jennifer freeman

A popular toy is pulled from department store shelves, just in time for the holiday season. Aqua Dots were used to create colorful artistic designs by simply adding water.

An investigation into the toy was launched after some children, who mistakenly ate the pellets, became sick.

"They look like candy, says Jennifer Freeman, owner of Toy Up. "They look exactly like candy. And if children see things like that, the first place it's going is into their mouths."

One toddler, 20-month-old Jack Esses from Jacksonville, fell into a coma after eating the dots in October. He was later treated and released from at Arkansas Children's Hospital.

Research showed that an unknown coating on the pellets led to the children's sicknesses. As it metabolized in their bodies, it changed to the chemical GHB, commonly known as a date rape drug.

"The majority of things we produce change chemically within our bodies," said Dr. Howell Foster, director of the Poison Control Center. "GHB is produced normally in the body. But at higher doses, it acts very differently than it does in the body."

The Consumer Product Safety Commission credits Jack's mother, Shelby Esses, for getting the ball rolling on their investigation.

C.P.S.C. Chairman Nancy Nord called Esses Thursday to personally thank her for her help.

Oh come, all ye film fans
STEPHEN COLE

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

November 16, 2007 at 10:11 PM EST

The holidays are upon us, as this week's opening of the fantastical Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium attests. And so it's for Hollywood to deck the malls not only with movies about magic toy shops but also about pregnant teenage moms, war-ravaged friendships and serial-killing barbers.

Why such diversified entertainment? Well, the happy/holy season is also the prelude to Hollywood's own gift-giving binge � the Academy Awards. To be eligible, films have to be out by Jan. 1, and so, over the years, Christmastime has evolved into Hollywood's preferred release platform for meaty (occasionally blood-rare), prestigious films.

Being a holiday, Christmas is also a time for blockbusters, the theory being that a big-budget film requires wide-open vacation time to bust blocks properly. Witness the summer-movie extravaganza.

To take stock of all the movies coming our way, here is our presorted holiday film guide

Seasonal treats

This Christmas (Nov. 23)

Hollywood dreams of a black Christmas. Stomp the Yard stars Columbus Short and Chris Brown are together again in the story of an African-American Yuletide family reunion.

Alvin and the Chipmunks (Dec. 14)

They were washed up, everyone said. Five-time Grammy-winners, cartoon stars in the sixties, sure. But the munks' last movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman (2000), was direct-to-video. Then: Ratatouille. Suddenly rodents are hot again.

Here comes Oscar

Margot at the Wedding (Nov. 23)

As a kid in Brooklyn, Noah Baumbach ( The Squid and the Whale) fell in love with Jennifer Jason Leigh's lost character in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Eighteen years later, the filmmaker found and married the actor, who now stars in his comedy-drama about rival sisters. With Nicole Kidman and Jack Black.

The Savages (Nov. 30)

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney are distant siblings who reluctantly interrupt their busy schedules to parcel dad (Philip Bosco) off to a nursing home.

I'm Not There (Nov. 30)

Director Todd Haynes's ( Far From Heaven) speculative biopic offers seven sketches of Bob Dylan, with as many different leads, including Heath Ledger, Christian Bale and Richard Gere. Lavish soundtrack, with Dylan songs interpreted by Jeff Tweedy, Sonic Youth, Cat Power and others.

The Kite Runner (Dec. 14)

An adaptation of the celebrated novel by Khaled Hosseini � the story of how a rich Afghan boy is separated from a poor friend by foolish pride and the Soviet army. Much of the dialogue is Dari (Afghan Persian) with subtitles.

Youth Without Youth (Dec. 21)

Francis Ford Coppola's comeback is the pre-Second World War story of a professor (Tim Roth) on the run from Nazis.

Holiday romance

Atonement (Dec. 7)

From Ian McEwan's novel, starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy ( The Last King of Scotland) as cursed wartime lovers. Directed by Joe Wright, who did great things with Knightley in Pride & Prejudice.

P.S., I Love You (Dec. 21)

American girl's music-loving Irish husband dies, but refuses to leave her, having knocked off a series of pep talks before closing his guitar case for good. Each letter ends with the phrase "P.S., I Love You." Hard hearts need not apply for entry to this film, which stars Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler and Lisa Kudrow.

Ho, ho, ho

My Dinner With Jimi (Dec. 7)

From screenwriter and former Turtle Howard Kaylan comes the story of the sixties pop group's Happy Together tour of Europe. Recalls Kaylan, "We met the Rolling Stones and the Beatles � who played us Sgt. Pepper's before it was released � all the same night. I wound up eating dinner with Hendrix at 4 a.m. and puking all over his red velvet suit." Toronto only.

Juno (Dec. 14)

Juno (Haligonian Ellen Page) is a pregnant, unwed teen who sets out to find ideal adoptive parents for her baby. Michael Cera ( Superbad) is the surprised father; Jennifer Garner and Jason Batemen, the prospective parents who aren't as perfect as their J. Crew catalogue looks might suggest. Directed by Jason Reitman.

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (Dec. 21)

John C. Reilley ( Talladega Nights) is Dewey Cox, a guitar-humping hillbilly cat who goes through four decades of musical costume changes. Written by Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, Superbad).

The Bucket List (Dec. 25)

Whining, complaining and very ill, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman check out of a hospital and scoot out on a road trip. Grumpy Wild Old Hogs anyone?

Blockbuster gifts

The Golden Compass (Dec. 7)

Hollywood's biggest 2007 Christmas present came unwrapped recently when Christian groups protested the $200-million (U.S.) film version of Philip Pullman's bestseller. The magic journey to a northern world populated by lords, queens and polar-bear warriors, was, they said, anti-Christian. Starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. Directed by Chris Weitz ( About a Boy).

I Am Legend (Dec. 14)

With a German shepherd his only company, Will Smith survives a virus that turns New York into a postapocalyptic wasteland. The last living man on Earth has company, however � the creepy, crawling undead.Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Dec. 21)

Johnny Depp once wielded scissor hands for Tim Burton. Now he's using a straight razor to trim unwary customers in his 19th-century London barber shop. There's music, too � Depp and company belt out a score of songs by Stephen Sondheim, who had casting approval. With Helena Bonham Carter and Sasha Baron Cohen.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets (Dec. 21)

A father-and-son sleuth team, plus missing treasure, mysterious bad guys, no swearing � the Hardy Boys, right? Close. It's the sequel to Nicolas Cage's surprise 2004 hit, National Treasure. With Jon Voight and Helen Mirren.

Charlie Wilson's War (Dec. 25)

Mr. Wilson goes to Afghanistan. Tom Hanks is a Texas congressman who conspires with a rogue CIA operative (Philip Seymour Hoffman) to launch a covert operation against the Soviet military in Afghanistan. Julie Roberts is his benefactress. Directed by Mike Nichols, script by Aaron Sorkin.

Family outings

Enchanted (Nov. 21)

An evil queen (Susan Sarandon) banishes a beautiful princess (Amy Adams) from paradise, sending her to New York. Live action mixed with animation. Julie Andrews narrates this spoonful of sugar from Disney.

August Rush (Nov. 21)

Freddie Highmore ( Charlie and the Chocolate Family) is a musical orphan in search of musician parents (Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers) who never intended to let him go.

Grace is Gone (Dec. 7)

John Cusack's wife, a career soldier, is killed in Iraq. Heartbroken but resolute, he takes his young daughters on a trip to gently break the news.

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (Dec. 25)

A wee Scottish boy discovers a magic egg that grows into a sea serpent. When the water horse grows to monstrous proportions, he reluctantly releases the friendly beast into … Loch Ness!

The Great Debaters (Dec. 25)

Story of a black college debate team that beat Harvard in 1935. Starring Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker.

A bit of bah, humbug

The Mist (Nov. 23)

A Trojan mist envelops a Maine town, unleashing a slavering crew of deadly creatures. Yes, another Stephen King story hits the big screen. With Thomas Jane and Marcia Gay Harden.

Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (Dec. 25)

Hey, monsters celebrate Christmas, too.

Dates may change, and may vary across the country.

Special to The Globe and Mail Usher has revealed the nature of his performance for the upcoming "Moving Rocks" special, which is scheduled to air Dec. 7 on CBS as an ode to the role music plays in film. "I will do a remake of Gene Kelly's 'Singing in the Rain.' We are going to cut it on the actual sound stage where they filmed it," he told People. As for other projects, Ursh said: "I'm waiting for [the birth of] my son and preparing for my album. I have a lot to be proud of."


*Proclaimed by the Food Network as the "Best Soul Food" restaurant, Atlanta's own Louise's World's Best Soul Food presents its local soul food dishes to the national audience of the Food Network's show "The Secret Life of Family Restaurants," airing tonight (Nov. 19) at 10:30 p.m. and 1:30 am. Also, the family-owned spot will celebrate the grand opening of its new home in Lawrenceville, Ga. on Dec. 1 at 12 p.m. In 2005, the original Louise's Soul Food opened its doors at 428 Ponce De Leon, in Midtown, Atlanta.

*Last week, rapper Xzibit was announced as the latest addition to the Oliver Stone film "Pinkville." Due to the writers strike, United Artists has had to postpone production on the Vietnam War drama because neither Stone nor screenwriter Mikko Alanne (both members of the striking Writers Guild of America) are allowed to work on the script revisions needed to get the film ready for production. The film stars Bruce Willis, Channing Tatum and Woody Harrelson in the drama about the 1968 My Lai Massacre, in which more than 500 people -- mostly women, children and the elderly -- were killed by U.S. soldiers.


*Actor Morgan Freeman appears in a new public service ad that aims to raise awareness of health care and financial security. Hollywood's leading nonprofit organizations, the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) and the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF), joins the national movement lead by AARP. For the "Divided We Fail" campaign. The spots are directed by actor/director Tony Goldwyn, with music composed by Philip Glass. Other actors in the campaign include Ben Affleck, Garth Brooks, Dakota Fanning, Eva Mendes, Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Piven and Reese Witherspoon. The PSA encourages all viewers to go to www.dividedwefail.org in support of affordable, quality health care and peace of mind about financial security.


*Apparently, a rumor was going around that Jennifer Lopez had a health scare with her pregnancy. A rep for the entertainer issued a statement over the weekend denying the gossip: "Despite erroneous reports of Jennifer Lopez having difficulties with her pregnancy, we are happy to confirm she is very healthy and continuing with her schedule as planned," her publicist tells People. The 38-year-old singer-actress finally announced her obvious condition during the Miami stop of her El Cantante Tour with husband Marc Anthony.
Jennifer Freeman
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Jennifer Freeman
Birth name Jennifer Nicole Freeman
Born October 20, 1985 (1985-10-20) (age 22)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Jennifer Nicole Freeman (born October 20, 1985) is an American actress. She was born in Los Angeles, California.


[edit] Career
Freeman is best known for playing the role of Claire Kyle in the ABC sitcom My Wife and Kids. Freeman performed in the 2004 movie You Got Served. She has also made guest appearances on television (such as the shows 7th Heaven, Switched, One on One, and The OC). She is a spokesmodel for the Neutrogena skin care products company.

Freeman appeared on the March/April dual cover issue of King magazine, with fashion model Toccara Jones.


[edit] Personal life
Born and raised in Southern California, Jennifer Freeman knew from an early age that she wanted to be an actress. Jennifer grew up in Long Beach with her mother and a pair of younger twin sisters. It was at the early age of 13 that she was discovered in a grocery store and a talent manager gave her a business card.

Several months later, the family moved to Northern California the card forgotten. However, the dream was not forgotten, not by Jennifer. A year later the family returned to Long Beach in support of her acting career. Soon after returning, Jennifer called up the manager, who began sending her out to casting directors immediately, and it wasn't long before she began booking modeling jobs and television commercials.

Jennifer's television credits include 7th Heaven, One on One, Lizzie McGuire, Scrubs, Disney's Even Stevens and Disney Movie Surfers. Her movie credits include a feature role in the upcoming Johnson Family Vacation, and You Got Served & Mercy Street. She also appeared in the movies The Seventies and the independent film The Visit. Her stage credits include the Los Angeles-area productions of The Wiz, in which she played Dorothy, and Billa in "The Gift".

Recently, Jennifer began a nationwide print and television campaign as one of "the young fresh faces" of Neutrogena. In 2003 TV Guide named her as one of the Top 10 Hot Teens to watch. In her spare time she likes to write, sing, swim, rollerblade, cook, dance, play basketball and shop.