Sunday, August 12, 2007

B.C. environmentalist offers partier Paris Hilton visit old-growth forests


In her fight to save B.C. forests, local eco-warrior Tzeporah Berman has enlisted the help of a couple high-wattage Hollywood stars.

Berman, of Cortes Island, has invited actor Adrian Grenier and socialite Paris Hilton to B.C. to see the province's old-growth rainforests first-hand.

The long-time forest activist rubbed elbows with the Hollywood duo on the green carpet Thursday night at a private screening of The 11th Hour, a documentary on climate change produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio.

"We talked about Canada's old-growth forests, specifically about B.C. forests and how beautiful they are," said Berman in a phone interview Friday, an hour after she arrived back in Vancouver from Los Angeles.

Grenier and Hilton were "very interested" in the state of the world's forests and forest ethics, she said. "[They] were very concerned to hear these forests are being used to make junk mail and catalogues."

Grenier, the star of the popular HBO series Entourage, was expected to attend the private gala at the Harmony Gold Theatre on Sunset Boulevard but Hilton's unannounced appearance created a stir.

Berman, a co-founder of ForestEthics who speaks briefly in the documentary about the impact of logging on global warming, is thrilled with the positive feedback her cause has received in Hollywood. "We're really excited in engaging with a greener Hollywood that can ensure the preservations of these forests."

She doesn't know whether the stars will take her up on her offer, but "we'll certainly inform them as we organize tours."

The private event, organized by Warner Bros. and ForestEthics was attended by about 400 people, including environmentalists, actors, lawyers, and politicians.

Advance screenings of The 11th Hour will be held in Vanco

911 call captures dramatic car chase before Lindsay Lohan's arrest


Police have released a recording of the emergency call made in the moments before Lindsay Lohan's arrest.

The mother of her former personal assistant called 911 and pleaded frantically for help because a mysterious car was following her - unaware that Lohan was behind the wheel.

Lohan's personal assistant had quit hours before the event, according to police.

According to reports, Lohan allegedly jumped in a associate's vechile outside a party and took over the wheel before giving chase.

Ronnie Blake, a passenger in the car, claims she told him: "I can't get in trouble. I'm a celebrity. I can do whatever the f*** I want." The woman apparently did not realize that Lohan was in the white sport utility vehicle following her when she contacted a Santa Monica police dispatcher shortly after 1.30am on Tuesday.

"We were just about to park our car. We are turning home and out of nowhere a huge white GMC came up," the woman said to the dispatcher. The recording included unintelligible remarks apparently to the woman's passenger.

"We're being followed by a GMC ... the gentleman jumped out of the car," she added a few seconds later. "Oh my God, sir, they're following us. We need help."

During the nearly three-minute call, the dispatcher repeatedly asked the woman where she is.



The woman eventually said she was heading for the police station.
Police said the woman, accompanied by a passenger, drove her black Cadillac Escalade into the parking lot of Santa Monica's Civic Auditorium, about a block away from the Police Department, followed by Lohan driving a Yukon sport utility vehicle.

"There he is, that white GMC pickup," the dispatcher said to someone as the car appeared.

During the call, the woman could be heard saying "Oh my God, what is he doing?"

Near the end, hysterical but muffled yelling and screaming is heard.

"They're in front of HQ now. Roll somebody code. Ma'am, what's going on there? Hello? Hello? Ma'am? Hello?" the dispatcher said.

A few moments later, a police unit showed up and the woman could be heard in the background, apparently pointing out people to the officers.

"That's him, that's him right there," she said. "And him, stop them."

Authorities who arrived saw Lohan and the woman in what police have called a "heated debate."

They also said two men were with Lohan in the car.

Web site TMZ.com reported that three men, identified as Dante Nigro, Jakon Sutter and Ronnie Blake, were in the car with Lohan and the chase started in Malibu, about 20 miles away.

They alleged the actress commandeered Nigro's vehicle outside a party and sped after the assistant.

Blake claimed to have jumped out of the car just as Lohan accelerated. Lohan lost the assistant and drove to her mother's house, where the Santa Monica chase began, they claimed.

Lohan's lawyer, Blair Berk, has so far declined comment.

Santa Monica police Sgt. Marty Fine, Los Angeles police and sheriff's officials all declined comment.

Lohan was arrested for investigation of misdemeanor driving under the influence and with a suspended license, and felony cocaine possession.

Lindsay Lohan's parents near divorce agreement

The estranged parents of troubled starlet Lindsay Lohan could settle their long-simmering divorce as soon as next week, a judge said Friday.

"My understanding is that we are extremely close to crafting an agreement?" state Supreme Court Justice Robert A. Ross asked attorneys for Michael and Dina Lohan.

John DiMascio Jr., who represents Michael Lohan, said after an hourlong closed
conference involving the couple and their lawyers that "minor points" still preclude a settlement, but he expressed confidence they could be resolved before the next scheduled court date, Aug. 17.



Neither DiMascio nor Dina Lohan's attorney, Warren Quaid, would discuss any details of the proposed accord.

The Lohans were close to an agreement on a divorce settlement in 2005, but that deal collapsed while Michael was serving a one and one-third to four year prison term for drunken driving, brawling with his brother-in-law, and other charges. He was released in March and entered a Christian-based drug and rehabilitation center in West Babylon.

It was not immediately clear how a divorce settlement would impact Michael Lohan's request for visitation of his two youngest children, Aliana, 13, and her brother, Dakota, 10. The visitation issue is being decided by a Family Court judge, who has ordered that a review by a family therapist be completed by Sept. 6.

Since Lindsay, 21, and another brother, Michael, 19, are no longer minors, they are not subject to Family Court edicts.

Neither parent commented on the whereabouts of their movie star daughter, who was arrested last month for investigation of misdemeanor driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license and felony cocaine possession.

The "Mean Girls" star has been the subject of intense speculation since her arrest, which came just two weeks after she was released from her second stint in rehab this year.

Various media reports have placed her in a Utah rehab facility, but no one is speaking on the record.

"She's wonderful," is all Dina Lohan would share about her daughter's condition.

Lohan a 'Model Patient' In Rehab


Troubled actress Lindsay Lohan has been dubbed "a model patient" by insiders at the Utah rehab clinic she checked into last month, despite claims to the contrary.

In a TV exclusive that aired on Friday's Entertainment Tonight, a silhouetted former Cirque Lodge patient suggested the actress is getting celebrity treatment from carers and is difficult with staff.

But TMZ.com claims the opposite is true, according to their sources.

Insiders at the Oren, Utah, clinic, considered one of the best rehabs in America, claim Lohan is taking her third counseling camp stint of 2007 very seriously, attending every meeting, working with psychologists and even agreeing to take on menial tasks she's handed.

These include washing dishes and cleaning toilets.

TMZ.com sources claim the woman who took her claims about Lohan to the media dropped out of a sister clinic "against medical advice" days after the actress checked herself in and would only have had access to her through meetings.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Michael Lohan slams Lindsay's ex-bodyguard

Lindsay Lohan's dad has hit out against the actress' ex -bodyguard who claimed that her parents' negligent and wild ways have contributed to the young star's current health and legal problems.

In an interview to In Touch, Tony Almeida said both Michael and Dina Lohan were 'wild, abusive, neglectful partiers'.

Michael slammed Almeida's statements and said that the latter is a 'desperate and disgruntled employee who will do anything for money'.

He added that the bodyguard himself has been neglecting his own family and is a drug addict.



"It is sad to say but Tony Almeida is a desperate and disgruntled employee who is destitute and will do anything for money. In doing this he has violated a confidentiality agreement which proves is lack of integrity," OK! Magazine quoted him, as saying.

"Furthermore he is a man who is passing the buck because it is he who has neglected his disable son and entire family in Brazil for 20 years. How can he castigate myself and the members of my family about illegal drug use when he uses steroids that fuel his own rage (perhaps even worse than the rage he attributes to me)? Yet again, this is an instance of someone living off Lindsay and our family for their own personal gain,' he added.

Insisting that the dejected bodyguard has got very 'creative', Michael also denied other claims made by Almeida including, that he had beaten up the 'Mean Girls' star, and that the starlet has been cash cow for her parents.



He also refuted Almeida's claims that they allowed the 21-year-old to share a room with her then beau Aaron Carter, for he could help her music career.

"To address his 'stalking' claim, I never entered Lindsay's property in LA. Tony knows that, but now that he is dejected and in dire straits he has gotten very 'creative.' Lindsay had a secure trust fund up until the age of 18, again a time I was separated from my family, so how could we have lived off Lindsay? Up until that time I supported my family in every conceivable capacity. Records will prove, I never took one red cent from Lindsay directly or indirectly, nor did I ever touch Lindsay or any of my children," he said.

"As I have admitted I slapped Dina once in 1989 and I have truly regretted it ever since. Tony never saw me doing cocaine because I was not doing it at that time. I have a video of Lindsay's entire sweet 16 which shows that she only drank juices and soft drinks. During the time Lindsay was with Aaron, Dina and I were always around; we even had a federal agent, who is a friend of mine, as security for Lindsay and Aaron. Not once was it ever reported to us that any drinking, drugs or promiscuity ever took place.

"Tony is a desperate man who is struggling to make ends meet any way he can. Lindsay was never afraid of me. If anything she turned to me when she had problems. Tony only had known me for 2 years, much of which I was not around him or Lindsay, so how can he judge me or my relationship with my children."

Is Paris Hilton Changing? Paris Hilton sure is looking swell

Forget crop circles and the Bermuda triangle, the real mystery of our times is how Paris Hilton manages to transform her barely there chest to va-va-voom cleavage.

The 26-year-old took to Malibu beach - her favourite hang-out since leaving prison almost two months ago - in a plunging one-piece suit that revealed very buxom looking bust. The heiress has said she considered having breast implants as a teenager, and even begged her parents for permission to go under the knife, but was eventually
talked out of it.



She has said: "Years ago, I asked my dad for a boob job and he said it would cheapen my image."

Perhaps her increased décolletage is just thanks to old fashioned push-up bra trickery. The star joined Entourage actor Adrian Grenier on the sand to film a segement for a program on celebrities and paparazzi, according to reports.



Hilton's television career recently hit a bump - The Simple Life, the reality television series she stars in alongside Nicole Richie - has been cancelled in the US.

Hilton is already supporting Richie's next project - motherhood.

She said: "I know she's going to be the best mom ever."

Paris stares at pictures of herselfelf


Lounging round on a Malibu beach with her pet chihuahua for company while admiring pictures of herself can only mean one thing.

It's another day in the life of Paris Hilton of course.

Proving she's her own biggest fan, Hilton, 26, cuddled pet pooch Tinkerbell as she flicked through fashion folders containing pictures of herself from a recent photoshoot.



She may have claimed "there's more to me than what people think" following her 23-day stint in jail - yet the heiress has done little to dispel the perception of her as a round-the-clock party girl who spends most days topping up her tan. However in fairness to Hilton, she has stayed true to her recent vow to devote more time to charitable causes.

In the evening, she swapped her bikini top and shorts, for a more glamorous look as she attended a party in west Hollywood benefitting the Heal the Bay charity.

The environmental organisation is concerned with preventing the Santa Monica Bay area from being used as a dumping site. On release from jail in June for violating probation in a drink-drive case, Hilton vowed partying would no longer be the "mainstay" of her life.

"It was a journey to figure out myself and who I am and what I want to do. There's so much more to me than what people think."

"I have a new outlook on life," said Hilton.