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In an interview with CNN, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie says billionaire investor Warren Buffett should “just write a check and shut up.”

Christie was referring to a proposed tax hike for the rich that Buffett has lent his name to. The so-called “Buffett Rule” would ensure that people making more then $1 million a year pay a higher share of their income in taxes then the middle class.

Christie, who is supporting Mitt Romney for the GOP presidential nomination, is also being mentioned as a possible running mate for the party’s eventual nominee.

mcgill.alumni, Flickr

Detroit Red Wings Coach Mike Babcock wants the state to help finance a new arena in Detroit according to the Detroit News. The News says Babcock made the comments about a new arena when he called into 97.1 The Ticket on Tuesday.

Babcock said “if you want the city to come back, you got to revitalize downtown. And a big part of that’s going to be the new arena, and the mall and stuff going around it. And that’s very important. That’s why we need the state to jump onside, and the sooner the better, if we’re going to revitalize Michigan. It’s got to start right here in Detroit.”

Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch has said for the past five years he’d like to build a new arena for the team downtown. One of the snags has been financing. When Ilitch built Comerica Park in the 90′s, home of the Detroit Tigers, he received $115 million from the city of Detroit, Wayne County and corporate investors and paid the remaining $185 million. The state financed infrastructure improvements. Economic experts and a pollster speculate that Ilitch won’t get as much public aid for an arena.

Governor Snyder’s office has not commented on the issue, but when he ran for Governor in 2010, he stated he would like to see private interests finance a new arena and the money loaned from the state should be repaid with guarantees.

Ilitch Holdings spokeswoman Karen Cullen said, “Our organization has been on record as stating we would like a new arena downtown.”

Here’s a look at this year’s nominees in the major categories. Let your voice be heard and tell us who you think will win!

‘Hugo’ leads the way with 11 nominations. Will it end the evening with the most wins? You tell us:

Paramount/DreamWorks/DreamWorks

Frazer Harrison/Kevin Winter/Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Kevin Winter/Carlos Alvarez/Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Frazer Harrison/Jason Merritt/Jason Merritt, Getty Images

Jason Merritt/Frazer Harrison/Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Gareth Cattermole/Valerie Macon/Jamie McCarthy, Getty Images

DreamWorks/DreamWorks/Blind Wink Productions

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United States Senator Debbie Stabenow visited Kettering University yesterday to announce new Grow it Here, Make it Here initiatives to advance Michigan’s emerging bio-based manufacturing industry.

According to the Kettering University News, Stabenow said bio-based manufacturing, using agriculture goods to make value-added products, is an industry poised to grow and create jobs in Michigan. Last fall, Stabenow announced her first Grow it Here, Make it Here initiative. New tax cuts would be created for companies that invest in new facilities or purchase equipment to manufacture bio-based products. Her new initiatives would increase access to capital for bio-based manufacturers, improve marketing of bio-based profits and spur the commercialization of new agricultural innovations to help create new jobs.

Stabenow made the announcements at Kettering’s Innovation Center. She was joined by representatives from the University, Swedish Biogas international, Landaal Packaging Systems, Flint Mayor Dayne Walling and the Bio Alliance Council.

Steve Powell, Getty Images

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:

1819 – By the Adams-Onís Treaty, Spain sells Florida to the United States for $5 million (More info)

1879 – In Utica, New York, Frank Woolworth opens the first of many of five-and-dime Woolworth stores (More info)

1924 – President Calvin Coolidge becomes the first commander-in-chief to deliver a radio broadcast from the White House (More info)

1980 – In what would come to be called the Miracle on Ice, the US men’s hockey team beats the heavily-favored Soviet Union team 4-3 at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York (More info)

2006 – At least six men stage Britain’s largest robbery in history, stealing $92.5 million from a Securitas depot in Kent (More info)

Frazer Harrison / David Livingston, Getty Images

Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today:

Jeri Ryan
Age: 44
Occupation: Actress
Known For: Playing the liberated (“de-assimilated”) Borg, Seven of Nine, on ‘Star Trek: Voyager,’ roles on other shows like ‘Leverage,’ ‘Boston Public,’ ‘Dark Skies’ and ‘Shark,’ and her current role as Dr. Kate Murphy on the ABC drama ‘Body of Proof’

Drew Barrymore
Age: 37
Occupation: Actress, Producer and Director
Known For: Her star-making childhood role in ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,’ two stays in rehab by the time she was 14, rebounding nicely with adult roles in ‘Boys on the Side,’ ‘The Wedding Singer,’ ’50 First Dates’ and the ‘Charlie’s Angels’ film franchise, co-founding the prolific Flower Films production company, her recent engagement to art consultant Will Kopelman, and just being all-around adorable

Kyle MacLachlan
Age: 53
Occupation: Actor
Known For: His roles in the cult films ‘Blue Velvet,’ ‘Showgirls,’ ‘Dune’ and ‘The Doors,’ work on the TV shows ‘Twin Peaks,’ ‘Sex and the City’ and ‘Desperate Housewives,’ and a lengthy relationship in the 1990s with supermodel Linda Evangelista

Rachel Dratch
Age: 46
Occupation: Actress and Comedienne
Known For: Being a cast member of ‘Saturday Night Live’ from 1999 to 2006, appearing in movies including ‘Down with Love,’ ‘Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star’ and ‘I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry,’ and her enviably close friendship with Tina Fey

James Blunt
Age: 38
Occupation: Singer, Songwriter and Musician
Known For: Singles including ‘You’re Beautiful’ and ‘Goodbye My Lover,’ being nominated for five Grammys, selling 18 million albums, and having a long string of model girlfriends

Lets_Go_Pens, Flickr

The Detroit Red Wings announced today that forward Pavel Datsyuk underwent knee surgery and is expected to miss 2-3 weeks.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Datsyuk had minor arthroscopic surgery this morning to clean up some fragments in his knee after complaining of pain. Datsyuk leads the Wings in points. Foward Danny Cleary’s return from his own knee injury is expected to alleviate some of pain with Datsyuk’s loss.

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Federal health officials are warning that deaths from the liver-destroying hepatitis C virus are on the rise, and that baby boomers are especially at risk.

It is estimated that two-thirds of those with hepatitis C were born between 1945 and 1965. So some experts are recommending boomers get a one-time blood test to check for the virus — one that can otherwise go undetected and cause damage for decades.

Needle-sharing during illegal drug use is the biggest risk factor for becoming infected with the blood-borne hepatitis C virus, but before 1992, when widespread testing of the blood supply began, it was often spread through blood transfusions.

“One of every 33 baby boomers are living with hepatitis C infection,” Dr. John Ward, hepatitis chief at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told the Associated Press. “Most people will be surprised, because it’s a silent epidemic.”

Officials are urging testing in light of two new drugs that have the potential to provide a cure. Research published Monday by the CDC indicates the cost of testing millions of middle-aged people would be worth it, since thousands of lives could be saved in the process.

The CDC study analyzed a decade of death records and found the 15,000 deaths related to hepatitis C in 2007 were higher than previous estimates. What’s more, they even surpassed the nearly 13,000 deaths caused by HIV/AIDS virus.

“Mortality will continue to grow for the next 10 to 15 years at least unless we do something different” to find and treat the silent sufferers, Dr. Ward said.

Source: TheCheckup.com

Virgin Galactic

Last month Virgin Galactic announced it would begin offering commercial space flights later this year.

The two-and-a-half hour trip just cracks the space barrier and offers about five minutes of weightlessness. It also comes with a fairly prohibitive price tag of $200,000 a pop.

But let’s say money was no object. Would you want to be among the first commercial space travelers?

Poll Position asked 1,145 adults that very question and found that only 23 percent thought the thrill of the great beyond outweighed the risks. Fifty-two percent said they would not be willing to take such a flight and 26 percent had no opinion.

[Poll Position]

Michigan Municipal League, Flickr

Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation today allowing more counties to absorb their county road commissions, bringing greater accountability and efficiency to local government.

House Bills 5125 and 5126, sponsored by state Reps. Jon Switalski and Dale Zorn, respectively, allow county boards of commissioners to dissolve appointed road commissions, or to ask voters for dissolution of elected road commissions. The method of dissolution depends on whether the road commission was originally created by a resolution or public vote. The boards of commissioners would then assume the road agency duties.

It is a measure Snyder proposed in his October special message on infrastructure.

“I appreciate the Legislature’s support in seeking effective delivery of county services and savings for local government,” Snyder said. “We must modernize the way we administer transportation programs and do business in a streamlined, transparent manner.”

Michigan is the only state that has county road commissions. Created more then 100 years ago, when the state’s roads were unpaved and automobiles were in their infancy, the commission system has outlived it usefulness.

Michigan has 81 county road commissions and nearly half of them are not accountable to the rest of county government. Currently, only the largest counties are allowed to incorporate their county road commissions into their general government. Macomb and Wayne counties have already done so.

UtahStateParks, Flickr

State Representative Jim Ananich will be participating in the first annual Legislative Polar Plunge alongside other Michigan legislators on the Capitol Lawn this Thursday, February 23 to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics Michigan athletes. State Represntatives Ananich, Barb Byrum, Kevin Cotter, State Senator Rick Jones and nearly 40 other lawmakers are part of the legislative polar plunge line-up.

When Ananich reaches his personal fundraising goal to support the event, he has committed to plunging in a tennis-themed outfit to acknowledge his days on the tennis team at Flint Central High School. A recent polar plunge event in Fenton raised more then $35,000 for this important cause. The Legislative Polar Plunge is one of 27 Special Olympics Michigan Polar Plunges planned throughout the state from January to March 2012.

The Polar Plunge is made possible by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, a group of police officers and corrections personnel committed to raising fund and awareness for SOMI. Proceed from the Polar Plunge support the year-round sports training and athletic competition for 21,754 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who live in Michigan.

Take the plunge! For more information on the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge or Special Olympics Michigan, visit www.somi.org or call (800) 644-6404.

khamael, Flickr

Students at Grand Blanc Gymnastics are cartwheeling for a good cause this week to raise money for Childrens Miracle Network at Hurley Medical Center, benefiting a program that helps children battle cancer, birth defects, accident, trauma and just about any health challenge.

Renee Darling of Grand Blanc Gymnastics says “our main goal at Grand Blanc Gymnastics is to teach children life lessons through the sport of gymnastics. We believe that helping others in need is one of those vital life lessons that should be taught at an early age. We are proud to be part of such an important annual event. Our gym and 800 students are proud to support Hurley in this important effort. We want to do everything we can to help strengthen children’s healthcare throughout Genesee County, and to help the children at Hurley.”

The Tumble-a-thon will feature gymnasts from toddlers to high school students performing forward rolls and cartwheels for 60 second to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. People can either make a single donation, or make a donation per gymnastic activity.

The Tumble-a-thon runs evenings the remainder of the week and Saturday morning at Grand Blanc Gymnastics located at 3166 Tri Park Drive in Grand Blanc.

The Children’s Miracle Network is a system of 170 hospitals across the United States and Canada dedicated to providing the best care for sick and injured children. Hurley joined CMN in 1990, and is one of only four CMN hospitals in Michigan. Hurley provides quality, child centered care to all who need it, regardless of the family’s ability to pay.

Jim Moran 2010 News Pictures, Flickr

Genesee County has been experiencing a significant rise in gastroenteritis cases. The viruses that cause gastroenteritis, such as Norovirus, are easily transmitted through food, by person-to-person contact, or by contaminated surfaces. The Genesee County Health Department would like to ensure that everyone stays healthy by giving the following information.

Norovirus causes a self-limited moderate illness which typically includes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Symptoms may also include low-grade fever, headache, fatigue and muscle aches. Symptoms may begin as early as 12 hours following exposure, or as late as 48 hours after exposure, and typically last 24 to 60 hours. In most cases ill persons recover without medical attention. Norovirus infection occasionally results in hospitalization due mainly to dehydration, with the very young and elderly at risk. Those with sever diarrhea should drink lots of liquids.

Frequent hand washing using soap and warm running water for a minimum of 20 seconds and preventing contamination of food, drinks, water and ice are critical to prevent the spread of Norovirus. Anyone with gastrointestinal symptoms must not prepare or serve food for others for 48-72 hours after symptoms have ceased. The virus may continue to be shed for up to 14 days after being ill. Food handlers who were recently sick should be given different duties so they do not have to handle food during that period.

Norovirus is easily transmitted and as few as ten virus particles can cause illness. The virus can survive up to a month at room temperature and two months more if refrigerated. Norovirus in vomit can be aerosolized and spread up to 40 feet. Any surfaces that are contaminated with feces or vomit must be thoroughly cleaned with hot, soapy water. Norovirus is resistant to some household disinfectants at normal concentrations. After cleaning, the best way to disinfect contaminated surfaces is to use chlorine bleach in a mixture of 1/3 cup bleach to one gallon of water. Further information about norovirus and environmental cleaning can be found at www.gchd.us.

Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

Facing huge budget shortfalls, the United States Postal Service has proposed solutions including closing hundreds of post offices and eliminating Saturday deliveries. Now it may be considering jacking up the price of stamps, too.

The popularity of internet services like online bill pay have led in part to a 1.7 percent decline in mail volume, causing the USPS to anticipate losing $14.1 billion in 2012 — with bigger losses expected in the years to come.

In response, postal officials sent a letter to Congress last Thursday in which they recommended several changes, including the possibility of increasing the price of a stamp from its current 45 cents up to 50 cents. While stamp prices have gone up four times since 2006, chief financial officer Joe Corbett said, “Clearly, we’re [still] underpriced [and] would like the ability to move that price up.”

The USPS says the extra nickel, which would likely be added in one or two-cent increments until 2015, would raise revenues by $1 billion annually. Although taxpayers don’t foot the bill to keep the postal service running, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe told Congress that failing to help the organization limit its losses would result in a “long-term burden to the American taxpayer.”

[Time]

20th Century Fox, Lucasfilm/20th Century Fox/Columbia Pictures/United Artists/United Artists

For every role that can be considered “Oscar bait,” there are the roles that are completely out of the norm for the Academy Awards.  The actors on our list all gave performances that have transcended Oscars and are more well-known for their contributions to pop culture.

While the Academy tends to ignore genre movies in favor of stuffy period pieces and weepy dramas, occasionally they honor an offbeat character beloved by moviegoers. Whether it’s a tough-as-nails alien fighter, a telekinetic kid or a Jedi master, these are 10 iconic characters from movie history that were surprisingly nominated for an Oscar.

Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi, ‘The Karate Kid’

Columbia Pictures

‘The Karate Kid’ is an ’80s staple that launched three sequels (plus a Jackie Chan reboot) and a bonafide kids classic. Much of the film’s success was due to Pat Morita’s portrayal of wise sensei Mr. Miyagi. Morita, who gained notoriety on ‘Happy Days,’ received his first and only Oscar nomination for the role, losing to Haing S. Ngor for ‘The Killing Fields.’  (It’s also not the only surprising Oscar nomination to come from the ‘Karate Kid’ cast– William Zabka (aka “Sweep the leg Johnny” ) was nominated for Best Short Film, Live Action in 2004.)

Anne Ramsey as Mrs. Lift, ‘Throw Momma From the Train’

Orion Pictures

Anne Ramsey had a long career dating back to 1971 before she became famous for her role as the nasty Mrs. Fratelli in ‘The Goonies.’  It was that role that led Danny De Vito to cast Ramsey as another nasty mama in ‘Throw Momma From the Train.’  While the film otherwise didn’t make much of an impact with critics or audiences, Ramsey was singled out for her performance and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.  Though she may have looked much older, Ramsey died just a few months later, at the age of just 59.

Linda Blair as Regan MacNeil, ‘The Exorcist’

Warner Bros.

‘The Exorcist’ is remembered for a lot of things: pea soup showers, spinning heads, spider walks. But many people forget that Linda Blair, the 13-year-old actress who played possessed schoolgirl Regan MacNeil, was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. The film received a total of 10 total Oscar nominations (including two for stars Ellen Burstyn and Jason Miller) but it was Blair’s that was the most surprising. She was, at the time, one of the youngest actors nominated for an Oscar. Coincidentally, Blair lost that year to 10-year-old Tatum O’Neal (‘Paper Moon’) who still holds the record for the youngest Academy Award winner.

Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, ‘Aliens’

20th Century Fox

Few action heroes are nominated for Oscars. Very few action heroes in sequels are nominated for Oscars.  Very, very few female action heroes in sequels are nominated for Oscars. That’s why Sigourney Weaver’s nomination in James Cameron’s ‘Aliens’ was so remarkable. As remarkable as it was, though, few people remember it happened, likely because the next year, Weaver was nominated for two Oscars in the same year (for ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ and ‘Working Girl’).

Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa, ‘Rocky’

United Artists

‘Rocky’ launched the super-stardom of Sylvester Stallone who went on to become one of the biggest stars in the world. He eventually drove ‘Rocky’ into the ground (see: 1990′s ‘Rocky V’) and the franchise devolved into self-parody, but in the beginning, the underdog boxing film was a hit at the Oscars. Stallone was nominated for Best Actor and, perhaps most surprising, for Best Original Screenplay. Sly has yet to be nominated for an Oscar since, though he does hold the record for the most amount of Razzie nominations. (He can thank ‘Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot’ for that.)

Sir Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi, ‘Star Wars’

20th Century Fox/Lucasfilm

Though Sir Alec Guinness was a widely respected actor prior to ‘Star Wars’ (he won an Oscar previously for ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’), his Oscar-nominated turn as Obi-Wan Kenobi was no doubt his most memorable. With all the ‘Star Wars’ lore, it’s easily forgotten and perhaps Guinness would’ve wanted it that way.  Though the role made him very rich, he hated the fame that came along with the success and, moreso, disliked the films themselves. Guinness told a reporter in 1999 that he suggested to George Lucas that Obi-Wan should die because he “just couldn’t go on speaking those bloody awful, banal lines.”

Sissy Spacek as Carrie White, ‘Carrie’

United Artists

Sissy Spacek’s nomination as Best Actress for ‘Carrie’ is easily forgotten because a) it’s a horror film and b) Spacek went on rack up an impressive six Oscar nominations over her career (winning in 1981 for ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’).  Like comedy and sci-fi, horror films are rarely honored by the Oscars. ‘Carrie’ was rewarded with nominations for both Spacek and her on-screen mother Piper Laurie.

Madeline Kahn as Lili von Shtupp, ‘Blazing Saddles’

Warner Bros.

Despite the Academy doing the right thing and nominating Melissa McCarthy for ‘Bridesmaids,’ comedic performances (particularly ones given by women) rarely get Oscar love. But stage-trained actress Madeline Kahn had already been nominated (1973′s ‘Paper Moon’) before her first collaboration with writer/director Mel Brooks. Her performance in ‘Blazing Saddles’ stood out amongst a cast of comedy heavyweights and may still hold the record for the funniest character name ever nominated for an Oscar.

Gary Busey as Buddy Holly, ‘The Buddy Holly Story’

Columbia Pictures

When you watch ‘The Buddy Holly Story,’ it’s not surprising to think that Gary Busey’s performance would be nominated for an Oscar. But when you watch Gary Busey in everything since then, it’s very surprising to think that the actor — currently best known for ‘Celebrity Rehab’ and otherwise just being a little crazy — was ever nominated for anything. But there was a time when Busey was a talented actor and parlayed his former career as a musician into a powerful performance.

Al Pacino as Alphonse “Big Boy” Caprice, ‘Dick Tracy’

Touchstone Pictures

Over his legendary career, Al Pacino has scored eight Oscar nominations, delivering iconic performances in movies like ‘The Godfather’, ‘Dog Day Afternoon’, ‘Serpico’ and ‘Scent of a Woman’. So it’s a little surprising to see, among those nominations, his performance as mob boss Alphonse “Big Boy” Caprice in the cartoonish ‘Dick Tracy.’ Pacino wore heavy makeup and chewed the scenery (as he is wont to do) as the foil to Warren Beatty’s square-jawed detective. It probably won’t go down as one of his best performances, but for one year, the Academy saw fit to recognize Pacino’s work underneath a rubber nose.

Source: TheFW.com

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Weight gain may not always be due to what you eat. Researchers in Texas find your medication can cause serious weight gain.

Ryan Roux, PharmD, the chief pharmacy officer at Harris County Hospital District’s Drug Information Center, found certain medicines can cause significant weight changes, which can be challenging for anyone wanting to shed pounds or maintain weight.

Weight side-effects are common in medicines used for diabetes, high-blood pressure and mental health conditions. Big gainers are likely for users of steroids for cancer treatment.

“Because of the stigma of weight gain, patients may tend to stop taking their medicines or decrease their  dosage without talking to their physician,” explained Roux. “Doing this is a bad thing. It can affect your health in a number of negative ways.”

Roux said patients should report weight gain due to medication usage to their physician immediately.

“Your healthcare provider should advise you of any potential side effects associated with your medication,” said Andrea Henry, PharmD, formulary manager, Harris County Hospital District. “However, patients also should be actively involved in their treatment and become informed about their long-term medication use.”

Source: TheCheckup.com

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A new Nielsen poll finds smartphones are becoming less of a luxury and more of a so-called necessity — at least for younger people.

Nielsen gathered data to learn more about the age, income and demographics of the typical US smartphone user. Specifically, the firm wanted to know if lower prices are making the devices more popular among those who earn less money.

Turns out more than half of people between 18 and 24 who make less than $15,000 per year are smartphone owners, compared to 43 percent of those aged 25 to 34 and just 31 percent of folks between 35 and 44 years old.

While researchers don’t know if the people surveyed, especially those in the younger group, have outside financial help (parents, spouses, etc.), it’s clear that even the respondents on limited budgets are making room for smartphone ownership.

But what researchers found most interesting is that although the younger set deems the devices a necessity, older people consider them more of a luxury — which is valuable information for developers, publishers and advertisers.

[TechCrunch]

Thinkstock

Fructose has long been considered one of the causes of the obesity crisis across the world. But a new study from researchers in Canada finds that might not be true.

Fructose is a natural sugar that is found in honey, fruit and vegetables. It is also added to a bevy of products like breads, pastries, and condiments. Since the 1970′s fructose has been related to obesity, especially once high-fructose corn syrup was introduced to consumers.

Scientists at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto believe our daily living habits are just as liable for weight gain as fructose is.

Dr. John Sievenpiper, lead researcher and physician at St Michael’s Hospital, examined more than 40 past studies on the link between fructose and obesity. They learned that the sweetener had no impact on weight gain, compared to diets that provided identical calories from other carbohydrates.

“Fructose may not be to blame for obesity,” said Sievenpiper. “ It may just be calories from any food source. Over-consumption is the issue.”

Although some of the subjects in the past studies gained weight after adding fructose to their diet, researchers attributed the weight increase to the extra calories in the fructose, and not the fructose itself.

“You could plot almost anything on the same graph — computer face time, driving cars, the daily suburbanization of the population, more sedentary behaviors, and probably find an equal parallels, or even better fit with the overweight and obesity epidemic,” he said

Historically, fructose has been known to raise blood pressure, provide resistance to needed insulin and cause obesity, however, Sievenpiper and his team conducted their own study to further examine these initial findings.

After reviewing 41 trials of 756 study participants, the researchers confirmed that fructose had no significant effect on weight gain when compared to diets that had the same number of calories using non-fructose carbohydrates.

Although the research team found the results of the study insightful, they believe that a longer study is needed, with more participants, to fully understand the correlation between fructose and obesity.

“But in the absence of that, we think our study provides the highest level evidence of the best estimate of fructose’s effect on body weight,” said Sievenpiper.

Source: TheCheckup.com

Paul Morigi, Getty Images

State lawmakers in Indiana were recently presented with a resolution to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts organization and honor the positive influence the group has had on American women. Representative Bob Morris, a Republican from Fort Wayne, was the only representative to refuse to sign, citing a belief that the Girl Scouts is a “radicalized organization.”

The Indiana lawmaker sent a letter to his colleagues saying he plans to pull his daughters from their Girl Scout troop after he found information online claiming that the group “sexualizes” girls and promotes homosexuality. One source he cited was a conservative “news” website called World Net Daily.

In his letter, he claimed to have found allegations that the Girl Scouts are actually a tactical arm of Planned Parenthood that encourages the girls to have sex. He continued to say that the people who the Girl Scouts consider to be role models are all “feminists, lesbians, or Communists.”

He also mentioned an allegation that the organization allows transgender females to join. This misstatement of the facts was most likely based on a situation that arose last fall when a transgender male child was refused membership in a Colorado troop, but then allowed to join by the national organization, which encourages inclusiveness.

The scouts have received criticism for this inclusiveness and many groups and websites have been working very hard to “expose” them. Diane Tipton, president of the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital said in response, “Misinformation is passing as fact. The Girl Scout organization does not take a position on abortion or birth control, and these topics are not part of the Girl Scout program or our materials. We believe these matters are best discussed by girls with their families.”

At this time, the Girl Scouts are not planning any changes in policy, but they have released a statement explaining where they stand on sensitive issues.

[via Huffington Post]

Kevin Winter / Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today:

Kelsey Grammer
Age: 57
Occupation: Actor
Known For: His two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the hit sitcoms ‘Cheers’ and ‘Frasier,’ providing the voice for characters like Sideshow Bob on ‘The Simpsons,’ currently starring in the Starz series ‘Boss,’ and a tabloid-friendly personal life that’s included four marriages

Jennifer Love Hewitt
Age: 33
Occupation: Actress
Known For: Starring in the ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ film franchise and on the TV shows ‘Party of Five’ and ‘Ghost Whisperer,’ popularizing the weird vajazzling trend, and previous relationships with celebrities including singer John Mayer, who reportedly wrote his hit song ‘Your Body is a Wonderland’ about her

Tyne Daly
Age: 66
Occupation: Actress
Known For: Winning a 1989 Tony for her work in ‘Gypsy,’ earning six Emmys for her roles in ‘Cagney & Lacey,’ ‘Judging Amy’ and ‘Christy,’ and being the older sister of actor Tim Daly

Mary Chapin Carpenter
Age: 54
Occupation: Singer, Songwriter and Musician
Known For: Country hits like ‘I Feel Lucky,’ ‘He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,’ ‘I Take My Chances’ and ‘Shut Up and Kiss Me,’ being the only woman to have won four consecutive Grammy Awards for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, and writing or co-writing songs for other artists like Joan Baez, Cyndi Lauper and Wynonna Judd

Ellen Page
Age: 25
Occupation: Actress
Known For: Her Academy Award-nominated work as the quirky title character in ‘Juno,’ roles in other films including ‘Inception,’ ‘Whip It’ and ‘X-Men: The Last Stand,’ and being the spokesperson for Cisco Systems in a series of ads