Heath Ledger Passes Away

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We are sad to report that Heath Ledger passed away in his Manhattan apartment this afternoon.

The Brokeback Mountain actor was found dead in his bed in one of his residences in Soho by his housekeeper at 3:35 PM ET today. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ they believe it was not a crime, adding that prescription pills were found near his body.

According to NYPD a masseuse arrived at Ledger’s apartment and was let in by a housekeeper. When Ledger didn’t answer his bedroom door, the housekeeper and the masseuse opened it and found him unconscious. They attempted to wake him; when they couldn’t, they called 911.

We’re told when paramedics responded, the actor was in full cardiac arrest. They attempted to perform CPR on him, but were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 28-year-old actor has a two year old daughter with former fiancee Michelle Williams — they separated in September, 2007.

There is much speculation around the circumstances causing Heath’s untimely death. The autopsy that is scheduled for tomorrow should hopefully provide the actors family with some answers.

This evening Heath’s family issued this statement:

We, Heath’s family, confirm, the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda. He was found peacefully asleep in his New York apartment by his housekeeper at 3:30 p.m. U.S. time.

We would like to thank our friends and everyone around the world for their well wishes and kind thoughts at this time. Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life but few had the pleasure of truly knowing him.

He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving and selfless individual who was extremely inspirational to many. Please now respect our families need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately.

Related Articles:

• Matilda Gones Incognito
• Matilda’s Daddy Date
• Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams Have Identical Bedrooms For Daughter
• Heath and Matilda

PHOTOCREDIT:Jsbmedia

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Salma Hayek Reportedly Using ‘Industrial Sized’ Breast Pump To Lose Weight

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When I read the headline on this story, I KNEW it must of been written by a man.

I don’t know of any woman that would call a breast pump industrial sized, unless of course she was attached to a machine and surrounded by a load of heffers. The article goes on to say that:

The ‘Frida’ actress is resorting to extreme measures after friends told her breastfeeding is the best way to shed post-pregnancy pounds. Hayek gave birth to her first child, Valentina Paloma, in September.A friend of the actress said, “Salma has been pumping and freezing endless amounts of breast milk. When she’s not feeding Valentina, she’s hooked up to an industrial-size breast pump.”

I believe the term that this writer is looking for is a ‘hospital grade’ pump (worth sometimes $700-$900). They are usually a decent size, come with more options and have a stronger, more consistent suction.Breast feeding and pumping is normally associated with weight loss after a baby arrives. A mom could burn up to 600 calories a day nursing her newborn. The only drawback is that it is normally recommended that a nursing mom consume an extra 700 to 1000 calories a day in order to provide her baby with quality milk.

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Associated Press Mistakens Kate Hudson’s Son For Girl

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Poor Ryder Robinson, Kate Hudson’s son was mistaken for a little girl due to his flowing hair.

The description that went with the photo read:

Actress Kate Hudson with an unidentified girl, watches as the Golden State Warriors play the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half of an NBA basketball game on Monday.

Maybe Kate is using Ryder as a tester for her new hair products line?

The star has teamed up with hairstylist David Babaii to create Wildaid, a line of hair products and styling tools to care for colored hair, and raise money for global wildlife conservation organization WildAid.

Hudson said, “I’ve been asked to do a lot of campaigns in the past and this feels like the perfect fit for me. David is the best at what he does and he’s put so much of himself into the development of this line. And the fact that we can do it in an ecologically responsible and animal-friendly manner that can help preserve wildlife is what makes this truly special.”

PHOTOCREDIT:AP PHOTO/JEFF CHIU
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Tiger Woods Unveils Statue of Father at Learning Center

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Tiger Woods unveiled a powerful statue of himself and his late father, Earl Woods this afternoon at the Tiger Woods Learning Center in California.

Woods said the statue symbolizes the support that led to so much success – 61 victories on the PGA Tour going into the 2008 season, along with 13 majors and the career Grand Slam twice over.

“It brings back my childhood, what he’s meant to me in my life, not only from a golf standpoint,” Woods said. “He was always there. That’s basically what it symbolizes. He always had my back. If I failed, I could always come home to love.”

On hand for the ceremony was Tiger’s 7month old daughter, Sam, his wife Elin and mother Kultida.

The golf legend spoke about his inspiration for the 35,000 square foot facility that was designed to help students prepare for their future:

“Ever since the day he passed, I have yet to go a day without thinking of my dad. Now that I’ve had Sam, it’s amazing how I keep reflecting on things he taught me. I can’t wait to pass that on. That’s one reason I worked so hard on my foundation to expand this. He was all about helping others.”

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• Sam Alexis Woods At Target World Challenge
• Sam Alexis Woods Out For A Walk in Sweden

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PHOTOCREDIT:REUTERS/Danny Moloshok & AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes VIA YAHOO.COM

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Cate Blanchett Shines At Sidney Theatre Awards

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Cate Blanchett shines at the Sidney Theatre Awards.

The mom to be is accompanied by her husband, director, Andrew Upton.

Get Cate’s style at Isabelle Oliver.

A similar version to the wrap dress she is wearing is available at the chic maternity boutique for $155

PHOTOCREDIT:Gaye Gerard/Getty Images VIA VIEWIMAGES.COM

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Retinoblastoma: How A Photo Can Save Your Childs Life

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Even though we have covered retinoblastoma on this site before, I always think that new stories will help to continue to create awareness about the rare condition.

Retinoblastoma is a childhood cancer arising from immature retinal cells in one or both eyes and can strike from the time a child is in the womb up to 5 years of age. This cancer is curable if caught early enough. However, 87% of the children stricken with this disease worldwide die, mostly in developing countries. In developed countries, 97% of those who do live have moderate to severe visual impairment.

Retinoblastoma is a relatively uncommon tumor of childhood that accounts for about 3% of the cancers in children under the age of 15. The tumors originate in the retina, the light sensitive layer of the eye, which enables the eye to see.

Many parents learn their child has this cancer after seeing their eyes look unusual in a photo.

For some reason the flash of a camera reveals the tumor in the childs eye, but sometimes go unnoticed because parents aren’t sure what they are looking for.

So often we will look at photos of our kids and think that the imperfections are due to a rampant flash or imperfect light conditions.

If you see a white “glow” or “glint” in the pupil of one or both eyes in dim lighting, white pupil in a color photo or crossed/misaligned eyes parents are asked to contact your pediatrician or ophthalmologist immediately and have their eyes examined.

Please remember: 90% of retinoblastoma patients have no family history of the disease and only 10% of newly diagnosed patients have other family members with retinoblastoma.

Please visit official retinoblastoma site for more information.

*The little boy in the picture has the cancer in his left eye*

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Study: 2 Cups Of Java Doubles Miscarriage Risk

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Researchers go back and forth on this issue. Every few months a new study is released with polar opposite results from the previous study.

Now according a new study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research finds that daily coffee consumption during pregnancy –- whether from coffee, tea, caffeinated soda or hot chocolate — increases the risk of miscarriage.

The study, which published online in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that consuming 200 mg of caffeine, equal to two cups of coffee per day, doubles a woman’s risk of miscarriage during pregnancy.

“This study strengthens the association between caffeine and miscarriage risk because it removes speculation that the association was due to reduced caffeine intake by healthy pregnant women,” said lead investigator, Dr. De-Kun Li

The increased risk of miscarriage appeared to be due to the caffeine itself, rather than other possible chemicals in coffee because caffeine intake from non-coffee sources such as caffeinated soda, tea and hot chocolate showed a similar increased risk of miscarriage.

“The main message for pregnant women from these findings is that they probably should consider stopping caffeine consumption during pregnancy because this research provides clearer and stronger evidence that high doses of caffeine intake during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage,” said Li.

My take: no matter what ‘researchers’ say – lay off the caffeine while pregnant. You baby WILL be healthier in the long run.

Related Articles:

 

• Caffeine Or Not During Pregnancy
• 8 Pregnancy Myths
• Risk Of Cerebral Palsy Increases With Mild Constant Stress During Pregnancy

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