Steve Tyler's a Dog, and Jennifer Lopez is a Fox

After all the hype about the "new" era of "American Idol," the season premiere of Season 10 was pretty much just like the season premiere of Season 9.

There were the same weirdos (the guy who burps when he's nervous), the same wannabes (the Britney fanatic), the same sob stories (enter triumph over tragedy here), even the same songs ("Hallelujah" yet again) -- pretty much the same everything.

Jennifer Lopez put it. But here's one pleasant surprise -- they were a lot funnier than we thought they would be. Especially Steven Tyler. While the Aerosmith frontman doesn't have Cowell's frosty wit, he is pretty outrageous. His best line of the night, in response to one contestant: "Well hellfire, save matches, f--- a duck, and see what happens." What??

The "Idol" judging panel also has something else it never had before -- a bona fide sex symbol. Between the hair, the makeup, the clothes and the jewels, you can't take your eyes off of Jennifer Lopez (even if you find her tinny little-girl voice kind of annoying). Even Randy took a peek at her legs, which Tyler was kind enough to point out.

Which brings us to another point about Tyler -- he's a dog. Not "the dog" like Randy -- a "dog," as in a pig. Tyler loves the ladies, and the ladies -- most young enough to be his granddaughters -- love him right back. At 62, he had no problem pointing out that a super-wholesome 16-year-old was showing "just the right amount" of leg.

One major criticism: More so than the judges of yore, this panel seems a little too willing to send the freaks to Hollyweird -- most notably Tiffany Morris, a well-endowed dance teacher who literally let it all hang out while singing about how America needs her for "higher ratings on TV." But Tyler made up for it by addressing the dangling stars on her skimpy bikini top, asking, "What's with the jujubes on your hoo hoo bes?"

But we kind of wished Simon were there to point out, "If you're so poor, why do you look like you're wearing designer eyeglasses?"

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50th Anniversary of Kennedy's Inauguration

Fifty years ago on this day, a young, dapper American president rose to the podium and delivered an inaugural address that would resonate for decades to come.

For those who witnessed it, Kennedy's inauguration day was anything but smooth. It was freezing. A snowstorm wreaked havoc in Washington, nearly cancelling the inaugural parade.

"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country," said John F. Kennedy in a riveting call to service. "My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

The U.S. Army was put in charge of clearing the streets and former president Herbert Hoover missed the swearing-in ceremony because he couldn't fly into the city. When the ceremony did start, a lectern caught fire during the invocation, which some complained was too long, and Vice President Lyndon Johnson fumbled his words during his swearing-in.

Yet the mood surrounding the event was one that Americans hadn't felt in years.

"There was this tremendous sense of vigor and yes, hope and optimism. It was also a time when we were entering a huge economic boom," remembers ABC News contributor Cokie Roberts, a college freshman at the time who was unable to make it to the inauguration because of the snow.

Kennedy's uplifting inaugural address, remembered by some historians as one of the best in the nation's history, challenged Americans to serve their country at a time when the Cold War simmered overseas and the civil rights struggle grew at home.


"A lot of people who are the senior statesmen of today were the kids in that era who came because of Kennedy, and they came because they were asking what they could for their country," she said.

"The inaugural address was certainly incredibly well-received. And the whole gravity, the credence and the whole business of the torch has gone forth to a new generation, that was absolutely true," Roberts said. "The visual image of the turnover from Eisenhower to Kennedy, it was very striking -- a man who was a general in World War II versus this man who was the second youngest president, who was a kid on a PT boat."

Kennedy's election marked many firsts for the United States. At age 43, he was the youngest president to be elected. Teddy Roosevelt came to the White House at 42, but he replaced William McKinley, who was assasinated. Kennedy was also the first, and to this date, the only Catholic elected as commander-in-chief and he brought a sense of excitement to many American Catholics that hasn't been seen since.

Those close to him also remember him as an amiable, funny president, a marked departure from his predecessor, Dwight D. Eisenhower.

"President Kennedy, the first time he met you he asked your name and he never forgot it. The second time, he asked your wife's name and your children's names, and he was personable with the agents and very much a free spirit compared to President Eisenhower," said Gerald Blaine, a Secret Service agent in Eisenhower and Kennedy's security detail and co-author of the "The Kennedy Detail: JFK's Secret Service Agents Break Their Silence." "It was such a contrast because he was so young and was totally different."

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New Condominiums Supplied..

The institute said 2,500 units will be put on the market in January. It expects 50,000 units to be supplied in the Tokyo metropolitan area in calendar 2011, showing the highest level since 2007, when 61,021 units were supplied. In 2010, 44,535 units were supplied in the area. The number of new condominiums supplied in Tokyo and surrounding cities rose 40.8% on year to 7,388 units in December, marking the 11th straight month of increase, the Real Estate Economic Institute said. Out of the 7,388 units supplied, 5,806 units, or 78.6%, were signed for purchasing, staying above 70% for 12 straight months. Figures above 70% are widely seen as indicating steady demand. 

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The American Idol Contestant Alex Lambert Not Homeless

Well, on Monday night, Lambert posted a string of tweets in which he claimed he'd been forced to live on the streets of Los Angeles since October, when he wrapped up his stint on the reality series "If I Can Dream," the online show he fled to after being booted from "Idol."


On the eve of the season 10 debut of "American Idol," one of last season's most lovable losers has gotten himself back into the news. Perhaps you remember (though probably not) stage-fright-wracked singer Alex Lambert, the talented but nervous guitar strummer whose ouster unleashed an online petition of support from more than 13,000 fans who wanted him reinstated to the show.


According to Entertainment Weekly, however, things are not nearly as grim as they might seem. A spokesperson for an "Idol" production company, 19 Entertainment, which manages many of the show's contestants, confirmed that the tweets did come from Lambert but denied that the 20-year-old Texas singer is sleeping behind dumpsters. "He's not homeless. I don't know where that came from," the unidentified rep told EW, explaining that there's good reason to believe that Lambert should have the ability to pay for housing thanks to his development deal with 19. "He's on a retainer, and he's getting money every month," the spokesperson said. "He's working on demos. He's with writers, he's working on music. ... He's not homeless. How could he be texting? How could he be going into [the] recording studio and sleeping on the streets? There's no record deal yet, but hopefully these demos ... something could come from that."


After chatting with some fellow fans and former "Idol" pals about his frustrations with the music biz, Lambert dropped this bombshell: "Ever since 'IICD' ended I've been kinda homeless! Sleepin on the street and behind buildings. I have a choice to stay and pursue my career or go back to texas and not do music! I'm usually a strong person but I can't take it anymore. I've been goin to coffee shops and other stores so I can tweet to my snaf! Because to be honest! You guys are all I really have!"


Perhaps someone at 19 had a chat with Lambert about his down and out in Beverly Hills claims, since he updated his status on Tuesday afternoon, writing, "Sorry for the miscommunication ;) I'm just fine! MAHALO!"


And even though he claimed to be living on the streets, he asked his followers not to feel sorry for him, adding, "I know a lot of people think I tweeted my living situation for publicity! But I don't give a damn about fame!" But then he muddied the waters again with some follow-up tweets in which he stated emphatically, "I'm real! And I don't lie! and I would never lie to y'all! (y'all being my supporters who got my back through thick and thin) F--- yeah I was ... sleepin outside! That sh-- sucks too! I'm goin back home to get my sh-- together! But I will be back! And I'm comin strong! LETS DO THIS!"


Don't miss our "American Idol" live stream "Judging the Judges: An 'Idol' Without Simon," featuring post-show analysis from Jim Cantiello and special guests, on MTV.com tonight at 10 p.m. ET. Tweet your "Idol" commentary with the hashtag #idolwithoutsimon, and we could quote you on the show!

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Big Budget SPCA to New 4 Year Deal, Ana Zorrilla Leads

The SPCA has been at the heart of animal control in New Orleans for the past 60 years, but talk with the city financiers and the SPCA broke down after the latter said they would be unable to continue offering their services on the budget of $1.7m which the city was offering.


New Orleans is at the centre of a storm today after it has been announced by Mayor Mitch Landrieu that the Louisiana SPCA (LA/SPCA) will continue to provide animal control services for the city after a new four-year co-operative endeavour agreement was signed.


The city has stumped up a further $200k, offering $1.92m to seal the deal which they believe is a good investment.


Ana Zorrilla, CEO of the LA/SPCA told the press, “The LA/SPCA is nationally recognized for the standards we set in animal care and sheltering, we look forward to continuing these high quality services our citizens have come to expect for the animals of New Orleans.”
There is now however a public backlash with many citizens questioning the quality of service provided by the LA/SPCA, and many feel that comments made by Zorrilla prior to the new deal were nothing short of scare-mongering.


“This is a big win for the residents and animals of New Orleans,” said Mayor Landrieu. “As was done with so many other contracts, our negotiations have been guided by my fiduciary responsibility to secure quality services for a price the city can afford. The LA/SPCA has been providing quality animal control and enforcement services for decades. As great community partners, their board, volunteers and donors have stepped up. We are pleased to have a fiscally responsible agreement in place for the next four years.”


Questions about where the money goes have also been raised by the public, after many reports claim that untrained volunteers were working in the SPCA facility, and that cats and dogs were being euthanized for the most mundane of illnesses.
Others have stated that the SPCA is only interested in housing pure-bred cats or dogs, and has little or no time for strays – presumably because there is little profit in housing or re-homing them.


Zorrilla, when appearing before the city council in October, tried to manipulate events using the threat of, “packs of dogs running through the streets,” biting people and threatening children, and feral cats “terrorizing people’s gardens.”


This was her way of squeezing more cash out of the city. 
Zorrilla said the SPCA takes in 7,000 stray, unwanted and problem animals a year. Allowed to roam and breed freely, she said, the stray animal population in the city could increase to 320,000 in three years.


The SPCA has recently cut some of its services and no longer responds to calls about attacks by animals, or to collect strays, made outside working hours or on weekends. Those situations are now handled by the police.


Please let us know what you think of Ana Zorrilla and her SPCA, or share an experience you had with them by leaving a comment.
Read more about health risks associated with wild animals, like Rabies and one of its symptoms Aquaphobia.

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