via nj.com

We dig Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation, which helps to build green, affordable housing for the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans, an area destroyed by Katrina. In 2006 Brad got together a team of architects, and since then has had help from Bill Clinton, a huge donation from Will Ferrell and his wife Viveca. Even Ellen DeGeneres has helped form a team.

Brad has been using the Martin Luther King School For Science and Technology in the Ward for team meetings, and teacher Doris Hicks told People Magazine that "Brad has given me his promise he's going to do some special things with us. We're not going to let him forget!"

via EOnline

Dum, dum, de-dum. Dum, dum, de-dum. . .

Following Thursday’s over-turn of the gay marriage ban in
California, Ellen DeGeneres announced on her talk show that she and Nip/Tuck actress Portia deRossi are planning to tie the knot!

Ellen has been a huge pioneer for gay rights, ever since her character came out as a lesbian on her show Ellen in 1997 and she appeared on the cover of Time with the line Yup, I'm gay.

"I can’t wait to get married," Ellen told the Advocate. "We all deserve the same rights, and I believe that someday we’ll look back on this and not allowing gays to marry will seem as absurd as not allowing women to vote.

Then, in true Ellen fashion, she added: "P.S. I'm registered at Crate & Barrel.”

How do you feel about Ellen's decision to get hitched? Comment (or send congrats to the happy couple!) below.

Then learn how you can promote gay rights here.

Friends of the late Heath Ledger came together to share their thoughts and final goodbyes in a tribute by Interview magazine, due out in April. Michelle Williams, Naomi Watts, Ellen DeGeneres, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Todd Haynes shared their fond memories of the young star who lost his life too soon. source

Michelle Williams, who has a daughter with Ledger, said:

"I think the interesting thing about Heath, which maybe people have only really fully discovered in his death, is how vulnerable he was. You can pick up on it in his performances, but it’s easy to overlook because he was so physical and beautiful and strong and masculine. But there was always that underlying sensitivity. That’s who he was. He had a talent for everything that he put his mind to. He didn’t know limits."

Naomi Watts said that Heath's career was cut short before he could really shine and she also mentioned his chess skills, "He was a huge, obsessive, chess freak – and very, very good at it."

Ellen DeGeneres said she liked that Heath stayed true to himself, "He didn't try to be something that he wasn't. And I appreciated that."

Phillip Seymour Hoffman said,

"Whenever Heath talked about something he liked, he did it in the way that any fan would. He wasn't somebody trying to cover up his excitement about something, or someone."

Todd Haynes commented on Ledger's amazing performance in Brokeback Mountain,

"That performance in Brokeback Mountain was such a sensitive, understated, controlled interpretation of this character. The entire emotional power of that film, which is enormous, resides in that performance, and how much Heath holds in."

We will all miss Heath Ledger, who's career was sadly cut short by his death - RIP.

Ellen DeGeneres has had a year of heartfelt moments . . . most recently speaking out against homophobic violence and the horrifying murder that has shocked the country.

On the heels of a teenager's cold-blooded murder, DeGeneres, openly gay herself, fought back tears as she addressed her studio audience.

The openly gay star was close to tears on Thursday's show as she told viewers about the death of the 15-year-old, who was shot in the head at the E.O. Green School in Oxnard, California, on February 12 - reportedly for being a homosexual. King's killer, 14-year-old Brandon McInerney, apparently targeted the student because he asked him to be his date for Valentine's Day. DeGeneres says, "Larry was not a second class citizen and I am not a second class citizen. It's OK to be gay." (source)

 

Related Cause:     Gay Rights

What's up, guys!?

Hope you had a refreshing weekend and aren't getting too antsy for the semester to end.  I thought I'd send you a good few good links to help you procrastinate . . . as if you needed inspiration.  ;)

• Ellen is doing a little Extreme Home Makeover . . . for the four-legged set!  The daytime queen has announced plans to overhaul shabby animal shelters and make them homey and safe.  Iggy thanks you, Ellen.
• Brad Pitt has been getting some slack for wearing that same darn hat everywhere he goes, (sparking speculation that his golden locks are thinning!)  Turns out he's promoting a good deed.  Buy a hat - or a t-shirt, or a bag - and proceeds to toward helping to rebuild post-Katrina damage.  Here's the site, if you're doing your holiday shopping online . . .
• Jenny McCarthey got in a treehouse to celebrate the holidays.  Yes, a treehouse.
• Oprah gets political.