Pot-luck taco

I hope you all remembered to visit your local Taco Bell today for a free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco. And sorry if you're just seeing this now: The special, offered because Jason Bartlett stole a base in Game One of the World series, was only from 2-6 p.m. today.

But if you did get your taco, I'd be willing to bet it didn't come with the toppings that one Colorado couple got during a recent trip to a Del Taco restaurant...

The couple called local authorities Oct. 16 when they discovered a small baggie of marijuana in their taco order they pick up at Del Taco.

Police said Dennis Klermund, the employee who waited on the husband, initially denied that the pot was his; he later admitted the bag was for his friend when a drug-sniffing dog found marijuana in a locker.

The 26-year-old, who is no longer employed by Del Taco, faces possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Boys make girls cry and something's gotta change

So I've been a bit tardy on my 'Hills' updates. I didn't have a chance to write about last week's episode, but all I really missed was stupid Lauren broke up with Doug for like, no reason. And then MTV threw me for a loop this week by putting a new episode on Sunday before the VMAs, in an obvious and pathetic attempt to get people to watch the lackluster awards show. So here's a double shot for you...

In "Boys Make Girls Cry," the crew jetsets to Vegas for the night to celebrate Frankie's birthday. Stephanie's former drug problem (click for a terrible mugshot) comes to light and Brody calls her a 'complete psycho,' sending her to the girls' hotel room in tears. Lauren imparts her wisdom -- "Don't cry over someone who wouldn't cry over you" -- and then compassionately tells Stephanie to stop crying because it will ruin her blue eyeliner and she really doesn't have time to retouch it.

Things continue to be awkward between Lauren and Audrina. Apparently they're growing in different directions. Like, Lauren is an aspiring fashion designer who doesn't actually design any clothing and Audrina is an aspiring actress whose acting gig is a part in a reality television show. Yeah. Completely different directions.

In other news, Holly makes good on her sister's offer to move out to Hollywood and into her and Spencer's apartment. While shooting for a high score on his personal arcade game, Spencer complains to Heidi about having to live with another girl and having to see extra tampons in the house (I'm not making that up).

The best part of this episode: "What would you do if you were me and you wake up in the morning, do your average thing, walk out to go work out and your sister’s half-naked on the rowing machine erasing my TiVo rowing her little ass off?" The next time my grandma comes to stay, if she erases "Gossip Girl" on TiVo, she's out on her ass. Straight up.

The episode ends with a garbage cliffhanger: Doug and Brody are in jail. GASP! Except cut to Monday's episode, "Something Has to Change," and we find they were actually just filling out paperwork in a casino holding cell after some lune accosted them on the floor. And who knows if that's even true.

This entire episode is a long and uneventful buildup to Lauren and Audrina's 30-second 'what is happening to our friendship' conversation.

In the meantime, we've got Spencer telling Holly to move out and Holly disappearing for --ohmygod-- a few hours. Then there's JustinBobby giving Audrina advice on the roommate situation. You know, JustinBobby's eloquence as of late has been quite surprising. Perhaps he was on drugs the last two season and has finally cleaned up his act. Maybe he attended the same rehab center as Stephanie. Maybe it's just the haircut.

In the end, Audrina and Lauren have their long-awaited conversation and ultimately make amends, but not without LC throwing in a teary jab about having to awkwardly bob her head at Audrina's "weird" concerts. Poor Audrina; she must not have known when she was approached by producers to befriend these girls that listening to alternative music and having friends who are not blond would make her an outcast.

They hug and make up. Now that Audrina and Lauren have seemingly put their differences behind them, it looks like MTV has the stage set for a Lauren/Heidi reconciliation. I guess we'll find out next week.

The next round of my 'Hills' drinking game:

• Every time Frankie looks like he's gonna drunkenly make out with someone in Vegas.
  
• Whenever you should feel bad for Stephanie, but don't.
  
• Everytime you hear some version of, "We used to be such good friends..."
  
• During every a cry fest. Take a shot when you see black tears.
  

RELATED LINKS
Back in 'The Hills'
"Drama follows them"

Betrayed by the 'Bell'

Isn't it the best feeling when you're getting ready for work at 7 a.m., all the while knowing that you can put on TBS and see your friends from Bayside up to their old antics?

"Saved By the Bell" is probably one of the greatest shows of my adolescent life. There is not one episode I have not seen, one backstory I cannot describe in detail or one super corny line that I cannot recite.

But there were some things about the show -
particularly the real lives of its teen-now-adult stars - that I never really knew too much about... And thanks to Dustin "Screech" Diamond, that might soon be changing.

"Behind the Bell," Diamond's planned tell-all book, promises to detail "sexual escapades among cast members, drug use, and hardcore partying" during the SBTB days, according to New York Magazine.

And while this is probably the greatest idea ever --it's enough to make me sing, "I'm so exciiiited, I'm so exciiiited"-- a part of me wants to forever preserve the innocent images of Zack, Kelly, Jessie, Lisa, Slater and Screech hanging out by their lockers and sharing fries at The Max. I don't want to hear if Mark Paul Gosselaar was actually taking drugs; that would be way too Johnny Dakota of him.

...Plus, I really hate Dustin Diamond and think he's a huge douchebag that doesn't deserve to make money like he'll make off of this. Who knows if he'll even be telling the truth. The guy's got serious "angry typecast" syndrome and probably resents the rest of his castmates that went on to do something else with their lives, like not starring in 67 episodes of "Saved By the Bell: The New Class."

'Rehab' renewed

I don't think I ever wrote about VH1's "Celebrity Rehab" when it was on a few months ago (probably because it's not nearly as addictive as "Rock of Love"), but nonetheless, it turned out to be an extremely captivating and--can you believe this--real reality show.

And VH1 is bringing it back for another stint.

It appears as though Dr. Drew is back again, but there has been no confirmation on any cast members or when the next season will air. Stay tuned!

You'd have to be s'mash'ed to want to eat this

I might have to agree with metro.co.uk when they say that this is the world's most disgusting ice cream...

Food company Aunt Bessie's has released its "Mash Cone," complete with sausage, mashed potatoes, gravy and peas.

Just looking at that makes me want to vomit. Then again, it is 4/20 and maybe if all those really cool people (complete sarcasm) who have been wishing each other 'happy holidays' today get stoned enough, they might consider eating this. I mean, it's a steak dinner set in a sugar cone--what could be wrong with that?

Thanks, Dave!

And God said, 'Let there be solar panels!'

The Vatican is getting hip to the times, yo.

The city is going green namely by adding photovoltaic cells on buildings to produce electricity. Apparently, it's been a huge issue for Pope Benedict, who has said that issues such as climate change have become gravely important for the entire human race.

And the Vatican's energy resources aren't the only thing getting a face life: Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti spoke this week about his thoughts on a number of new-age sins, which include causing environmental blight, drug trafficking and messing around with genetics.

"(Within bioethics) there are areas where we absolutely must denounce some violations of the fundamental rights of human nature through experiments and genetic manipulation whose outcome is difficult to predict and control."--Gianfranco Girotti

I guess Cake was wrong--Sheep won't go to heaven. Guess it's looking better for the goats.

Update: RIP Renfro

Actor Brad Renfro, who was found dead last month in his Los Angeles home, died from a drug overdose of heroine and morphine, according to coroner's reports.

The 25-year-old's death was accidental.

Renfro's troubled past with drugs was well-documented. In 2006, he served 10 days in jail after pleading no contest to driving while intoxicated and guilty to attempted possession of heroin from an undercover officer. He was also charged with cocaine and marijuana possession in 1998, and underage drinking and violating the terms of his probation in 2001.

The childhood star played in "The Client," "Sleepers" and "Apt Pupil," to name a few.

RELATED LINKS
RIP Renfro

Update: Heath Ledger death an accident

Heath Ledger died from an accidental overdose of a number of prescription and over-the-counter drugs found at his apartment, officials said Wednesday.

"Mr. Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine," the New York City medical examiner's office said in a short statement.

Those drugs in all are painkillers, anti-anxiety pills, sleep aids and antihistamine.

RELATED LINKS:
Update: Heath Ledger's death
BREAKING NEWS: Actor Heath Ledger found dead

Update: Heath Ledger's death

From The New York Post's Page Six:

January 31, 2008 -- HEATH Ledger had become a regular user of cocaine and heroin in the past year, getting so high on drugs that an exasperated Michelle Williams was forced to boot him out of their Brooklyn home, The Post has learned.

"She couldn't take it any more. Heath wouldn't show up for two to three days, and all of a sudden he would show up on her doorstep, an absolute wreck," a member of Ledger's entourage who did drugs with him told The Post's Lorena Mongelli. "He was partying, doing drugs. She didn't like the company he was keeping. She gave him an ultimatum. . . . and threatened to get custody of the girl. He wanted to make it work, but it was this scene he was wrapped up in. Was he an addict? Yeah."

The revelation comes as "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider" said that "out of respect for Heath Ledger's family," they would drop plans to air a video of Ledger snorting cocaine with a rolled-up bill at the Chateau Marmont. The video was taped without Ledger's knowledge following the SAG Awards two years ago. PageSix.com reports that Ledger quips on the tape, "I'm gonna get so much [bleep] from my girlfriend. We have a baby together, Matilda."

Heath's drug pal told The Post the 28-year-old star's mushrooming fame had him constantly exposed to drugs. As the pressures of work grew, he couldn't say no, and then wouldn't get help. "He was hanging out with a bad crowd. He wasn't cleaning up his act. He was making absolutely no effort . . . He was really into heroin. He wasn't sleeping or communicating with anyone."

Page Six usually has the hook-up, but I don't want to validate any rumors. I'm just passing along information that could eventually turn up something significant.

'Give to me your paraphernalia, take from me my Lace'

You might not be pumped for NBC's reinvention of American Gladiators, perhaps because it's a WWE-ified version of its former self? Whatever happened to Zap, Diamond, Nitro...?

Well, I don't know about the rest of them, but Los Angeles PD busted former Gladiator babe Lace for possession of drug paraphernalia last week.

Lace? Drugs? Gosh, the joke is almost too easy. Maybe Blaze will get busted for marijuana next week.

Lace, also known as Marisa Pare, was held on $250 bail.

RELATED LINKS:
"Gladiators, are you ready?"

Update: "We always do it nice and rough"

Updating a previous item:

Ike Turner, who was found dead in home Dec. 12, reportedly died of a cocaine overdose, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office. High blood pressure and emphysema contributed to the death, but the overdose was accidental.

RELATED LINKS:
"We always do it nice and rough"

RIP Renfro

Actor Brad Renfro was found dead in his Los Angeles home tonight.

The cause of death is currently unknown, but the former childhood actor had been struggling with drugs and alcohol addiction for several years. In 2005, he attempted to buy heroin from an undercover cop and served time in jail during May 2006 for those charges and a DWI.

Renfro debuted in "The Client" at age 12, and also starred in "Sleepers," "Deuces Wild," "Apt Pupil" and "The Jacket. He just finished shooting a movie called The Informers with Winona Ryder, Mickey Rourke and Billy Bob Thorton, according to IMDB.

This entry will be updated as more information becomes available.

Serial swine

A 58-year-old Canadian pig farmer, accused of killing women and feeding their remains to his pigs, has been found guilty on the first six of 26 murder charges.

Robert "Willie" Pickton automatically received a life sentence when the jury found him guilty of murdering prostitutes and drug addicts on his farm. If he is accountable for those deaths, he would become Canada's worst serial killer.

An undercover cop, who had been placed in Pickton's jail cell and gained his trust, said that Pickton had planned to kill one more woman--"make it an even 50"--then kill another 25 after he he took a short break. Come on, you know that killing prostitutes is hard work.

One witness said she walked in on a blood-covered Pickton as a woman's body dangled from a chain in the farm's slaughterhouse. Another witness testified that Pickton told him how he strangled his alleged victims and fed their remains to his pigs. Did he run out of grain and slop??

Shouldn't they issue a recall on any bacon that's come out of Pickton's pig farm, because it would totally gross me out to eat digested prostitute bacon. That can't be kosher.

This one really 'whacks' me up, haaa

Hey, did you hear the one about the mafia boss who was arrested while watching a television show about the arrest of a mafia boss??

No, that's not a bad joke--it actually happened today.

They Catalano, who was suspected of being a senior commander serving under the latest "boss of bosses" Salvatore Lo Piccolo, was arrested in Sicily. Catalano was watching the concluding chapter late Thursday of the TV mini-series "The Boss of Bosses," recounting the arrest in 1993 of real-life Cosa Nostra leader Salvatore "Toto" Riina, when police burst into his room and arrested him.

Catalano faces charges of drug trafficking and extortion.

I say 'so, so, so'?

R&B singer Amy Winehouse was held for drug possession yesterday after police found her with 7 grams of marijuana in a Norway hotel room. Police reportedly received a tip-off. Honestly, who is surprised by this? Is this even news? And a better question, what kind of satisfaction does someone get by saying, "Yes, police? Here's a tip for you: Amy Winehouse has drugs." It's probably become as commonplace as Britney Spears doing something "media worthy" (and I mean worthy in the loosest terms possible). I think it's safe to say she's always in possession of something.