THE HOTLIST - FRIDAY, MARCH 11

 

SPLENDA COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS:




Sure, the idea of getting your sugar fix without the calories always seems enticing, but new research suggests that Splenda—an artificial sweetener recently considered safe—may contribute to serious health problems like cancer.

The study, published in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, found that mice fed sucralose daily throughout their lives developed leukemia and other blood cancers. In response to the findings, the Center for Science in the Public Interest—a nutrition watchdog group that assesses the safety of food additives—has now formally recommended that consumers avoid the sweetener. That's a big deal, considering that until 2013, they'd rated the additive as "safe."

Granted, the doses of sucralose used in the study were equivalent to someone drinking at least 10 cans of diet soda per day—tough for anyone to do, but not totally out of the realm of possibility if you're consuming artificial sweeteners from multiple food and drink sources. "And even if you consume less, that doesn't mean there's no problem," Lefferts says. "When something causes cancer at high doses, it generally causes cancer at lower doses, the risk is just smaller."

CHRIS ROCK: WHERE'S THAT COOKIE MONEY?

Remember when Chris Rock sold $65,000 worth of Girl Scout cookies during the Oscars? The local troop says it hasn't seen a dime.

Latoya Edwards, whose daughter is in Inglewood, California troop 5215, tells TMZ that the Academy had said it was going to donate the cash to the Greater Los Angeles Council. Her troop would actually receive $1000, not $65,000, but even that small amount hasn't shown up.

A rep for Girl Scouts of America tells TMZ, "The donation process is determined by local councils." So far, the Academy hasn't issued any further public comment. 

ADAM LEVINE: GONNA BE A DAD

Victoria's Secret model Behati Prinsloo and her hubby Adam Levine of The Voice are expecting their first baby. Multiple sources confirm tthat the Victoria’s Secret Angel, 26, is three to four months along in her pregnancy and that her rocker hubby is “over the moon” about impending fatherhood.

KEIFER SUTHERLAND SET TO TOUR IN SUPPORT OF NEW ALBUM




When the drama “24” was on Fox, fans of the thriller would wear shirts asking “What would Jack Bauer do?”

If Jack were Kiefer Sutherland these days, he would announce a concert tour this spring and the release of an album, “Down In A Hole,” this summer.

Although known more as an actor than a singer and musician, Sutherland and Jude Cole established a label a few years ago called Ironworks, with the emphasis on signing local musicians. Among those signed were Rocco DeLuca and the Burden, HoneyHoney and Billy Boy On Poison.

In 2009, Sutherland left the label to recharge and figure out what he was going to do next. One of those things was to start writing songs, which he started playing for Cole last year. Cole thought they were good enough to record and the album progressed from there.

“It’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to a journal or diary,” Sutherland says. “All of these songs are pulled from my own personal experiences. There is something very satisfying about being able to look back on my own life, good times and bad, and express those sentiments in music.”

The actor-turned-singer adds that he is looking forward to going out and playing those songs live now that the album is finished. The tour kicks off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 14 and will continue mostly in the Midwest and Northeast. Other dates are to be added.

Sutherland’s lastest movie was “Forsaken,” in which he starred with his father, Donald Sutherland. He also will star in an upcoming ABC series, “Designated Survivor.”

KIEFER SUTHERLAND TOUR DATES:

April 14 Milwaukee, Wis. - Shank Hall
April 15 Madison, Wis. - Majestic
April 16 Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Pyramid Scheme
April 18 Ann Arbor, Mich. - The Ark
April 19 Cleveland, Ohio - Grog Shop
April 20 Pittsburgh, Pa. - Hard Rock Cafe
April 22 Huntington, W. Va. - V Club
April 23 Cincinnati, Ohio - Ballroom at the Taft
April 24 Indianapolis, Ind - Vogue
April 26 Columbus, Ohio - A&R Music Bar
May 04 Charlotte, N.C. - Visulite Theatre
May 06 Raleigh, N.C. - Lincoln Theatre
May 08 Richmond, Va. - Capital Ale House
May 09 Annapolis, Md. - Ram’s Head Tavern
May 11 Wilmington, Del. - World Cafe Live
May 12 Teaneck, N.J. - Mexicali Live
May 14 Pawling, N.Y. - Daryl’s House
May 15 Ithaca, N.Y. - The Dock
May 16 Buffalo, N.Y. - Iron Works
May 19 Northampton, Mass. - Iron Horse
May 20 Boston, Mass. - Brighton Music Hall
May 21 Providence, R.I. - The Met
May 24 Asbury Park, N.J. - Stone Pony
May 25 Long Island, N.Y. - Founders Room
May 26 Sellersville, Pa. - Sellersville Theater
May 28 Amagansett, N.Y. - Stephen Talkhouse

SAY HELLO TO BRIAN... DOLOMEDES BRIANGREENEI

Say hello to Brian, full name Dolomedes briangreenei, the most recently discovered spider in Australia. (Although considering it's Australia, it's probably only the 10th most recently discovered spider now). According to a report from Mashable Australia, Brian was revealed at the World Science Festival in Brisbane on Wednesday, and loves fresh water streams, going for long swims, and sitting motionless on ponds waiting to devour its prey. And it can kill prey up to 3 times it's own size. How sweet!

I see pictures of Australia and I think, "boy, it would be nice to go there." Then, it seems like the entire country is filled with nightmarish death-beasts awaiting the opportunity to KILL ME and feast on my dead carcus and then I'm like NOPE I'm good right here.

This spider can fish and swim. You know, like us homo sapiens. A dangerous, 8-legged, venomous human whose only instinct is to swim...and kill...

Thanks, Australia.