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Kelly Bradley

Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City’s Adam Young sued

Carly Rae Jepsen and Adam Young of Owl City are being sued for stealing ‘Good Time’

Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City’s Adam Young are being sued in a new copyright infringement lawsuit filed in California federal court. The lawsuit comes from Allyson Nichole Burnett, an Alabama-based singer and songwriter who claims the song Good Time released by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen in June copies a prominent motif of her 2010 song, Ah, It’s a Love Song.

Also being sued is Universal Music Group, Songs Music Publishing and Schoolboy Records.

The hook in Burnett’s song is supposedly a “unique vocal motif” that is repeated throughout the song and “has a catchy pop vibe that both draws people in and sticks in people’s heads.” Burnett’s song is on the album The Takeover and has been on sale since 2010 and licensed to MTV for use in the shows The Hills and Friendzone.

Burnett complained that “many consumers may incorrectly assume that Burnett copied her own original motif from the infringing songwriters due to the widespread popularity and publication of Good Time.” She also went on to say she has “suffered emotional and psychological damage” from fans asking why she copied Jepsen and Owl City’s big hit.

Burnett’s song is in the F key while Jepsen and Owl City’s song is in the key of E flat. However, the songs shared many similarities, some of which included an identical pitch sequence, rhythmic construction and melodic contour.

The now controversial song, Good Time, reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was played numerous times during the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Carly Rae Jepsen is known for her mega-popular hit Call Me Maybe while Owl City’s song Fireflies topped the charts in 2009. Both stars could not be reached for comment.

So sue me maybe?

Tim Tebow dating Camilla Belle?

Tim Tebow and Camilla Belle were spotted together in Jacksonville, FL

Tim Tebow and actress, Camilla Belle, are supposedly an item. The pair were spotted bowling and partying together in Tebow’s hometown, Jacksonville, FL at Latitude 30—an arcade/entertainment center. Camilla Belle is best known for her roles in The Ballad of Jack and Rose, When a Stranger Calls, The Quiet, Jurassic Park and Push.

As far as her dating life goes, she is known for dating another famous virgin, Joe Jonas, stealing him from his previous girlfriend, Taylor Swift.

While reps of both Tebow and Belle have not yet confirmed anything, sources close to the pair say the two are an item. One source reported, “People who were at Latitude 30 last night tell us…Tim and Camilla were overly affectionate throughout the evening, holding hands and touching.”

Looks like Tebow is keeping busy during The Jet’s bye week.

Whether Camilla Belle holds the same values and beliefs as the New York Jets quarterback remains to be seen. The couple was said to have met at the Met Ball in May and have reportedly been seeing each other ever since.

Hurricane Sandy creates large waves on Lake Michigan

Hurricane Sandy is creating near-record heights for Lake Michigan waves

Hurricane Sandy, also known as Frankenstorm, is creating large waves on Lake Michigan due to very high winds. The city of Chicago is urging residents to stay away from the lake during this time. However, some curious residents were recently spotted taking pictures of the dramatic lakeside scene. Winds are expected to reach up to 60 mph Tuesday.

Parts of the lakeshore bike path are closed down due to Hurricane Sandy. The path between North Avenue Beach and Ohio have been closed, including outdoor attractions and the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is also preparing for Hurricane Sandy by rerouting buses that use Lake Shore Drive, if necessary.

According to the National Weather Service, the waves have hit as high as 20.3 feet at the service’s south Lake Michigan buoy. The largest waves, however, are predicted north of Sheboygan. Chris Abele, Milwaukee County Executive, says, “The storm won’t nearly have the same impact as on the East Coast—but people can expect to feel the effects.”

According to ABC Chicago, a flood warning is in effect for Lake Michigan in Chicago through 4 p.m. Wednesday. There have also been reports of flight cancellations at both O’Hare and Midway airports in Chicago.

North Texas pastor killed inside church

A church pastor was killed Monday by an attacker

A North Texas pastor was killed on Monday by an attacker who drove his car into the church wall and proceeded to chase the pastor and beat him with an electric guitar. It is not yet known why the suspect came after Rev. Danny Kirk Sr., the founding pastor of Greater Sweethome Missionary Baptist Church.

Police used a Taser to subdue the suspect who died a short time after being taken into custody. According to Forest Hill Police Chief Dan Dennis, the suspect drove his car into a church wall before noon Monday, apparently on purpose. The suspect then got out of his car and began attacking the pastor in the parking lot before chasing him into the church. It was then that the church secretary called 911.

Also injured in the ordeal was a church maintenance worker who attempted to help Kirk, but was injured in the process and taken to an area hospital.

Hours following the attack, the church was surrounded with people in support of Kirk. Montoya McNeil, a member of the church for eight years tearfully spoke of the pastor saying, “He really was concerned about our souls. You looked forward to being here. …I’m not asking God why, because I know where he (Kirk) is, but we won’t get those big bear hugs and those great sermons anymore.”

Reverend Kirk’s responsibilities also extended outside of the church. According to Fort Worth school district spokesman, Clint Bond, he was an unofficial volunteer chaplain who occasionally counseled members of a local high school football team. 

Reginald Wilson, an associate minister at the church said “Our hearts are heavy right now.”

Flu vaccine may help lower risk of heart disease

Flu vaccine may play an important role in reducing the risk of heart disease

New studies show that the flu vaccine may play a significant part in reducing the risk of heart disease. Researchers from Toronto reported that the vaccine provided around a 50 percent reduction in the risk of a “major cardiac event,” such as a heart attack, stroke or cardiac death when compared to a placebo.

Dr. Jacob Udell, cardiologist at Women’s College Hospital, said “For those who had the flu shot, there was a pretty strong risk reduction.” Udell aslso believes that a large multi-national study could help demonstrate the flu vaccine’s use for heart care.

However, less than 50 percent of the general population actually gets the flu vaccine. According to Udell, “It’s even poorly used among health care workers. Imagine if this vaccine could also be a proven way to prevent heart disease.” He went on to say, “These findings support current guideline recommendations that patients with heart disease or risk factors for heart disease should get an annual flu shot, with now an additional potential benefit.”

It is not yet clear how exactly the flu vaccine protects the heart. However, when the body is fighting off the flu, the body’s immune system often increases inflammatory reactions that can lead to blood clots or trigger rupture of plaques that in turn can cause heart attacks. It’s possible that this flu vaccine prevents that inflammation that has the potential to aggravate unstable plaques in the heart.

The American Heart Association urges everyone ages six months and older to receive the flu vaccine, especially high risk individuals such as children, seniors, pregnant women, people with disabilities, people who have health conditions and those who travel abroad.

Suddenly, that big needle doesn’t seem as scary if it’s helping to reduce your risk for heart disease.

Madonna booed when asking fans to vote for Obama

Madonna was booed when turning political during a concert

Madonna was booed onstage over the weekend during her MDNA tour in New Orleans for urging her fans to vote for Obama. During the concert she asked the audience, “Who’s registered to vote?…I don’t care who you vote for as long as you vote for Obama.” That makes sense.

Fans responded by booing the singer before walking out of her concert. Realizing her mistake, Madonna quickly added, “Seriously, I don’t care who you vote for…Do not take this privilege for granted. Go vote.” Good effort, Madonna.

I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure people attend concerts to hear music, not political opinions.

This isn’t the first time Madonna has mentioned Obama during a concert. She previously made headlines in Washington D.C. after telling a crowd “So, you all better vote for f—kin’ Obama, OK? For better or for worse, all right, we have a black Muslim in the White House!” She should really try the whole “think before you speak” tactic. It might serve her well in the future.

Madonna has been known for being both outspoken and controversial during her concerts. Many Colorado fans complained she used a fake gun to shoot a masked gunman in a recent concert act in Denver. She also created controversy during a concert in Paris when a video showed a swastika on a politician’s forehead.

Madonna ends her MDNA tour in Miama, FL on November 20th.

Energy drink caffeine levels may be higher than advertised

Energy drinks don’t always divulge how much caffeine they actually contain

Although many energy drinks may list caffeine on the label, the amount may not be accurate. According to a study by Consumer Reports magazine, 11 of the 27 top-selling energy drinks in the U.S. do not specify the amount of caffeine in their beverages. Of the16 drinks that did list the amount of caffeine, five of them were inaccurate, having more caffeine per serving than was listed.

Caffeine levels in the drinks ranged from 6 to 242 milligrams per serving. By comparison, an 8-ounce cup of coffee contains on average about 100 milligrams of caffeine. Although moderate doses of caffeine aren’t harmful for adults, heavy and daily use can have severe side effects which include insomnia, fast heartbeat and muscle tremors.

However, there is no legal requirement to list the amount of caffeine in the beverage. A Monster official told Consumer Reports, “Our products are completely safe, and the actual numbers are not meaningful to most consumers.”

It’s not advised for children to drink energy drinks and should limit their caffeine consumption to about 100 milligrams a day. Monster is currently being sued by the family of a 14-year-old girl with a heart condition who passed a way after drinking two Monster Energy drinks within 24 hours.

NYPD officer arrested in plot to kidnap and cook women

An NYPD officer was arrested in a failed plot to kidnap and cook women

NYPD officer, Gilberto Valle, was arrested in connection with a failed plot to kidnap and cook women. The six-year NYPD veteran who worked in Harlem allegedly conspired with multiple people over the Internet to “kidnap, rape, torture, kill, cook and cannibalize a number of women.”

Valle kept files on his computer of more then 100 women, containing a photo and address for each. Ten of those women that the FBI identified said they knew the officer. He had also researched methods of “disabling and drugging women, and agreeing with at least one other individual to kidnap a woman in exchange for a sum of money.”

There were various conversations between Valle and various co-conspirators. The criminal complaint details some of those exchanges. For example, before bragging that he can make his own chloroform, Valle said “I can just show up at [one prospective vicitm’s] home unannounced, it will not alert her, and I can knock her out, wait until dark and kidnap her right out of her home.”

It was Valle’s estranged wife that tipped off police about his Internet activity, putting it lightly by calling it “weird stuff.” She was led to believe these may have been more sick fantasies rather than actual plans to act on.

According to Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, “Gilberto Valle’s alleged plans to kidnap women so that they could be raped, tortured, killed, cooked and cannibalized shocks the conscience. This case is all the more disturbing when you consider Valle’s position as a New York City police officer and his sworn duty to serve and protect.”

Valle was immediately placed on suspension after his arrest, according to officials for the NYPD. He was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and accessing a computer without authorization. He potentially faces life in prison.

Alec Baldwin's stalker claims she’s ‘not crazy’

Alec Baldwin’s stalker says she has intimate knowledge of his body

Alec Baldwin’s accused stalker, Genevieve Sabourin, claims that she has intimate knowledge of the star’s body, convinced this proves to everyone that she indeed had a romantic relationship with the actor. Sabourin told Entertainment Tonight “How come I have his cell phone number? How come I know he’s got a scar…on his bikini line that is round?”

Of course these claims don’t help with her persuasive efforts to continually convince people that she’s not crazy. According to Sabourin, she merely wanted closure on the relationship when the Canadian actress showed up uninvited to Baldwin’s New York City home. She said, “I’m not crazy, I’m not a stalker.”

Sabourin is convinced that the term “stalker” is merely a misunderstanding. Speaking on her feelings for Baldwin, she said “It was love, for me it was love…I felt it. I don’t think it could be a one-way thing.” She claimed that she had Facebook e-mails that proved their relationship, but lost them in a “moment of passion.” She went on to say “When I saw that he had begun seeing someone else, I decided to cancel our friendship on Facebook, and because of that I lost the entire content of our conversations.”

Baldwin, however, insisted that he only took Sabourin to dinner in 2010 to help out a mutual friend, which it’s safe to say that he thoroughly regrets. Shortly following the platonic dinner, he was overwhelmed with e-mails and unwelcome visits from Sabourin.

Sabourin’s attouney has attempted to get the case thrown out of Manhattan Criminal Court, but has been unsuccessful. Baldwin is also reportedly open to avoiding a trial and instead resorting to an out-of-court settlement.

Unfortunately for Genevieve Sabourin, Baldwin married yoga instructor, Hilaria Thomas earlier this year.

Hurricane Sandy larger and stronger than expected

Hurricane Sandy is predicted to collide with a rare set of atmospheric conditions

Hurricane Sandy, currently making its way through Cuba, is predicted to collide with an unexpected set of atmospheric and astronomical conditions to form what’s called a super storm. The storm is predicted to be mixed with a cold front, a wet and windy storm and a full moon, which will lift costal tides, intensifying the damage.

This hurricane, also known as “Frankenstorm” is making its way to the western and central Bahamas and will touch southeast Florida. However, it is the likely encounter with the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast U.S. that has meteorologists worried. Hurricane Sandy has the potential to cause millions of dollars’ worth of damage.

Over the past day, Hurricane Sandy has intensified, growing to about 1500 miles in diameter. According to Gary Best, a meteorologist for Hometown Forecast Services Inc. in Nashua, New Hampshire, “A very complicated situation is going on right now. As it moves across the western Atlantic, it is going to encounter a dip in the jet stream. There will be a lot of energy coming in from the West and it may try to capture the storm and pull it into the U.S. coastline.

The now Category 2 storm is expected to bring torrential rains resulting in flooding, power outages and blocked roads as well as extremely powerful winds. According to estimates by Tropical Storm Risk, a group of experts on insurance, risk management and climate, New York City will suffer from wind and flood damage with a 55 percent chance of winds of at least 39 mph by October 30th.

National Hurricane Center officials warn people living from North Carolina to Maine to keep a close eye on Hurricane Sandy.