Golden Globe Nominations: 'Carol' & Fox Lead Films, Netflix Tops In TV

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s 73rd annual Golden Globes nominations were revealed this morning. On the TV side, a broadcast-free Best TV Series Comedy race includes Casual, Mozart in the Jungle, Silicon Valley, Transparent, Orange is The New Black and Veep. On the drama side: Empire, Game Of Thrones, Narcos, Mr. Robot and Outlander. Fox’s Empire also landed a nom for Taraji P. Henson in Best Actress Drama.

The Weinstein Company’s Carol leads the film side with five nominations including for Best Picture Drama and a head to head showdown between stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, who both landed Best Actress Drama noms.

The Big Short, The Revenant and Steve Jobs followed with four noms apiece, with the latter two also landing acting noms for stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael Fassbender. The Best Picture Drama race offers a wide swath with Carol, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Revenant, Room and Spotlight, which was shut out of the actor races.

Oklahoma ex-cop guilty of 18 counts in sex assaults trial

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A former Oklahoma City police officer was convicted Thursday of raping and sexually victimizing eight women on his police beat in a minority, low-income neighborhood.

Daniel Holtzclaw, who turned 29 Thursday, sobbed as the verdict was read aloud. Jurors convicted him on 18 counts involving eight of the 13 women who had accused him; the jury acquitted him on another 18 counts.

He could spend the rest of his life in prison based on the jury's recommendation that he serve a total of 263 years, including a 30-year sentence on each of four first-degree rape convictions. He was also convicted of forcible oral sodomy, sexual battery, procuring lewd exhibition and second-degree rape.

The jury deliberated for about 45 hours over four days. Holtzclaw's sentencing is set for Jan. 21. A judge will decide whether he will have to serve the sentences consecutively.

Holtzclaw's father — a police officer in Enid, about 100 miles northwest of Oklahoma City — his mother and sister were in the courtroom as the verdict was read. At least one accuser was present, as well as several black community leaders. Seven armed deputies were stationed around the room.

        

Holtzclaw's defense attorney, Scott Adams, declined to comment after the verdict was read.

"Justice was done today, and a criminal wearing a uniform is going to prison now," Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater said. "In those counts where the not guilty verdicts came back, they determined that we didn't prove those cases beyond a reasonable doubt. It doesn't mean they didn't believe the victims."

The lead detective in the case, Kim Davis, said after the verdict: "I feel horrible for his family. It's brutal, but I think justice was served."

The allegations against Holtzclaw brought new attention to the problem of sexual misconduct committed by law enforcement officers, something police chiefs have studied for years.

During a monthlong trial, jurors heard from 13 women who said Holtzclaw sexually victimized them. Most of them said Holtzclaw stopped them while out on patrol, searched them for outstanding warrants or checked to see if they were carrying drug paraphernalia, then forced himself on them.

        

Holtzclaw's attorney, meanwhile, described him as a model police officer whose attempts to help the drug addicts and prostitutes he came in contact with were distorted.

Among the eight women Holtzclaw was convicted of attacking was a grandmother in her 50s, who launched the police investigation and who was in the courtroom Thursday. She said she was driving home after 2 a.m. when Holtzclaw pulled her over. He first asked her if she had been drinking, then ordered her out of the car and into the backseat of his squad car. He then stood over her and ordered her to perform oral sex.

The woman was tearful after the verdict and prayed with supporters outside the courtroom.

She was the first victim to testify. The last was a teenager who was 17 when Holtzclaw attacked her. Holtzclaw was convicted of three charges related to her case: first-degree rape, second-degree rape and sexual battery.

The teenager recalled Holtzclaw pulling up in his police car as she walked home one night in June 2014. Holtzclaw drove her home and walked her to her door, where he told her he had to search her. She said he grabbed her breasts, then pulled down her shorts before forcing them off and raping her.

        

Despite the number of victims, the case presented prosecutors with several challenges.

Many of the women had arrest records or histories of drug abuse. Holtzclaw's attorney made those issues a cornerstone of his defense strategy. Adams questioned several women at length about whether they were high when they allegedly encountered Holtzclaw. He also pointed out that most did not come forward until police identified them as possible victims after launching their investigation.

Ultimately, that approach did not sway the jury to dismiss all the women's stories.
Holtzclaw was convicted of one of two charges related to a woman who testified he gave her a ride home, then followed her into her bedroom where he forced himself on her and raped her, telling her, "This is better than county jail."

That woman testified in orange scrubs and handcuffs because she had been jailed on drug charges hours before appearing in court. But the jury still convicted Holtzclaw of forcible oral sodomy in her case.

        

All of the accusers were black. Holtzclaw is half-white, half-Japanese. The jury appeared to all be white, though Oklahoma court officials said they did not have race information for jurors. Some supporters of the women questioned whether the jury would fairly judge their allegations.

A former college football star, Holtzclaw joined law enforcement after a brief attempt at pursuing an NFL career. Oklahoma City police chief Bill Citty fired Holtzclaw before the trial began.

Citty said in a statement Thursday night that the department was satisfied with the outcome of the "long and difficult trial and deliberation process."

"We are satisfied with the jury's decision and firmly believe justice was served," the statement said.

Holtzclaw's case was among those examined in an Associated Press investigation of sexual misconduct by law enforcement. The AP's yearlong probe revealed about 1,000 officers had lost their licenses for sex crimes or other sexual misconduct over a six-year period. Holtzclaw was not included in that count because he has not yet lost his license.

The AP's finding is undoubtedly an undercount of the problem of sexual abuse in law enforcement. Not every state has a process for banning problem officers from re-entering law enforcement, known as decertification. And of those states that do, great variations exist in whether officers are prosecuted or reported to their state licensing boards.

The mother of the 17-year-old victim told The Associated Press on Thursday night that she feels like justice has been served. The Associated Press generally does not identify victims of sex crimes and is not using the mother's name so as not to identify her daughter.

The mother said she believes the type of police crime brought to light by the Holtzclaw case "isn't just a problem in Oklahoma — it's a problem for the nation."

Obama names favorite song, book and movie of 2015

President Barack Obama speaks in Emancipation Hall on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, during an event to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the 13th amendment that abolished slavery. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kendrick Lamar's "How Much a Dollar Cost" is tops in the White House.

President Barack Obama says the song by the Grammy-nominated rapper from Compton, California, is his favorite song of 2015.

In an interview with People magazine that was released Wednesday, Obama also shared his favorite book and movie of the year. They are "Fates and Furies," a novel about a marriage by Lauren Groff, and "The Martian," starring Matt Damon.

Groff seemed flabbergasted upon learning of Obama's book selection.

"Never, even in my most grandiose dreams, did I think the president would read my book, let alone like it," she said through her publisher, Riverhead Books. Groff's book was a finalist for the National Book Award and has appeared on numerous lists of the year's best books.

Obama's wife, Michelle, revealed her picks, too, telling People that she can't get enough of Bruno Mars' song "Uptown Funk." She and a troupe of dancers performed to the lively song earlier this year on "Ellen."

For her favorite book, Mrs. Obama picked another marriage tome, "The Light of the World," by family friend Elizabeth Alexander. It's about the unexpected death of Alexander's husband in 2012 and raising their two sons in the aftermath.

And for the first lady's favorite movie? She chose "Inside Out," an animated film led by comedian Amy Poehler.

2016 Chevrolet Malibu: First Drive

Did Chevy finally crack the midsize sedan code that’s left previous Malibus lagging the competition? 

What is it? An all-new version of Chevy’s stalwart midsize sedan

Price range? $22,500 to $31,795

Competitors? Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima

Alternatives? Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda6, Chevrolet Impala

Pros? Comfortable and composed ride; plush, spacious interior; solid tech package and good fuel economy.

Cons? The base 1.5-liter turbo is a little small for the vehicle.

Would I buy it with my money? Yes, and I hated the previous edition with a passion.

“Thrilling” is not an adjective I would normally use to describe an everyday midsize sedan. “Mundane,” “uninspiring” and “meh” are typically more applicable, and more frequently used, by car enthusiasts like me.

Which is our problem because midsize sedans are still hugely popular with consumers. The Toyota Camry remains the most popular car in America; U.S. buyers will snap up roughly 2.3 million midsize sedans this year, spending about $62 billion in the process. It’s the default choice for those who pride practicality and reliability over sex appeal, which is why the segment is filled with relatively commonplace machines designed to transport Mom, Dad and their 1.7 children to work, the grocery store and soccer practice safely and reliably.

The Chevy Malibu has been an also-ran in the midsize sedan segment for years, and a big disappointment for General Motors. (Just ask them. Surprisingly, they’ll tell you.) Bland styling, a poor ride, and a snug back seat have made it an easy target for critics and a poor choice for families. In fact, the current generation Malibu, which first hit the streets in 2012-13, was so repellant that Chevy sent it back to the drawing board for a facelift less than 18 months after the car rolled off the assembly line. Unfortunately, the move didn’t pay off. The “refreshed” Malibu was still a laggard. The car couldn’t keep up with increasingly inventive competition such as the stylish Hyundai Sonata and the Ford Fusion.

For 2016, Chevy hit the reset button. Redesigned from the ground up, the Malibu sports a fresh look, larger interior, new underpinnings and better engine options. It is superior to the model it is replacing in every way—and, surprisingly, muscles its way into comparisons with the midsize standard-bearers.

Thanks to completely new architecture underneath, the 2017 Malibu also rides on a 3.6-inch-longer wheelbase, which translates into a 2.3-inch bump in overall length compared over the outgoing model. Width remains the same at 73 inches. Cosmetically, the ninth-generation Malibu boasts a more aggressive front end, swept roofline like the Fusion and more athletic proportions a la its larger sibling, the Chevy Impala. The Malibu design team borrowed many styling cues from the Impala including the headlamps, front apron and the beltline creases. The goal was to create something unique, but still recognizable as a Chevy. The overall effect is pleasing, as the Malibu looks lower and wider with more sporting intent—and far more coherent than before.

The size increase pays off in the cabin, where it was desperately needed. The interior feels much larger and airier than the outgoing model, even with the lower roofline. Rear-seat passengers get an additional 1.3 inches of legroom, making the backseat a little more comfortable for adults and a lot easier to enter, exit or check on a young one.

While more upscale materials are used throughout, they are mostly prevalent in the cockpit. Sadly, hard plastic still covers most of the interior surfaces up front, detracting from the car’s new premium feel. Chevy should have learned from its peers (Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, even Ford) and upgraded all of the materials, not simply covering frequently touched surfaces in leather and padding.

Materials aside, the cockpit is a serious improvement compared the previous model. The dash has a more high-tech look, but still easy to navigate, and the new center stack features fewer buttons and knobs as more systems are managed via the seven-inch color touchscreen, which is standard on lower trims. An eight-inch screen is standard on more premium trims.

It’s equipped with one of the most comprehensive package of driver assist features I’ve seen on more “affordable” vehicles. The list: Pedestrian detection with automatic braking, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning with automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic parking, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.

Chevy is also offering a new PIN-protected Teen Driver feature that allows parents to monitor their kids’ driving and set speed-limit warnings, reduce the maximum sound-system volume level and more. No judgments, but this feature is a trust killer in my opinion. More importantly, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 4G LTE Wi- Fi capability is available on all Malibu trims, not just the most expensive ones.

Under the hood, the base engine is a new 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder. Output stands at 160 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, which is down 36 horses and two lb-ft relative to the previous car’s standard 2.5-liter four-banger, which developed 196 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. Sadly, it’s also less powerful than most of its peers—in some cases, considerably lower.

However, according to Chevy, the new Malibu is 300 pounds lighter than the outgoing model, making it one of the lightest vehicles in the segment. Thus, performance shouldn’t suffer much, and doesn’t. While the vehicle does seem to work harder when tackling inclines and during more spirited driving, it never seems out of breath, and runs quiet. It’s paired with a six-speed automatic and comes standard with auto stop-start. Fuel economy improves to 27 mpg city and 37 mpg highway, increases of 2 and one mpg, respectively.

If more power is what you crave, a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is also available. It is largely a carryover from last year, only re-tuned to make 250 hp and 258 lb-ft, 9 hp and 37 lb-ft of torque less than the outgoing 2.0-liter turbo, which developed 259 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. You’d think going with less power would be a bad thing. You would be wrong.

On the road, the Malibu delivers the goods better than it has in years, allowing it to catch up to its midsize competition. The ride is comfortable and the backseat usable, thanks to the longer wheelbase. The handling is more precise, thanks to the 16 percent improvement in torsional rigidity and reduced curb weight. Plus, the standard transmission was impressive. Shifts were smooth and pretty much seamless, sharpening when we got aggressive with the throttle. Though there is plenty of grip, there was more body roll than we’d like under aggressive driving and steering felt numb. But it was responsive and spot on.

The hybrid model returns, too, but not until the spring.  An adaptation of the system used in the second-generation Volt, it consists of a new 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine and two electric motors, capable of operating on electric power alone up to 55 mph, according to Chevrolet. It is expected to deliver a combined city/highway fuel economy rating “north of 45 mpg.”

In the final analysis, the all-new Malibu is an impressive evolution, with prices starting at $22,500 and running into the low $30,000s that appear competitive with the more popular competitors. For the first time in years, the Malibu deserves to be on the short list of many midsize-sedan buyers. Maybe it’s not thrilling, but it’s far, far better than “meh.”

Siberian tiger becomes unlikely friends with a goat it was given to eat

Amur the Siberian tiger has become fast friends with a goat it was given to eat at the Primorsky Safari Park. Photo: Dmitry Mezentsev via CCTV News

An odd and remarkable thing happened when a live goat was put into the enclosure of a Siberian tiger as part of its twice-a-week feeding of live animals at the Primorsky Safari Park in Russia: Amur the tiger became friends with its dinner.

In a story that has captivated Russia, Timur the goat and Amur the tiger have become fast friends, eating and playing together, chasing each other in the snow and even playfully head-butting each other, according to the Agence France-Presse.

Timur the goat has even taken over the shelter Amur the tiger usually sleeps in, and now Amur sleeps on the shelter’s roof.

So enamored is the public about this unusual relationship that Primorsky Safari Park issues regular updates and plans to install webcams in the enclosure.

Amur the Siberian tiger plans with Timur the goat. Photo: Dmitry Mezentsev via CCTV News

How did this unlikely friendship happen?

Simply stated, when the goat was released into the enclosure it did not show any fear. It didn’t act like prey.

“No one had taught the goat to be afraid of tigers,” the park stated.

So the adversaries became friends, instead. Zoo chief Dmitry Mezentsev called it nothing short of a miracle.

“This is a sign from above,” he told AFP. “People, take a look at yourselves. There are wars everywhere — Ukraine, Syria — while such different animals can live together in peace.”

The typical day starts with a morning walk around the enclosure with the goat following the tiger. On Wednesday, the goat poked the tiger with its horns.

“The tiger accepted the goat’s challenge,” the park reported. “He pushed his forehead against Timur’s horns, the friends butted heads for five seconds without coming to blows, after which Amur calmly went to bask in the sun on the hill.”

Amur the Siberian tiger has attempted to teach Timur the goat how to catch prey. Photo: Dmitry Mezentsev via CCTV News

When it comes to feeding, Amur is now getting a diet of live rabbits “out of respect for goats,” Mezentsev told AFP, and the tiger has attempted to teach the goat how to catch the prey.

And Timur has shown Amur how to lick a block of salt that it was given.

“We liked the story of the friendship between the tiger and the goat simply because a normal person cannot always live amid the lies, hatred and humiliation,” a Russian online op-ed said in Gazeta.ru, according to AFP. “One would like to believe it is possible not to gobble up the weak but be friends with them.”

But will Amur the tiger eventually gobble up Timur the goat?

Novosibirsk zoo director Rostislav Shilo told TASS there was an 80 to 85 percent chance of that the Siberian tiger would eventually eat the goat.

But Mezentsev isn’t buying it.

Victoria's Secret Angel on Bullying: 'I Didn't Exist' in High School

Supermodel and Victoria’s Secret Angel Taylor Hill says that back in high school she wasn’t the popular girl, but the laughingstock.

The 19-year-old told Cosmopolitan.com that as a student in Colorado, “I was the butt of everyone’s jokes. Tall, skinny Taylor.” At 14, she signed with modeling agency IMG, and she left high school at 15, though she was able to get a diploma a year later. While she admits she didn’t have the typical high school experience, Hill says she doesn’t have any regrets.



She does, however, remember the students who were nasty to her during those high school days — especially those who come calling now that she’s walking world-famous runways, including Tuesday night’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. “Boys didn’t like me then,” she said, “and now they’re all like, ‘Hey, I went to school with you.’”

But Hill says she doubts her one-time classmates actually remember her from the classroom. “Last time I checked, nobody remembers that I went to that school,” she said. “People were shocked when they found out I went there. I didn’t exist back in the day.”

In an interview with Teen Vogue, the model said today’s high school students should use her story as an example. “I didn’t always think that I was beautiful and I didn’t always believe in myself, and I think it’s so important to have self confidence and always remember who you are,” she said. “No matter what people tell you, it’s always about what you think of yourself in the end. People have told me a million things in my life — and especially my career as a model, like, ‘Oh she’s too pretty, she’s too tan, she’s too short, she’s too tall, she’s not skinny enough,’ — and it’s crazy! You can’t listen to any of it and you have to remember who you are, what you do, and what makes you happy. That’s my message: happiness and positivity are such a huge thing for me.”

And for those high school bullies who once made jokes at Hill’s expense, we imagine she has only one question: Who’s laughing now?