Twitter

Al -- who is on jury duty -- took a pic in the jury assembly room in a NYC courtroom. The pic shows some of the prospective jurors -- Al posted it on his Twitter page. The official told us no one is allowed to take such pics -- but Al's rep just told us Mr. Roker got permission from a court official.

We just called the court official back and told them that Al got the OK. The official said if Al really did get permission to take the pic, the person who approved it "was ill-advised." The official said it's not OK, but if Al got bogus advice, it's not his fault.

After Disney star Demi Lovato Twittered her throat was "on fiiiiiire" and said if anyone brought her "throat stuff" she'd love 'em "forever," a few fans in London came through bigtime.

Bush dropped the info on his Twitter page yesterday -- "Health has been off the last 2 wks. Tests are back. I have mono."

On a related note -- Billy planted a kiss on Miss Universe's face during the show. Miss U then kissed his co-host Nadine Velazquez ... who then kissed Miss West Virgina.

TMZ spoke to a rep for Miss Universe just a few minutes ago, who told us Miss U "feels fine ... no mono-like symptoms." We're trying to get in touch with the rest of the exposed ...

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon were just involved in a minor car accident in L.A. -- apparently they're not hurt, because Mariah was healthy enough to Twitter about it.

Here's what Mariah posted on her page just moments ago:

Forget the economy, war, poverty and substandard education -- the troops in the offices of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are spending time worrying about TMZ and Twitter.

A spokesman in Pelosi's office confirmed the Speaker's Director of New Media sent an email to Democratic press secretaries warning them that TMZ is sniffing around the Hill, asking congressmen about Twittering.

According to The Political Machine, the email reads, "Yesterday, TMZ stalked out members ... and asked them about their use of Twitter. Please be aware that they may continue to do so."

The email explains Twitter is banned from the Senate floor, but permitted on the House floor. We're guessing this is a painfully obvious talking point for morons.

The email explains how we asked three congressmen about twittering and some of their answers sounded "obscene." What Democrat says this? Who under 80 says this?

NOTE TO NANCY -- Relax, we're not in your fair district to do harm. Quite the opposite, there are a lot of people who want to care about politics -- but don't -- because they find it boring. Our M.O. is simple -- if people get to know their reps on a personality level, they're more likely to listen to them when they talk policy. Hence, when we asked Congressman Schock about his abs, when we asked Senator Burr about driving his VW Thing in a snowstorm with the top down, and when we asked the dreaded Twitter questions -- a lot of people who knew nothing about these dudes connected with them. And if you don't believe us, ask the congressmen.

No, that would be this.

Most singers miss performances by using the lame "exhaustion" excuse. But not Erykah Badu -- she still made a SXSW gig last night in Austin even though an alleged stalker had barricaded Erykah inside her home.

Badu used the all-powerful Twitter to update fans, saying "Police just apprehended a stalker in front of my house. Stay tuned to details."

Erykah went on to say the woman had been outside of her house multiple times -- and she had "several misc. items spread out in the grass. Blue shutters, a rabbit, a tucan and a sketch book."