C.M. Rubin's Blog, page 7

Michelle Williams' Hair: Actress Growing Out Short Hairdo

She's rocked the short hairdo for six years now, but Michelle Williams says she's finally ready to move on. The Oscar-nominated actress, who is promoting her new film "Oz the Great and the Powerful," confessed to E! News that she was finally ready to grow out her trademark close-cropped short hair.

"I think I'm ready. It's on its way, slowly but surely," the 32-year-old actress says in a video interview. "[The transition is] why I've stayed with short hair for so long. The mid-stage is insufferable. It's really hard on your self-esteem."

Williams added that she was taking a break from work in the process. "I'm really happy to not have anything looming -- except my hair. I'm really working on my hair growing out," she said.

Ted Cruz Defends Aggressive Style After Drawing McCarthy Comparison

By Corrie MacLaggan
LEANDER, Texas, Feb 19 (Reuters) - First-term Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas on Tuesday staunchly defended his aggressive, in-your-face style that already is raising eyebrows in Washington and has led a Senate Democrat to suggest his tactics reminded her of McCarthyism.
"Washington has a long tradition of trying to hurl insults to silence those who they don't like what they're saying," Cruz told reporters on a visit to a Texas gun manufacturer. "I have to admit I find it amusing that those in Washington are puzzled when someone actually does what they said they would do."
Employees at LaRue Tactical near Austin cheered the senator enthusiastically during his appearance.
Cruz, 42, raised eyebrows in Washington by aggressively criticizing former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, President Barack Obama's nominee for defense secretary, during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing.
Cruz angered lawmakers in both parties by suggesting, without giving evidence, that Hagel might have taken money from countries such as communist North Korea.
In comments published in the New York Times on Saturday, Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer of California compared Cruz's accusations about Hagel to those made by former Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s in his hunt for communists.
"It was really reminiscent of a different time and place, when you said, 'I have here in my pocket a speech you made on such and such a date,' and of course, nothing was in the pocket," Boxer said, according to the Times. "It was reminiscent of some bad times."
On Tuesday, Cruz said he worried that his concerns about Hagel - such as what he sees as Hagel's refusal to answer certain questions about financial disclosure - were getting lost in the focus on Cruz's style.
"Washington is a rough-and-tumble place, and I certainly don't mind if some will take shots at me," said Cruz, who has been unusually assertive for a freshman senator. "What I do think is unfortunate is if the coverage of the political game overshadows the substance."
Cruz's appearance at the gun manufacturer came as Obama, a Democrat, pursues gun-control measures following the Dec. 14 massacre of 20 children and six adults by a gunman at a Connecticut elementary school.
At LaRue Tactical, which makes semiautomatic rifles for civilians and also makes guns for the military, marketing director Mark Fingar said Cruz was a "no-nonsense senator."
"He's our type of guy," Fingar said.
In a noisy room at LaRue where machines that make molds were whirring, Cruz said stripping Americans of their right to defend their families would not prevent violent crime and that he wants to see efforts focused on deterring and punishing criminals. He accused Obama and Democrats in Congress of taking advantage of the Connecticut school shooting.
"In Washington, there is no liberty that I think is more in the targets right now than our (U.S. Constitution's) Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms," Cruz said.
Obama is asking lawmakers to approve "common-sense" gun control measures such as expanded background checks and a ban on military-style assault weapons. (Reporting By Corrie MacLaggan; Editing by David Bailey and Eric Beech)

'Arrested Development': Kristen Wiig Cast As Young Lucille Bluth In Netflix Season 4

Just when you thought Netflix's "Arrested Development" revival couldn't get any more awesome, Vulture broke the news that "Bridesmaids" star Kristen Wiig would guest star in Season 4 as ... a young Lucille Bluth!

Yes, the "Saturday Night Live" MVP will be playing a younger version of Jessica Walter's boozy matriarch, which hopefully means that the show is also on the lookout for someone to play a younger version of her nemesis, Lucille 2 (Liza Minnelli) when the show premieres on Netflix in May. Further details on Wiig's role are being kept under wraps.

In addition to Wiig and Seth Rogen, familiar faces such as John Slattery, Ben Schwartz, Chris Diamantopoulos, Conan O'Brien, Andy Richter, Isla Fisher and Terry Crews will be making their "AD" debut in Season 4.

Miami NCAA Allegations: Hurricanes Accused Of 'Lack Of Institutional Control'

CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Miami has finally received its notice of allegations from the NCAA, a long-awaited document accuses the Hurricanes of a "lack of institutional control" within its athletic department.

The allegations arrived on Tuesday. The institutional-control charge is typically one of the most severe the NCAA can bring after an investigation of rules violations. The governing body for college athletics declined comment Tuesday, one day after revealing that it was erasing some elements of its case against Miami because the information was obtained in impermissible ways.

Miami Accused Of 'Lack Of Institutional Control' By NCAA In Notice Of Allegations

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Miami has finally received its notice of allegations from the NCAA, a long-awaited document accuses the Hurricanes of a "lack of institutional control" within its athletic department.

The allegations arrived on Tuesday. The institutional-control charge is typically one of the most severe the NCAA can bring after an investigation of rules violations. The governing body for college athletics declined comment Tuesday, one day after revealing that it was erasing some elements of its case against Miami because the information was obtained in impermissible ways.

"We deeply regret any violations, but we have suffered enough," Miami President Donna Shalala said in a statement Tuesday night.

Jill Lawson: Yoga Studios Across America are Embracing FreeFlow: a Unique Path to Freedom of Expression Through Music

It is certain, that by expressing ourselves through music we will grow, we will heal, we will transform. This is a path to freedom.
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Published on February 19, 2013 19:13

Christopher Rosen: 'Smash' Recap: 41 Eye Rolls From Season 2, Episode 3, 'The Dramaturg'

Presented in chronological order and without commentary, the most absurd moments from Season 2, Episode 3, "The Dramaturg."
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Published on February 19, 2013 19:10

Mitch McConnell Duped By Parody News Report

The best parody contains elements of truth. Which might explain how the military’s answer to The Onion suckered the Senate’s Republican leader.

Terry Tamminen: We Need Climate Change

Given the staggering costs of droughts, heat waves, and super storms, it would seem our political leaders would come quickly to some consensus on these seemingly urgent issues and take some kind of concerted action. So where do our political leaders get their information that has instead led to partisan gridlock?
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Published on February 19, 2013 18:58

'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo' Star Mama June Says Her Daughters Won't Be The Next Kardashians

"Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" star Mama June Shannon is not letting the fame go to her head. She says she and her family will never change and that she has no intention of trying to turn her girls into the next Kardashians.

“My girls are not high-maintenance like them,” June tells The Huffington Post, referring to the Kardashian sisters. “They prefer to play in the mud than shop for new clothes. My girls are not labels. My kids love knowing who they are and know who they are, so, no.”

Even the thought of moving to Los Angeles or becoming like the Beverly Hillbillies makes June laugh.