Celebrity - The Huffington Post

"People of the Interwebs" were treated today by Will Ferrell's first-ever Reddit AMA on behalf of his favorite non-profit, Cancer For College. Spoiler alert: all of his answers were ridiculous.

In honor of World Cancer Day, Ferrell responded to questions from fans with a mix of trivia (his favorite sandwich), opinions about other celebrities (apparently Mark Wahlberg smells really good) and total nonsense. Sweet, hilarious nonsense.

Other highlights included a real conversation with Snoop Dogg about playing cowbell on his next album, his favorite "Saturday Night Live" sketch, and Ferrell finally admitting that he's really Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.

Scroll down for his best replies and check out the full AMA here.

WASHINGTON (AP) — When art historians saw Paris fall to the Nazis in World War II, they immediately realized Europe's vast monuments, art, cathedrals and architecture were at risk and began mobilizing to protect such treasures.

In Washington, the newly opened National Gallery of Art became the U.S. museum world's epicenter for lobbying President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Allied forces in 1941 to prevent the destruction of Europe's monuments. Their efforts would create a corps of U.S. and British soldiers who worked to protect cultural sites and recover looted art after the war. Now for the first time, photographs, maps, correspondence and records — including lists of art amassed by Adolf Hitler and other Nazi leaders — from the corps of soldiers known as "monuments men" are going on display at the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian Archives of American Art and the National Archives.

At the same time, George Clooney, Matt Damon and Cate Blanchett tell the story in "The Monuments Men" movie opening Friday, drawing new attention to the history. It's a story straight out of the nation's archives and art repositories from the records that real monuments men and women left behind.

One of them was George Leslie Stout, an art conservator at the Fogg Museum in Boston, who drafted a plan for a special military team to protect Europe's art from Allied bombings. He even enlisted in the Navy with hopes of seeing his plan through. Leaders at the National Gallery of Art pressed the case with justices of the Supreme Court and the president, and their efforts led to the creation of the U.S. Army's Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Section.

Shortly before D-Day, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower issued an order for every field commander to guard irreplaceable sites as Allied troops invaded the European mainland to defeat Germany.

"Inevitably, in the path of our advance will be found historical monuments and cultural centers which symbolize to the world all that we are fighting to preserve," Eisenhower said in 1944. "It is the responsibility of every commander to protect and respect these symbols whenever possible."

Surrounded by the destruction of war, the monuments unit mapped important sites to save and later turned to recovering and returning stolen artwork — a change from the spoils-of-war practices of the past.

Personal papers from Stout and other "monuments men," including James Rorimer and Walker Hancock, were later acquired by the Archives of American Art and the National Gallery. Filmmakers consulted the archives in making the movie, including some of the records now displayed, said Kate Haw, director of the Smithsonian's archive.

"The movie will make a great story, and then people can come learn the history by coming to us," she said.

Rarely seen images now on view at the Smithsonian's American Art Museum show a garden sculpture at the Palace of Versailles draped in camouflage netting for protection, the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany where the Nazis amassed stolen art and the rescue of Michelangelo's 1504 sculpture "Madonna and Child," which had been stolen from a church in Bruges, Belgium.

Among the documents on display are the records of art historian Rose Valland who spied on the Nazis at the Paris museum where she worked and kept notes on plundered art, as well as the personal inventory of art looted for Nazi leader Hermann Goering's personal collection.

One recently discovered "Hitler Album" of looted art also is displayed at the National Archives, while additional documents and archival photos go on display Feb. 11 at the National Gallery of Art.

A permanent "Monuments Men Experience" is being developed at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. It's scheduled to open in 2016.

Examining the real records helps bring the story of the "monuments men" to life, said Maygene Daniels, chief of the National Gallery's archives.

"What we're trying to recreate is what it was like to be a young officer trained in art history or archaeology who finds yourself in the military and has this amazing responsibility of protecting great art," she said. "It was an extraordinary moment in history."

___

Follow Brett Zongker on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DCArtBeat .

Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction caused a national meltdown at the 2004 Super Bowl. Yet the Red Hot Chili Peppers didn't even bother bringing a wardrobe to Sunday's Super Bowl halftime show. Despite the cold weather, singer Anthony Kiedis and bass player Flea performed their hit song 1991 Give It Away completely shirtless, gyrating and prancing as the crowd roared its approval.

I'd like to know if the FCC plans to fine this band and FOX for broadcasting nudity to a global audience. And where are those "family values" groups that eviscerated Janet Jackson, not to mention the deep concern from pundits, preachers, and politicians lamenting the decline of civilization?

I checked in with the hypersensitive One Million Moms yesterday, because everything offends them. According to their website, "Mom, are you fed up with the trash in today's media? Take action now." Yet there was not one peep about the Red Hot Chili Peppers' performance.

No, instead of outrage, the reaction to the sensual skin display was summed up by a headline on The Huffington Post: "Anthony Kiedis And His Abs Steal The Halftime Show." That's interesting, because in 2004 Janet Jackson's breast allegedly stole the innocence of children.

The criticism was not that their performance was obscene. It was that they were too old, at 51, to be seen. For example, one man named Zack tweeted, "The Red Hot Chili Peppers are so old, they're more like the Brown, Dried-up Chili Peppers now."

The disparate treatment of Janet Jackson and The Red Hot Chili Peppers reveals a gaping double standard. We like to think of ourselves as modern, but in 2014, nude male performers are considered sexy, while women doing the exact same thing are called sluts. This backward, tribal mentality is wrong and shows how far we have to go until women are treated as equals in society.

The illogical system endures in the name of propriety and religion. Those upholding the status quo say they are not misogynistic and that many women support their dress codes. Yet it has to be more than a coincidence that women are always the ones made to sacrifice and wear oppressive styles of clothing -- even in the stifling summer heat. When was the last time God told a man to wear an item of clothing that approximated a veil?

As Americans we look down on social backwaters like Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia where women can't show their faces. Yet we are only less conservative by degree. The same incoherent underlying principle at work in these uptight countries applies, on some level, to American women: Men can let it all hang out, while women must keep their bodies under wraps in the false name of "modesty."

There is no way to rationalize our different treatment of women's breasts and men's chests. A man's chest is just as much a sexual object for gay men and straight women as breasts are for straight men and lesbians.

To prove this, all one has to do is walk into any gym in America. The most frequently encountered item in the weight room is the bench press. This chest exercise provides no useful daily function, as opposed to exercises for back muscles, which can be utilized for picking up heavy objects. The bench press largely exits for increasing a man's sex appeal.

What is it about women's breasts in America that is so threatening, and what is it about men's chests that is so benign? In much of Europe there are comparatively liberal attitudes, with many women sunbathing topless or completely nude. Yet in America we still demand that women cover up at the beach, except at a handful of secluded nude sunbathing venues.

It has always baffled me that more women haven't protested this obvious double standard. The few times I have seen this taboo challenged is at LGBT pride parades, where a smattering of lesbians march topless. And even at these venues, too many people seem shocked, even as throngs of shirtless men stream by with little notice or comment.

The HBO sitcom Girls is one television show that is breaking down this vestige of Victorianism. The show's protagonist, Hannah, played by Lena Dunham, regularly appears nude. What is strikingly different about her bare body onscreen is that she is pear-shaped rather than built like a fashion model. Thus the intention is not to boost ratings though cheap thrills but to show the bodies of real, everyday women in natural settings. More shows should follow the lead of Girls, by matter-of-factly showing women's bodies.

Not only was Sunday's Super Bowl a lopsided game, but it exposed the lopsided view of male versus female sexuality. In a mature country, a wardrobe malfunction would not cause a national meltdown. Americans need to get over their fear of breasts while unapologetically fawning over men's chests. If men can flaunt their sexuality on the global stage, why can't women?

A recent poll asking readers to weigh in on Taylor Swift and Heidi Klum's cleavage may be a new low for the Detroit Free Press -- and yes, that pun is intended.

Last month, the newspaper published a poll online that gave readers the chance to vote "good" or "bad" on the cleavage of 12 celebrities. "When cleavage is good, it’s very, very good. When it’s bad, it’s atrocious," the paper explained.

Georgea Kovanis, the Free Press writer who is credited for the poll, also offered "Dos and Don'ts of Cleavage" and listed the celebs on her good and bad lists in an accompanying column.

Those who bothered to vote were most impressed with Sofia Vergara (3,200 "good" votes) and least with Lena Dunham (2,514 "bad" votes), but plenty of readers had stronger opinions about the paper's judgement.

"Detroit Free Press, you've sunk to a new low in journalism. And there are a lot of lows to compare with," reader Marla Cone commented on the article. "Please keep your comments smart and civil. Unlike, of course, the poll itself," said Stephen Whitty. "This paper has finally jumped the shark," wrote Benny Leibhan.

After media blog JimRomenesko.com linked to the story Tuesday, the outrage spilled onto Twitter.

Yikes, @freep, did you accidentally publish an article from 1950?http://t.co/Q7LPZybXB2 @HannaRosin @NoreenMalone @DoubleXMag @meganharris13
— June Thomas (@junethomas) February 4, 2014

I can't express how utterly flabbergasted I am at this in 120 characters. http://t.co/ywiCefI5C2 Journalist integrity is dead at the @freep.
— Benny Vasquez (@bennyvasquez) February 4, 2014

OMG -- RT Judging women's breasts not "news".MT @HiddenBrain: Shouldn't @freep change its twitter handle 2 @sexist? http://t.co/nwqqMO34pt
— Ellen Comisar (@elesscom) February 4, 2014

I'll say it first: The Detroit Free Press must be run by boobs. "Vote: Good cleavage or bad cleavage" http://t.co/4hJpuxGQfo via @freep
— Kevin McDermott (@kevinmcdermott) February 4, 2014

Free Press Managing Editors Julie Topping and Nancy Andrews told The Huffington Post that the poll, which initially only had a line of two of text leading into the voting, went along with Kovanis' column leading into the Grammys.

"Online, we asked people to vote on which celebrities showed cleavage in the best way," they said in an email. "Unfortunately, the language of the poll lost the context of the column. We have since added more context."

The poll now includes part of Kovanis' column, which weighs in on the celebrity cleavage "trend." As red carpet style filters into the mainstream, "we’re going to be seeing even more cleavage, coping with a cleavage explosion at work, at social events, even in front of our own mirrors," she wrote. "Cleavage can make women feel feminine, which often makes them feel pretty and sexy and confident."

But certain parts of Kovanis' column might not make those who took issue with the poll any happier, like when she writes about how women use their breasts.

"No matter how feminist their leanings, most women get a certain charge, a certain power from using their femininity to catch a man’s eye or, in some cases, using it as a form of Kryptonite," Kovanis said.

"Cleavage also can distract from anything its wearer is trying to say, any point she wants to make," she wrote. "Instead of being seen as someone with a valid opinion, she runs the risk of being seen as someone with nothing to offer but breasts. Because that’s where all eyes will be."

Though the few readers who responded to the poll itself may not have thought so, both Vergara and Dunham are winners in our book for loving their bodies and not apologizing for it.

When HuffPost Entertainment caught up with Kate Mulgrew on the red carpet at the Writers Guild Awards' East Coast ceremony on Saturday (Feb. 1), she wouldn't spill many details about the second season of "Orange is the New Black." (Fortunately, creator Jenji Kohan filled in the gaps when Us Weekly asked about Laura Prepon's much-questioned involvement.) But even if Mulgrew wouldn't budge on the juiciest scoops, she did provide insight about the loving dynamic among the "OITNB" cast, the joys of wearing the same outfit in every episode and her favorite redhead of all time.

What are the best and worst parts of wearing the same outfit in every episode?
There’s nothing worst about that, let me tell you.

The pressure’s off, right?
Every role that I’ve ever loved and played well has been in a uniform. From doctors to starship captains to journalists -- well, that’s a very different kind of thing -- to a prisoner. And even then, I get to wear a sort of unique costume because I’m in the kitchen, so I love that.

But you look so glamorous tonight. You don’t ever long for that on TV?
Never. And I look glamorous only under duress, sweetie -- only because I know that I have to. That’s really not in my nature anymore.

Are people recognizing you now for "Orange is the New Black" as much as they do for "Star Trek"?
Well, you know, I am the only the female starship captain, so that goes with me wherever I go. But "Orange" is a huge hit, so I’m getting a lot of Red. And Red is a gorgeous character, so it’s all happening for me at once, and I must say I’m very, very happy.

We have no real idea of how many people are watching the show, but has Netflix shared viewership figures with the cast?
They don’t have to. I’m getting fed stuff all the time. I know it, I know it from my nieces, I know it from my friends, I know it from my family, I know it walking down the street. I know it, I sense it, I get it. It’s phenomenal because it’s real. It is finally a piece of television that allows everybody in this room the ability to take a deep breath and say, “I get that. I’m so there, I understand that.”

Which of the prisoners other than Red do you respond to most as a character?
I love Nicky Nichols (Natasha Lyonne). I love Crazy Eyes (Uzo Aduba), she’s remarkable. I think Taryn Manning as Pennsatucky is out of this world. But to a woman, they’re not only fine, but trust me when I tell you, they’re completely immersed. When we go to work, it’s immersion, 100 percent, which is joy. The discipline is joy for me, and it’s great.

Given the nature of the relationships among the cast, who's your closest friend on the set?
Taylor [Schilling] -- I’ve known her longer than the rest. I love Taylor, we’re good friends. I’m very close to Natasha. I love Samira Wiley and Danielle Brooks and Uzo. They’re all great, all of them.

What can you tell us about Laura Prepon's involvement with Season 2?
I’m not going to tell you one thing because I’ll be shot at dawn and I want to live.

Who’s your favorite redhead?
In the world?

In the world.
Elizabeth, the Queen.

Woody Allen doesn't think resurfaced allegations of sexual abuse will have a substantial effect on his career, according to a filmmaker who has spent ample time interviewing Allen.

Robert Weide, the director of "Woody Allen: A Documentary," recently became a part of the debate when he wrote a lengthy Daily Beast essay that explained why Allen was never charged with a crime and pointed out inconsistencies that raised questions in the case. But before that piece was published, Weide shared with HuffPost Live a rare peek into Allen's take on the matter:

"When I did the documentary on him, we talked about all this business that happened and I said, 'Was there any concern on your part that this could be the end of your career?' And he said no. He said, 'First of all, all of my films aren't that commercial anyway, so if a few people are going to drop out and not watch my films now because they're mad at me, fine.' It's not like he's Steven Spielberg. And he said, 'If I couldn't get financing for my films, I would write plays, I've got my music.'"

Weide said that because Allen is "famously a Luddite," he doesn't realize how much coverage the story gets online. But that seems to have changed after an open letter from Dylan Farrow was published in The New York Times, which yielded something unexpected -- a response.

The statement from Allen's lawyer echoes what has been Allen's position all along -- that the accusations were "fully vetted and rejected by independent authorities" -- but the public proclamation marks a break from Allen's long-held silence on the situation.

That silence is the reason Allen has been so demonized by people who don't know all the facts, Weide argued, adding that Allen's refusal to comment has caused a "swift boat effect."

"He chooses not to respond to this stuff because he thinks it's so ridiculous, but by not responding, it's sort of like you're in a courtroom and you heard the prosecution's case but you never hear the defense's case," Weide said.

Weide's Daily Beast piece has already drawn its share of criticism. Slate called it an "apologia" that is "full of sleazy innuendo, bad-faith posturing, and passive-aggressive self-promotion."

Weide's ideas are just as divisive as the entirety of the case, but he's right about one thing.

"It's a rabbit hole that you'll just keep spinning around and around in," he said.

See the full HuffPost Live conversation, including reaction from Roman Polanski's rape victim Samantha Geimer, in the video below.

Actor Ryan Gosling just became a certified halal heartthrob with the appearance of the "Muslim Ryan Gosling" Tumblr which announced, "Hey girl, I finally became Muslim and am ready to marry you."

wife

The cheeky blog builds on the popularity of the "Feminist Ryan Gosling" meme, which features a characteristic "Hey Girl" intro along with a statement supporting female equality.

"Muslim Ryan Gosling" takes that idea and gives it a hilarious Islamic twist.

ramadan date

Playing on stereotypes of the Muslim community as well as inside jokes, the Tumblr has sparked a larger conversation about the difficulties of finding a suitable Islamic partner.

Shahed Amanullah, the founder of Islamic media portals HalalFire and AltMuslim, posted the blog on his public Facebook page, commenting, "Keep in mind as you read this very funny blog that we have a continuing crisis among Muslim Americans regarding women not being able to find suitable spouses, and then ask yourself if this helps Muslim men feel like its in their interest to be a part of the solution."

Many weighed in with personal stories of angst related to choosing the right mate.

marriage

Gosling's halal perfection isn't the only controversial depiction of desirable Muslim men we've seen this year. The editors of Salaam, Love: American Muslim Men on Love, Sex & Intimacy, sparked an uproar with their publication of a promotional calendar called "Hot Muslim Men of 2014."

Creator Ayesha Mattu spoke up about the importance of "shifting the narrative" when it comes to traditional stereotypes and judgments about Muslim men, and that's something that the "Muslim Ryan Gosling" blog appears to be doing too, albeit in a much more tongue-in-cheek way.

mashallah

For more, check out MuslimRyanGosling.tumblr.com

A little while ago, I was skyping with my little sister Valerie -- always a highlight of my day as she's currently in Cameroon, where she works and where her boyfriend lives.

As it goes with sisters, we talked about everything from love to work to celebrities to, yes, weight loss and the crazy society we live in.

Valerie told me about her confusion around Beyonce's new album, especially the song and video called "Pretty Hurts."

In "Pretty Hurts," Beyonce sings about the fatal consequences that our common pursuit of the perfect body can have -- a pretty amazing topic, isn't it?

And the lyrics are freaking fantastic, see for yourself.

Pretty hurts
We shine the light on whatever's worst
Perfection is a disease of a nation
Pretty hurts, pretty hurts
We shine the light on whatever's worst
Tryin' to fix something
But you can't fix what you can't see
It's the soul that needs the surgery

Now, why was my sister upset?

As it turns out, she'd watched the video to "Pretty Hurts" and despite the fantastic lyrics, what you see on screen is a different picture. What you see is Beyonce being significantly thinner than before her pregnancy, creating the yearning for those watching the video to look like her, to do exactly what she sings about: strives for perfection, which hurts.

Now, I'm no one to judge and neither is my sister, but I'm all for making people aware. So, I sat down and asked a few questions about the motives behind the video and Beyonce's thinner frame.

Is it Show Biz?

Beyonce obviously lives in the show biz. She is pressured by the unachievable current beauty ideal even more than we normal people are. I mean, she's surrounded by Twiggies who hardly weigh more than 9-year-olds.

So, is her slightly curvy body already a statement in and of itself?

Should we applaud her for that?

I don't know. As someone who was severely harmed by trying to imitate celebrities' bodies, I am aware of the severe and fatal consequences that the Beyonce's video coupled with the lyrics can have on a teenagers mind. In other words, singing about not wanting to play the ridiculous game of beauty and perfection anymore, but looking exactly like the people she doesn't want to be should not just be seen as a harmless side effect of show biz.

So, is it ignorance?

Are people like Beyonce, role models after all, not aware of the way young girls see them and the many measures they take to look like them?

Again, I don't think so. If you're in this kind of business, you know that you have millions of fans all over the world looking at posters of you every single day. You know they look at you, admire you you and desperately want to be you.

So, ignorance, unless you're really, really detached, can't be it either.

Is it Showing Off?

Maybe Beyonce's recent videos, in which she shows a lot of skin, is simply a way of showing the world that she's darn proud of her body, especially after having had a baby.

Something, most of us can relate to, right?

I mean, even if we never had the body Beyonce's showing off now, we'd probably do the same if we, well, what... If we had the personal trainer she has? If we had the "discipline" she has? If we had the pressure she has?

By which we'd be at the same point again: she is singing about not playing the game, but she contributing to it.

Is it None of Our Business?

Should we not look at her body and instead celebrate her courage to bring up the topic and start a discussion around body image, perfection and the quest for medals and cups?

Of course we should and what she's done is amazing. I'm celebrating every celebrity who tries to change the conversation.

Do We Have to Accept it?

I think so. The media and the people working in the media won't change in the near future, no matter how much we wish they would.

However, we don't have to blindly follow this beauty ideal and instead focus on finding our beauty in the bodies that don't look as toned as the ones of Beyonce, Shakira and the likes.

We can still begin our own body-image love story and refrain from striving from perfection because we know that we are worth it. We can learn that living in a body that doesn't look perfect, but is unique and beautiful and our own can be as amazing and fulfilling as looking, well, perfect.

Now, I want to hear from you. What are your thoughts on this topic? Tell me in the comment section.

Sofia Vergara stopped by "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" Tuesday (Feb. 4) to discuss the planning (or lack there of) of her upcoming wedding to fiancé Nick Loeb. The "Modern Family" star has been engaged since 2012 and has had a hard time shooting down wedding rumors, since she hasn't put much effort into any actual wedding planning.

DeGeneres wasted little time asking Vergara which of the recent wedding rumors are true. Notably, a few have been flying that Vergara and Loeb would be celebrating by having not one … or two … but three parties. Asked if this were true, the Latina actress replied, "No! It's been awful because since that news came out, all of my family is so excited. They are already planning outfits! It's like 'What are we going to do?' 'How are you going to get us there?' And, I'm like it's horrible and disappointing to have to tell them that that is not true."

It must be especially disappointing considering Vergara doesn't have any real plans to invite them to. "I haven't even planned anything," she confessed.

Clearly, Vergara is in no rush to get down the aisle -- mostly because she can't figure out who to invite.

"It's either I do something really big, or I do something really small with Nick and I and my son, and then my mom, and then my cousins, and then it's impossible," she vented to DeGeneres.

Vergara's lack of a foreseeable wedding didn't stop the talk show host from giving her a special engagement gift. Vergara was pleasantly surprised when DeGeneres brought out a handsome barista to deliver one of Vergara's favorite types of coffee.

Turns out that wasn't all he was delivering … the barista proceeded to strip off his shirt and dance for the bride–to–be as she laughed and placed dollar bills in all sorts of places they probably shouldn't be.

Previously, the actress expressed concern about her nuptials living up to her giant 40th birthday party. "I did such a big party for my 40th birthday, that now either I do something really small or something even better than that," she told Extra.

Which end of the spectrum will her big day fall on? Only time will tell.

With a radiant smile and an unassuming demeanor, actress Lupita Nyong’o has walked into Hollywood's limelight and taken the film industry by storm.

The Mexican-born, Kenyan star’s breakout performance as Patsey in Steve McQueen’s highly-praised “12 Years A Slave” brought about a wave of nominations -- and headlines -- this awards season. While her quick rise to fame has been on everyone’s lips lately, not many know that Nyong’o shares a deep connection to her native Mexico, as she explained in Spanish during a recent interview with CNN en Español.

“I was born in Mexico because my father was teaching at a school in Mexico City,” the 30 year-old actress explained. “I was born during the third year he was there. And when I was 16, I returned to Mexico to learn Spanish. I lived in Taxco, Guerrero and attended the UNAM, the Education Center for Foreigners. [I] lived there for seven months and I loved it. ”

Nyong’o, who answered all of the interviewers questions in Spanish, also spoke about what it was like to move from Kenya to Mexico as a teen and why she fell in love with the country.

“Mexico was very strange to me, coming from Kenya, but I found such friendly people and fell in love with the food,” the Oscar-nominated actress told CNN en Español. “To this day, I love eating steak tacos before going to the red carpets.”

The actress, it seems, will soon be enjoying some tacos before she walks down the red carpet for the 86th Academy Awards in March. Nyong’o is a nominee in the Best Actress in a Supporting Role category -- an honor she shares with Jennifer Lawrence (“American Hustle”), Julia Roberts (“August: Osage County”), Sally Hawkins (“Blue Jasmine”) and June Squibb (“Nebraska”).

“I still have a lot of friends [in Mexico] and I hope to return soon. I miss Mexico,” the star added.

We didn't host the Super Bowl. We don't even have an NFL team. The Tonight Show is leaving for New York. And The New York Times even had the nerve recently to claim that its tacos "can go mano a mano with the best of Los Angeles."

Two members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot renewed their calls for world leaders to boycott the 2014 Winter Olympics, mere days before the start of the games in the resort town of Sochi.

Speaking at a press conference in New York on Tuesday, Nadia Tolonnikova and Maria Alyokhina accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of cracking down on dissent and criticized Russian authorities for spending an exorbitant amount of resources on the games, which open on Friday. The women were released from Russian prisons in December after serving nearly two years for hooliganism.

Russian opposition leaders have estimated the country has spent $45.8 billion to $51 billion on the Winter Olympics -- as much as half lost on corruption. The Pussy Riot members, too, fiercely condemned the Olympic spending spree, arguing that the games do little for ordinary Russians.

"We would like for Americans to really look at Russia and see the country behind the Olympic buildings and objects," Alyokhina said. "The only thing that these objects have to do with the country is the taxpayers' money that has been stolen to raise them."

The activists also urged world leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, to speak out on the human rights situation in Russia during visits to the country. "We call on President Obama to publicly say how you feel about Russia the next time you visit the country," Tolonnikova said.

Tolonnikova and Alyokhina, who were released from prison under an amnesty law in December after having served 21 months in detention on hooliganism charges for a protest performance in a Moscow cathedral, are in New York for a Feb. 5 appearance at Amnesty International's benefit “Bringing Human Rights Home” at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Tolonnikova and Alyokhina are also scheduled to visit several detention centers in New York state to evaluate the treatment of prisoners in the U.S. The visits are part of the activists' ongoing efforts to advocate for prisoners' rights in their home country and around the globe.

"What happened to us doesn't stand out from other cases," Tolonnikova said. "It keeps happening in Russia right now."

The activists pointed to the case of 12 Russian protesters who are currently facing "mass rioting" charges in connection with massive demonstrations on the eve of Putin's inauguration in 2012. A report on the case ordered by eight international human rights organizations concluded that the charges are "inappropriate" and "disproportionate."

"A lot of people are unjust in jail right now and we expect the number of people to rise in the near future," Alyokhina said at the press conference.

Both activists emphasized, however, that they will keep up their criticism of Putin and his government, despite the authorities' harsh crackdown on political dissent.

"We're proud that we landed in prisons for our political views," Alyokhina concluded.

In 1977 Grandpa Meyer and I were at Wolfie's in North Miami Beach, and I noticed two young boys in yarmulkes looking over at us. I was standing behind Grandpa when the boys walked up. One said, "Hey, Mr. Lansky, we'd like to get your autograph!" Grandpa paused for a moment. He looked seriously at the boys and said, "What did I do? Win an Academy Award?" One of the boys looked earnestly at Grandpa and said, "Well, we thought it would be worth some money someday." Grandpa then smiled and replied, "Sorry, son, I don't sign autographs."

As the years have passed, I have often remembered that afternoon in the deli. I wonder what Grandpa would have thought of the award-winning actors who have portrayed him, either as Meyer Lansky or characters based on Meyer Lansky. While Grandpa passed away in 1983 when I was 26, today, at 56, I watch. At times it's a bit shocking to hear his name (which is also my name) while enjoying a good story with great actors. I'm often entertained, and always appreciative of the casting, of Grandpa's appearances as part of the boys' legacy, including Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, Ben "Bugsy" Siegel and Frank Costello.

In every movie and television show featuring Grandpa, I listen for the voice, the inflection, and the vocabulary. I look for physical characteristics, the tailored wardrobe, and the Dunhill cigarette case. I compare. Every actor portraying Grandpa has proven exceptional in capturing a feature or essence, but I have my favorites, and I hope one day to see Grandpa portrayed in live theater.

Lee Strasberg as Hyman Roth in The Godfather: Part II, 1974

The most iconic film for Grandpa. He not only saw the movie but phoned Strasberg to congratulate and offer light criticism. In life, Grandpa spoke with his hands behind his back, and talked baseball (Yankees!), but could become irate quickly, as Roth suggests. Strasberg's acting emitted personal recollections of actual conversations, but I doubt Grandpa ever saw business guests in his home wearing an unbuttoned shirt. Roth's final scene in the Miami Airport is still haunting to me.

Robert De Niro as David "Noodles" Aaronson in Once Upon a Time in America, 1984

Reportedly De Niro requested an audience with Grandpa to prepare for this role but was turned down. Grandpa was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1982, passing on Jan. 15, 1983. However, De Niro clearly seized the role critically. The modest, humble demeanor and calm, steady articulation, only speaking when necessary, were familiar.

Martin Landau as Max Brower in The Neon Empire, 1989

While he's nearly a foot taller than Grandpa, certain qualities about Landau's performance stand out. Landau's studied mannerisms and strong gaze were reflective of Grandpa's classy, intelligent persona.

Ben Kingsley as Meyer in Bugsy, 1991

Grandpa had a thick head of hair, which seems inconsequential when you compare Kingsley to Meyer, a born leader. In Kingsley, I see Grandpa's directness and firm logic, visible organization, and impeccable attire with attitude.

Patrick Dempsey as Meyer in Mobsters, 1991

Dempsey ably captures Grandpa's quick-thinking, scrappy identity as a young man surviving on New York's Lower East Side. Dempsey's portrayal provided a tableau of my grandparents' wedding, which I enjoyed. Historically, Grandpa married my Romanian-born grandmother, Anne Citron, in the spring of 1929, where Ben Siegel served as Grandpa's best man. Soon after, Ben married Esther, where Grandpa served as Ben's best man.

Richard Dreyfuss as Meyer in Lansky, 1999

The only full-length movie about Grandpa, which touched on our Lansky family relationships. While Dreyfuss has the overall appearance, Grandpa walked straight and strong, never with a limp. A dialog on the Jewish American experience is eerily similar to a discussion we once had.

Dustin Hoffman as Meyer in The Lost City, 2005

Parallel in stature and assertiveness, and I found Hoffman's voice pitch-perfect to Grandpa's. Hoffman's tone of passion, of love, and emotion for Cuba is all there, just as Grandpa would express his feelings about Cuba. Incredible.

Anatol Yusef as Meyer in Boardwalk Empire, 2010

Remarkably close to Grandpa in height, vocabulary, and chain smoking. I often wonder if Yusef has viewed Grandpa's scarce public video footage, including the interview conducted in Israel. In season four of Boardwalk Empire when Grandpa, as a young businessman, makes a deal with Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, the story, terminology and practical mannerisms are performed with accuracy.

Throughout the years, I've noticed similarities and disparities, but I am always eager to see a new portrayal of Grandpa over 30 years after his passing. In 1999, I remember giving a newspaper interview with film critiques of Grandpa and stating that I felt he would be embarrassed by all the publicity. But today, relaxed and with time to compare notes with my father, I think Grandpa would be amused at his continued representation as part of the early American mafia.

We all know that Mila Kunis is stunning. She landed on nearly every "Sexiest Woman Alive" list in 2013 and is constantly turning heads on the red carpet. Her latest role, however, is highlighting her beauty in a more... natural way.

Kunis goes makeup-free in Gemfields 2014 campaign titled "Beauty By Nature," alongside their responsibly sourced emeralds. In an effort to distinguish themselves as suppliers of gemstones and not retailers, the 30-year-old actress has also been photographed without wearing actual jewelry. Not like she really needs the enhancements, but a strong message nonetheless.

Of course, posing without the usual glam can be nerve-wracking, even if you are Mila Kunis. She credits working with German photographer and filmmaker Peter Linderbergh on her ability to get comfortable. "I didn't have any make-up on; I didn't have my hair blow-dried -- so I felt a little bare. But he made me feel the most beautiful I have ever felt, and he was able to capture a very honest moment," she said in a release.

We couldn't agree more. Check out a photo from the campaign below and head over to the Gemfields' website for more info.

mila

We love you, Mila:

Want more? Be sure to check out HuffPost Style on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram at @HuffPostStyle.

George Clooney is more than just an actor. As a director, philanthropist and activist, he has shined light on global issues and injustices, making him a well-respected and sought-after celebrity.

While he may be worth his weight in gold, Clooney explained that his latest film, "The Monuments Men," was a challenge to fund. He sat down with Variety to discuss his upcoming project and explain why A-list actors such as Matt Damon were willing to work on the film for well below their usual pay.

george clooney

"The Monuments Men" is based on the story of a real-life World War II platoon that was tasked with recovering works of art from around the world that were stolen by the Nazis. Clooney co-wrote, directed and stars in the film, which hits theaters on Feb. 7.

The budget for the film, which has more than six principal characters who are played by big-name actors, was $70 million. Just to put that figure in perspective, it's $30 million less than "Gravity," which starred just Clooney and Sandra Bullock. He said that if everyone had been paid their normal rates, the film would have cost closer to $150 million to produce. So how did he manage to cast Damon, Bill Murray, Jean Dujardin and Cate Blanchett for such a bargain?

Well, Clooney's a charmer. He even went so far as to fly out to Australia to meet with Blanchett to ask her to join the project. "Everybody worked for super cheap, like crazy cheap,” he said. The prestigious and in-demand actors were paid "a 10th or a 15th of their going rate," with back-end deals for extra pay should the film see box office success.

Check out Variety to read more about "The Monuments Men" as well as Clooney's philanthropy and other interests.

Ashton Kutcher attended his twin brother Michael's wedding last weekend, but this joyous occasion also serves as a great reminder that hey, Ashton Kutcher has a twin brother!

Sometimes Hollywood stars shine so bright, it's easy to forget they're not alone in their universe. Just like us, they've been picked on, had fake fights and tattled on their brothers and sisters growing up. An impressive number are even twins, no less.

Take a look at some of these surprising siblings below:

WASHINGTON -- Singer Clay Aiken launched his bid for Congress Wednesday, saying he was confident it was possible to win as a Democrat running in a conservative North Carolina district.

"I understand that some numbers and pollsters would consider this district to be more conservative. I certainly don't think that it is a liberal district," Aiken told The Huffington Post in an interview. "That said, again, I think most people vote regardless of the party designation. They vote based on who they can trust and who they can know has their best interest at heart. And I think when we compel Congresswoman [Renee] Ellmers to run on her record, we're going to see people recognizing she really hasn't had their best interest at heart, but more so hers."

Aiken rose to national fame in 2003, when he came in second to Ruben Studdard on "American Idol." Since then, in addition to his music career, Aiken has been an activist, serving on the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities following an appointment by President George W. Bush. In 2008, Aiken announced that he was gay, and in 2012, he spoke out forcefully against North Carolina's proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Aiken kicked off his campaign this week with a five-minute video talking about his background -- including his father's domestic abuse of his mother and his own time teaching special education -- and criticizing Ellmers, who was elected in the tea party wave of 2010, for supporting cuts to military benefits under sequestration.

In his interview with HuffPost, Aiken also went after Ellmers for last year's government shutdown, lamenting that in the current Congress, politics seem to be a zero-sum game. He drew upon his experience on "American Idol" and in the music industry as an example of how relations could be more productive.

"I hate to use an 'American Idol' analogy because that's not who I am ... but for me to win 'Idol,' I didn't have to trip Ruben on stage. I didn't make him look bad," he said. "And people are spending more time in D.C. trying to make their opponent look bad than they are actually doing good stuff. For me to be successful on 'Idol,' I just had to do my very best. And if I did my very best, it would pay off for me. And if politicians, regardless of the party, would go up to D.C. and do their very best, you would see that effect for everyone in the country."

"I've realized over the past few weeks as I've really been getting into the meat of preparing for this announcement and kicking off this campaign that politics is the only business, if you want to call it that -- the only industry where one person's success is wholly dependent on the failure of someone else," he added.

Aiken will first have to win the Democratic primary if he wants to face Ellmers in the general election. Former North Carolina Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco and professional counselor Toni Morris are competing with Aiken in the primary. Attorney Houston Barnes was in the race but now plans to withdraw and back Aiken.

Ellmers, for her part, has already gone after Aiken, making fun of him in a radio interview with WMAL last week.

"Apparently, his performing career is not going so well. He's very bored," Ellmers said. "I'll tell you, I'm a little hurt. I think he has an incredible voice and he's incredibly talented, and I'd rather have his support."

She also joked that he "didn't really fare all that well" on "American Idol."

When asked about Ellmers' comments, Aiken looked on the bright side. "Well, what I heard her say was that I had a beautiful voice. So I appreciate voice. I choose not to hear the other stuff," he said.

"Listen, like I said, I think the key to being successful -- not just in politics but in life -- is to put your best foot forward and show people why they should vote for you or like you or support you," he added. "That said, if there are things that she has done in office that have affected people in the district, I think those are fair game. But whether or not I won a TV show or not has nothing to do with my ability to represent people. I'm not going to respond to middle-school games."

Aiken's district comprises part of the Raleigh suburbs as well as a swath of the central and eastern parts of the state. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney won it in 2012.

Aiken said he disagreed with President Barack Obama on the issue of the National Security Agency's intelligence gathering and believed Obamacare needed some changes, although he emphasized that "it is predominantly a law that is full of very valuable provisions."

"I'm a little unsettled by some of the actions of the NSA and some of the invasions of privacy that have been allowed under this administration. That is concerning to me," he said, adding that he would also like to see Obama "do a better job of reaching out" to the other side in general.

Aiken is a supporter of the Employment Non-Discrimation Act, which would bar workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Although the legislation passed the Senate last year and has bipartisan support in the House, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has shown no willingness to bring it up for a vote. With Obama vowing to be more aggressive in using his executive authority to bypass a deadlocked Congress, many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights groups have been calling on the president to sign a non-discrimination order covering federal contractors.

Aiken said he believes his district is supportive of ENDA, but he was skeptical whether an executive order would be a good idea.

"Would I like to see something enacted? Yes," he said. "I think the only reason I'm hesitant about having the president sign any sort of executive order is that it's not permanent. I think permanence is important. Stability is important. If we let the president make laws that then the next president who comes in decides to overturn without talking to Congress or whatnot, I think that's when we have a country that's unstable. I would like that particular law to be passed and not overturned by one person's decision."

How do you make the Winter Olympics truly epic? Open them with the voice of Tyrion Lannister.

Peter Dinklage, who plays the witty Lannister on "Game of Thrones," will lead us into the sports event on Friday, Feb. 7. NBC Olympics executive producer Jim Bell announced via Twitter on Wednesday morning (Feb. 5) that Dinklage would voice the tease for the opening ceremony montage.

NBC Olympics voice of opening tease: Peter Dinklage. Airs Friday 730p & Games start Thurs @ 8p. #nbcolympics #GameOfThrones #winteriscoming
— Jim Bell (@jfb) February 5, 2014

Few details have been announced regarding the opening ceremony, but according to the Wall Street Journal, Russian pop band t.A.T.u. will perform as the Russian athletes flood the stadium. That may come as a surprise with Russia's anti-LGBT controversy, since the band displayed a lesbian image with their 2002 song "All The Things She Said." This will certainly be an interesting opening ceremony.

So fill up those goblets and get cozy, because winter is coming.
tv show gifs

[h/t Entertainment Weekly]

The Winter Olympics opening ceremony will air on NBC on Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. EST.

In the days since the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman, like many others I am reeling from the shock of losing an actor with profound mastery for his craft. He was compelling to watch -- an extraordinarily gifted person who was also a bit of an everyman that New Yorkers might occasionally spot sitting at a neighboring table in a café or restaurant. He defied Hollywood’s leading man formulas and the very mention of his name added a sense of intrigue to any project. He was also, as we are now all painfully aware, battling what appears to have been an addiction to opiates.

My job is to promote humane and compassionate alternatives to the war on drugs. An important part of what I do is encouraging the public to look at people who use drugs as fellow human beings. They may have deep flaws and shortcomings but they also deserve to be treated with dignity. Part of what compels us about talented actors is their ability to connect with our deepest emotions and command empathy from us. We experienced a bond through Hoffman’s performances. Many are grieving him as though he were someone we knew.

One of the brutal casualties of the drug war is a relentless emphasis on drugs. Drug warriors obsess over criminalizing chemicals and plants, the number of drug seizures they are able to claim responsibility for, and how supply numbers go up and down each year. Meanwhile, too often, the people who use drugs are invisible or worse they are stigmatized and demonized as “junkies,” “addicts,” and “criminals.” Drug users are “others” to be held in stark contrast to the rest of “us.”

My hope is that the sadness and shock over Hoffman’s death will give us pause in how we see drug users. Just as we lament the loss of his promising life, I would hope we extend that sentiment to the more than 36,000 other Americans who die of an accidental overdose each year. Among these people, are many sensitive and creative souls like Philip Seymour Hoffman. When the drugs they consume are illegal, they are forced to procure them through illicit means without any safety standards or monitoring. They are seen as criminals under the law and subject to severe penalties, including incarceration, and are particularly subject to these consequences if they happen to be poor or people of color.

Meanwhile, none of this is serving any of us. To the contrary, the tendency to demonize drug users forces them into the shadows, making them more vulnerable. As Dr. Carl Hart notes focusing only on drugs and measuring success only by whether or not someone stays “clean” ignores the broader more complicated context of addiction, mental health, trauma, and the real or perceived lack of choices that may underlie problematic drug use. We must be willing to see the whole person in order to help our loves ones survive and stay healthy. And however we may feel about drugs, we have to be realistic about the fact that some people find it impossible to stop taking drugs altogether, so we have to do the best to reduce the harms of their drug use and meet them where they’re at.

The public is mourning the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman but I can only imagine the pain and anguish that his close friends and family are enduring. Who knows what, if anything, could have been done to prevent his unfortunate fate. What we do know is that there are a host of health measures proven to save the lives of drug users, among which includes realistic drug education about how people can reduce the risk of their drug use, like avoiding alcohol and other dangerous drug combinations. Hopefully, our sadness will bring about thoughtful self-reflection about drug use, stigma, and doing the best we possibly can to reduce overdose fatalities.

These days, our knowledge of celebrities too often originates with paparazzi images and snarky quotes by anonymous "insiders." After a while, it's easy to forget that stars are real people. That's why HuffPost Celebrity decided to launch the all-new #nofilter, a quick-fire question-and-answer series. Because how well do you know someone until they've shared their guiltiest pleasures?

Rob Kardashian has been an open book when it comes to talking about the 40 pounds he gained after splitting with girlfriend Rita Ora last year, and just as open about his efforts to take the weight off.

The 26-year-old reality star and sock designer is all about personal improvement these days, which means trying to better himself from head to toe. While promoting the hair growth program Viviscal, Kardashian chatted with HuffPost Celebrity about his quest for self-improvement and took a chance to brave the #nofilter challenge.

What's your guiltiest pleasure?
Probably playing “Call Of Duty” some nights to the point where I don't even go to sleep. I just keep going to the next day and then I shower and go to work. That’s pretty much my guilty pleasure, when my girlfriend wakes up to go to work, and I’m sitting there still playing “Call Of Duty.”

What's the silliest thing you've ever lied about?
I honestly don’t know. I think I lie way too much to even know what I’ve lied about. Probably that I tell my mom that I have a hidden child. That’s probably the silliest thing I’ve ever lied about.

What happens in your recurring dream?
Honestly, I don’t remember the last time I had a dream. I don’t really sleep often enough to be able to have any dreams. I’m not really a fan of sleep to be honest with you. I work out at 9:30 or 10 o’clock at night and sometimes I just keep going. I’ve never been a big sleeper. Me and all my buddies we don’t really ever sleep that much. We’re not partying either, we just don’t sleep. We’d rather work on other things or do other things.

Here's a hot button question: Is it okay to recline your seat on an airplane?
I’m actually very big on that, I actually don’t recline. I’m always thinking about the person behind me. But I feel like if you paid for a first class seat then it’s different because there’s way more room. Whenever I sit in coach I will never recline my seat, unless I’m in a situation where there is no one behind me.

What or who is overrated right now?
I think Willy Wonka is really overrated, in my opinion. 100 percent, actually. He’s really overrated.

Is a good friend hard to come by?
Not at all if you just surround yourself with good people who are loyal to you since day one. I mean I have only a couple friends but I’ve known them since, like, you know, fourth grade or something. I’ve never changed anything about my little group of friends. I think if you're just smart and you have the friends who care about you most, that’s really all that matters.

What are you most afraid of?
Probably picking a proper wife and not just rushing something. Actually, I’m probably not afraid of that because I probably just won’t get married. But probably like finding the right one, because I don’t really believe in divorce, so just finding the right girl.

When do you feel most at peace?
When I’m going on a little ten mile run and I finish, or when I’m on the run -- that's probably when I’m at peace. Like just running by yourself up in the hills and through the trails and stuff like that on a nice rainy or sunny day, it doesn’t really matter.

What's the most unusual thing you have in your wallet?
I literally didn’t even carry a wallet until a couple days ago. I just have all my credit cards, I don’t have anything. I would just carry a bunch of cards and put them in my pocket. I don’t know why, I know I’m just asking to lose my credit cards. I just started using a passport holder for my cards, but I usually just have them all in my pocket all free.

What technology do you hope will be invented in the next 10 years?
This is easy for me. I want there to be a video game where you are literally … lets say I eat a sandwich or brush my teeth or something like that, I want the video game to be able to do the same exact thing. It’s like a first-person game that projects itself into my room that the video game is in. So the whole room is pretty much the game, it's not like on a TV. It just projects into your room and then whatever actions you’re doing the video game mimics that, so you have to be cautious … It’s crazy though, it’s going to happen.

Rob Kardashian is currently a spokesperson for the hair growth program Viviscal and opened up about his hair loss, saying the product has helped with his "on-going insecurities" while he's trying to work out and shed the pounds.

"My family is obviously in the media and I have a bunch of beautiful sisters who are always dolled up, and I'm obviously dealing with losing weight. So [taking Viviscal has been a big help with my insecurities right now, as part of my on-going transformation and helping my confidence," he said.

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