Celebrities, pols benefit from Colo. ag tax breaks (AP)

DENVER – Goldie Hawn, Tom Cruise and media mogul Charlie Ergen are among the people benefiting from a legal property tax break because their Colorado homes and estates are categorized as agricultural land.

People can qualify for the agricultural tax rate simply by cutting hay or allowing livestock to graze on their land, even if they don't have very much to do with food production, The Denver Post reported Monday.

Cruise allows sheep to graze for brief periods each year on the land he owns near Telluride. The newspaper says the actor pays about $400 in taxes on the 248 acres he bought for nearly $18 million.

He pays $11,380 in taxes on another property where his vacation home is located.

Elected officials in Colorado are also paying the lower agricultural tax rate.

Democratic State Sen. Gail Schwartz and her husband pay $54.52 in yearly taxes on 15.4 acres of meadowland in a Basalt subdivision. They bought it for $690,000 in 2004.

"This land is doing the same thing it has been doing for 100 years. It's irrigated, it grows hay and it's completely in the heart of agricultural land in our valley. It's not a subdivision scam," Schwartz told The Associated Press.

The Post said Republican state treasurer Walker Stapleton, who has worked as a real estate investor, and a family member pay $116 in taxes on 180 acres near Castle Rock.

A spokesman for Stapleton said he owns only 10 percent of the parcel near Castle Rock.

Representatives for Hawn, Cruise and Ergen didn't immediately provide comment on their properties.

___

Information from: The Denver Post, http://www.denverpost.com


View the original article here

Read more...

Who Were the Biggest Celebrities of February 2011?


Celebrity One-Stops are PopEater's way of highlighting your five favorite celebrities every month. According to you, most awesome readers, February's biggest stars were a Grammy-nominated movie-star pop prodigy, a sexy Super Bowl performer, a guy on a drug he named after himself, a diva who came out of an egg, and a "mean girl" you know very well. See the full list after the jump.
Without further ado, our top celebrities of February 2011:

1. Justin Bieber: Bieber did the unthinkable in February -- he cut his hair. But Justin did give Ellen Degeneres (who has an oddly similar haircut) his chopped locks to auction off for charity. And queue the 'awww' track. Biebs lost the Best New Artist Grammy moderately gracefully. Now, in the young days of March, he's turned 17 and launched into his angsty teen years, flipping off photographers as he headed home after his b-day dinner. This after Justin and Selena Gomez hit a post-Oscar party red carpet as a couple -- in coordinating ensembles.

2. Charlie Sheen: Yes, even before March became Official Charlie Sheen Winning Month, his antics were the second-hottest celebrity aspect of February.

3. Fergie: What's one word to describe Fergie's half-time Super Bowl performance with the Black Eyed Peas? FAIL. The songstress couldn't seem to get on pitch throughout the show in which sounds system and stage lighting technical difficulties also knocked the performance down quite a few notches. The Peas, who are known for breaking it down (usually in a good way) in concert should put their solo acts on hold and spend some time rehearsing.

4. Lady Gaga: How does Gaga stay in such tip-top monster shape? Whiskey and yoga, of course. Gaga divulged her secrets to staying slim after wearing a condom-inspired outfit on Good Morning America. Gaga made prophylactics fashionable while talking about safe sex on the show. This on the heels of incubating in an egg for hours before her Grammy performance.

5. Lindsay Lohan: LiLo found herself facing off against the law yet again after allegedly swiping an expensive necklace. If convicted Lindsay, could spend up to three years in jail.

Check out the full PopEater Celebrity One-Stop homepage >>

Celebrity One-Stops are our constantly updated multimedia library of the celebrities you love and love to hate -- Hollywood stalwarts like Ben Stiller and Demi Moore; the hottest couples, from Brad and Angelina to Katy Perry and Russell Brand; reality TV staples Kendra Wilkinson and Kim Kardashian; recording artist juggernauts including Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears, Cher and Usher; and new Oscar winners Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, and Colin Firth. Oh, and Snooki.

Don't worry. Jennifer Aniston's in there, too, with hot topics, the latest news and a full biography, just like the 100 other celebrities in our ever-expanding hub.

Thanks for enjoying our Celebrity One-Stops, PopEater friends, readers and commenters!

View the original article here

Read more...

Celebrities Head To The World's Most Exotic Destinations for Spring Break

The month of March is upon us, which means the booze-soaked collegiate tradition known as spring break is about to commence. But while America's future leaders are getting their stomach's pumped in Cancun, the rich and famous prefer to vacation in more luxurious, refined destinations -- from the world's most exotic beaches to its most glistening ski slopes.

When it comes to your own spring break, which of those groups would you rather belong to? We thought so. Relax, renew and rejuvenate like the stars at these top destinations, which are commonly frequented by your favorite celebrities ... plus people like Lindsay Lohan. And if, like us, you can't afford an elaborate spring break this year, at least you'll have a better idea of what you're missing when you cry yourself to sleep at night.


St. Barts
The island of St. Barts, located in the beautiful French Caribbean, is a favorite for a wide variety of celebs, from Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey to Fergie and husband Josh Duhamel, who vacationed there earlier this year. In November 2010, Tara Reid made the gossip mags for getting sloppy at a St. Barts club. (Although, to be fair, the only thing less newsworthy than Reid getting sloppy at a club is the actress "accidently" showing her nipples.)

Last winter, the island also played host to Lindsay and Ali Lohan. Luckily for local residents, the 'Mean Girls' actress didn't try to steal the island and then claim it was "on loan."

Bora Bora
What could be sexier (or more likely to earn you a punch in the face) than telling your friends and co-workers you're jetting to this French Polynesian island for some R&R? A-list stars who have been known to soak up the sun in Bora Bora include Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, who honeymooned at the St. Regis hotel with husband Keith Urban, and Adam Lambert, who was spotted jet skiing the afternoon away just last week.

Far more important, however, is that Charlie Sheen has vacationed here, and if the last few weeks have taught us anything, it's that we're willing to follow him anywhere -- be it a tropical island oasis or the depths of hell.

Maldives
For a truly exotic getaway, big-name stars like Kevin Spacey, Madonna, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes and David and Victoria Beckham travel halfway around the globe to the Maldives, which, in addition to its pristine beaches on the Indian Ocean, boasts some of the most luxurious digs on the planet.

Jay-Z and Beyonce have been known to cruise around on a chartered yacht, while Katy Perry and Russell Brand recently spent their honeymoon resort-hopping across the islands -- which is totally next on our to-do list ... you know, right after "stop being poor."

Aspen
Not a fan of skin cancer? Then maybe you'd rather hit the slopes than the beach. In that case, head to Aspen, Colo., where the beautiful people go for top-notch skiing and snowboarding.

Recent visitors to the area include Chris O'Donnell and family, Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, Elle Macpherson and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Thankfully, the Governator has a better command of the slopes than the English language.

Fiji
Composed of a cluster of islands located in the South Pacific, Fiji attracts many celebrities thanks to its secluded, largely paparazzi-free location. Oh, and also its insanely lavish resorts. Notable visitors to the islands include Oprah, Britney Spears, Bill Gates, Pierce Brosnan and Jessica Simpson.

Mel Gibson is also a longtime regular, but don't let that deter you; he'll only be thought of as a lunatic bigot for a few more months, after which he'll be remembered as the guy who starred in 'The Beaver.'

Hawaii

President Obama's not the only reason everyone -- well, democrats -- loves Hawaii. Celebs are also partial to the 50th state because of its close proximity to Los Angeles, with many even opting to buy second (or third or fourth) homes there. Oprah has a tricked out mansion in Maui, while Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore reportedly own homes in Kauai.

Stars who don't own, like Britney Spears and Denise Richards, often choose to stay at the Four Seasons Maui, one of the island's most well-appointed properties. Other celebs who are often "spotted" (i.e., hounded by paparazzi) in Hawaii include Owen Wilson, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, Kate Hudson and Woody Harrelson.

Anguilla
For celebs based on the East Coast, this majestic island in the British West Indies is just a hop, skip and a jump from JFK Airport (or technically, a short flight to St. Martin followed by a short boat ride to Anguilla proper). With 33 flawless beaches and an array of world-class resorts, it's no surprise that stars as big as Brad Pitt, Robert DeNiro and Denzel Washington have been spotted frolicking on the beach. Except maybe DeNiro, who has never frolicked anywhere, ever.



View the original article here

Read more...

New Year's Resolutions for Celebrities


New Year's resolutions are made to be broken -- doubly so in Hollywood.

Some movie stars need bigger resolutions than us mere mortals, and to help them along we've come up with some sure-fire 2011 resolutions they may want to consider adopting. (And no, not in the Angelina Jolie-foreign baby sense of the word.)

So for those celebrities who have misstepped (or heck, even for those who've done OK for themselves), here are our suggestions for 2011 New Year's resolutions.

Mel Gibson

So your antics this year cost you any good faith 'Lethal Weapon' ever gave you, causing you to lose a cameo in the sure-to-be-hilarious sequel to 'The Hangover.' You were revealed as a racist, sexist and anti-Semitic wife-beater and there's really no coming back from that. Our advice would be to lay as low as possible. In fact, is it too late to CGI Liam Neeson into your upcoming movie 'The Beaver'?

2011 Resolution: Accept that you've had a good run and stay out of the spotlight. The public is done with you. In 10 years, resurface for a cameo in an action movie. But for this upcoming year? Your resolution is to "zip it."


Jennifer Aniston

Hard to believe the rumor mill hasn't yet died down over your divorce from Brad Pitt like, 7,000 years ago. Perhaps more egregious though has been your choice of films ever since; 'The Bounty Hunter' doesn't exactly make people forget that you're that Jennifer Aniston. Remember when you did such a great job in 'The Good Girl'? Go back to that in 2011.

2011 Resolution: Stop it with the romantic comedies. This new year is the perfect time for you to start picking up meatier roles that will finally overshadow all the BS in your personal life. It's 2011, after all -- movies need to stop being about Type A woman teaming up with freeloading dudes. Your resolution needs to be to stop enabling those films.


Lindsay Lohan

Is it fair to count you among movie actresses this year? You did have one role in 'Machete' with Danny Trejo, but other than that, not much went on with you, acting-wise. In the coming year you should take some movie roles. Unless you enjoy trotting around Los Angeles with your mother making bad business and personal decisions for you. It seems like you do.

2011 Resolution: Your resolution is to: "Get. it. together." This Marilyn Monroe complex has got to go unless you want to end up like she did -- dying young. Get a movie role and show up to the set on time. Show up to the set at all. And stop talking about that leggings company like you're going to make it happen. It's not going to happen.


Jaden Smith

Remakes are doing well for you, little buddy. In 2010, you starred opposite Jackie Chan in 'The Karate Kid' remake and it was super cute. In 2011, you should remake 'Rush Hour' with the kick-ass Maddox Jolie-Pitt. Or remake 'Home Alone' with Cedric the Entertainer and Samuel L. Jackson as the bungling burglars. Really, the remake world is your remake oyster in the coming year.

2011 Resolution: Your resolution should be to "start collaborating with your sister, singing sensation Willow Smith." Do a pint-sized 'Men in Black' with Willow in the Tommy Lee Jones role and you playing your dad's part. Do 'Wild Wild West' with Willow in the Kevin Kline role and you ... well, you get it. Just work together and use your Smith powers for good, not evil (i.e., stay away from Justin Bieber).


Gwyneth Paltrow

As recently as 2009, people were getting really sick of you, Gwyneth Paltrow. Your pretentious, non-sensical website GOOP wasn't making you any friends, and that faux-British accent was working about as well as it did for Madonna. But somehow in 2010 you managed to turn it all around. People like you again! You were fun on 'Glee' as a wacky substitute teacher and your 'Country Strong' is good campy fare.

2011 Resolution: Keep doing what you're doing and don't screw this up. You might just have a shot at being a darling in the public's eyes again, instead of a weird snob who lacks self-awareness. Your resolution should be to "take more fun parts" so you'll maintain your status as "beloved by audiences." Also, if you have another kid in 2011, name it something normal, please.


Daniel Radcliffe and Robert Pattinson

In 2011, both of your lucrative fantasy franchises -- 'Harry Potter' and 'Twilight' -- are coming to an end. So what's next? Star in a buddy cop movie together? Cash in on those kiddie roles before you have to start playing grown ups? Try and play each other's parts -- Harry Potter and Edward Cullen -- in the inevitable remakes? Take to the stage for a while?

2011 Resolutions: For both of you, it's time to make 2011 the year you take really good adult parts. Think Macaulay Culkin in 'Party Monster' or Natalie Portman in 'Closer.' Really take the year away from 'Harry Potter' and 'Twilight' and grow up as actors. Now's your chance to 'make magic' and 'eclipse' your past roles, respectively.


Charlie Sheen

If you're gonna go bananas on a bender in a hotel room, perhaps leave bigger tips for the housekeeping staff. Or maybe just stop going on benders? For some inexplicable reason, audiences seem to like you in 'Two and a Half Men,' but they hate you in your personal life. If you're looking to get back into movies, you might want to stop being so unlikable.

2011 Resolution: No more hanging out with prostitutes and no more drugs. In fact, take six months and lay low. Then, take a part in a comedy where you mock your past drug use and partying and let everyone take a couple of pot shots at you. It'll show humility and self-awareness in the coming year.


Tim Burton


How long can you, as a director, get away with casting Johnny Depp and your partner, Helena Bonham Carter, in the same movie over and over again? It got stale like, five movies ago. Also, if we hear about one more adaptation or remake ('Alice in Wonderland,' 'Sweeney Todd,' 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory') from you in 2011, we're going to explode.

2011 Resolution: Make an original movie and do NOT cast Johnny Depp in it. Granted, you guys work well together, but he's become this weird crutch for you when you used to be known for creating masterful works. In 2011, you will sign on to a new movie and it will not be a remake or adaptation and you will cast a fresh face in every single role. In 2011, Depp can fend for himself.


Tom Hardy

You had a breakout year in Christopher Nolan's stunning 'Inception' and your career isn't showing any signs of slowing down. Congrats! 2010 ruled for you. Don't blow it. You made some amazingly progressive comments regarding sexuality and you could emerge as the face of sexy leading men for a new generation.

2011 Resolution: Oh, erm ... we don't really have a resolution for you other than to keep doing what you're doing. We can't wait to see you in the sequel to 'The Dark Knight' and in 'This Means War.' Stay sexy, and in the coming year, try not to backpedal on anything you said pre-fame. Our love is yours to lose.


View the original article here

Read more...