Judge halts publication of Potter lexicon
EDINBURGH, Scotland, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- British author J.K. Rowling says a New York judge has granted her request and halted publication of a lexicon based on her "Harry Potter" books.
Rowling filed a lawsuit against RDR Books in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, arguing that the lexicon violates the copyrights on her popular boy wizard novels.
"I took no pleasure at all in bringing legal action and am delighted that this issue has been resolved favorably," Rowling said in a statement Monday. "I went to court to uphold the right of authors everywhere to protect their own original work. The court has upheld that right. The proposed book took an enormous amount of my work and added virtually no original commentary of its own. Now the court has ordered that it must not be published. Many books have been published which offer original insights into the world of 'Harry Potter.' 'The Lexicon' just is not one of them."
Poll: Oprah, Hanks most trusted celebs
NEW YORK, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- A magazine poll has found that U.S. TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey and Hollywood star Tom Hanks appear to be the most trusted celebrities.
The New York Post reported Monday that a recent AOL Living and Woman's Day magazine poll indicated that 37 percent of the poll's nearly 2,000 participants said Winfrey was their most trusted celebrity compared with Hank's first-place support of 40 percent.
While the poll's respondents clearly have a liking for the popular adviser and the "Forest Gump" actor, poll participants appear to be less trusting of their loved ones.
The Post, which didn't provide a margin of error for the poll, said 67 percent of respondents admitted they wanted to know everyone their husband was contacting by e-mail or text message. Children's messages were also not off-limits to respondents as 75 percent said they routinely check who their kids are messaging.
The poll also found that 24 percent of female respondents admitted to cheating on their spouses, while 48 percent of the nearly 2,000 people polled said they considered themselves honest people.
Stern presiding over virginity auction
NEW YORK, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Radio shock jock Howard Stern reportedly is helping auction off the virginity of a San Diego woman trying to raise money for college.
The New York Daily News reported Stern is to kick off the auction on his Sirius radio show Tuesday. The auction is to be conducted online via bunnyranch.com, and the woman and the winning bidder are expected to have sex at the Moonlite Bunny Ranch, a legal house of prostitution in Nevada.
"I don't have a moral dilemma with it," the 22-year-old brunette, who isn't using her real name, told the newspaper. "We live in a capitalist society. Why shouldn't I be allowed to capitalize on my virginity?"
"I think it's a tremendous idea," added Dennis Hof, proprietor of the Bunny Ranch. "Why lose it to some guy in the backseat of a Toyota when you can pay for your education?"
The woman said she plans to finance a master's degree in marriage and family therapy at Sacramento State University.
"I understand some people may condemn me," the woman told the Daily News. "But I think this is empowering. I'm using what I have to better myself."
Minnie Driver becomes first-time mom
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Minnie Driver's publicist says the British actress has given birth to her first child, a boy.
Driver, 38, is best known for her roles in the movies "Circle of Friends," "Good Will Hunting" and "An Ideal Husband," as well as for her work on the TV series "The Riches."
Driver's representative, Jessica Kolstad, told People magazine the actress gave birth to Henry Story Driver last Friday in Los Angeles. The child weighed 9 pounds, 12 ounces, Kolstad said.
Although the movie and TV star hasn't identified the baby's father, she told People in June he will be part of their child's life.
