drawn from your own experiences?

Some of it is based on my own life. I’ve always had a lot of close girlfriends; so I’m always saying to them: “Are you going to do this? What happened to you? When you were dating, did you do this?” So all of those stories inform this play, because we are our relationships and friendships. … A lot of this is based on shared memories and shared experiences.

Is it just targeted to middle-aged women?

No. This character goes back over her entire life, [from] family life with her parents to her dating life. My daughter, who is 25, really relates to the younger period of dating. And men seem to love this play because it gives them insight into women in a way that they don’t usually have, and they also get to laugh at themselves and laugh at some of the foibles of women — at some of our craziness. … It definitely seems to touch people at different stages of their lives.

Did working with Gary Richards help add the men’s point of view?

The original story was that I was writing a solo show, and I was going to perform it. And I worked on it with a dramaturge. Then I completely chickened out and said, “Just give it to a good actress – I don’t want to get onstage and do it!” So we had an actress do a reading, and Gary, who’s a writer and a director said, “I think this would make a great play. Let’s bring all the characters to life.” So the two of us did that, and it evolved.

How was it moving from writing dramas for TV to a comedic play?

Comedy is much less challenging for me. Soaps are much more challenging. My analogy for writing soaps was that I was a ballerina with 30 pound weights attached to my feet. Everything I wrote, I wanted to be funny. There was one show I could be funny on, and that was “Guiding Light.” But every other show was very serious, and every time I wrote something funny they’d cross it out. … I admire great drama. I worship Tony Kushner, I wish I could write “Angels in America.” But I’m going to be me — it’s going to come from a much more humorous place, because that’s just who I am.

What’s your favorite moment in the play?

There’s a scene with the parents when the character was a child — and for me its about growing up in a family that’s really dysfunctional, and how do we do it as a child, and how do we feel good about ourselves when we’re in dysfunction. I actually wrote about it in a writing group once [and] tissues were passed around the room, and then I wrote it as a funnier piece now. [It’s] extremely poignant. So for me, that’s the moment. But there are a lot of them.

Where did the title come from?

The title actually came from [actor/writer] Eric Bogosian, who is one of my comic heroes. [He] read an early version, and he said, “I have the perfect title for you: ‘Scrambled Eggs.’” It just stuck. And when you see it, you’ll know why it’s a good title.

The post Theater: Making ‘Scrambled Eggs’ appeared first on Metro.us.

Anzor Tsarnaev, who calls himself father of Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the two suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings, gave an interview in Makhachkala, calling one of his sons an “angel.”

“They were set up, they were set up!” he added. “I saw it on television; they killed my older son Tamerlan.”

“I’m scared for my boy – that they will shoot him dead too,” said the thin man in a black-and-blue sweater. “They should arrest him, bring him in, alive. And the judicial system should investigate everything, who’s right and who’s guilty.”

Tsarnaev also said he was expecting the younger brother to visit him in Dagestan soon for summer holidays, before cutting the interview short.

It was not possible to independently verify he was the brothers’ father, but he has also been identified as such in Russian and other media reports.

The two suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings are ethnic Chechen brothers who spent much of their lives away from the breakaway Russian republic and showed few signs of radicalism in the United States, friends and relatives said.

The suspect’s uncle, who lives in Maryland, said Friday morning that the brothers had brought shame to the family. Their aunt, who lives in Toronto, Canada, said her nephews must have been set up.

Reuters contributed reporting.

Folow Cassandra Garrison on Twitter: @CassieAtMetro

The post Anzor Tsarnaev: Boston bombing suspects’ father says son is ‘angel’ appeared first on Metro.us.

The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI caught everyone by surprise, except his employer.

We caught up with God, aka David Javerbaum, the 11-time Emmy winning comedian who runs the popular @TheTweetOfGod account and author of ‘The Last Testament: A Memoir by God’.

Q: @TheTweetOfGod Popes don’t resign – has ex-Benedict incurred your wrath by doing this or did you fire him?

A: @Metro I’m not angry. In the end it came down to “creative differences”, in that I am infinitely creative and he is different.

@TheTweetOfGod In his final speech he said at tough times “it seemed the Lord was sleeping”. Were you ducking his calls?

@Metro No, he was right. I was sleeping. It was the seventh day of the week. How does he not know what I do on the seventh day? #genesis1bennyboy

@TheTweetOfGod What score would you give his reign?

@Metro I’d give it an IV out of X.

@TheTweetOfGod Are you concerned about the vacuum now he’s gone? Who will you speak through on earth now?

@Metro I will continue to speak through the mentally ill and/or con men, and by “and” I mean conservative Republicans.

@TheTweetOfGod How is recruitment for a replacement going – and who would be your ultimate fantasy pope?

@Metro No comment on who the new Pope might be. Obviously My fantasy would be ‘Poprah’. But she won’t return My calls.

@TheTweetOfGod The pope had a strong social media game – how will you bring the Vatican more in line with the digital era?

@Metro It’s pretty hard to bring the “digital era” to a place where, as the names of the Pope indicate, they don’t even have digits.

@TheTweetOfGod Will you be reclaiming the Popemobile?

@Metro Not reclaiming, but fixing up. I’m giving it racing stripes, lowriders, and an engine that runs on holy water and Jesus-body.

@TheTweetOfGod Off topic but who are you most keen to send to hell?

@Metro My bill collector. Satan owes me 500 years’ back rent.

The post Exclusive interview with ‘God’: ‘Pope was a IV out of X’ appeared first on Metro.us.

Outgoing pontiff Pope Benedict XVI will no longer wear his trademark red shoes, the famous papal footwear the color of which symbolizes the blood of the martyrs. Instead, the emeritus pope will flaunt a pair of handcrafted leather wine-red-colored loafers handmade by artisans in Mexico, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, has announced. “Mexicans will be happy to know that the pope very much appreciated the shoes” he received as a gift during his 2012 visit in León, Mexico, said Lombardi. “He finds them very comfortable.”

In an exclusive interview with Metro, Armando Martin Dueñas, chairman of Ackerman, the company in León that designed the shoe, says the Pope’s gesture is the perfect validation that his workers are doing a exemplary job.

Q: How did it come about that the Pope will now wear your shoes?

A: The industry in León is run on leather goods and footwear, a tradition that dates back over 400 years. It is the economic sustenance of a region of 1.8 million inhabitants. When we made the pair of shoes for His Holiness, it was a token of appreciation, affection, love and kindness for being here [in León, Mexico], especially given his age and fragile condition.

For us, that he will wear the shoes is a way to confirm that he remembers us. It encourages and strengthens us that Benedict finds them comfortable and gives us the assurance that what we do we do well.

Q: What are the shoes’ characteristics?

A: They are made in the color – wine red – and with the kind of leather that we saw fit to offer the Pope. The outside and lining of the shoe for His Holiness is made from the skin of an stillborn or prematurely born calf. This type of leather is very soft.

Q: Will you make this Pope shoe for general sale?

A: We already have had some requests for more shoes and we have given seven similar pairs to different priests and bishops. We have not marketed them, but it would give it us great pleasure if someone needs them – we are ready to provide them.

Q: Do you have more shoes of this type to send to the Vatican?

A: We have three pair of shoes ready to send which His Holiness now requires. We also have made others in black color for him.

Q: And how much would a pair of this kind cost?

A: It has never been given a price. It is a gift.

Q: How many shoes does your company make in one year? How many people work with you?

A: Our 65 staff make 83,000 pairs of shoes in one year.

The post Pope’s new shoemaker: ‘Pope wearing our shoes means he remembers us’ appeared first on Metro.us.

She joined to find solace after her baby had died – instead, she was forced into extortion, mental torture and sexual depravity. “Olivia” is just one of the thousands of victims that fell prey to the Defenders of Christ cult, whose members were subjected to forced labor or sexual activities.

Last month, law enforcement officers raided the sect’s house near the Mexican city of Nuevo Laredo: twenty-four sect members were arrested, 14 of whom were foreign nationals, including its Spanish leader Ignacio Gonzalez de Arriba, who claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. The sect offered classes in ‘bio-programming’ and other pseudoscientific health care to attract followers.

For the first time, “Olivia”, a women in her 30s whose name is changed to conceal her identity, tells about her ordeal at the hands of those operated in the name of Christ.

Metro: How did you come to join this sect?

Olivia: It began in 2008: a friend of my ex-husband invited me – it was at that time when I was passing through a period of severe depression over the loss of my baby boy. I was emotionally devastated. Then I heard how much you can do [in the sect] to get better so I decided that I wanted to take some of the classes on offer in the sect. I felt really well at the basic level and also with the second one, the intermediate level, which allowed me a sect volunteer. By April of 2009, I was hired as their assistant.

At what point did the pressures set in?

Two of my bosses [in the sect], José Arenas Losanger Segovia and his wife, were very strict. From the beginning I started to suffer from workplace violence, which was also psychological. For the smallest mistake they would punish me without pay. And the reality is that I paid for my technical classes with my work. They had told me I had to be a good servant and obey.

When did the cult’s leader, Ignacio Gonzalez de Arriba, come into the scene?

In the summer of 2009, I started to hear about Ignacio’s arrival to Mexico from Brazil. At that time, we were told about the ‘Defenders of Christ’, but I was told that it was not so much a religion as a different way of thinking. What’s more, they started asking us to pay tithes.

What was the mechanics of the contributions?

Systematically, they planted in our minds the idea that we had to pay up once a week, and then it was every day. They received tithes through Western Union from places like Paris, Spain, Colombia, Venezuela and Chile. By then, they made us believe Ignacio was the master, a great being of light. Over time, they wanted to establish the Defenders of Christ as a religion, but in Mexico it could not have been possible because Ignacio is a foreigner.

Ignacio arrives and what happens?

He began running more classes, which became more expensive, and in the end he started to openly tell us that he is the incarnation of Christ. As part of our training as “apostles of the Defenders of Christ”, he would provide us with 343 different precepts (commandments): on this he would start talking about polygamy and how women’s bisexuality was seen as something good, and how the apostles could each have seven women and Ignacio up to ten. From that he began talking about supernatural powers, about magic – catalyzed with sex.

Was that moment the peak of it all?

They told us that we should have sex with women, and not with men. Then prostitutes started being brought in because they said that Ignacio had a heart condition and he was losing magic, so he asked for some women.

How close was your relationship with Ignacio?

We shared a close empathy, but I had no privileges at all – he was telling me that I should obey everything that was said. By obeying the 343 precepts I was such a good servant and showed great loyalty to be on his right-hand side. But when he arrived, Ignacio also became the worst for me.

What were you forced to do?

I had to go out to the bars or clubs to find prostitutes, seduce them and take them to Ignacio to have sex with him. I lost my dignity and my family fell apart. There were times when Ignacio gave me something I had to drink and he’d tell me, “This is poison” and then laugh out loud, all to test my loyalty.

How did you realize the gravity of your situation?

In 2010, it was a night when I went out in search of women, but I had an accident that kept me in bed. However, I had enough strength to turn my back and escape [the sect]. It has been very difficult because I realized I didn’t even had something to eat, or means to live. I was alone.

How did you feel when you heard Ignacio was arrested?

I was happy, I felt relief. However, I still have a feeling tingling in my spine: I hope that the authorities would be smart enough to know what they face because those cult leaders can manipulate your mind. I am worried in a particular way because the people who were closest to Ignacio are going to defend him no matter what. [Other leading cultists] José Losanger and Tito Shoucri are going to blame themselves just to get Ignacio free.

What would you like to request from the authorities of the countries some of the sect members are from?

Please do not take this case lightly – they are comparable to very dangerous criminals, even psychopaths. Just think about it: they brainwash you so much that we even sold our bodies to pay them and, even worse, they showed us how to die or kill for Ignacio.

FACTBOX

• The “Defensores de Cristo” (Defenders of Christ) was present in 80 countries, with 4,000 victims in Mexico and 10,000 across the rest of the world, according to the Argentina-based Victim Support Network (Red de Apoyo a Víctimas de Sectas).
• For online courses in ‘bio-programming’, members were charged up to $130,000.
• After paying the maximum fee, members would be conferred as “Apostles of Christ” and purportedly received supernatural powers, like the ability of resurrection and curing of diseases by touch, the network added.

The post Mexican sex slave cult member speaks out: ‘I was prepared to die for our leader’ appeared first on Metro.us.

Microsoft Corp Chairman Bill Gates said he was not satisfied with the company’s pace of innovation over the last few years, and that it had mishandled its early mobile strategy.

“We didn’t miss cellphones, but the way that we went about it didn’t allow us to get the leadership. It’s clearly a mistake,” Gates, Microsoft’s former CEO, said in a rare interview with CBS.

Gates hedged questions on whether he was happy with Chief Executive Steve Ballmer’s performance. He said Ballmer had achieved a lot but that both he and Ballmer were not satisfied.

“(Ballmer) and I are two of the most self-critical people I know,” Gates said.

“There are a lot of amazing things that Steve’s leadership achieved — Windows 8, the Surface computer, Bing, Xbox. Is it enough? No. He and I are not satisfied that in terms of breakthrough things we are doing everything possible.”

Ballmer took over as Microsoft’s CEO in February 2000. The company’s shares have dropped 45 percent since then.

A former senior Microsoft executive, Joachim Kempin, said in a book he wrote about his time at the company that Ballmer was not the right leader for the world’s largest software company but held his grip on it by systematically forcing out any rising manager who challenged his authority.

His criticism echoes that of investor David Einhorn of Greenlight Capital, who called for Ballmer to step down in 2011.

Microsoft has faced criticism for its latest Windows 8 versions for different devices, while its Bing search engine has won only a small market share.

The post Bill Gates talks about mistakes Microsoft made in early mobile strategy appeared first on Metro.us.

Enter Metro’s Justin Bieber contest, and you’ll have a chance to meet him backstage at a future show!

Alas, we weren’t so lucky. But the superstar did answer some questions about his new album, “Believe Acoustic,” via e-mail, shortly before heading out on his European tour.

Metro: On “Believe Acoustic,” you sound rawer and more available than on previous big production tracks. How do you make that intimacy sound authentic, even though you’re…Justin Bieber?

Bieber: It sounds authentic because it is. Acoustic performances, whether busking in my hometown or on YouTube, are how I got started. Songs and performances like that really give me the chance to connect with my fans. That connection is why I perform an acoustic set as part of my Believe Tour every night.

Does this bring us closer to the “real” Justin?

I think everything I put out is a representation of the real me. But this album (Believe Acoustic) definitely allows the public to see a different side of me than “Believe.” The sound of this album is a lot rawer and more exposed.

I ask because previous stars your age—Timberlake, Britney—usually start to define their sound for an older audience around this time. Where are you going?

I’m just growing up and my sound is maturing with me. I don’t spend a lot of time planning where my music will go next. I just write about what is going on in my life and how I am feeling and it’s causing the music to grow with me in a very organic way.

Lots of guys in dorm rooms everywhere play acoustic guitars to pick up girls…and fail, because they look cheesy. What tips do you have for them?

Be confident.

What are you doing this Valentine’s Day?

I’ve got a small break before my UK tour dates start so I’m still figuring it out.

What’s the wildest offer that you’ve had from a female fan?

I get a lot of marriage proposals.

We have to ask about “Nothing Like Us,” a song about your break –up with Selena Gomez—you told Billboard you’re not in the happiest place and have friends to get you through. What have you learned about relationships?

I have learned a lot about who I am and who I want to be.

And?

I’ve also learned how to be there for someone else.

The post Justin Bieber on ‘Believe Acoustic’ and getting ‘a lot of marriage proposals’ appeared first on Metro.us.

“Escape from Planet Earth” stars Jessica Alba and Rob Corddry sit down with Metro World News to talk about their new animated film and what sorts of family movies they like to show their kids — but things get silly pretty fast. And Alba has a special message to kids: Don’t be too popular in high school.

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  Jessica Alba and Rob Corddry get silly

METRO: You guys have been doing this together for a bit. At what point do you just start messing with each other in interviews?

Rob Corddry: God no!
Jessica Alba: I don’t know. No, I would never do that. That’s, like, so rude. Plus, he’s like my elder, so I just try not to be disrespectful.
RC: That’s true. So you sense the wisdom, and you just want to sort of bathe in it. You want to bathe in my wisdom.
JA: Yeah. I do. I mean just the fact that I’m even here is… it’s a blessing. I’m very lucky. I’m pinching myself. Is this a dream?
RC: This is really good for me, thank you.

This movie is another one of those things where the plot sort of hangs on the smart guy saving the day. How many times do you think audiences need to be told before they finally figure out that smart people should be respected?

RC: That it’s a good thing, being smart? Well, this is like a very good time for nerds in general. So hopefully you’re seeing it a lot more because it is more pervasive now, and kids will want to be smart.
JA: Like, anyone who peaks in high school is, like, a loser in life. So don’t peak in high school.
RC: Yeah, do poorly in high school.
JA: Socially! Don’t peak socially. Just make sure you’re unpopular. Right?
RC: Oh God, yeah. I hope my kids are just nerdy introverts.
JA: Nerd-burgers.

What do you look for, as parents, in a family film, in what you’re taking your own kids to?

RC: I like to enjoy it myself. It makes it a lot easier, right?
JA: Something that you don’t hate is awesome as a parent.
RC: Because you’re going to watch it a lot. We’re lucky, too. I think it’s a good time to be parents in terms of media. Like, I missed the whole… what are the Australian dudes that sing?
JA: The Teletubbies? And the Wiggles. And the Barney.
RC: The Barney. We missed all of that. We have Pixar, and ["Escape from Planet Earth."] So that’s great.

Well, I like to see that you’re not actually tearing each other apart.

JA: Just wait till you leave. It’s on.

As a bonus, Metro also caught up with “Escape from Planet Earth” co-stars Sofia Vergara and William Shatner. While Vergara had some kind words for her fans back home in Colombia, things got a little weird with Shatner:

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  Sofia Vergara’s message to Colombia

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  Weird questions for William Shatner

The post Jessica Alba and Rob Corddry get goofy about ‘Escape from Planet Earth’ appeared first on Metro.us.

“He rubbed my feet when I was pregnant in ‘Traffic.’ That’s the only reason why I keep coming back,” she says with a laugh. “He looked after a pregnant woman so well, I just knew I’d always be in good hands.”

Of course, it takes more than foot rubs to get Zeta-Jones interested in a project. Over the past few years, she has focused on her home life following husband Michael Douglas’ battle with cancer.

“I love my job but it takes me a lot to leave my kids, leave my husband and leave my dogs,” she says. “I find it really hard to leave my children. I think that I’ll never get these beautiful, formative, delicious years back, and it takes me great thought and what is it that I want to leave my kids and my husband for? And this obviously was a must for me. I’d pretty much do the phonebook with Steven if he asked me, just read it in three different languages — French, Welsh and English.”

There was one other element of “Side Effects” that had a can’t-miss appeal for Zeta-Jones, and that was the chance to tackle playing an accomplished psychiatrist.

“I’m actually thrilled that Steven cast me as a doctor because I never went to college, and I always wanted an M.D. after my name,” she says. “I’m really quite flattered that he fulfilled my mother’s dream.”

There are other gigs beckoning Zeta-Jones away from home, too. She just wrapped filming on “Red 2,” the sequel to the 2011 action hit starring Bruce Willis and Helen Mirren, and she’ll be on stage later this month at the Oscars for the awards show’s tribute to musicals from the past decade, including “Chicago,” for which Zeta-Jones won an Oscar.

“I’m absolutely terrified. I don’t quite know the exact capacity in which I will be [involved],” she says. “I’ll be there, put it that way. I don’t quite know what I’ll be doing. That will be fun.”

Her husband is kissing Matt Damon

Catherine Zeta-Jones’ husband, Michael Douglas, is also re-teaming with director Steven Soderbergh, taking on the role of Liberace in the HBO movie “Behind the Candelabra.” The role calls or Douglas to lock lips on-screen with co-star Matt Damon, something Zeta-Jones says she’s come to terms with.

“I’ve seen ‘Behind the Candelabra’ and if my husband’s going to kiss anybody else in the world, I’m so happy it’s Matt Damon,” she says. “Supposedly when Matt Damon was kissing Michael, he closed his eyes and pretended he was kissing me. He said that to Michael. Matt was closing his eyes and kissing Michael and pretending he was kissing me, and I just thought that was one of the biggest compliments I’ve ever had.”

The post Catherine Zeta-Jones plays doctor in ‘Side Effects’ appeared first on Metro.us.

At least Charlie Sheen isn’t worried about Lindsay Lohan‘s legal troubles. “She’s terrific,” he tells Jay Leno in an interview. “I mean she’s going through a lot of stuff, but she’s smart and super-talented and will come out on top eventually, you know.” As for the $100,000 Sheen loaned the troubled actress — money she reportedly put toward her massive tax bill — Sheen says, “I didn’t know it was for taxes. If I had known that, I’d have given her half, you know.”

John Mayer is definitely mellowing when it comes to dealing with paparazzi. “The way that the media plays a part in everyone’s life has changed over the last several years,” he tells RollingStone.com. “I mean, I used to be incredibly put off by somebody taking a picture, thinking as if in some way it was it was invading my brain. But all it is is you can see where I was last weekend. That’s all. And I think time has shown that nothing will be stolen from you. It’s just a photograph of you and your dumb scarf that you put on because it wouldn’t fit in your suitcase. Cool.”

Oscar-nominee Jennifer Lawrence recently told Metro that her “Silver Linings Playbook” co-star Bradley Cooper had taught her that she can’t go to the grocery store anymore now that she’s famous. ” It’s fine, I can get friends to get my groceries,” she said last month. But apparently Lawrence thought the height of awards season was a good time to try again, as she was spotted this week at a Los Angeles supermarket, buying groceries incognito under a large purple hat and a massive scarf, according to photo agency X-17.

Steven Soderbergh might be retiring from directing, but that doesn’t mean a sequel to last year’s “Magic Mike” isn’t on the way — at least according to Matthew McConaughey, who played the leader of a team of male strippers in the film. “I know it’s something that’s legitimately brewing,” McConaughey tells MTV News. “In the right way [I would come back. It would be so much fun, but I would only be able to revisit [my character] Dallas if I really go, ‘OK, that’s what he would be doing.’ I’d have to keep him the same tone.”

The post Thursday gossip roundup: Charlie Sheen thinks Lindsay Lohan is ‘terrific’ appeared first on Metro.us.

Another member of Obama’s second-term national security team, Senator John Kerry, sailed through his confirmation before being receiving the Senate’s overwhelming support on Tuesday.

But Hagel, a former Republican senator and decorated Vietnam War veteran who broke with his party over the Iraq War, can expect a much more confrontational hearing when he is grilled on a range of issues by members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Although most observers expect Hagel will eventually be confirmed – barring unexpected fireworks at the hearing – Thursday’s testimony will be contentious.

At least three Republican panel members, including James Inhofe, the party’s leader on the committee, have said they did not support Hagel’s nomination.

“We are simply too philosophically opposed on the issues for me to support his nomination,” Inhofe said in a January 15 statement. Such comments have angered Hagel supporters, who say two-term senator, who would be the first former enlisted soldier to lead the Pentagon, deserves at least a hearing.

Hagel’s confirmation hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. EST (1430 GMT) on Thursday.

In the entire Senate, which would vote on Hagel if he is cleared by the committee, only one of the 45 Republicans – Mississippi’s Thad Cochran – has come out in Hagel’s favor.

He is expected to face tough questioning on Israel and Iran, his view of the Pentagon budget – Hagel is known as an advocate for tighter spending controls – and relations with China.

The Middle East, which has been the most intense focus of the anti-Hagel campaign, is likely to be the toughest issue.

“There’s a lot of misleading information out there about the senator’s views on Middle East policy. Senators are going to want to hear from Chuck Hagel directly on what his view is and what is the administration’s view,” said Mark Jacobson, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund and a former staffer on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

CHARM OFFENSIVE

Hagel, backed by the White House and Pentagon, has been on a charm offensive to win over recalcitrant senators since Obama nominated him this month to replace outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

Facing a public campaign against his appointment by critics seeking to portray him as soft on Iran, anti-Israel and uncommitted to equal rights for women and gays, Hagel has been pounding the halls of the Capitol to hold one-on-one meetings with 53 senators before his hearing.

Susan Collins of Maine, a moderate Republican, said on Tuesday she had spoken with Hagel for 90 minutes and been satisfied on several issues, but stopped short of endorsing him.

“We had a good discussion, but it’s obvious that we have very different views on some fundamental issues,” she said.

Hagel also detailed his views in 112 pages of written responses to wide-ranging questions submitted by lawmakers.

In them, he said that if confirmed as the next defense secretary, he would ensure that the military is prepared to strike Iran if necessary but stressed the need to be “cautious and certain” when contemplating the use of force.

Hagel also voiced support for a steady U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan, pledged to ensure equal treatment for women and homosexuals in the military and assured the committee that the United States would maintain an “unshakeable” commitment to Israel’s security.

Most observers expect Hagel will be confirmed by the committee, even if he is approved only 14-12, along party lines.

“I do think he’ll be voted out of committee tomorrow and then it will be interesting to see where things go on the Senate floor,” said Maren Leed, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

In the face of intense lobbying by both Hagel supporters and opponents, many Republicans have said they will withhold judgment until after the hearing.

Democrats control 55 seats in the Senate and can approve Hagel with no Republican support, but they will need some backing from Hagel’s party to overcome procedural hurdles that could stop the nomination.

One has already emerged. Senator Lindsey Graham, a committee member, has threatened to keep the nomination from going to the Senate floor if Panetta does not testify about a September attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.

Democratic Senator Carl Levin, the committee’s chairman, said Panetta is already due to testify, and that would take place before the full Senate voted on Hagel.

The post Hagel to face grilling by Senate panel on Mideast, budget appeared first on Metro.us.

A twist of the mouth, a bite of the lip — indicators we learned  could be signs of arrogance and guilt. Armstrong admitted he doped his way to all seven of his Tour de France titles, but showed very little emotion.

In part two of his interview with Oprah, Canuso predicts he will show a more human side of himself, or be at risk of missing out on any forgiveness from the public. Canuso, creator of A Suitable Solution in Philadelphia, joins Metro live again tonight to offer more real time observations on Armstrong’s body language during the interview. 

10:00 p.m. “The truth shall set you free.” Oprah concludes the interview by quoting Armstrong’s ex-wife. Canuso concludes it by labeling the interview as extremely guarded on Armstrong’s side. “He was constantly covering his mouth and shaking his head, big indicators of not telling all of the facts,” she says. In addition, Canuso highlights Armstrong’s habit of laughing or smirking when asked questions, which is tied to arrogance. 

Perhaps the most significant thing Armstrong didn’t do was look into the camera, leading Canuso to believe he wasn’t being totally forthcoming in the interview.
 
9:55 p.m. Armstrong recognizes the “ultimate betrayal” that was his deception of the people who cared about him the most. His words are heavy with remorse, possibly striking a chord with viewers. Even still, when Canuso looks at Armstrong she sees nothing but nerves. “He is continuously licking his lips and drinking water, both signs of anxiety.”
 
9:45 p.m. The interview shifts gears, turning the spotlight to allegations that Armstrong had a hand in bribing USADA (the United States Anti-Doping Agency) with a donation of over $150,000. Armstrong vehemently denies the claim with adamant, no-nonsense responses. “He’s sitting up and has a firmer look,” says Canuso. “He wants to keep control of his emotions.”

Even so, Armstrong is seen playing with his fingers throughout the discussion as well, signifying nervousness.
 
9:40 p.m. With Armstrong receiving criticism last night for not showing enough emotion, talking about his children tonight could be the opportunity to humanize him for viewers. Oprah asks about how his son has fared through all this, which elicits long pauses of introspection from Armstrong. “His damp eyes indicate anxiety, fear or sadness,” says Canuso. “Then he closes his eyes as if he wants to shut out the world.”

Pinching the bridge of the nose is also a sign of confusion.
 
9:30 p.m. As the focus shifts to Armstrong’s ex-wife, children and therapy, he continues to rub his neck, a sign of feeling pressure. “He says he has work to do on himself, but shakes his head no,” says Canuso, noting the contradiction.

9:25 p.m. The conversation turns to Armstrong’s public persona. Oprah leads in with questions about the authenticity of his intentions. In other words, why is he doing this interview? “Oprah is asking questions he does not want to answer, so you will see him take deeper breaths,” says Canuso. 

When asked if he has remorse for his actions, Armstrong pauses to weigh his response. “True remorse and emotion would come without hesitation,” she adds.

9:15 p.m. Canuso immediately picks up on Armstrong’s crossed legs. The fact that he’s holding onto his leg also suggests that he may be feeling partially closed off to Oprah’s questions. “He answers each question absolutely while shaking his head no,” she says. 

According to Canuso, Armstrong’s body language lends itself to the idea that he isn’t being fully upfront. “There are signs of holding back on the truth,” she says. “In this case, it could be that he isn’t telling all of the facts.”

9 p.m. Lance Armstrong takes his place once more in the hot seat. Last night, the world watched as the once-beloved icon fielded a barrage of tough questions from Oprah. According to our body language expert, Armstrong speaks volumes without ever having to open his mouth. 

Part two of the Oprah exclusive wastes no time in cutting to the chase, kicking off the interview with a focus on lost mega-million sponsorships and his fall from grace within the Live Strong campaign. “Again, we see Armstrong continually looking down, trying to be careful of what he says,” shares Canuso. An underlying anger also peaks through Armstrong’s pursed lips.

The post LIVE BLOG: Lance Armstrong’s body language decoded in part 2 of Oprah interview appeared first on Metro.us.

Confessing his “toxic” tale to chat show host Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong described himself as a “flawed character” while at last owning up to being at the center of one of the biggest drugs scandals in world sport.

In just one word at the beginning of the interview broadcast worldwide, cancer survivor Armstrong confirmed his place in any gallery of fallen icons who have shamed their sport, the likes of drug-cheat sprinters Ben Johnson and Marion Jones.

“Yes,” he replied when asked directly whether he had used performance enhancing drugs.

Without flinching, Winfrey rapidly fired questions at him, offering the 41-year-old little respite, grilling him about every aspect of his tainted career.

Without hesitation, and showing no signs of emotion, Armstrong replied “yes” to questions about whether he used specific drugs, including erythropoietin, human growth hormone, and blood doping.

When asked why he had repeatedly lied about using banned substances until Thursday’s startling admission, he told Winfrey: “I don’t know I have a great answer.

“This is too late, probably for most people, and that’s my fault. I view this situation as one big lie that I repeated a lot of times.

“This story is so bad … so toxic.

“It’s not as if I said no and moved off it. While I’ve lived through this process, I know the truth. The truth isn’t what I said and now it’s gone.”

‘LEVEL PLAYING FIELD’

Armstrong inspired millions with what had seemed like a fairytale career, and said he did not believe he could have achieved what he did without breaking the rules due to a culture of drugs in cycling.

“Not in that generation. I didn’t invent the culture, but I didn’t try to stop the culture,” he said.

“It’s hard to talk about the culture. I don’t want to accuse anyone else. I’m here to acknowledge my mistakes.

“I will spend the rest of my life trying to win back trust and apologizing to people.”

Armstrong said he had never considered himself to be a cheat and had been sure he would get away with it, until out of competition tests were introduced and testing procedures dramatically improved.

The last time he cheated was in 2005, he said, when he won his seventh Tour de France on the streets on Paris. He made a comeback in 2009 but said he never used drugs again.

“I looked up the definition of a cheat to gain an advantage. I didn’t view it that way. I viewed it as a level playing field,” he said.

Armstrong’s admission came just months after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) released a detailed report describing him as the ringmaster of the “most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen.”

While he confessed to cheating and bullying, he denied several of the other accusations that have been made against him.

He rejected suggestions he failed a doping test at the 2001 Tour of Switzerland then paid off the International Cycling Union (UCI) and doping officials to cover up the result.

“That story isn’t true. There was no positive test. No paying off of the lab. The UCI did not make that go away. I’m no fan of the UCI,” he said.

‘SMALL STEP IN RIGHT DIRECTION’

Armstrong said he thought he had got away with it when he retired for good in 2011 but his downfall was triggered by a two-year federal investigation that was dropped but led to the USADA probe.

USADA boss Travis Tygart said Armstrong still had some way to go if he wanted to make amends.

“Tonight, Lance Armstrong finally acknowledged that his cycling career was built on a powerful combination of doping and deceit,” Tygart said in a statement.

“His admission that he doped throughout his career is a small step in the right direction. But if he is sincere in his desire to correct his past mistakes, he will testify under oath about the full extent of his doping activities.”

Armstrong has already been banned for life, stripped of his all race wins and dumped by his sponsors but his problems are far from over.

“I thought I was out of the woods,” he said.

“I just assumed the stories would continue for a long time. We’re sitting here because there was a two-year federal criminal investigation.”

On Thursday, hours before the interview went to air, the International Olympic Committee stripped him of the bronze medal he won at the 2000 Games.

And as a result of his confession, the Texan now faces the prospect of various legal challenges and orders to repay some of the millions of dollars he earned from his success.

One company, Texas-based SCA Promotions, said it would sue the fallen cyclist if he did not pay back $12 million they paid out for Tour de France wins.

“He doesn’t deserve, and is not entitled to, that money,” Jeff Tillotson, a lawyer for SCA Promotions told Reuters.

Legal experts said that while Armstrong was unlikely to face criminal exposure, his admission would make it more difficult to defend against civil lawsuits, including a federal whistleblower claim filed by former team mate Floyd Landis.

“There are lawyers across the country representing various interests who are recording that interview,” said Matt Orwig, a former federal prosecutor now with the law firm Jones Day.

“From a legal perspective, his issues are becoming more difficult, not less.”

The post Armstrong admits doping in ‘toxic’ tale appeared first on Metro.us.

Is he diverting his eyes because he is being dishonest? Are those tears really sincere? Canuso helps decode the truth from a man accused of being inherently dishonest.

10:40 p.m. That’s a wrap for the first part of Lance Armstrong’s much-anticipated sit-down with Oprah. Canuso’s take on it? “It was a very controlled interview with next to no emotion,” says our resident body language expert. “It’s hard to imagine all of the years of lying and the people he hurt for him not to have an emotional reaction.”

What will tomorrow hold? If Armstrong hopes to better his self-image, Canuso says he’ll have to turn up the emotion dial. Tonight’s interview made mention of Armstrong’s mother and family, which may help to humanize him for the audience tomorrow. It looks like America will have to stay tuned to find out.

10:20 p.m. As the interview further unfolds the details of Armstrong’s fall from grace, he continues to drive home how he wishes he could go back in time and undo it all. Even so, Canuso questions how real it is. “He’s shown no emotion throughout the interview,” she says. She also spotlights the fact that during Armstrong’s testier moments, he likes to make a fist as if to show his power and strength.

10:10 p.m. Things are getting a little ugly with Oprah asking for the gritty details of Armstrong’s past with Betsy Andreu, the wife of former cycling teammate, Frankie. Betsey and Armstrong had a heated, public back-and-forth over his denial of using performance-enhancing drugs. 

“Throughout the interview, he has not looked directly into the camera, which causes a disconnect with the viewers,” says Canuso. “He also has a twisted smile throughout – a sign of sarcasm.”

9:55 p.m. The discussion turns to drug tests and the legitimacy of Armstrong’s claims that he never failed one. “He twists his mouth when saying he passed the tests, a sign of arrogance,” says Canuso. She also calls attention to the fact that he keeps shaking his head, as if to deny the current mess he’s found himself in.

As the tension mounts, he continues to take deep breaths. The pressure’s on for this fallen hero.

9:40 p.m. The tough questions keep coming, gradually taking the conversation into more raw territory. Canuso notes that Armstrong often holds onto his legs, almost like an anchor. In between responses, she calls attention to his almost permanently downcast gaze while he searches for the right answers. “Throughout the interview he has a hard time keeping eye contact,” she says.

9:30 p.m. It’s apparent that Armstrong is taking his time, weighing his words carefully before responding. Admitting to Oprah that he was a bully causes him to bite his lip again, as if that admission makes him nervous. “He is having a hard time keeping eye contact,” says Canuso. “A sign of insecurity or lying. And we know he is not insecure.”

When Oprah suggests they roll the interview footage of Dr. Ferrari, he swallows – a sign of being nervous and not wanting to hear this, she adds.

9:25 p.m. Canuso can’t help but notice that Armstrong uncrosses his legs – an indicator that Oprah has said something that’s forced him to open himself up. Perhaps he’s getting more comfortable in the hot seat?

9:15 p.m. As promised, Armstrong is answering questions in a direct, straightforward manner, but its authenticity is questionable. “You can tell by the tone and composure of his voice he is well rehearsed,” says Canuso. She also notes his habit of both tightening and biting his lips, a red flag for jittery nerves. 

“It’s amazing how much he covers his mouth,” she adds. 

9 p.m. Let the explaining begin. Leading up to the big interview, Canuso feels confident in saying that Armstrong is coming into it very prepared. “He has been living this lie for many years and truly has created a world around this lie,” Canuso says. From her perspective, that in itself is very different from being caught in the act.

Canuso was betting Armstrong chose Oprah to come clean because she would most likely take a milder tone. But now that the questions are firing, he appears visibly uncomfortable. “He’s covering his mouth,” she says as if he’s saying, “I do not want you to hear what I am saying.”

Armstrong is also looking away excessively – a sign of guilt.

The post LIVE BLOG: Body language expert interprets Lance Armstrong interview with Oprah appeared first on Metro.us.

Metro sits down with Quentin Tarantino — the man behind the epic western.

METRO: How much pressure do you feel when you decide to embark on a new, ambitious project? Or is it just ‘another’ exciting challenge for you?

TARANTINO: I tend to throw myself into something I’m interested in, but then I just let things flow. I know more or less where I’m headed, but I let the characters take over and lead the way.”

How much of the storyline is based on fact vs. fiction? Could a man like Schulz have existed at the time?

Of course- even though in this case, he’s purely fictional. With Christoph, we came up with the idea Schulz was part of the refugees of the 1848 Revolution- a group of people who were against slavery and who had run away to America in order to escape death. Bu the spirit, the style of the character- that’s all me.

It certainly feels like you had Christoph Waltz in mind for Schulz when you wrote the script. 

Absolutely. I’ve wanted to do Django for a while now only German dentists are hard to come by! But after Inglourious Basterds, Christoph became one of my muses and he appeared to me as soon as I began writing the opening scene. I didn’t think twice – Christoph was Schulz. We had this mysterious connection.

I believe you offered the part of Django to Will Smith before giving it to Jamie Foxx. Why the change of heart?

I had no one specific in mind – Django was just Django. In the sixties, I would have wanted someone like Jim Brown in The Dirty Dozen. Jamie came over to mine and he understood the story- he was game. But the real reason I chose him over anyone else is that he makes a great cowboy. Back in the sixties, when all young actors had their own cowboy shows- I think Jamie would have had one too. Even as a black man.  Bizarrely, I was after a mix between a spaghetti western hero and a young, 1960s TV star. Jamie was the one.

Did the violence bother Jamie Foxx?

Not at all.  He wanted the movie to show how horrible slavery really was back then. No one’s really done that before. He loved Django’s cathartic violence.

You’re generally not thought of as being ‘political’ but…

(Interrupting) Django is a political movie. Although first and foremost, it’s a great adventure. But it’s political. My aim was to take the audience back to 1800s, in the South, before the American Civil War, and to show how life really was for black people.”

Where did this desire to denounce the violence that occurred back then come from?

I honestly don’t know why no other director has tackled the issue before. Maybe it’s a topic people would rather avoid. But it will never go away. The eradication of American Indians and the enslavement of black people are two of America’s original sins. Indians have more or less disappeared but the black community is still very much here. As is America’s unease. It’s a stain, a scar on my country’s face. The movie has done really well in the US, and the debates it has sparked are very gratifying. Between black people, white people, between black and white people. Even those who didn’t like the film are talking about it.

Director Spike Lee has accused you of exploiting slavery in the name of entertainment. Why is he so mad at you?  

I don’t want to waste my time talking about him (feigns shock- then bursts out laughing).

Ever since Reservoir Dogs, it seems like nothing and no one can stop you from making the movies you want – even though they’re getting pricier with time. Is this a constant struggle?

If you want to make a big, ambitious movie like Django- you have to be willing to fight for it. And sometimes that involves battling with yourself.  Especially when filming gets long and costly. I’ve always set my own path, pushing myself a little further with every movie that goes for my budgets as well! Luckily, I had the support of the Weinstein brothers and a big studio.

You say you keep pushing yourself- how far are you prepared to go?

Django was so difficult to make- my next movie will probably be much smaller. But who knows?

The post Quentin Tarantino on ‘Django Unchained’ appeared first on Metro.us.

Here are some pearls of wisdom from our latest chat with the “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Hunger Games” star.

On adjusting to stardom:

“I feel so bad for Emma Stone because she’s where I was a few months ago. When it first happens it’s horrible because your entire life flips upside down and the entire planet starts treating you differently, and it’s really hard to adjust and get used to, but then you get through it. People told me that it would come in waves, and they were right. I texted Emma yesterday and I was like, ‘I’m walking down Rodeo Drive. Nothing!’ And she was like, ‘The audacity!’ (laughs) But yeah, there are bad days and there are good days.”

On what she’s learned from Bradley Cooper:

“He was the one who told me I can’t go to Whole Foods [anymore], and I tested it and he was totally right. The paparazzi, they’re like at every Whole Foods, it’s insane. I had to say goodbye to Whole Foods. It’s fine, I can get friends to get my groceries. I dipped my foot in the water and I was like, ‘You know what, you buy me groceries. I don’t want Whole Foods to call the police again.’”

On trying to gain weight for “Silver Linings Playbook”:

“I was supposed to, but I was also dancing two hours a day. I kept trying to explain that to [director] David [O. Russell], because he was like, ‘You’re not getting fatter.’ I had a Philly cheesesteak I think every day. They’re on every street corner and they’re delicious. And then at the end when I finally slowed down the dancing, it was like, ‘Yeah, I’m looking pretty good, right? Look at this.’ And then David’s like, ‘Yeah, you’re going to be in a tube-top.’”

On trying to stay grounded:

“I still want the same life that I grew up with. I still want a family, a normal family. I will have to make a couple of adjustments [because of my career]. I’m at peace with myself because I think that maybe not having to deal with years of rejection at such a young age — I think that could definitely be damaging. I can’t imagine letting my young child go through something like that. There were times when I was doing a movie once that was really emotionally hard for me, and I was just praying that I wouldn’t have a daughter and praying that she wouldn’t want to be an actress because it’s hard.”

On avoiding her last will and testament:

“I’m supposed to have to do that. My business managers — my somebodies — are telling me to do that just in case I die. It’s a really morbid thought. I’m working on it. I haven’t signed anything. For some reason I’m really avoiding it, because I feel like as soon as I sign it I’m going to die, so I’m like, ‘I don’t know, let’s keep a couple of things open.’”

The post Jennifer Lawrence on fame appeared first on Metro.us.

The disgraced cyclist made the confession during a two-and-a-half hour interview with Oprah Winfrey, which is set to air Thursday.

 She described him as “thoughtful” and “serious” but said he “did not come clean in the manner to which I expected.”

Armstrong also reportedly “tearfully” apologized to Livestrong, the cancer organization that he helped found before the meeting. He then admitted to participating in the illegal activity to Winfrey.

I TESTED HIM MYSELF

“Lance Armstrong does bring out a lot of points and discussion,” Dr. Don Catlin, International Olympic Committee (IOC) medical commissioner and retired professor at UCLA, told Metro World News. “The reality is Lance had advisors that were able to keep him from getting positive tests. It’s confirmed he’s had 200 or 300 tests and never had a positive one.”

“That bothers me because I probably did 100 of them myself,” Catlin added. “We need to get better tests. Everything that Lance is doing, anyone else can do today and get away with it.”

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Director General David Howman iterated to Metro World News that Armstrong’s soon-to-be televised confession won’t change their decision to ban him from the sport.

“Whatever he’s got to say (during the interview), the lifetime ban against him is not going to be changed at all,” Howman said. “It’s not going to be changed by what he says to a talk show host.”

NOT IN THE SPIRIT

Catlin, who founded many of the modern drug tests used in sporting today, explained when cyclists admit to “blood doping,” it actually means they used substances that increase the amount of blood in the system. This can be done in various ways including using a substance called EPO (Erythropoietin) or transfusing extra blood either from themselves or other people into the athlete. The goal is to increase the number of red blood cells, which in turn ups the amount of oxygen the blood can carry.

“(EPO) turns on the bone marrow, and gets the bone marrow making more blood cells,” Catlin explained. “Red cells are very important to athletes because they carry oxygen. They are very vital to their performance.”

Other illegal drugs athletes might take include testosterone and stimulants. Testosterone can enhance performance as well, while stimulants are known to improve athletic performance.

In addition, using these drugs in any sport brings up an ethical question, Howman pointed out.

“By blood doping do I get an advantage — that’s to say a chemical advantage over my competition?” Howman said. “That’s not in the spirit of sport.”

The post Armstrong doctor: ‘We need to get better tests’ appeared first on Metro.us.

Details of the Texan’s date with Oprah on Thursday have leaked, most crucially that he confesses to using performance-enhancing drugs after decades of denial. This barely covers the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) allegation that Armstrong ran “the most professionalized and successful doping program in the history of sport”, but could still land the ex-cyclist in serious trouble.

The confession could cost Armstrong tens of millions of dollars in lawsuits from the Sunday Times to the US government, with a possibility of jail time for perjury. The former seven-time Tour de France champion has already received a lifetime ban from cycling and Olympic sports, lost his lucrative sponsorships and resigned from the Livestrong cancer foundation.

A gamble, but also a step forward. “Rebuilding Lance Armstrong’s reputation is the biggest challenge imaginable, but it starts now,” John David, CEO at David PR, told Metro. “He has supporters and if his story is believable, he has a chance.” David adds that appearing on Oprah Winfrey’s show, rather than hard news alternatives, will help as “she would not skewer him”.

Charity will be key; Livestrong has raised over $500 million for cancer sufferers and its patron continues to benefit from goodwill. Donations were “twice normal levels” after the damning report, the charity claims. Despite his resignation, Armstrong remains in close contact with Livestrong.   

Armstrong has also met with USADA chiefs to discuss co-operation with a wider investigation, naming corrupt officials, in exchange for a reduced ban that allowed him to compete in triathlon events. His first events in 2012 were a success and the ‘Ironman’ authority would not rule out a return to the sport.

Other drug cheats have returned to sport, such as baseball player Mark McGwire, now a coach. “It won’t happen tomorrow, but there’s a path back for him if he is smart,” says David.   
 

Paying the price:  What Armstrong could lose

US Justice Department: $50 million – value of sponsorship with Armstrong’s US Postal Service team, which it could pursue with fraud claims.
Prizes and bonuses: $16 million which authorities are now seeking – including $12 million to SCA Promotions.
The Sunday Times: $1.5 million from a libel case alleging drug use.

The post Lance Armstrong hits the comeback trail with ‘smart’ confession appeared first on Metro.us.

“He had a private conversation with the staff, who have done the important work of the foundation for many years,” said Livestrong cancer foundation spokeswoman Katherine McLane.

“It was a very sincere and heartfelt expression of regret over any stress that they’ve suffered over the course of the last few years as a result of the media attention,” she said.

The apology came on the day that Armstrong was scheduled to tape an interview with Oprah Winfrey to air on Thursday — his first interview since being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.

The disgraced cyclist plans to admit in the interview to doping throughout his career, USA Today reported on Saturday. McLane declined to comment on whether Armstrong will admit to doping during the interview.

Armstrong has always vehemently denied using performance-enhancing drugs and has never been proven to have tested positive.

But an October report from the U.S. anti-doping body USADA cited Armstrong’s involvement in what it characterized as the “most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen,” involving anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, blood transfusions and other doping.

Less than two weeks later, Armstrong’s seven Tour de France victories were nullified and he was banned from cycling for life after the International Cycling Union ratified the USADA’s sanctions against him.

Armstrong, a survivor of testicular cancer, stepped down as a Livestrong board member in November.

The post Lance Armstrong apologizes to staff of Livestrong ahead of Oprah interview appeared first on Metro.us.

Metro: After appearing on “Dancing With The Stars” in 2009, you lost 70 pounds, going from a size 14 to a size 2. Which body part were you most excited to ‘rediscover’?

Osbourne: For me, because of my family’s history with cancer, my mum is always like, have you checked your boobs? One day, I was doing a breast self-examination and found this lump. So I went to the doctor and he said, ‘Kelly, that’s your rib!’ I was like, OMG, I have a rib!
 

So is that what you learned to love the most, your ribs?

No! I learnt to love myself and not be obnoxious about it. You have to do that before you can ever lose weight or make a huge life change.

Which part did you go from hating to loving the most?

My legs. I didn’t realize how much muscle I had underneath the fat, and some pretty toned legs. And I don’t have cellulite. Now, athletes always come up to me and say, ‘You’ve got great legs.’ I’m like, what are you on about? They’re muscly! Men like big calf muscles on themselves so when they see it on a girl they like it. It’s weird to me.
 

All girls have fat days. How do you cope with yours?

I look at old pictures of myself. I know this sounds really narcissistic but I don’t mean it that way- it helps me see how far I’ve come and where I don’t want to go again. It gives me that kick in the butt to get in the gym or call up a friend and say, ‘I’m having a fat day.’   

How do you feel when you see old photos of yourself?

It’s a mixture of a million emotions. It makes me feel really sad that I let myself get like that. It was my own doing. I made myself that way because I was scared.

Scared of what?

Of myself and what I was capable of. Being famous for really not doing anything and having the entire world judging you. But now I’m 28 years old and I see it for what it is, a learning curve.

Devil’s advocate, so forgive me, but can you imagine some people saying: The new Kelley is boring. There’s a lot of stylish, good looking women out there, so why do we need one more?

I say ‘f**k you’ because if you want to watch a train wreck, there are other Hollywood starlets doing that for you. I want to be a dignified grown up. I’ll always be me. I’m just not an asshole anymore.

On her brother Jack

How did you react when you found out your 26-year-old brother, Jack, had multiple sclerosis?

Are you crazy? He’s my baby brother, how do you think I reacted? It’s like it’s not there. He doesn’t want to be treated like a sick person, because he’s not sick. It’s not a death sentence. He’s got a very military state of mind so he looks after himself, eats very healthy and works out every day.

Did it affect the way you value life?

I’ve dealt with my mom almost dying of cancer, my dad almost dying in a bike accident and now my brother has MS. There’s nothing they can tell me I can’t deal with. It’s not like you have a choice, it’s life.

The post Kelly Osbourne: ‘I got my s**t together’ appeared first on Metro.us.

Jennifer Lawrence is now a Golden Globe-winning actress, but she’ll be celebrating solo, as Lawrence and “X-Men: First Class” co-star Nicholas Hoult have reportedly called it quits, according to Us Weekly. The young stars met on the set of the superhero film and dated for two years. The split comes as a surprise, as Lawrence was singing Hoult’s praises recently to Elle magazine. “He is honestly my best friend, and hopefully I’m his best friend, too,” she told the magazine. “He’s my favorite person to be around and he makes me laugh harder than anybody.”

Consider this fair warning, Harry Styles. In the wake of her split from the One Direction member, Taylor Swift posted this ominous message to her Twitter account: “Back in the studio. Uh oh…” Swift has made a career of penning autobiographical tunes of heartbreak, often embarrassing ex-boyfriends like John Mayer and Jake Gyllenhaal. And a Styles number may be a doozy, as Swift was reportedly left heartbroken by the Brit, who dumped her during a Caribbean vacation because he said she’s “asexual and wouldn’t put out,” a source tells Radar Online.

Josh Brolin doesn’t pull any punches when discussing his rough-and-tumble youth as the son of actor James Brolin, telling Men’s Journal that he lost his virginity at 11, joined a surf gang called the Cito Rats and even got involved with heroin. “I was the last [gang member] to get into heroin — I smoked it — and the first to get out. I was around 16 or 17, so it was around the time of ‘the Goonies,’” Josh tells the magazine. “But I liked working and learning, so it was very difficult for me to lend myself to that drug completely.”

We now know when to expect a royal birth announcement, as Prince William and Kate Middleton‘s first child is due this summer, St. James Palace announced. “Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to confirm they are expecting a baby in July,” the statement reads. “The Duchess’s condition continues to improve since her stay in hospital last month.” As the statement says, the “baby” is due in July, so those hoping for royal twins will be disappointed.

The post Monday gossip roundup: Josh Brolin lost his virginity at age 11 appeared first on Metro.us.

The young former entrepreneur travels around the world to promote Haiti as an investment opportunity, not an aid recipient. And he’s aggressively building infrastructure at home. Lamothe, who made a fortune with his telecoms company in Africa, joined the government as Foreign Minister less than two years ago and was promptly promoted to Prime Minister.

On the evening before the third anniversary of the earthquake, Lamothe, wearing a casual shirt and trousers (no tie) met with Metro for an exclusive in his office in a small but modern government building.

Metro: Earthquakes, hurricanes, cholera, poverty: what’s your roadmap for taking Haiti forward?

Lamothe: For 2013 we have five major priorities. One is to execute the emergency reconstruction plan because there have been two hurricanes and a major flood recently. We’re investing $344 million into making the country more resilient to natural disasters, for example building hurricane shelters and transit homes for children that live in the streets.

We’re investing in road protection and re-enforcement of our reforestation program in order to make Haiti safer. Another priority is job creation. We have a very high unemployment rate, 75%, and we need to make it easier for people to start businesses. Electrification of the country is obviously another priority. When we took over the government, electricity supply was nine hours per day. Now it’s 18 hours, and we’ll make it 24 hours within six months. Security is also a top priority. We’ll add police officers as the international forces are drawing down. Food security is also a top priority.

Three years ago, every conceivable NGO was in Haiti. Now they’re leaving. Is that good or bad?

In any country, as long as an NGO follows the roadmap created by the government, it’s good to have it there. But we don’t want to be known as an NGO nation, where NGOs do whatever they want. Our objective is to have NGOs work together with Haitian institutions so that Haiti gets stronger institution. Then, when the next natural disaster happens, Haiti’s institutions should be able to deal with emergencies instead of relying on NGOs. We want foreign governments to invest in Haiti through the government, which has the mandate and plan to bring the country forward. We’re vowed to have full transparency and are addressing corruption.

How are you going to address the dilemma of mass unemployment combined with lack of security?

These issues have been here for years, because nobody ever wanted to tackle them. Our institutions don’t have a lot of resources, so we need to focus on our strengths, like the sun and our beautiful islands, and promote our country not as a country that just needs humanitarian assistance but a country that wants direct investment.

And what’s perceived as a weakness can be an opportunity. For example, we need more energy capacity. That’s an opportunity for investors. We need roads, and are open to giving concessions to companies that want to build toll roads. We want to create business and have more money come to the country. Then, with the tax revenues, we can improve the lives of the most vulnerable people.

If you were to tell a country or company that they should invest in Haiti, what would you say are Haiti’s assets?

One is our industrial capability and our favourable trade agreement with the United States, which allows good manufactured in Haiti not to pay customs duties in the United States. So, we tell countries around the world to use Haiti as a platform to manufacture their goods and send them duty-free to the United States. Countries should think of Haiti not as a place where to do charity but a place where to invest and do business. And doing business in Haiti means poverty reduction.

So a country like Sweden, which gives a lot of development aid, should instead think of having H&M build a factory here?

Absolutely.

Another problem for Haiti is that most young, ambitious Haitians leave the country. How are you going to get them back?

Yes, 85 percent of our brains leave the country, and the reason is the lack of jobs. It’s not easy to rebuild a country that has been totally destroyed while at the same time giving jobs to the 75 percent of the population that don’t have one. We need all the brain to work together with us. Opportunities obviously bring people, and we have an incentive program to match the salaries that they’re earning elsewhere.

You yourself left the private sector to join the government. What motivates you?

The difference is that in the private sector you work for yourself, and as Prime Minister I work for every single Haitian – inside Haiti and outside – and for all those who love Haiti as well. I wanted to contribute my time, myself, my knowledge, my love, because Haiti is my everything. I want to see Haiti do better. We have the sun everywhere: that’s a big asset. We have wonderful coasts, beautiful islands, mountains. Other countries that have that are known for it, but Haiti has been so focused inwards, on its problems.

Can Haiti be a new tourist destination?

Yes, we’re investing heavily in that. This year we’ve already invested close to $400 million in tourism infrastructure. We’re creating a Tourism Police. We’re investing heavily in Île à Vache, which must surely be the most beautiful island in the Caribbean. We’re creating an international airport for our islands. So, we’ll make Île à Vache a new destination, with very high-end resorts, which will create some 4,000 jobs. That will put Haiti a different light.

FACT BOX

Name: Laurent Lamothe
Age: 40
Background: Studied in the United States. Founded and ran a telecommunications company in emerging markets. Appointed Foreign Minister in 2011, Prime Minister in 2012.
In the news: Leading Haiti’s reconstruction. Three years after the earthquake, plans to bring foreign businesses and tourism to the country.
Did you know: Tennis player, former member of the Haitian Davis Cup team.

The post Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe: ‘We don’t want to be known as an NGO nation’ appeared first on Metro.us.

In our chat with Brolin, we hit on some of his favorite topics, including the lost art of fisticuffs and the importance of being willing to look like an idiot to be a good actor.

Metro: Your John O’Mara is a hard-charging, all-business detective in a fedora with a square jaw. So basically Dick Tracy, right?



Brolin: That’s not a bad thing. I mean, it’s funny because I had problems with the dialogue at the beginning when we were first going through the script, and I think the decision between all of us was made to kind of pull some of that dialogue away and make him a little more laconic than he was intended in the beginning, and I think that was right. It was this kind of Clint Eastwood-ian take on the guy that I think was good and let Sean kind of do what Sean was doing, which was bigger, and then Ryan [Gosling] doing what he was doing, which was more ad-libbing.

Is it less fun or less of a draw to be the serious one in the group?

No, because I have so much fun otherwise. I’m the humorous [off-camera], so I have a blast anyway. So I have somewhere to go. I don’t walk around the set acting like I’m John O’Mara all the time. But you know, it’s like I just finished “Old Boy,” which has a ton of humor in it. It has many, many, many colors. But yes, to answer your question, yeah a little bit.

You’ve got an impressive fist fight with Sean Penn in this film for which no stunt men were used.

That was a good fist fight. I felt really good about that. I mean, I like fist-fighting anyway. I just like the concept of fist-fighting, I just think it’s a lost art. I was talking to my dad about this, and I was like, I wonder if there was less violence — less extreme violence — back when people could fist-fight and actually it would be OK, as opposed to you touch me and I touch you and we sue each other. Sean and I both had to get in very good shape, we had to rehearse a lot. We spent a lot of time both at his house and on the set rehearsing. And I was really happy the way it turned out, really happy. There were a few slips. I’ve got a little scar right here [on my lip]. Occupational hazard.

There’s also the occupational hazard of looking foolish when a punch goes wrong.

You just have to get over feeling like an idiot. People talk about acting, and I go look man, it’s a profession of humiliation, that’s what it is. You feel like an idiot on the set most of the time, you’re embarrassing yourself most of the time, and hopefully you get to some kind of magical moment that the audience gets to see where they don’t get to experience all that embarrassment. The older I get, thank God, the less and less I care about embarrassing myself and looking stupid. It’s very liberating.

Can you give me an example?

I’ll give you the latest example. I would do “Old Boy” and I would be naked in the motel room doing eight-minute-long takes, and basically Spike [Lee] saying, “You know what? You’re in a motel room, you’ve been here 13 years, go.” Do I climb under the bed? Do I masturbate? Do I talk to the poster? Do I wait for the alcohol? Do I eat? Do I try to sniff what I’m eating? I mean, what’s going to be cool, what’s going to be dynamic? Doing things literally that were ridiculous and then saying, “OK, we can probably use 30 seconds of that.” But then you’ve got seven and a half minutes of just absolute retardation.

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