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Plane Plunges into Stands at Reno Air Show (Video)

2011-09-17T00:21:00.000-07:00

Plane Plunges into Stands at Reno Air Show (Video)

A vintage World War II-era fighter plane plunged into the grandstands Friday during a popular annual air show, killing at least three people, injuring more than 50 spectators and creating a horrific scene strewn with body parts and smoking debris.

The cause of the crash wasn’t immediately known, but an official with the event said there were indications that mechanical problems were at play.

The plane, flown by a renowned 74-year-old air racer and movie stunt pilot, spiraled suddenly out of control and appeared to disintegrate upon impact. Bloodied bodies were spread across the area as people tended to the victims and ambulances rushed to the scene.

Maureen Higgins of Alabama, who has been coming to the show for 16 years, said the pilot was on his third lap when he lost control.

She was sitting about 30 yards away from the crash and watched in horror as the man in front of her started bleeding after a piece of debris hit him in the head.

“I saw body parts and gore like you wouldn’t believe it. I’m talking an arm, a leg,” Higgins said “The alive people were missing body parts. I am not kidding you. It was gore. Unbelievable gore.”
Among the dead was pilot Jimmy Leeward, 74, of Ocala, Fla., a veteran airman and stunt pilot who named his P-51 Mustang fighter plane the “Galloping Ghost,” according to Mike Houghton, president and CEO of Reno Air Races. Officials earlier said Leeward was 80.
Renown Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Kathy Carter confirmed that two others died, but did not provide their identities.
Stephanie Kruse, a spokeswoman for the Regional Emergency Medical Service Authority, told The Associated Press that emergency crews took a total of 56 injury victims to three hospitals. She said they also observed a number of people being transported by private vehicle, which they are not including in their count.
Kruse said of the total 56, at the time of transport, 15 were considered in critical condition, 13 were serious condition with potentially life-threatening injuries and 28 were non-serious or non-life threatening.
“This is a very large incident, probably one of the largest this community has seen in decades,” Kruse told The Associated Press. “The community is pulling together to try to deal with the scope of it. The hospitals have certainly geared up and staffed up to deal with it.”

The P-51 Mustang crashed into a box-seat area in front of the grandstand at about 4:30 p.m., race spokesman Mike Draper said. Houghton said Leeward appeared to have “lost control of the aircraft,” though details on why that happened weren’t immediately known.

Houghton said at a news conference hours after the crash that there appeared to be a “problem with the aircraft that caused it to go out of control.” He did not elaborate.

He said the rest of the races have been canceled as the NTSB investigates.

KRNV-TV weatherman Jeff Martinez, who was just outside the air race grounds at the time, said the plane veered to the right and then “it just augered straight into the ground.”

“You saw pieces and parts going everywhere,” he said. “Everyone is in disbelief.”

Tanya Breining, off Hayward, Calif., told KTVU-TV in San Francisco: “It was absolute carnage. … It looked like more than a bomb exploded.”

Another witness, Ronald Sargis, said he was sitting in the box seat area near the finish line. The box seat area holds 300 to 400 people, while the main grandstands area holds several thousand.

“We could see the plane coming around the far turn — it was in trouble,” Sargis told KCRA-TV in Sacramento. “About six or seven boxes down from us, it impacted into the front row.”

He said the pilot appeared to do all he could to avoid crashing into the crowd. Response teams immediately went to work, Sargis said. After the crash Sargis went up a few rows into the grandstand to view the downed plane.

“It appeared to be just pulverized,” he said.

Leeward, the owner of the Leeward Air Ranch Racing Team, was a well-known racing pilot. His website says he has flown more than 120 races and served as a stunt pilot for numerous movies, including “Amelia” and “Cloud Dancer.”

In an interview with the Ocala (Fla.) Star-Banner last year, he described how he has flown 250 types of planes and has a particular fondness for the P-51, which came into the war relatively late and was used as a long-range bomber escort over Europe. Among the famous pilots of the hot new fighter was WWII double ace Chuck Yeager.

“They’re more fun. More speed, more challenge. Speed, speed and more speed,” Leeward said.

Houghton described Leeward as “a good friend. Everybody knows him. It’s a tight knit family. He’s been here for a long, long time,” Houghton said.

The National Championship Air Races draws thousands of people to Reno every year in September to watch various military and civilian planes race. They also have attracted scrutiny in the past over safety concerns, including four pilots killed in 2007 and 2008. It was such a concern that local school officials once considered whether they should not allow student field trips at the event.

The competition is like a car race in the sky, with planes flying wingtip-to-wingtip as low as 50 feet off the sagebrush at speeds sometimes surpassing 500 mph. Pilots follow an oval path around pylons, with distances and speeds depending on the class of aircraft.

The FAA and air race organizers spend months preparing for air races as they develop a plan involving pilot qualification, training and testing along with a layout for the course. The FAA inspects pilots’ practice runs and brief pilots on the route maneuvers and emergency procedures.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., issued a statement saying he was “deeply saddened” about the crash.

“My thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their lives and with those who were wounded in this horrific tragedy,” he said. “I am so grateful to our first responders for their swift action and will continue to monitor this situation as it develops.”

Scarlett Johansson Cell Phone Photos Leaked 2011

2011-09-15T06:16:00.000-07:00

Scarlett Johansson Cell Phone Photos Leaked 2011

This year has been the year for celebrities getting their phones hacked! It seems like every few weeks nude photos of another celebrity are leaked onto the internet. Vanessa Hudgens, Jessica Alba, and others have been involved in this nude photo scandal. How are these pictures getting out? A hacker is breaking into their phones.

Today a new celebrity is being exposed by the phone hacker – Scarlett Johannson!‎

As much as I would love for this to be true, I am very unconvinced at the genuine real-ness of these photos. Unlike Blake Lively’s lovely nude photos, these pics of Scarlett have all kinds of “wrong” in them. For all I know, these could be a pair of really old fakes and I’m just late in noticing it…..or maybe not.
Take a look at the second picture and notice how “Scarlett” is looking downwards from her phone but the naked person in the mirror is looking up AT the phone. It’s very iffy at this point but I’m willing to accept any argument that it MIGHT be her.
And besides, I can’t argue that those big tits aren’t hers! So until something gets announced (or denounced), let’s all just assume that this is just some kind o’ Photoshop job done right. Bravo, Mr. Photoshopper, you are my new friend!

Astronaut's Unique View as 9/11 Unfolded

2011-09-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

Astronaut's Unique View as 9/11 Unfolded

Whenever he sees a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, Frank Culberston is reminded of where he was on Sept. 11, 2001. An encounter earlier this year is a good example. On a trip to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia to watch the re-enactment of British occupation, he met a young veteran who had lost both legs while serving as an explosive ordinance device technician in Afghanistan.
As he helped the soldier, who had two artificial legs, navigate the unpaved grounds, Culbertson mentioned he had witnessed the invasion of Afghanistan from above."From where, a C-130?" the soldier asked. A C-130 is a low-flying military aircraft used mainly to deliver troops and supplies to ground forces.

"No, higher," Culbertson replied.

"Oh, a U-2?" the soldier guessed, referring to the high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft.

"Higher than that."

From Aug. 12 to Dec. 15, 2001, astronaut Frank Culbertson was aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Two hundred fifty miles above the Earth's surface, Culbertson was the only American not on the planet at the time of the terrorist attacks. He -- along with two Russian cosmonauts -- witnessed the horrific events of Sept. 11, as well as the invasion of Afghanistan a month later, from space.

"I could always spot Afghanistan at night because it's basically dark," said Culbertson, who explained that surrounding countries, with their oil money, were pretty well lit at night. Some were even "grossly lit up," he said.

"One night, I looked down on Afghanistan and I saw these big, bright explosions ... I was witnessing the invasion of Afghanistan in pursuit of Osama bin Laden and the Taliban," he said. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a former test pilot for the Navy, Culbertson was able to identify what he saw as explosions from cruise missiles and bombs being dropped from B-52s. "After the attacks on 9/11, I knew the world had changed."

A month earlier, on the morning of Sept. 11, Culbertson, who had been in space for 30 days, had called down to mission control for a routine medical check-in.

"I asked the doctor how things were going. He responded: 'We're not having a very good day on Earth,'" Culbertson recalled.

Amid the chaos on the ground, mission control briefed Culbertson on what limited information they had: Two planes had crashed into the World Trade Center towers, and one plane had crashed into the Pentagon; all three were deliberate attacks by terrorists.

"My immediate reaction was very visceral: My country was wounded, and it was hurting," Culbertson said.

As he listened to mission control, struggling to make sense of the tragedy unfolding hundreds of miles below, he looked up at the map of the world flashing on the computer screen in front of him. In a few minutes, he would be directly over New York. He quickly left the radio, grabbed a video camera and raced to the cabin window that would have the best view of the city.

"It was a very good weather day, and I could look down and see the entire northeastern U.S. very clearly. I saw a big column of black smoke rising over New York City, over Long Island, and out over the Atlantic. I zoomed the camera in, and as I did, I saw this big gray glob start to envelop the southern half of the city." He found out two days later that he was witnessing the collapse of the South Tower.

Because the International Space Station travels at a speed of about 5 miles per second (it completes its orbit of Earth in only 90 minutes), the views of New York came and went very quickly. Because of the planet's rotation, the next time Culbertson and his crewmates passed over the U.S., they had a view of the Midwest and the Southwest, which was important to Culbertson. A married father of five, he wanted to make sure his family was out of harm's way.

"I had a daughter studying at Purdue University at the time, so as we crossed over the Midwest, I'm looking throughout that area to make sure everything's all right over there. Most of the family was in Houston, and I could see all the way down to Texas," he said.

As the ISS crossed the Midwest and the mid-Atlantic region came into view, Culbertson and his crewmates were ready with cameras and binoculars.

"We flew directly over Washington, D.C., and I could look straight down and see the Pentagon with basically a gash in its side, and the smoke and the lights of the rescue vehicles," he said. "We could tell it was a terrible event."

The tragedy at the Pentagon soon became much more personal for Culbertson. The next morning, he found out that a former Naval Academy classmate and good friend, Charles Burlingame, was the captain of American Airlines Flight 77, which had crashed into the building the day before.

"Tears don't flow the same in space," said Culbertson in a letter he wrote to the public on Sept. 12. "It's difficult to describe how it feels to be the only American completely off the planet at a time such as this. The feeling that I should be there with all of you, dealing with this, helping in some way, is overwhelming."

Culbertson's and Burlingame's 30th college reunion was scheduled to take place at the end of September, and originally Culbertson had planned to send a video message down to his class with joyful greetings and news of his adventures in space. Instead, he played taps on his trumpet in honor of Burlingame, a man who had, decades earlier, played trumpet alongside him in the Navy's Drum and Bugle Corps.

Though sorrow tinged his remaining days in space, Culbertson remembers the care poured over him by people from various countries. On a close level, he felt the love and encouragement of his two Russian counterparts, who not only shared their sympathy -- as well as their outrage toward the attackers -- and made Culbertson's favorite dinner (borscht), but also gave him the time he needed to think and to grieve. On a wider scale, Culbertson felt the support of nations around the world.

Lohan Sister's Startling New Look

2011-09-07T17:14:00.000-07:00

Lohan Sister's Startling New Look

The first thing Ali Lohan did when she got signed to a modeling agency was obtain ... an entirely new face?

The 17-year-old sister of Lindsay and daughter of Dina stepped out in Beverly Hills yesterday looking, in all honesty, like a surgically altered version of her former self. Lohan's lips and cheeks appear fuller and her nose narrowed and tweaked. Her eyebrows are bushier and more defined, exuding that '80s Brooke Shields

quality that's trendy this moment. She looks shockingly skinny, as if attempting to mimic the lanky, size-00 frame of a high-fashion runway model.

Vh1's The Fab Life notes: "We'd love to believe her almost-unrecognizable new face is due to some sculpting makeup, Lip Venom and masterful eyebrow threading, but we're skeptical."

Lohan inked a contract with NEXT Model Management last month, and it appears she's taking her new career path very, very seriously. Like, "I'm gonna go out and get a face transplant" seriously.

In the name of Heidi Montag, someone please tell Hollywood to handcuff Dina Lohan and outlaw underage plastic surgery while they're at it because another naive, misguided Lohan girl has become catnip to the snarking interwebs. Quips the Best Week Ever blog: "Maybe now that she's a model, Ali has decided to exchange being cute with, like, paying tribute to Michael Jackson by ... becoming him?"

Source: Yahoo

Ronaldo Return To Man United

2011-09-07T11:31:00.000-07:00

Ronaldo Return To Man United

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo admits he keeps in contact with Sir Alex Ferguson and will not rule out a return to Manchester United.

Ronaldo keeps in regular contact with his friends at United.

“I have good memories from Manchester and when I watch sometimes the games I miss it a lot because it’s part of me I left in England,” Ronaldo told Sky Sports News.

“Just because I play in Madrid I’m not going to miss speaking with the old guys so, when I have an opportunity, I speak with Sir Alex Ferguson.

“It was important for me when I played there, when my life was there, so it is good to speak with him because I’ll never forget who really helped me.

“I don’t close the door (on returning to England), so maybe in the future. I hope so, because I know the league, I know the players, I know the atmosphere.”

Most Expensive Movies Ever Made

2011-09-05T13:11:00.000-07:00

Most Expensive Movies Ever Made

After ‘The Lone Ranger’ film starring Johnny Depp was shelved due to budget issues - having been pitched at over £154 million - we wanted to see which films cost the most to make.

Obviously inflation would have ruled a number of the old classics as cheap tat destined for the bargain bucket in a gutted Woolworths, so our boffins got to work on calculating some of the complex mathematical equations needed to find out the most expensive films of all time.

10 – King Kong / Spider-Man 2
Peter Jackson’s remake of the classic tale of a fictitious monster that looks an awful lot like a gorilla just sneaks into the top ten alongside Sam Raimi’s web slinger sequel. Costing just over £129 million and £124 million respectively, due to inflation rates since the films’ release dates that equates to more than a staggering £145 million to make each film. And this is just the beginning!

09 – Avatar
2009’s CGI epic blockbuster ‘Avatar’ cost a whopping £148 million to make which slightly inflates to £152 million in today’s cash. It sounds like a lot of dosh, but if you look at the box office figures, it took over £1.2 billion. So we reckon the initial outlay was sufficiently rewarded. Writer and director James Cameron did pretty well out of it too.

08 – Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Johnny Depp and co set sail on the high seas for the second installment of the much-loved ‘Pirates’ franchise. Costing a little under £153 million, it plunders the eighth spot above ‘Avatar’. Early reports that most of the funding came from treasure chests littered on beaches around the world were quashed by producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s massive wallet.

07 – Waterworld
Although ‘Waterworld’, starring Kevin Costner, is one of the most expensive films ever made, critics didn’t think it was worth the paper the posters were printed on and it subsequently bombed at the US box office. Thankfully, the rest of the world liked it and pushed the film to a £62 million profit. Having cost £109 million back in 1995, today’s valuation puts it at £157 million, making it a very lucky escape.

06 – Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
The sixth installment of the outrageously popular Harry Potter series is also the sixth most expensive film ever made. Costing a cool £156 million to conjure, it followed the famous boy wizard as he becomes obsessed with a mysterious textbook, falls in love and attempts to retrieve a memory that holds the key to Lord Voldemort's downfall. There was no question it was going to be a box office success, and it raked in over £570 million at the box office.

05 – Tangled
A surprise entry at number five is the Disney animation, ‘Tangled’. It follows a bandit called Flynn Rider, who’s taken hostage by Rapunzel after hiding out in her tower (ahem). Flynn's curious captor, who's looking for her ticket out of the tower where she's been locked away for years, strikes a deal with the handsome thief and the unlikely duo sets off on an action-packed escapade, complete with a super-cop horse and an over-protective chameleon (obviously). Costing just shy of £160 million, it proved worthwhile at the box office, taking £362million.

04 – Spider-Man 3
Following Peter Parker as he went through his curious emo stage, ‘Spider-Man 3’ was critically shunned. Fears of a flop were never really considered, as the franchise was so popular with audiences that it didn’t even matter. But after shelling out £167 million, both the producers and the studio must have been biting their nails. It still made over £30 million profit though.

03 – Titanic
The colossal James Cameron classic was one of the first films with a budget over £100 million (in 1997 money). Today, that sum rises to a monstrous £171 million! It was a resounding success and took almost £1.2 billion at the box office and was the highest-grossing movie until Cameron knocked himself off the top spot with the less expensive ‘Avatar’. No wonder they are re-releasing it in 3D next year.

02 – Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Disney’s franchise of the noughties only just missed out on the top spot with £195 million in today’s cash. The third flick in the saga, even with Johnny Depp’s outrageous wages couldn’t outdo our number one. Surely with two films in the top 10, film boss Jerry Bruckheimer could have dropped another mill in there somewhere.

01 – Cleopatra
Having cost £27 million pounds in 1963, the inflation raises this paltry sum to an almighty £196 million! Starring Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, Roddy McDowall and Martin Landau, ‘Cleopatra’ chronicles the struggles of Cleopatra VII, the young Queen of Egypt, to resist the imperialist ambitions of Rome. Quite fitting that Cleopatra sits on the most expensive Hollywood film throne then.

Source: Yahoo

Stars Who Date Their Staff

2011-09-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

Stars who date their staff

Why go looking for love when you can date somebody who works for you, like these celebs did?

But some stars look much closer to home for a partner... in fact, quite a few have dated the people who work for them. Some have even married their agents, managers and their kids' nannies!

Most celebs will only date another celeb - it's just easier to be with somebody like-minded who 'gets' what it's like to be in the industry.

Stars who date their staff. She's having a good year, what with being a new judge on X Factor and all, and now it seems Kelly Rowland has got herself a secret boyfriend. The 30-year-old singer/TV star recently admitted that she had a "special friend" and, according to The Mirror, that "friend" is her manager Tim Weatherspoon.

The pair - who met through her ex-Destiny's Child bandmate Michelle Williams - has reportedly been spotted enjoying a romantic dinner for two and on a beach date in California.
But Kelly isn't the only celeb who's fallen for somebody who works for them...

Britney was single for a while after the break-up of her marriage to Kevin Federline, who happened to be her backing dancer when they met (she's clearly a fan of being with people who work for her!). It took many years before she started a new relationship and that just happened to be with her agent, Jason Trawick. Well, it's not like Britney was allowed to go out and hit the town to meet men like the rest of us! And at least Jason has seen the star at her very worst.

These two are so determined to make things work that he's quit his role at Britney HQ to concentrate on the personal side of their relationship and they are rumoured to be trying for a baby!

If it seems like a lifetime ago, that's because it was... Mariah was just 18 and a wannabe pop star when she gave her demo tape to Tommy Mottola, the boss of Sony Records, and fell under his spell, despite him being 21 years older than the young starlet. What followed was like a Cinderella story - he made Mariah one of the biggest stars in the world, they fell in love and got married - except it didn't have a happy ending and they split in 1997.

After two high-profile relationships with Ryan Phillippe and Jake Gyllenhaal, Reese Witherpoon went behind the scenes in 2010 and started dating top Hollywood agent Jim Toth.

Jim is a big cheese at CAA, which looks after the careers of George Clooney and Sandra Bullock among others, so at least Reese knew he wasn't with her for her money or her fame. In fact, when they got married last March, many of the A-listers invited to the ceremony, including Matthew McConaughey and Scarlett Johansson, were there as friends of Jim's, not Reese's.

Celine Dion's husband Rene Angelil has devoted his life to her career since discovering her talent when she was just 12... and he was 38. The music manager was sent Celine's demo tape by her mother and promptly mortgaged his house to pay for her first track, a French-language recording that made her a star in her native Canada.

They started dated when his protégé turned 19 and have rarely spent a day apart since as Rene has built Celine into one of the most successful solo artists in the world.

Cris Judd was a backing dancer for Michael Jackson and N'Sync before he was hired by Jennifer Lopez to feature in her video for Love Don't Cost A Thing in 2001. She liked what she saw and they started dating and in typical J-Lo fashion, she sprinted up the aisle less than a year after they'd first met. They divorced nine months later.

Ethan Hawke married Uma Thurman in 1998 after they met and fell in love on the set of Gattaca. They had two children but split up after five years amid rumours that Ethan had reportedly been unfaithful with their nanny, a college student. He went on to marry the nanny and they've had two more children.

Hilary Swank was married to actor Chad Lowe, Rob Lowe's little brother, for nine years but as her movie stardom grew, with two Oscar wins for Boys Don't Cry and Million Dollar Baby, his failed to take off. That pressure is said to have led to their split in 2006 and less than a year later she began dating her agent John Campisi, who had helped mould her career. They started out as just friends, she invited him as her date to the Academy Awards, but they were soon mixing business with pleasure.

OK, so we're not sure we could classify what went on here as dating - it was more like a drunken fumble - but Jude Law did romance his children's nanny while she was in his employment. Daisy Wright had been hired by Jude and his ex-wife Sadie Frost to watch over their two youngest children, but Jude got romantically involved with her while they were staying at his Primrose Hill house. He happened to be dating Sienna Miller at the time and the whole thing came to light when he publicly apologised for his indiscretion.

Actor Robin Williams married his eldest son's nanny Marsha Garces back in 1989, and they had two children together. However they separated in 2008 after almost two decades of marriage.

James Bond 23 to film in India

2011-09-02T03:10:00.000-07:00

James Bond 23 to film in India

James Bond 23 to film in India. After shooting in exotic locales across the globe, the world’s most famous spy has taken a fancy to desi destinations like the humble Sarojini Nagar market in Delhi and relatively unknown Navagam town near Ahmedabad. Other possible locations that the latest James Bond flick could be shot in include the sun-kissed beaches of Goa and business hub Mumbai.The I&B ministry has given permission to India Take One Productions to shoot the latest Bond film. ‘Bond 23′ is likely to be shot at the cheek-by-jowl streets of Daryaganj, Sarojini Nagar market and Ansari Road in Delhi. The film, to be directed by Sam Mendes, will be released in 2012. This also marks the 50th anniversary of the successful ‘Dr No’ and the Bond franchise.

The producers have been given permission to shoot in North Goa with the exception of the tunnel at Dudhsagar (south-eastern railway) and Zuari rail bridge over Zuari river (Konkan railways) due to security concerns. Sources said talks with the railway ministry were on regarding these particular locales.

In Ahmedabad, the producers had sought permission to shoot near the Navagam area that is close to installations like Torrent Power limited, ONGC and IOC. The ministry has asked them to ensure that permissions are taken from the railway ministry and the state government. “We have suggested that these vital installations be avoided during the shoot in this area,” a source said.

The Bond film will join an increasing number of foreign films that are being given permission to shoot in India. At last count, 22 films including big ticket productions like the Tom Cruise-starrer ‘Mission Impossible’, ‘Life of Pi’, ‘Singularity’ and ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ had been given permission. Among reality shows that have been cleared include the World’s Strictest Parents’ Australia and New Zealand productions.

Source: indiatimes

Jack The Ripper Face

2011-09-02T03:09:00.001-07:00

Jack The Ripper Face

Jack The Ripper Face. Jack the Ripper's face revealed 120 years on.

The face of Jack the Ripper has been pieced together by Scotland Yard experts from evidence left by the Victorian killer.

Modern profiling techniques have been used to form the most accurate portrait ever of the murderer, whose identity has remained a mystery for 118 years.

The Ripper, who strangled and butchered five prostitutes in East London in seemingly motiveless attacks in 1888, is thought to have been aged between 25 and 35, about 5ft 6in (1.68m) tall and stockily built.

Laura Richards, head of analysis at Scotland Yard's violent crime unit, which conducted the study, said: 'For the first time, we are able to understand the kind of person Jack the Ripper was.

'We can name the street where he probably lived, we can see what he looked like and we can explain, finally, why he eluded justice.' Ms Richards and former Metropolitan Police commander John Grieve assembled a team of experts including pathologists, historians and a geographical profiler to see whether the case could be solved.

They analysed the Ripper 's killings and examined 13 witness statements taken at the time to come up with a person who, according to Ms Richards, was 'frighteningly normal, yet capable of extraordinary cruelty'.

Mr Grieve added: 'This is further than anyone else has got.

'It would have been enough for coppers to get out and start knocking on doors. They would have got him.'

The results of the team's study will be shown in Jack the Ripper: The First Serial Killer – Revealed, on Five at 8pm tomorrow.

Source: metro

Oscar de la hoya admits drag photos 2011

2011-09-02T03:09:00.000-07:00

Oscar de la hoya admits drag photos 2011

Oscar de la hoya admits drag photos 2011. Oscar De La Hoya Admits to Cocaine Use, Thoughts of Suicide.

In a new interview with Univision, former boxer Oscar De La Hoya has opened up about the depth of his personal issues, which culminated this spring in a trip to rehab. "Rock bottom was recently," De La Hoya said, according to an English-language transcript provided by the network. "Within couple of years, just thinking if my life was even worth it. I don't have the strength, I don't have the courage to take my own life but I was thinking about it."

De La Hoya says he's been sober for three months and admits, yes, he was unfaithful to his wife. However: "We are obviously not talking a Tiger Woods here."

In a new interview with Univision, former boxer Oscar De La Hoya has opened up about the depth of his personal issues, which culminated this spring in a trip to rehab.

"Rock bottom was recently," De La Hoya said, according to an English-language transcript provided by the network. "Within couple of years, just thinking if my life was even worth it. I don't have the strength, I don't have the courage to take my own life but I was thinking about it."

De La Hoya says he's been sober for three months and admits, yes, he was unfaithful to his wife. However: "We are obviously not talking a Tiger Woods here."

Known as The Golden Boy during his time in the ring, De La Hoya retired in 2009 after a 16-year career and 10 world titles. He's worked as a promoter in the sport since.

"There were drugs, my drug of choice was cocaine and alcohol. Cocaine was recent. The last 2 years, last 2 1/2 years and I depended more in the alcohol than the cocaine," De La Hoya said. "It took me to a place where I felt safe, it took me to a place where I felt as if nobody can say anything to me, it took me to a place where I just can reach out and grab my mom."

The athlete says he's joined Alcoholic Anonymous.

Source: thehollywoodgossip

Mel Gibson Settlement

2011-09-02T03:07:00.000-07:00

Mel Gibson Settlement

Mel Gibson Settlement. Mel Gibson Settles Child-Custody Case for $750K; Earlier Offer of $16M Reportedly Rejected.

Actor Mel Gibson is putting an end to a hard-fought case over the custody of his young daughter with former girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Peter Lichtman announced today that Gibson will pay $750,000 to Grigorieva and establish a trust for their child, who is almost 2, according to the Associated Press. Gibson will continue to pay for his ex and their daughter to live in a multimillion-dollar home, and it will be sold when the child is 18, for her benefit. Neither the actor nor Grigorieva, a musician, can publicly discuss or write about their relationship, the article notes.

At one point, Gibson reportedly offered Gigorieva $16 million, which she rejected as too minimal.

Under a 2009 cohabitation agreement, she was to get a year of free housing and a Dodge Charger if they split up.

A Reuters article about the couple's new pact says he may have previously paid her a settlement of approximately $20 million over their breakup.

It isn't clear, the article notes, whether the settlement resolves all issues between the battling couple. She had accused him of domestic battery, which resulted in a criminal case and a plea deal by Gibson.

Source:abajournal

Most successful people over 80

2011-09-02T03:06:00.000-07:00

Most successful people over 80

Most successful people over 80. Most successful 80-somethings. Investor Warren Buffett and legendary talk show host Regis Philbin recently turned 80 years old. In honor of their becoming octogenarians, we look at some of the best-known and successful 80-somethings.
warren buffett, regis philbin, octogenarian

Buzz Aldrin Most successful people over 80

buzz aldrin 81 years old

Why he's famous: This second man to walk on the moon, a West Point grad, served in the U.S. Air Force before moving to NASA and the Apollo 11 moon-walking mission. Aldrin jumped back into the spotlight in 2010 on "Dancing With the Stars" and is undergoing a legal battle with his wife.
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Maya Angelou Most successful people over 80

maya angelou 83 years old

Why she's famous: Author and poet Maya Angelou is known for her autobiographical series, including "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings". One of her notable achievements includes reading a poem at Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993.
St Louis, Missouri, i know why the caged bird sings, bill clinton,

Bob Barker Most successful people over 80

bob barker 87 years old

Why he's famous: Bob Barker got his start hosting game show "Truth or Consequences" in 1956. He moved on to several more game shows before becoming the host of "The Price is Right". Which comedian replaced Barker as host of the legendary game show?
truth or consequences game show, the price is right, drew carey

Bobby Bowden Most successful people over 80

bobby bowden 81 years old

Why he's famous: Bobby Bowden spent many seasons coaching the Florida State football team. He led the team to a national championship but retired in 2010 amid a scandal.
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Warren Buffett Most successful people over 80

warren buffett 81 years old

Why he's famous: Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is the third richest person in the world. He's known as one of the most successful investors as well as a dedicated philanthropist, as he plans to give away a huge portion of his wealth to charity.
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Sean Connery Most successful people over 80

sean connery 81 years old

Why he's famous: Before starring as James Bond, Sean Connery trained as a bodybuilder and got offered a contract with a legendary English soccer club.
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Dick Van Dyke Most successful people over 80

dick van dyke 85 years old

Why he's famous: Dick Van Dyke made his first network TV appearance on the game show "Chance of a Lifetime" in 1954. Six years later he began starring in the classic "The Dick Van Dyke Show", for which he won three Emmys.
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Clint Eastwood Most successful people over 80

clint eastwood 81 years old

Why he's famous: Legendary actor and director Clint Eastwood got his start on a TV western in 1959. Eastwood has established himself as one of the most acclaimed directors in history, winning awards for many films, including "Invictus," "Letters From Iwo Jima" and "Million Dollar Baby."
rawhide tv show,

Gene Hackman Most successful people over 80

gene hackman 81 years old

Why he's famous: Gene Hackman rose to fame in 1967's "Bonnie and Clyde" and has starred in many films. One of his most recent roles was in a 2001 dramedy, alongside Ben Stiller and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Cloris Leachman Most successful people over 80

cloris leachman 85 years old

Why she's famous: Cloris Leachman is best known for her role as Phyllis Lindstrom in the "The Mary Tyler Moore Show. " More recently, the actress/comedian starred as Grandma Ida in this TV series and showed off her dancing moves in "Dancing With the Stars".
malcolm in the middle, dancing with the stars

Stan Lee Most successful people over 80

stan lee 88 years old

Why he's famous: Legendary Marvel Comics writer Stan Lee is responsible for giving the world superheroes Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four and The X-Men. Lee hosted a reality show and acted in several films in more recent years.
spider-man superhero, Who Wants to Be a Superhero?

Roger Moore Most successful people over 80

roger moore 83 years old

Why he's famous: The suave actor hit it big by starring in the action-adventure TV series "The Saint" in the '60s. Moore went on to star as James Bond in a number of films, including "Live and Let Die" and "A View to Kill."
roger moore played james bond in seven films

Toni Morrison Most successful people over 80

toni morrison 80 years old

Why she's famous: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison got her start as an editor for a major publishing company. She went on to publish her own novels, including "The Bluest Eye" and "Beloved".
the bluest eye novel

Rupert Murdoch Most successful people over 80

rupert murdoch 80 years old

Why he's famous: News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch built the company up after his father died, acquiring media outlets in Australia, the U.S., the United Kingdom and other countries. Read about the current phone-hacking scandal rocking his empire and find outhow much Murdoch is worth.
news corporation, news of the world phone hacking, rupert murdoch net worth $7.6 billion

Joe Paterno Most successful people over 80

joe paterno 84 years old

Why he's famous: The famous head coach of the Penn State football team, Joe Paterno got his start as an assistant coach at the university in 1950. He has more than 400 Division 1 wins and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.
division 1 college football, college football hall of fame

Queen Elizabeth II Most successful people over 80

queen elizabeth II 85 years old

Why she's famous: Her royal highness, Queen Elizabeth II, began her reign as Queen of England Feb. 6, 1952. She is also the constitutional head of the Commonwealth realms. See photos of grandson Prince William's wedding earlier this year.
prince philip duke of edinburgh, commonwealth realms,

Regis Philbin Most successful people over 80

regis philbin 80 years old

Why he’s famous: The talk show host rose to fame after appearing on "The Joey Bishop Show" and currently holds the Guinness World Record for spending the most time in front of a TV camera. Check out the TV shows he’s been on.
live with regis and kelly, the joey bishop show, the joey bishop show, guinness world records,

Don Rickles Most successful people over 80

don rickles 85 years old

Why he's famous: The comedian first tried his hand at acting after studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts but switched to stand-up when he couldn't find work. Although best known for his comedy routines, Rickles has starred in a number of movies and is the voice of a character in the "Toy Story" films.
american academy of dramatic arts, mr potato head

Doris Roberts Most successful people over 80

doris roberts 80 years old

Why she's famous: The blond star has been acting for years and has starred in a number of films. She is best known for her role in "Everybody Loves Raymond", for which she won four Emmys.
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William Shatner Most successful people over 80

william shatner 80 years old

Why he's famous: The actor really hit it big as Captain Kirk in the "Star Trek" TV series and films. Shatner became the face for travel website Priceline.com in 1999 and more recently starred in the now-canceled sitcom "$#*! My Dad Says."
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Barbara Walters Most successful people over 80

barbara walters 81 years old

Why she's famous: The legendary journalist and talk show host got her start in 1961 as a writer and researcher on the "Today" show before becoming its host. Walters went on to "ABC Evening News" and "20/20" before launching her own show, "The View." Read about the interview Walters referred to as the most inspirational.
barbara walters Dr. Robert Smithdas interview

Adam West Most successful people over 80

adam west 82 years old

Why he's famous: Best known for playing Batman in the TV series and film, this Walla Walla, Wash., native first got noticed in "The Young Philadelphians" in 1959. West starred in a number of films throughout his career, although he'll most likely always be known for his stint as Batman.
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Betty White Most successful people over 80

betty white 89 years old

Why she's famous: The world's most beloved grandma, Betty White is best known for her roles in the "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Golden Girls," although she's been in many more TV shows and films throughout her career. Despite being in her 80s, she maintains her saucy attitude.
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Source: msn

Dominos Pizza on the moon

2011-09-02T03:05:00.000-07:00

Dominos Pizza on the moon

Dominos Pizza on the moon. Domino's Japanese arm has proposed a branch on Earth's nearest galactic

neighbour is the latest escalation in a pizza publicity war.

Rival chain Pizza Hut set the bar high in 2001 by delivering a pizza to astronauts orbiting the Earth in the International Space Station, but Domino's fought back last year in a series of events to mark the 25th anniversary of its arrival in Japan.

In December, the company paid one person Y2.5 million (£20,046) to work for one hour delivering pizzas.

The competition has been taken beyond the stratosphere now, however, with construction firm Maeda Corp coming up with a plan for a dome-shaped concrete Domino's restaurant on the surface of the moon.

The company estimates the entire project will cost Y1.67 trillion - some £13.4 billion - of which Y560 billion (£4.5 billion) will be required to transport 70 tons of construction materials and pizza-making equipment to the moon aboard 15 rockets.

Keen to make the most of local resources, Domino's said it will keep costs down by using mineral deposits on the moon to make the concrete, which is likely to cost around Y194 billion (£1.5 billion).

An artist's impression of the restaurant anticipates a two-storey dome with a diameter of around 26 metres and a basement level constructed of steel plating and an area to prepare pizzas. Staff would be required to live on the premises.

"We started thinking about this project last year, although we have not yet determined when the restaurant might open," Tomohide Matsunaga, a spokesman for Domino's, told The Daily Telegraph. The company also expects to be able to offer delivery services.

"In the future, we anticipate there will be many people living on the moon, astronauts who are working there and, in the future, citizens of the moon," he said.

Source:telegraph

Top Hottest Vampires Ever

2011-09-01T17:24:00.000-07:00

Top Hottest Vampires Ever

It’s a question that has flummoxed the world of film journalism for decades. What is it that makes those vampires so damn hot!? We studied the best of them.

Salma Hayek in From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

Salma Hayek is the fantastically named Santanico Pandemonium, the main attraction at ultra sleazy bar The Titty Twister, slithering around the place with her pet snake. But patrons beware – when the time is right, Santanico is ready to change into a feral killer and lead the slaughter of anyone foolish enough to stop by.

Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise in Interview With The Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)

Long before Stephenie Meyer was cranking out iconic supernatural characters, Anne Rice was the queen of the damned with a massive literary following. Neil Jordan took a shot at one of her books and offered up two very different undead souls – Tom Cruise’s schemingly sexy Lestat and Brad Pitt’s brooding Louis.

Kiefer Sutherland in The Lost Boys (1987)

It’s vampirism as peer pressure when two brothers (Corey Feldman and Corey Haim) discover that the local cool kids are a little more dangerous than just sneaking a quick ciggie round the back of the local library. We’re introduced to louche lothario leader David (Kiefer Sutherland), all strutting cool and Bill Idol-inspired hairdo.

Mathilda May in Lifeforce (1985)

Sci-fi vamps from outer spaaaace! Yes, it’s an extremely cheesy, often cheap-looking horror thriller that features the likes of Patrick Stewart and Steve Railsbeck. But it also boasts the glory of often-nude Mathilda May, a deeply erotic memory for men of a certain age. Oh, and the energy-sucking concept of the movie is nifty, too.

Kate Beckinsale in Underworld (2003)

The Blade films had largely cornered the market on leather clad battling vamps, but then Kate Beckinsale and her catsuit arrived. Shot fetishistically by hubby-to-be Len Wiseman, it’s fang-bearer as music video/video game warrior as two tribes go to war for a vampires versus lycans scrap.

David Boreanaz in Angel (1999)

Joss Whedon spun off the extra-brooding cursed vampire Angel (David Boreanaz) into his own show on the back of Buffy, but made the sensible choice to port over sexy, lethal female fang-bearer Darla (Julie Benz). She’s the perfect foil for him, since she’s the one who turned Angel back in the day, and she exudes dangerous, yet attractive appeal.

Jenny Wright in Near Dark (1987)

Kathryn Bigelow brought us redneck vamps led by Lance Henriksen’s imposing Jesse Hooker and the impulsive, sociopathic Severen (Bill Paxton). But the real s3x appeal of the group is offered by Mae (Jenny Wright), who just can’t help seducing local men.

Catharine Deneuve in The Hunger (1983)

One of the more famous lady vamp films finds ageless sexpot Miriam (Catherine Deneuve) seducing both men and women by offering them a chance to cling to their youth – at least, until she’s finished with them. She resonates raw appeal and manages to turn the head of the otherwise sceptical Dr Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon).

Lesbian Vampire Killers (2009)

The actual movie might never have lived up to that fun title in terms of pure entertainment value, but Silvia Colloca’s sly vampire queen Carmilla more than made up for the sheer disappointment of suffering through Corden and Horne mugging their way around the turgid gags in the rest of the running time.

Robert Pattinson in Twilight (2008)

Love ‘em or loathe ‘em, the vampires of Stephenie Meyers blockbuster books are a gigantic success story. With Robert Pattinson serving as the perfect fantasy figure for a million tween/teenaged girls (and many older women), he’s the sensitive, oddly haired sexpot with just a hint of chaste peril lurking beneath the surface.

Gary Oldman in Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

Gary Oldman might be the main man, but it’s Sadie Frost as one of the legendary vamp’s victims, that lodges itself firmly into the memory and makes up for some of the project’s dodgier moments.

Jude Law in The Wisdom Of Crocodiles (1998)

Jude Law piles on the charm as Steven Grlscz (no, not a spelling error), a handsome renaissance man who harbours a deep, dark secret… He’s a vampire, a lonely soul looking for the perfect woman who nevertheless ends up killing all of his lovers. Until the day he meets Anne (Elina Löwensohn)…

Colin Farrell in Fright Night 3D

It sounded like a 3D gimmick when we first spotted it on the schedule. But Fright Night 3D is a surprisingly smart and funny horror flick. Hell, we like it just for its mocking of the Twilight series. Of course, Colin is steamy as hell

Justin Bieber's $187,000 Supercar

2011-08-31T18:23:00.000-07:00

Justin Bieber's $187,000 Supercar

Yesterday at approximately 12 p.m. PT, a driver in a Honda Civic dared to brush up against the pricey Ferrari driven by 17-year-old pop star Justin Bieber in the San Fernando Valley. Los Angeles Police Officer Gregory Baek told the AP the accident was a "very minor collision," and sources confirmed to TMZ the Honda merely "tapped" the rear left side of the vehicle piloted by Bieber -- evidently when its driver tried to get around Bieber's ride in an underground parking garage, as E! reports. There was no visible damage to either vehicle, no injuries, and authorities who arrived to check out the scene didn't even bother to file a report. Case closed!

Except this is Justin Bieber we're talking about here -- a pop star who can't go to a mall or promote his fragrance Someday at Macy's without major incident. Bieber has escaped harm in all such incidents, and the Honda owner is probably heaving a sigh of relief today that this snafu had a similar conclusion. The Civic (current base list price: $15,805) didn't even ding the Ferrari F430 (most recent base list price: $186,925). Bieber was first spotted in the matte black Ferrari F430 last year. The car's standard features include a 32-valve engine, panic alarm (which might come in handy if you're a a teen heartthrob), and the ability to fill "every pleasure receptor in your brain with automotive giddiness." Its top speed: 200 mph.

You can't totally blame the teen star for wanting a toy (albeit one that costs nearly three times the median income of a family of four): In the past few months alone he's been egged onstage in Australia, had his music videos yanked from YouTube by a hacker, and learned his Vanity Fair cover bombed at the newsstand. There's even been a bit of a Justin Bieber crime wave in the air -- a man was recently busted for stealing a cardboard cut-out of the pop star from a Florida mall, and a ceremonial Justin Bieber Way street sign was swiped in Texas.

For an experience just as thrilling as driving a $200K Ferrari, follow The Amplifier on Twitter now!

For a glimpse of how this latest incident could have gone awry, check out Yahoo!'s report on an insane accident (a million-dollar fender bender!) involving the very same vehicle Bieber was driving in July. And here's what Bieber's fancy ride looks like:

Subliminal Messages in Famous Logos

2011-08-27T12:40:00.000-07:00

Subliminal Messages in Famous Logos

You’ve seen these famous logos countless times on billboards, passing by on trucks, and at the grocery store, but there is more to them than meets the eye. If you take a closer look, you will find that these recognized logos have hidden images and messages. Check out these inventive designs that cleverly use white space and optical illusions to display subliminal messages.

FedEx

This logo appears to be very simple, but if you look at the white space between the "E" and "x" in “Ex," you'll find it is more complex than you thought. Can you spot the arrow?

Tostitos

These popular party chips are a staple at many backyard BBQs, but chances are, you've never noticed the hidden celebration scene concealed within the letters. The second and third "t’s" are sharing a chip over an "i" that is dotted with a salsa bowl. Yum!

Le Tour de France

Named the world's most famous and prestigious cycling race, bike-lovers and non-cyclists alike are familiar with the event's emblem. However, you might be missing out on the logo's most interesting aspect. After careful examination, you'll notice an image of a person riding a bicycle; the yellow circle is the front wheel and the r is the body.

Amazon.com

Amazon.com has become a go-to source for electronic commerce. Clearly there is an arrow under Amazon, but have you ever thought about its significance? Take a look at where the arrow begins and ends: a and z. This secret message seems to conveys that Amazon offers everything from A to Z!

Hershey's Kisses

The Kisses logo doesn’t have much to it, but if you look at it sideways, you might see a chocolate kiss formed between the K and the I.

Toblerone

There’s a slightly obscured bear within the Matterhorn Mountain if you look closely. That’s because the candy bar hails from Bern, Switzerland, a city supposedly named for a bear.

Big Ten

Penn State became the 11th member of this university athletic conference, hence the embedded “11” in this logo. That is, until the University of Nebraska–Lincoln became number 12, ushering in a new logo era.

Northwest Airlines

Before merging with Delta, Northwest’s logo was one of the best in the industry. The N and W within the circle are fairly obvious, but did you know the circle also serves as a compass? And guess which direction the arrow in the upper-left-hand corner (or the beginning of the w) is pointing?

Baskin-Robbins

Famous for its thirty-one ice-cream flavors (though the company’s expanded beyond that original number at this point), Baskin-Robbins unveiled this new logo in 2006 to commemorate its sixtieth anniversary.

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

The tree stands out almost immediately, but if you give the image more than a cursory glance, the designer’s remarkable use of white space becomes clear. There’s a lot of life in this logo, which makes it perfect for a zoo-aquarium combination.

Goodwill

What looks like half of a happy face is also a bigger version of the G in Goodwill’s name. It gives the logo an entirely different feel when you think about it that way.

Carrefour

The name of this French international retail chain translates to “crossroads,” or “intersection” in English. The two arrows pointing in opposite directions indicate this, but there’s also a big C hidden in the white space.

London Symphony Orchestra

The seemingly simple design is both an acronym for the London Symphony Orchestra and a conductor conducting with a baton in his right hand. Neat, huh?

Milwaukee Brewers

This was the Brewers’ emblem from 1978 until 1993. An art history student designed the baseball glove composed of an m and a b for a 1977 logo contest. Now it’s one of the most famous logos in baseball.

Washington State University

Washington State University’s mascot is a cougar, but putting a picture of an actual cougar in the logo would be so boring. Instead, the cougar is created with creative exaggerations of the letters W, S, and U.

Source: Divinecarolin

Britney's Bikini Body Through the Years

2011-08-26T14:38:00.000-07:00

Britney's Bikini Body Through the Years

Sept. 16, 2001

A well-toned Spears showed off her iconic abs in a teeny-weeny two-piece in Sydney, Australia. "I probably do like 500-sit-ups," Spears has told Oprah Winfrey. "And If I'm having a really good day, I'll do like probably, 1,000."

April 23, 2004

On a beach in L.A. during a break in touring, the-Cheetos-and-Red-Bull loving singer (with a cigarette in hand) set off a media frenzy when she was photographed cavorting with Kevin Federline.

July 15, 2004

"Lounging around" as a newlywed caused Spears to put on pounds, she has said (here at a hotel pool in Marina del Rey, CA).

April 13, 2005

Bun in the oven! The parents-to-be strolled along the beach hand-in-hand in Destin, Florida, the day she announced she was pregnant with their first child. While carrying Sean, Spears gave in to her cravings at Wendy's and Chili's.

June 15, 2006

Hours before her infamous interview with Matt Lauer aired, Spears (pregnant with #2) soaked up rays in Miami. When asked about her marriage, Spears denied any problems. "[Kevin] helps me," Spears told Lauer. "He has to. I'm an emotional wreck right now." On November 7, Spears filed for divorce.

Nov. 7, 2006

A six-months pregnant Spears walked along the beach in L.A. while picking out shells for Sean Preston on the day she filed for divorce from Kevin Federline. "I love my child and I would do anything to protect him," the singer has said.

Feb. 28, 2007

Before checking into Promises rehab center in Malibu for the second time, a newly bald Spears (in a blonde wig) headed to the Mondrian hotel where she made two new gal pals at the poolside Star Bar.

July 18, 2007

Spears and her then assistant Shannon Funk stripped down to their skivvies and took a dip in the ocean in Malibu. "I used to walk around my house completely naked. And my dad would say, 'Britney, put some clothes on, we have people over,'" Spears told Esquire.

April 23, 2008

To get back in shape, Spears (in Malibu) has been hitting Bally Total Fitness in L.A. "She takes her workout seriously," says a gymgoer.

May 18, 2008

A happy and healthy looking Spears hit the beach for a five-day vacation with Mel Gibson and her dad in Costa Rica. While surfing, a witness says, Spears yelled, "I'm scared!" before hitting the water for 40 minutes. "She caught some waves."

Aug. 8, 2009

"I've had to work hard at getting [my body] back to where it used to be," Spears (at a photo shoot for the 2009

Aug. 21, 2009

The singer showed off her bikini bod with sis Jamie-Lynn, 18, during an outing with sons, Sean, 4, and Jayden, 3, in Miami. "They both looked to be in pretty good shape," a witness to the family's outing at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel tells Us.

Oct. 18, 2009

On a break from her Circus concert tour, Spears donned a black bikini and shades for a three-night getaway at the Tides Zihuatanejo resort in Mexico with agent beau, Jason Trawick, and her sons.

Nov. 15, 2009

The singer, who wrapped her tour last month, shed a reported 20 pounds before hitting the road, thanks to two-hour cardio-and-strength training workouts three times a week (on top of dance rehearsals).
Source: USmag

Steve Jobs resigns as CEO of Apple

2011-08-24T17:07:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs resigns as CEO of Apple

Silicon Valley legend Steve Jobs on Wednesday resigned as chief executive of Apple Inc in a stunning move that ended his 14-year reign at the technology giant he co-founded in a garage.
Apple shares dived as much as 7 percent in after-hours trade after the pancreatic cancer survivor and industry icon, who has been on medical leave for an undisclosed condition since January 17, announced he will be replaced by COO and longtime heir apparent Tim Cook.

Analysts do not expect Jobs' resignation -- which had long been foreseen -- to derail the company's fabled product-launch roadmap, including possibly a new iPhone in September and a third iteration of the iPad tablet in 2012.
"I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come," he said in a brief letter announcing his resignation.
The 55-year-old CEO had briefly emerged from his medical leave in March to unveil the latest version of the iPad and later to attend a dinner hosted by President Barack Obama for technology leaders in Silicon Valley.
Jobs' often-gaunt appearance has sparked questions about his health and his ability to continue at Apple.
"I will say to investors: don't panic and remain calm, it's the right thing to do. Steve will be chairman and Cook is CEO," said BGC Financial analyst Colin Gillis.
Apple shares slid to $357.40 in extended trading after a brief halt. They had gained 0.7 percent to close at $376.18 on the Nasdaq.
Analysts again expressed confidence in the Apple bench, headed by longtime company No. 2 and supply-chain maven Cook.
"Investors are very comfortable with Tim Cook even though Jobs has been a driver of innovation and clearly an Apple success. Tim has shown Apple can still outperform extremely well when he's been acting as CEO," said Cross Research analyst Shannon Cross.
"I don't know if it's a health issue. I don't know if it is a shock. Most likely it was going to happen at some point. Why today versus another day? I don't know."

Source: Yahoo

5.8 quake in Virginia felt in New York, D.C.

2011-08-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

5.8 quake in Virginia felt in New York, D.C.

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 struck Tuesday in northern Virginia, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The quake, which struck at 1:51 p.m., was felt in Washington, in Richmond, Virginia, and as far away as North Carolina and New York, witnesses reported.
"It's one of the largest that we've had there," USGS seismologist Lucy Jones told CNN. Aftershocks were a concern, she said. "People should be expecting (them), especially over the next hour or two," she added.
She said that she would expect to see "significant damage" to old, brick buildings near the epicenter. "If you've already got some damage, you might want to stay outside," she said.
She also raised concern that water and gas lines may have been damaged.

"Our building was shaking the way a skyscraper isn't supposed to shake," said a lawyer in a high-rise in midtown Manhattan.

The quake was 3.7 miles deep and was located 83 miles southwest of Washington, the USGS said.

source: CNN

Man Bathes With Rattlesnakes

2011-08-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

Man Bathes With Rattlesnakes

The tiny Coryell County town of Oglesby is known for its rattlesnakes and this weekend, 3,000 people piled around a snake pit to see a world record shattered.

KCEN was there to meet the “Snake Man” before his slithery bath.
In the snake pit, Heart of Texas Snake Handlers President Jackie Bibby is a star. “Having been bit numerous times,” he says, “I do know and understand the effect of a rattlesnake bite.”
Bibby is from Rising Star, Texas and is at the 42nd annual “Rattlesnake Round-up” to increase his own star power. “I’ll be trying to get in the bathtub with more than 120 rattlesnakes.”
Yep…a snake bath with at least 121 rattlers to break a Guinness Book world record. “Once I get the record in the can,” he says, “after that the rest is gonna be icing on the cake.”
The snakes thrown in the tub are not trained and tamed. They are Central Texas rattlers, through and through. Oglesby Lion’s Club President Duane Heiner says, “We have snake handlers and snake hunters that go out throughout the county, throughout various counties. They go round up a bunch of rattlesnakes and bring them in.”

With a crowd gathered around and some excited “Snake Man” fans, Bibby broke the world record, sitting in the tub with 123 snakes.
While the risk of these slitherers is extreme, it is one Bibby says he lives for. “You’re never more alive than when you’re near death,” he says.
Wonder what is done with all of these rattlesnakes after the round-up? Many snake hunters sell the meat to a buyer, who then sells it to Asian countries where the meat is considered a delicacy.

Two of Gadhafi's sons arrested in Tripoli

2011-08-21T16:05:00.000-07:00

Two of Gadhafi's sons arrested in Tripoli

Two of Moammar Gadhafi's sons -- Saif al-Islam and Saadi -- have been arrested by opposition forces in Tripoli, rebel officials said.

There was no immediate reaction from Libyan government officials to the claims. CNN could not confirm the arrests, and there was no documentation provided by the rebels to verify the report.

Ali Said, general secretary of the Benghazi-based Transitional National Council, said late Sunday that Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, a top official in the regime, had been arrested in the capital.
Then, early Monday, Jumma Ibrahim -- a rebel spokesman based in Libya's western mountain region -- confirmed Saif al-Islam's arrest and said that another of the leader's sons, Saadi, had been arrested as well.
The businessman and onetime professional soccer player helped set up an April CNN interview with a woman who claimed she'd been raped by government troops. Saadi Gadhafi later told CNN that those behind the attack should be prosecuted.

The rebel spokesman, Ibrahim, also said that opposition forces have made it to Tripoli's Green Square, where Gadhafi supporters have gathered regularly to express their loyalty to Libya's long-time leader.
"The rebel fighters are in control of most of the neighborhoods in Tripoli," he said.
Late Saturday, Saif al-Islam -- who had emerged as a leading spokesman for the regime since the unrest began in February -- had laughed off reports of rebels taking Tripoli and claimed they were losing every battle.
But that account ran counter to reports from CNN reporters, witnesses and rebel officials on the ground. A NATO spokesman, in fact, said earlier Sunday that Moammar Gadhafi's "regime is crumbling."
In an audio address broadcast just before midnight -- his second of the day -- the longtime Libyan leader claimed that "very small groups of people who are collaborators with the imperialists" were fighting inside the capital. He also blasted the rebels who have been fighting to unseat him as "traitors."
"How can you let Tripoli, Libyan's capital, fall once again to occupation?" he said. "How can you let it become a military circus? ... It can't fall!"

Should the opposition prevail, Gadhafi said NATO would not protect them and predicted massive bloodshed. To prevent this, he said, Libyans -- he included a special appeal to women -- should go out and fight.
"Get out and lead, lead, lead the people to paradise," he said.
While the Libyan leader earlier predicted he'd win the battle, NATO said the end of his 42-year reign as the North African nation's ruler was near. NATO, under a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing force to protect Libyan civilians, has conducted 7,549 strike sorties in Libya since the end of March.
"The Gadhafi regime is clearly crumbling," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a statement. "The sooner Gadhafi realizes that he cannot win the battle against his own people, the better -- so that the Libyan people can be spared further bloodshed and suffering."
Earlier Sunday, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu claimed "the territory (Gadhafi) controls is shrinking fast, his closest allies are packing their bags, and the people of Tripoli are rising."
Gunfire crackled and explosions rocked the capital Sunday night, as the six-month-long conflict finally approached Gadhafi's doorstep. Libyan government spokesman Musa Ibrahim told reporters just after 11 p.m. Sunday that some 1,300 people had been killed and about 5,000 wounded in fighting in the previous 12 hours.
"(The city) is being turned into a hellfire," he said.
Col. Roland Lavoie, a NATO spokesman based at the Joint Forces Command in Naples, Italy, said the situation was "very dynamic and very tense" Sunday after a spate of mostly small-scale skirmishes in downtown Tripoli and near the sea. While there was no sense of massive encounters, there were large movements of troops by both sides outside the city.

"Gadhafi is clearly losing his capabilities, and I think we all know how this will end. We just don't know when," Lavoie said. "He still has some command and control, as we saw a SCUD missile fired yesterday, so let's not conclude it is over."
One fierce gun battle broke out Sunday evening near the hotel where many international reporters were stationed in Tripoli. Many government officials packed their suitcases and left the hotel earlier in the day.
A woman in Tripoli said late Sunday that she and others went outside, "screaming" and calling for Gadhafi's ouster -- and had plenty of company.
"We realized that no one wants him, no one wants this dictator," the resident said.
Musa Ibrahim told CNN on Sunday that "more than 65,000 professional men" are fighting in Tripoli, with thousands more flooding in to help defend the regime, and added that they "can hold for much longer." He acknowledged "continuous fighting" in the city, predicting a "humanitarian disaster" unless an immediate ceasefire is called.
"It's not about who will win," he said. "The world needs to hear this message, that a massacre will be committed in Tripoli if one side wins now."
The spokesman denied an Al-Arabiya report that Gadhafi's guard had surrendered, calling it "false information."
In a statement, the Transitional National Council said its fighters would follow international protocols in order to protect civilians, among other measures.
"The guidelines ... demonstrate the NTC's commitment to do its best to ensure that those fighting in its name, through adherence to the principles of international humanitarian law, minimize the harm to the Libyan people," the statement said. "This will facilitate the effective reconciliation and reconstruction of our nation once the fighting ends."
Rebels moved truckloads of ammunition on roads toward Tripoli on Sunday after seizing an ammunition depot once held by Gadhafi's forces.
Rebel fighters told CNN they controlled Zawiya and had pushed Gadhafi's forces more than 15 miles outside the city -- and 15 miles west of Tripoli. But Gadhafi's forces continued firing into Zawiya from a distance.
The opposition also claimed control of a major oil refinery and cut off a key coastal road outside the city, a major supply route to the capital.
Libyan state television reported Sunday that dozens of armed rebels were arrested south of Zawiya, and their weapons were seized.
Some areas of eastern Tripoli, including the suburb of Tajoura, were out of government control Sunday, according to a Libyan government official who asked not to be named. Rebels set car tires afire along barricades there, the official said.
The official said 65,000 troops loyal to Gadhafi are ready to defend Tripoli, and warned that a massacre would occur if NATO continued to back rebel efforts.
Aref Ali Nayed, an ambassador in the United Arab Emirates for the Libyan rebels' Transitional National Council, said opposition forces were calling Sunday "Day 1."
"The reason we declare it 'Day 1' is because we feel Gadhafi is already finished. He is already finished, most importantly, in our hearts," he said. "We no longer fear him."
Jumma Ibrahim, a rebel spokesman from the western mountain region around Zintan, claimed opposition fighters had taken control of the main intelligence operations building in Tripoli.
He also said some Libyan army personnel had defected and joined the rebels in the area of the capital's airport, which he claimed the rebels took over.
But government spokesman Ibrahim denied that the airport had switched hands, insisting all of Tripoli was safe and under the control of Gadhafi's forces.
CNN could not immediately confirm whether rebel fighters had taken control of any parts of the city, including the airport. But network staffers on the ground reports that this weekend's fighting appears to be among the most intense yet in Tripoli.
The fighters will continue to get significant support from NATO, said Lungescu, the alliance spokeswoman. NATO made 22 "key hits" in the Tripoli area Saturday, including on several military facilities, with Lavoie saying the alliance conducted more strikes Sunday to maintain pressure on Gadhafi's forces.
Ibrahim, the government spokesman, blamed NATO for the conflict and appealed for a cease-fire.
"Every drop of Libyan blood shed by these rebels is the responsibility of the Western world, especially NATO's countries," he said. "We hold (U.S. President Barack) Obama, (British Prime Minister David) Cameron and (French President Nicolas) Sarkozy morally responsible for every single unnecessary death that takes place in this country."
But Lungescu, the NATO spokeswoman, told CNN on Sunday that the Gadhafi regime is to blame for all the bloodshed over the last six months.
"What we've seen consistently, systematically and brutally are attacks by the Gadhafi regime (on civilians)," she said. "NATO has consistently defended the U.N. mandate, and we have saved countless lives."
Officials briefed Obama on the situation in Libya Sunday morning and the president will continue to receive updates, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta also received a detailed situational update, a senior Pentagon official said, and U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is being "briefed regularly" as well.
"Gadhafi's days are numbered," said Nuland. "If Gadhafi cared about the welfare of the Libyan people, he would step down now."
A Maltese ship seeking to evacuate foreign nationals from Libya on Sunday came under heavy fire when a rebel-controlled ship ambushed it near the Libyan coastline in an apparent hijack attempt. As the captain tried to steer toward Tripoli's port, Gadhafi forces began firing at the rebels, leaving the Maltese ship in the crossfire.
No injuries were reported, but the Maltese ship was forced to turn around. The foreign nationals remained stranded in Libya.
In the rebel hub of Benghazi, meanwhile, CNN iReporter Sammi Addahoumi showed video of large, boisterous crowds in the city's Freedom Square reacting as reports of the developments played on a large screen.
"The spirits are quite high," said Addahoumi, a 28-year-old deli manager from South Carolina who said his father fled Benghazi decades ago. "Everyone is expecting Tripoli to fall."
In his speech on state television Sunday, though, Gadhafi said the rebels -- whom he described as "infidels," "traitors" and "gangsters" -- would fail and vowed not to back down.

"This is the hour of victory," he said. "This hour is the hour of defiance."

Read More: CNN

Amazing shade illusion will make you see the light

2011-08-19T17:39:00.000-07:00

Amazing shade illusion will make you see the light

Don't believe everything you see. Take this insane optical illusion, which uses light and shadow to transform a gray square into a white square right before your eyes:

It's a pretty impressive effect -- but it's not entirely new. The Checker Shadow illusion was published back in 1995 by MIT professor Edward H. Adelson, though optical illusion guru 'brusspup' really gives it new life by bringing it off the page and into the real world.

So how does it work, exactly? The key lies in the shadow cast by the cylinder and how our poor, confused brains process light. The shadow darkens the central square, but it still appears to be "light" in color because of the contrast with its darker neighbors. Our brains are so fooled by this local contrast that it's difficult to perceive that the "light" square in the shadow has the same absolute shade as the "dark" square out of it.

Source: Yahoo

Top 10 Most distrusted celebrities 2011

2011-08-18T20:34:00.000-07:00

Top 10 Most distrusted celebrities 2011

According to a recently released poll by Ipsos, a whopping 60% of Americans don't trust Paris Hilton. Hilton was found to be the absolute least trustworthy celeb, beating out other morally questionable folks.

1. Paris Hilton

Paris Whitney Hilton (born February 17, 1981) is an American heiress and media personality. She is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton (founder of Hilton Hotels). Hilton is known for her controversial participation in a s3x tape in 2003, and appearance on the television series The Simple Life alongside fellow socialite and childhood best friend Nicole Richie. She is also known for her 2004 tongue-in-cheekautobiography, several minor film roles (most notably her role in the horror film House of Wax in 2005), her 2006 music album Paris, and her work in modeling.

According to released poll by Ipsos, 60% of Americans don't trust Paris Hilton.

2. Charlie Sheen

Sheen's personal life has also made headlines, including reports about alcohol and drug abuse and marital problems as well as allegations of domestic violence. He was fired from his role on Two and a Half Men by CBS and Warner Bros. on March 7, 2011. Sheen subsequently announced a nationwide tour.

According to the poll 52% Americans distrust Charlie Sheen.

3. Britney Spears

Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album ...Baby One More Time in 1999. During her first decade within the music industry, she became a prominent figure in mainstream popular music and popular culture, followed by a much-publicized personal life.

According to the poll 45% Americans distrust Britney Spears.

4. Kanye West

Kanye Omari West born June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and Janet Jackson. His style of production originally used pitched-up vocal samples from soul songs incorporated with his own drums and instruments.

According to the poll 45% Americans distrust Kayne West.

5. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, model, actor, director, businessman and politician who served as the 38th Governor of California (2003–11).Schwarzenegger began to weight train at the young age of 15 years old. He was awarded the title of Mr. Universe at age 20 and went on to win the Mr. Olympia contest seven times. Schwarzenegger has remained a prominent presence in the sport of bodybuilding and he has written several books and numerous articles on the sports.

According to the poll 44% Americans distrust Arnold Schwarzenegger.

6. Tiger Woods

Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods (born December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No. 1, he is the highest-paid professional athlete in the world, having earned an estimated US$90.5 million from winnings and endorsements in 2010.

According to the poll 42% Americans distrust Tiger Woods.

7. Kim Kardashian

Kimberly Noel "Kim" Kardashian (born October 21, 1980) is an American socialite, television personality, model, and actress. She is the daughter of late attorney Robert Kardashian, and is known for a s3x tape with her former boyfriend Ray J as well as her E! reality series that she shares with her family, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Kardashian's prominence has increased as of January 2011 with the premiere of Kourtney and Kim Take New York, the second spin-off of Keeping Up with the Kardashians (the first being Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami), debuting on E!, with the series following Kim and sister Kourtney Kardashian as they leave Los Angeles to open a third D-A-S-H store in New York City. Kim Kardashian's Height 5 ft 2.5 in (1.59 m).

According to the poll 38% Americans distrust Kim Kardashian .

8. Mel Gibson

Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO (born 3 January 1956) is an Australian-American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art. After appearing in the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon series, Gibson went on to direct and star in the Academy Award-winning Braveheart. In 2004, he directed and produced The Passion of the Christ, a controversial, yet successful, film portraying the last hours in the life of Jesus. In recent years, remarks by Gibson have generated accusations of homophobia, antisemitism, racism, and misogyny; he has apologized repeatedly for the statements and denied that they represent his real opinions.

According to the poll 33% Americans distrust Mel Gibson.

9. Donald Trump

Donald John Trump, Sr. (born June 14, 1946) is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization. Trump is also the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts, which operates numerous casinos and hotels worldwide. Trump's extravagant lifestyle and outspoken manner have made him a celebrity for years, and more recently with his NBC reality show The Apprentice, where he serves as host and executive producer.

In 2010, Trump expressed interest in becoming a candidate for President of the United States in 2012. On May 16, 2011, he announced he would not run. On May 23, he stated he has not completely ruled out running if no viable Republican Party candidate emerges. In 2011, Trump ranked No. 17 on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list.

According to the poll 31% Americans distrust Donald Trump.

10. LeBron James

LeBron Raymone James born December 30, 1984 is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a sophomore at St. Vincent – St. Mary High School.

According to the poll 29% Americans distrust LeBron James.

The full Reuters/Ipsos poll can be seen at http://www.ipsos-na.com/news-polls/ or http://www.ipsos-na.com/news-polls/pressrelease.aspx?id=5306

Paris Hilton Voted the Least Trustworthy Celebrity

2011-08-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

Paris Hilton Voted the Least Trustworthy Celebrity

Would you buy a used car from Paris Hilton? As our Magic 8 ball used to say, "Outlook not so good." According to a recently released poll by Ipsos, a whopping 60% of Americans don't trust her.

Hilton was found to be the absolute least trustworthy celeb, beating out other morally questionable folks like Charlie Sheen (52% unfavorable), Britney Spears (45% unfavorable), and Kanye West (45% unfavorable). Others on the bottom of the list of unpopular personalities: Arnold Schwarzenegger (44%), Tiger Woods (42%), Kim Kardashian (38%), Mel Gibson (33%), Donald Trump (31%), and LeBron James (29%).

According to Ipsos, four of the bottom ten celebs (Tiger Woods, Charlie Sheen, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears) "are more widely disliked by women than they are by men." The rest are relatively evenly disliked by both genders.

The poll is more than just a "Mean Girls"-like popularity contest. The results can have an effect on which celebrities companies choose to endorse their products. To that end, you can expect Betty White to be a highly coveted pitch-woman in the years to come. The "Golden Girls" star was ranked as America's most trusted celebrity.

White, 89, scored an 86% favorable rating, topping such A-listers as Denzel Washington (85%), Sandra Bullock (84%), Clint Eastwood (83%), and Tom Hanks (81%). Rounding out the top ten were Harrison Ford (80%), Morgan Freeman (79%), Kate Middleton (79%), Will Smith (77%), and Johnny Depp (76%).

Source: Yahoo

Tim Hortons Frozen Doughnut Lawsuit

2011-08-18T15:56:00.000-07:00

Tim Hortons Frozen Doughnut Lawsuit

Two unhappy franchisees have launched a class action lawsuit for $1.95 billion against Oakville-based Tim Hortons Inc.
They claim they lost money after the company changed the system of making doughnuts in 2002, from cooking them from scratch in stores to microwaving frozen par-baked doughnuts supplied by a plant in Brantford, owned 50-50 by Tim Hortons Inc. and an Irish company, IAWS Group plc.

The two Burlington franchise owners also claim that a more extensive lunch menu instituted by the fast food chain in recent years has not increased profit enough to make it worthwhile for them to serve the lunch.
They are claiming breach of contract, breach of duty of fair dealing, negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment.
The franchisees, represented by Jerome Morse of Adair Morse in Toronto, listed their complaints last week in a statement of claim in Ontario Superior Court of Justice where they are trying to have their suit certified as a class action.
Tim Hortons quickly issued a release saying it would defend itself and called the statement of claim “frivolous and completely without merit.”
The company pointed out that the Tim Hortons Franchise Advisory Board, consisting of elected store owners who represent all franchisees, had looked at the two franchisees’ claims.
“They have advised the Company they also view the matter as without merit, stating that the statement of claim doesn’t reflect the opinion of the vast majority of franchisees,” said the release.
It continued, “Strong relations with our store owners has been a hallmark of the company’s success during our 44-year history, reflected in the good relations we enjoy with the vast majority of our more than 1,200 franchisees.”
The lawsuit claimants say the system of supplying frozen partly-cooked dough from a factory has driven up the cost of doughnuts to franchisees more than they had been told it would, without increasing sales enough to make up for the additional cost.
“The prices charged to the franchisees for many products and supplies have increased and the prices charged are often significantly above market price for comparable products and supplies,” say the claimants.
The complaining franchisees also say franchisees had to invest $35,000 to $50,000 to switch equipment in order to handle the heat-and-serve system adopted by the company for baked goods.
They say Tim Hortons has profited from the new system because it earns a profit on all frozen products sold to franchisees, and the doughnuts are sold at an “inflated price.”
The two dissatisfied franchisees say the soup and sandwich lunch menu has earned them either a minimal profit or no profit at all because the company required them to sell lunch items at “unreasonably low margins.”
At the same time, they claim their costs have gone up because the lunches have become popular and they have had to hire more staff to serve them.
Source: can-resturantsnews

Most Memorable Wrestlers of All Time

2011-08-13T16:02:00.000-07:00

Most Memorable Wrestlers of All Time

Hulk Hogan:

His bright mustache and his dark, leathery skin are iconic of pro wrestling in general and '80s-era World Wrestling Federation in particular. But ever since his heyday, Hulk has never stepped away from the ring long enough for fans to forget his awesome stage presence, even when he was showcasing family brawls on his

reality show, "Hogan Knows Best."

"Macho Man" Randy Savage

Hogan may have been the break-out star of the WWF world of the '80s, but Savage was never far behind. In fact, Savage lived out his life in the wrestling ring, wowing fans with his flashy style until a few years before his death this year. Just think of Macho Man whenever you bite into a Slim Jim.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

He's probably the pro wrestler who has transitioned best into mainstream movie stardom, taking top billing in action films and comedies alike. But to fans of his wrestling days, he'll always be the guy who kept the People's Elbow in his arsenal of moves.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin

In a world of heroes and heels, Austin was an antihero, winning fans for his refusal to bow down to the authority of wrestling impressario Vince McMahon or anyone else. He got a cult following of wrestling nuts all proud to spread the gospel of "Austin 3:16."

Andre the Giant

The first ever inductee into the WWF hall of fame, Andre the Giant's story is a tragic one, in which the medical abnormality that allowed him to grow to a massive size ultimately killed him. But during his life, Andre ruled the ring -- and even scored a memorable supporting role in "The Princess Bride."

Jesse "The Body" Ventura

Not every pro wrestler wants to go to Hollywood, but Ventura did just that when he played roles in films like "Predator." No, Ventura had higher aspirations and ultimately ditched his feather boa and his villainous, cheating "in the ring" persona to serve as governor of Minnesota in 1999.

Mr. T

Yeah, pro wrestling isn't necessarily where most people go when they ponder the awesome power that is the T. However, this eventual "A-Team" star first cracked into show business in the WWF, appearing as Hulk Hogan's tag team partner in the first WrestleMania. He's been pitying fools ever since.

Joanie "Chyna" Laurer

Pro wrestling has had its share of ring girl eye candy, but the very buff Chyna stands apart as the first woman to ever compete in the World Wrestling men's division. Following her stint in the ring, Chyna seemed to be moving toward more legit stardom, landing a recurring role on "3rd Rock From the Sun" before moving on to "The Surreal Life" and, finally, more "adult" ventures.

Chris Jericho

Jericho won fans for eye-catching moves like "Walls of Jericho," but he also drew admirers for his all-around good looks. He parlayed the latter into a stint on "Dancing With the Stars" in early 2011.

Triple H

He may have missed out on starring in the role he was born to play -- the lead in "Thor," of course -- but that doesn't mean his career hasn't thrived. The man who began his career in the ring as well-mannered aristocrat Hunter Hearst Helmsley has had a successful wrestling career, married Vince McMahon's daughter, Stephanie, and is currently the chief operating officer of World Wrestling Enterprises.

Stacy Keibler

Would you have expected any professional wrestler of having a chance at dating George Clooney? If the rumors are true and Keibler is Clooney's current ladylove, then it would mark yet another surprising phase in life of Keibler, who's already done everything from kicking butt action movies to competing on "Dancing With the Stars" to appearing in her bra and panties in a wrestling ring.

Ric Flair

Throughout his years of involvement with various wrestling enterprises, in which he both performed as a wrestler and acted as a manager, Flair made good on his last name and never lost his flamboyant style

John Cena

In a part of the pop culture world where macho is in major demand, Cena delivers. Not only is he a terror in the ring, but he also went military as the lead role in the film "The Marine," and also performed for a hip-hop album. All he needs is a monster truck, and he'd win the masculinity contest.

The Miz

The Miz (aka Mike Mizanin) stepped into the pro wrestling world with an existing fan base from his days on MTV's "The Real World," which actually documented the genesis of his ultra-macho "Miz" persona. In 2010, this reality star extraordinaire won the WWE Championship.

"Captain" Lou Albano

No, this isn't Albano in his wrestling guise, but it's still a pretty great pop culture footnote: He played Cyndi Lauper's dad in the music videos for "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," "She Bop" and the theme to "The Goonies." Albano, who also starred as Super Mario in a TV show based on the games, wrestled for nearly 40 years before passing away in 2009.

Vince McMahon

Lest you only think of McMahon as chairman and CEO of World Wrestling Enterprises and one of the minds who has most shaped pro wrestling into what it is today, McMahon occasionally stepped into the ring himself. What a great guy he is, allowing the regular roster of grapplers the chance to take down their own boss.

Bret "Hitman" Hart

He had a successful 25 years in the professional wrestling circuit, but even more, Hart deserves praise for having a trademark look -- consisting of pink, black and mirrored sunglasses -- that somehow didn't look completely goofy

The Undertaker

The guy's career hasn't significantly extended beyond the wrestling ring, but he doesn't really need to branch out. In a world of brightly colored spandex and bronzed pecs, The Undertaker brings a brand of creepy that sets him apart.

Rowdy Roddy Piper

He debuted in the ring in 1969 and hasn't retired yet. But more than just a talented grappler, Piper has managed to embody the stereotype of the raging Scotsman and introduce generations of wrestling fans to the magic of kilts and bagpipes. He also starred in the B-movie awesomeness that is "They Live."

Mae Young and The Fabulous Moolah

The lovely ladies of wrestling owe a great debt to pro wrestling trailblazers like Mae Young (left) and The Fabulous Moolah, who blazed the trail to make the sport open to both genders. These two -- who began wrestling in 1939 and 1949, respectively -- were the subjects of a 2004 documentary on lady wrestling, "Lipstick & Dynamite, Piss & Vinegar."

Source: MSN

Michele Bachmann wins Iowa straw poll

2011-08-13T15:59:00.000-07:00

Michele Bachmann wins Iowa straw poll

Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich., former CEO of Godfather's Pizza Herman Cain, and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Texas, gather on stage before the Iowa Republican Party's Straw Poll, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011, in Ames, Iowa.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann wins Iowa Straw Poll.

Source: Yahoo

American Man Kidnapped in Pakistan

2011-08-13T08:24:00.000-07:00

American Man Kidnapped in Pakistan

Gunmen abducted an American after breaking into his house in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore on Saturday in an unusually brazen raid that illustrated the threat to foreigners in this militancy-wracked, U.S.-allied country.

The U.S. Embassy identified the victim as Warren Weinstein. A man by that name serves as the Pakistan country director for J.E. Austin Associates, a development contractor that works with the aid arm of the American government, according to a profile on the LinkedIn networking website.

Pakistani police said the American was believed to be in his 60s, and had returned to Lahore the previous night from the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. He had told his staff that would be wrapping up his latest project and moving out of Pakistan by Monday, police official Tajammal Hussain said.
The profile says Weinstein is based in Lahore and has been in Pakistan for seven years. Calls to the company headquarters in Virginia were not immediately answered, but its website describes Weinstein as a development expert with 25 years experience and a Ph.D. in international law and economics.
The company website says Weinstein headed a program that has been trying to help strengthen the competitiveness of various Pakistani industries.
"He's a short, funny man with a quick wit," said Raza Rumi, a Pakistani journalist who last saw Weinstein about a year ago and said the American could speak a fair amount of Urdu. "He's a very laid-back guy, not too worried about security issues, not really paranoid at all."
According to Pakistani police, two of the abductors showed up at Weinstein's house and persuaded the guards there to open the gate by saying they wanted to give them food -- an act of sharing common during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which started in August.
As the guards opened the gate, five other men suddenly appeared. The assailants, who were armed, punched and kicked the security guards, overpowering them before storming the house. Several more abductors were believed to have entered through the back of the residence.
The gunmen snatched the American from his bedroom, hustling him out of the house and into a nearby vehicle. They did not take any other items from the house, police official Attiqur Rehman said.
Police declined to speculate on the motive, and no group immediately claimed responsibility. Security forces are checking vehicles at posts on the outskirts of the city in hopes of finding Weinstein, said Ghulam Mahmood Dogar, a deputy inspector-general of police.
Kidnappings for ransom are common in Pakistan, with most of the victims being Pakistani. Criminal gangs are suspected in most of the abductions, but Islamist militant organizations, too, are believed to use the tactic to fund themselves through ransoms.
Militant groups also have targeted foreigners in Pakistan in other types of attacks, such as shootings or bombings. But it is rare for assailants to stage such a raid on a foreign victim's home.
The Pakistani Taliban claim to be holding a Swiss man and woman kidnapped earlier this summer as they were traveling through a remote southwestern region. The militant group, which is based in the northwest tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, has demanded that the U.S. free a Pakistani woman convicted of trying to kill Americans in exchange for the Swiss pair's freedom.
Americans in Pakistan are considered especially at risk from militant attack because the insurgents oppose Islamabad's alliance with Washington and the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. U.S. diplomats, aid workers and others are urged to take strong security precautions.
Ties between Washington and Islamabad plummeted after an American CIA contractor in January shot dead two Pakistanis he said were trying to rob him.
The American was held in a jail in Lahore for two months despite Washington's insistence he was immune from prosecution because he had diplomatic status. He was eventually freed after the victims' families were given compensation.
Lahore is the capital of the eastern Punjab province, a region bordering India that is home to several of Pakistan's top militant networks, some of which are suspected of ties to Pakistani intelligence. Major attacks in Lahore include a 2009 ambush of Sri Lanka's cricket team that killed six police and a driver.
The unilateral American raid that killed Al Qaeda chief Usama bin Laden on May 2 in the northwest Pakistani town of Abbottabad further soured ties between the two countries and led to increased scrutiny on Americans living in Pakistan.
Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning for its citizens saying that American diplomats are facing increased harassment and they, along with aid workers and journalists, have been falsely identified as spies in the local media.
Still, American lawmakers and officials have made a slew of trips in recent weeks to try to maintain the relationship with Islamabad.
On Saturday, Sen. John McCain arrived in Islamabad and met with top officials including Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. In a statement afterward, Gilani said he told the Republican lawmaker that Pakistan desires an enduring partnership with the United States.

'Apes' smashes box office competition

2011-08-07T16:18:00.000-07:00

'Apes' smashes box office competition

The apes have conquered the multiplex.

Fueled by great word of mouth, 20th Century Fox's Rise of the Planet of the Apes opened to $54 million at the domestic box office—$20 million more than the best forecast.

Rise of the Apes is particularly drawing notice for its photo-realistic apes, which were created by Peter Jackson’s Weta Digital using advanced performance capture technology. Andy Serkis plays the ape Caesar, and is the movie’s lead character.

Directed by Rupert Wyatt, Rise of the Apes successfully relaunches the cult sci-fi franchise, and is a big win for the filmmakers and Fox’s marketing operation. Heading into the weekend, tracking suggested that the movie—also starring James Franco, Frida Pinto and John Lithgow--would open to $30 million to $35 million, tops.

But the movie received an A- CinemaScore, in addition to garnering rave reviews, and is appealing to all age groups. More women than expected turned out, making up 44 percent of the audience, according to exit polls. The origins pic was down only 2% from Friday to Saturday.

Rise of the Apes also is a big win for Peter Chernin and Dylan Clark’s Chernin Entertainment, since it’s the company’s first title.

The movie, made for $93 million, was co-financed by Fox, Dune Entertainment and Ingenious.

The weekend's other new offering, Universal's R-rated Ryan Reynolds-Jason Bateman body switching comedy The Change-Up, didn’t fare as well, grossing a soft $13.5 million and coming in No. 4.

Directed by David Dobkins, Change-Up entered a saturated market for raunchy comedies, and scored the lowest opening of the summer for its genre. The movie only received a B CinemaScore, and played older, with 50% of the audience over the age of 30.

Universal and Relativity Media co-financed Change-Up, which cost $52 million to produce.

Sony’s surprise hit The Smurfs stayed strong in its second weekend, declining less than 42% to an estimated $21 million for a domestic cume of $76.2 million. The 3D kids pic placed No. 2.

Universal and DreamWorks’ Cowboys & Aliens continued to struggle in its second outing, trailing Smurfs and grossing $15.8 million for a domestic total of $67.4 million. The movie fell 57%, a big drop considering the film is playing best to an older audience. Adult-skewing films generally build momentum, and see minimal drops if they are working.

Why the stock market plunged 4.3%

2011-08-04T15:51:00.000-07:00

Why the stock market plunged 4.3%

Stocks posted a severe drop today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 4.3% and the Nasdaq crumbling over 5%.

By the end of the day there were few places left to hide. Gold, silver, crude and yields on Treasuries all fell sharply as traders looked for safety and were met by nothing but falling prices. Over the last 10 trading days stocks have lost more than 10%, the traditional definition of a market correction.

Today's selling started in Europe and picked up steam as American investors, already twitchy in the wake of the debt ceiling debacle, suddenly preferred cash over all other assets. The selling began overseas, but we have more than our share of problems in the U.S. as well.
There's a growing realization among even the most optimistic investors that the United States is entering a new recession -- a dreaded "double-dip." Adding to the pain is the sense that the government and Federal Reserve are out of both ideas and ways to stimulate the economy. Corporate America is sitting on record amounts of cash but is refusing to make new investments with so little end demand for its products. Consumers and corporations are hoarding cash, and the economy appears to be seizing. The debt ceiling debate was a fiasco, snuffing any remaining confidence traders had for help from Washington, D.C.

The bottom line is traders are becoming convinced that we're facing a prolonged and severe recession, and there's nothing any government on Earth can do to stop it. In that context, selling stocks or "reducing exposure" as they say on Wall Street, is quite rational.

So what should people at home do? Avoid panic, for starters. The swiftness of this correction is unusual, but a 10% drop is not. Just last summer stocks fell 17% on concerns not unlike those we face today. If you're an investor who can't sleep tonight, you're probably too exposed to stocks. Sell until you can sleep. Nobody ever made good financial decisions scared or tired.

Today was the first sign of fear stocks have seen in a year. To paraphrase Churchill, that may not be the beginning of the end of the selling, but it's the end of the beginning. It's extremely unlikely we're going to see good economic news anytime soon. A terrible jobs number tomorrow is now assumed, and a good one will be considered either incorrect or flat-out fraudulent.

Take hope for a quick economic recovery out of the equation and ask yourself this: If you woke up tomorrow and stocks were set to open down another 1,000 points on the Dow, would you buy or sell? Whatever your answer is, you'd be well served to consider doing it a little bit at a time now.

Trying to "call the bottom" by going all in at once is a fool's game. Be patient, be calm and tune out the panic. In a market this volatile, prudence is the only rational strategy available.

Source: Yahoo

Pippa Middleton Schoolgirl Pic Surfaces (PHOTO)

2011-07-29T12:30:00.000-07:00

Pippa Middleton Schoolgirl Pic Surfaces (PHOTO)

Fresh-faced and long-limbed,a young Pippa Middleton smiles proudly for the camera in the green kit of her school netball team.

The 13-year-old, already a star on the sports field, according to her former teachers at St Andrew's School in Berkshire – is shown sitting alongside her team-mates as they giggle and pose for the photograph.

Another previously unseen shot reveals the Duchess of Cambridge's sister in her smart school uniform, relaxing with friends in her housemaster's flat.

With her shoulder-length hair already tied in what looks like an early version of Kate's wedding demi-chignon, she looks like any other carefree schoolgirl .

The pictures were taken by Kevin Allford, who was housemaster to Pippa and Kate at the £13,000-a-year preparatory school in the Nineties.
Mr Allford, who now lives in Carmarthen, said: 'Pippa was like her sister and did everything at 100mph. They both loved sport, but Pippa was particularly talented.

'She always smiled and was forever winning medals and trophies. The reason everyone thinks she's got a wonderful figure is because of the amount of time she's spent playing sport in her lifetime. With Pippa, it was hours and hours a day.'
Pippa, now 27, is two years younger than Kate, who had already left the school when these photo-graphs were taken.
The sisters were sent to the all-girls school as day pupils when they were eight. They stayed at St Andrew's until they were 13, ¬boarding for their final two years.

The girls were both known for their bright personalities and sporting talent but they did differ, according to Mr Allford.
'Pippa was tough, not like Catherine. She never seemed anything other than bright and ¬bubbly. If she fell down, she picked herself up and just got on with it.
'She knew exactly who she was and was a delight. There were never arguments with the other girls, never a piece of lost kit or grumbling.'
Pippa participated in a range of sports at the school, including hockey, netball, rounders, tennis and swimming, and was also an excellent long-distance runner.
The netball team, for which Pippa played goal defence, won a series of prizes while she was captain.
One coach at the school, who did not want to be named, remembered how gifted she was at rounders.
The coach said: 'Most girls tried really hard just to hit the ball. But with Pippa, wherever I asked her to hit it, she'd do it first time.
When she was batting, she could always be expected to score a “rounder”.
'We would win most of our matches against other schools, mainly because of having her on the team.
But she wasn't a bad loser and would always rally the girls' spirits afterwards.'
In the evenings, after a long day of lessons and sports followed by homework, the pupils were allowed to relax. Pippa and her friends would often visit Mr Allford's flat, where he lived with his wife Denise – also a teacher at the school – and their toddler daughter Angharad.
There they would sip hot-chocolate, eat biscuits and play with Angharad.
'Pippa was very sociable so it was always nice to have her there,' said Mr Allford. 'They were all great with Angharad and Pippa was always polite – no trouble at all.
'All of the Middletons were lovely and it's great to look back at these photographs. I'm very proud of them.'

Read more: DailyMail

Bieber dad show off matching tattoos

2011-07-27T12:05:00.000-07:00

Bieber dad show off matching tattoos

Anyone suspecting that Justin Bieber is a musical cyborg assigned human parents to deceive the masses -- and dominate the world! -- is really just overthinking it.

The fan site Justin Bieber Shrine has posted photo proof that The Biebs is a real boy with a real bond with his real father, Jeremy Bieber. The site's image gallery shows the pop idol and his pops getting matching Jesus

tattoos in mid-May, right before Bieber's PDA-packed Hawaiian vacation with ladyfriend Selena Gomez.

The 17-year-old debuted his new ink on the island paradise; the ribcage tat, written in Hebrew, means "Yeshua," or Jesus. (He is a holy man, that Bieber.)

Source: Yahoo

Here comes the world's skinniest house

2011-07-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

Here comes the world's skinniest house

There are skinny houses. And then there is Jakub Szczęsny's Keret House, which could make Calista Flockhart look like a fatty. At its most generous, the proposed place, in Warsaw, Poland, will clock in at 4 feet wide. At its narrowest, it'll be just 28 inches wide -- thinner than the average doorway. And we complain about our sardine can in New York...

The house (officially an "art installation," because it doesn't meet Polish building code) is slated to fill a crack between a pair of buildings in Warsaw's Wola district. When construction's finished in December, it'll be the thinnest house in Warsaw and possibly the whole world. We did a quick Google search and couldn't find anything leaner.

Szczęsny designed the house to be a work space and home for Israeli writer Etgar Keret. It'll also be a "studio for invited guests -- young creators and intellectualists from all over the world." If, that is, they're willing to drop half their body weight to fit inside.

Kidding, kidding. In all seriousness, though, the house is a pretty remarkable feat of architecture. If everything goes according to plan, Szczęsny will manage to squeeze in designated rooms for sleeping, eating, and working. The place will have off-grid plumbing inspired by boat sewage technology and electricity lifted from a neighbor. To save space, the entry stairs will fold up at the press of a button and become part of the first floor.
Aesthetically, the Keret House isn't gonna win any beauty contests. It's been compared to everything from a pregnancy test to a sanitary napkin. (Our vote is for "pregnancy test.") Our biggest concern, though, is that it's hardly got any windows. How's it going to "produce creative work conditions," as ArchDaily reports, and "become a significant platform for world intellectual exchange," if it feels like a sensory deprivation chamber? Won't Keret go insane? But maybe that's the point. It's not like he'd be the first artist to benefit from going crazy.

Source: Yahoo

Huge sink hole opens causing fatal Utah crash

2011-07-15T01:20:00.000-07:00

Huge sink hole opens causing fatal Utah crash

A 15-year-old girl died after heavy rains caused a huge sink hole to open on a Utah highway, swallowing one vehicle and causing her father's SUV to careen off the road.

Authorities said the crash that killed Justine Barneck and injured her father, Michael Barneck, late Wednesday night happened when the road collapsed in front of them, leaving a patch of asphalt on the edge of the hole that the vehicle hit, causing the fatal accident.

At about the same time, a second car actually went into the 40-foot-wide, 30-foot-deep hole, said Utah Highway Patrol Cpl. Todd Johnson. The driver of that vehicle, 37-year-old Helen Paulson, was hurt, but the extent of her injuries was not immediately clear.

The accidents near Tabiona, about 90 miles east of Salt Lake City, came about 15 minutes after a heavy storm began at about 11:30 p.m., quickly overflowing a clogged culvert and washing out the two-lane state road, Johnson said.

Michael Barneck was taken to a hospital with head injuries and is expected to be released Friday.

Justine Barneck was very close to her family, especially her twin sister, Jentri, who was not in the vehicle, said older sister Jamie Allred.

"She was an absolute angel," Allred said.

Allred said her sister's death was deeply felt in Tabiona, a town of a few hundred people at the base of the Uinta Mountains. She said the family has strong roots in the community, where one school holds kindergarten through high school students.

"She was more than willing to help anyone. I don't think there could be many 15-year-olds like her ... she was perfect from day one," Allred told The Associated Press.

All three people were wearing seat belts, Johnson said.

The highway will remain closed while repairs are made and traffic is being diverted.

Source: Yahoo

Johnny Depp's major 'Pirates' payday

2011-07-07T14:18:00.000-07:00

Johnny Depp's major 'Pirates' payday

Johnny Depp has gained more than a pirate’s ransom for playing Jack Sparrow in the four “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, TheWrap has learned.
He’s earned close to $350 million from the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced franchise, according to an individual with knowledge of his deals.
Disney disputed the sum, calling it "highly inaccurate" but declined to provide any details.
Another individual close to the franchise said the number was closer to $280 million for the four Pirates combined.
With the fourth installment, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” passing the billion-dollar mark at the global box office over the weekend, the haulmakes Depp the highest-paid actor in recent Hollywood history.
Also Read: Johnny Depp Close to Deal for Fifth 'Pirates' Movie (Exclusive)
An insider close to Depp said that the actor is nearing a deal to star in a fifth “Pirates.”
Meanwhile, the insider told TheWrap that Depp is paid a percentage of the movie’s gross profits after what Hollywood refers to as “cash break.” Cash break is the point after which the studio breaks even on its production cost and marketing expenses.
In a more cost-conscious Hollywood, that formula has replaced the traditional 20 percent share of the gross earnings on a film for major movie stars and A-list directors. But in Depp’s case, the new formula has still translated into hundreds of millions of dollars in earnings on a single film franchise.
Also read: One Billion Dollars! Disney's 'Pirates 4' Is 8th Film to Cross Big Box-Office Mark
Depp’s agent, Tracey Jacobs at United Talent Agency, declined to comment on her client’s earnings.
Depp made three separate deals for the movie franchise, including a deal for installments 2 and 3, and another for number 4.
The "Pirates" franchise has taken in about $3.7 billion in ticket receipts at the worldwide box office alone. That does not include hundreds of millions of dollars more for each film in DVD, cable TV, merchandizing and other back-end revenues.
On its most recent list of top-earning actors, Forbes magazine estimated that Depp made $75 million between June 2009 and June 2010.
The actor probably won't fare poorly on the next Forbes list, either.
In December, he appeared in the GK Films-produced thriller "The Tourist" alongside Angelina Jolie. The $100 million film bombed stateside, grossing just $67.6 million. But Depp's strong international appeal helped salvage the movie, which made $210.7 million abroad.
Depp also voice-starred in Paramount's "Rango," a CG film that put the studio into the animation business for the first time without the help of DreamWorks. That film started strong in the U.S. and Canada. Ironically, however, it sputtered a bit abroad, taking in $242.6 million worldwide on a production spend of about $135 million.
Even Johnny Depp can't win them all.

Source: Yahoo

Nicki Minaj says leaked song is not about slain cousin

2011-07-07T14:17:00.000-07:00

Nicki Minaj says leaked song is not about slain cousin

Nicki Minaj has dismissed rumors that she paid tribute to her slain cousin in a new song, saying the leaked track was recorded "over a year ago."

Minaj's cousin Nicholas Telemaque, 27, was shot dead in the early hours of Monday after leaving a club in his native Brooklyn.

Minaj took to Twitter to share her grief with fans following the news of his death, calling him "my precious cousin," "my baby."

An emotional track titled "We Miss You," about the death of a loved one, surfaced on the Internet on Thursday, prompting reports that she had laid bare her feelings about him in the tune, which features the lyrics "You said that you would leave these streets, and I know you didn't mean in a body bag/But now we see you were not bulletproof, and I'm mad 'cause you were the best that I ever had."

The singer says it's an old track that didn't make the final cut for her 2010 debut album, "Pink Friday."

Returning to Twitter on Thursday, she wrote, "Tho the lyrics of We Miss You eerily depict the circumstances surrounding my cousin's death, I wrote & recorded that song on 5/24/2010.

"It was sent to Mariah Carey & Keyshia Cole over a year ago for a possible feature. It didn't make Pink Friday due to clearance issues. Its an unauthorized leak."

Minaj goes on to thank fans for their continued support as she mourns her cousin's death, adding, "Thank u ALL for your kind words and well wishes. Love."

New York police have launched an investigation into Telemaque's death but have yet to make any arrests.

Source: MSN

taylor swift cancels concerts

2011-07-07T14:16:00.000-07:00

taylor swift cancels concerts

For the first time in her dizzying rise in country-pop, Taylor Swift has been sidelined by sickness, announcing that she had to cancel four concerts on her current tour because of bronchitis. It was the first time Ms. Swift, who at 21 has become one of the best-selling singer-songwriters in the United States, had postponed or canceled a show because of illness, her spokeswoman, Paula Erickson, said.

She began to get sick on June 25 after performing in a hard rain during a sold-out show at Gillette Stadium near Boston, and apologized to fans for her hoarseness in Knoxville six days later. Her voice shredded, the singer was forced the next day to pull out of a show in Louisville, Ky. Now she has announced that her doctors had informed her that she could not perform at three shows in Charlotte, N.C., and Atlanta this weekend. “I would never cancel if I were physically able to perform these shows,” she said in a statement.

Since February Ms. Swift has been on a grueling tour of 98 shows in 17 countries to promote her album “Speak Now,” which shot to the top of the charts when it was released in October. She had done 36 shows since the tour started, traveling throughout Southeast Asia and Europe before coming back to the United States in late May.

Ms. Erickson said Ms. Swift was convalescing at her home in Nashville and hoped to return to the tour on July 14, when she is slated to appear at the Bell Center in Montreal.

Source: NY Times

michael beasley pot possession

2011-07-07T14:15:00.000-07:00

michael beasley pot possession

Michael Beasley Pot Possession – NBA star Michael Beasley of the Minnesota Timberwolves was busted for speeding and marijuana possession after being pulled over in Minnetonka. Beasley was pulled over late last month, and cops allege he had over half an ounce of weed in his ride. According to police, he was caught doing 84 in 65 mph zone in the early-morning hours on June 26th.

When pulled over police said they smelled marijuana in the vehicle. A police report said the marijuana was found under the front seat. Beasley said the marijuana belonged to a friend whom he had just dropped off, according to the report. Police released Beasley citing, he was not under the influence and issued him a citation.

“The speeding is a petty misdemeanor which carries a fine only,” Minnetonka Police Capt. Scott Boerboom told the Daily News. “The [marijuana], because it’s 16.2 grams, carries a maximum of up to 90 days in jail or a $700 fine.” Due to NBA regulations during the lockout, the team was not permitted to comment on Beasley’s latest misstep, the Star-Tribune reported.

This is not the first time Beasley has had problems with both speeding and marijuana. Beasley was fined $50,000 by the league for being in a room where marijuana was present during the 2008 rookie symposium. In July 2010, after Beasley’s trade to Minnesota from Miami, Timberwolves basketball boss David Kahn said in a radio interview that one of his new player’s problems in Florida was that he “smoked too much marijuana.” The NBA responded by fining Kahn and the team $50,000 each. The league called the comments “inappropriate.” In February, Beasley was cited in Hennepin County for driving 70 mph in a 55-mph zone. He paid a $117 fine in that case.

Source: NewSoxy

portman baby name

2011-07-07T14:14:00.000-07:00

portman baby name

A hearty mazel tov goes out to Natalie Portman and her choreographer fiancé, Benjamin Millepied. People reports the new parents have dubbed their bouncing baby boy Aleph, which is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Aleph's name also has a more mystical interpretation,

according to the mag, one that has to do with the beginnings of the universe and can be translated as the "primordial one that contains all numbers."

Portman, who was born Natalie Hershlag in Jerusalem, now joins an ever-growing list of celebrities who have given their tykes unique monikers. Click through for some of our faves, from Apple to Zuma …

Source: MSN

10 actors you never knew were Canadian

2011-07-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

10 actors you never knew were Canadian

Time to break out the maple syrup and those ‘Due South’ boxsets… it’s Canada Day! Rather than drag up any more lazy stereotypes however, we’ll celebrate by paying tribute to the country’s most underrated exports – their commonwealth of acting talent. Who knew Canada was such a movie star hotspot? Not us, we thought these guys were all American too…

Ryan Reynolds
Famous for: ‘The Green Lantern’, ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’
Hometown: Vancouver
This is how Canadian our Ryan is: his dad was a mounty! Not only that, he was once married to one of the few stars everyone actually knows is from Canada – Alanis Morissette. Even though they’ve since split, Reynolds is still proud of his roots."I love Canada,” he said in an interview. “It makes a nice hat for America.”

Seth Rogen
Famous for: ‘Superbad’, ‘Knocked-up’
Hometown: Vancouver
Being Canadian is a big part of Seth Rogen’s on-screen persona apparently. Like many from the maple-loving land, he’s laidback, deadpan and not exactly sure of himself. “I think a very Canadian mentality is one of self-consciousness,” he once said. “Kind of apologising for yourself and not fully embracing what it is that you are."

Pamela Anderson
Famous for: ‘Baywatch’, ‘Barb Wire’
Hometown: Ladysmith
Pammy’s three claims to fame: wearing a red swimsuit while jogging in slo-mo, that grainy sex tape and stripping off for animal right’s charities. Who would have guessed such a hellraiser hailed from a small Canadian town best-known for its logging industry?

William Shatner
Famous for: ‘Star Trek’, being William Shatner
Hometown: Montreal
Bill loves Canada so much he delivered a stirring eulogy about his home country at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in 2010. To an audience of millions, he declared: “I’m proud to be a Canadian, a people who know how to make love in a canoe”.

Jim Carrey
Famous for: ‘The Mask’, ‘Liar Liar’, gurning
Hometown: Newmarket
One of Jim’s best stand-up gags was a response to LA types, who always told him growing up in Canada “must have been cold”. “Now I just go along with them” he said, “and say: ‘Yes, Canada was a frozen hostile wasteland. There was much work to be done if we were to survive the elements. After boring through the ice to find food, my good friend Nanook and I would build an igloo to protect ourselves from polar bears and flying hockey pucks.’”

Ellen Page
Famous for: ‘Juno’, ‘Inception’
Hometown: Halifax, Novia Scotia
According to IMDB, Page’s chums in New York nicknamed her ‘the tiny Canadian’. To be honest, she could do with finding some more imaginative mates, but the name does at least show that her all-Canadian qualities – the deadpan humour, the no-nonsense ‘tude – are easy to spot… if you’re an American. When she’s not making movies Ellen still lives in her chilly hometown.

Keanu Reeves
Famous for: ‘The Matrix’, ‘Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure’
Hometown: Toronto
Keanu moved all over the place when he was a nipper (he was actually born in Beirut), but the ‘Matrix’ star grew up in Toronto and took Canadian citizenship. Recently though he said this might been a mistake, telling Vogue: “I sometimes wonder [why I did it]. I've even regretted not having American citizenship, especially at election times. Ideally, I would take out dual nationality.”

Michael J. Fox
Famous for: ‘Back to the Future’, ‘Spin City’
Hometown: Edmonton
Now he’s semi-retired from acting because of his Parkinson’s disease, the ‘Back to the Future’ legend doesn’t need to live in LA anymore and resides in his native Vancouver instead. When he was made an Officer for the Order of Canada earlier this year (for his charity work), MJ told press being Canadian was “a lot of contradictions”. He said: “Its seriousness and a sense of humour, intensity but also an appreciation for the simple pleasures in life.”

Brendan Fraser
Famous for: ‘The Mummy’ films
Hometown: Toronto
The mad-eyed Mummy wrangler describes himself as only half-Canadian, though both his parents were born there. He grew up in Indiana but was shipped to a posh school in Toronto as a teenager. Fraser reckons his “lower half” is Canadian. “That’s why I’m such an amazing dancer!” he said, somewhat cryptically.

Michael Cera
Famous for: ‘Superbad’, ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’
Hometown: Brampton, Ontario
There’s a reason Cera was so convincing as the socially awkward Canadian slacker in ‘Scott Pilgrim vs the World’… he’s Canadian in real life! Director Edgar Wright said he hired him for his typically Canadian, laid-back sense of humour. Cera described it as “stupid Canadian docility”.

Source: Yahoo

Watson reveals Potter co-star crush

2011-06-29T13:50:00.000-07:00

Watson reveals Potter co-star crush

Emma Watson has admitted she used to have a crush on a Harry Potter co-star… but maybe not the one you’d expect.

Instead of franchise hero Daniel Radcliffe or on-screen love interest Rupert Grint, she confessed to secretly falling for Tom Felton, who plays the villainous Draco Malfoy.

Speaking to Seventeen magazine, the 21-year-old actress (Hermione Granger in the films) said: “For the first two movies, I had a huge crush on Tom Felton. He was my first crush.”

She added: “He totally knows. We talked about it. We still laugh about it. We are really good friends now, and that's cool."

Felton, 23, is currently in relationship with co-star Jade Olivia – who will play Malfoy’s wife in the upcoming film.

In the interview Watson also admits she finds it hard to play it cool around boys: "I'm a terrible game player. I'm so impatient, it's one of my worst traits!”

“I'll pretty much say to a guy, 'I like you, let's go hang out.' But my friends are like, 'You can't do that! You have to string this guy along. And I'm just like, 'No! I won't! I just want to go on the date!' I definitely haven't figured it out yet."

‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’, is released in the UK next month.

Source: Yahoo

Jessie J Devil Do It Like a Dude backwards

2011-06-28T08:04:00.000-07:00

Jessie J Devil Do It Like a Dude backwards

Jessie J has received death threats since becoming famous.

The 'Nobody's Perfect' hitmaker has revealed both she and her family have been targeted by hate-filled individuals since she achieved pop success, but she refuses to waste her time worrying about what might happen to her.

In an interview in Q magazine, she said: “I've had people say, 'I wanna kill you and your family.' Death threats. I've had people say, 'I hope you get HIV and throat cancer at the same time.’

“I think the world has become obsessed with hating things. But people who wanna spread bad energy, I ain't got time for them to be in my psyche.”

The 23-year-old star – who is openly bisexual and abstains from drinking alcohol because of health problems she has suffered, including having a minor stroke aged 18 - has also revealed there have been rumours she is a devil worshipper because she makes an OK sign with her hands in her video for single 'Price Tag'.

She said: “This is 666 apparently. And to me it's saying OK. People have played 'Do It Like a Dude' backwards and said they can hear the devil.” - Bang Showbiz

Source: IOL

X Factor final Wembley

2011-06-28T08:03:00.000-07:00

X Factor final Wembley

X FACTOR finalists will head to WEMBLEY after show guru Simon Cowell ordered a spectacular end to the series.

The 2011 final will be held at the 12,500-seat Wembley Arena, the first time it has switched from its usual TV studio setting with an audience of just 300.

The move will make it one of the biggest talent shows ever, dwarfing the final of American Idol which is held at a 7,000-seat theatre in Los Angeles.

And Cowell has pledged to be there, despite his commitments to the US version of X Factor.

An insider said: "There may have been some concerns about the change in the judging panel, but viewers will forget all of that when they see the new-look show and final.

"We are very excited about making it bigger and better - with a bigger venue, bigger-name guests and more audience members and celebrities than ever before."

The X Factor is usually filmed at the nearby Fountain Studios, but hundreds of ticket applications have to be turned down each week.

The Arena show will go out over the weekend of December 10 and 11.

Cowell is also filming his new ITV1 gameshow Red or Black there.

Katona Rod Stewart

2011-06-28T08:02:00.000-07:00

Katona Rod Stewart

KERRY Katona once asked Rod Stewart to marry her, she has revealed.

The ex-Atomic Kitten singer, 30, said: "I went to a charity football match when I was 19 and I asked him to marry me. He said his girlfriend wouldn't be too happy."

Kerry, speaking backstage to Absolute Radio before Rod's headlining performance at this weekend's Hard Rock Calling gig, said: "I used to argue all the time with the Atomic Kitten girls about what music we would have on in the background.

"I always wanted Rod Stewart and the girls would never let me listen to him.

"My dream is me and Rod on stage singing Tonight's The Night. I'd love that."

Norma Stitz Biography And Pictures Gallery 2011

2011-06-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

Norma Stitz Biography And Pictures Gallery 2011

Annie Hawkins-Turner Biography And Pictures Gallery 2011

Annie Hawkins-Turner (born 22 December 1958), better known by the pseudonym Norma Stitz, is a website entrepreneur and nude model. Her stage name is a word-play on the phrase "enormous tits". Her bra size is said to be 102ZZZ, and each of her breasts weigh around 56 pounds according to the UK magazine show "This Morning" where she appeared on 23rd June 2011. Source: Wikipedia

Tennis star arrives in Gaga-esque outfit

2011-06-22T11:53:00.000-07:00

Tennis star arrives in Gaga-esque outfit

Bethanie Mattek-Sands told Busted Racquet last week that she had a fashion surprise in store at Wimbledon. Did she ever. The 31st-ranked American walked onto Court 14 on Wednesday for her first-round match wearing a white bolero jacket festooned with spikes and cutouts of white tennis balls. The piece was designed by Alex Noble, who works with Lady Gaga and designed Mattek-Sands' memorable yellow dress for the Wimbledon player's party.

There's so much going on with that jacket that it's like a fashion Rorschach test; it's inspiration in the eye of the beholder. There's some Annie Oakley in it (the tassles), a few dabs of Oakland Raiders (the spikes and the eye black) and a touch of Virginia Wade (the white tennis balls which, for some reason, I associate with the 1975 Wimbledon champion). This is what a member of Gwar would wear to a Roger Federer match.

Source: Yahoo Sports

Mel Gibson dating fetish model

2011-06-22T07:33:00.000-07:00

Mel Gibson dating fetish model

Mel Gibson has reportedly moved on from his relationship with Oksana Grigorieva by dating a Greek fetish model.

The embattled Braveheart star recently completed a community service stint he was handed after striking a plea deal with Los Angeles prosecutors over allegations he attacked his then-girlfriend Grigorieva during a heated argument last year.

Gibson now appears to be putting the past behind him and moving on from his split from the Russian singer by spending time with Goth model Stella Mouzi.

Most often seen in leather bondage gear, Stella Mouzi created a stir on the red carpet at the 2011 LA Fetish Film Festival Awards in April.

The pair has been photographed together enjoying a series of outings, including a trip to LA's Sky Bar, while Mouzi has visited Gibson's Malibu, California home for a barbecue, according to TMZ.com.

Selena Gomez Britney Spears song

2011-06-22T07:32:00.000-07:00

Selena Gomez Britney Spears song

Selena Gomez has said that it's an "honour" to have a song co-written by Britney Spears on her record.

Spears helped pen the track 'Whiplash', which appears on Selena Gomez & The Scene's third studio album When The Sun Goes Down.

During an appearance on GMA this morning, Gomez said: "I didn't know [she had written it]. I heard the song and fell in love with it, I thought it was fun and catchy. I went into the studio and it said 'co-written by Britney Spears' and I almost had a heart attack!"

She added: "It's an honour and I'm very excited for people to hear it."

Gomez also confirmed that she is still planning a Britney Spears tribute during her summer tour, saying: "Even if you're a guy you know Britney songs so I'm excited."

Spears kicked off her 'Femme Fatale Tour' in Sacramento on Thursday night, receiving rave reviews from a string of critics. She recently announced that the music video for new single 'I Wanna Go' will premiere on June 22.

Gomez, 18, was on GMA to take part in the 'Summer Concert Series', which has already paid host to Lady GaGa and Jennifer Hudson. Other artists scheduled to perform at the event in Central Park include Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé.

Watch Selena Gomez & The Scene perform 'Who Says' at the GMA Summer Concert Series:

Source: Digital Spy

Becker mistakes Noel Fielding for woman

2011-06-22T07:28:00.000-07:00

Becker mistakes Noel Fielding for woman

As Blur famously sang in the mid-90s... "girls who are boys, who like boys to be girls, who do boys like they're girls, who do girls like they're boys". Basically meaning that androgyny is cool, and there's nothing wrong with accentuating your feminine features.

Marc Bolan knew it, David Bowie knew it, and hipster Noel Fieldingcertainly knows it. But it seems that nobody gave three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Beckerthe memo when he was commentating for today's game between Rafael Nadal and Michael Russell at the All England Club.

"The man in the middle... that's not a girl, right? That's a man?" Becker asked, when Noel popped up on screen.

Noel's reply? "He said I looked like a girl! Unbelievable! No, I love Boris, I've got a lot of respect for him. I mean, I wouldn't get in a cupboard with him, but I do like him a lot," the Mighty Boosh man quipped to the BBC.

"I'd like to challenge Boris to a swingball match. Boris - my garden, me and you, man-to-man... well, man-to-girl."

Watch Noel Fielding being interviewed at Wimbledon below:

Source: Digital Spy

Buzz Aldrin sued

2011-06-22T07:24:00.000-07:00

Buzz Aldrin sued

Legendary astronaut-turned-reality TV star Buzz Aldrin is facing a lawsuit from his estranged wife just days after he filed for divorce.

Aldrin, who was the second man to walk on the Moon, has split from his third wife Lois Driggs Cannon after 23 years and cited "irreconcilable differences" in legal papers earlier this month (Jun11).

Now Lois, along with the pair's daughter Lisa Cannon, has filed suit against Aldrin claiming he breached a contract by allegedly urging their joint business contacts to stop relations with StarBuzz, which he co-owns with both Lois and Lisa.

The Cannons insist the public relations company helped Aldrin regain his notoriety, reports TMZ.com.

Source: PR-Inside

Mendes granted restraining order

2011-06-22T07:20:00.000-07:00

Mendes granted restraining order

London, June 22 (IANS) Actress Eva Mendes has been granted a three-year restraining order against a man who has allegedly bothered her since 2008.
Mendes was given a temporary restraining order against John C. Luna, after telling a judge she has been living in “constant fear” of Luna, who claims to be engaged to the actress. He had showed up at her Los Angeles home in May this year, reported contactmusic.com.
Luna, 39, has been ordered by a judge at the Los Angeles Superior Court to stay at least 100 yards (91 metres) away from the 37-year-old Mendes for the next three years.

More at : The Indian

Pippa Middleton Alex Loudon boyfriend

2011-06-22T07:15:00.000-07:00

Pippa Middleton Alex Loudon boyfriend

Pippa Middleton and boyfriend Alex Loudon are still together, according to reports, despite claims the couple had gone their separate ways.

Last week, the Sunday Times reported that the pair had parted company, with a friend revealing: "It is common knowledge in their close circle of friends that Pippa and Alex have recently split up."

However, the Mail On Sunday has been "reliably informed" that the 27-year-old and her former England cricketer squeeze are still very much an item.

"All the rumours are completely untrue," a family member told the newspaper, adding that the couple are expected to attend a family function together in two weeks' time.

Pippa has recently been seen enjoying dinner with her former university flatmate George Percy, fuelling speculation the two might be an item.

However, a university contemporary told the Mail on Sunday: "Pippa and George are friends, but that is all. Pippa doesn't fancy George, she's very into Alex."

"Alex is the nicest chap you could meet. He's incredibly sweet, loyal and adores Pippa, but they make a point of seeing each other very privately and don't go to flash places."

Source: Inthenews

New Hypersonic Passenger Aircraft Revealed

2011-06-21T17:30:00.000-07:00

New Hypersonic Passenger Aircraft Revealed

It turns out supersonic aircraft are just like buses: You wait years for one, and then two come along at once.

Almost eight years after Concorde touched down for the last time, plane manufacturers and designers at the Paris Air Show have unveiled rival "son of supersonic" concepts.

The first, aircraft manufacturer EADS's Zero Emission Hyper Sonic Transport (ZEHST), will be powered by biofuel made from seaweed, carrying passengers above the Earth's atmosphere and dramatically cutting flight times.

EADS says the plane's three engine types -- conventional jets, rockets and supersonic "ramjets" -- will allow it to speed at Mach 4, around 5,000 kmh.

That would cut the journey time from Paris to Tokyo from its current 11 hours to less than 2.5 hours.

There is a catch: The plane is not due to take-off until 2050.

The second, SonicStar, is billed by its creators Hyper Mach as "the future in flight." It will fly at twice the speed of Concorde, linking New York and Dubai in two hours, 20 minutes -- about the time it would take to watch just one in-flight movie -- and allow passengers to fly around the globe in under five hours.

Hyper Mach CEO Richard Lugg said the plane would make "the other side of the world feel like it's just down the road."

Lugg told reporters he had been inspired as a youngster watching the maiden voyage of Concorde, and had made it his "life's work" to come up with the next generation of hypersonic aircraft.

Lugg says the jet will reach speeds of up to Mach 3.6 -- twice the speed of Concorde -- and fly at 18,300 meters, high enough for passengers to see the curvature of the earth.

It also promises reduced emissions and low noise. New technology means it will not create the "sonic boom" its predecessor was known for.

"This is being done with an eye to the future, but it has its feet firmly rooted in solid scientific research," Lugg insists.

And importantly, he also believes it will be ready long before ZEHST: Hyper Mach is aiming to get SonicStar airborne by June 2021.

Like Concorde, though, flying on SonicStar will be out of the reach of most holidaymakers and business travelers: Lugg says it will seat just 20 passengers in "VVIP luxury accommodation."

But experts have sounded a note of caution: These are not the first technologically complex concept planes -- and they may not be the last to end their days stuck on the drawing board.

"Good luck to them, but I'm very skeptical," said Murdo Morrison, editor of Flight International magazine.

He added: "The costs of designing something like this from scratch are astronomical, and even if they can get it to the prototype stage, that's not even half the battle, it's maybe 10%. Aerospace is littered with companies that went bust once they went into production.

"The science exists, we know planes can fly at supersonic speeds: Fighter aircraft do it, Concorde did it -- the technology is there, but the problem is making it work commercially.

"If it was easy, if it was possible, one of the big manufacturers would have done it already."

LulzSec Hacker youth could face extradition

2011-06-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

LulzSec Hacker youth could face extradition

A British teenager suspected of masterminding a global computer hacking plot from his bedroom could face a fight against extradition to the US.

Ryan Cleary was arrested at his detached family home in Essex as part of a Scotland Yard and FBI probe into LulzSec, a group claiming responsibility for hacking attempts on the UK's Serious Organised Crime Agency, the US Senate and the CIA.

Neighbours who witnessed the dawn police swoop spoke of their shock as the "very bright" 19-year-old university student was questioned.

Detectives believe Cleary was a "major player" with LulzSec, which has also claimed security breaches at games firms Nintendo and Sony.

As American authorities were kept closely informed over the "pre-planned intelligence-led operation", lawyers said US prosecutors may demand he faces justice across the Atlantic.

Mark Spragg, an extradition lawyer at London-based firm Keystone Law, said: "If the charges on which he was arrested would result in a sentence in excess of 12 months, then potentially it would constitute an extradition offence."

LulzSec is said to have established itself as a formidable splinter group to Anonymous, the hacking group embroiled in the WikiLeaks fallout.

The group was believed to have initially targeted only US broadcasters, including PBS and Fox, and gaming firms.

But the Twitter page @LulzSec recently declared its intention to break into government websites and leak confidential documents.

Soca, the UK national law enforcement unit dubbed the British FBI, was forced to temporarily take its website off-line on Monday after LulzSec bombarded it with traffic to stop other users accessing it.

Fun tour awaits William and Kate

2011-06-21T11:54:00.000-07:00

Fun tour awaits William and Kate

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's official tour of Canada will be a "fun", hands-on affair,

William and Kate will sample local food, dress up for events and not just be impartial observers but take part in activities and spend time with young people during their first overseas tour as husband and wife.

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the couple's private secretary, said: "The royal couple are delighted that Canada will be their first tour together and the Canadians have put together an extremely welcoming and well-balanced programme of meaningful engagements, mixed with fun and lots of opportunities to get to know Canada and Canadians better."

William and Kate begin their tour of Canada next Thursday and after arriving on a Royal Canadian Air Force plane, will go on to visit the country's cenotaph and tomb of the unknown warrior in the capital Ottawa to pay their respects.

On Friday, July 1, the Duke and Duchess will attend the Canada Day celebrations.

Other highlights of the tour will see the couple play starring roles on opposing vessels during a dragon boat race across a lake while on Prince Edward Island. Local delicacies will be on their menu while in this region of Canada, from chocolate-covered potato crisps to lobster.

William will show off his skills as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot when he joins his Canadian counterparts for a demonstration of how to land a Sea King on water.

In Quebec City they will join a cooking workshop with students from the prestigious Institut de Tourisme et d'hotellerie du Quebec. And walkabouts will feature throughout their nine-day tour, enabling the couple and Canadians to meet each other.

William and Kate will visit the remote city of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories and in the final stage of the tour, they will attend the start of the world-famous Calgary Stampede - an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival.

At the end of their visit the couple will leave Canada for California for a three-day trip from July 8 to 10, where the highlight will be a glittering Bafta black-tie reception in Los Angeles.

Real reason behind Fox firing revealed

2011-06-20T18:30:00.000-07:00

Real reason behind Fox firing revealed

Did Megan Fox jump or was she pushed? With 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon' about to be unleashed, the latest reports suggest executive producer Steven Spielberg fired the actress from the franchise following comments about director Michael Bay.

At the time, Fox had said it was her choice to leave the blockbuster series, but now Bay has revealed a different story to The Daily Mail: “You know the Hitler thing. Steven [Spielberg] said, fire her right now.”

The 'Hitler thing' dates back to an interview the actress gave last year to Wonderland magazine, where Fox compared Bay to Hitler.

Spielberg, it seems, took the most offence at the comment. Following the removal of Fox, British model-turned-actress Rosie Huntingdon-Whitley was cast opposite LaBeouf in the new film.

Crew members were quick to defend the director, with an open letter on his website stating: “'Michael found this shy, inexperienced girl, plucked her out of total obscurity thus giving her the biggest shot of any young actresses' life.

“'He told everyone around to just trust him on his choice. He granted her the starring role in Transformers, a franchise that forever changed her life; she became one of the most googled and oogled women on earth.

“'She was famous! She was the next Angelina Jolie, hooray! Wait a minute, two of us worked with Angelina – second thought – she's no Angelina. You see, Angelina is a professional. We know this quite intimately because we've had the tedious experience of working with the dumb-as-a-rock Megan Fox on both Transformers movies.”

Bay himself remained relatively quiet on the subject matter himself, but other on set again spoke out to defend him. Shia LaBeouf told GQ magazine: “She started s*** talking our captain. Which you can't do.”

‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’ is released on 29 June.

Source: Yahoo

Celebrities Who Went Broke

2011-06-19T17:59:00.001-07:00

Celebrities Who Went Broke

Celebrities Who Went Broke. While at the peak of fame withabundance money, these celebrities are always glamorous life. But because they can not manage money well, they also went bankrupt. Here is a list of celebrities who went bankrupt as reported by Everyjoe:

1. Willie Aames
Willie Aames was the American actor famous through his role as Tommy Bradford in the sitcom “Eight Is Enough ‘(1970). After that he began playing in various TV series and movies. Willie Aames has been married twice and has one child from each wife. Willie Aames was born July 15, 1960 is ruining his career and his life because of alcohol dependence and illicit drugs. In 2008 he announced bankrupt with debts of U.S. $ 350 thousand. Shortly thereafter, he attempted suicide. Willie Aames bankruptcy story documented in the VH1 show ‘Broke & Famous: Willie Aames documented’ (2009).

2. Kim Basinger
The actress who has a full name Kimila Ann Basinger had become rich during her career at the height of glory. Star Movies ‘The Natural’ was starting to have problems when she is required to pay a fine of U.S. $ 8.1 million when she refused to play in the movie ‘Boxing Helena’ (1993). At the same time, Kim Basinger felt rich enough to buy the entire town Braseltown, Georgia, United States, valued at U.S. $ 20 million. Although up to now ex-wife of Alec Baldwin playing movies that still exist, butKim Basinger was declared bankrupt and must sell Braseltown.

3. Anita Bryant
Anita Bryant is an American singer who could fill the ranks of the Top 40 in the period 1950 to 1960 with the song ‘Paper Roses’. Anita Bryant was also known for her political career that anti-gay campaign. Finally, Bryant’s rejection of the political effort in the 1970s was a rising to end her career. Anita Bryant began to rise again by establishing a music school named Anita Bryant’s Music Mansion. However, in 1997 and 2007 she announced bankruptcy. Anita Bryant now she lives in Oklahoma and work in social organizations.

4. Gary Coleman
Gary Coleman is famous through his role as Arnold Jackson on the sitcom ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ (1978-1986). In 1989, Gary Coleman sued his parents and his manager because of misuse of trust funds amounting to U.S. $ 3.8 million. Gary Coleman also won the lawsuit and get U.S. $ 1.28 million. Again, due to issues of money management by manajemennyanya, the actor who was born on February 8, 1968 it announced bankruptcy in 1999. Gary Coleman died on May 28, 2010 due to illness.

5. Corey Haim
Corey Haim became a teen idol after playing the character Sam in the movie ‘The Lost Boys’. But instead of pursuing a career with a well, Corey Haim even destroyed because of drug dependence. Canadian actor was used to taking 85 Valium a day. In 1996 Corey Haim was sued by Lloyd’s of London after being fired from a film production because of his addiction. A year later, Corey Haim declared bankrupt. The only asset that dimiliknya at that time only BMW cars that if sold at U.S. $ 100, any property held not more than $ 7,500. In 2001, Corey Haim was a coma after suffering a stroke and died in March 2010.

6. MC Hammer
Rapper MC Hammer experiencing financial difficulties in 1990 due to an excessive lifestyle. Although the center suffered a difficulty, MC Hammer even bought a mansion for $ 30 million. In 1996, the singer of hits “U Can not Touch This’ was declared bankruptcy with debts of U.S. $ 13.7 million, even though MC Hammer only had assets of U.S. $ 9.6 million.

7. Don Johnson
Actor Don Johnson made a success thanks to TV series ‘Miami Vice’ was popular in the era of the 1980s. But his life changed after his frequent debts. City National Bank filed a lawsuit and asked for his ranch in Aspen, called Woody Creek. Livestock will be auctioned to pay debts amounting to U.S. $ 930 thousand. Don Johnson born December 15, 1949 was also once accused of money laundering. In 2008, again Don Johnson incurred debts. But surprisingly Don Johnson came to pay their debts amounting to U.S. $ 14 million. It is not known where he got the money because Don Johnson has been declared bankrupt.

8. O.J. Simpson
O.J. Simpson is a football player the United States is famous for its nickname ‘The Juice’. But the lavish lifestyle and a number of crimes had ruined his career. On February 5, 1997, O.J. Simpson allegedly responsible for the death of his friend by the name of Ronald Goldman and ordered to pay U.S. $ 33.5 million.

9. Mike Tyson
After a life filled with fame, the famous boxer’s surname Concrete Neck is now living in modest rented house located in Arizona, USA. In 2003, Mike Tyson declared bankruptcy after a debt of U.S. $ 27 million. Mike Tyson spent $ 400 thousand a month to finance a lavish lifestyle. In addition, the divorce with his second wife, Monica Turner to cost U.S. $ 9 million. Mike Tyson who was born on June 30, 1969 it also had to pay taxes to the government amounting to U.S. $ 13.3 million.

10. Michael Vick
Atlanta Falcon Football players are only played for six seasons before the match was jailed for his involvement in illegal dog pit. After that, Michael Vick decreased drastically. Michael Vick was paid only U.S. $ 1 for some work that must be done while in prison. Dwindling savings because Vick has to spend U.S. $ 30 thousand per month to finance his family. Michael Vick also insisted on not selling a luxury home.

Source:olifafa

Vancouver Rioter Outed As Junior National Water Polo Player

2011-06-19T17:59:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Rioter Outed As Junior National Water Polo Player

Vancouver Rioter Outed As Junior National Water Polo Player. You’re going to see plenty of stories like this in the next few days, one would imagine, as police comb through photos and video of those involved in the Vancouver hockey riot. One of the first rioters to turn himself in to police will be Nathan Kotylak, 17, shown here apparently lighting a police car on fire, and with his water polo teammates in the inset.Kotylak, the “son of a highly-respected surgeon” according to CBC News, was outed by several people who recognized the star athlete from this notorious video which has become one of the most seen images of the riot. The private school senior plays on Canada’s junior national water polo team and lives in Maple Ridge, a wealthy suburb of Vancouver. He has a partial scholarship to play water polo at the University of Calgary next year. His father says he wants to major in kinesiology and one day play in the Olympics, according to CBC.

The teen’s father, a surgeon in B.C., told CBC News on Friday that the Grade 12 student will be “doing the right thing” by turning himself in.

He added that he wishes that his older son had been there that night to look out for his 17-year-old.

Canada, and indeed a lot of the word, is not amused. There’s already a Facebook site entitled “Nathan Kotylak go to Jail, Do not Pass Go,” which has more than 1,500 followers as of this writing. Sample posts:

If he did this on a plane he would be a terrorist. Is there any difference here????

This kid is out of control…maybe Dad and Mom should do some serious thinking about the reality this kid will be facing in the real work.

Water Polo Canada suspended Kotylak earlier today, although not naming him officially in its statement.

Water Polo Canada today issued a provisional suspension against a member of its Junior Men’s National Team who is facing allegations of vandalism stemming from Wednesday night’s riot in Vancouver.

By law, the athlete cannot be named because he is under 18 years of age.

“We’re taking immediate action due to the very serious nature of these allegations,” said Ahmed El-Awadi, Executive Director of Water Polo Canada. “I can also confirm that the athlete has contacted us, through his legal counsel, to indicate that he will cooperate fully with the disciplinary process.”

Source: nbcsports

Best Fathers Day Movies

2011-06-19T17:58:00.000-07:00

Best Fathers Day Movies

Best fathers day moviesFathers have it hard in Hollywood. So many films not only include but hinge upon daddy-issues (like every movie Spielberg has made). Even the coolest dads in film usually start out as dicks. They don't truly redeem themselves until the third act. Just look at Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (my personal favorite of the trilogy). Sean Connery is enjoyable to watch as Henry Sr., Indy's absentee father. Yes, they bonded during their crusade for the Holy Grail, but before that their relationship was defined by thirty years of horrible parenting. Fathers in movies are either absent, neglectful or trying to force you to kill a man with an ax
In honors of Father's Day, I have assembled the top five fathers in film. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few in there, but for now this list will do.

5. Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) in Taken

Liam Neeson takes this spot through sheer badassery. Not only does he save his daughter from being trapped in a sex ring, but he also sets her up to meet her favorite pop star. Neeson's character may not be the greatest of fathers, but it's hard not to see a one-man war against France as a dedication of his love. Plus did I mention Neeson is awesome is everything he's in?

4. Daddy Warbucks (Albert Finney and Victor Garber) in Annie

Though he is not Annie's real father, Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks proves that even red-heads need love. And that is a valuable lesson to take home with you. The gruff millionaire plucks the orphan out of the drudgery of New York's worst orphanage and finally gives her what she's dreamed of all her life: family. Family and lots of money during the depression. While everyone else was in line for bread she was kicking it with FDR (figuratively kicking it of course, damn polio).

Why does nobody have eyes?
3. Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman) in Kramer vs. Kramer

In the beginning of the movie, Ted Kramer wasn't the best husband or dad in the world. Kramer belonged to the archetype of "workaholic dad" that so many movies abuse for drama. After his wife leaves him, Kramer is forced to finally learn to be a dad. Kramer vs. Kramer could of easily been a pedestrian film about parenthood. But thanks to Dustin Hoffman's vulnerability in the role, the whole film is elevated. And, although I previously decried absentee fathers in my intro, Kramer learned how to be a real dad for his son before it was too late. And though I will forever be angry at this film for beating out Apocalypse Now and Being There at the Oscars, it's still a really good film.

2. Furious Styles (Laurence Fishburne) in Boyz n the Hood

Boyz n the Hood will always be one of my favorite films. It's a perfect coming of age film about three teenagers who name South Central home. And, out of any coming of age flick, Boyz n the Hood is the one that stresses the importance of being a father more than any other. In the end, Tre is the only one to escape the neighborhood violence. This is in no small part thanks to his father raising him. Furious Styles not only raises Tre but shows him how to be a man. Laurence Fishburne plays the role exceptionally well, truly proving that any fool can be a father but it takes a man to be a dad. Furious is the Atticus Finch of the hood. Speaking of which...

1. Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) in To Kill a Mockingbird

Gregory Peck may be seen as the poor man's Cary Grant, but Peck has one thing that Grant can never have: an Oscar. Not just an Oscar, but an Oscar for one of the greatest characters in, not just film or literature, but history. Atticus Finch is the man that all men should model their lives after. He's gentle, kind, fair and honorable. A widower, Finch is left to raise his two kids on his own. But even with the loss of his wife and the case of his life, Atticus still finds the time to be a wonderful father to Scout and Jem. He never condescends to his children nor does he miss an opportunity to impress upon them how to be a human being. The hero to lawyers everywhere, AFI's greatest hero in American film and my choice for best father in film. While I may have had some trouble thinking of the other four, this choice was just too easy.

Source: firstsignsoftrouble

New elongated Boeing 747-8 debuts in Paris

2011-06-19T17:57:00.000-07:00

New elongated Boeing 747-8 debuts in Paris

New elongated Boeing 747-8 debuts in Paris. Boeing Co's 747-8 Intercontinental, the new elongated passenger version of its legendary jumbo jet, made its international debut on Sunday, showing its distinctive silhouette abroad for the first time.
The high-profile landing of Boeing's new 747 at the Paris Air Show -- three months after its first flight -- marks a show of engineering strength by the world's second-largest plane maker in a competition for control of the wide-body market.

"We've seen a great deal of interest in the last six to eight months as the market has gotten better," Randy Tinseth, Boeing's vice president of marketing at Boeing's commercial division, told Reuters.

In Boeing's standard layout, the new 747-8 will have 467 seats, 51 more than its predecessor, but fewer than the 525 of its main competitor, the A380 made by EADS unit Airbus. The actual seat number, however, will be determined by the airlines.

Boeing has taken 33 orders for the 747-8 Intercontinental, which will be joined in Paris on Monday by the better-selling freighter version of the plane, which has received 76 orders.

The new 747-8 -- in red and orange livery to symbolize the importance of the fast-growing Asian aircraft market -- flew to Paris without passengers but was stuffed with computers, test equipment and barrels of water to simulate passenger weight and to test balance.

The Paris Air Show is the venue of choice for aerospace and defense companies to strut their stuff, to the delight of aviation enthusiasts around the world.

The new 747-8 is more than 18 feet longer than its predecessor, with the added length mainly noticeable by the extended hump. The upper deck in the hump traditionally houses the business class section.

Plane spotters looking for other differences with the 747 will notice the jagged, clam-shell look of the 747-8's engine casing, which reduces noise. The 747-8 also lacks the upwards-curving winglets at the wingtip, but has raked wings that sweep slightly upwards. Boeing says the raked wings reduce wind resistance and enhance fuel efficiency.

The plane also features bigger windows and some design elements of the new 787 Dreamliner, such as interior lighting that changes colors to help passengers adjust more easily to time changes as the plane crosses time zones.

The first 747 made its maiden flight 42 years ago. Since then, the jumbo jet, with its distinctive hump, has become the world's most recognizable plane.

The 747 was the world's largest airplane until 2005, when Airbus unveiled its A380. The 747-8 Intercontinental, however, is more than 10 percent lighter per seat than the Airbus A380 and consumes 11 percent less fuel, Boeing says.

The Intercontinental lists at $317.5 million. Germany's Lufthansa has ordered 20 of the planes, and is set to be the first airline to bring the new jumbo into service early next year. Boeing says a VIP customer will take first delivery of an Intercontinental in the fourth quarter of this year.

Production of the 747-8 has been delayed, as has the mid-sized 787 Dreamliner, a carbon-composite plane, which represents a bigger leap in technology than the revamped 747-8.

Although the 747-8 and A380 will compete directly for years to come, analysts say airlines are mostly interested in lighter, wide-bodied planes in the 200- to 350-seat range, like the 787 and the future Airbus A350, which are designed to bypass crowded hubs and take passengers closer to their final destination.

Source: reuters

Green Lantern Opening Box Office

2011-06-19T17:55:00.001-07:00

Green Lantern Opening Box Office

Green Lantern Opening Box Office. Green Lantern (3D) is off to a solid start. Film opened with almost the same numbers as Thor (3D) and X-Men: First Class (2D), and now new reports are saying that comic book adaptation is set to get another $20M for Friday.
From The Hollywood Reporter:

"Warner Bros.' 3D superhero pic Green Lantern -- starring Ryan Reynolds -- is on track to cross $20 million at the Friday box office, giving it a shot at a $57 million to $60 million debut over Father's Day weekend, according to early estimates. Friday's tally includes $3.4 million in midnight grosses."

I'm going to say it will finish with $55-56M by the end of the weekend. Not bad for a film panned by almost everyone. Also, expect a big drop next week since it's not getting good buzz and it will go against new PIXAR film, Cars 2. How much do you think Green Lantern will earn this weekend? Stay tuned for more updates.

Source: comicbookmovie