Australia has the world's scariest animals and most potent pot

Marijuana aficionados may be surprised to know that the state of New South Wales, Australia, is home to weed that packs a massive wallop. Make your Down Under vacation plans now, folks. The region may have the most potent mary jane on the planet. But there’s a flipside to the "good" news. Authorities are worried that the off-the-charts levels of psychoactive THC could cause mental health issues and dependency. In fact, the THC content is so powerful that Australian authorities might consider it a hard drug, based on a study by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre. The research was conducted on marijuana seized in regions such as Tweed Heads, Byron Bay and Lismore. Tweed Heads? No way.

Hooters gets new logo as part of sweeping overhaul

The wing-and-beer chain, celebrating its 30th anniversary, unveils the design as it faces new competition from upstart competitors.

Hooters of America unveiled a new logo this week as part of a broad attempt to keep the aging chain relevant with customers who suddenly have a number of new "breastaurant" choices.

The company's new "Hootie" logo (pictured, top) looks very similar, with an owl's eyes that also look like doughnuts. Or tires. Or something like that.

But the owl has become more sleek and stylized, which the restaurant says calls out its "contemporary transformation" with a nod to its heritage. Hooters is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

USA Today says the old owl was "scruffy-looking and fuddy-duddyish," while the new owl is "lean and mean."

Hooters' waitresses, whom the company calls its "girls," will also get new uniforms over the next several months. The company says the uniforms will include tank tops that still maintain the sexy and sporty image that customers are used to.

The company is also updating its menu to rely less on frozen, premade dishes. "Instead of everything being frozen and being brought in, we're bringing everything in now fresh," Greg Brickman, the company's executive chef, says in this USA Today video.

The company is returning to some of its original recipes for chili and chowder, he added. "We're just trying to make everything one step better."

What's forcing Hooters' hand? Look no further than the number of new competitors in the "brestaurant" business. One of them, Bikinis Sports Bar and Grill, has even trademarked the term breastaurant in hopes of winning an advantage over the likes of the Tilted Kilt, Mugs N Jugs and Twin Peaks. The top three "breastaurant" chains in the country behind Hooters each saw sales jump at least 30% in 2011, The Associated Press reports.

Will Hooters' sweeping overhaul make a difference with diners?

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Judge Orders $1 Million Returned to Exotic Dancer

A federal judge has ruled that Nebraska cops must return over $1 million confiscated at a traffic stop from a woman who saved the money $1 at a time during her 15 year career as an exotic dancer.

The money belongs to Tara Mishra, 33, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., who began putting aside her earnings when she started dancing at age 18, according to an opinion U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon wrote last week. The money was meant to start her business and get out of the stripping business, the judge wrote.

State troopers confiscated the money in March 2012 when they pulled over Rajesh and Marina Dheri, of Montville, N.J., for speeding in Nebraska, according to court documents. The Dheris are friends of Mishra and had been given the cash so they could buy a nightclub in New Jersey. Mishra would own half of the business and the Dheris would own the other half.

Mishra had packaged the money in $10,000 bundles tied with hair bands and placed in plastic bags, and it was stashed in the trunk of the Dheri's rented car, which the Dheris were driving to Chicago. When they were pulled over for speeding, a state trooper asked the Dheris if he could search their vehicle, which they allowed, Bataillon explained.
The state trooper found the money and after suspecting it was drug money took the Dheris into custody, according to the judge's opinion. But police did not find any evidence of drug activity in the car and a K-9 analysis found only trace elements of illegal drugs on the cash, according to Bataillon.
Neither Mishra nor the Dheris could not be reached for comment.
"The government failed to show a substantial connection between drugs and the money," Bataillon wrote in his opinion. "The dog sniff is inconsequential…The court finds the Mishras' story is credible…Ms. Mishra did have control over the money and directed the Dheris to deliver the money to New Jersey for the purchase of the business."
Bataillon ordered that Mishra receive cash or a check in the value of $1,074,000 with interest.

Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, and Kate Upton Are Bahamas Bikini Babes

Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann take a dip in the ocean! (Splash News)Work hard. Play harder. That seems to be the motto of Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, and Kate Upton, who have been putting in long hours shooting Nick Cassavetes's latest comedy, "The Other Woman" down in the Bahamas.

After a long day on set Friday, the three blondes decided it was time to have some fun (and we can't blame them; they are in a tropical paradise after all).
Holding what we speculate are some tasty adult beverages, Diaz, Mann, and Upton hit the beach—and the sparkling turquoise waters. Upton, who's barely old enough to drink (she just turned 21 on June 10), no doubt turned some heads in her skimpy crimson two-piece.
Kate Upton flaunts her bikini bod. (Splash News)
But her co-stars certainly held their own in their bikinis, too. Even though they're both twenty plus years older than the "Sports Illustrated" swimsuit model, both Diaz and Mann looked just as stunning splashing around in the waves. Flaunting some toned gams, Diaz rocked a sporty gray-and-white patterned number, while Mann stuck with a basic blue. All three of them wore sunglasses to shield the bright rays.
Despite their significant age difference, it was actually the older gals who seemed to be having the most fun. Cameron (who was the only one holding a proper wine glass) and Leslie (who kept her beverage of choice in a plastic cup) were snapped giggling with each other, running along the shoreline, and may have even built sandcastles.
While it's going to be back to work for the stars soon, these pictures made us wonder—with these three beauties on the beach, how could any men really look at any other women?

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Granny - Hershey 07-13-2013

The Dave Matthews Band live at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey July 13th, 2013

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Granny - Hershey 07-13-2013

The Dave Matthews Band live at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey July 13th, 2013

Date 7/15/13, Views 107768

Video by:  YouTube

Stranded singer Dave Matthews hitches ride to own concert with fans

Seeing Dave Matthews live is awesome, but for Emily Kraus, it surpassed all expectations. Kraus was on her way to see the singer's show in Hershey, Pa., when her boyfriend spotted a stranded bicyclist. When they pulled over to help, they realized the bicyclist was Dave Matthews. The Grammy award-winning star had gone for a preconcert ride when his tire popped. The couple gave him a ride to his own concert. Matthews invited the couple to dinner, brought them backstage, treated them to front-row seats and gave her a shoutout during the concert (start watching at 0:55).. "All the planets aligned last night — something greater than I'll ever be able to comprehend," Kraus says.

Philadelphia stirs a lap dance tax tussle

2 'gentlemen's clubs' are crying foul over the city's attempt to collect more than $800,000 in amusement levies.

Philadelphia has determined that the code of chivalry doesn't cover lap dances -- but its amusement tax does. 

A five-year audit by city officials found Club Risque and Cheerleaders, two so-called gentlemen's clubs, had failed to collect the 5% amusement tax on their performances and owe $320,538 and $486,482 in taxes, respectively. 

The owners have filed an appeal with the Tax Review Board, which is slated to hear the case later this month.

Attorney George Bochetto, who represents the clubs, told ABC News, "Since the city is broke, they want money for lap dances." He couldn't be reached for comment for this story.

Actually, the city's finances are improving. Standard & Poor's recently raised its rating on Philadelphia's debt, and officials expect a $178 million surplus this year.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, of course, sees things differently than the clubs do. Spokesman Mark McDonald denied that there was a "lap dance tax." He also told MSN Money that other strip clubs in the city pay taxes on lap dance performances.

"I am not in a position to talk about pending litigation," McDonald said, adding that another taxpayer, whom he declined to identify, is in the same situation.

In the city's view, a lap dance is like any other service the club is offering, such as alcoholic drinks, that are subject to tax.

This issue has actually come up before.

New York's highest court ruled last year that lap dances were not "dramatic or musical arts performances" like ballet or theater and were therefore subject to taxation. The 4-3 decision cost the club Nite Moves almost $125,000, according to The New York Times. An attorney for the clubs was quoted as saying he would appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, though odds of that being successful are slim.

If Nite Moves had won its case, strip-show attendees could have argued without fear of contradiction that they were "patrons of the arts."

'Project Runway' billboard banned in Los Angeles

Sexy shot has appeared in New York, shows Heidi with naked models

 

WENN

A "Project Runway" billboard featuring Heidi Klum and a group of naked models has been banned in Los Angeles. The scandalous ad features the supermodel sitting on a throne, with her co-star Tim Gunn by her side and a bevy of nude beauties beneath her. 

Click here to see the whole billboard | Bing: More about 'Project Runway'

The sexy shot has appeared on billboards in New York, but it has been deemed too explicit to be shown in L.A. and will no longer be on display, the Hollywood Reporter confirms. The 12th season of "Project Runway" debuts July 18.

Anna Benson Armed to the Teeth Just Wanted to Talk

Anna Benson was arrested Monday after she was caught “armed to the teeth” and threatening her estranged husband Kris Benson who she, apparently, just wanted to talk to.

When Anna was apprehended on Monday, she was wearing a bulletproof vest, a baton, a knife and was holding a handgun. She was using the gun to influence her soon-to-be-ex hubby.

She burst into her estranged baseball player husband’s home and threatened him with the gun. Talking to the New York Post, the 37 year-old former spouse of the major league pitcher said, “I’m a good girl, a nice girl. I would never hurt [Kris]. I am still in love with him.”

The ex-stripper told the New York Post that her husband had repeatedly cheated on her. She’d already made these allegations before when she told FOX411 all about her husband’s infidelities when the couple made their split public last year.

Anna Benson told FOX411 that, “It started with sexy text messages and that kind of stuff. [My friend and I] were very close. Her mother was my nanny during ‘Baseball Wives’ – that’s how close we were.” It was this selfsame friend that Kris Benson was allegedly having an affair with.

Despite her claims that she still loves Kris, Anna was pretty upset by the facts as she sees them. She told The Post, that as a couple they, “have been married for 15 years, and he can’t keep it in his pants. He can’t stop f**king my friends, in my house.”

According to the police report, Anna says that she went to Kris’s house to talk about their issues. But the police report also states that once she got there, Anna smashed his computer with a metal baton and was wearing an ammo belt as well as the knife.

The report states that the former FHM model tried to rob Kris at gunpoint of $30,000, and somewhat more humorously, Anna gave a very “unique” explanation as to why she was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time; telling them she was trying to get it to “mold to her body.”

The curvaceous model explained that it was a new model and she, “didn’t understand why [they] were making such a big deal out of this,” according to the police report.

During the computer bashing robbery, estranged husband Kris made a very upset 9-1-1 call. Apparently he sounded extremely panicked during the call as he told the dispatch switchboard how Anna had entered his house holding a handgun and then threatened him. He did mention on the call that she’d never done anything like this before.

Anna was arrested on suspicion of felony assault and she has also been booked on four separate counts with two of them being felony aggravated assault with a weapon and the remaining counts being criminal trespass, and possession of a firearm while committing a crime.

Kris Benson said that he escaped from Anna and called the police after she demanded $30,000. He told her he was going to get the money and then called the police. He had filed for divorce last year but the couple are waiting for the decree to be finalised.

He has just been awarded custody of the couple’s three children, according to The Post. Anna Benson is, at the moment, staying in the Cobb County Jail in Marietta, Georgia; which is a shame since, despite being armed to the teeth, she just wanted to talk; about $30,000

News of the Day

What It’s like to Waitress at an Erotic Supper Club

What It's Like to Waitress at an Erotic Supper ClubHave you ever been fork-fed "by means of sheer pelvic fortitude?" No, me neither, but if that's an experience you'd like to add to your arsenal of icebreakers, there's an erotic supper club in San Francisco that provides just that experience. Scantily clad waitstaff act as both servers and platters, and are encouraged to kiss, cuddle, flirt, and "massage" as they see fit.

One such waitress recounted her adventures in erotic dining for NYMag's The Cut, and her story is fascinating:

"Generally, guests are a bit older than those hot twentysomethings feeding them. They're mostly couples, some single men, and the occasional ambiguous triad. Between courses, servers are directed to dance, kiss, and touch. Gradually, we dramatically remove each other's clothing. Like our degree of undress, flirtation with patrons is measured to the menu's progress: Running appetizers, we may barely touch the guests. In the end, we're in their laps, feeding them chocolate mousse. The easily distracted eat lightly."
Yeah, I'll bet.

News of the Day

Equinox Gym Under Fire Over 'Sexist' Billboard

Equinox gym is being accused of sexism, thanks to the giant photo of a woman wearing a skintight minidress erected in a high-traffic area of Bethesda, Maryland. It's the latest backlash against the company's racy branding efforts.

A group of activists are calling on the chain of luxury fitness centers to remove the billboard, and to rethink their approach to recruiting new members.  The group, which calls itself Sexism Matters, launched a blog and a petition on Change.org on June 28, demanding that a local Equinox gym take down the billboard, which they say promotes "a not-so-subtle sexism that infects our culture and degrades an entire gender." So far, the petition has received more than 300 signatures.

More on Yahoo!: Controversial Ad Campaign Appears on San Francisco Buses

The ad, shot by controversial photographer Terry Richardson, features a model in a skimpy minidress and heels, on her hands and knees on top of a pool table grasping a cue, along with the caption, "Dexterity." Equinox hired Richardson to shoot the ad campaign, his third for the company, in January. The series of photographs shot for this year's campaign all feature a male and a female model in suggestive, nonathletic poses in a sleek modern home in the Hollywood Hills. One picture shows a woman from the waist down, walking up a staircase wearing only black underwear and heels, with the caption "Stair Master."

At the time of its release, Equinox members from major cities across the country took to the gym's Facebook page to ask what racy shots of skinny models in skimpy dresses had to do with getting fit.

Related: Kraft Zesty Italian Salad Dressing: Rock Hard Abs Stir Controversy

One commenter wrote, "These women do not look fit...this self-obsessed need-to-be-voraciously-predatorily-sexy thing is out of place." Another commented, "Another couple million spent on the degradation of women. Good work fitness guys."

Related: Outrage Over Equinox's Skinny Models Campaign. Members Want More Muscle

The new petition launched by Sexism Matters goes into greater detail about the problems with Equinox's campaign, and in particular the Bethesda billboard.
"Our children shouldn't be subjected to this. Our female friends and family shouldn't be viewed like this, nor forced to conform to it. Our male partners and colleagues shouldn't be boxed in to thinking this is normal. This is the kind of not-so-subtle sexism that infects our culture, and degrades an entire gender…We work out to stay healthy. We go to the gym to become stronger. We celebrate our bodies' abilities on the track, in the pool, and on the court. We do NOT accept the excuses. We will NOT tolerate this billboard. And, we will NOT be joining your gym. We are all too busy working, running, teaching, living, and laughing to be seen as objects."

Other Bethesda locals have echoed these concerns. "I think it's a sexist ad. I'm not too happy to see it," one area resident told WTOP News. However, she qualified her statement by adding, "But I also agree strongly in the First Amendment and freedom of expression."

The woman who launched Sexism Matters (she asked not to have her name used) told Yahoo! Shine, "Different communities should be able to say what they will and will not tolerate in their environs, and the Bethesda community is not OK with this image. The area is absolutely a gathering place for families. Young professionals and families with kids go there on the weekends. There are bookstores, and street fairs almost every weekend. It's different from downtown in LA or Manhattan. It's a place where I want to raise my kids."
A spokesperson from Equinox told Yahoo! Shine in an email, "The billboard has been up since January and will be coming down mid-July as previously scheduled." While the timing might suggest that the petition is making an impact, don't bet on it. The elite gym (memberships cost about $120-$180 per month, with a $600 initiation fee) hasn't shied from controversy in the past and the company's creative director, Bianca Kosoy, specifically chooses provocateurs like Richardson to shoot its campaigns. Past ads have also been called also been called sexist and offensive. In 2012, she told the New York Times that the ads were like "gatekeepers" that separated out potential clients who might not be (what Equinox deems) hip or edgy enough for the brand. "We know we're not for everyone. Either you get it or you don't."

News of the Day

Panhandler who wants weed stabs panhandler who wants beer, cops say

It was a classic battle of the stoner versus the alcoholic in Times Square on Saturday night when the "I Need Money for Weed" dude allegedly stabbed the "I Need Beer" dude in the head with a pen. It's unclear what the beer guy might have done to piss off the stoner (maybe stealing his Funyuns?), but as the Broadway shows were getting out around 10:15 p.m., the two panhandlers got into a fight, police said. Thankfully, the beer guy's injuries were minor, and charges are pending against the weed guy. Authorities said they questioned two bystanders, one wearing a Predator suit and one wearing an Alien suit, officially making the incident the most significant "only in New York" story of the evening.