American Woman Lyrics

American Woman lyrics by Lenny Kravitz
American woman, stay away from me
American woman, mamma let me be

Don’t come hangin’ round my door
I don’t wanna see your face no more
I got more important things to do
Than spend my time growin’ old with you

Now woman, stay away
American woman, listen when I say

American woman, get away from me
American woman, mamma let me be

Don’t come knockin’ on my door
I don’t wanna see your shadow no more
Colored lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else’s eyes

Now woman, get away
American woman, listen when I say

American woman, I said get away
American woman, listen when I say

Don’t come hangin’ round my door
Don’t wanna see your face no more
I don’t need your warm machines
I don’t need your ghetto scenes
Colored lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else’s eyes

Now woman, get away
American woman, listen when I say

American woman, stay away from me
American woman, mamma let me be

I gotta go,
I gotta get away
Babe, I gotta go
I wanna fly away

I’m gonna leave you woman
I’m gonna leave you woman
I’m gonna leave you woman
I’m gonna leave you woman

Bye, bye
Bye, bye
Bye, bye
Bye, bye

American woman
You’re no good for me
And I’m no good for you
American woman
I’m looking at you right in the eye
Tell you what I’m gonna do
I’m gonna leave you woman
You know I gotta go
I’m gonna leave you woman
I gotta go
American woman
I gotta go
I gotta go
American woman, yeah

Source: http://www.ringtonesz.org/various-artists-lyrics-american-woman

Sensa Weight Loss

The Jonas Brothers give "20/20" viewers an all-access pass with an intimate look inside their tour bus and their daily life on the road as they promote their new CD, "A Little Bit Longer." Nick, 15, Joe, 18 and Kevin, 20, get personal with ABC News correspondent Juju Chang, discussing their music, rumored romances and the illness that nearly sidelined the band. The in-depth report on one of the hottest bands of the summer airs on "20/20" on FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, from 10:00-11:00 p.m., ET, on the ABC Television Network.

Then, a Barbara Walters exclusive: In her first American interview, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy speaks candidly to Walters about how she reconciles life as First Lady of France with a successful career as a recording artist, the provocative lyrics in her new album, "Comme si de rien n'était" ("As If Nothing Happened"), which is No. 1 in France, and her surprising whirlwind romance and marriage to the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy. During the interview, which took place in Paris, Bruni-Sarkozy also discusses her controversial past, including rumored high-profile affairs with such rock stars as Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton.

And: Imagine being able to eat cake, pizza or steak and still lose weight. It may sound too good to be true but, according to the a diet aid "Sensa," by sprinkling food with flavored flakes, people's extra pounds will disappear because a person will feel full faster and stop eating. The marketers of "Sensa" say it's a scientific breakthrough, but "20/20" interviews experts who say this breakthrough has yet to be proven. Jim Avila reports.

Plus: Most Americans spend about eight hours a day sitting behind a desk. Obesity expert Dr. Jim Levine says sitting on our bottoms at work is making us fatter and less healthy than ever before. "20/20" gets exclusive access inside Dr. Levine's ultimate office makeover and reports on a six month Mayo Clinic study to see if getting people up on their feet and moving could help workers lose weight. Deborah Roberts reports.

Source: http://realitytvwebsite.com/RealityTVNews/An-Intimate-All-Access-Look-At-The-Jonas-Brothers-Plus-A-Barbara-Walters-Exclusive-Carla-Bruni-Sarkozy-The-First-Lady-Of-France-On-20-20-Friday-August-1.html

Big Brother 10 Banner | Spoiler

Angie finds herself not unexpectedly on the block in this episode of Big Brother 10, and Jessie feels that he has a lot to do this week. Memphis feels that Keesha just put a target on her back with her nominations, making two enemies where there were none before. Keesha feels that it is Jessie's fault that Steven is gone and sticks by her nominations.

Keesha speaks with Libra, Ollie, April, and Renny in the Big Brother 10 Head of Household room and says that Michelle was really worried that she would go up.

In a patio conversation, Jerry says that Memphis is a bartender, has a bit of a full head, and he is living a free life, and is a womanizer. Jerry thinks he has a chance to go far in the game with no one trying to take it away from him.

Jessie goes to Keesha, and when she asks him if he is mad at her, he says that he isn't holding any grudges, but he says that when he was Head of Household, if it had been up to him, he would not have put up Steven. April and Ollie try to interrupt their conversation with a knock on the Head of Household door, and Keesha advises Jessie to tell them to come back later. Jessie makes the point that Libra will promise her the world, but her actions are telling. She won't give Keesha space and she just used her. Jessie says that he proved to her in actions, and she proved to him in actions, and now look what Libra has done. Keesha says that she gave her her word and Jessie says that Libra is targeting her, and that her word means nothing. Immediately following Jessie's exit, Libra comes into the room. April joins them and Keesha says that he was good for the most part. Jessie goes downstairs and informs Michelle that he has convinced Keesha to put Libra up. As he leaves her, he gives her the thumbs up.

Keesha calles the group for the Big Brother 10 Veto Competition and Jessie says that it won't matter who is up. There is no one that he feels can give him any competition. Keesha draws Libra and Angie draws Ollie. Jessie calls Memphis. The host for the competition is Dan. They have to get dressed for it and look like flowers.

Keesha wants to win so she can make the decision she wants. Angie wants to win to stay in the game. Jessie has utmost faith in himself and says that he has won it three times before.

Dan announces the game. The Big Brother houseguests are to play "Garden of Veto." They have to lay in a garden bed and have water pouring on their head for one hour. The object of the game is to estimate when one hour is up and then rise from the garden bed which will release buttons under their head to mark the time. The Big Brother 10 houseguest closest to one hour without going over will win the Big Brother veto. At a point in the game the houseguests had a choice of pouring either worms or compost on them and Jerry says, "Worms," and they pour worms on them. After a few minutes there Keesha can't take the worms and gives up. Jessie asks Libra who wanted Steven up and she says that she was the one who felt targeted and Jessie reminds her that is why he is there now. The compost is then poured over the houseguets adn time ticks on. Libra decides to get up and Ollie agrees to stay for another five minutes. Jessie leaves next so that Libra won't beat him. On the bench Libra tells Jessie that she was upfront with Keesha and Jessie says to Keesha that he was trying to point out why he is there. Angie feels that she has a chance when Jessie leaves and Memphis and Ollie are out followed by Ange. The winner will be the person who left the game closest to the hour. Keesha had left the garden bed at the 21 minute point. The rest of them all went over the hour by at least fifteen minutes. Keesha is excited to have won the Power of Veto and Jessie says that he is going to continue to campaign.

While Jessie is showering, Jessie suggests that Angie go up and talk to Keesha. Libra is listening while sitting in the bathroom. Angie says that she feels that she has a connection to her through Steven, and if she is going to use the Big Brother 10 Power of Veto to use it on Jessie, and since she is unable to take another week with Libra, she would rather the house decide between the two of them.

Keesha approaches April and April says that she cannot trust Libra and with such a target on her back she could hurt their alliance. Keesha talks to Ollie as well and Ollie says that she is ruining the alliance and you can count on her whispering something to somebody. They decide that it has to happen sometime. Keesha is worried that she might have to cut Libra loose, but she gave Libra her word on Day 4 of the game. She says that it sucks that her mouth has gotten way way out of control.

Jessie approaches Keesha once again. He wants her to use the Big Brother 10 Power of Veto on him and replace him with Libra who has nothing to degrade and belittle her behind her back. Jessie says that if she thinks she is safe, she is not. She says that she gave her word and her word will be nothing if she doesn't follow through with it. Jessie says that she can make a wrong right, and he is being prosecuted for something he didn't do, for a crime he didn't commit, and she has the power and control it right now. She tells him that she is listening, but she made a promise.

America gets to play Big Brother by choosing America's Player. America votes for the one houseguest that they would like to see become America's Player for one week. That person will be offered the job and if they complete the tasks they will win $20,000. If that houseguest turns down the job, they will forfeit the money and we will have no America's Player.

Jessie pouts in the Big Brother 10 Diary Room that Keesha is sticking to her word. He uses a baby voice in his complaints. Keesha says that Jessie is coming up again and he confronts Keesha, Renny, and April about following her word. He raises his voice and she, Renny, and April leave the room. Keesha goes around the house and tells them as she finds them that she has given her word to Libra and will stand by it. She says she may be a complete idiot for that, but she is going to stand by it. Jessie starts talking again and she says that she isn't going to argue with him and walks away.

Big Brother 10 BannerOutside, Memphis, Angie, Jessie, and Michelle saw a banner.
Angie explains that they immediately have to go into the Big Brother 10 house for a lockdown when a banner plane appears, as they are not allowed outside influences. The houseguests who saw it can't make out what it said, but decide to carry the information upstairs as "Keesha, Libra is a liar, love Steven." As they leave after delivering the message to a doubtful group, Memphis says that it was not what it said, but he jumped up to read it and it said, Libra, and somebody, liar and love Steven. He says that it is the truth, Libra is a liar. Memphis says that he would love to ask a question about his name coming up on the second week. Memphis says that he doesn't go around the Big Brother house saying that he wants everyone out. As a matter of fact, he has only told them that he wanted one person out and that was Jerry. Jerry says that he knows that. Memphis explodes and says that Jerry called him a womanizer and he is a married man who grabbed some **** and he calls him a womanizer? He says that if he ever attacks him personally in the game again he won't take it easily. He calls him old man and is very angry when he leaves.

Keesha says that her mind is made up and nobody is changing it. Angie says that she wishes that she would take Jessie off and put Libra up because she has a better chance of staying than Libra. Jessie says that if Keesha was in a right mind she would take him off and put Libra up and right a wrong.

Keesha calls for the Big Brother 10 Power of Veto ceremony.
Angie and Jessie have been nominated and she has the power to take one of them off the block. Angie gets to speak. She says that it is a tough week, a struggle with her decision making, but her actions are true to her character outside of the house and this is the only way she can play the game. Jessie says that he came in to prove and to justify his word, and if he threw everyone under the bus, they threw him under the bus by nominating him. Keesha thanks them, but chooses not to use the Big Brother 10 Power of Veto on them. It was hard to put two people up and she doesn't think that she can put a third person up at this time. Libra is ecstatic that Keesha kept her word. Angie hopes that Jessie blows up and by doing so keeps her in the house. Jessie says that he was hosed and hosed again and if "they don't vote me out of this house, it is the biggest mistake ever."

Big Brother 10 is moving to its new time and the next episode is the live eviction, on Thursday, July 31, at 8 et/pt, 7 central.

All Help for Bangalore blasts

New Delhi, July 25 (IANS) Home Minister Shivraj Patil Friday condemned the serial blasts in Bangalore, the country’s IT capital, promising all help to the state government in tracking down the perpetrators. One person was killed and six people were injured when a series of bombs fitted with timer devices went off in the space of 45 minutes.

“I strongly condemn today’s blasts in Bangalore. I convey my sympathies to the affected families and pray for speedy recovery of those injured in the blasts,” he said in a statement.

“The ministry is in close touch with the Karnataka government. Such incidents will not deter the government from pursuing its policy of dealing with anti-national elements in a resolute manner.”

Home secretary Madhukar Gupta said there were seven low-intensity blasts spread over five locations in the city in which a woman had died.

“All the concerned agencies like the bomb disposal squad are on the job. We can’t say now who did it any why. We will need time to figure the details of this incident. Investigations are on and it will take time,” he said.

“Nuts and bolts were planted in the explosives used,” he said.

Gupta refused to say whether state authorities had specific intelligence inputs on the blasts but said that he held a recent review meeting in which Karnataka officials were present.

The first blast took place at Madivala checkpost followed by explosions in three other places, including a park opposite the well-known Mallya Hospital, police commissioner Shankar Bidri said.

The police commissioner said the blasts appeared to be the acts of people who wanted to terrorise the Karnataka capital.

“We will investigate and arrest the suspects,” Bidri told reporters. “We are on complete alert.”

He appealed to people not to panic and to go about with their routine work.

However, most shops and shopping malls immediately shut down as news of the blasts spread.

This is not the first time that the southern state of Karnataks has been hit by such a terror attack. In December 2005, the militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba carried out an attack inside the prestigious Indian Institute of Science campus killing a scientist and injuring five others.

Two years back, police foiled a terrorist plot to attack the state legislature building in Bangalore after two suspected terrorists were shot down in Mysore.

The two suspected militants were carrying a laptop computer, a satellite telephone, an AK-47 assault rifle and one Pakistani passport. According to the police they also had the plans of the recently built state assembly building in Bangalore.

Source: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/patil-condemns-bangalore-blasts-promises-all-help_10075868.html

Statue of Liberty maze unveiled in Yorkshire

Composed of more than a million living maize plants and covering about 18 acres, is one of the biggest mazes ever constructed.

With a length of 1,300ft it dwarfs the real Statue of Liberty, which is just 111ft high.

Farmer Tom Pearcy said he wanted the design - built in fields just a few miles from the centre of York - to celebrate the connections between New York and the British city from which it took its name.

Mr Pearcy has been creating mazes every summer for the last five years on land just off the A64, near York.

His previous efforts included a Viking longship, the Flying Scotsman and Big Ben, but this is the first at a new site near the Yorkshire Air Museum.

"As a 'new' York Maze it seemed appropriate to base this year's design on New York," Mr Pearcey said.

"I also wanted to mark the links between York and New York.

"The Statue of Liberty is an instantly recognisable image and makes a great maze."

Mr Pearcy began building mazes as a diversification project following the foot and mouth crisis in 2001.

The mazes are open for just a few months in the summer, closing when the maize are plants harvested in September.

"We have invested over £1 million in York Maze's move to its new location and put in lots of new attractions," he said.

Stephen Briganti, president and chief executive of The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, in New York City, said: "We are so pleased to see that the Statue of Liberty is being celebrated in such a unique way in York.

"Lady Liberty stands as a symbol for all the people in the world but it is especially gratifying to see her linking Old York with New York."

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2305955/Statue-of-Liberty-maze-unveiled-in-Yorkshire.html

Peloponnesian War

WORLD trade gets a bad press: to many people globalisation seems more of a menace than an opportunity. Whether it is the threat to the environment posed by the phenomenal growth of Chinese manufacturing exports, the outsourcing of jobs by footloose corporations or the re-emergence of inflation as oil heads for $150 a barrel and food prices soar, trade is cast as the villain. As this year’s American presidential election campaign heads for the final straight, the candidates, especially Barack Obama, will face ever more strident demands to protect workers from “unfair” foreign competition.

By contrast, too little is heard about the positive effects of world exports that reached $14 trillion in 2006. The boost to Western living standards from all those cheap Chinese goods is taken for granted, while the astonishing increase in the sum of human happiness that has been wrought by lifting hundreds of millions of Asians from the misery of subsistence farming into comfortable prosperity is conveniently forgotten.
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William Bernstein’s “A Splendid Exchange” is a timely and readable reminder that the desire to trade is not only one of the oldest human instincts but also the cause of many of the most important developments in our shared history. As Adam Smith observed: “The propensity to truck, barter and exchange one thing for another is common to all men, and to be found in no other race of animals.”

Mr Bernstein’s purpose is to show how that trait evolved and shaped the world. His story begins with Sumerian farmers who realised, some time in the third millennium BC, that the surpluses of grain generated within Mesopotamia’s fertile crescent could be used as barter for things they did not have. Among these was copper, obtained from Sinai several hundred miles to the west, that could be used to make weapons to repel the nomadic raiders who were otherwise helping themselves to the fruits of Sumerian labour.

Mr Bernstein eschews a rigidly chronological narrative in favour of a more thematic approach. His discussion of the disastrous Peloponnesian war between Athens and Sparta serves to make a wider point about the importance (and vulnerability) of sea-lanes. The Athenians were driven by the dictates of trade to create first a powerful navy and then an empire.

Though Greek agriculture was rich in highly exportable wine and olive oil, thin soil, low rainfall and a mountainous topography made it impossible for farmers to produce enough grain for a growing and increasingly city-based population. The Spartans and their allies looked west to Sicily but the Athenians increasingly relied on access to the breadbasket of Pontus (modern Ukraine). This, in turn, meant keeping open those narrowest of choke points: the Dardanelles (to the Greeks, the Hellespont) and the Bosphorus.

Other states in the region were just as dependent on the trade with Pontus and were therefore prepared to contribute to the costs of Athenian naval operations. Before long, this “coalition of the willing” evolved into the Athenian empire. However, with two rival power blocks competing for resources within a relatively confined space, conflict was inevitable and when it came, it was Athens, always more exposed than Sparta, that was eventually starved to defeat. Today, it is the Straits of Hormuz, through which much of the world’s oil is carried, that has acquired the same strategic importance as the Hellespont had for the Athenians.

With an ability to switch gracefully from the macro to the micro, Mr Bernstein whisks his reader on a tumultuous journey. Along the way, it takes in the Pax Islamica established in the Mediterranean by the heirs of the Prophet Muhammad (a trader by profession himself); the rise and decline of Venice and Genoa; the devastation caused by the Black Death; the Portuguese-led age of discovery; the establishment of the great Dutch and British East India trading companies; the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade; the campaign (that led, among other things, to the founding of this newspaper) to abolish the Corn Laws; the golden period of the late 19th century in which trade flourished under the benign wing of the British empire; and the 20th century’s descent into beggar-my-neighbour protectionism.

The strength of Mr Bernstein’s book is the analytical rigour that overlays the rollicking history and the way in which he seamlessly weaves in the theoretical with the practical. For anyone wanting a painless primer in the ideas of Adam Smith, David Ricardo or more recent economists, such as Paul Samuelson, this is the place to find it. At the same time, Mr Bernstein never neglects the vital role of technology as a driver of trade, above all perhaps the coming of steam and reliable refrigeration.

The author also deserves credit for his willingness to take seriously the plight of the victims of trade, the workers and farmers displaced by the iron rule of comparative advantage. He argues, persuasively, that it is far better to help workers affected by disruptive change than it is to shield industries with efficiency-destroying tariffs.

If Mr Bernstein has one overriding message it is that trade “has yielded not only a bounty of material good, but also of intellectual and cultural capital, an understanding of our neighbours, and a desire to sell things to others rather than to annihilate them.” It is a truth that a President Obama would do well to remember.

Source: http://www.economist.com/books/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11745556

Baseball's Longest All-Star Game

AL Beats NL 4-3 in Baseball's Longest All-Star Game
Michael Young of the Texas Rangers hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 15th inning to end the longest All-Star Game in Major League Baseball history, a 4-3 American League victory that extended its unbeaten streak over the National League to 12 years.

It was the second time in three years that Young drove in the winning run in the All-Star Game.

The game at Yankee Stadium ended at just after 1:30 a.m. New York time as Minnesota's Justin Morneau scored the winning run from third base, sliding home ahead of the throw from NL right fielder Corey Hart of the Milwaukee Brewers.

``Every single player was on the top step of the dugout, the energy, the enthusiasm, they knew where we were at,'' AL manager Terry Francona of the Boston Red Sox said. ``It was an honor to be a part of what they were doing.''

Both teams used all their pitchers in the 4-hour, 50-minute game, which easily surpassed the previous All-Star record of 3:41 set in the NL's 15-inning, 2-1 victory in 1967. That was the only other All-Star Game to go 15 innings.

``It was fun to be a part of, but it was a little difficult because it went a little longer than we were comfortable with,'' Francona said at a news conference.

Drew Wins MVP

Boston's J.D. Drew was voted the Most Valuable Player after going 2-for-4 with a game-tying two-run home run in the seventh inning. Drew was the 15th player to homer in his first All-Star at-bat, the first since the New York Mets' David Wright in 2006.

Scott Kazmir of the Tampa Bay Rays picked up the win after throwing a scoreless top of the 15th inning as the AL's 12th pitcher. Kazmir originally wasn't going to be used in the game because he threw 104 pitches the day before the All-Star break on July 13.

It marked the first win for the AL in 11 All-Star contests that have gone to extra innings.

Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge, the last of the NL's 11 pitchers, took the loss after allowing two singles and a walk in the bottom of the inning before Young's sacrifice fly scored Morneau.

``It was about as close as you can get. I think my foot just got in there,'' Morneau said. ``It felt like I was running in quick sand. You are hoping that the throw is off line.''

Young also gave the AL a 3-2 victory in 2006 with a two-run triple in the ninth inning in Pittsburgh.

All-Star Records

The 23 pitchers combined for 453 pitches and a record 34 strikeouts. The 63 players used in the game topped the previous mark of 60 set in the 7-7, 11-inning tie in 2002.

That game was called after both teams ran out of pitchers, leading to expanded All-Star rosters.

``I was thinking, `Is it ever going to end?''' said Russ Martin of the NL's Los Angeles Dodgers, who tagged out opposing catcher Dioner Navarro of the Rays at home plate to end the 11th inning. ``It was a never-ending game. It's not like they were easy innings. We had a few nice plays to save the game.''

Matt Holliday of the Colorado Rockies hit a homer for the NL, while Dan Uggla of the Florida Marlins set an All-Star record with three errors, all in extra innings.

With the victory, the AL improved to 11-0-1 in the All-Star Game since 1996.

The American League's victory also means the team that wins the AL pennant gets home-field advantage in the World Series and the right to host four games if the championship round is extended to seven games.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=aPQlSn3QjOwU&refer=home

Miss Universe 2008 Winner | Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela

Miss Universe 2008

Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela has been crowned Miss Universe 2008.

Mendoza and three other Latin Americans women made the final five at Sunday's contest.

The four other finalists were Miss Colombia Tailana Vargas, Miss Dominican Republic Marianne Cruz Gonzalez, Miss Mexico Elisa Najera, and Miss Russia Vera Krasova.

Miss USA Crystle Stewart of Texas was in the top 10 but tripped on the train of her bejeweled evening gown as she made her entrance.

For the second year in a row, Miss USA has fallen down during the evening gown competition at the Miss Universe competition.

It was a nightmare come true for Miss USA Crystle Stewart, a Texan, who tripped on the train of her bejeweled evening gown as she made her entrance.

During the 2007 Miss Universe contest in Mexico City, Miss USA Rachel Smith also tumbled during the evening gown competition and became an unintended star on You Tube, where the video was shown over and over again.

Like Smith, Stewart quickly stood up after her fall and continued on as if nothing had happened.

Stewart, 26, is a motivational speaker who is working on a book called "Waiting to Win."

Her mishap occurred just after the judges had narrowed the field of 80 to the final 10: Miss USA, Miss Kosovo, Miss Australia, Miss Spain, Miss Mexico, Miss Colombia, Miss USA, Miss Dominican Republic, Miss Russia, Miss Italy and Miss Venezuela.

The NBC show is being hosted by talk show star Jerry Springer and Spice Girl Melanie Brown and broadcast live to hundreds of millions of viewers in 170 countries.

Eighty contestants gathered in the seaside city of Nha Trang, Vietnam, vying to succeed reigning Miss Universe Riyo Mori of Japan.

Sporting yellow, green and orange bikinis, the 15 semi-finalists strutted across the stage during the swimsuit competition to the sounds of Lady Gaga, who belted out the pulsating "Just Dance" in a platinum blond wig. Miss Vietnam, Lam Thuy Nguyen, was greeted with a roar from the Vietnamese audience.

The final 10 then competed in the evening gown event.

They are performing in front of a panel of judges that includes international fashion experts and Donald Trump Jr., whose father, the real estate magnate and TV star, co-owns the pageant with NBC.

This year's contestants span a wide range of experiences and aspirations.

Miss Albania was a professional basketball player. Miss Argentina says she has paranormal experiences. Miss Antigua & Barbuda is fascinated by snakes.

Miss Venezuela has been kidnapped and Miss Angola was in a plane crash while trying to escape a conflict during her country's civil war.

The shortest contestant in this year's show is Miss El Salvador, a petite 5-foot-3. The tallest are Miss Jamaica, Miss Mexico and Miss Peru, who measure 6 feet.

All the contestants are hoping to avoid the calamity that befell Miss USA during last year's contest, when she fell down during the evening gown segment and became an unintended star on YouTube, where the video was played over and over again.

The show is a publicity bonanza for Vietnam, where beauty contests are very popular. The contest featured segments on many of the nation's most popular tourist destinations, such as Hue, Hoi An, Sapa and Ha Long Bay.

The program set has been dominated by iconic Vietnamese images, such as bamboo trees, conical hats and lotus flowers.

The tuxedoed Springer made a grand entrance on a motorbike — the vehicle of choice in Vietnam where the streets are teeming with millions of the speeding two-wheelers.

Source: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gx_4EOV12tt247EusNElDQncGOWwD91TC9GG0

Miss Universe 2008 Winner | Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela

Evelyn Keyes is Gone With the Wind

Evelyn Keyes, 91, a leading lady of dozens of Hollywood films who wryly dismissed much of her career, noting that she was most remembered for a bit part as Scarlett O'Hara's younger sister Suellen in "Gone With the Wind," died July 4 at a care facility in Montecito, Calif. She had uterine cancer.

Ms. Keyes wrote two memoirs that brushed by her appearances in more than 40 movies. Instead, she spoke at length about her marriages to director John Huston and bandleader Artie Shaw, as well as sexual conquests that included Kirk Douglas, David Niven and Anthony Quinn.

"I was always interested in the man of the moment," she once said, "and there were so many such moments."

She was discovered by producer Cecil B. DeMille, then had a long career at Columbia studios in the 1940s and early 1950s. She never reached the front rank of performers but proved a versatile and appealing female lead.

Her light touch graced comedies ("Here Comes Mr. Jordan") and musicals ("The Jolson Story," "A Thousands and One Nights"), and she could convincingly adapt to the required accent, whether Georgia peach ("Gone With the Wind") or English cockney ("Ladies in Retirement").

She also proved more than adaptable to hard-boiled dramas ("99 River Street," "Johnny O'Clock") and several westerns, despite her allergic reaction to horses. Among her favorite, if lesser-known films, was "The Prowler" (1951), about a woman seduced and harassed by a rogue cop (Van Heflin).

Still, she told film scholar Eddie Muller: "I never got the part, the starring role that sends you shooting way up there, into the top ranks. I thought that would come. I obviously wasn't going to marry and have a family and give it all up.

"I was married, sure, but those weren't marriages -- they were legalized love affairs. So we wouldn't have the big stink -- Oh my God, they're living together! So what do you do? You get married."

Evelyn Louise Keyes was born Nov. 20, 1916, in Port Arthur, Tex., where her father was an oil-platform laborer. She was a toddler when he died because of an infected carbuncle on his chin.

Her mother moved her and four older siblings to Atlanta, where she described a neglectful upbringing. She found pleasure only in movies. Determined to crash Hollywood, she began dancing as "Goldie Keyes" and found her way to Los Angeles in 1936.

She was spotted by DeMille, who placed her under exclusive contract and cast her in minor parts in his major productions, including "The Buccaneer" (1938), with Fredric March, and "Union Pacific" (1939), with Joel McCrea.

She said a breakthrough eluded her because of her ill-timed affair with Anthony Quinn, who soon became DeMille's son-in-law.


Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/11/AR2008071102971.html

IndyMac Bank Inclosure Information

Federal banking regulators have closed and seized IndyMac after determining the California-based mortgage lender is unsound. It's the largest U.S. savings bank to have ever failed, a casualty of the subprime loans it made to high-risk consumers.

IndyMac had assets of $32 billion at the end of March. It's shares closed today at 25 cents.

Failed Bank Information Information for IndyMac Bank, F.S.B., Pasadena, CA

I. Introduction
On July 11, 2008, IndyMac Bank, F.S.B., Pasadena, CA was closed by the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was named Conservator. All non-brokered insured deposit accounts and substantially all of the assets of IndyMac Bank, F.S.B. have been transferred to IndyMac Federal Bank, F.S.B. (IndyMac Federal Bank), Pasadena, CA ("assuming institution") a newly chartered full-service FDIC-insured institution. No advance notice is given to the public when a financial institution is closed.

The FDIC has assembled useful information regarding your relationship with this institution. Besides a checking account, you may have Certificates of Deposit, a car loan, a business checking account, a commercial loan, a Social Security direct deposit, and other relationships with the institution. The FDIC has compiled the following information which should answer many of your questions.

II. Press Release
The FDIC has issued a press release (PR-56-2008) about the institution's closure. If you represent a media outlet and would like information about the closure, in California, please contact David Barr with the Office of Public Affairs at 703-622-4790, in Washington D.C. please contact Andrew Gray at 202-898-7192 or 202-494-1049.

III. Acquiring Financial Institution
All non-brokered insured deposit accounts have been transferred to IndyMac Federal Bank, F.S.B. (IndyMac Federal Bank), Pasadena, CA ("assuming institution") a newly chartered full-service FDIC-insured institution. The OTS appointed the FDIC conservator of IndyMac Federal Bank. All insured deposit accounts will be available as usual during regular business hours starting July 14, 2008.

Principal and interest on insured accounts, through July 11, 2008, are fully insured by the FDIC, up to the insurance limit of $100,000. You will receive full payment for your insured account. Certain entitlements and different types of accounts can be insured for more than the $100,000 limit. IRA funds are insured separately from other types of accounts, up to a $250,000 limit.

All accounts that exceed the $100,000 insurance limit, and/or all accounts that appear to be related and exceed this limit, are reviewed by the FDIC to determine their ownership and insurance coverage. If you think you might have uninsured deposits you should call the FDIC Call Center to arrange for a telephone interview with a Claims Agent at 866-806-5919.
FDIC Call Center
Hours of Operation
Friday, July 11, 2008 3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Pacific
Saturday, July 12, 2008 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Pacific
Sunday, July 13, 2008 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Pacific
Thereafter
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Pacific
If it is determined that you have uninsured funds, the FDIC will generate and mail to you a Receiver Certificate. This certificate entitles you to share proportionately in any funds recovered through the disposal of the assets of IndyMac Bank, F.S.B. This means that you will eventually recover some of your uninsured funds. The FDIC declared a 50% advance dividend for uninsured deposits.

To find out more about FDIC Deposit Insurance:

* Visit EDIE the FDIC's Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator
* View the FDIC Deposit Insurance Coverage Video

Checks that were drawn on IndyMac Bank, F.S.B. will be honored up to your available balance or the insured amount. You may withdraw funds from any transferred account without an early withdrawal penalty until you enter into a new deposit agreement with IndyMac Federal Bank. A hold may be in place on deposits accounts due to delinquent loans where the depositor is the borrower or guarantor. Additionally, any account pledged as collateral for a loan will be held.

V. Banking Services
The Automated Teller Machines (ATM) will remain available.

As of July 14, 2008 you may continue to use the services to which you previously had access, such as, online service, safe deposit boxes, night deposit boxes, wire services, etc.

Your checks will be processed as usual. All outstanding checks will be paid against your available insured balance(s) as if no change had occurred. IndyMac Federal Bank will contact you soon regarding any changes in the terms of your account. If you have a problem with a merchant refusing to accept your check, please contact IndyMac Federal Bank, Customer Service Department, at 800-998-2900. An account representative will clear up any confusion about the validity of your checks.

All interest accrued through Friday, will be paid at your same rate. IndyMac Federal Bank will be reviewing rates and will provide further information soon. You will be notified of any changes.

Your automatic direct deposit(s) and/or automatic withdrawal(s) will be transferred automatically to IndyMac Federal Bank. If you have any questions or special requests, you may contact a representative of your assuming institution at 800-998-2900.

VI. Loan Customers
If you had a loan with IndyMac Bank, F.S.B., you should continue to make your payments as usual. The terms of your loan will not change under the terms of the loan contract because they are contractually agreed to your promissory note with the failed institution. Checks should be made payable as usual and sent to the same address until further notice.

For all questions regarding new loans and the lending policies of IndyMac Federal Bank, please contact 800-998-2900 or visit the IndyMac Federal Bank website at www.IndyMac.com.
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VII. Priority of Claims
In accordance with Federal law, allowed claims will be paid, after administrative expenses, in the following order of priority:

1. Depositors
2. General Unsecured Creditors
3. Subordinated Debt
4. Stockholders


VIII. Dividend Information
The FDIC declared a 50% advance dividend for uninsured deposits.

Dividend Information on Failed Financial Institutions

IX. Brokered Deposits
The FDIC offers a reference guide to deposit brokers acting as agents for their investor clientele. This site outlines the FDIC's policies and procedures that must be followed by deposit brokers when filing for pass-through insurance coverage on custodial accounts deposited in a failed FDIC Insured Institution.

Deposit Broker Processing Guide

Source: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/IndyMac.html

Hot and Sexy Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson Photo Album

Jennifer Hudson looks pretty hot on her album cover

Jennifer Hudson looks pretty hot on her album cover - good pout, slim and sexy waist, nice cups and modelish look. So what’s the deal about it? Well she looks very different from what she was and this has apparently happened overnight.

The magazines and websites have been screaming from the top of their voice if there is some “photoshop trick” involved or if she has actually undergone the change to become attractive and be noticed as she did not want to take any chance with her debut album. She reportedly looks different from her red carpet photos of 9th July when turned out to show her support at an aids benefit in London. You can check out the pictures here .

Jennifer Kate Hudson first gained notice as one of the finalists on the third season of the FOX television series American Idol. She went on to star as Effie White in the 2006 motion picture adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls for which she won numerous awards including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and a SAG Award.

During an interview in May 2008, Hudson confirmed that her debut album, which will be self titled, would be released on September 30, 2008 under the Arista Records label. She also announced that her debut single “Spotlight” would be released in order to promote her debut album. The song leaked and can be listened on YouTube. The first single, “Spotlight,” will impact U.S. radio outlets on June 9 and be available for sale via digital outlets the following day. “Spotlight” was written by Ne-Yo, who co-produced along with Stargate. Additional contributors on the album include Timbaland, Robin Thicke, the Underdogs, Diane Warren and Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, among others.
Check out the jennifer hudson spotlight lyrics here.

Source: http://www.entertainmentandshowbiz.com/is-jennifer-hudson-weight-loss-only-on-her-debut-album-cover-20080712218

Jennifer Hudson Photo album

Free Kibble Feeds Dogs | Freekibble.com

NBC Nightly News tonight showed a story about a girl at freekibble.com who's motivation helped her to start a website that donates free kibble to dog shelters.

When you visit Freekibble.com there is question on the home page. "Click on the answer that you think is correct. Right or wrong, you win! All you have to do is click on an answer, and every day you do, we'll provide 20 pieces of kibble to Animal Shelters to help feed their hungry dogs."

On May 14, Mimi delivered her first round of free kibble to the Humane Society of Central Oregon: 240 lbs, and enough to feed 456 dogs for one day! A great start! In May, freekibble.com generated 500 lbs, and enough to feed 1,000 dogs for one day! After feeding all the dogs and cats at HSCO we will be working with Zootoo.com to choose the shelters, and donate and distribute the kibble to the many thousands of hungry dogs and cats we plan on feeding around the country.

FreeKibble.com asks everyone to spread the word to help to feed more dogs.

"Spread the word! The more people that play Bow Wow Trivia, the more free kibble we can donate. So, the more people you share freekibble.com with, the more food for the dogs. Email friends, family, office mates... spread the kibble word and play every day!"

On each page of www.freekibble.com there is an ad from ZooToo.com which "has very generously committed to partner with Mimi by donating all the free kibble generated from freekibble.com. Any additional sponsors that may appear on the site will help pay for web maintenance costs."

This is a very good idea to help to care for pets and by getting a national coverage the project will donate many free kibbles to hungry dogs.

LITTLEST PET SHOP

A new game from EA's Casual Label, LITTLEST PET SHOP pets come to life this October in the LITTLEST PET SHOP video game. Launching on the Wii, Nintendo DS(TM: 90.52, -2.08, -2.24%) (3 versions), and PC, girls can explore three unique worlds as they discover their own magical Pet Shop. LITTLEST PET SHOP gives girls the opportunity to play with and collect 20 LITTLEST PETS on the Nintendo DS and 30 on the Wii and PC. Earn Kibble Coins to buy over 100 accessories for pets as well as tons of digital playsets in game from the 2008 toy-line. Players can play in either explore in free-play mode or in compete in more than 15 different fun and accessible mini-games.


Source:http://www.huliq.com/64042/free-kibble-feeds-dogs-freekibblecom

Darren Mack on Dateline News

Darren Mack and Charla Mack

The Darren Mack crime saga that gripped Reno will be the subject of a special report on Friday night's "Dateline."

The show will look back at the Darren Mack case in which he stabbed his wife Charla to death before shooting his divorce judge, Chuck Weller. He then fled to Mexico where he later surrendered to authorities.

During his trial, Mack agreed to a plea deal. However, he then tried unsuccessfully to withdraw the plea and get a new trial.

Mack's appeal is pending before the Nevada Supreme Court.

Kathy Augustine, Chaz Higgs

Years ago, July 11, a funeral was held in Las Vegas for Nevada State Controller Kathy Augustine. She had died at age 50 of what originally seemed to be a heart attack. She was mourned by hundreds of family members, friends, and state officials. But her own husband did not attend. Chaz Higgs had attempted suicide. And by then, questions were swirling across the state from the casinos of Las Vegas to the quiet streets of the state capital in Carson City...



The husband of the late State Controller Kathy Augustine appeared in a Virginia courtroom this morning and waived extradition to Nevada.


Mr. and Mrs. Philip Augustine
Philip and Patricia (Yuskoski) Augustine celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 5, 2008. They were married in Holy Cross Church in Mount Carmel by Msgr. Dobins on July 5, 1958.
Philip is a son of the late Albert and Marcella Augustine, Shamokin. Patricia is a daughter of the late Vincent and Catherine Yuskoski of Mount Carmel.

They are the parents of three children, Jeffrey, David and Kathy. They have six grandchildren, Celeste, Katie, Karla, Heather, Justin and Kyle. They have one great-granddaughter, Nadia.

Their loving children sent them on a trip to Hawaii for their golden anniversary.

Greatest American Dog Show

Greatest American Dog,

CBS Touts 'Greatest American Dog'

NEW YORK CBS literally "puts on the dog" to promote Greatest American Dog, a reality series that bows tomorrow night.

The campaign is a mix of traditional and non-traditional marketing, with some elements created in collaboration with the network's media agency, Initiative. The campaign spans out-of-home, online, in-store, print, radio, cable and cinema advertising.

George Schweitzer, president of CBS marketing, pointed to several of what he deemed to be "unique promotions," such as an alignment with Dogster.com, "the Facebook for dogs," in which the network takes over the homepage of the site and introduces a "fan club."

In pet-food sections of certain supermarkets, motion-sensor video screens have been set up to run a 30-second spot. The monitor snaps to life with the sound of a barking dog when shoppers gets close, inviting them to press a button to view the program.

CBS has also employed walkers in New York who are sporting vests and T-shirts with the show's logo. The dogs are also outfitted appropriately, displaying pertinent information about the show.

Also in the mix: branded hot dog stands throughout Manhattan. "We thought it was a good way to create more visibility, especially in a city like New York, where there is so much going on," said Schweitzer. "We're playing off of the words, 'So you think you have a hot dog?' Well, we have 'hot dogs' here, too."

"We're trying to do as many things as we can to 'unleash' the media onslaught," said Schweitzer.

Just in time for the dog days of summer, we get the CBS reality show "Greatest American Dog," which premieres Thursday.

A dozen of them compete for fun, doggie treats and, naturally, the obligatory $250,000 grand prize (or the equivalent in dog biscuits, presumably).

These unscripted shows have all grown almost indistinguishable from one another, including the trio of judges (Wendy Diamond, Allan Reznik, Victoria Stilwell) and the back-biting (in this case almost literally). To be sure, the Westminster Kennel Club is nowhere in sight for this dog show, which turns out to be (surprise!) far more about the people than the canines.

Created and executive produced by Emmy-winning documentary specialist R.J. Cutler ("American High"), this series turns out to be far less than the sum of its parts, with the human egos far surpassing the stupid pet tricks in terms of relevance and screen time. And that's wholly unfortunate.

A dozen dog-human teams square off to judge which dog can best follow instructions. It's not really entirely clear what the criterion is for success here other than a capacity to impart silent cues to one's animal. And the not-so-silent ones might be nearly as equally important. The judges include dog magazine/book authors and TV series hosts. But it's the owners who are on center stage, make no mistake. And they turn out to be a predictably self-absorbed, if generally colorful, lot.

They range from a Manhattan doctor (with a Parson Russell Terrier named Elvis) to a building maintenance man from Flint, Texas (with a Brittany Spaniel named Star), to an aspiring dog salon owner from Portland, Ore. (with a Giant Schnauzer named Kenji).

Source: http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/agency/e3i39993a2e41be15525e3a8a4844296fce?imw=Y
Greatest American Dog

New Temperature of the Sun

n the middle of a punishing heat wave 72 years ago today, somebody up at the Northern Police Station on Keswick Road in Baltimore, had the bright idea of seeing how hot it was in the direct sunlight.

Now, it was plenty hot in the shade. The temperature had reached 103 degrees the day before - July 9. Baltimoreans were collapsing in the streets, and at work. Twenty-eight had swooned by the 10th, as a heat wave swept much of the nation, killing 331. Most people had no access to air conditioning in those days. Hundreds moved to the city parks in search of a good night's sleep.

By the next day, the papers said, the national toll had climbed to 658 souls. By some accounts, the Great heat Wave of June and July 1936 was the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, with as many as 5,000 killed. It was worst in the Midwest. In Baltimore, they counted one dead - a 10-day-old infant found in his crib - and 44 "prostrated." Frederick reported a high of 109 degrees - still the state record.

Here's the NWS account. And, for what it's worth, Wikipedia's.

BG&E offered Evening Sun readers Westinghouse electric fans "as low as $2.98." Stewart's urged customers to "step out of the heat into cool comfort" with "Misses' Chiffon Frocks with Slips" for $5.99.

Anyway, according to The Evening Sun's account of the police experiment, officers moved the thermometer to a sunny windowsill and waited. "Up went the mercury to 100 degrees - 105! - 110! - 120! On that thermometer 120 degrees was the maximum marking, but the instrument seemed determined to go higher or bust. Well - It busted!"

Over at the Northeastern Precinct, they tested the temperature in the "cooler," and found that prisoners were enjoying a relatively chilly 83 degrees. Out on a lamp post in front of the station it was 110 degrees.

In the 200 block of W. 29th St., the Evening Sun reported (nothing was too small to make the paper in those days) a carrier pigeon dropped from the sky. He took a drink from a rivulet emerging from a hose, rested a bit, then moved to a windowsill to spend the night. Revived by morning, he resumed his mission.

At 3 p.m., the National Weather Service reported a high temperature of 107 degrees at the U.S. Customs House in downtown Baltimore. It was a new record for the city, breaking the 105-degree mark set on Aug. 6, 1918. The new record has never been broken .

Source: http://weblogs.marylandweather.com/2008/07/weather_history_made_72_years.html
Temperature of the Sun

Jesse Jackson on Obama

Jesse Jackson

What did Jesse Jackson say

The Reverend Jesse Jackson apologized today for what he said was a ``crude'' comment he made about Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama following a television appearance July 6, saying he supports Obama ``unequivocally.''

Jackson, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, was appearing on Fox News when a microphone picked up his remark suggesting that Obama was patronizing blacks.

Obama has been ``talking down to black people on this faith-based,'' Jackson said according to a tape of the comments played on Fox's ``The O'Reilly Factor'' tonight.

``I want to cut his nuts off,'' Jackson then said, according to a report on the Fox News Web site.

Jackson, who didn't know the microphone was on, was commenting on talks Obama has made in black churches about parental responsibility and other social issues.

``Anything I said in a hot-mic statement that's interpreted as a distraction, I offer apologies for that,'' Jackson said at a news conference today.

``I have supported Barack's campaign with passion from the very beginning. I thought the very idea made sense,'' Jackson said. ``We've been there all the way, because I think this campaign is a redemptive moment for America and a great opportunity to redefine America.''

Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said Obama ``will continue to speak out about our responsibilities to ourselves and each other, and he of course accepts Reverend Jackson's apology.''

Not Much Impact

Jackson's comments shouldn't have much of an impact on the presidential race, said David Bositis, a senior research analyst at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a Washington-based research center that focuses on issues of concern to the black community.

``There is a leader who African Americans have selected. He's Barack Obama,'' Bositis said. ``Any individual black leader who tries to undermine Barack Obama will do so at their own risk.''

The Illinois senator, who in August stands to be the first African American to be nominated for president by a major political party, spent Father's Day last month at one of Chicago's largest black churches telling fathers that they should set better examples for their children and shouldn't abandon them.

``Any fool can have a child. That doesn't make you a father,'' Obama said at the Apostolic Church of God, which has more than 20,000 members. ``Too many fathers are AWOL, missing from too many lives and too many homes.''

Jackson told CNN today he was suggesting that Obama should also be talking in the black community about issues such as health care, jobs and justice.

``That's a range of issues on the menu,'' he said. ``Then I said something I regret was crude.''

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=azxuvBN.EouE&refer=us

Jesse Jackson

Desmond Richardson as guest choreograph

Desmond Richardson

Desmond Richardson as guest choreograph

Will and Jessica
Contemporary - Tyce Diorio
Judges loved it. Nigel said that Jessica was keeping up with Will. He said it was brilliant choreography, and that Tyce came up with something totally original. It was sort of an Adam and Eve piece. Judges called it erotic. Mary said she was still blushing. Mia told a story about how she and Tyce had been hanging out and Tyce played her the piece of music that he used, and she fell asleep, so he was like 'maybe I shouldn't use that'. But actually seeing them dance to it she was blown away. Mia said that this was the first time she'd seen Jessica not be scared or intimidated and just attack it and she did great. She called Tyce genius and said Will dancing reminded her of Desmond Richardson. Nigel mentioned that Desmond Richardson is going to guest choreograph on the show this season.

DESMOND RICHARDSON (Queens, NY) Hailed by the New York Times as “one of the great modern dancers of his time”, Desmond Richardson is a multi-talented artist who has mastered a wide range of dance forms including classical, modern, and contemporary. Richardson’s immense talent was first recognized as a student at New York High School for the Performing Arts during which time he received a merit scholarship from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center (1983-1986) and the International Academie des Tanz in Koln, Germany (1984-1985). He is also a recipient of a Presidential Scholar Award for the Arts (1986).

In 1987, Richardson joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater where he was a principal dancer for seven years. After leaving the Ailey Company, he traveled to Germany where he performed with Ballet Frankfurt. Richardson has performed as a guest artist with several world-renowned companies including the Swedish Opera Ballet, the Washington Ballet, Teatro at La Scala, and the San Francisco Ballet. In 1997, he joined the American Ballet Theater where he performed the lead role in the company’s world premiere production of Othello. In its description of Richardson’s performance in that role, the New York Times described him as “one of the most majestic dancers ever to tread the MET Stage.”

In 1998, Richardson joined the premiere cast of the Broadway Musical Fosse for which he received a 1999 Tony Award Nomination. He has also appeared on Broadway in the musical, The Look of Love and in the critically acclaimed Movin’ Out. He had a principal role in Debbie Allen’s dance/theatrical presentation, Soul Possessed, which premiered at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 1999.

Richardson has worked in television, film, and video in the United States and abroad. These experiences have allowed him to perform with such musical artists as Michael Jackson, Prince, Aretha Franklin, and Madonna. He is featured in Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi's film, One Last Dance and the Oscar winning Chicago. He made his singing debut in Charles Randolph Wright’s 2005 film, On the One and will appear in Julie Taymor’s soon to be released Across the Universe.

His recent honors include the Alvin Ailey School's 2006 Apex award and the 2007 Dance Magazine Award. In 2008, Richardson will perform in Diana Vishneva, Beauty in Motion, at New York City Center. Richardson has recently released three new titles in Live at Broadway Dance Center instructional DVD series, continuing Complexions' long standing mission to make its technique more accessible to young dancers.

Sugar And Spice

Sugar And Spice And All Things Nice At The Food Show In Auckland

101 most shocking moments in entertainment
101. George Michael caught in sex act in public bathroom.
100. Martha Stewart busted in stock scandal.
99. Michael Jackson dangles baby from fourth-floor balcony.
98. Melissa Etheridge and Julie Cypher reveal that David Crosby fathered their child.
97. Carmen Electra marries Dennis Rodman.
96. Zsa Zsa Gabor slaps cop.
95. Jennifer Lopez wears revealing dress to '99 Grammys.
94. "The Crying Game": it's a dude!
93. Carnie Wilson loses a lot of weight through gastric bypass.
92. Milli Vanilli admit to not singing on album.
91. Gianni Versace murdered.
90. Ben Affleck goes to rehab.
89. Barbra Streisand crashes "Coffee Talk" sketch on Saturday Night Live.
88. Sean Young allegedly stalks James Woods.
87. Chris Farley dies.
86. Drew Barrymore goes to rehab at 13.
85. Jim Bakker coerces Jessica Hahn into sex.
84. Roseanne Barr butchers national anthem.
83. Liza Minnelli marries David Gest
82. Robert Blake accused of murdering wife.
81. Hugh Grant caught with hooker.


New exhibitors from Waiheke and Matakana join other sweet and savoury favourites at New Zealand’s most edible event, The Food Show, returning to Auckland from 31 July – 3 August.

More than 250 local and international exhibitors will be showcasing food, beverage and entertainment ideas all under one roof, at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane.

Aucklanders with a sweet tooth will not want to miss first time exhibitor Kohu Road Ice Cream, with their gold-medal winning dark chocolate ice cream. Also new to the Show is Tulip Pastry with their handmade, ready to bake biscuit logs and pre-cut pastry. Further sugar hits can be found at the Cadbury Green & Black’s, Donovan’s Chocolates, Confectionery House, J.H Whittakers & Sons and Lindt stands, sure to satisfy the sweetest of sweet teeth.
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Spicing up the 2008 Show are products such as Merlot Salt from Tellaro Distributors; Aceto Downunder’s Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena which is aged up to 25 years; and Toku Foods who have gourmet abalone sauces, pickles and chutneys. Another exhibitor not to be missed is Just Lemons, joining the Show from Kerikeri with a variety of products including lemon juice cubes with Manuka honey.

New exhibitors bringing all things nice to The Food Show include Nosh Gourmet Food Market, with a range of delights; New Zealand Seafoods will be sampling mussels, prawns, oysters and scallops; and Farro Fresh Food will be showcasing a range of fresh, artisan and gourmet products.

The 2008 Show has products from far and wide this year, with The Food Show hosting local delicacies from around the country. Products and representatives from the Matakana Farmers’ Markets will be joining the Show for the first time, along with Matakana Coast Wine Country and the Matakana Wine Trail. Hawke’s Bay is back on board with 32 companies showcasing the region’s best and new products. The delights of Waiheke will also be on show with wineries such as Goldwater Estate and Cable Bay Vineyards; Rangihoua Olive Estate and Wild on Waiheke.

For dedicated food and wine lovers, the Food Show’s Preview Day offers an exclusive sneak peek at the exhibits on site without the crowds. The Preview Day will be held on Thursday 31 July, with only 3,000 tickets available at $35 each.


101 most shocking moments in entertainment

Upcoming

The Camden County All-Stars

My Name is Earl

TV highlights
Daytime

“Live with Regis and Kelly” – Kyra Sedgwick; Bernadette Peters. 9 a.m. on WISE, Channel 33.

“The View” – Psychic James Van Praagh; Grant Wilson and Jason Hawes (“Ghost Hunters”). 11 a.m. on ABC.

“The Tyra Banks Show” – Janet Jackson. (Repeat) 3 p.m. on WFFT, Channel 55.

“Oprah Winfrey” – Cookbook author Jessica Seinfeld (“Deceptively Delicious”). (Repeat) 4 p.m. on WPTA, Channel 21.

“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” – John Stamos; Bobby Flay. (Repeat) 4 p.m. on WISE, Channel 33.

Prime time

“NCIS” – When a young sailor’s body is found in an abandoned building in a seedy part of town, an ominous message written in blood leads the team to switch gears to find the killer. (Repeat) 8 p.m. on CBS.

“Celebrity Family Feud” – “The Hickeys” and “The Camden County All-Stars” of “My Name is Earl” compete against each other to win money for charity; host Al Roker. 8 p.m. on NBC.

The Hatfield vs. McCoy-style battle between two factions of the My Name is Earl cast — the Hickeys vs. the Camden County All-Stars — could be pretty great, too. And there's just a certain amount of curiosity that comes with hearing Ice T's clan will be taking on Joan and Melissa Rivers . . . or that Vincent "Big Pussy" Pastore will be feuding with the cast of The Girls Next Door.



“Nova” – An investigation unearths two bog-bodies from central Ireland’s landscape, providing evidence of ritualistic killings during the prehistoric Iron Age. 8 p.m. on WFWA, Channel 39.

“Beauty and the Geek” – The teams battle to create comic-book heroes; a strong alliance forms. (Repeat) 8 p.m. on The CW, Comcast Channel 19.

“48 Hours Mystery” – Authorities suspect another doctor may be the killer when a Harvard-trained eye surgeon is stabbed outside his office. (Repeat) 9 p.m. on CBS.

“Bear Island” – Tracking brown bears in the dark forests of Chichagof Island in southeast Alaska. 9 p.m. on WFWA, Channel 39.

“Hell’s Kitchen” – (Season finale) The final two chefs have one last dinner service to prove that they have what it takes to work in chef Ramsay’s restaurant; the winner is chosen. 9 p.m. on Fox.

“Reaper” – Sam tries to stop an untalented musician from selling his soul to the devil to become a rock star. (Repeat) 9 p.m. on The CW, Comcast Channel 19.

“I Survived a Japanese Game Show” – Teammates ride tricycles to remain on a moving conveyor belt while others pedal to keep the conveyor belt moving. 9 p.m. on ABC.

“America’s Got Talent” – The celebrity judge panel determine which contestants will advance to the “Vegas Callbacks”; host Jerry Springer. 9 p.m. on NBC.

“Without a Trace” – The team searches for a grieving mother who believes her son was tortured and possibly killed while doing volunteer work in Guatemala. (Repeat) 10 p.m. on CBS.

“Primetime: The Outsiders” – An Alaska man befriends black bears and grizzlies. 10 p.m. on ABC.

“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” – A troubled teen is the first suspect when a money manager is found slain in his loft, but a hidden video camera leads detectives to a star football player. (Repeat) 10 p.m. on NBC.

“Wide Angle” – The role of the military in post-war Japanese society. 10 p.m. on WFWA, Channel 39.

Source: http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080708/ENT03/807080320

Zappos Shoes | Hire and Go

If your boss offered you $1,500 to quit right now, would you take it?

That's the choice given to every new employee at the headquarters of online retailer Zappos. After two weeks of training, managers present new hires with what's known as the Offer - quit now, and we'll pay you for time worked and a $1,500 (U.S.) bonus.

Pretty sweet, eh? But only about 2 to 3 per cent of new workers take the money and run, training manager Rachael Brown says. And for the most part, company executives figure good riddance: If you accept the Offer, you weren't really Zappos material.

"We definitely hire for personality," Ms. Brown says. "If you just want to do a 9-to-5 job and leave at the end of the day, this isn't the place for you."

The company's method of preserving its passionate start-up culture grabbed headlines and raised eyebrows after it was reported in the Harvard Business Review. But it also sparked serious discussions about a challenge facing most companies: How do you foster and preserve a positive workplace culture, especially as you grow?

"You cannot hire a PR company and immediately create a strong culture and a strong employee brand," says workplace researcher Graham Lowe, president of Graham Lowe Group and professor emeritus at the University of Alberta. "This stuff has to be genuine and it has to be organic."

He cites FedEx as an example. Like many companies, FedEx espouses a "people first" philosophy. Unlike many others, it didn't lay off staff after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks - it reduced hours and moved some people around, but no one got the axe.

"It's those tough times that are really the test" of a corporate culture, Dr. Lowe says. "It absolutely makes business sense. It reinforces to employees that they are important, they are critical to the success of the company. That organizational commitment translates into positive customer service."

At Zappos, before they get the Offer, prospective hires go through a core-valued interview, meant to gauge whether they'll fit the company culture. Questions may include, "When was the last time you did something out of the norm?" or "On a scale of 1 to 10, how weird do you think you are?" (Weirdness is good, according to Zappos.)

The pre-employment screening usually works, Ms. Brown says, but Zappos decided to start the Offer during a period of intense hiring three years ago. The company, based in the Las Vegas area, has grown from 700 employees in 2006 to about 1,600 today.

"We were starting to grow really fast, and we were noticing that not everyone that came in was the right fit," Ms. Brown says.

It's easy enough to preserve a fun, quirky culture when a few dozen people are working closely with the founder. It gets harder as a company gets bigger.

As senior vice-president of mergers and acquisitions for Toronto-based tech firm Softchoice, Nick Foster spends a lot of his time thinking about culture. The company, named one of the Top 50 workplaces by Canada's Great Place To Work Institute, recently expanded from 600 to 1,000 employees, in part because of three acquisitions in the past three months. As a sort of shorthand, Mr. Foster sometimes tells people, "We're a dog company" - employees bring their pooches to work, provided they are well-behaved.

"Our founder would say, 'It's really not about the dogs; it's a visual clue that we're not a normal company,' " Mr. Foster explains.

Softchoice recently bought a 60-person company in St. Louis, Mo., that Mr. Foster describes as founder-led: Everyone looked to the big boss for guidance, and no one could really do anything until he signed off on an idea.

"The culture at Softchoice is more pro-active," he says. For example, when employees at the newly acquired company asked what they should do about their vacation time, Mr. Foster told them, "I don't know, I trust you to figure it out. ...

"They looked at me as if I had three heads," he says.

Assimilating new people into the company culture is important, Mr. Foster says, because culture is really about how stuff gets done. Do you send an e-mail directly to the vice-president, or do you go through the chain of command? Do you check in with your boss every day, or work on your own?

When employees don't fit in, Mr. Foster says, "It makes people feel really crummy about going to work. They feel, 'Ah, I don't get it.' "

Softchoice has considered instituting something like the Zappos' Offer, but so far has no plans to do so, preferring instead to concentrate on training and development.

"It's sort of interesting," Mr. Foster says. "It's a wonderful way for them to ask people if they are committed."

DeAnna picked Jesse the 'rad' snowboarder on Bachelorette’ finale

DeAnna Pappas chose professional snowboarder Jesse Csincsak, 26, over account executive and single father Jason Mesnik, 31, on the finale of "The Bachelorette," season four.

She. Is. NUTS.
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* 'Bachelorette’ recap: Was Jeremy for real or 'American Psycho'?
* 'Bachelorette' Men Tell All: DeAnna is engaged (but STILL fighting with Graham)
* 'Bachelorette' recap: DeAnna, Graham and the lost loner's love letter
* 'Bachelorette’ recap: Hell hath no fury like a DeAnna ignored

Jesse is rad, for sure, and it's cool that she picked the quirky, different guy, but is he ready to be her husband, the father of her kids?

The signs were there, though: She was so disappointed when her dad and siblings didn't immediately take to Jesse. She crossed her legs toward Jesse when sitting between both bachelors during the SECOND family meeting. She was quoted in a teaser as saying she was letting someone go who would be perfect for her.

Oh well. At least she's happy.

Poor sweet puppy Jason and his adorable son, Ty. His ex-wife left him. DeAnna's family loved him. His family loved her. Is she pulling a Brad?

DeAnna to Jason: "I would be the luckiest person in the world to be with you. I just can't because my heart is somewhere else."

Jason in limo, looking shell-shocked. Just speechless, with that ring box in his hands. "I'm completely shocked. ... I feel like I'm a good enough guy who cares about people. ... I was so ready to be in love again. I was SO ready. It hurts to be so close to somebody. .. .She wanted something that I couldn't offer her. She wanted this alternative world. Or she thinks she wants it. You have safety and security you want to live on the edge. You live on the edge you want safety and security. ... I've had a huge hole in my life for years. ... If someone can look at me and see the safety but see the fun and safety side...She got me hurt again. I've had my body armor since my ex left me. I thought it was coming down. Now it's up. The only for sure thing I have is my little boy."

He's an angel! Let him be enough. For now.

Now waiting for Jesse to get out of limo...

DeAnna in voice-over: "I am extremely confident about the man that I have chosen. I know that it's the right one. My connection with Jesse is so strong. I feel like I cannot live without him. ... I see a life that is full of love, excitement. He's someone that gets me. He's someone that makes me want to be a better person. ... Today, I am ending up with my soul mate. I found the man of my dreams."


Jesse in voice-over: "She's the one person I can't live without. ... She's my soul mate."

Jesse to DeAnna: "When I first came into this I never would've believed that this process was real. ... When I look at you, the word that always pops into my mind is 'forever.' ... I truly believe you are my soul mate."

Reaches into pocket. Gets down on one knee.

Jesse: "DeAnna Marie Pappas, will you spend forever with me?"

DeAnna: "Yes!"

He seems awfully calm.

DeAnna: "I would not be OK if you were not in my life. I love you. I've waited so long to say that. I love you."

Jesse: "I love you too."

DeAnna: "I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Jesse: "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. There are so many things I want to share with you."

DeAnna to camera: "I can't believe I'm going to marry the guy with the pink shoelaces!"

Opening statements

DeAnna is the jury and the two men on trial for her love summarized their background in a few words at the top of the finale. Here is a short sample.


Jason: “I came on this journey to find true love. I’m just a regular guy. I’m just a single dad out of Seattle … when I got married I thought it was forever and I was wrong.”

(A note on this – where is the ex? Is she in Seattle? Does she have joint custody? I know we learn later that she left him and started a life with someone else. Grr.)


Jesse: “I am the skinny white kid snowboarder … I feel blessed that I’m still here. As far as I was concerned D was so far out of my league I didn’t think I had a chance.”

(A note on this – are you ever going to be ready to relate to her as a peer, an equal, a fellow human being to grow with for life, not a hot chick to ogle at like a teen from “Superbad”?)

Jason meets the parents

We head to DeAnna's house in Newnan, Georgia.

DeAnna: “Today is the most important day in the entire process. … It’s very important to me that my family accepts them.”

Family loved Brad. Not going to be the same way again.

So once again, Brad is directing this show.

They're fixin' to cut Jesse’s hair already! Haven’t even met him yet.


Jason The Excited Puppy shows up first with flowers and a basket with wine. Actually two bouquets of flowers.

Sister asks: “You know what happened with Brad, right?”

We all do!

Ex-wife decided to leave and start a life with someone else. Ohh. Is this new info? That makes me like him more.

Dad says whoever it is has to move to Georgia. But what about Ty in Seattle?

Sister pulls him aside since she’s worried about DeAnna getting her heart broken again. It’s the Brad brat speech.

DeAnna talks to brother.

DeAnna: “I know he’s on the same page as me. He wants to get married. He wants a family. (Not just Ty). I love that.

Brother: “I want to know what gives you the wow factor.”

DeAnna: “If you could see him with his son, your heart would melt.”

Sister: “Do you think you’re in love with her?”
Jason: “Absolutely.”

Sister: “Do you think you could take care of her (not financially)?”
Jason: “Absolutely.”

Jason to Dad: “I am in love with your daughter.”

Dad: “She’s an unbelievable young lady.”

Jason: “I want to get your permission to propose to her.”

Dad: “Nobody’s ever had the guts to ask me before… I would expect it, No. 1.”

So Brad didn’t ask him – splitter!

Dad to Jason: “She really thinks you’re a special guy. And from what I’ve seen I think you are. … If she chooses you, you have my blessing.”

Dad to camera: “Jason really impressed me. He’s the kind of guy that has it all together. … I think he’s a great pick for my daughter.”

Jesse meets the parents

DeAnna keeps saying how “different” Jesse is and how she never in a million years would pick someone like him. She needs to stop sounding like she’s ashamed of him.

And he needs to stop saying “rad.”

Brother: “Jesse was nervous. You could hear it in his voice when he walked through the door. He shook my hand his palm was sweaty.”

Dad talks to Jesse about snowboarding.

Dad: When you become as old as I am and you can’t snowboard anymore, how much longer are you going to be competitive?

Jesse talks to camera. Does not answer question.

Dad: Have you been in serious relations

Jesse: I lived with serious girlfriend for two years.

What happened?

We grew apart.

Sister saw more with Jason. DeAnna defends him, says he’s nervous and they’re not meeting real Jesse.

Sister: do you see yourself setting down with him, having family?

Dad: I would expect regular visits to Atlanta?

Sister: I feel like I don’t really know Jesse yet … It probably is because he’s nervous.

He was there three hours talking to the family but he was so nervous no one felt they met him.

DeAnna’s decided they may not be accepting of him because he’s so different from her regular guys. I don’t think that’s quite it.

Dad: Both said they are falling in love with you, but it was the way they said it. It felt more heartfelt from Jason.

DeAnna: “Did Jesse ask your permission to marry me?”

Dad: “No.”

DeAnna looks confused, sad and disappointed. I think she feels more for Jesse. Hmm… So it’s the old safety vs. adventure debate.

Both guys go to ‘Big Fat Greek Party’

More family to meet!

Ya ya is going to pick him for her.

Jesse is first. Brought a big plant.

About to talk to family. Doorbell rings. Yep, it’s Jason The Excited Puppy.

Poor Jesse. “It was a little intense. It was another competition almost.”

Yeah, I’m with him. That’s a bit much to ask. Awkward!

Jason is just Mr. America. Hard to tell what he really thinks.

Body language alert: Both holding her hand, Jason has arm around her, but she is crossing her legs toward Jesse.

Pros and cons

Jesse: She’s totally worth it. It’s definitely someone I could see spending the rest of my life with.

Jason: Cons, I’m probably not nearly as rad as Jesse.

Poor Jason, he’s already been left by a wife. It’s not fair to put him in this position.

Jesse in the kitchen with Mom. Jason one-ups him by name-dropping a Greek dish.

Jesse bumping knuckles with the grandparents. “Hit it and blow it up.” HA HA HA.

Jason’s intentions, spelled to … grandparents?: I can tell you in all honesty. I didn’t expect to be sitting here telling you about DeAnna. She is everything I have ever wanted in a partner.

Sister and sister-in-law talking to Jesse about not breaking her heart.

Ya Ya picks Jason.

Jesse: I caught myself crying twice in the past week over your sister. I don’t know why, I’m so into her it hurts.

Sister starts to cry a little.

Sister-in-law: It just seemed like he was a cool guy. … He was really thinking about the questions we asked him.

Sister-in-law’s advice: “Be who you are and rock it out.”

Now Jesse pulls Dad aside.

“If she does choose me, I would like to propose to her. I guess I’m asking for your blessing and your permission.”

Hmm… do you think the producers gave him a prod?

Dad: “Are you ready?”

Jesse: “I’ve been thinking, asked Dad how did you know it was Mom? He said when it’s time you know … When I met DeAnna my palms sweat and I got butterflies. … Dad said my palms used to sweat and I got butterflies when I met your mom.”

Dad hesitates, gives speech, but ultimately offers his blessing and good luck.

Dad: “Just remember one thing, when you have my beautiful daughter with you, you keep your hair short.”

Jesse said they’d talk about it and he’d go to a stylist. They “nugged” (is that the knuckle thing?) and of course it was “rad.”

This guy is totally my brother Jeff circa 1991.

Drinking with the family. Both guys upset about having to share DeAnna. Jesse says he wants the whole cupcake. Hmm.

But he did open up more, good for him. I still think Jason is better for DeAnna, but Jesse is good people.

Jason “tricked” into leaving first so Jesse gets final hug. So fourth grade, this whole group date.

DeAnna asks sister and sister-in-law point blank who they think she should be with.

Sister-in-law seems to pick Jesse. She thinks if she picks Jason she’ll be fast-forwarding her life five years.

Sister sees a difference when she’s with both. DeAnna doesn’t seem as comfortable with Jesse, she says. Jesse only 26, she doesn’t seem to think he’s ready.

Sister-in-law: “Do you see one of them being the father of your future children more than the other one?”

DeAnna not sure who she is picking. I’m sorry but I’ve always thought all the Bachelors and Bachelorettes should know by now.


(At this point we head to Grand Bahama Island for surprise visit from Jeremy. See related story for more on that.)

Date with Jesse

DeAnna and Jesse go flying.

Taking Jesse to secluded island to hang out all day. (Do they get extended leave from work to do this? Or do they take vacation time?)

Instead of spending idyllic vacation time together, why not put them on “The Baby Borrowers” to see what they would be like under stress? On imperfect days people are very, very different.

Jesse created a book of thoughts to give to DeAnna. That was very sweet.

Jesse: “I just want you to know I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I’m ready to settle down. I’m that guy that can make you happy for the rest of your life.”

Date with Jason

Once again, the puppy runs to see her.

Going deep-sea diving. Swimming with sharks.

DeAnna: Jason was more comfortable than I was. He was being the man, showing me everything was going to be OK.

That’s the kind of guy she wants. I do think that’s more Jason than Jesse.

Jason made her a board game himself. He’s really good at one-upping Jesse. But will it be enough?

She did say she had no more questions for him. She seems comfortable with him and loves his romantic side. He is sweet and thoughtful.

He said he is perfect for her. A preview said she got rid of someone who was perfect for her. Is she getting rid of him? Oooh I hope not. She doesn’t seem to be going for the “perfect” types (see Jeremy).

Closing arguments and rings

I could spend the rest of my life with either of these guys.

Jason makes me feel safe.

Jesse is such an exciting person.

The difference between me in this moment and Brad in that moment is I’ve found someone that I love.


Guys check out rings.


Jason wants ring that expresses DeAnna’s unique perspective on world.

Jesse so nervous, his stomach in knots, literally doubled over. It’s just ring shopping, man!

On her choice: "He's someone that gets me. He is someone that makes me want to be a better person."

And that person is...

Not Jason, since he's in the first limo.

Oh, poor Excited Puppy Jason. I feel so bad for him. His ex-wife leaves him and now DeAnna dumps him. At least he has Ty.

I know I've already nominated Fred, but can Jason be the backup "Bachelor" next season?


Source: http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080707/ENTERTAIN/80707054/-1/NEWS19

Fort Knox Historic Story

An autopsy showed that Spc. Joe Don Land, the soldier from Fort Knox whose body was found Sunday in the Salt River, drowned, the Hardin County coroner's office confirmed yesterday.
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Land, 19, was found Sunday morning under a railroad bridge bordering southwestern Jefferson County near the Ohio River. Barry Brown, the deputy coroner, said that Land had been wearing what looked like homemade rappelling equipment.

Land was among eight soldiers from Fort Knox who were swimming Saturday in the river. He and some of the other soldiers jumped from the railroad bridge into the water.

May of this year, a group of Fort Knox international liaison officers made an unusual request. They asked the participants from the Fort Knox Historical Community not to bring the traditional "hostess gifts" but rather to make donations to USA Cares instead.

Canadian Forces Liaison, Major C. J. Young along with French Colonel Bruno Duhesme and German Lieutenant-Colonel Dirk Schuber visited and had a tour of the USA Cares Military Family Assistance Center. They also brought a donation that was made by Fort Knox Historical Society Members.

Major Young said "we have been receiving a number of great 'hostess gifts' over the years, and while we were very appreciative of people's generosity, we wanted to give back to the community, so we asked if folks would instead make a donation to USA Cares. The Fort Knox Community has responded very favorably to that idea."

Pat Stradley, USA Cares Director of Family Services commented "I think that it is just amazing that these gentlemen would forgo the gifts that would normally go to them to do something for their American comrades in arms and their families. It speaks very highly of them individually and of the brotherhood that all military, regardless of their country, have with one another."

Bill Nelson, Executive Director of USA Cares, echoed Stradley's sentiments and thanked the group for their generosity and for being great representatives of the Fort Knox military community.


Your Personal Fort Knox ... with Bulk Like the Hulk?

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Upgrading to Tacori Engagement Ring

We know you'd be happy with a twist tie as long as you're married to Mr. Right, but if your engagement ring isn't the fairy-tale bauble you've always dreamed of, consider trading up.

WHY UPGRADE?

Trading in your rock has become more popular than ever -- from stone swapping to adding more bling to your existing ring. "The trend with young adults is that they'll get a $10,000 ring, and a few years later, they'll want it to be larger," explains Debi Wexler of whiteflash.com. "It's a way of showing their appreciation for the longevity of the relationship."

HERE'S WHY MANY CHOOSE TO UPGRADE

-- Size: You love the shape of your diamond, but you came down with DSS (Diamond Shrinkage Syndrome). The more you look at it, the, uh, smaller it seems to get.

-- Style: Your mate chose a pear-shaped cut in a gold setting, but you've always had your heart set on a princess cut in a platinum setting. Let's face it: you're not sporting "The Rachel" haircut anymore, right? Why not wear a ring that reflects your style?

-- Stones: You'd love to add more stones to your original ring to amp up the sparkle.

-- Setting: You were given an heirloom from one of your or his relatives that you want to reset or turn into a necklace or keepsake. Now you'd rather have a more modern, everyday ring that reflects your individuality and doesn't feel like the old "family stone."

WORK WITH YOUR ORIGINAL JEWELER

Before you even think about upgrading your ring, find out what your jeweler's policy is. It can vary: for example, whiteflash.com offers a lifetime policy on their branded diamonds, which allows you to trade them in for the full value you paid; Tacori applies a percentage of credit (usually around 75 percent) toward purchasing a new ring; and De Beers will upgrade your ring depending on an on-site appraisal of its current value.

Also, factor in setting costs. An upgrade from a 1.5-carat to a 2-carat won't fit into your original setting, so you'll need to get a new one, which will increase the price of your upgrade. You don't have to toss the original setting, though; consider putting a colored stone in it for a right-hand ring.

Tacori is delighted to announce that their collaboration with renowned bridal gown designer Jenny Lee has leapt off the runway and onto the pages of InStyle Weddings.

Tacori first collaborated with wedding dress design leader Jenny Lee to create stunning accessories for the runway launch of the JL Couture Fall 2008 Collection. And now, this design partnership has extended to include a stunning Tacori Bridal.Evening necklace in the JL Couture Fall national advertising campaign, as first seen in the Summer 2008 issue of InStyle Weddings.

The JL Couture advertisement shows a young couturier woman in dishabille, working in an 19th century-era dresshop, and the Tacori piece featured is an exciting new design for the Bridal.Evening collection – the triple-strand Teardrop pearl necklace.

You can see this show stopping Tacori Bridal.Evening necklace in select retailers nationwide, and in the pages of high-end magazines which advertise JL Couture.

Tacori’s Bridal.Evening collection of accessories is designed for the bride to wear on her wedding day and forever after. Tacori’s elegant Bridal.Evening collection of accessories is best recognized for its luxurious line of designs that provide the sophisticated bride with high-quality accessories from Tacori - a name she knows and trusts in jewelry design.

Handcrafted in California with sterling silver, genuine stones, natural pearls and Swarovski crystals, the stunning beauty and intricacy of each piece of Tacori Bridal.Evening jewelry is the result of an uncompromising passion for design and craftsmanship.

For over four decades, Tacori designs have fused classic elegance with modern inspiration, creating some of the world’s most highly regarded and exquisitely beautiful jewelry. For more information about Tacori, please visit www.tacori.com

Source: http://pr-canada.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35860&Itemid=65

Artist Chuck Connelly Portrait

Once, Chuck Connelly stood on the leading edge of the New York art scene, alongside Jean-Michel Basquiat and Julian Schnabel. His life and art were the basis for Martin Scorsese's segment of "New York Stories," with Nick Nolte stepping into the role as the garrulous artist.

But according to Jeff Stimmel's portrait, "The Art of Failure: Chuck Connelly, Not for Sale" (HBO, 9 p.m.), an errant comment about the Scorsese work ("It was no 'Raging Bull'") meant the end of his career.

There was more to Connelly's change of fortunes than that, including the changing taste of the art world, his move to Pittsburgh and his continuously confrontational personality. It's captured in video cameras he kept at home, augmenting six years of footage by Stimmel. Yet in the middle of his rages, drinking and misfortune, he continues to turn out an amazing amount of work.

He tries at one point to send out a younger, more personable artist to galleries with his work, but that doesn't work all that well. It's still an engrossing look at the enduring artistic impulse, despite it all.

Roger Catlin Roger Catlin E-mail | Recent columns

Remote Patrol
The first installment of an intelligent new interview program, "Elvis Mitchell: Under the Influence" (TCM, 8 and 10:30 p.m.), is especially timely. It was one of the last interviews with director Sidney Pollack, who died May 26 at the age of 73.

In it, Pollack talks about his most successful movies, including "Tootsie" (TCM, 8:30 p.m.), in which he also appeared, and a movie that most influenced him, "An American in Paris" (TCM, 11 p.m.). Mitchell is a good interviewer who allows his subjects to expound without interrupting or injecting arcane trivia. Future subjects include Bill Murray, Laurence Fishburne and Quentin Tarantino.

It's down to Jesse and Jason in an exhaustive two-hour finale of "The Bachelorette" (ABC, 8 p.m.), followed by an unnecessary "The Bachelorette: After the Final Rose" (ABC, 10 p.m.).

Laos is the destination in the season premiere of "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations" (Travel, 10 p.m.).

The most controversial episode in the three-week overview "The War of the World" (CPTV, 10 p.m.) puts forward the theory that the Allies often used methods just as bad as those employed by their enemies in the field.

Late Talk
David Letterman: Jack Hanna, Kid Rock, Annika Sorenstam (rerun). Jay Leno: Selma Blair, Kevin Nealon, Steve Tyrell. Conan O'Brien: Ted Koppel, Emily Mortimer. Jimmy Kimmel: Magic Johnson, Sameeer Mirsha, Adam Sandler (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Matt Costa (rerun). Carson Daly: Emmanuelle Chriqui, Tristan Prettyman (rerun). Jon Stewart: Coldplay (rerun). Stephen Colbert: Will Smith (rerun).

Source: http://www.courant.com/entertainment/tv/hc-tveye0707.artjul07,0,540655.column

Marc Chagall Ave. strip mall project creates anger

A vacant lot on Marc Chagall Avenue in Côte St. Luc is at the centre of an apparent standoff between city council and a potential developer, who has decided, against the wishes of local residents, to build a shopping mall after his townhouse project was rejected.
Officials with the City of Côte St. Luc began last December to consider Montreal developer Jerome Winikoff's proposal to build a 21-unit condominium townhouse complex on the quiet street, a few blocks east of Cavendish Boulevard. Since the lot has been zoned for a strip mall for decades, building housing on it would require a zoning change.

Last December during a meeting of local city councillor Mike Cohen's district advisory council, more than 50 residents listened to a presentation on the project given by Winikoff. However, some expressed concerns it would be located too close to high-tension power lines.

This past March, when it became apparent council was responding to the concerns and would not be permitting the project to proceed as Winikoff desired, he publicly accused Côte St. Luc's mayor and councillors of misleading him into believing that a bylaw for his project was going to get first reading.

He also said they were leaving him with no choice but to build a strip mall. In one of the latest developments of what appears to be degrading into a standoff, Winikoff's company has erected a large sign on the vacant lot, advertising the Marc Chagall Center with 10 retail spaces available.

During an otherwise quiet city council meeting on June 16, a heated debate broke out over the Marc Chagall mall issue among the councillors and the residents. In a statement Mayor Anthony Housefather e-mailed to the Monitor last weekend, he said, "It would be far preferable to proceed with a townhouse project on the site that would allow young families to purchase affordable new housing in Côte St-Luc.

"I will continue to work with council and Mr. Winikoff in the hopes of having a town house project that will be acceptable to the developer and the majority of council," he added. "The residents of the area would far prefer a town house project ..."

Sidney Margles, a Marc Chagall condominium resident, confirmed, "The vast majority of the residents of this area are mostly opposed to having a commercial shopping centre there. There is no need for it." Councillor Allan Levine, who chairs the town planning commission, suggested Winikoff is trying to influence the situation by claiming to build a mall, when it actually would be unsustainable.

"This developer, he wants to build townhouses," he said. "By saying to the people I'm going to put a strip mall there, right, it's just fearmongering. He'll never be able to build a strip mall there because the numbers don't crunch." Cohen disagreed with Levine's assessment. "This is not a bluff by Mr. Winikoff," he said.

"He is going full speed ahead. I happen to know that a number of businesses have contacted him, have indicated they're very interested in going into that strip mall. The people of Marc Chagall are very, very upset, and justifiably so … However, on surrounding streets like Merrimac and Sir Walter Scott, many of them are quite excited at the prospect of having a strip mall."

Source: http://www.montrealexpress.ca/article-228143-Anger-in-Cote-St-Luc-over-Marc-Chagall-Ave-strip-mall-project.html

Lolo Jones, Cherry, Harper make Olympic berth in 110 hurdles

Lolo Jones, Cherry, Harper make Olympics in 100 hurdles


EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Lolo Jones, Damu Cherry and Dawn Harper have earned Beijing Olympics spots with the top three 100-meter hurdles finishes at the U.S. track and field trials.

Jones, the world indoor champion, won Sunday in 12.29 seconds. Cherry finished second in 12.58, and Harper was third in 12.62.

Defending Olympic champion Joanna Hayes finished last in 12.96.


EUGENE, ORE. -- Lolo Jones did more than just qualify for her first U.S. Olympic team Sunday at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.

The former LSU standout established herself as the favorite to win the gold medal in Beijing and a bona fide star in the sport. Jones blistered the competition in the final of the 110-meter hurdles, crushing the field in a time of 12.29 seconds.

"This just shows not to give up, because four years ago I didn't even make the final and now I'm the USA. outdoor champion," Jones said. "Really, I never won anything growing up, and I finally had victory at just the right time."

Blessed with movie-star looks and infectious enthusiasm, Jones qualified for her first Olympic Games and became an instant fan favorite among the sellout crowds at Hayward Field over the weekend.

Though her time was the best in the world this season it does not count officially because the 3.8 mph tail wind was above the legal limit.

"It went good and a lot better then I thought because after I had a PR in the semifinals, it was hard to come back down," said Jones, a native of Des Moines, Iowa. "My legs felt a little tired and I wondered if I would have enough energy in the tank to get faster."

Jones was never threatened in the final. She got out of the starting blocks quickly and easily cleared all 10 hurdles.

"I got out really good and then normally it's easy to have a mental lapse, but this time I was like, I'm going for it and not stopping like a train," Jones said.

Damu Cherry (12.58) and Dawn Harper (12.62) were a distant second and third in Jones' wake.

"(Lolo Jones) did awesome," Cherry said. "You can't take that away from her. She ran really, really well, but I know I can run just as fast, too. We have a great team. We are all just going to go there and see what happens in Beijing. We have a really, really good team, so I am really pumped by it."

Jones, a former LSU All-American and the two-time world indoor champion, breezed to the final with a blazing time of 12.45 in the semifinals earlier in the day. The mark was a personal best and the best in the world this season.

After completing the run, she turned to the sellout crowd and raised her arms triumphantly as the announcer at the venerable stadium proclaimed the time as the best in the world.

Then, as if to catch herself, she immediately lowered them and stuck her index finger in the air while saying to herself, "One more."

"I was telling myself to calm down," Jones said. "I was very nervous when I got out here today because normally when I have a tail wind I start hitting hurdles, but my coach had to calm me down. He just told me that I couldn't control the wind and not to let this determine what was going to happen in this race."

Source: http://blog.nola.com/tpsports/2008/07/lolo_jones_gets_olympic_berth.html

4th of July fireworks, events and activities

4th of July Fireworks
Fourth of July fireworks celebrations in New York City begin Friday, July 4 with the Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks.

The Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks are the world's largest fireworks display. The display is launched from two separate but simultaneous locations: 17th St near the East River, and right below the South Street Seaport.

National TV coverage of the activities appears exclusively on NBC with pre-event coverage beginning at 9pm.

The best places to view the July 4th fireworks are anywhere where there are no obstructions to the East River. Rooftops along the Brooklyn Bridge are a known favorite for onlookers of the Independence Day display.

Did you know that fireworks shows start July 3? Don’t worry if your Fourth of July plans were starting to overlap — you can start watching fireworks tonight, and then hit up another show Friday night, and the next night too. Here’s the 411 on where fireworks are happening, a map of where fireworks are allowed in L.A. and Orange counties and tips for pet owners.

Where: The Los Angeles Fire Department has a website, safejuly4th.org, devoted to fireworks displays big and small throughout Los Angeles County and where you can watch them safely.

Events & festivities: Metromix has a great 4th of July events guide. I love their post, “Fireworks for Cheaters,” that reveals the inside scoop on where to see fireworks away from the crowds. Downtown, inland, Hollywood and the coast are spotlighted. The guide also has an alphabetical list of neighborhood fireworks shows.

Favorites: Some of the most popular fireworks shows in the L.A. area include: Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic & L.A. Dodgers, Pasadena Rose Bowl and Long Beach and Queen Mary.

Fireworks to avoid: Los Angeles Times Funland blog writer Brady MacDonald gives the scoop on Fourth of July events at Southern California theme parks, but also recommends staying away because of the crowds.

Fourth of July Swing Dance Convention: 10 a.m. Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 2-6. Twelve swing-dancing workshops and 15 competitions. Featuring $16,000 in prize money and time for social dancing. Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, 2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix. $219 weekend hotel and pass; $110 weekend pass; $109 hotel; $15 Gary Jobst Workshop; $10 all other workshops; free social dancing. 800-598-2538. www.usaswingnet.com/phoenix/index.htm.

Light up the Sky: 7-10 p.m. July 3. The event will have rides, games, arts, crafts and fireworks. Maryvale Baseball Park, 3600 N. 51st Ave., Phoenix. Free. 602-262-6575.

Rev, White and Boom: 6-9:30 p.m. July 3. Tour the raceway, enjoy entertainment and watch fireworks. Food, beverages and activities will be available. Phoenix International Raceway, 7602 S. Avondale Blvd., Avondale. Free admission. 623-333-2400. www.avondale.org/events.

West Valley

Independence Day: 6:30 p.m. July 3. Live music, food and activities. Fireworks set for 9:15 p.m. Bring a blanket. Estrella Lakeside Amphitheatre, 10300 S. Estrella Parkway, Goodyear. Free. 623-386-1000. www.ci.goodyear.az.us.

State-wide

Annual Fireworks Celebration: 8:45 p.m. July 3. Watch the fireworks show overlooking the lake. Lake Pleasant Regional Park, 41835 N. Castle Hot Springs Road, Morristown. $5 per vehicle park entry fee; $2 per watercraft. 928-501-1710 or 602-372-7460. www.maricopa.gov/parks/EventsDetailPublishers.aspx?date=7/3/2008&eventID=6422.

Fourth of July Festivities: 6 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 a.m. Friday, July 3-4. Watch a youth talent show, followed by a street dance with the band Train Wreck Thursday. Friday activities include the Pets and People Parade at 7:30 a.m. and entertainment all day long. Fireworks start at dusk at the Paiz/Stone Complex. Veterans Memorial Park, 3105 E. Fry Blvd., Sierra Vista. Free. 520-266-2304. www.visitsierravista.com.

Third of July Fireworks: 6 p.m. July 3. Live entertainment, outside barbecue, drink specials, and prizes. Reservations required, recommended time: 6-9 p.m. For all ages. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. Harold's Cave Creek Corral, 6895 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek. Free. 480-488-1906. www.haroldscorral.com.

Fourth of July Barbecue: Thursday through Saturday, July 3-5. Barbecue meal to celebrate Independence Day. Reservations required. Call for times. JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd., Tucson. $35; $15 children 10 and under. 520-792-3500. www.jwmarriottstarrpass.com.

July 4-6

Phoenix

Freedom Wireless Fabulous Phoenix Fourth: 6-9:35 p.m. July 4. Kids rides, food court, scheduled events and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. Free. 602-534-3378. phoenix.gov.

Fourth of July: Friday and Saturday, July 4-5. Featuring poolside activities for kids, spa and golf for adults, and an evening poolside movie of Ratatouille on July 4 and National Treasure: Book of Secrets on July 5. JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, 5350 E. Marriott Drive, Phoenix. $199 per night; for guests only. 480-293-5000. desertridgeresort.com.

Scottsdale

Grand Ol' Fashioned Picnic: 5-7:30 p.m. July 4. Celebrate with old-fashioned games, patriotic arts and crafts, and watermelon, chili and pie-eating contests. Bring your homemade chili to be judged. Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale. Free. 480-312-2771. www.scottsdaleaz.gov/events.asp.

July Fourth Celebration: 5-8 p.m. July 4. Tug-of-war, live music and crafts, watermelon eating contest and more. No fireworks. Eldorado Park, 2311 N. Miller Road, Scottsdale. Free. 480-312-2771.

Independance Day Bounce: 9-11 a.m. July 4. Flags, balloons and bouncing to celebrate the Fourth of July. BounceU, 8970 E. Bahia Drive, Suite 104, Scottsdale. $6.95 for first child; $5.95 for each sibling. 480-502-0210. www.bounceu.com.

Freedom Parade: 8:30 a.m. July 4. Decorate your strollers, bicycles, skateboards, horses, pets, golf carts or wagons and participate in the parade, or go to watch. Mescal Park, 11015 N. 68th St., Scottsdale. Free. 480-991-7955 or 602-570-0303. www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Parks/neighborhood/mescal.asp.

East Valley

CBS5 July Fourth Tempe Town Lake Festival: 4-11 p.m. July 4. Seven hours of live music, inflatable village for all ages, and fireworks. Tempe Town Lake, Rio Salado Parkway and Mill Avenue, Tempe. $6; age 12 and younger are free. 480-350-8625. www.tempe4th.com.
Hot Dog Theme Day: 1-3 p.m. July 4. Get a free hot dog to celebrate Independence Day. Kiwanis Park Wave Pool, 6111 S. All-America Way, Tempe. $6; $3 for age 2-12. 480-350-5740. www.tempe.gov/kiwanis.

Mesa's Fourth of July Celebration: 6 p.m. July 4. Entertainment and kiddie rides ending with fireworks at 9 p.m. Also offers food and drink for purchase. No bags, backpacks, coolers, fanny-packs or alcoholic beverages. Mesa Community College, 1833 W. Southern Ave., Mesa. $5 for parking and admission; $1 for admission if not parking on campus. 480-461-7000. www.mc.maricopa.edu.

Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Spectacular: 4 p.m. July 4. In addition to fireworks at 9:30 p.m., the event features live music, a kids carnival and a bike parade. Activities include a 35-foot waterslide, 24-foot rock-climbing wall, a dunk tank and water games. Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen Road, Chandler. Free. 480-782-2735. www.chandleraz.gov.

Red, White and Boom: 5:30 p.m. July 4. Features live music, a cowboy costume contest, a barbecue, decorated buggy rides, face painting and balloon sculpturing. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler. $3-$65. 480-753-7676. www.rawhide.com.

Fourth of July Celebration and Anniversary Party: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. July 4. Families enjoy carnival games, prizes every 15 minutes, live music by the Weezul Brothers from 6-10 p.m. and hotdogs and hamburgers grilled outdoors. Benefits The Choir Boys of Arizona. Red, White & Brew, 4850 S. Gilbert Road, Chandler. Free. 480-305-6993. www.rwbaz.com. www.azchoirboys.org.

Miss Chinese Environmental Contest: 4 p.m. July 4. Chinese community celebrates the fourth of July and a Miss Chinese Environmental contest with dinner. Contest begins at 5:30 p.m. Phoenix Preparatory Academy, 735 E. Fillmore St., Phoenix. $6 includes dinner. 602-321-1898.

West Valley

Buckeye Fourth of July Celebration: 6 p.m. July 4. Celebrate in the park or in the pool. Visitors can enjoy the fireworks display for free from the Earl Edgar Recreational Complex, where they can enjoy a host of splash fun, from slip 'n' slides and sprinklers to water-volleyball courts. Or visitors can just lounge in the pool at the Buckeye Aquatic Center and watch the celebration. Recreational Complex, Miller and Beloat roads; Aquatic Center, 207 N. Ninth St. Recreational complex free, $2 aquatic center, seating is limited. 623-349-6354, www.buckeyeaz.gov/recreation.

Fourth of July Celebration: 7 p.m. July 4. Celebration includes swimming, water slides, food, music, a patriotic program, a F-16 flyover by a Luke Fighter Squadron and fireworks. Free swimming at GCC pool begins at 1 p.m.; doors open for night events at 6 p.m.; fireworks at 8:40 p.m. Glendale Community College Community Pool, Glendale Community College 6000 W. Olive Ave., Glendale. Free. 623-930-2299. www.glendaleaz.com/events.

All-American Festival: 5-10 p.m. July 4. Kids zone, concessions, two stages of live music, fireworks and water activities. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. No alcohol or glass containers are permitted. Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria. $5 for ages 13 and older. 623-773-7198. www.peoriaaz/specialevents.

Road Racers 3: 6:30 a.m. July 4. 5K run and walk. Registration required. Rio Vista Community Park, 8866 W. Thunderbird Road, Peoria. $12. 602-954-8341. www.arizonaroadracers.com.
Surprise's Fourth of July Celebration: 6-8:30 p.m. July 4. Enjoy live music, water zone and food. Surprise Recreation Campus, 15850 N. Bullard Ave., Surprise. $5 for children; $10 for adults. 623-266-4500. www.surpriseaz.com.

Fourth of July Celebration: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. July 4. Splash Bash, food, music, F-16 flyover and fireworks. Litchfield Park, 214 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park. Small fee for the Splash Bash. 623-935-5033. az-litchfieldpark.civicplus.com/index.asp?NID=106.

Star Spangled Arts and Crafts Booth: 6:30-8 p.m. July 4. Ages 2-12 celebrate the holiday making bug-themed arts and crafts. Goodyear Branch Library, Goodyear City Hall 190 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear. Free. 602-652-3000. www.mcldaz.org.

Star-Spangled Fourth: 6:30-10 p.m. July 4. Live music from Billy's Gone and Shallow Water. Food, beer garden, kids zone, and water rides. Fireworks at 9:35 p.m. Goodyear Community Park, 3151 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear. $10 all you can ride kids' wristbands. Event is free. 623-882-7534. www.goodyearaz.gov.

State-wide

Fourth of July Buffet: 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday through Sunday, July 4-6. Brunch features champagne mimosas, eggs Benedict, a waffle station, posole bar and chilequilles. Signature Grill, JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd., Tucson. $22; $11 for children. 520-792-3500.

Freedompalooza: 6 p.m. July 4. Event includes two stages with 10 bands, and a barbecue. Club Congress, Hotel Congress 311 E. Congress St., Tucson. $5. 520-622-8848. www.hotelcongress.com/club.

Sidewalk Egg-Fry Competition: noon July 4. Fry two eggs on a piece of aluminum foil on the sidewalk. Various prizes given. The event begins with the Ghostrider Gunfighters and takes place on Route 66. Oatman Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 423, Oatman. Free. www.oatmangoldroad.com/events.htm.
Old-Fashioned Fourth: 10 a.m.-noon July 4. Children enjoy games such as cake-walks, sack races, hula hoops, and rubber-duck ring toss. Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, 1 Burruel St., Tubac. Free. 520-398-2704. www.tubacaz.com.
Fourth of July: 4 p.m. July 4. Bring a blanket or chair for a fireworks display. Food and beverage available. Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, 1 Otero Road, Tubac. $65 for VIP ticket, which includes special meal, seating and parking; $5 for parking. 520-398-3522 or 520-398-2704. www.tubacaz.com.

July Fourth Celebration: 9 a.m.-9:15 p.m. July 4. Parade starts at Fifth Street to Gila to Seventh Street, which is followed by a water fight at Lions Park. Entertainment and music continues all day with fireworks at 8:45 p.m. Benson, Benson. Free. 520-586-4293. www.bensonvisitorcenter.com.
Fourth of July: 9 a.m. July 4. Coaster races down Tombstone Canyon begins the event. Between heats, the Bisbee Iron- Man Mile footrace starts at the Iron Man statue. A parade at 11 a.m. is in the Warren section. The contest of the traditional mining activities of mucking begins at 2 p.m. and hard-rock drilling at 4 p.m. at Brewery Gulch. Fireworks are at dark at Vista Park in Warren. Bisbee, Bisbee. Free. 520-432-6016. www.discoverbisbee.com.

Fourth of July Softball Tournament: 9 a.m. July 4. Enjoy food and street entertainment after the tournament. Watch fireworks at dusk. Medigovich Field, Mountain View Road north of Arizona 80, Tombstone. Free. 520-457-3994.

Fire Over the Water: 4 p.m. July 4. Information, exhibits, kids activities, souvenirs, and raffle. Rubber duck race begins at 6 p.m. and fireworks at 8:30 p.m. Lyman Lake State Park, 11 miles south of St. Johns on U.S. 191, St. Johns. Free. 928-337-4441. www.pr.state.az.us.

July Fourth Celebration: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. July 4. Clarkdale celebrates its Fourth of July with a parade at 10 a.m., a barbecue at the Verde Valley Railroad station at 11 a.m., and music by a Dixieland band at 12:30 p.m. Clarkdale, $7 for barbecue. 800-320-0718.
Firecracker Express: 1-5 p.m. July 4. Enjoy a patriotic train ride through the Verde Canyon. Verde Canyon Railroad, 300 N. Broadway Road, Clarkdale. $34.95-$79.95. 800-320-0718. www.verdecanyonrr.com.

Rockets Over the River: 9 p.m. July 4. Fireworks over the Colorado River. Best viewing is along the river, south of the Laughlin Bridge. Bullhead City, Free. 702-298-2214. www.bullheadchamber.com/calendar.htm.

Fourth of July Family Day: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 4. Activities and games during open swim for all ages. Palm Island Family Aquatics Park, Carr-McNatt Park 1115 N. Brown Ave., Casa Grande. $1; 50 cents for age 17 and younger. 520-421-8650.
Fourth of July Family Day: 5 p.m. July 4. Old-fashioned celebration with food, games and live entertainment. Fireworks at 8 p.m. Paul Mason Sportsplex, 2525 N. Pinal Ave., Casa Grande. Free. 520-421-8677. www.cir.org/seasonal-fourth.html.

Prescott Rodeo Days Fine Arts and Crafts Show: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, July 4-6. Showcases more than 150 artists. On the lawn outside of the courthouse. Courthouse Square, Montezuma and Gurley streets, Prescott. Free. 928-443-5200. www.prescottdowntown.com.

July Fourth at the Fort: 2 p.m. July 4. Event features kids zone, food-eating contests, limbo, and entertainment. Event for all ages, however contest participants must be age 21 and older. Fireworks at 9:45 p.m. Fort McDowell Casino, 10424 N. Fort McDowell Road, Fort McDowell Reservation. Free. 800-THE-FORT or 480-837-1424. www.fortmcdowellcasino.com.

Red, White and Boom: 5-10 p.m. July 4. Fun booths, vendors, food, beer garden, music and fireworks. Old Home Manor Fields, 2100 Old Home Manor Drive, Chino Valley. Free. 928-636-9780. www.cv4th.com.

Freedom Fest: 10 a.m. July 4. Start the day in the pool for open swim and water games before forming teams for the Mud Volleyball tournament. Also participate in the horseshoe tournament, and country-singing contest. A parade will begin at 6:45 p.m. Fireworks start at 8:30 p.m. Heritage Park, 600 N. Main St., Florence. $30 per volleyball team; $10 per horseshoe team; other events free. 520-868-7589. www.town.florence.az.us.
Star-Spangled Spectacular: 6-11 p.m. July 4. Inflatable games, face painting, food, arts and crafts booth, and watermelon-eating contests. Fireworks start at 9 p.m. Ora Mae Harn Park, 13250 N. Lon Adams Road, Marana. Free. 520-382-1950. www.marana.com.

Patagonia's Fourth of July: 11 a.m. July 4. Begin the day with a parade and hanging of Grand Marshall at the Town Gazebo. Also enjoy music, food and vendors in the park. Fireworks start at 8 p.m. at Patagonia High School. Omitted, Free. 888-794-0060. www.patagoniaaz.com.

Independence Day Celebration: 6 p.m. July 4. Includes hot dogs, watermelon, a waterslide and music. Fireworks start with an F-16 flyover at 7:30 p.m. Tolleson Veterans Park, 8601 W. Van Buren Ave., Tolleson. Free. 623-936-7111. www.tollesonaz.org.
Clint Black: 7:30 p.m. July 4. The country singer performs with Amy Scruggs. Held at the Stargazer Pavilion. Doors open at 6 p.m. Cliff Castle Casino, 555 W. Middle Verde Road, Yavapai-Apache Reservation. $35. 928-567-7999. www.cliffcastlecasino.net.
Fourth of July: noon July 4. Dive for soda, candy and money in the pool. Activities include arts and crafts, bouncers, games and a DJ. Food available. Fireworks begin between 9-9:30 p.m. Kenilworth Sports Complex, 671 E. Coolidge Ave., Coolidge. Free. 520-723-4551. www.coolidgeaz.com.
Fourth of July Weekend Side Trip: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, July 4-6. Experience a barbecue with dishes from various nations, including Korea, Spain and Thailand. Served from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. San Dominique Winery, Interstate 17 and Arizona 169, Camp Verde. $6.75; $4.75 for children. 602-549-9787.

Old-Fashioned Fourth: noon-9 p.m. July 4. Food, dunk tank, bouncy house, rock climbing wall and live bands. Fireworks start at dark over Green Valley Lake. Green Valley Park, 600 N. Green Valley Parkway, Payson. Food ranges in price from $1-$5. 928-474-5242, ext. 7. www.paysonrimcountry.com.

July Fourth Block Party: 4 p.m. July 4. Art and antique walk, classic car displays, magician at Deming History Park, food, watermelon eating and seed-spitting contest and carnival games at Presbyterian Church and live bands. Main Street, between Meadow and South Mclane, Payson. Free. www.paysonrimcountry.com.

Celebrate Freedom: 10 a.m.-midnight July 5. Family activities during the day followed by musical performances and fireworks in the evening. Marks the kick-off of the two-month Miller Lite/Harley Davidson anniversary giveaway. Old Tucson Studios, 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson. $16.95; $10.95 for age 4-11. 520-883-0100. www.oldtucson.com.

All-American Independence Day Festival: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. July 5. Activities include a go-cart rally, an obstacle course, a duck race, a silent auction, a barbecue, face painting and contests. Benefits Firewise East Verde Park. East Verde Park, Arizona 87 and East Verde Turnoff, Payson. Free admission; prices vary for events. 928-474-3883. www.eastverdepark.com.

Source: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/07/04/20080704liv-fourthofjuly-CP.html

Honor Flight | An Unlikely Parade

Some were in wheelchairs or pushing walkers. Those who walked moved slowly to keep pace with their comrades, but all seemed to carry themselves with a certain bearing, energized perhaps by the burning embers of a time when they were young and strong and charged with saving the world.

As they disembarked from their Southwest Airlines plane and moved into the Baltimore concourse, someone made an announcement that the Honor Flight had landed carrying World War II veterans to see the Washington, D.C., monument created to honor their service.

The applause thundered from the crowded terminal and harried travelers stopped as if frozen in time, creating a living, breathing, noisy gauntlet of gratitude for the gray-haired men and women to pass through.

It was the remarkable start to an extraordinary trip that one veteran called “the best day of my life.”

Recently, 30 local veterans of World War II, including nine former prisoners of war, flew free of charge to the monument through an Ohio organization called Honor Flight, created to fly as many vets as possible to the monument before there are no longer any left alive.

From the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, where they received an early morning send-off complete with honor guard, to the end of the day meal at the Golden Corral buffet in Maryland, people cheered for them.

“It was like a wonderful dream,” said Larry Fama of the Town of Tonawanda, an 83-year-old former Navy radioman. “It was like a parade we never had. Not that we needed it or wanted it, but just that it was such a wonderful surprise.”

On the steamy day that the local contingent headed to the monument, several other busloads of Honor Flight vets from Michigan and New Jersey were also in attendance. The monument, a rectangle of fountains and sculptures, was awash in blue Honor Flight T-shirts as vets enjoyed the cooling mist from the fountain spray and the monument built within eyesight of the Lincoln Memorial.

North Tonawanda veteran Harry Kuligowski, who led the first charge to bring Honor Flight to Western New York, was asked to place a wreath at the New York state pillar, one of 50 built to honor each of the states in the union. The 80-year-old vet gently placed the wreath at the base of the pillar in honor of his comrades who never made it home. He stood back and sharply saluted.

Kuligowski, after seeking help from local politicians and news media, met up with Debbie Mellon, the director of the Friends and Family Support group at the Niagara Falls Air Base. Mellon, already busy with her full-time communications job at the base and her volunteer leadership of the military support group, agreed to take on the job of organizing the inaugural flight.

For Mellon, it was a little like being a general planning an invasion. She had to meet with airport officials to plan the celebrations as the vets left and returned and hold training sessions for the guardians, who paid $200 each for the honor of tending a vet on the trip. Then there was the matter of making sure there were plenty of wheelchairs, even for those vets who typically didn’t use them. Meals had to be arranged and coach buses had to be leased.

“It was as good as it gets,” said Honor Flight founder Earl Morse, who flew on the region’s inaugural flight. “If the guardians are behind this and revere and respect the veterans, everything else falls into place.”

It was Morris, a physician’s assistant at a veteran’s clinic in Ohio and retired air force captain, who came up with the idea after talking to his patients about the new monument. He came to understand that most would never see the monument without help, both physically and financially.

As a pilot, he was able to fly one vet to the monument. Then another. He started to ask other pilots for help. Eventually, small planes couldn’t handle the numbers, and he turned to non-profit groups for help.

Today, Honor Flight has a network of about 70 participating programs across the country, each anchored by a non-profit organization which accepts donations for future flights in their communities. About 8,000 WWII veterans have been flown to the monument.

This day, Morse, who flies on all the inaugural flights, led the Niagara group like a chiseled cheerleader, always at the front of the bus urging the vets to drink their bottled water and reminding the guardians to take a especially keen watch of their charges on the bus steps.

“Earl, you’re a great man,” someone called out during the bus ride. “No, no,” Morse said. “I get to hang out with great men and women. That’s the real benefit to this.”

Among the guardians who labored in the record-breaking heat, pulling wheelchairs on and off buses at every stop and tending to every need of the veterans, were state Sen. George Maziarz and Niagara County Republican Chairman Henry Wojtaszek. Maziarz was one of the first politicians Kuligowski approached about bringing Honor Flight to the area, and the senator liked the idea so much he decided to volunteer as a “guardian.” Quote from the video

And while the veterans, one after the other, declared the day a success, it seemed the guardians, who worked so hard to move the contingent forward, were the most appreciate of the chance to fly.

“If it weren’t for Honor Flight, we wouldn’t be here,” said Sharon Lindsay, who was the guardian to her father, Conrad Skarbek, from the Town of Tonawanda. “We’ve been trying for two years to get him here. He’s been in really bad health. He’s been having problems one after the other.”

Skarbek’s granddaughter and her husband, Kate and Rick Kraft of Wheatfield, surprised him by showing up at the Buffalo airport after purchasing tickets to fly on the same Southwest flight that carried the Honor Flight contingent.

Isabel Messing, 84, of Niagara Falls, was the only female veteran on the Niagara Honor Flight. She admitted that the trip made her feel “a little sentimental and weepy.”

“I was just a kid. All my friends went into the service. A lot of my friends were killed,” said Messing, who served as a member of the Women’s Army Corps.

“I almost didn’t make it here,” said Dudley Oldham of Lockport. “My legs are bad.”

Oldham’s wheelchair was powered by the energy of his son, Tom Oldham of Olcott, who accompanied his father as a guardian because “I wanted to share the monument with him, and I wanted to share the stories.”

There were plenty of stories to share. POW Don Griffin of Cheektowaga took some time out at dinner to recall his time in a German POW camp. He said he could still clearly remember the moment two angry Nazi guards stormed his barracks.

The prisoners had been whittling away at the floor for shreds of wood to burn and heat their contraband food. The guards fell through the weakened floor.

“They went in to their knees. I can still see them,” he said, chuckling at the memory.

Humor and dogged determination seemed to be the order of the day for the veterans who spent about 17 rigorous hours on the memorial adventure.

“We dealt with D-Day, I guess we can deal with this heat,” joked one vet of the 90-degree temperatures.

The veterans returned late at night to the Buffalo airport for one last round of cheering and “welcome home signs.” Erie County Executive Chris Collins was there to greet them, along with a crowd of well-wishers waving and draped in red, white and blue. Morse told the vets only one thing was asked of them.

“Tell your friends,” Morse told them. “Go back to your towns and VFW posts and tell everybody about what took place today.”

Morse, who like Kuligowski started the whole journey, have hopes that word of mouth will help to find a local non-profit organization to carry forth the next phase of the local Honor Flight mission and accept donations.

“We don’t have anything to give to you,” Morse told the vets. “This is the only thing we have left to give.”


Source: http://www.niagara-gazette.com/cnhi/niagaragazette/multimedia/local_story_185170816.html?keyword=topstory

Turn Off My Heart lyrics

Turn off my heart
Artist: Rich Price

I've been lost in Los Angeles
Nothin but big blue skies and breasts.
Crawlin down sunset on my hands and knees
Lookin for somethin to give my heart a rest.

I've been dreamin' about your hips again
The way they move when you shake your head.
I've been scheming to kiss your lips again
So baby why dont you just crawl right back into bed.

Cuz I forgot to turn off my heart, like I said would
and I know I should
This Rollin' stone, come to a stop

I've been sinkin' in my bed again
Oh I can't sleep when we're apart
I've been thinkin' about what you said again
I gotta make up my mind and let down my guard

Cuz I forgot to turn off my heart, like I said would
And I know I should
This Rollin' stone, come to a stop.

Poveglia | The scariest island place on earth

Poveglia is a tiny island located between Venice and Lido in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy.

It has an unfortunate history and is considered by some to be a hot spot for ghosts. During Roman times it was used to isolate thousands of plague victims and during the three occasions when the black death spread through Europe, the island was effectively used as a plague pit — it was considered an efficient way of keeping the infected people separated from the healthy. It is believed that over 160,000 people died on the island throughout its history.

The island was home to a small community until it was abandoned around 1380, during the War of Chioggia between Venice and Genoa.

In 1922, a psychiatric hospital was built on the island. It is rumoured that many of the patients claimed to see the tormented spirits of the plague victims soon after their arrival. The doctor there investigated this phenomenon by conducting crude lobotomies and medical experiments. He supposedly began seeing the ghosts himself and jumped to his death from the hospital steeple. After this, the hospital was abandoned and remains so to this day.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poveglia

How much do you know?
Poveglia is one of the small island, floating in the lagoons of Venice,that is not open to any public to go see, The history of this island is both intreging and frightfull,

It was once used to place the dead bodies of the black plague and those who were suffering from it, A plague doctor would look for people suffering from the plague and take them to this island to die, basicly they were dumped there.

long long after this a hospital was built there by a mad doctor who used to carry out experiments on people and basicly tourture them,

This place still stands today,

As you can imagin with all the events that have happened on this island there has got to be some real ghostly experiences there,

It is said that they do allow psycics on the island from time to time but most have left terrified!


In the southern part of the island, the main building, situated opposite the canal separating it from the "octagon", will become a "welcome centre" for the young people from all over the world able to board about 200 people. Right behind the above building will be the guest quarters ("Foresteria") for the participants in the scheduled events, from a conference or congress to a concert or movie screenings which will take place inside the multi-use hall.

Many great canvases are denied Giorgione by modern negative criticism simply because they do not quite attain the high standard of excellence arbitrarily set for this master by connoisseurs. Tradition says his death was due to grief because his lady-love proved false; probably the plague — then raging in Venice — carried him off. He was buried on the Island of Poveglia. Other works attributed to Giorgione are: "The Concert", Pitti Gallery, Florence; "Venus", Dresden Gallery; "Fte Champtre", Louvre; "Madonna and Child", Prado.

Brickhouse Child Locator Gadget

Spying on your kids is easy, with a myriad of expensive gadgets available now: BrickHouse Security offers Child Locators that can be worn like a watch or hidden in a jacket or backpack. SpyCamMan offers a wireless video camera incorporated into a Barbasol shave cream can. The RS-100 from Road Safety International borrows technology from the black boxes on airplanes to record teen driving habits.

But, just because you can, should you monitor your children that closely? Of course, there are valid reasons for watching over teen driving. And, one of our children was forever getting lost almost as soon as he could walk, so maybe a GPS (or a cellphone) would have made sense, had they been available.

But if you wait until your children are adolescents, haven't you already lost the battle of good behavior?

All anyone has to do to witness the breakdown in adolescent behavior is to visit or substitute-teach in a classroom, where adults are the enemy and children are out of control. Maybe it's just in public schools, but my informal survey includes classes for gifted and talented, who seemed to be talented troublemakers also.

As the parent of two sons, both of whom are now in their 20s, I believe that good behavior starts young – maybe before birth, as mothers can pass on drugs and alcohol during pregnancy. Your choice of partners is critical to your child's future.

As most parents are, I am proud of my children, and, when they were in public schools, I relished compliments from teachers on their behavior. I can't take credit for their actions, but I found that I differed sharply from many others in my parenting philosophy. And then there is the delightful surprise of meeting a kindred soul. The following summarizes my parenting mantra:

• Treat children like you want to be treated. Long before I entered the labor and delivery door, I witnessed a troubling tableau. I was enjoying a Whopper when I noticed a man and a little boy next to me. They were obviously in a hurry, because the man said, "Start stuffing," to the little boy, who was eating a hamburger. Ten to one, he wouldn't tell one of his adult friends that.

• Don't micromanage. I met a mom who said her child was forbidden to buy chocolate milk in the school cafeteria. Isn't this pointless? Who is there to enforce this ban? Why not pick a more significant battle?

• Model, model, model. From drooling to dating, the child is watching. Parents are the most important examples of behavior there is, starting with your own choice of partner. It's an ugly truth, but children take in everything.

• Tell the truth. "We told Brian that broccoli was spinach," said a friend who has since moved to another state. The little white lie was designed to take advantage of Popeye's taste for the green stuff. Why not push spinach itself? I don't know. The same parent reassured her nervous child that tornadoes never destroy brick houses. Didn't she realize that those lies would come home to roost?

• Enjoy your kids. They move out all too soon.

• Maintain your sense of humor. I was dealing with a hungry, tired toddler who was pitching a fit in the grocery store when a perfect stranger approached. "Aw, mom, lighten up," he said, putting the incident in perspective. Thank you for that, whoever you are.

Above all, don't be too hard on yourself. Parents will err, sometimes grievously, and if you spend too much time regretting your mistakes, you will miss the opportunity to enjoy their childhood.

And, if you've done a decent job, maybe you'll get a second chance with grandchildren.

Source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/collin/opinion/stories/DN-west_parenting_29edi.ART.West.Edition1.4e32ab8.html

Porsche Girl Nikki Catsouras Faceless Death

Nikki Catsouras is known as the Porsche Girl because she borrowed her Dad’s Porsche and smashed it at high speed. This happened on Halloween Day, October 31, 2006. Porsche girl Nikki Catsouras was killed instantly as the Porsche was going too fast at 100 mph and it overtook a Honda that drove at 70 mph. The vehicles were forced into a toll booth. Porsche girl Nikki Catsouras, 18, was decapitated.

Porsche Girl Nikki Catsouras

California Highway Patrol had its cctv which recorded the crash. It took pictures of Porsche Girl Nikki Catsouras beheaded.

California Highway Patrol policy and the state vehicle code forbids Police from distributing crime scene photos publicly but the photographs were leaked. Two officers, Thomas O’Donnell and Aaron Reich, were under investigation for leaking the Porsche Girl Nikki Catsouras’ photos.

Porsche Girl Nikki Catsouras MySpace webpage was hacked or someone set up a fake MySpace hat belonged to a Porsche Girl Nikki Catsouras. The photos of the Porsche Girl Nikki Catsouras car crash were posted there.

Lesli Catsouras, Porsche Girl Nikki Catsouras’ mother, and her family will sue the California Highway Patrol for $20 million.

Porsche Girl Nikki Catsouras crash site & corpse pictures are there.

Source: http://celebgalz.com/porsche-girl-nikki-catsouras/

ABC Family on "Secret Life of the American Teenager"

Do you know what happens to teen girls who become pregnant? They suddenly become the center of the universe, and everyone cares about them like never before. What a great way to instantly be popular and even loved: Get pregnant.

That's one of the core messages in The Secret Life of the American Teenager, a new drama premiering tonight on the ABC Family channel.

If you are looking for fictional precedents, think Juno, the critically acclaimed film about a 16-year-old offbeat teen, Juno MacGuff, and her pregnancy. As for real-life reverberation and feedback, consider new mom and teen star Jamie Lynn Spears or the story of 17 Massachusetts high schoolers who reportedly planned their teen pregnancies.

In fact, if you do a Google search for " Gloucester and pregnant teens," you will find a sponsoring link from Disney/ABC that says: "Amy is 15 and Pregnant. Watch ABC Family's New Series To See What Happens!" The symbiotic knot between TV and culture could hardly be tied tighter than it is with this teen series from producer Brenda Hampton, the creator of 7th Heaven.

Let's give credit where credit is due. As entertainment, the pilot is a most impressive work of economic and focused storytelling.

One minute and 45 seconds into it, Amy (Shailene Woodley) finds out through a home test kit that she's pregnant.

And before the first commercial break, a sweet and shy boy, Ben (Kenny Baumann), who is smitten from afar, approaches to ask Amy on a date.

A minute earlier, Amy had been described to Ben by a female classmate as being "smart, nice and maybe desperate enough to go out with you."

The quiet, 15-year-old sophomore is otherwise mainly known at Grant High School for playing French horn in the marching band.

The pregnancy is the result of one night at summer band camp when Amy had sex for the first time with Ricky (Daren Kagasoff), a drummer known for his wide-ranging sexual activities throughout the school. Ricky is cocky, angry and thinks he's a player's player.

But forget Ricky. Amy and Ben do wind up on a date. The final image of the hour finds the two in each others' arms dancing a slow dance alone on the floor in the center of the gym under a glittery revolving globe.

She's definitely at the center of this universe, and cheek to chest with someone who adores her to boot. What could be better?

Oh, yeah, this pregnancy thing. She still has to tell her parents ( Molly Ringwald and Mark Derwin) - and Ben.

Never mind, let's just close our eyes and dance.

You have to admit, it's a great curtain on which to close the pilot.

This is not to say that Secret Life has only one message. Hampton offers an array of images and role models in the pilot.

Grace (Megan Park), the pretty and popular captain of the cheerleaders, defines herself in large part by her Christianity and a commitment to celibacy until she finishes medical school. And while the writers do go for some laughs in the reaction of her football star boyfriend to her abstinence, they do not mock Grace. She is generally depicted as being every bit as nice and smart as Amy.

But here's the difference: Grace was always popular, whereas Amy is transformed into being popular, loved and adored only after she becomes pregnant.

Just as it is in fairy tales and TV ads, transformation is what matters. Buy a certain kind of sneaker and you will be able to leap like Michael Jordan. Buy a certain kind of high-priced sandal, and you will have as exciting a sex life as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City.

For the adolescent viewer, there is no story line capable of competing with the narrative of transformation that takes over once Amy becomes pregnant. Her actions at band camp will likely seem even more attractive to girls who see themselves as shy, unpopular and unloved.

No media company has shaped childhood and adolescent fantasies as successfully as Disney, which owns the ABC Family Channel. It's troubling to see its Hollywood storytellers spinning such an attractive tale about teen pregnancy.

Source: http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-to.teentv01jul01,0,5834066.story

Kathie Lee Gifford, other celebs fuel Al Roker's 'Celebrity Family Feud'

Al Roker takes a whack at 'Celebrity Family Feud' with Vincent Pastore.

Al Roker takes a whack at 'Celebrity Family Feud' with Vincent Pastore.

NBC's upcoming "Celebrity Family Feud" will feature the clans of celebs like Kathie Lee Gifford, rapper Ice T and comedian Bill Engvall, but host Al Roker is hoping they can persuade a certain New York institution to play on the show.

"I would love to have the Trumps," Roker said.

"Celebrity Family Feud," premiering tomorrow at 8, is an ­updated take on the old version, just with famous people. Four celebrity families compete each week, fielding topical questions with the answers they think most Americans would say. All prize money goes to each clan's ­favorite charity.

In some cases, the families will consist of one celebrity and their real-life relatives, while other episodes will feature nostalgic or current television families.

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/2008/06/23/2008-06-23_kathie_lee_gifford_other_celebs_fuel_al_.html

In one episode later in the season, the casts of "The Office," "My Name Is Earl" and "American Gladiators" will face off.

"People want to see who are part of these celebrities' lives," said executive producer Gaby Johnston. "What do they look like? What do they talk like? That's what's kind of fascinating in this version of the show."

Roker agrees.

"For example, Kathie Lee Gifford is one of the contestants and so many people in America have heard her talk about Cassidy and Cody," he said. "Well, now you're going to see Cassidy and Cody all grown up."

Roker couldn't be happier with the host gig, citing "Family Feud" as the only game show he's ever wanted to front. But he doesn't think he qualifies as a contestant.

"I really don't consider myself a celebrity," Roker said. "That's why I'm a host and not one of these contestants because if I'm considered a celebrity, then we really have lowered the bar."

Roker says that 12 years of "Today Show" small talk has been the perfect training for his new gig.

"Its not that much different from what I do on the 'Today' show,'" he said. "I kind of go down the line talking to people, trying to elicit some kind of fun something out of them. I'm kind of like a catalyst to get people to say some funny stuff or interesting stuff."

Since NBC announced the return of "Feud" and its new host, Roker says he's been overwhelmed by the public's anticipation of its debut.

"The 'Today' show is an institution and its great to be associated with that show," said Roker. "But I have never been with a show that hasn't even gotten on the air yet and people are coming up and saying they can't wait to see this. They say, 'Hey, say survey says! Say survey says!'"

Those Cheatin' Hearts

THE HEADLINES HAVE been hot all spring, Frank Gifford in a tryst caught on video. Michael Kennedy in a potential legal jam with an under-age babysitter. Eddie Murphy in a Toyota Land Cruiser with a transvestite. Behind the scenes, the people in charge of the news were themselves churning out fresh material for the gossip mills. There was the love match between ABC News president David Westin and the network's flack, Sherrie Rollins, the wife of political consultant Ed Rollins. No one in this triangle is talking publicly, and neither is Bill Keller, the newly anointed managing editor of The New York Times, who won that prestigious job after he left his wife for a British journalist reportedly pregnant with his child.

The military, with its shifting lines and uneven treatment, is actually not unlike the rest of institutional America, from executive suites to faculty lounges, The consequences for playing around depend very much on the players, but there's no question that in some cases cheatin' hearts can derail careers. Yes, there is a double standard. It helps to be rich, powerful--and male. Though there are more women than ever in the managementranks, men are still more likely to be higher up on the career ladder and therefore closer to the decision makers who will ultimately determine the lovers' professional fates if an affair is affecting morale or job performance. The old rule about real estate-location, location, location-applies here as well. Sexual behavior that's winked at in New York or L.A. could get you fired in another part of the country. Corporate culture counts, too. Even the biggest talents jeopardize their careers if they're having a workplace affair at a conservative firm.

Public attitudes toward adultery are predictably ambivalent. According to the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, 78.5 percent of adults polled last year said extramarital sex was "always wrong"-up 10 percent from 1976. But tolerance for adulterers themselves has risen. A 1996 NORC study found that 22 percent of men and 15 percent of women admitted being unfaithful to their spouses at least once. Opposing adultery in principle is not the same as "believing the adulterer is a monster who ought to wear a red letter on his breast," says New York University sociologist Todd Gitlin.

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Adultery is a particularly tricky issue in the office because work is the new social center; sexual attraction is inevitable and common. Though a ban on adultery is rarely official policy, most employers say they usually try to discourage extramarital sex because of potential complications. It becomes an issue not only of morality butalso of morale ff a supervisor is involved. "No matter what the truth, the lower-level person gets accused of sleeping their way to the top," says Lisa Mainiero, a management professor at Fairfield University who has studied office romances. Relationships between peers are less difficult, but there can be problems. "The rule of thumb," says M@ero, "is to be professional" and avoid taking four-hour lunches and acting kissy in the halls."

Companies generally prefer to deal with adultery-and any kind of office romance case by case rather than by policy decrees. Arkansas-based Wal-Mart ran into years of court battles vghen two employees challenged an anti-fraternization rule in its employee handbook. Says Gitlin: "Are you going to find a board of directors who, with a clear conscience, will penalize adulterers, when the odds are that some in the room have also been guilty?"

The only other profession that can be as strict as the military is the clergy. In 1996, Episcopal Bishop Edward Chalfant of Maine resigned after admitting that he had cheated on his wife. "When a clergyperson makes ordination vows," says Bishop Harold Hopkins, director of the ehureh's office of pastoral development, "they make certain promises to conduct themselves in a manner in which they're a wholesome example." These days they can only pray their congregations will follow.