Ballroom dancer Julianne Hough, Tony Award-winning actress Anika Noni Rose, and Army Wives’ Sally Pressman have also joined the Celebrity Cabinet.

And just in case you were wondering whether there were any men involved in the group, rest assured these fine women will be joining the likes of Pierce Brosnan, Dwayne Johnson and Eli and Peyton Manning and many more.

As we’ve mentioned previously, the year 2012 is rapidly approaching — and with it, the chance that we’re all going to explode.

Actually, that’s only one of the scenarios. According to the Mayan calendar, 2012 is the moment when the world will re-boot. Some speculate that we’ll shift in thinking and enlightenment, while others have prophesied that the universe will send us an ultimate smack-down. (ie, world-wide volcanic eruptions, asteroid hit, Sarah Palin as President, etc.)

Anyways, hoping to cash in on these theories, Hollywood is getting ready to launch the disaster flick 2012 this summer. The film stars John Cusack, Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton, Danny Glover, and Amanda Peet. (>>View the trailer here.) As is becoming routine these days, the build-up to the film also includes some well-produced “viral” websites that provide information on everything happening as if it were really happening. There’s the IHC (Institute for Human Continuity), whose mission is to ensure the survival of the human race beyond 2012, a website for John Cusack’s character’s book Farewell Atlantis, and a blog from a crazy guy (played by Woody Harrelson) called “This Is The End“.

For a taste of Harrelson’s character, named Charlie Frost, check out the video below:

The apocalyptic movie 2012 — starring John Cusack and Woody Harrelson — has just received its first trailer. Based on this early impression, it looks a little bit like eco-disaster flick The Day After Tomorrow; which I guess makes sense since Roland Emmerich is the director behind both films.

“I play a guy who’s been talking for a long time, the whole world thinks he’s crazy,” Harrelson said earlier this year of his character. “But he’s been talking that there’s gonna be hell to pay for what’s been going on ecologically and everything.”

Other actors due to star in 2012 include Thandie Newton, Danny Glover, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, and Chin Han. Check it out below:

This summer will remembered for a lot of things (ah, Real Girls Eat Meat) — but one of the more contentious was the debate on vaccines for children. It kicked off with Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey attending a “Green Our Vaccines” rally in D.C., followed by actress Amanda Peet slamming parents who do not follow standard child inoculation schedules, passionate debate, and then relative calm.

Until now.

Jenny McCarthy is firing back at Amanda Peet in a new interview in Spectrum Magazine. The 35-year-old actress and mother of an autistic child said, “(Peet) has a lot of [nerve] to come forward and be on that side, because there is an angry mob on my side, and I like the fact that I can say she’s completely wrong.” She added, “I look at (Peet) now and say to myself, ‘That was me before I had autism in my life,’ and until she walks in our shoes, she really has no idea.”

Oh, snap!

In addition, the national autism advocacy group Autism United is calling for a boycott of all of Amanda Peet’s movies. “We want to send a clear message to her,” says Executive Director John Gilmore. “Our community will not support the continued misinformation that is funneled into the media by organizations like ECBT and the American Academy of Pediatrics. We are not against vaccines, rather we are for safe vaccines. Until they understand that, we won’t back down. Ms. Peet’s comments are deplorable and an apology will not suffice. We applaud Jenny McCarthy’s continued efforts and for speaking up for our community.”

[Update: Welcome Scienceblogs readers! Welcome Age of Autism Readers! Yes, the below poll has been influenced by many different sites -- and as such, it serves as a very poor feedback item. As some have mentioned, the best course of action going forward is to scrap polling on a topic like this one in favor of comments only. Thank you all for your insights on this. I also want to thank those from both sides who are commenting respectfully and listening to what people have to say.]

Peet has since apologized for the comment — but even before her remarks, the issue was getting more spotlight time thanks to a rally lead by Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey down in D.C. called Green Our Vaccines.

But back to Soleil. Last October, she opened up an eco-friendly baby store called The Little Seed in Los Angeles. At the time, she said “it was very difficult for her to find one place that carried non-toxic and organic items for babies, so she wanted to create a place of her own.” Now, she’s also created a blog where she’s addressing green parenting and talking about all the stresses and joys of having two kids of her own.

Regarding the issue of child vaccinations, the little seed team wrote, “We know that this is a sensitive issue for families. Whether you cheered for Amanda Peet’s controversial article in Cookie Magazine or read it and strongly disagreed, we want you to feel safe expressing any and all thoughts on this issue.  After all, our goal at THE LITTLE SEED is to create a safe haven not only for parents and children, but to create a community for thoughts and ideas as well.”

Please click here to read the letter presented on her site and join in the great discussion that has followed. Whatever side of the issue you’re on, it’s worth reading up on what others in the medical profession have to say. Keep up the great work Soleil!

- Amanda Peet on Good Morning America standing by her pro-childhood vaccination stance and begging parents not to listen to actors like Jenny McCarthy and Charlie Sheen who publicly oppose such vaccinations.

The ancient Mayans believed that the world would come to complete ruin in the year 2012. Present day Hollywood predicts this could be a box office success in Summer 2009.

It has already been announced that John Cusack will star in the Roland Emmerich film and now Woody Harrelson has revealed to MTV that he has joined the cast of the upcoming apocalyptic thriller 2012 as well.

“I play a guy who’s been talking for a long time, the whole world thinks he’s crazy,” Harrelson said of his character. “But he’s been talking that there’s gonna be hell to pay for what’s been going on ecologically and everything.”

Harrelson doesn’t know why they thought of him for the role, but for those of us who know of his outspoken activist ways, it seems a very natural fit.

Other actors due to star in 2012 include Thandie Newton, Danny Glover, Amanda Peet (fortunately the subject of vaccines isn’t in the storyline), Oliver Platt, and Chin Han.

She’s really pushing buttons.

Read her lengthy letter at Cookie Magazine.

via: celebrity-babies.com

“Frankly, I feel that parents who do not vaccinate their children are parasites,” she says. “I have a lazy, fluffy, actor-y side that’s instinctive. And I have a side that’s practical and into statistical evidence. I’m not a casual person.”

Yikes. I wonder what Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy would say to this.

Now, I’m sure there are many of you out there that beg to differ, but Peet feels staggering vaccines or choosing some over others puts the children of other parents at risk. In fact, she’s recently agreed to film some PSAs for “Every Child By Two” — a group that seeks to raise parental awareness of the need for timely infant immunizations.

Oddly, Peet does shun suncreen. “I buy 99 percent organic food for Frankie, and I don’t like to give her medicine or put sunscreen on her. But now that I’ve done my research, vaccines do not concern me,” she says.

I’m light on the issue of babies and sunscreen – but I’m sure there are others that might fill me in. Have at it!

via celebritybabyblog