Tuesday 31 January 2012

Reese's dazzling dress bucks a trend

Reese's dazzling dress bucks a trend

Reese's dazzling dress bucks a trend, Reese Witherspoon Stuns on the Red Carpet, Turning heads on the red carpet, Reese Witherspoon helps cement her classy style status. The always gorgeous Reese Witherspoon braved the cold and showed some leg at the London premiere of her flick "This Means War" on Monday. Find out what's next for the starlet! Plus, Ronnie from "Jersey Shore" dishes on where the next season might take place, and Nicolas Cage gets waxed.

Slave's letter to former master stirs buzz

Slave's letter to former master stirs buzz

Slave's letter to former master stirs buzz, Letter from freed slave to former master draws attention, A Tenn. man's strange request to a freed slave after the war drew a riveting reply. A newly discovered letter from a freed former slave to his onetime master is creating a buzz. Letters of Note explains that in August of 1865, a Colonel P.H. Anderson of Big Spring, Tennessee wrote to his former slave Jourdan Anderson, requesting that Jourdan return to work on his farm.


In the time since escaping from slavery, Anderson had become emancipated, moved to Ohio where he found paid work and was now supporting his family. The letter turned up in the August 22 edition of the New York Daily Tribune. Some excerpts:

Sir: I got your letter, and was glad to find that you had not forgotten Jourdon, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again, promising to do better for me than anybody else can. I have often felt uneasy about you. I thought the Yankees would have hung you long before this, for harboring Rebs they found at your house. I suppose they never heard about your going to Colonel Martin's to kill the Union soldier that was left by his company in their stable. Although you shot at me twice before I left you, I did not want to hear of your being hurt, and am glad you are still living. It would do me good to go back to the dear old home again, and see Miss Mary and Miss Martha and Allen, Esther, Green, and Lee. Give my love to them all, and tell them I hope we will meet in the better world, if not in this. I would have gone back to see you all when I was working in the Nashville Hospital, but one of the neighbors told me that Henry intended to shoot me if he ever got a chance.

On the "good chance" offered by the former slave owner:

I want to know particularly what the good chance is you propose to give me. I am doing tolerably well here. I get twenty-five dollars a month, with victuals and clothing; have a comfortable home for Mandy,—the folks call her Mrs. Anderson,—and the children—Milly, Jane, and Grundy—go to school and are learning well. The teacher says Grundy has a head for a preacher. They go to Sunday school, and Mandy and me attend church regularly. We are kindly treated. Sometimes we overhear others saying, "Them colored people were slaves" down in Tennessee. The children feel hurt when they hear such remarks; but I tell them it was no disgrace in Tennessee to belong to Colonel Anderson. Many darkeys would have been proud, as I used to be, to call you master. Now if you will write and say what wages you will give me, I will be better able to decide whether it would be to my advantage to move back again.

And then Jourdan explains that anything his former master could offer, he's already earned on his own. Other than some back wages:

As to my freedom, which you say I can have, there is nothing to be gained on that score, as I got my free papers in 1864 from the Provost-Marshal-General of the Department of Nashville. Mandy says she would be afraid to go back without some proof that you were disposed to treat us justly and kindly; and we have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will make us forget and forgive old scores, and rely on your justice and friendship in the future. I served you faithfully for thirty-two years, and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars a month for me, and two dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to eleven thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time our wages have been kept back, and deduct what you paid for our clothing, and three doctor's visits to me, and pulling a tooth for Mandy, and the balance will show what we are in justice entitled to. Please send the money by Adams's Express, in care of V. Winters, Esq., Dayton, Ohio. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we can have little faith in your promises in the future. We trust the good Maker has opened your eyes to the wrongs which you and your fathers have done to me and my fathers, in making us toil for you for generations without recompense. Here I draw my wages every Saturday night; but in Tennessee there was never any pay-day for the negroes any more than for the horses and cows. Surely there will be a day of reckoning for those who defraud the laborer of his hire.

And after a few more jabs about how his children are now happy and receiving an education, Jourdan concludes his letter with:

Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you when you were shooting at me.

via: yahoo

Fan ruins teen girl's special moment

Fan ruins teen girl's special moment


Fan ruins teen girl's special moment, Teenager who had Djokovic shirt snatched away speaks out against thief, A 14-year-old is heartbroken after an encounter with her tennis idol takes an unfortunate turn. The teenage girl who had Novak Djokovic's shirt stolen from her grasp on Sunday is speaking out against the middle-aged garment thief who grabbed the souvenir.

Melissa Cook, 14, had a front-row seat cheering on Djokovic during his epic victory over Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final. When the world No. 1 finally defeated Nadal after five hours, 53 minutes, Cook managed to get his attention as he was changing clothes. Djokovic walked over to Cook to toss her a spare shirt, but it was grabbed instead by a woman sitting two seats away.

"I started crying because I couldn't believe that something I truly believe he meant for me was taken by someone else," the teenager told Australia's Herald Sun.

Yeah, that was pretty cold of that lady. Like we wrote on Sunday, she was like that guy at a baseball game who fights a little kid for a foul ball. There's nothing wrong with an adult catching something from an athlete. To take it from the hands of a child is unacceptable.

Cook wanted Djokovic's shirt to hang on the "Novak Wall" in her bedroom. From the looks of the video, it looks like the tennis star intended for her to get it.

"I had been yelling out to him the whole match and he had looked up and acknowledged me," she said. "Then at the end he came straight over to my direction and threw the shirt up."

The woman has been identified as mother of three, Yael Rothschild. She's heard Melissa's story and insists she's keeping the shirt, saying that it was fair game for any of the spectators in the first few rows.

"When the shirt was thrown, there would have been 20 excited people, all with their hands out," she told the Herald Sun. "After (it had been) thrown, there would have been 19 disappointed people. Such is life. I am not sure how you can snatch out of the hands (of) someone sitting three seats away from you with a barrier between the seating."

via: yahoo

Kristen Bell's Animal Meltdown

Kristen Bell's Animal Meltdown

Kristen Bell's Animal Meltdown, Actress has meltdown over visitor, Kristen Bell meets a furry little animal for her birthday, and her reaction is anything but normal. Soldier Surprise, "Glee" Star's MJ Tribute, "Bachelor" Reenactment.

‘Flying People’ Stun New Yorkers to Promote New Movie ‘Chronicle’

‘Flying People’ Stun New Yorkers to Promote New Movie ‘Chronicle’


‘Flying People’ Stun New Yorkers to Promote New Movie ‘Chronicle’, Shocking flying figures explained, A jaw-dropping sight had New Yorkers staring in disbelief and grabbing their cell phones. Ads for 1978's "Superman: The Movie" proclaimed "You'll believe a man can fly." This past weekend, a very different kind of promotion for a new superhero film actually did convince some New Yorkers that human beings had taken to the skies.

What looked to be three people were spotted flying around the skies of lower Manhattan last Friday, causing a lot of double-takes and dropped jaws from onlookers. But while it appeared to be a sight straight out of a comic book, it was actually a clever bit of viral marketing for this week's upcoming film "Chronicle." Those aren't people in the air, but some very intricately designed radio-controlled airplanes. Watch the video of their flight, and keep reading to learn how it was done.

The movie tells the story of three high school students who discover they have superpowers, including the ability to fly. To promote it, the studio called on Thinkmodo, a company that specializes in creating viral sensations. They first made a splash with a video that seemed to show a man using an invention to hack into the video screens in Times Square. It was later revealed to be a tie-in for the Bradley Cooper movie "Limitless," which went on to be a surprise hit. For "Chronicle," though, the team had a different direction in mind.

I interviewed James Percelay, the co-founder of Thinkmodo, over email about the video. He said he and his partner Michael Krivicka were approached by 20th Century Fox, the studio behind "Chronicle," and they hatched a plan to do a live event they would also film for a viral video. Percelay said they received approval for the project just three weeks ago. They employed model airplane builders in Oregon, Pennsylvania, and New York to build the three featured planes and two back-ups.

Percelay said, "The planes are highly sophisticated dacron/carbon fiber, battery-powered, radio-controlled units," each with over 200 parts. Percelay described the individual pieces as being "light and delicate as potato chips." Their "flying people" are six feet tall, but they weigh only four pounds. The aircraft were all built in a week, half the time it would normally take to construct them.

Percelay wouldn't reveal exactly who was piloting the planes in the video, only to say "[They] are expert AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) members with amazing skills." They practiced flying for two days in Long Island before taking them out for a spin in New York. According to the Los Angeles Times, the three people-planes made six trips over the Hudson River, each lasting only five minutes due to the short lives of their batteries. One flyer did take a tumble into the river and had to be fished out by the NYC Harbor Patrol.

Unlike the "Limitless" video, where the promotional aspect was hidden until the viral element has spread across the Internet, the "Chronicle" stunt actually shows how it was done. Percelay said the Thinkmodo team felt "the behind-the-scenes aspect of this video was even cooler than trying to create a hoax." In an age when we assume everything we see has been digitally manipulated in one way or another, it is especially impressive to watch real aircraft being piloted to such an amazing effect.

Percelay said that the spectators in New York -- notoriously a hard-to-impress bunch -- were uniformly astounded by the flying people. He said, "We loved that nobody felt threatened by them since their movements were so life-like and graceful... A number of people said it looked like an 'aerial ballet.'"

"Chronicle," the movie that inspired the stunt, opens this Friday. Watch the trailer below.


via: yahoo

3D printing service puts your face on everything

3D printing service puts your face on everything


3D printing service puts your face on everything, New app performs 3-D printing.

Uggie The Dog's Amazing Tricks

Uggie The Dog's Amazing Tricks

Uggie The Dog's Amazing Tricks, 'The Artist' dog's amazing tricks. Skateboarding is just one of the cute things Uggie can do on command.

Did Leonardo da Vinci copy his famous 'Vitruvian Man'?

Did Leonardo da Vinci copy his famous 'Vitruvian Man'?

Did Leonardo da Vinci copy his famous 'Vitruvian Man'?, Did Leonardo copy famous sketch?, There's a convincing argument that the artist's friend made a similar sketch ... first, Leonardo da Vinci's drawing of a male figure perfectly inscribed in a circle and square, known as the "Vitruvian Man," illustrates what he believed to be a divine connection between the human form and the universe. 

Beloved for its beauty and symbolic power, it is one of the most famous images in the world. However, new research suggests that the work, which dates to 1490, may be a copy of an earlier drawing by Leonardo's friend.

Another illustration of a divinely proportioned man — the subject is Christ-like, but the setting is strikingly similar to Leonardo's — has been discovered in a forgotten manuscript in Ferrara, Italy.

Both drawings are depictions of a passage written 1,500 years earlier by Vitruvius, an ancient Roman architect, in which he describes a man's body fitting perfectly inside a circle (the divine symbol) and inside a square (the earthly symbol). It was a geometric interpretation of the ancient belief that man is a "microcosm": a miniature embodiment of the whole universe. Leonardo and other scholars revived this vainglorious notion during the Italian Renaissance.

After decades of study, Claudio Sgarbi, an Italian architectural historian who discovered the lesser known illustration of the Vitruvian man in 1986, now believes it to be the work of Giacomo Andrea de Ferrara, a Renaissance architect, expert on Vitruvius, and close friend of Leonardo's. What's more, Sgarbi believes Giacomo Andrea probably drew his Vitruvian man first, though the two men are likely to have discussed their mutual efforts.

Sgarbi will lay out his arguments in a volume of academic papers to be published this winter, Smithsonian Magazine reports.

The key arguments are as follows: In Leonardo's writings, he mentions "Giacomo Andrea's Vitruvius" — seemingly a direct reference to the illustrated Ferrara manuscript. Secondly, Leonardo had dinner with Giacomo Andrea in July 1490, the year in which both men are thought to have drawn their Vitruvian men. 

Experts believe Leonardo would have probed Giacomo Andrea's knowledge of Vitruvius when they met. And though both drawings interpret Vitruvius' words similarly, Leonardo's is perfectly executed, while Giacomo Andrea's is full of false starts and revisions, none of which would have been necessary if he had simply copied Leonardo's depiction.

Other scholars find the arguments convincing.

"I find Sgarbi's argument exciting and very seductive, to say the least," said Indra McEwen, an architectural historian at Concordia University who has written extensively about the works of Vitruvius. "But [I] would opt for the view that Giacomo Andrea and Leonardo worked in tandem, rather than Leonardo basing his drawing on Andrea's."

Rather than competitors, the two Renaissance men were colleagues working together to bring a beautiful, ancient idea back to life.

"Whose was the 'original' drawing is a non-question as far as I'm concerned. Much as it is a preoccupation of our own time, I don't think it would have been an issue in Leonardo's day," McEwen told Life's Little Mysteries.

Patrice Le Floch-Prigent, an anatomist at the University of Versailles in France who has analyzed the anatomical correctness of Leonardo's famous work, noted that, for both drawings, "the source is Vitruvius."

Furthermore, regardless of their chronology, Leonardo's work is an improvement on Giacomo Andrea's, McEwen said: "Leonardo is by far the superior draftsman, with a far superior understanding of anatomy."

Leonardo's is also more faithful to the text, she explained.

"Nowhere does Vitruvius say that the man is positioned inside the circle and the square at the same time. 'A man lying flat on his back, can be circumscribed by a circle if his hands and feet are outstretched,' writes Vitruvius. Similarly, his height is equal to his arm span, 'just as in areas that have been squared with a set square.'"

Giacomo Andrea's figure has only one set of arms and legs, which are simultaneously circumscribed by a circle and outlined by a square, while "Leonardo deals with [the two propositions] by having the position of his man's arms and legs change. That, I would have to admit, makes his drawing a closer approximation to the textual description than Giacomo Andrea's," McEwen wrote.

One thing is certain. The better Vitruvian man gained international fame, while the simpler but possibly more original one was left to languish in a library for five centuries. That may have to do with the very different fates met by Leonardo and Giacomo Andrea. When the French invaded Milan in 1499, the former fled to safety and went on to achieve eternal renown. The latter stayed in Milan and was hanged, drawn and quartered by the French, and largely forgotten by history — until now.

via: msn

iPhone & Android battle over games

iPhone & Android battle over games


iPhone & Android battle over games

N.Y. media flips out over Brady comment

N.Y. media flips out over Brady comment

N.Y. media flips out over Brady comment, Tom Brady is hopeful of winning the Super Bowl and the New York media is taking it personally, Tom Brady gets attacked in some New York tabloids after delivering a message to Patriots fans. The New England Patriots and 25,000 fans gathered for a pep rally at Gillette Stadium before the Patriots departed for Indianapolis. Quarterback Tom Brady was one of the Patriots who took the microphone at the 13-minute rally, and he said this:

"We have the greatest fans in America. You guys have proved that year in and year out with your support. I wish I could take all you guys to Indy with us. We're going down there, and we're going down there for one reason. We're going to give it our best and hopefully we have a lot more people at our party next weekend."

"Hopefully." As in "Hopefully, we'll win," which doesn't seem like an unreasonable thing to say under any circumstances. Initially, the Brady quote didn't even make the Associated Press' story about the rally. They had quotes from Kevin Faulk, Wes Welker and Jerod Mayo, but nothing of Brady's comment.

That's understandable, as Handsome Tom didn't really say anything noteworthy. That is, unless, you're a New York newspaper and you're desperate to create some kind of "Tom Brady disrespects the Giants!" narrative. In that case, Tom's innocuous quote becomes something like this (via the New York Post):

Apparently, as far as the New York media is concerned, "Hopefully we'll have a lot more people at our party next weekend" translates as, "The New York Giants suck at football and at life, and we will have no mercy on them, despite their obvious physical, mental and emotional handicaps. The New England Patriots are superior human beings in every way, and that's why we're going to beat the Giants by 70. May everyone in New York severely burn the roof of their mouth."

Other media members jumped on the quote and tried to extract something more out of it. Brady was later asked if the quote was "intended to exude confidence." According to the Boston Herald, someone asked Wes Welker if the team was already planning a victory party. Logan Mankins was asked about it, too.

via: yahoo

Megaupload files might still be saved

Megaupload files might still be saved

Megaupload files might still be saved, Megaupload users have gotten at least a two-week reprieve during which the file-sharing company says it hopes their files and other stored data can be retrieved, not deleted. The news comes days after a federal prosecutor said user data on the site, which is accused of knowingly hosting illegally pirated material, could be deleted as early as this week.


Megaupload's attorney now says the companies that own the servers where the files are stored have agreed to wait while a solution is pursued.

"Carpathia and Cogent agreed to preserve consumer data for additional time of at least two weeks so #Megaupload can work with US on proposal," attorney Ira Rothken said late Monday on Twitter.

One of those companies, Carpathia Hosting, said Tuesday that it's working with Internet-rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation to help users get their data back.

"Although Carpathia does not have, and has never had, access to the content on Megaupload's servers, the hosting provider wants to assist lawful users of the Megaupload service by promoting EFF and its nonprofit legal services," the company said in a statement.

The company has created a website, megaretrieval.com, to help those users.

Federal prosecutors on Friday had said files, presumably including perfectly legal ones, may be deleted, starting as soon as Thursday.

"It is our understanding that the hosting companies may begin deleting the contents of the servers beginning as early as February 2, 2012," U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride said in a letter filed in federal court.

The letter, submitted Friday in the Eastern District of Virginia, says that government investigators had finished executing search warrants at centers where Megaupload and MegaVideo files are stored.

MacBride wrote that the government copied some data but didn't remove any. Now that the search has been finished, the government no longer has access to the servers, he said.

Seven people associated with the popular site were indicted this month on charges that they knowingly operated an "international organized criminal enterprise" allowing worldwide sharing of illegally pirated movies, music and other media. Attorneys for Megaupload, which is based in Hong Kong, have denied the charges.

The indictment alleges the company has denied copyright holders an estimated $500 million and that those indicted have earned roughly $175 million in the process.

Lost in the shuffle, though, may be millions of legitimate files stored on the site by its users.

According to the government's indictment, Megaupload has claimed more than 180 million registered users in its five-year existence. While some of those users say they went to the site to look for movies, television shows and other material that may be copyrighted, numerous others have complained that they've lost access to personal and professional materials stored there.

In the Carpathia statement, an attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation said the group is "troubled" that lawful users have "had their property taken from them without warning and that the government has taken no steps to help them."

"We think it's important that these users have their voices heard as this process moves forward," said Julie Samuels, a staff attorney at the foundation.

via: cnn

Cynthia Nixon Clarifies Comments: "Bisexuality Is Not a Choice"

Cynthia Nixon Clarifies Comments: "Bisexuality Is Not a Choice"

Cynthia Nixon Clarifies Comments: "Bisexuality Is Not a Choice", Star explains controversial 'gay' remark, Cynthia Nixon sings a slightly different tune after stating that she chose to be in a gay relationship. Cynthia Nixon has backtracked on her controversial sexuality remarks, saying that "bisexuality is not a choice."


The Sex and the City star drew ire from gay rights activists last week when she was quoted in a New York Times piece as saying that, for her, being gay "is a choice."

Sex and the City's Cynthia Nixon: I'm gay by choice

"My recent comments in The New York Times were about me and my personal story of being gay," Nixon tells The Advocate in a statement. "I believe we all have different ways we came to the gay community and we can't and shouldn't be pigeon-holed into one cultural narrative which can be uninclusive and disempowering. However, to the extent that anyone wishes to interpret my words in a strictly legal context I would like to clarify:

"While I don't often use the word, the technically precise term for my orientation is bisexual. I believe bisexuality is not a choice, it is a fact. What I have 'chosen' is to be in a gay relationship.

"As I said in the Times and will say again here, I do, however, believe that most members of our community — as well as the majority of heterosexuals — cannot and do not choose the gender of the persons with whom they seek to have intimate relationships because, unlike me, they are only attracted to one sex.

"Our community is not a monolith, thank goodness, any more than America itself is. I look forward to and will continue to work toward the day when America recognizes all of us as full and equal citizens."

Nixon's clarification comes a week after several members of the gay and lesbian community, including celebrity chef Cat Cora, criticized the actress for her initial comments. "I'm gay, and I was born this way," Cora told the ladies of The Talk. "I really feel like it was dangerous and irresponsible of Cynthia, especially in this environment today when so many young people are taking their lives."

Nixon, 45, is engaged to her partner of eight years, Christine Marinoni, who gave birth to their son Max last year. Prior to their relationship, Nixon, who is currently sporting a bald head for a Broadway role, was in a 15-year relationship with Danny Mozes, with whom she has two children.

via: yahoo

Sofia Vergara Named AskMen’s Most Desirable Woman of 2012

Sofia Vergara Named AskMen’s Most Desirable Woman of 2012

Sofia Vergara Named AskMen’s Most Desirable Woman of 2012, 2012's 'most desirable' woman revealed,
A curvy, 39-year-old star beats out Kim, Scarlett, and Rihanna for the new title. It's often said that Hollywood is a young woman's game, but AskMen.com readers officially bucked that trend in 2012, as Sofia Vergara was named #1 on the men's online magazine's annual list of the Top 99 Most Desirable Women, which was announced on Tuesday. But while the 39-year-old "Modern Family" star snagged the top spot on the site's Top 99, former A-list mainstays like Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie gave way to recent additions and fresh favorites, a clear signal that, as far as AskMen.com readers are concerned, there's a new guard in town.

But when it comes to "desirability," Sofia Vergara proves that age is just a number -- in this case, #1. After enjoying a breakout year thanks to ABC's "Modern Family," Vergara placed third on the website's list in 2011. And AskMen.com readers obviously haven't cooled on the fiery Colombian bombshell in the past 12 months, bumping her up to first in 2012. In doing so, the actress beat out a number of younger leading ladies and newcomers to lead the Top 10, such as Victoria's Secret favorites Miranda Kerr (#4) and Candice Swanepoel (#10), rapper Nicki Minaj (#5), and actresses Emma Stone (#6) and Scarlett Johansson (#7).

Meanwhile, perennial favorites like Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie were left off the list entirely in 2012. The tabloid mainstays were also fixtures on the site's Top 99 for years -- especially Jolie, who made the list 10 years in a row from 2001 to 2011 -- but it seems guys are growing tired of the former paragons of desirability. And as the old guard falls, new favorites like Vergara, Kim Kardashian (#8), Rihanna (#9), and Zooey Deschanel (#12) have risen up to take their place.

A Little More About AskMen's Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2012

Now in its 11th year, AskMen's Top 99 Most Desirable Women is annually the site's largest feature, and helps signal shifts in the qualities men are looking for in their dream girls and celebrity crushes; over 1 million readers voted on the Top 99 in 2012. And Vergara's meteoric ascent to #1, combined with the notable omissions of Aniston and Jolie, indicates that guys are increasingly looking for fresh faces.

Nowhere is that trend more apparent than in 2012's Top 5, where it only took a year for Kate Upton to catch the attention of nearly every man in America; after not being ranked in 2011, the "Sports Illustrated" Rookie of the Year skyrocketed to #2. And right behind her is Rooney Mara at #3: thanks to "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and her resulting Oscar nomination, the actress has gone from virtually-unknown to impossible to miss.

Other big movers-and-shakers included "Glee" actress Lea Michele (#19), who jumped 72 spots from 2011 to 2012, the previously-unranked Selena Gomez (#14), and Kristen Wiig, who at #36, proves there's a new comedy queen in town, crushing former title-holder and "SNL" alumni Tina Fey (#97). Meanwhile, a trio of newcomers from the music world in Lana Del Ray (#95), Adele (#92), and Kreayshawn (#74) debuted on the list in 2012.

Time will tell if Sofia Vergara can keep charming AskMen.com readers into 2013, but as new names continue to move up in the site's Top 99, displacing old standbys, the curvy 39-year-old actress is leading the charge, and proving that she has the staying power to become a new favorite for men everywhere.

AskMen.com's Top 99 Most Desirable Women is an annual list based on votes from both AskMen.com readers and staff, ranking the famous females deemed to be the year's most alluring.

via: yahoo

'Bachelor' contestant bares all for Ben

'Bachelor' contestant bares all for Ben
<a href='http://www.bing.com/videos/browse?mkt=en-us&vid=992d899b-aeb3-21b7-2698-3b0e54f49e49&from=en-us_msnhp&src=v5:embed::' target='_new' title='Tuesday, Jan. 31: &#39;Bachelor&#39; Goes Skinny-Dipping' >Video: Tuesday, Jan. 31: &#39;Bachelor&#39; Goes Skinny-Dipping</a>

'Bachelor' contestant bares all for Ben, 'Bachelor' Goes Skinny-Dipping, This season's villain on 'Bachelor', We recap "The Bachelor," "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," "Alcatraz" and "House." 'Bachelor' contestant's sneaky proposition, 'Bachelor' contestant bares all for Ben, In a controversial move, Courtney pulls Ben away for a night of skinny dipping.

TV bidding war for Pippa interview

TV bidding war for Pippa interview

TV bidding war for Pippa interview, Bidding war for Pippa interview?, Bidding war over Pippa?, Rumors are swirling that several TV networks are offering a six-figure deal for an exclusive interview with Pippa Middleton. US television chat show Queens Oprah Winfrey and Barbara Walters are locked in a fierce bidding war to secure royal sister Pippa Middleton as a guest, says a British tabloid.


The younger sister of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, has achieved global stardom since her appearance at her sibling's royal wedding in April.

The Sunday Mirror newspaper reported that fees of up to STG300,000 ($A445,864) have been offered for Pippa to be interviewed in the US as she starts on the promotion trail for her upcoming book about how to host a perfect party.

While Oprah is said to have told her network executives to "pull out all the stops" to secure the 28-year old, ABC TV legend Walters is said to be pushing bosses to offer a six-figure deal.

"The big guns see Pippa as the big-name interview of 2012," a US TV analyst told the Mirror.

Any fee paid for Pippa's television appearance will be donated to charity, the report said.

via: yahoo

Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, Steve Jones Leaving X Factor

Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, Steve Jones Leaving X Factor

Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, Steve Jones Leaving X Factor, Cowell fires stars on 'X Factor'?, 'X Factor' Implosion: Simon Cleans House, Monday was pink slip day at X Factor. As confirmed to Us Weekly by a network rep, the FOX reality competition's host Steve Jones will not be returning for season two, nor will mentor Nicole Scherzinger.


"I won't be hosting next seasons X Factor which is a shame but I cant complain as I've had a great time," handsome Welshman Jones tweeted Monday. "Good luck to everyone on the show."

Jones and singer Scherzinger aren't the only departing stars; judge Paula Abdul (who first traded barbs with executive producer and fellow judge Simon Cowell on American Idol) is also leaving, a source confirms to Us Weekly.

Claims Deadline: "None of the three left on their own accord," adding that the show's producers were "cleaning house."

via:  um

'Bachelor' contestant's sneaky proposition

'Bachelor' contestant's sneaky proposition
<a href='http://www.bing.com/videos/browse?mkt=en-us&vid=992d899b-aeb3-21b7-2698-3b0e54f49e49&from=en-us_msnhp&src=v5:embed::' target='_new' title='Tuesday, Jan. 31: &#39;Bachelor&#39; Goes Skinny-Dipping' >Video: Tuesday, Jan. 31: &#39;Bachelor&#39; Goes Skinny-Dipping</a>

'Bachelor' contestant's sneaky proposition, 'Bachelor' Goes Skinny-Dipping, This season's villain on 'Bachelor', We recap "The Bachelor," "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," "Alcatraz" and "House." 'Bachelor' contestant's sneaky proposition, 'Bachelor' contestant bares all for Ben, In a controversial move, Courtney pulls Ben away for a night of skinny dipping.

Marie Osmond to Replace Martha Stewart on Hallmark Channel

Marie Osmond to Replace Martha Stewart on Hallmark Channel

Marie Osmond to Replace Martha Stewart on Hallmark Channel, Marie replacing Martha?, Marie Osmond replacing Martha?, The network is finalizing a deal for Osmond to join the daytime lineup after Stewart's talk show was canceled earlier this month. Marie Osmond will replace Martha Stewart on Hallmark Channel this fall. A network spokesperson confirms that the channel is finalizing a deal with Osmond for a daytime talker to replace The Martha Stewart Show, which was canceled earlier this month.


“We think [Osmond] will be a fantastic addition to the channel and to our lifestyle offerings,” said Hallmark in a statement.

Osmond, who was a contestant on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars in 2007, performs in a Las Vegas variety show with her brother Donny Osmond. In 2008, she was among several celebrities in the mix to host her own talk show, but the project never got off the ground.

Stewart’s program will wrap its current and final season on Hallmark in May, and will air in reruns through the summer. But Hallmark declined to renew Stewart's talker, and sources cited it’s steep price tag as the overriding factor in that decision. The Martha Stewart Show is saddled with an expensive studio lease in Manhattan, which expires this year. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia COO Lisa Gersh has said the company will shop for a more economical location or bring the production in-house. Of course, first MSLO needs to find a new TV home for The Martha Stewart Show.

The Martha-branded programming block launched on Hallmark in September 2010 at a hefty eight hours but was downsized a month later in the face of underwhelming ratings. It now stands at five hours.

Hallmark is still in discussions with MSLO about renewing the company’s other programs, which include Emeril’s Table and Mad Hungry with Lucinda Scala Quinn.

via: HR

Kim Kardashian Dyes Her Hair

Kim Kardashian Dyes Her Hair

Kim Kardashian Dyes Her Hair, Call it a hair breakover, Kim Kardashian couldn't wait for a red carpet appearance to show off her newly dyed locks, so in true Kardashian fashion, she made the announcement via Twitter. "I dyed my hair lighter yesterday! I'm loving it! New hair color=new beginnings for me. You like?" the 31-year-old asked her 12.8 million Twitter followers along with a pic of her fresh new, brighter hair shade.

The last time Kardashian dyed her hair was right before her August 20 wedding to Kris Humphries, when she went for a pretty light brown.

"I dyed my hair lighter for summer," the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star tweeted in July. "I feel younger!"

Her new hair color isn't the only thing the E! star has been showing off lately. On Monday, she shared a promo pic for the Kardashian Kollection for Sears' new denim line where she and sisters Kourtney and Khloe pose topless while wearing their signature jeans.

"Kourt, Khloe and I decided to go natural," Kardashian wrote on her blog. "I think it's such a beautiful shot and Khloe and Kourtney both look so stunning!"

via: um

Pregnant Kourtney Kardashian Shows Off Bump in Tiny Bikini

Pregnant Kourtney Kardashian Shows Off Bump in Tiny Bikini

Pregnant Kourtney Kardashian Shows Off Bump in Tiny Bikini, With beau Scott Disick and son Mason, the 4-months-along reality star hit the beach in Mexico for a babymoon, Bump-y days and nights in Mexico!
Now four months pregnant with her second child, Kourtney Kardashian might not be ready to rock a bikini when summer 2012 hits.


But the reality star, 32, began a four-day jaunt to Mexico on Jan. 19 with beau Scott Disick and their son Mason, 2 -- and only the upcoming new Us Weekly has all the exclusive shots from the trio's babymoon.

Frolicking in the sand and surf, the eldest Kardashian sister showed off her expanding bump in a sexy two-piece from Beach Bunny.

As guests at pal Joe Francis' Punta Mita estate, Kardashian and Disick, 28, squeezed in couple time in between adventures with their little boy. "They were in complete family mode," a source tells Us.

via: um

'Bachelor' Goes Skinny-Dipping

'Bachelor' Goes Skinny-Dipping
<a href='http://www.bing.com/videos/browse?mkt=en-us&vid=992d899b-aeb3-21b7-2698-3b0e54f49e49&from=en-us_msnhp&src=v5:embed::' target='_new' title='Tuesday, Jan. 31: &#39;Bachelor&#39; Goes Skinny-Dipping' >Video: Tuesday, Jan. 31: &#39;Bachelor&#39; Goes Skinny-Dipping</a>

'Bachelor' Goes Skinny-Dipping, This season's villain on 'Bachelor', We recap "The Bachelor," "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," "Alcatraz" and "House." 'Bachelor' contestant's sneaky proposition, 'Bachelor' contestant bares all for Ben, In a controversial move, Courtney pulls Ben away for a night of skinny dipping.

Simon Cowell makes big 'X Factor' changes

Simon Cowell makes big 'X Factor' changes

Simon Cowell makes big 'X Factor' changes, ‘X Factor’ Armageddon! Abdul, Scherzinger & Jones All Not Returning For Season 2, Host Steve Jones and judge Nicole Scherzinger have been shown the door. It's a regular mass "X"-odus at Fox this week.


Following reports earlier Monday that host Steve Jones and judge Nicole Scherzinger were on the outs over at "The X Factor," Monday night brought the even more gob-smacking news that Simon Cowell's old "American Idol" crony, the one and only Paula Abdul, would also not be returning for Season 2 . "Shocked to see Simon has fired Paula Abdul, Nicole and Steve from the X-Factor," Simon's former "Idol" producer Nigel Lythgoe tweeted Monday evening, echoing many fans' sentiments.

Actually, neither Steve nor Nicole's departures were that surprising. Both had been unpopular with viewers--Steve for his perceived rudeness when trying to force the show's pacing or deal with sobbing child contestants; Nicole for her wishy-washiness and fondness for vulgar, seemingly PCD-inspired productions--and both had been on the receiving end of Simon's on-camera wrath on multiple occasions.

But the news of Paula's exit, first broken by Deadline.com and later confirmed by sources to Yahoo!, was a jaw-dropper of Rachel Crow-esque proportions. After all, there were many, many things that just did not work during "The X Factor USA's" troubled inaugural season, but the Simon/Paula chemistry was not one of them, in my opinion.

Yes, the classic "Saula" pairing was actually my favorite element of "The X Factor" last year, and I'd always assumed that Paula was Simon's pet and had total job security on this show; Simon simply seemed to have her back. But I guess I assumed wrong. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Simon believes that the judging panel needs more star power next season (fueling rumors that Mariah Carey will finally join the cast), so maybe the nostalgic reunion of him and his former "Idol" sidekick just didn't quite bring in the bottom-line ratings he'd hoped for.

THR also reports that none of the three ousted "X Factor" castmates left the show voluntarily (although E! reports that Nicole quit to focus on her music, and, presumably, her long-delayed album). And that makes me feel especially sad for Paula. Neither of her solo reality television ventures, Bravo's "Hey Paula" and CBS's "Live To Dance," were exactly ratings juggernauts, and she always seemed so appreciative of the opportunity Simon gave her to reboot her career via "The X Factor." (Simon sometimes snarkily likened her to a very devoted, very grateful old dog.)

Yes, it's true that Paula ended up playing not too prominent a role in "The X Factor" Season 1, since all of her contestants were voted off in quick succession, but that wasn't really her fault: Saddled with the Groups category in a pop age when acts like *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, and the Spice Girls seem comically dated, she was just plain doomed from the start.

This, of course, is hardly the first time an "X Factor USA" cast member has been unceremoniously and very publicly dumped. Back in May 2011, another longtime Simon sidekick, original judge Cheryl Cole--after taping only a few early audition episodes--was fired, despite the fact that she'd quit "The X Factor U.K." and moved her entire life across the pond to do the American version of the show. Ironically, the rumor back then was Cheryl had been let go due to a lack of chemistry with Paula. I wonder if, when Paula witnessed Cheryl's firing firsthand, she ever imagined that she'd one day be in the same situation.

So now, as of this writing, it's just down to Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid. L.A. quit his cushy gig at Island Def Jam to join "The X Factor" (and now, as the head of "X"-affiliated label Epic Records, he has signed his three protégés: Chris Rene, Marcus Canty, and Astro), so I bet right about now he's hoping he's safe. As for who will replace Paula, Nicole, and Steve in Season 2, that's all up for speculation, but I do hope the aforementioned Nigel Lythgoe reconsiders his offer to make Paula a permanent judge on his other show, "So You Think You Can Dance." She could use the work. 

via: yahoo

Blake Griffin posterizes Kendrick Perkins

Blake Griffin posterizes Kendrick Perkins

Blake Griffin posterizes Kendrick Perkins, NBA star's slam called dunk of the year, Even LeBron James says this throwdown by Blake Griffin is the best he's seen. The L.A. Clippers star turned in the Dunk of the Year so far against the Oklahoma City Thunder big man.

Pregnant Jessica Simpson wears massive high heels

Pregnant Jessica Simpson wears massive high heels

Pregnant Jessica Simpson wears massive high heels, Pregnant Jessica Simpson Wears Massive High Heels, Shows Off Giant Bump, Taking a page from Beyonce's maternity style playbook, Jessica Simpson stepped out in a pair of super-high clunky wedge heels in Santa Barabra, Calif. Saturday.


Accompanied by fiance Eric Johnson and his family, the 31-year-old Fashion Star mentor wore a silk striped maxi dress, long cardigan sweater and giant sunglasses, which couldn't hide her pregnancy glow.

"She's looking good and feeling good," sister Ashlee 27, told E!'s Giuliana Rancic at the SAG Awards Sunday.

And despite her growing size, the mom-to-be is feeling extra positive these days.

"She's completely content, so happy," Ashlee (mom to Bronx, 3, with ex Pete Wentz) told Rancic. "It's fun to be around her. It's like 'yeah, I want some of that.'"

Announcing her pregnancy on Halloween by posting a mummy-themed Twitter pic, Jessica and Johnson -- who put wedding plans on hold until their baby arrives -- couldn't be more thrilled to become parents. "We can't wait to meet our baby!" Jessica said.

via: yahoo

Miley Cyrus Wears Acid Wash Mom Jeans

Miley Cyrus Wears Acid Wash Mom Jeans

Miley Cyrus Wears Acid Wash Mom Jeans, Miley Cyrus may have been born in the '90s, but by the vintage look of her outfit while out in Los Angeles Sunday, she's totally down with the '80s!


The statement-making starlet went on a brunch date with her beau Liam Hemsworth while rocking high-waist acid wash tapered leg jeans and a cropped red flannel sleeveless shirt. She sported her hair in a messy topknot.

The 19-year-old's "mom jeans" look is nothing new in terms of her daring fashion choices that pay homage to yesteryear. Earlier this month, Cyrus went for another grunge-inspired ensemble with cut-off denim shorts, a white tee (which she didn't wear a bra underneath of) and an unbuttoned flannel shirt.

via: yahoo

White House Denies Michelle Obama Lingerie Spree

White House Denies Michelle Obama Lingerie Spree

White House Denies Michelle Obama Lingerie Spree, White House denies first lady spent $50,000 on lingerie, First Lady Denial, The White House has denied claims that Michelle Obama spent $50,000 (£32,500) in Agent Provocateur, allegedly boosting its sales by 12 per cent. Reports have suggested that America's First Lady closed off a section of Madison Avenue to privately shop in one of the lingerie label's New York stores, but Kristina Schake - director of communications for Michelle Obama - has denounced the story as "100 per cent false".


"Recent claims regarding Michelle Obama and purchases made at an Agent Provocateur boutique are incorrect," a spokesperson for Agent Provocateur told the Daily Mail. "Agent Provocateur never discusses any of its clientele or their purchases."

Along with the First Lady, recent allegations have also claimed that The Queen of Qatar, Sheikha Mozah has raised sale profits for the brand, though this is yet to be confirmed.

via: vogue

Mike Tyson receives unlikely honor

Mike Tyson receives unlikely honor

Mike Tyson receives unlikely honor, Mike Tyson enters another Hall of Fame, this time WWE, The boxing legend will be inducted into the Hall of Fame of a sport that he barely participated in. "The Baddest Man on the Planet" never donned wrestling tights, but Mike Tyson made an impact during several appearances for the WWE.

As a result, the former heavyweight boxing king will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on March 31 in Miami, the day before Wrestlemania 28.

Tyson first worked for Vince McMahon's company back in 1998 at Wrestlemania 14. He was the special enforcer for a brawl between "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels. Tyson reappeared in the squared circle in 2010 as a guest host during "Monday Night Raw."

Tyson is part of a Who's Who of non-wrestlers to enter the WWE's Hall of Fame - Drew Carey, Bob Uecker, William "The Refrigerator" Perry and Pete Rose have been enshrined alongside the elite of the elite.
Tyson joins masked superstar Mil Mascaras and the legendary "The Four Horsemen." on March 31.

Tyson's role with the WWE was more than a celebrity appearance, he got physical at times. From WWE.com:

First welcomed into WWE by Mr. McMahon, "Iron Mike's" introduction was interrupted by The Texas Rattlesnake, resulting in a wild brawl between the two tough guys. Weeks later, Tyson aligned himself with HBK and D-Generation X. WWE fans who thought this association would sway the brawler's involvement at WrestleMania XIV were shocked when Tyson ended up being the one who counted the pin to give Austin his first WWE Title. After the bout, the heavy hitter knocked an angry Michaels out cold in front of a rabid Boston crowd.

Tyson was honored last year by the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

"I was the youngest heavyweight champion of all time, but the most fun I ever had in the ring was with WWE," Tyson told AP.



via: yahoo

Madonna to premiere new video on 'Idol'

Madonna to premiere new video on 'Idol'

Madonna to premiere new video on 'Idol', Madonna will premiere the video for "Give Me All Your Luvin," the first single from her new album MDNA, on this Thursday's episode of "American Idol."

The song, which will include guest appearances from Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., will be released as a digital single exclusively in the iTunes store the following day, and it will be performed on Sunday at the Super Bowl.

The video, which was directed by Megaforce, will have a football and cheerleader theme.

MDNA, Madonna's first album as part of her new deal with LiveNation and Interscope, will hit stores on March 26th. An early version of "Give Me All Your Luvin" leaked to the internet in November, but this video debut will be fans' first chance to hear the completed version with vocals from M.I.A.

You can watch a brief teaser clip from this video. Give me all your Luvin' [Video Preview]




via: cnn

Woman Marries Seattle Building

Woman Marries Seattle Building


Woman Marries Seattle Building, Woman 'weds' building, Woman 'marries' building, A very unique wedding in Seattle on Sunday afternoon as people came to witness the union of a woman - and a building. In order to save a building from demolition, a Babylonia Aivaz “married” it.


Aivaz said "I do" to the warehouse on 10th and Union on Capitol Hill. She said she fell in love with the 107-year-old building during an Occupy Seattle protest and doesn't want to see it torn down to make room for a brand-new apartment building.

"I hope that America wakes up and realizes that gentrification is a serous issue that affects poor people, especially people of color, and we really need to stand up and do something about what's happening in our neighborhoods all over the country," she said.

"When I look at this building I see a community center, I see a community art space, i see a homeless shelter, I see free childcare, I don't see a building, I see a space that can address all the needs of our neighborhood.”
The union will probably be pretty short-lived - demolition is already underway.

via:  ktvb

David Beckham Super Bowl Underwear Commercial

David Beckham Super Bowl Underwear Commercial

David Beckham Super Bowl Underwear Commercial, Beckham strips down for ad, David Beckham loses pants for ad , WATCH: Video of David Beckham Strips Down for Sexy Super Bowl Commercial, David Beckham Bodywear for H&M Game Day Ad, We know you're already planning to watch the Super Bowl, but here's some extra motivation: David Beckham stripping down in your living room! The 36-year-old soccer star and fashion icon shows off his famous body in this short but memorable teaser for a new ad, set to air during the big game. Watch the video below!



Proving that he doesn't need expensive skivvies to look good, Beckham is advertising his new bodywear collection for the discount retailer H&M. Prices for the Euro-looking undies, which hit stores on Feb. 2, range from $12.95 for briefs to $29.95 for pajama pants. Of course, there's no guarantee that they'll make your man look like David Beckham -- but it couldn't hurt!

The soccer star has taken it off for fashion before: two years ago, both David and his wife Victoria Beckham showed off their enviable bodies in underwear ads for Giorgio Armani. But that was just in the pages of fashion magazines; now, we all get to ogle his abs while eating nachos. Definitely an improvement!

Day care worker allegedly tapes toddler to mat for nap

Day care worker allegedly tapes toddler to mat for nap

Day care worker allegedly tapes toddler to mat for nap, Toddler taped to floor?, Woman taped kid to the floor?, Daycare Worker Tapes Toddler To Mat (PHOTO), A northern Kentucky day care worker has been arrested and fired from her job for allegedly taping a toddler to a mat during nap time. Police arrested 20-year-old Alicia Lyons on Wednesday and charged her with first-degree criminal abuse. She was released from the Kenton County jail Thursday, The Kentucky Enquirer reported.


Police say Lyons and another employee duct taped a child to a sleeping mat to get him to go to sleep.

Ludlow police chief Wayne Turner said the incident happened in October when the child was about 18 months old. The child's parent told police Wednesday, Turner said.

Lyons was fired from Mustard Seeds Child Care in Ludlow on Thursday. The center said in a statement the incident was isolated and that it is cooperating with police and state officials.

via: fox

Flavor Flav's Daughter Arrested in Domestic Dispute

Flavor Flav's Daughter Arrested in Domestic Dispute

Flavor Flav's Daughter Arrested in Domestic Dispute, Flavor Flav's daughter arrested, Las Vegas police charge the 19-year-old with misdemeanor battery. All was not well in Flavor Flav's Las Vegas home this weekend, where a domestic dispute led to the arrest of his 19-year-old daughter.


Flav's daughter Dazayna reportedly got into an altercation with one of the Public Enemy rapper's stepsons. Things got so heated that someone in the house wound up calling the cops, TMZ reports.

After police arrived, they found evidence of domestic violence and took Dazayna into custody on misdemeanor battery charges.

The hip hop scion has since been released from jail.

via: bet

Anna Watson Pictures

Anna Watson Pictures

Anna Watson Pictures, Anna watson cheerleader photos, Georgia's Anna Watson photos, College cheerleader's $75,000 decision, Georgia's Anna Watson Is College Football's Strongest Female Cheerleader, Anna Watson before and after pictures, The University of Georgia's Anna Watson passed up a lucrative chance to become a fitness model. It's one thing for professional athletes to have to make an ethical decision about using steroids, but college cheerleaders?




Anna Watson has to be America's strongest female cheerleader; the University of Georgia student loves spending time in the weight room, and it certainly shows. But she has more important things in her life: Watson passed up a big money fitness modeling contract because she refused to use a legal steroid.





"It’s an elite position to be a cheerleader at UGA," Watson told Red and Black, her school's award-winning student newspaper. "They have hundreds of girls try out, and to be selected out of all of those people to be on the team, it’s kind of a big deal. So those girls were very humble and gracious and patient to help me just learn the basic stuff."

Watson has been cheering since age 5. She can bench press 155 pounds, squat 255 pounds and dead lift 230 pounds. According to the school newspaper, she added an impressive four inches of muscles on her arms in just 10 months.





A deeply religious junior exercise and sports science major, Watson was on the brink of a $75,000 fitness-modeling contract that could have set her up for a lifetime career in modeling -- but she turned it down.

Why?

A modeling agent wanted her to use Anavar, a legal anabolic steroid to help her gain up to 50 pounds of muscle. Worried about the effects on her body when she decides to have kids, Watson passed.

"I don't serve a modeling agent. I serve the Lord," Watson said. "I'm not going to compromise my morals and my beliefs just to take pictures. I believe that my body is a temple and a beautiful creation, so I don't want to put anything into it that can harm it."






Despite being somewhat of a cult hero for her large muscles, Watson says that's not really who she is.

"I know that my identity is not in working out," Watson said. "It’s not who I am. It’s not what I want people to see me as. Yes, on the outside, I’m a very fit individual, but when you get to know me, my life is not all about exercise and working out."

After cheering at three home Georgia football games, Watson is on the disabled list right now after rupturing her Achilles tendon.



Facts On Georgia's Ridiculously Strong Cheerleader, Anna Watson:

• Has over 30 pairs of jeans, only two fit.
• Competed as a gymnast for 10 years.
• Became a cheerleader her sophomore year of high school.
• Doesn't wear headphones in the gym; she likes to socialize in the weight room.
• Credits her Christian faith with helping her find balance in life.

via: tpg