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For Google’s Founders, a Coveted Landing Strip

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:39:30 GMT

In the annals of perks enjoyed by America’s corporate executives, the founders of Google may have set a new standard: an uncrowded, federally managed runway for their private jet that is only a few minutes’ drive from their offices.

The Google founders, according to one of their own Google maps, will spend just 7 minutes to get from their offices to the NASA airport where their jet is parked. As the crow flies, the airfield is only 1.7 miles away. View Larger Map

For $1.3 million a year, Larry Page and Sergey Brin get to park their customized wide-body Boeing 767-200, as well as two other jets used by top Google executives, on Moffett Field, an airport run by NASA that is generally closed to private aircraft.

It is a perk that is likely to turn other Silicon Valley tycoons green with envy, as no other private jets have landing rights there. But it may not sit well with a community that generally considers itself proud to have Google in its midst.

How did the two billionaires get such a coveted parking place for the jet, which is unusually large and rare by private jet standards? Officials at the Ames Research Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said the agency signed a unique agreement last month that allows it to place scientific instruments and researchers on planes used by the Google founders. NASA gets to collect scientific data on some flights of those jets, which in addition to the Boeing 767-200 includes two Gulfstream Vs.

“It was an opportunity for us to defray some of the fixed costs we have to maintain the airfield as well as to have flights of opportunity for our science missions,” said Steven Zornetzer, associate director for institutions and research at the Ames Center. “It seemed like a win-win situation.”

NASA said it had already run one mission on one Gulfstream V, to observe the Aurigid meteor shower on Aug. 31.

Moffett Field is nearly adjacent to Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., and the four-mile drive between the two locations takes just seven minutes, according to Google Maps. Other Silicon Valley executives have to fight traffic to get to their large jets parked at the San Francisco or San Jose international airports or even farther away.

Two private aviation industry executives said that parking two Gulfstream Vs at San Francisco or San Jose airports would cost $240,000 to $360,000 a year, or more, depending on the parking location and the amount of fuel purchased. As for the Boeing, one of the executives, who asked not to be identified because his wealthy clients insist on privacy, said that most private jet facilities at large airports are not equipped to take in a jet that big. “It’s like if you lived in a condo and decided to own a semi,” he said.

The agreement is raising questions from local officials and community activists, who have a long history of opposing the expansion of flights at Moffett Field, a historic airport that was once under the supervision of the United States Navy, but was transferred to NASA in 1994.

“The Google flights represent the possibility that the camel’s nose is under the tent, and that NASA is looking at opening up the use of the runways to help pay for it,” said Lenny Siegel, director of the Pacific Studies Center, a local nonprofit group that over the years has opposed proposed expansions of civilian flights at Moffett Field. “The majority of the people in the community are against that.”

Mr. Siegel said he was hoping NASA would provide clear answers about the agreement. “If they are doing science missions, that’s O.K.,” Mr. Siegel said. “If they are doing it just because they are rich and popular, it is not O.K.”

Google and Ames Research Center have agreements to collaborate on research, as well as a preliminary plan for Google to build as much as a million square feet of space at Ames. The deal for the planes, which are not owned by Google, was unrelated to the Google agreements, Mr. Zornetzer said. It was signed with H211, a limited liability corporation that counts Eric E. Schmidt, Google’s chief executive, as one of its principals. The ownership of the planes is held by other affiliated companies.

Google, for its part, said that this is a personal matter involving the founders, who were not available to comment. Ken Ambrose, whom NASA identified as a representative of H211, did not return calls seeking comment.

“This is not a new issue,” said Representative Anna Eshoo, a Democrat, whose district includes Moffett Field. “You have to live with your neighbors. You are not out in the middle of the desert. You are in the heart of Silicon Valley.”

The planes’ presence at Moffett Field was first reported last week by the technology gossip blog Valleywag. Some details of the agreement were reported Wednesday in The San Francisco Chronicle and The Palo Alto Daily News.

The Google founders’ jet has been the talk of Silicon Valley since 2005, when the pair purchased the plane, which in a normal configuration can hold 180 passengers.

A year later, attention on the plane intensified after The Wall Street Journal wrote about a legal dispute between the owners and a contractor who was hired to refurbish it. In the article, the contractor described requests for modifying the plane to include California king-size beds for the founders. At one point, the founders asked whether hammocks could be hung from the ceiling. The contractor said that Mr. Schmidt had described the jet as “party airplane.”

The extravagance of the plane stands in contrast to the low-key image cut by Mr. Brin and Mr. Page, whose lifestyle is less flashy than that of other Silicon Valley billionaires. They have been intensely private about the plane as they have been about all details of their private lives. Ever since the Navy decided to close operations at Moffett Field in the early 1990s, local communities have been opposed to expanding the airport’s use. In 1992, in nonbinding votes in Mountain View and Sunnyvale, voters overwhelmingly rejected the idea of opening up Moffett Field to general aviation. A plan to open the field to air cargo companies like FedEx and U.P.S. was rejected in the late 1990s, in part because of community opposition.

Mr. Zornetzer said NASA was not expecting the deal to create a large number of new flights at Moffett. While two other private parties — a helicopter operator and Lockheed Martin — are allowed to use the airfield, none of those agreements cover flights of private jets. NASA said it had no agreements allowing private jets to land at any of its other facilities. As news of the jet’s presence at Moffett Field spread, private jet owners and operators have begun coveting the airfield.

“Everyone who operates private jets or owns them has been eyeing that gorgeous runway eager to take off from there,” said Nicholas Solinger, chief strategy officer for Xojet, a private aviation company. Mr. Solinger said Moffett was far better situated for most Silicon Valley executives than the airports at San Jose and San Francisco. “People will now redouble their efforts to get access to that airfield,” he said.

Sex While Asleep Not Just Dreamed Up

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:27:00 GMT

After uncovering the secret lives of people who walk, eat and become aggressive while asleep, scientists are now turning to another bedtime phenomenon: "sleepsex."

Reports of sexual behavior while asleep have become so common that experts on Friday released a classification system that allows doctors to better document these cases.

People who engage in sleepsex "don't remember what they do, and it's their bed partners who tell them. They're mortified, and the partner complains they're being assaulted or molested," said Dr. Carlos Schenck, a sleep researcher who was lead author on the report. "Now they'll realize this is a sleep-related disorder."

Since the 1990s, researchers have been exploring the range of "parasomnia" behaviors in which people do things other than sleep while sleeping.

Sleepwalking, of course, is nothing new -- ask Lady Macbeth -- but researchers are discovering that people eat while asleep, engage in violence, and even intensely scratch themselves.

"Anything that people do during the daytime, we're realizing they can do during sleep, all the instinctual or basic behaviors," Schenck, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Minnesota Medical School, said.

Schenck and colleagues explored existing reports of sexual behavior during sleep and created the classification system. Their work appears in the June issue of the journal Sleep.

The researchers looked at 31 cases of sleep-related sexual behavior. They found that 80 percent involved men. Only males engaged in sleep sexual intercourse (42 percent of cases) while females were more likely to engage in "sexual vocalizations." People of both genders reported incidents of sleep masturbation.

In one case, they reported, "a 28-year-old woman had nightly sexual moaning and sexual fondling during sleep for 16 years that would appear within 20 minutes of falling asleep and disturb the sleep of her husband and children."

In another case, a 26-year-old woman would initiate foreplay with her bed partner during sleep and then awaken and accuse him of forcing sex upon her.

None of the patients reported remembering the incidents.

Patients who have sex while asleep typically do not have any form of mental disorders, Schenck said. "Basically, an alarm rings in their nervous system when it shouldn't ring, and they have this partial awakening. It's a twilight state," he said.

Unfortunately for the patients, "they have suspended judgment," Schenck said. "They can't monitor themselves, and they're are risk for harming themselves or someone else."

In many cases, he added, bed partners reported unwanted sexual advances by a sleeping person, but sometime said they didn't mind the extra attention.

The sedative clonazepam (Klonopin) is a frequent treatment for unwanted behaviors during sleep and it works in 90 percent of parasomnia cases, according to the new report.

It's not clear how common sleepsex is. Dr. Robert Vorona, a sleep researcher and associate professor of internal medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School, suspects that the true number of cases is not on the rise.

"However, until sleep specialists actively question our patients about these delicate issues, we will not really know just how common or uncommon these behaviors might be, or whether these activities might be occurring more frequently," he said.

As for the future, he said sleep experts -- already called as experts in court cases on violence reportedly taking place during sleep -- may find themselves testifying even more often.

"Sleep clinicians should not be surprised to find themselves increasingly being asked to testify in controversial cases involving sexual activity during sleep," he said.

Are Rich People Parasites?

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 11:11:07 GMT

Hunter Lewis's excellent book differs from nearly all other books on economics. Most books defend a particular point of view: a work by Duncan Foley, e.g., will be much more favorable to Marxism than one by Ludwig von Mises. Lewis instead presents the arguments both for and against the free market, allowing readers to judge for themselves.

Why does he do this? Not because he has no point of view of his own. Judging by the way he presents the arguments, I strongly suspect that he favors the free market; and at the end of the book, he does offer some policy suggestions. But he thinks that judgments about economic policy rest on premises about values that cannot be fully reconciled.

We cannot escape the problem these conflicting value judgments pose by throwing some of them overboard. They all have merit:

Indeed, I [Lewis] believe that if we take the trouble to look beneath the surface of clashing economic ideas, we will generally find ideals on all sides that are inspiring, and others that are at least worthy of respect. (p. 12)

As we shall see, Lewis has a creative proposal that he hopes will elicit agreement from proponents of the major value perspectives. But the battle over the free market occupies most of the book. As Lewis points out, a common attack on the free market indicts the rich as parasites. Is it not grossly unfair, e.g., that Bill Gates has billions of dollars, far in excess of what he needs to lead a life of luxury, while others must struggle for a pittance?

Precisely the excess that the opponents of the market protest against is a principal point in favor of the market. People wish to have more and better goods, and this goal can only be attained through investment on a massive scale. Investment, in turn, requires savings, and only the rich can save the large amounts needed:

The poor cannot be expected to save, because they need every dollar for basic needs such as food and shelter. Middle class people will save something for emergencies, children's education, or old age. But they have many immediate needs and desires, and in any case their savings will eventually be consumed, especially after retirement. The rich, however, are different. They have so much money that, in aggregate, they simply cannot spend it all. They are, in effect, forced to save. (p. 20)

The rich then, are necessary, at least if we want a prosperous society. But must one not say, on the other side, that the vast profits that some people get in a capitalist economy make goods more expensive for the poor? If profits were curtailed, would this not lower prices? Lewis notes in rebuttal that profit and loss guide producers to meet the demands of consumers. If a business makes a large profit, this indicates that consumers want more of the product, and entrepreneurs will shift resources to satisfy this demand. Losses indicate the contrary, and resources shift away from items that generate them.

But does this response answer the objection? Even if profits are indispensable signals for the market, do they not result in high prices that gouge the poor? Lewis quotes an unexpected witness to the contrary. In the Communist Manifesto, Marx pointed out that capitalism conquers through low prices:

The cheap prices of its commodities are the heavy artillery with which [the profit system] … compels all nations, on pain of extinction, to adopt the [profit] mode of production. (p. 50, quoting the Manifesto)

Even if profits are essential, though, why must they go to owners of firms? Why cannot workers manage their own affairs, retaining profits for themselves? Of course, in a market system, workers are free to organize firms in this way if they wish, but the objection rests on a false premise. In speaking of workers retaining profits, the objection ignores a fact that we have already discussed. Growth in a free economy depends on savings and investment. In a growing economy, the bulk of profits must be reinvested. The presupposition of the objection is that workers who owned a firm themselves would have the profits to spend, but this would derail growth.

Most importantly, if employees owned the entire economy, saving would plummet. As we have seen, it is the special role of the rich to be forced to save and invest — they alone have more than they can possibly spend. (p. 58)

Suppose, though, that one grants this part of the case for the free market. Can one still not object that this system subordinates the workers of one country to the vagaries of the world market? Workers are driven out of their jobs by competition from foreign firms that pay low wages.

Here once more the objection to the market fails. Ricardo's law of comparative advantage long ago showed that free trade increases total wealth. Specialization increases the total wealth of the countries that trade; and, Lewis adds with great insight, this applies to jobs as well.

These principles [of comparative advantage] are well established for the import or export of goods. It is not as widely recognized that they are just as relevant for the "outsourcing" of service jobs over the internet or telephone lines. The savings achieved by importing electronic services has enabled many companies to prosper, where they otherwise might have stagnated or failed, and thus to hire more employees rather than fewer. (p. 92)

As often happens, misguided efforts to help the poor worsen their condition. Tariffs make goods more expensive for them, and even Paul Krugman, hardly known for undue partiality to the free market, recognizes the value of free trade for the poor: "[Opponents of global free trade], whatever their intentions, are doing their best to make the poor even poorer" (p. 97, quoting Krugman).

Faced with the undoubted benefits of the market, few today call for its outright abolition. Rather, opponents of the market contend that it must be restrained and guided by a beneficent government. In arguing in this way, though, do they not rely on a very questionable assumption? They believe, without justification, that government officials act to benefit the public.

The primary charge against government is that it is predatory, a devourer of society's capital. But predation is not the whole story. More often than not, government is also corrupt. Moreover, the opportunities for corruption multiply the more deeply government gets into the economy. (p. 152)

But even if government is in most cases corrupt, must we not rely on it in emergencies? Suppose the economy plunges into depression. Surely the government needs to intervene in order to revive the economy. Lewis answers, to the contrary, that the government will do best by following a "hands-off" policy:

Before the 1930s, and the advent of an activist government, there were depressions to be sure, but they were brief … This was in sharp contrast to the Great Depression of the thirties, when falling prices were combated and wages kept artificially high by both the Hoover and Roosevelt administrations. As a direct result, unemployment kept deepening and depression lingered on amidst terrible human suffering. (p. 75)

Lewis's penetrating argument can be strengthened even more by asking, how do depressions arise? Mises, Hayek, and Rothbard have to my mind convincingly shown that government policy, not the market, bears full responsibility. Expansion of bank credit drives the market rate of interest below the natural rate, generating an artificial boom that must eventually collapse. Lewis does not discuss the origins of the Great Depression, but he offers a comprehensive indictment of central banking policy. In the United States, the Federal Reserve System is supposed to stabilize the economy; but the economy was more stable before the system was established than afterwards.

Free-market economists do not all agree about how past economic contractions occurred. But all agreed with [Milton] Friedman's assertion that "The stock of money, prices and output was decidedly more unstable after the establishment of the Reserve System than before." (p. 173)

Supporters of the present order will no doubt say that despite past errors of the Fed, we now know better how to manage things. As Lewis notes, the monetary expansion pursued by Alan Greenspan during his long tenure as Chairman of the Fed hardly inspires confidence that this is so.

Lewis once more shows his skill at summoning an unexpected witness for his case. Alexander Hamilton strongly favored a national bank, but even he drew the line at paper money:

The emitting of paper money by the authority of Government is wisely prohibited … The stamping of paper is an operation so much easier than the laying of taxes, that a government, in the practice of paper emissions, would rarely fail … to indulge itself … even to [the point of creating] an absolute bubble. (pp. 185–86, quoting Hamilton.)

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"The rich then, are necessary, at least if we want a prosperous society."

Lewis's presentation of the arguments leaves us in a quandary. If the case for the free market is so strong, why do so many oppose it? For Lewis, as mentioned earlier, the explanation lies in conflicting values. Lewis distinguishes four value systems: fraternalism, reciprocalism, equalitarianism, and philanthropism. He characterizes each of these insightfully, but for our purposes the essential point is this: Some people think that a morality of individual responsibility, characteristic of a free market, is inadequate. People ought to be charitable, acting for the motive of benefiting the unfortunate. Even if the market helps the poor, this is merely an unintended consequence of people's actions.

Lewis does not take sides on these various values, though one gathers that he thinks philanthropism has a good deal to be said for it. He suggests a way in which the various values can be partially reconciled, thus avoiding the need to choose one system and reject the others. He wishes to expand the non-profit sector of the economy, which now "represents about 8% of the U.S. economy, and considerably less elsewhere." (p. 209)[1] In particular, he proposes that private organizations take over as much as possible of the welfare activities of the government.

To achieve this aim, Lewis suggests that donors to charity be able to deduct the full amount of their contribution from taxes:

This would leave the taxpayer with a simple choice; would I prefer my money to go to the government or to charity, since a credit would mean that the government is bearing the full cost. (p. 211)

Readers interested in further elaborations of the plan can consult the book, but the basic idea seems to be one of great importance. Often, supporters of a complete free market must face the objection that, without government welfare, some people could not survive. The standard reply to this is that, in a free market, private charity would attend to these people. Lewis's ingenious idea gives us a way gradually to approach a fully private system.

This girl [Ms. Teen Louisiana] is 15?

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:19:34 GMT

Miss Teen USA 2007 contestant Logan Brook Travis poses in Pasadena, California August 14, 2007. The 15-year old from Amite, Louisiana is the youngest in the competition. The 25th Miss Teen USA pageant will be held on August 24 in Pasadena.

Chinese iPhone Copy

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 19:58:07 GMT

Pictures of the Chinese copy of the Apple iPhone.

Who Wants to be a Superhero? - Reality Meets Fantasy

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:58:42 GMT

Deep down, don't we all want to be a superhero? After teaming up with the Sci-Fi Channel for the first season of Who Wants to be a Superhero?, comic book legend, Stan Lee returns for a second helping of the popular reality show with a brand new crop of crime fighting hopefuls. Although we love the thought of average citizens as superheroes, we're dying to know how the contestants would fare if they locked horns with some of Stan's most famous comic book creations. Hey, you never know; maybe The Thing has a weakness for Windex.

To celebrate the return of Who Wants to be a Superhero, we've come up with a few fantasy match-ups to pit average reality contestants with real superheroes. By no means are we saying these are fair, but we are dealing with housewives, cashiers, cops, and college department heads. Then again, the cop may have a fighting chance. After all, he's used to fighting crime on a daily basis. At least it's a heads start.

Parthenon vs. Thor

I know what you're thinking. Thor would tear this poor sucker apart in less than a minute. Before we jump to conclusions, let's take a closer look. Although Thor possesses an enormous amount of power, a high resistance to physical injury, incredible speed and one badass hammer, we may have found an opening for contestant Danny Williams, aka Parthenon. If the two really locked horns, we'd have an epic battle between Norse mythology and the unknown powers of Atlantis. Parthenon possesses the ancient gauntlet known as the "Armaguard," which gives him the powers of flight, limited invulnerability, and super-strength. Doesn't sound like much does it? Well, before we place our bets on Thor, there's just one thing to remember. If Parthenon manages to get his hands on a few Atlantian gemstones for the Armaguard, he'll be blessed with a force field, a sonic attack, and the ability to create illusions. While most of you will discount Parthenon as simply a child doing battle with a giant, we're betting on the underdog. If he creates illusions of Loki, which will undoubtedly drive Thor out of his mind, we've got ourselves a winner. "Rock on Parthenon!"

The Defuser vs. Daredevil

After closer inspection, this looks like fair fight. A police detective matching wits and abilities with a blind ex-lawyer; what more could we ask for? Before Ben Affleck donned the "Double-D" tights, Matthew Murdock was one of the coolest superheroes around. Well, in relation to the comic book legacy, he still is. Against Daredevil, The Defuser would have to man-up against super-human hearing, touch, and smell, which DD definitely uses to his advantage, especially since he's as blind as a bat. Combine that with expert martial arts and a club, and things look tough for part-time superhero, Jarrett Crippen, aka: The Defuser. Stepping into the ring, The Defuser brings with him an impressive arsenal of homemade gadgetry, which gives him the enhanced abilities of super speed, strength, agility, hearing and eyesight. Not a bad offense against Daredevil, right? While all of this bodes well for our homegrown hero, The Defuser does have a certain sensitivity to bright light, which requires him to wear protective eyewear. Like Daredevil, he could go blind. The only thing that DD needs to do is knock the glasses off and The Defuser is rendered helpless. Advantage Daredevil. "When Daredevil's around The Defuser is going down!"

Hygena vs. The Thing

When I heard first heard of Hygena, my thoughts wandered to the father from My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The story goes that the bride's dad believes that Windex can cure anything. Hygena claims that cleaning supplies give her the ability to fight crime and grime at the same time. How can this be? Her weapons include an ionized radiation feather duster, clean bombs that leave enemies unconscious, and the a magical necklace for protection. If we were dealing with a battle over cleaning supplies, it's possible Hygena would stand a fighting chance against The Thing. Come to think of it, The Thing doesn't have any special weapons at his disposal. However, what he does possess is a bad bedside manner, heaps of courage, superhuman strength, and durable rock-like skin. Although Hygena's feather duster won't do a thing to protect her from The Thing, the clean bombs could knock Ben Grimm out long enough to try the Windex trick. Hey, you never know. After all, Hygena's slogan is "Fighting Grime and Crime!" You're going down Grimm

The Simpsons Movie - I'd Pay To See That Episode

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:58:21 GMT

There are a few (usually older) folks out there who can't understand why anyone would ever turn a TV show into a movie. In their minds, they can't grasp why you'd ever pay to see something you can watch for free at home. While this viewpoint might seem both closed-minded and cheap, you have to admit, there have been only a few good (Serenity) and many, many bad (Mod Squad) movies based on TV shows over the years. It's a hard act to pull off, even with a great series as your source material. But what about a movie based on a program that Time Magazine called the best TV show of all time? That'd have to be good, right?

Millions of fans worldwide are hoping that's true as they eagerly anticipate this week's premiere of The Simpsons Movie. But, while the story of the new movie was written especially for the big-screen, it got us thinking - which classic episodes of The Simpsons could the writers of The Simpsons Movie have expanded into a feature film? Let's be honest - some of the best Simpsons episodes are so old that movies that have been released since have already been remade or turned into a Broadway play. Why not take one of the greats from season three or four and just beef it up with new scenes, subplots, and a Green Day soundtrack? Most kids would never know the difference. If we were picking the candidates to adapt, here are the eleven Simpsons episodes that we think would've made the best feature film...

[Note: This is not a list of the "best episodes ever" and shouldn't be taken as such. Some of the greatest Simpsons installments had plots perfectly suited to the show's 22-minute running time. These are the episodes that we feel had such a broad concept that they could have been expanded into a feature-length film. To be fair, we also tried to avoid episodes that were clearly based on movies to begin with. Turning "Cape Feare" back into a film seems somewhat redundant and, sadly enough, kids today would probably call "Bart of Darkness" a Disturbia rip-off. Sigh.]

11. Deep Space Homer

What It's About: Everyman Homer shot into space with Buzz Aldrin and Race Banyon to boost NASA's ratings. In classic Homer fashion, he almost dooms the mission, but a carbon rod saves the day. Thank God for carbon rods.

Why It Would Make a Great Movie: Sci-fi is hot. Think Simpsons meets Sunshine, and you've got an idea of why this episode would work at the multiplex, drawing in space junkies of all ages.

How To Adapt It: This one is a little harder to expand than some of our other candidates, just because of the confined nature of space travel (Homer can't wake up drunk on the lawn in a subzero vacuum), so to make this work, we're going to have to spend a lot of time on the ground. One of the best parts of "Deep Space Homer" is the training sessions with Homer and Barney. That's where you start. Make the competition stiffer. Picture Apu, Flanders, Moe, Homer, and Barney in a first act reminiscent of Space Camp, throw in an upset Marge, a stowaway Bart, and Lisa doing her best Ed Harris impression, talking the astronauts back home, and try not to get excited about seeing that movie. Might go without saying, but Kang and Kodos NEED to make a cameo in the end.

10. Boy-Scoutz N The Hood

What It's About: Bart joins the Junior Campers and ends up on a near-deadly father-son river rafting trip with Homer, Flanders, and Ernest Borgnine. Always beware Ernest Borgnine.

Why It Would Make a Great Movie: It was a tough call between this one and "Camp Krusty," but they're both similarly open to outdoor action sequences that would look great on the big screen. "Boy-Scoutz" is one of the most packed-to-the-edges episodes in Simpsons history. The Super-Squishee freak-out that gets Bart into his Junior Camper predicament could be at least fifteen minutes longer and still stay entertaining.

How To Adapt It: All the kids need to end up Junior Campers with their own character arcs - Ralph, Martin, Milhouse, Nelson, etc. Other than that, you don't need to do much to expand this classic. There's more than enough plot for a feature film.

9. Homie the Clown

What It's About: Krusty, Homer, and Clown College. If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and correct that grievous error as soon as possible.

Why It Would Make a Great Movie: Homer + a clown outfit = guaranteed laughs. Homer's obsession with being a clown (everyone he looks at turns into smiling, laughing freaks) can provide hours of laughs. Plus, it got a nice little mob subplot (hit up De Niro and Pacino for stunt-casting), expansive settings (Krusty travels the world to escape his gambling debts), and a built-in climax with the Spin Cycle Fantastique Stunt.

How To Adapt It: Imagine 90 minutes of Homer dressed like a clown doing his Krusty routines at various functions - Homie the Clown at a corporate event, Homie the Clown at a bachelorette party, Homie the Clown presents at an award show, Homie the Clown buys groceries - the possibilities are endless... and hilarious.

8. Home Sweet Homediddly-dum-doodily

What It's About: Homer and Marge leave the kids in Grandpa's care and, let's just say, that's never a good idea. Child Protective Services force Bart and Lisa to go live with the Flanders while their parents undergo a class in child rearing. Yes, we said rearing. Stop laughing, Beavis.

Why It Would Make a Great Movie: Flanders is guaranteed funny and the hilarious differences between Casa De Flanders and the Simpson home could be even more daring on the big screen. And, as we've learned through the recent adventures of Hollywood troublemakers, having to go to court-ordered therapy is pretty darned trendy these days.

How To Adapt It: Expand the concept so that everyone in Springfield is deemed a bad parent and all of their children end up under the care of Ned Flanders. While the Van Houtens, Simpsons, and Wiggums go through therapy, more and more children would end up getting browbeaten into religion by the Flanders, resulting in a Children of the Corn-esque showdown between Springfield's parents and their offspring. It would be like Jesus Camp meets one of those Daddy Day Care movies... but, you know, funny.

7. Last Exit to Springfield

What It's About: One of the best Simpsons episodes ever revolves around Homer heading the union at the nuclear plant in an effort to get the workers' dental plan back for his daughter.

Why It Would Make a Great Movie: Picture it - a Simpsons movie filed under drama. Who better to lead the masses against The Man than Homer Simpson? And we do mean "masses."

How To Adapt It: Take it seriously. Not TOO seriously, of course, but think of the emotional chords that could be hit by Homer Simpson cradling a poor Lisa Simpson whose tooth problem has gotten so bad that her teeth have gone through the top of her head. Yeardley Smith would have to clear space on her mantle for an Oscar.

6. A Streetcar Named Marge

What It's About: One of our personal favorite Simpsons features Marge performing in a community theater musical version of Streetcar Named Desire, channeling her own personal Blanche DuBois to get her through the role and keep her from strangling Stanley... I mean, Homer.

Why It Would Make a Great Movie: Do you remember how wonderfully the music worked in South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut? This has the potential to be just as awesome. Someone get Alf Clausen and Marc Shaiman working on melodies and hire Waiting for Guffman's Christopher Guest to consult.

How To Adapt It: Start with more musical numbers, of course, and play up the parallel between Homer and Stanley in the classic Tennessee Williams play. As a Simpsons episode, "Streetcar" is one of the best combinations of clever pop culture references - Hitchcock, Great Escape, the awfulness of community theatre, etc - and the emotional chords that were more a part of the show in its prime. Homer may be ignorant, but he needs Marge and sometimes dependence can be close enough to love. The end of "Streetcar" is note-perfect and, on the big screen, there wouldn't be a dry eye in the house.

5. $pringfield (Or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Legalized Gambling)

What It's About: During an economic slowdown, Springfield legalizes gambling, and Marge gets trapped by the monster Homer calls Gamblor.

Why It Would Make a Great Movie: As Danny Ocean has proved three times, gambling makes for great cinema.

How To Adapt It: Picture Ocean's Eleven with Homer in the Clooney role, Barney in the Pitt role, Flanders in the Damon role, Apu in the Cheadle role, and Milhouse and Nelson in the Caan and Affleck roles. Of course, Mr. Burns takes the Garcia role. While Homer's Eleven tries to take down Mr. Burns' casino, Marge deals with her gambling demons, adding some character drama to the hijinks of Homer and his crew. This thing writes itself.

4. Treehouse of Horror

What It's About: Every year, The Simpsons tells a trio of horrifying tales, resulting in some of the greatest episodes in the history of the series.

Why It Would Make a Great Movie: Variety. It's that simple. The writers could have different leads, styles, and be allowed to work in the quick short-story style that they've excelled at for two decades.

How To Adapt It: Take all of the best ideas from the Treehouse of Horror episodes and combine them into one Creepshow-like feature, possibly hosted by Bart or Booberella. Imagine five or six scary stories each featuring a different lead character in another horrifying predicament. The Treehouse of Horror was once an annual highlight (although it has gotten a little stale in recent years) and imagine how much further the writers could go with parodying classic horror concepts on the big screen. Release it around Halloween and watch that Saw franchise collapse like a half-baked donut.

3. 22 Short Films About Springfield

What It's About: Um, the title is pretty self-explanatory. Try and keep up.

Why It Would Make a Great Movie: Much like Treehouse of Horror: The Movie, 22 Not-So-Short Films About Springfield is a no-brainer because of the variety of stories and characters you could squeeze into one movie. It worked pretty well for 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould. We think. Like most of you, we didn't see it either. We heard it worked.

How To Adapt It: It doesn't get much easier than this one. While the core family is the heart of the show, The Simpsons had THE most colorful, cool, and robust supporting cast in the history of TV... and most of them are just Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer. Pick 22 characters. Write a four-minute film about each of them. The tickets will sell like Duff beer on a hot day.

2. Homer Goes to College

What It's About: In this classic Conan O'Brien penned episode, Homer is forced back to Springfield University after an accident at the nuclear plant. There, he leads a revolt of the nerds, tries to get unwarranted revenge on a kindly dean, and makes one last run at the academic glory that has always evaded him.

Why It Would Make a Great Movie: It's a little scary to admit, but teenagers are probably starting to look at The Simpsons as a product of their parent's generation. They're into South Park, Family Guy, and Adult Swim - which, as we older folk know, owe a HUGE debt of gratitude to The Simpsons. Building on a plot reminiscent to American Pie (or Superbad) might make The Simpsons seem way cooler to the kids who were just born when this episode originally aired (FOURTEEN years ago... God, we feel old).

How To Adapt It: Bring in Seth Rogen as a co-writer, and "hip" the hell out of this thing. A few hot young artists like Rihanna or Plain White T's playing at a few campus parties that Homer and the nerds attend would help. Imagine a spoof of all of the teen college films like Animal House, Revenge of the Nerds, and American Pie with The Simpsons sense of humor. It'll make you laugh just thinking about it.

1. Bart on the Road

What It's About: Bart gets a fake ID and heads on a road trip with Milhouse, Martin, and Nelson. Meanwhile, Lisa and Homer grow closer by hanging out at work.

Why It Would Make a Great Movie: One of the densest Simpsons episodes ever (in terms of plot) fits the movie structure perfectly. It's got an open-ended road trip story that anything can be done with, and it's got the emotional core of the dynamic between Homer, Marge, and Lisa. Bart can go crazy with his boys on the road and the rest of the Simpsons can tug at the heartstrings. It's got it all. This thing has Oscar written all over it.

How To Adapt It: You don't need to do much. Keep the World's Fair bit. Keep the wigs. Keep the grammar rodeo. Just build on what's already there. A few more roadside adventures for the boys, a few more heart-to-hearts for the family (maybe Homer tries to help Lisa win the heart of Langdon Auger), and this thing makes a billion dollars worldwide. The desire to hit the open road will appeal to the young demographic, while the tribulations of Homer and Marge will hit a chord with us old bastards who were alive when The Simpsons debuted. We're already thinking sequel

Buffett bets $1 million to prove the wealthy pay LESS in taxes than the middle class

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 11:47:14 GMT

Presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton was all ears at a fundraiser Tuesday evening when famed billionaire investor Warren Buffett suggested ramping up the tax code on big businesses and the super rich.

The Berkshire Hathaway (Charts, Fortune 500) chairman touched on a variety of issues in a question and answer session with Clinton, including his disdain for private equity firm power brokers.

"The people that earn their living doing that should be subject to taxes that reflect their labors," he said in the gathering at a hotel in midtown Manhattan.
Which candidate is business betting on?

Recently private equity firms have become targets of Congress, who claim that fund managers benefit from unfair tax advantages. One Senate committee has proposed raising taxes on publicly traded private equity firms such asBlackstone Group (Charts).

Speaking to several hundred supporters of the U.S. Senator from New York, Buffett revealed his puzzlement that he was taxed at a lower rate than many of the lesser-paid individuals working for his company.

Buffett said he makes $46 million a year in income and is only taxed at a 17.7 percent rate on his federal income taxes. By contrast, those who work for him, and make considerably less, pay on average about 32.9 percent in taxes - with the highest rate being 39.7 percent.

To emphasize his point, Buffett offered $1 million to the audience member who could show that one of the nation's wealthiest individuals pays a higher tax rate than one of their subordinates.

"I'm willing to bet anyone in this room $1 million that those rates are less than the secretary has to pay," said Buffett.

The Berkshire Hathaway chairman remained relatively positive about the U.S. economy overall, and remained doubtful that the recent woes in the subprime mortgage market would spread to the rest of the housing sector and the larger economy.

"Overall if the unemployment rate doesn't increase and interest rates don't increase then I don't think it will have an effect on the rest of the economy," he said.

Buffett, however, did not explicitly back Clinton in her bid for the White House during Tuesday night's event - although he has made a number of contributions to her different political campaigns, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Amazon valuation tops Google's, baffles some

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:30:03 GMT

Two months after Amazon.com posted first-quarter results that gave a boost to bulls anxious for a sign of improved earnings and profit margins, the online retailer's valuation is soaring--and perplexing many.

Trading at 53 times expected 2008 earnings, Amazon's valuation is more double that of Google and eBay, and nearly twice that of Apple.

Amazon's rich valuation, which has historically ranged higher than most tech companies and well above brick-and-mortar rivals like Wal-Mart Stores, is due to a confluence of factors involving a limited concentration of holdings, a period of intense investment, and an indefatigable faith in the company's future among some core investors, Wall Street says.

The company posted net earnings in late April that nearly doubled, helped in large part by a lower tax rate, and raised its 2007 sales and operating income estimates. But the share price, up 58 percent since earnings were announced, has grown faster than earnings expectations, boosted Amazon's price-to-earnings ratio to a dizzying level.

A unique psychology is at work when it comes to Amazon, argues Global Crown Capital's Martin Pyykkonen, who describes some of the company's bulls as having gone "off their rocker."

"It's the psychology behind it," he said of investors' reaction. "It's more a case of the news (in the first quarter) didn't get any worse and in some cases it got better."

Jordan Rohan of RBC Capital Markets said, "I struggle with the valuation, too. Many people have questions."

Pyykkonen, calling himself a "perennial bear in terms of (Amazon's) valuation," said bulls might be betting on a more substantial and sustained scale-back in investment spending than he is.

Amazon has just begun to decelerate spending on technology and content that has depressed earnings over the past few years in an investment spree that frustrated many on Wall Street.

But given the competitive nature of the retail business, Pyykkonen does not see Amazon sitting on the sidelines as rivals gain traction. Instead, he said, spending at Amazon will be a given over the long haul: "To stay competitive, you have to invest. It's the way it is."

Another issue with Amazon's valuation may be that many shareholders have substantial stakes, limiting the number of shares that are freely available to be bought and sold.

Chief Executive Jeffrey Bezos' has nearly 25 percent of Amazon's shares. Its top five institutional investors also hold significant stakes. For example, Amazon's largest institutional investor, Legg Mason, controls 20 percent of the stock.

So the free float that is left is relatively small, RBC's Rohan explained, and even slight shifts in the company's fundamentals can spark a disproportionate move.

"Amazon shares are destined to be wild and volatile," Rohan said.

Short sellers also contributed to the initial run on Amazon shares after earnings were released. The shorts, betting against Amazon, rushed to buy stock to limit their losses when shares began to rise, pushing the stock price even higher.

Robert Toomey of E.K. Riley sees Amazon's high multiple as a sign of the retailer's recent investment cycle, and says the phenomenon is seen whenever earnings are temporarily depressed, whether from recession or investment.

"They do look relatively expensive relative to Google and Apple right now," he said. "But again, they've been spending very heavily and that has depressed their cash flow. As their cash flow improves, the valuation is not that extreme."

Investors are betting that the improved profit margins seen in the first quarter will continue, while revenues will be buoyed by much-hyped, newly introduced digital services such as video and music, which pits Amazon against Apple's successful iTunes service.

Amazon executives, Pyykkonen argued, are probably equally dumbfounded by their share price rise and wondering: "What did we say that made people feel that good?"

Comparing Amazon with Google, Pyykkonen said the two companies' price-to-earnings ratios--with Amazon using GAAP numbers and Google adjusted--have over the last two years been comparable. That has now shifted.

"When I look at both companies, the advertising market, the margins, the competitive position...that should be worth a whole lot more multiple than an online retailer that's in a brutally competitive business," Pyykkonen said. "I would argue (Amazon) should be worth less than Google."

Condom Truck tips spills load

Mon, 28 May 2007 14:17:46 GMT

funniest news article

Lindsay Lohan Stripping Video

Sun, 27 May 2007 10:47:28 GMT

So, you know how Lindsay Lohan plays a stripper in her next flvie, I Know Who Killed Me? Well, we've got the videos right here. These clips are shot from the point of view of somebody stalking Lindsay's character, and are kinda creepy, especially the voice-over. But there's nothing creapy about Lindsay Lohan almost naked with a stripper pole between her breasts.

Yeah, I thought that might get your attention.

The I Know Who Killed Me website has a really annoying age verification system which doesn't actually work in Internet Explorer, so I went ahead and made the videos all easy to watch right here. You can thank me later.

Lindsay Lohan Stripper Video Leaked Online

Sun, 27 May 2007 10:45:40 GMT

Lindsay Lohan is set to get very revealing in her upcoming film "I Know Who Killed me." The role is a step out from her usual fare and Lohan promises to reveal "a lot more" as she plays a stripper in her new movie. Lindsay will play a pole dancing stripper that is stalked, and later kidnapped. It has been called a 'very dark film.'

Lindsay Lohan Stripper Video Leaked Online
Lindsay Lohan Stripper Video Leaked Online

Now some of the video from the movie has been leaked online. IMDb has this synopsis for the film: The script revolves around Aubrey Fleming (Lohan), a young woman who is rescued after being abducted and tortured by a serial killer. When Fleming returns home, she claims to be someone else, raising questions as to whether she is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or if something more sinister is going on.

***

Tina Sims reported earlier that Lindsay got 'Late Night' host David Letterman all hot and bothered and she told him that the new film is scary and really dark and she also told the talk show host "You'll be seeing a lot more of me in this movie." Letterman mentioned to the twenty-year old party girl that he had a heart condition after that line.

Lohan was pretty serious about preparing for the stripper role; she said that she went to stripper classes to learn all the right moves.

Let ARE kids walk

Fri, 25 May 2007 20:05:27 GMT

Students who had been planning to walk across the stage at graduation ceremonies this weekend were instead walking a picket line Thursday morning.

The Trimble Tech High School seniors marched in front of Fort Worth Independent School District headquarters to protest Wednesday's decision by trustees to bar students who failed the TAKS test from commencement exercises.

About a dozen young people, carrying signs and chanting, began picketing at 8:30 a.m. Thursday. They represent the 613 Fort Worth seniors who did not pass the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills exam.

Crystal Martinez complained that while she finished at the top of her class with a 3.5 grade point average, she is now blocked from graduation by failing the TAKS test.

"We know we're not going to get our diplomas, but we just want to walk across the stage," Martinez said. "That's all we ask for right now."

Classmate Chloe Walker agreed. "I believe that I have at least the right to walk the stage with all my friends," she said. "I made it this far, and I have all my credits I need. I deserve to get my certificate of completion."

School officials said non-graduating seniors will have a chance to take the TAKS test again in July. If they pass, they can participate in a separate commencement exercise in August.

The Trimble students said they planned to continue their protest through the day, and may be joined by other students.

Not all school districts ban students who fail the TAKS from graduation ceremonies. Arlington, Coppell, Duncanville, Frisco, Grand Prairie, Hurst-Euless-Bedford and Richardson students are permitted to "walk the stage."

But school districts in Allen, Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Dallas, DeSoto, Garland, Irving, Lancaster, Mansfield, McKinney, Mesquite, Plano and Wylie all have policies similar to the Fort Worth ISD

Remember the April 29 freeway collapse in California? It's fixed already. Here's how it was done in less than a month. A-MAZE-ING / His reputation on the line, contractor finishes repair early, and I-580 opens

Fri, 25 May 2007 20:04:22 GMT

For a man whose confidence in his construction company borders on braggadocio, C.C. Myers was noticeably nervous on the ninth night after he promised to rebuild the fire-damaged MacArthur Maze in just 25 days.

Moments earlier, he had brashly predicted that his company would reopen the Interstate 580 connector a week sooner than his original ambitious prognostication -- and in about one-third of the time forecast by Caltrans.

"Yeah, I'm getting antsy,'' he admitted when asked about a large steel girder that hadn't yet been put into place two hours after the lower Interstate 880 freeway had been closed. "We've got to set four of those tonight."

He picked up his cell phone and bellowed into it as he strode toward the construction crews. About 10 minutes later, crews started lifting the first girder into the gap created when the I-580 connector crumpled in the heat of a gasoline-tanker fire.

Twenty-six days later, I-580 opened at 8:40 p.m. Thursday -- in time for this morning's commute and in line with Myers' prediction.

Nobody had expected such a speedy recovery for the much-maligned maze, an often-congested interchange traveled by 280,000 vehicles every day.

Rebuilding the freeways was not just a highway construction project. With the Bay Area, the construction industry and others across the country watching, it became a race. Winning the race required an uncommon combination of pride, planning, timing and teamwork.

"I expected to get it done fast,'' Myers said before heading home to the Sacramento area the night the first girders were raised, "but not this fast."

So enthusiastic were some drivers about the reopening that they couldn't wait to use the new connector.

Douglas Spalding, 46, a teacher from Oakland, was on his way home Thursday night from Trader Joe's in Emeryville when he heard I-580 was about to reopen. He rushed to the Bay Bridge toll plaza parking lot and cut across to east I-80 so that he could be one of the first drivers across the new connector.

"I go back and forth to the city all the time, so for me it's very convenient,'' said Spalding, who was driving an older model Toyota Corolla wagon.

Well before dawn on April 29, a gasoline tanker truck had crashed on the freeway that connects westbound Interstate 80 to southbound I-880. It burst into flames, and the fireball generated such intense heat that it caused the steel frame supporting I-580 directly above to bend and collapse. It also scarred and damaged I-880.

Both freeway connectors were barricaded, detours were mapped out and marked, and transportation officials and nervous commuters speculated that it could take months to rebuild.

But Caltrans wasn't resigned to that fate. With the smell of smoke still in the air at the maze, design engineers early that Sunday rushed to work at the department's structure design offices in Sacramento and started pulling out old maze plans, viewing the damage on television and the Web and fielding calls from engineers at the site.

"They had a design roughed out within hours -- once they figured out where it happened and what it looked like,'' said Rick Land, Caltrans' chief engineer.

Nothing like the maze

Land, who lives in the Sierra foothills about an hour northeast of Sacramento, has worked 29 years at the state Department of Transportation, all but four of those years on structures -- bridges, overpasses, underpasses, tunnels and the like. California's highways have suffered many disasters, he said, but nothing similar to the maze collapse.

"I've never seen a failure like this,'' he said. "I've seen pictures of it in other states, but we've never had anything like it in California. We've had structures in forest fires or in truck crashes (and fires), but you don't see something like this very often -- at least not in California.''

Less than two days after the I-580 connector collapsed, demolition crews removed the mangled section. A day later, Caltrans engineers clambered over the charred section of I-880, drilling concrete core samples, X-raying parts of the structure and dragging chains over the roadway -- all tests to determine the extent of repairs needed.

The results came back the next day -- the fourth day after the collapse. I-880 had suffered no serious structural damage to the concrete, Caltrans concluded. The freeway connector could be jacked up and supported with temporary braces while workers used a heat-straightening technique to repair warped steel girders underneath. Contractor ACC West completed the work quickly, and I-880 was reopened to traffic after being closed for just eight days.

Meanwhile, back at Caltrans headquarters in Sacramento, the state's top transportation officials were working on a plan to speed the reconstruction of I-580. The challenge, said Land, was: "How quickly could we get it done without compromising quality?"

"We had a lot of conversations about what could go wrong,'' he said. "Once you have that conversation, you can address the requirements and procedure to prevent that from happening.''

$200,000 bonus offer

Caltrans officials worked to speed the process by preparing a list of potential contractors it knew could do the work quickly and by streamlining its process, clearing as much red tape as possible. Then they drew up a contract offering a $200,000 bonus -- with a limit of $5 million -- for each day the work was done in less than 50 days and levying a $200,000 penalty for each day after that deadline.

On May 7, an unseasonably warm day in Sacramento, Caltrans employees, contractors and reporters gathered in the dingy basement of Caltrans headquarters for the opening of the seven bids received. Dale Bonner, the recently appointed secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing, announced the Caltrans estimate of $5.2 million, then commenced opening bids.

When he opened the first bid -- $1.1 million -- from California Engineering Contractors, the crowd of about 30 quieted. It turned silent when the fifth bid, from C.C. Myers Inc., came in at $867,075. No one could beat that.

At about 3:30 p.m., Caltrans awarded the contract to C.C. Myers. Myers and Caltrans Director Will Kempton signed the contract, and then Myers turned to several television cameras and promised to complete the job in 25 days -- half of Caltrans' estimate and just in time to collect the full $5 million bonus.

The race to rebuild the maze was on.

Within hours -- some say it was closer to 15 minutes -- Myers had workers on the site of the maze collapse.

Meanwhile, in Lathrop (San Joaquin County), concrete fabrication firm ConFab started building what is essentially a big, rectangular concrete block. The block, filled with steel reinforcement bars and cables, is what's known to road builders as a bent cap -- a 243,750-pound beam that sits atop two columns and supports the frame of the elevated roadway.

While the beam was being built, steel was being rushed from Pennsylvania and Texas to Stinger Welding, a steel fabrication firm in Arizona. Carl Douglas, president of Stinger, found in Pennsylvania the nation's only supply of the 2-inch steel plate needed to make the bottom flange of the steel girders. He found the half-inch and 1-inch steel needed for the rest of the girders in Texas. It was loaded onto trucks with two drivers in each rig so they could make the trips with fewer stops.

Once the steel reached Arizona, Stinger crews began working two 10-hour shifts daily to get the girders built. Caltrans sent inspectors and engineers -- all authorized to make on-the-spot decisions -- to answer questions and ensure the quality of the fabrication, Land said. Caltrans and Stinger agreed to use a more expensive, but faster, style of producing steel girders with the required strength.

"Caltrans came in and put good people in our shop,'' Douglas said. "If there were any problems, we could go to them and get immediate answers. Usually (done by phone, fax or e-mail), it takes weeks. It was a breath of fresh air to have a government agency come in and perform like that."

The first two girders were done on May 14 -- just four days after Stinger started working and seven days into C.C. Myers' contract -- and around noon they were put on trucks bound for the Bay Area.

Workers wrote a message on the side of the girders in chalk: "To the people of Oakland, California, from Stinger Welding, Coolidge, Arizona," and the trucks rolled off, again with two drivers in each rig.

"They're stopping only for fuel and potty breaks,'' Douglas said.

Stinger finished the girders in nine days -- a job that would normally have taken about 45, he said.

The first two girders arrived early on May 15 at ABC Painting, an industrial paint shop on the old Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo. Crews blasted the girders with steel grit to rough them up enough to hold a good coat of paint. Then they applied a zinc primer in "Caltrans gray," a sort of greenish gray.

The zinc, explained Eric Jeffress, president of ABC, is a cathodic primer that sacrifices itself to the elements before they can get to the steel. Caltrans usually requires primers to dry for three days, he said, but on this job allowed a one-day drying time.

As the girders were painted, the massive concrete bent cap began making its way from Lathrop on an 18-axle truck. The load was so heavy that the truck wasn't permitted on I-580 over the Altamont Pass and had to use rural roads to get to the Tri-Valley. Still, the bent cap arrived about 15 minutes before Caltrans' scheduled 8 p.m. closure May 15 of the I-880 connector for the installation, and had to wait on the side of Interstate 80 in Berkeley.

Shortly after 8 p.m., the rig pulled onto the closed 880 connector and parked at an angle beneath the two I-580 columns that survived the collapse and needed only minor repairs. After the beam was untied and hooked to lifting cables, a pair of cranes raised it at 8:50 p.m. and had it in place by 9 p.m. Crane operators then dropped large steel "pins" into holes in the bent cap and injected grout to secure the connection.

Crowd watched big event

Dozens of people watched the pivotal event, including a media village that established itself in the dust beneath the maze. Closer to the action, at least 20 engineers, construction workers and Caltrans officials stood and watched.

There was a feeling in the cool night air that if this pivotal part of the job could be done so quickly and seemingly easily, C.C. Myers really could complete the job in 25 days.

"I haven't encountered anything like this,'' said Chris Snyder, a business representative with Operating Engineers Union Local 3, which represents heavy equipment operators and other construction workers. "The whole world is watching to see how fast (C.C. Myers) can do it.''

After the first four girders were lifted into place, two more arrived each subsequent night, and they were put in place without difficulty. As soon as each pair was secured, workers swarmed the steel beams and started installing the wooden forms and steel-reinforcement bar for the concrete roadway. On a typical job, the contractor would wait until the girders were all installed before preparing for the concrete pour, Land said.

"C.C. Myers was very good at coordinating things. They eliminated the transitions, the waiting time,'' he said, mentioning the importance of flexibility on the job.

In another example, instead of requiring the contactor to wait for detailed construction drawings to be approved, Caltrans agreed to let the work start while they were being reviewed. It was a risk for both the contractor and Caltrans, Land said, but was a relatively safe bet "because the work was so straightforward." It ended up saving about five days.

When Caltrans mentioned a willingness to be flexible when it awarded the job, some critics feared it would mean lower standards and inferior quality. In fact, UC Berkeley civil engineering professor Abolhassan Astaneh said Thursday he was not convinced that four concrete columns supporting 580 or 880 could withstand a major earthquake. Instead, they should have been demolished and replaced, he said.

But Land and Peter Strykers, Caltrans senior engineer, said multiple tests were performed on both the surviving structures and the new construction, and they are confident of its safety.

"We didn't cut any corners at all," Strykers said.

In addition to taking core samples of the columns and roadways that survived the inferno and testing them days after the collapse, Caltrans engineers took samples of the concrete from each pour of the deck and walls. Those samples were subjected to crushing tests at the department's Sacramento laboratory to determine their strength.

After curing for 48 hours, the concrete poured on Sunday had already attained the required strength -- 3,500 pounds per square inch -- for the road deck, Land said. But Caltrans wanted it to cure -- beneath burlap and plastic blankets to keep it damp -- for at least 96 hours. The extra time, Strykers said, will prevent cracking.

"Some people think we could have gotten it done a little sooner,'' he said, standing atop the new 580 connector Wednesday evening. "But we want it to be a quality job that will have no maintenance problems for years to come.''

C.C. Myers will collect $5 million in bonus money. The job is estimated to have cost the firm $2.5 million.

But Myers has said this job was not about making a ton of money; it was about pride and reputation. Land agreed.

"It's not about making a huge profit,'' he said. "It's about getting the job done quick and pointing out that you're one of the best contractors in the industry.''

wtf_inc: A friend in Seattle saw this out his window while working ...

Fri, 25 May 2007 20:00:49 GMT

. Semen: Now a Happiness Drug for Women : Crying Over Spilled Semen

Fri, 25 May 2007 20:00:24 GMT

The finding that women who do not use condoms during sex are less depressed and less likely to attempt suicide than are women who have sex with condoms and women who are not sexually active, leads one researcher to conclude that semen contains powerful-and potentially addictive-mood-altering chemicals.

Study author Gordon G. Gallup, Ph.D., a psychologist at the State University of New York in Albany, also found that women who routinely had intercourse without condoms became increasingly depressed as more time elapsed since their last sexual encounter. There was no such correlation for women whose partners regularly used condoms.

Gallup's survey of 293 college women also found that those who did not use condoms were most likely to initiate sex and to seek out new partners as soon as a relationship ended. "These women are more vulnerable to the rebound effect, which suggests that there is a chemical dependency," says Gallup.

Semen contains hormones including testosterone, estrogen, prolactin, luteinizing hormone and prostaglandins, and some of these are absorbed through the walls of the vagina and are known to elevate mood.

Gallup controlled for variables including method of contraception, frequency of sexual intercourse, as well as the women's perception of their relationship. He concedes that women who regularly have sex without condoms might share personality traits that make them less susceptible to depression. But the behavior most often associated with non-condom users is sexual risk-taking, and studies have found no correlation between high-risk sexual behavior and lower rates of depression.

Gallup's study, which he deems "the first serious attempt to investigate the effect of semen chemistry on women," titillated the public and rankled some academics upon publication in Archives of Sexual Behavior. Gallup says he has since replicated the findings with a sample of 700 women and will examine whether "semen withdrawal" places women at an increased risk for depression when they are premenstrual, menopausal or have just given birth, as many women abstain from sex during these periods.

Girls images stolen and used on porno DVD cover

Fri, 25 May 2007 19:59:55 GMT

Yeah, that's right. My image is being used for a pornographic movie called 'Body Magic'.
Did they have permission? Did they hell.
This happened a few months back (well, since I found out). Somebody noted me saying this company was using one of my pictures.. actually let me get this straight - a SELF PORTRAIT that I took at the age of FOURTEEN.
I don't know if you can see the descriptions too well but it is qouted as 'Hustlers Highest Rated' and a 'pleasure to watch'. The back of the cover was disgusting.
I looked it up on the internet and found out that Hustler.com was stocking it and a range of other dirty video websites that took pleasure in this.. what I ALSO found was that there was a note on the back
saying 'Everyone associated with this DVD is 18 or over'. 18 or over? yeah right.
I contacted hustler and they gave me the name of the company - TVX Films. After doing some good old fashioned research I found that the company makes new covers for the dvds and that the movie was actually pretty old!
As soon as I'd found out relevant information and I send a long and 'friendly' letter to TVX Films - to my suprise I got an abrupt e-mail back from the owner who claimed that 'his company does NOT steal pictures off the internet and he recieved it from a company they've been in business with for 25 years'.
I found it hilarious, since I still remember taking that photograph back in 2004, I even have one of the first prints at my local walmart store with the date on! AND my small watermark on the dress which had been removed on the dvd cover..
After a few e-mails I found it obvious that I wasn't getting anywhere and that the owner was definately a sleaze himself. This is what he said in reply to me, in big bold capital letters to make a statement -

"I’M SURE BY THE END OF THE MONTH YOUR FACE WILL BE HISTORY. WE HAVE STOPPED SELLING THE DVD UNTIL COVER IS REPLACED. WE HAVE FURTHER CHECKED OUT YOUR NAME AND ITS NOT LIKE IT’S A HOUSE WHOLE NAME. ACTUALLY, REMOVING YOUR IMAGE WILL HELP IMPROVE THE SELL OF THE DVD….. SO FAR IT BOMBED"

He also claimed I was 'scheming' and had set him up - placing the image on a public domain so companies can steal it and I can sue them... er, what? I actually had this image on only one website for a few years until I joined flickr - just DeviantART and it was clear that wasn't a public domain when underneath each of my picture there is a disclaimer CLEARLY stating the obvious (that's it's copyright)... and ALSO i had a bloody © symbol and my name written across my dress!!! Isn't that enough to warn anyone off anyway?
When I asked for compensation he said "AS FOR COMPSENSATION;YOUR SILLY!". and this was one of the end comments he made -

"THEY ARE REMAKING THE COVER AS WE SPEAK SO YOUR TEN SECONDS OF FAME WILL SOON COME TO AN END"

My so called ten seconds of fame was from a porno dvd? No thanks.

I've contacted about three solictors near to where I live - they all say they cannot do anything because the company is based in Texas, USA. I've tried contacting lawyers over in America but not a lot of them will reply, a few lawyers that have told me I need at least £50,000 to take it on. I've even tried contacting the news but absolutely no reply from them either.
I feel like Im wasting my time, my image hasn't been removed, they sent me another cover claiming they'd removed it in the end.. I researched in on the net and they'd just shown me the cover that was originally on in the 80s.

REMOVED? I don't think so. Look, here's where it is STILL featured and this is from a quick web search -

(Warning, please do not click the links unless you are 18 years and above, it does contain some adult content).

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Please could someone help me with this? It feels like I'm pulling at loose strings and that I have no power over people like this. I'm still only 17 and trying to make my way in photography. I feel like I cannot display this picture anymore in case someone knows it from the movie.. or even the fact that someone THINKS im in the movie and it gives me a bad name..

Please repost this, on news sites, blogs. ANYTHING. I'd really like some help with this case. I'd appreciate ANY advice you guys could give to me. Thank you very much for reading.

On ebay: Bible signed by Jesus Christ - It says 'Holy Bible' on it and we all know that Jesus' language was English

Fri, 25 May 2007 17:52:17 GMT

Exclusive to eBay. This rare Bible ( discovered by a shepherd in the NW of Lake Gennesaret ) has been carbon dated by the Institute Of History, Ohio, USA and is said to originate from around 60AD. Further tests have been conducted in association with Bibliotheque National experts. Theologian Jessica Wycliffe has said, after reading the research, " There is a definite possibility this is the real deal." So do not miss out on this thrilling offer. Bid now! sponsored by www.stylusbarbed.com

Guy Kawasaki in your threadless TShirts

Thu, 24 May 2007 09:52:02 GMT

Get one soon tshirt rocks

Vanessa Minnillo in a Bikini is More Than Nick Lachey Deserves

Tue, 15 May 2007 15:19:59 GMT

Um, how do I say this without being too mean? Nick Lachey is a douchebag. Okay, that works. Also, he totally doesn't deserve to be that close, and I do mean close, to Vanessa Minnillo. Especially not when Vanessa Minnillo looks so damn good in a bikini.

And, no, I don't know exactly what's up with Vanessa Minnillo stradling Nick Lachey's back, but I know he doesn't deserve that either. All I can hope for is that they think that's the way you're supposed to do "it," which means she may yet me untainted by his douchiness.

More amazing Vanessa Minnillo bikini pictures after the jump.

Cameron and Criss Angel Mindfreak Guy?!

Tue, 15 May 2007 12:22:31 GMT

Ummm, okay this one is weird. Supposedly Cameron Diaz went out with Mindfreak magician Criss Angel last night in Vegas. They had dinner at the Bellagio's Prime Steakhouse and then caught a performance of Cirque du Soleil's LOVE. A witness tells People, "They were snuggling with each other and he was making her laugh. They seemed really happy." Evidently the two met at the VH1 Rock honors on Saturday and afterwards Cameron extended her stay from Sunday to Tuesday. Have to say, Criss doesn't really seem like Cameron's type but maybe she's just having fun. Unfortunately for her, what happens in Vegas, apparently doesn't stay in Vegas!

There's food for thought at Justin.tv -- even if it's just an afterthought

Tue, 15 May 2007 12:21:25 GMT

Justin.tv, which is making Internet history by broadcasting every moment and movement of founder Justin Kan's life, is giving new meaning to the term live feed.

The unusual San Francisco startup is dishing up the kind of gourmet grub usually reserved for Internet giants like Google.

Call it the North Beach diet, produced by Michael Seibel, the 24-year-old chief operating officer of the company, cast member and resident chef of the online reality show headquartered in an apartment high-rise overlooking San Francisco's northeast shoreline.

With its expansive views of the San Francisco Bay and sky-high electricity usage included in the rent, that high-rise is now dubbed the "Yscaper" because it has become home to six startups funded by Y Combinator, the startup investing firm that provided the initial funding for all of them. The ragtag set offers a quintessential slice of startup life.

A central feature of that life: "You have more servers in your apartment than edible items in your fridge," said Matt Brezina, founder of Xobni, which aspires to help people get more out of their e-mail. One founder of a Y Combinator startup even contracted scurvy, a disease that used to afflict sailors who were out at sea too long without fruits and vegetables.

Seibel, like the pioneering former Google chef Charlie Ayers before him, is determined to change the way malnourished entrepreneurs eat. He commandeers ovens throughout the building to prepare tasty meals from scratch, single-handedly getting his fellow startup junkies to consume more than two basic food groups in one sitting. He even persuades them to wolf down what few guys their age will: leafy greens.

How did Seibel find himself playing chef on Justin.tv?

"I am the only one who knows how to cook," said the Yale political science grad who started cooking in high school and worked as a fundraiser on Kweisi Mfume's failed U.S. Senate campaign in Maryland before joining the startup last fall.

And cook Seibel can, from homemade gnocchi to sushi. In the Silicon Valley spirit of experimentation, he usually makes a dish only once and then, after inspecting what food his guests leave on their plates, tries something new. On Monday night, Seibel even hosted a Passover seder while juggling calls from television producers and bookers, potential advertisers and business partners.

Seibel's culinary inclinations boost Justin.tv's energy, productivity and efficiency, said Kan, the reality show's star who has strapped a camera to his head to stream his life on the Internet 24 hours a day.

"You are far more alert when you eating well instead of having Burger King every day," Kan said.

Until the show launched, creating a media maelstrom, Seibel used to whip up a meal most nights for his Justin.tv co-founders and dinner crashers like Steve Huffman, who lives two flights up. Huffman, who hit it big last fall when Wired Digital bought his startup Reddit, is "our millionaire freeloader," Seibel said. The other entrepreneurs in residence describe themselves as Internet thousandaires.

"It's like a family dinner," 23-year-old Justin.tv co-founder Emmett Shear said. "A horribly dysfunctional, all-young-twentysomething male family, but a family nonetheless. ... It becomes the social event of the day. I fear getting stuck in one room for the whole day working and working only to buy food from the convenience store."

Since November, one night a week, the Justin.tv crew has thrown open its doors for a free-for-all, usually on Thursday nights. The two-bedroom apartment fills up with 20 to 30 neighboring entrepreneurs known by their startup names -- for example, the Xobnis or the Weeblies. The weekly dinners were inspired by Paul Graham, founder of Y Combinator.

Seibel organizes weekly bulk-buying expeditions to stretch the startup's shopping dollars for entertainment, hauling home huge bags of rice and bottles of olive oil. Then he takes over the kitchen (and sometimes the Xobni and Weebly kitchens, too) for several hours each Thursday afternoon to give his fellow startups a taste of finer dining. Lubricants of choice are Budweiser and Charles Shaw's "Two Buck Chuck."

Sometimes Seibel's colleagues pitch in. On a recent Thursday night, Shear, who in his college days experimented with lemon, lime and orange bars, baked a chocolate cake served alongside a vat of vanilla ice cream to 18 people from seven startups.

With Kan filming the animated bursts of conversation and consumption, the evenings have the feel of a smartly scripted but completely unpredictable television sitcom, laugh track and all. In addition to good food, these entrepreneurs say they pick up good ideas.

"It's a place to show off what you have done, get help with technical problems, find out what's going on in the venture capital world, get advice," Seibel said. "Everyone appreciates good food."

Justin.tv is holding off on handing Seibel his own camera and cooking show. He borrowed the camera once while preparing a meal and managed to burn his hand, drop food on the floor and curse up a storm.

Still, Seibel's spreads get star reviews from this startup crowd. And that's not surprising.

The startup food pyramid would alarm the surgeon general. These entrepreneurs want their food fast, cheap and loaded with calories. After all, food is for thought, the deep kind that fuels all-nighters. Keeping such erratic hours makes it hard to figure out what time of day it is, let alone what to eat.

"Eating's inconvenient," says Adam Smith, the 21-year-old founder of Xobni. "It can really break your concentration."

The typical startup kitchen comes equipped with the two essential tools to sustain a steady diet of frozen pizza and canned soup: microwaves and can openers. Snacks range from potato chips to Pop-Tarts. And don't count out the nutritional value of condiments.

Consider Justin.tv's "poorest" startup pals, the Weeblies, who are working on a way for even the most technologically challenged to build their own Web sites. The scrawny Penn State dropouts -- Chris Fanini, 22, David Rusenko, 21, and Dan Veltri, 22 -- look forward to Thursday nights all week.

"This is the only day of the week we get a full, regular meal," Veltri said at a recent Justin.tv get-together. Veltri occasionally remembers to pop a multivitamin to make up for certain nutritional deficiencies in his eating habits.

For the first two weeks of startup life, the Weeblies subsisted on nothing but grilled cheese sandwiches. Now their diet ranges from cereal for breakfast to sandwiches for lunch and hot dogs or hamburgers for dinner. No Ramen noodles ("We're not that low"), but macaroni and cheese is OK. They sometimes splurge on frozen pizza. But vegetables rarely make an appearance at the dinner table. The only time they have eaten asparagus, for example, was at chez Seibel.

"We once bought some canned corn," Fanini recalled. "That's our favorite vegetable. I guess I have never seen anything green in this apartment."

The Weeblies do go through gallons of ice cream, a common startup staple for late-night technobinges.

"We went to buy shampoo the other day and we ended up in the ice cream aisle," confessed Brezina, the more health-conscious of the two Xobni founders.

So just how much of a junk food nut is Smith? One of his proudest achievements is his technique for warming chewy chocolate-chip Chips Ahoy cookies: Microwave them for exactly 10 seconds. He averages between six and eight cookies a day. If he stays up late, make that 10.

"It's an art," he said.

Good news for worried parents out there: Ayers, the former Google chef who is opening a chain of restaurants and is consulting with startups, senses a growing awareness in Silicon Valley of the importance of eating right.

"Half of the young twentysomething entrepreneurs that I encounter are eating more healthful, artisan, new age, wellness-driven menus," he said. "Then you have the other 50 percent which still go directly for the pizzas, burritos, burgers and fries, all chased down with a carbonated beverage the size of the Pacific Ocean."
'Yscaper' residents

Justin.tv, www.justin.tv, online reality show

Scribd, www.scribd.com, free online library where anyone can upload documents

Snipshot, www.snipshot.com, photo editing on the Web

Weebly, www.weebly.com, create your own Web site

Xobni, www.xobni.com, trying to make e-mail smarter and more productive

Zenter, www.zenter.com, Web-based PowerPoint

Paul Graham and Y Combinator - True Lies and Damn Lies

Tue, 15 May 2007 12:19:04 GMT

As if we didn’t think Paul Graham wasn’t arrogant enough, I came across a classic quote today from Newsweek about how Y Combinator only gives start-up 5 minutes to decide to accept funding or not. That’s really classy Paul. Convince a bunch of 22-year olds that you’re God and then give them five minutes to accept your crappy financing offer. Not only that but he also adds, “If people turn us down as far as we’re concerned they’ve failed an IQ test.”

Well Paul, as far as I’m concerned, accepting your funding is the real failure of an IQ test. I’ve debated with a couple of Y Combinator types who have been suckered into this scheme. Paul Graham & Co. take equity at an extremely low valuation. For all of those who claim “The real value is in the benefits and contacts”, watch Justin.tv and you’ll see a business in free-fall. Where’s Y Combinator when the youngsters need help? Nowhere to be found it seems.

Another classic quote from the Newsweek article which is the definition of what Y Combinator thinks, “there’s no need for a marketing budget when you’ve got Internet word of mouth.” Of course - build it and they will come right? The number of visitors required to have an advertising driven site that is profitable and viable as a business is staggering. Very few ifanyYCombinator “features” will ever get there.

Y Combinator is also shameless about using confidentiality or just not announcing things as a means to cover-up how shady it really is. The article talks about thesaleofReddit and then says another start-up was sold making it seem like a huge deal that closed. Except it’s not. That other start-up is calledKiko and it sold for $258,000 on eBay to Tucows who will surely find it was a waste of their own money. Google Mail and Calendars dominate Kiko hands down. How dishonest of Paul Graham to have his little Y-Bombs pursue a business that was bound to fail from day 1. He loves when little guys take on big guys but why? He wants to see his lambs slaughtered? After all, it only costs him $20,000 - pretty cheap entertainment when you’re worth a few million from selling your own crappy start-up to Yahoo in the Dot-Com Boom.

The article goes on to discuss how cheaply the entrepreneurs are expected to live. It’s one thing to be frugal, it’s another to hurt your health and ruin your family. One of the entrepreneurs mentioned left his pregnant wife alone. Now that’s really responsible. Oh, and he’s living on Lean Cuisine.

Finally, the Weebly founders who just raised $650,000 from an angel group talk about how they turned down an offer in the “low millions” from Freewebs (Series A funding of $11 MM in 2006 from Novak Biddle and Columbia Capital) of which 2/3 was stock. Now that is really mature. On the one hand, Y Combinator talks of “confidential” deals that the acquirer doesn’t want to reveal (that’s total b.s. by the way, there are very few acquisitions that go unannounced, especially any ones of merit that are kept under wraps for very long) but on the other, talk about offers from other start-ups to make it seem like your business is worth something. That’s very unprofessional and if I was at Freewebs, I would have had a confidentiality clause to prevent this kind of mishap. They might even have had one. Who knows, YCombinator funds companies that openly break the law (Scribd [copyrights] and Justin.tv [DUI, failure to pay rent, lying on lease applications, etc.]), why would their entrepreneurs be expected to be honest and contract-abiding?

So let’s summarize what happens when you accept funding from Y Combinator:

- Get Duped. You get 5 minutes to decide, if you say no, you’re too smart and free-thinking to fall for Paul Graham’s trap

- Ruin Your Health. Your lifestyle declines rapidly as you start living on frozen food and you may even develop scurvy (true story: read it on the SF Chronicle) . This isn’t the 18th Century anymore but Y Combinator manages to bring back the “good ol’ days” I suppose.

- Hurt your Family. You forget about all other responsibilities you may have like your pregnant wife and act selfishly

- Become Pinocchio. You begin to lie because it’s the way things are done at Y Combinator. You pretend secrecy is important when you need to cover up a bomb or lack of actual interest from an acquirer, but then you openly give away information on offers to make it seem like someone wants you.

How a Photo Can Ruin Your Life - - PopPhotoJune 2007

Tue, 15 May 2007 11:42:52 GMT

Your family photos could get you arrested. Just ask one New Jersey grandmother.

How a Photo Can Ruin Your Life

Three-year-old Sarah M. is either a toddler in her birthday suit playing in the garden, or a nude temptress with a sultry look who requires protection from the culprits who took this photograph -- her doting parents

This is the fix we're in, now that computers have opened the barn door on kiddie porn. The FBI has issued blanket requests to photo processing labs and computer repair shops in some cities to be on the lookout for pictures of kids in compromising positions, urging them to call the authorities whether they're sure or not about a picture's legality. The big national chains that have photo processing labs -- Costco, CVS, Rite-Aid, and Wal-Mart -- have company policies that compel them to notify the police about any criminal activity they see in customers' photos. And when children are involved, they're more than willing to err on the side of caution.

"You can't have a blanket set of guidelines because pictures are subject to interpretation based on community standards," says Mike DeAngelis, a spokesman for CVS Pharmacy, with about 5,400 outlets nationwide. "But the store managers know it's up to law enforcement to decide what's criminal."

Tragically for a number of people all over the country, innocent family photos turned over to the police have led to financial ruin, divorce, debt, public humiliation, and lifelong scorn as a registered sex offender for mothers and fathers.

Some cases involved pictures much less provocative than Sarah M.'s. Based on the way prosecutors interpreted photos in a few of those cases -- Marian Rubin, a New Jersey grandmother charged for taking nude photos of her granddaughters, then aged 3 and 8; and Jeffrey B., a New York father who lost custody of his two daughters after he shot pictures of them mooning him -- it's possible to spot red flags where our innocence used to be.

Here's how a zealous prosecutor could view Sarah M.'s picture: Smoldering eyes; styled, tousled blond tresses; pouty, parted lips; splayed legs; an engorged navel. And that viscous liquid dripping from the wand onto her thigh? Money shot.
A blurry line

Just because they didn't shoot the picture for the purpose of sexual stimulation doesn't mean parents who just want to document their child's garden years can't get stuck in the sordid world of pedophilia.

Since there have been documented instances where photo lab employees have kept copies of sexually explicit pictures that were dropped off for development or printing, including from digital sources, imaginative authorities believe that it's possible for child pornography to be inadvertently made and unknowingly distributed. (Adult porn isn't illegal unless it's found to be obscene.)

This has led to a more proactive, better-safe-than-sorry approach to snooping into people's photo archives, which gives civil libertarians the jitters.

The claim has been made that we all have to view innocent photos through the eyes of a pedophile, for the good of the children. But, attorney Andrew McCullough argued before the Utah Supreme Court in a case involving allegedly arousing pictures of underage children, "lots of things are innocent enough and can be misused, but you can't be responsible for everybody's thoughts."

And in Honolulu, after the local FBI office started contacting computer repair shops about what they should be on the lookout for inside customers' computers, the ACLU Hawaii's executive director, Vanessa Chong, was quoted as saying that the G-men's fishing expedition "needlessly violates the privacy rights of honest consumers to find the guilty few."

The question of whether you surrender privacy rights when you hand over a computer full of personal information to a repair shop is still open. Cops say they're sensitive to these issues. Photo labs and computer repair shops "haven't sent us anything that wasn't clearly child pornography, or could reasonably be suspected," remarks Lt. C.L. Williams, in charge of the Crimes Against Children unit of the Dallas, TX, police department.

Lt. Williams acknowledges that there's a gray area when it comes to interpreting photos of children, and often the kids are taking pictures of each other without their parents' knowledge. His unit frequently determines that pictures referred to them are innocent artistic or family photos, "but there's very little artistic value in a crotch shot of a 6-year-old girl." He says his investigators are now seeing pictures of penetration on 2-year-olds.

"We're not trying to pry into people's lives," he says. "I wouldn't want the government sticking its nose into my photography, and I don't want to be the one doing it to someone else. But when a picture crosses the line into child abuse, then it's my business."

In May 2006 in Lackawana, NY, the FBI arrested William D. Baker, 63, for possession of child pornography after getting a tip from a computer repair technician. (His case was still pending as we went to press.) Technicians finding questionable material also have led to arrests in Seattle, WA; Collier County, FL; and Odessa, TX.

It isn't just porn. Also in May 2006, an east Georgia man was arrested when he went to pick up pictures of his marijuana crop at a drugstore photo counter. And the snooping doesn't have to involve anything obviously illegal: In October 2005, a student in North Carolina got a visit from the Secret Service at his high school after the Kitty Hawk Wal-Mart photo lab called the police. As a classroom civics assignment to photographically illustrate the Bill of Rights, he'd cut out a magazine photo of President George W. Bush, tacked it to a wall with a red thumbtack through the head, made a thumb's down sign next to it, and snapped a picture. Lesson learned.

Images of children, though, have the power to stir passionate forces. And the smallest photographic detail can send the shooter into a waking nightmare.

Jeffrey B. (he requested his last name not be printed to protect his daughters) was divorced and had custody of his two girls, then aged 4 and 7, until a Genovese drugstore photo lab in the New York City borough of Queens inserted a note into a packet of his prints that said several shots had been turned over to police. Seven years later -- after four weekends in jail, three years on probation, mandated therapy, losing custody of his daughters, contemplating suicide, and incurring about $300,000 in lawyer's fees and loss of income -- he's a registered sex offender and has no contact with his children.

He declined an interview, but the lawyer who handled his appeal, Joseph Klempner, who also wrote Irreparable Damage, a novel based on the case, says Jeffrey B. is "destroyed," and has not taken a single picture in seven years. "I'd stake my life on the fact that all he was doing was taking cute photos of his kids," says Klempner, who saw the offending pictures.

According to Klempner, the prosecutor said she found the silk sheets on the bed where the 7-year-old's picture was taken "very telling." The girl had mooned her father, and he snapped a picture from across the room. "It would take the Hubble Telescope" to see her unmentionables, relates Klempner.

In the other offending photo, the girls are shot from below, sans bathing suit bottoms, as they pretend to read books. A crucial fact in Jeffrey's conviction: One girl testified that Daddy posed them.
'Granny Busted'

In early 2000, Marian Rubin's granddaughters, Amy, then 8, and Kayla, then 3, were dancing naked on her bed before bath time, strutting their best Britney and Christina moves. In still photos, they must have looked posed.

Rubin is the basis of an urban legend, the 65-year-old granny taken to jail for snapping innocent bathtub pictures of her beloved grandkids. Except her case was real, and the headlines in the Trentonian screamed, "Granny Busted/Cops Think She's a Perv."

The night that she was arrested, after picking up the nude pictures of the girls at a local MotoPhoto outlet -- Rubin, an experienced and award-winning art and children's photographer, insists that she never intended to publish these photos -- Montclair, NJ, police went to the girls' home and had their parents wake them up.

"They asked totally inappropriate questions," says Rubin, who is now 72. "'Did Granny get undressed, too? Did Granny touch you? Did Granny touch herself?' They threatened my son and daughter that, if they didn't cooperate, the kids would be taken away."

Rubin wrote a book, Naked Truths (www.naked-truths.com), detailing her outrage at what she calls vigilante film processors, and she excoriates cops and prosecutors for being unable to admit they'd made a mistake.

On her lawyer's advice, she took a deal called a "Pretrial Intervention" that amounted to conditional probation but left her with no criminal record. She now regrets not taking the case to trial. Even though a federal judge later found the pictures to be "totally inoffensive," Rubin is still paying off the $30,000 debt.

"I haven't taken a nude picture since," says Rubin, who has won awards for nude bodyscape photography. "Portraiture was my thing. They took away my innocence, constricted my vision, brainwashed me into seeing things differently. They definitely changed my pictures of children."

Mario Lopez and Karina Smirnoff are Shacking Up

Tue, 15 May 2007 08:54:46 GMT

Mario Lopez and Karina Smirnoff, the former Dancing With The Stars duo, have now moved in together. They have never really been very open with their relationship, so obviously this is pretty serious if they’re shacking up. A source told PEOPLE:

“They recently moved in together. It was a big step to take, especially for Mario, but they both think this could be it. Things are going really well right and they’re loving being together all the time.”

Karina and her current DWTS partner, Billy Ray Cyrus, were voted off last week. Mario is set to co-host the Miss Universe 2007 pageant in Mexico City on May 28th. See some of the sexy swimsuits the Miss Universe contestants will be wearing here!

Truemors A new website to store and share gossip by Guy Kawasaki

Sat, 12 May 2007 13:24:25 GMT

Truemors is a new page to make and share gossip news..

IVANKA TRUMP’S PLAN FOR TOTAL WORLD DOMINATION

Fri, 11 May 2007 14:24:15 GMT

IVANKA TRUMP’S PLAN FOR TOTAL WORLD DOMINATION
Daddy was content with owning New York City. Ivanka has her eyes on bigger things. PLUS: Exclusive photos from the shoot

Of course, all we want to know about when we first show up to meet The Ivanka are those two enormous new…Trump towers in Dubai. She intuits this, The Ivanka does, instantly whipping out photos and blueprints. “Hey, Darcy?” she says to her secretary. “Could you bring in that one-pager on our projects?” Darcy appears with a huge glossy poster. “These are just some of our projects,” says Ivanka. “I have thirty-three projects under my direct control. All over the world. My first week here—I started the Tuesday after Labor Day, and I was on a plane the following Tuesday to Dubai, to negotiate a deal for our towers. We literally locked ourselves in a conference room for three days, and we negotiated a deal to build seventeen towers. It’s so exciting!” There’s the Ivanka-led projects in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Hawaii. This one, a ninety-two-story one in Chicago, will be the tallest residential building in the world. “And this one,” she says, “was actually slated to be 150 stories and the largest building in the world, but the commercial market in Chicago went to shit.”

Will Ferrell: Behind The Scenes Of 'The Landlord'

Thu, 10 May 2007 03:15:02 GMT

Since its debut late last week, Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's The Landlord has ridden the surefire blockbuster formula of mixing the world's biggest comedy star with a potty-mouthed, alcoholic baby to nearly 2.5 million views, an achievement of viral video dissemination not seen since Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake cut holes in a pair of boxes and then inserted their engorged genitals into said boxes. This explosive success has sent the media scrambling to figure out who or what is behind Funny Or Die, the video-sharing site that launched with the Ferrell clip. THR tracked down the shadowy puppetmaster behind the new web venture for comment:

Ferrell and McKay employed their alter ego, Gary Sanchez, to talk about their first foray into original Web content.

Sanchez, an enigmatic character described as a Paraguayan ex-NFL player who sounded on the phone awfully like McKay with a Spanish accent, said that video starring Hollywood heavyweights will appear regularly in the "featured" section of FunnyOrDie, but "the meat and cabbage of the site will be the real peoples."

He added that the site's principals will regularly scour the site to look for new talent who will then be whisked away and "put on a private jet to Paraguay."

Meanwhile, the LAT managed to get an out-of-character McKay on the record about the video, the streamlined online development process which allowed the project to go from "Hey, Will, wouldn't it be funny if my baby got drunk and threatened you?" pitch to completed production in under an hour, and address concerns about how the short's breakout child star handled the demands of the role.

Reached by phone, writer-director Adam McKay, Ferrell's longtime friend and collaborator (most recently they did "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" and "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby"), confessed to being behind the video and insisted there was no corporate entity involved. "It's just us," McKay said. "That's the fun -- this isn't brought to you by GE or Viacom or whoever."

The video took about 45 minutes to make, McKay said. "Will and I were just screwing around and it was like, hey, that's a good idea, let's film that."

McKay plays Ferrell's friend in the short and is also the father of Pearl (it's her real name). [...]

As for his daughter playing the dissolute landlord, McKay said it was no big deal. "She's in that phase right now where you can repeat anything to her and she won't remember it."

With young Pearl at this sweet spot in her mental development, McKay and Ferrell should fast-track the inevitable sequel (in this brave new world, it could premiere later this afternoon) before The Landlord II's more demanding, Fanning-level material, in which the now crack-addicted baby-slumlord returns to collect the rent with a loaded firearm, can emotionally damage their in-house talent.

MTV Networks Acquires Atom Entertainment

Mon, 07 May 2007 11:28:21 GMT

Officials from Viacom division MTV Networks have announced they are to acquire online entertainment firm Atom Entertainment, which includes casual game-related sites AddictingGames and Shockwave.com, in a deal worth $200 million, a further expansion of its game-related business.

In an official statement, MTV Networks indicated that it sought the acquisition in order to advance “the company's multiplatform strategy of building an engaging universe of music, gaming, entertainment, news and interactivity for targeted audiences.”

The deal is the latest in a number of online acquisitions for MTV Networks, many related to online casual gaming and its burgeoning stable of 24 broadband channels, as it continues to expand its reach online, clearly believing that the video game market is a key way to expand out from its network of existing youth-oriented TV stations and websites.

Previous acquisitions have included gaming-related messenger Xfire, game website GameTrailers.com, IFILM and online game property Neopets. The company estimates that its reach will now include 50 million casual gamers, playing more than 400 million games a month.

Atom Entertainment, formerly AtomShockwave, was formed in 2001 by the merger of online portal Shockwave.com and on-demand video firm AtomFilms. Atom Entertainment acquired online games portal AddictingGames in 2004 and launched online video directory AddictingClips shortly thereafter.

"MTV Networks is a global leader in entertainment, and we are thrilled to join their family of brands," said Mika Salmi, Chief Executive Officer of Atom Entertainment. "Leveraging MTVN's platform will accelerate our growth and create new opportunities for both consumers and advertisers. We are proud of the business we've built and look forward to working together with MTVN to lead the way in the casual gaming and short-form video content business."

MTV Reports Double Digit Growth For Casual Portals

Mon, 07 May 2007 11:28:07 GMT

Nickelodeon MTV Kids, new owners of AddictingGames and Shockwave.com, have announced that both sites have experienced respective growth of over 100 percent and 47 percent, as well as new advertising deals and Dave Williams as new senior vice president of the group.

MTV, who acquired the sites in August of last year when it bought site founder Atom Entertainment for an estimated $200 million has said that both sites are experiencing double-digit growth month to month.

March saw 14 percent growth for AddictingGames, up to 21.3 million unique visitors, and page views up 17 percent to 343 million, while Shockwave saw 14 percent growth to 19.7 million visitors and 15 percent growth in page views to nearly 117 million.

The company has said that AddictingGames is receiving more than 50 new game submissions a week from "more than 1,000 young game creators" with popular viral topical games including Zidane Head Butt and Bush Backrub.

Shockwave has also seen a number of new "runaway hit" online game franchises such as Sewer Run I & II and Carrie the Caregiver finding a receptive audience of "kids, teens, and the rapidly expanding female gaming audience."

Dave Williams, who joined Atom as CMO and general manager before the MTV acquisition has been named as the group's senior vice president. Prior to his new role, he served as VP of product management for Listen.com, overseeing the development of its Rhapsody service, and was general manager of music products with Real Networks.

Finally, the company announced that the ad campaigns for the two sites, with video ad click-through rates exceeding 10 percent on average, will see two new interactive Mother's Day themed pushes from both Nissan and HP.

Said Williams, "The online games business continues to thrive and I'm excited to help drive continued expansion across the Shockwave.com and AddictingGames brands to reach a huge audience of online and casual games fans. Both sites have such huge potential, and new opportunities with Nickelodeon MTVN Kids and Family Group make it possible to do so much more than when we were an independent company."

Erectile dysfunction probed with engineering tool

Fri, 04 May 2007 13:05:09 GMT

Like a column collapsing under the burden of a heavy roof, erectile dysfunction is a classical mechanical engineering problem, says a US urologist. Using mathematical models of penis geometry and hydrostatic pressure, doctors can predict when penises will fail – and in which vagina – he says.

The most widely investigated parameter of penile rigidity is intracavernosal pressure (ICP) – the fluid pressure achieved by blood build up in the two expandable "caverns" of the penis. For a healthy man, the erect ICP is between 60 and 90 millimetres of mercury (mmHg), but can drop to just 30 mmHg, in men with erectile dysfunction (ED).

Anti-impotence drugs, such as Viagra, work by relaxing arterial muscles and allowing more blood, and hence more pressure, to build up in the penis.

But Daniel Udelson, a research urologist and professor of aerospace engineering at Boston University, thought that penis geometry - specifically the ratio of width to length - ought to play a significant role in the robustness of an erection against the force of sexual intercourse.
Ancient formula

So Udelson developed a model that would predict the buckling force, based on penis length, circumference and the ease of expandability over a range of ICPs - it is a direct adaptation of 200-year-old column buckling research by Swiss mathematician Leonard Euler.

Udelson tested the model against 57 men with erectile dysfunction. Each was measured by slowly injecting their penises with saline solution until erect. Udelson then applied a force to the tip of the penis until it started to bend, the first sign of buckling.

The model correctly predicted the buckling forces for 80% of patients - forces ranged from about 2 kilograms to just 0.3 kg given a pressure of 50 mmHg. But the buckling force during intercourse doesn't just rely a man's blood flow and penis shape, it also depends on his partner's vagina.

Previous studies have found that the force required enter a vagina, which depends on a vaginal diameter and lubrication, ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 kg. So, "an individual male may exhibit ED with one partner but not with another," says Udelson

postage .41 cents Everyone, Please note that effective May 14 2007 postage rates will increase to .41 for standard post

Thu, 03 May 2007 10:55:48 GMT

The rate for a first-class stamp will rise 2 cents starting on May 14.

The cost of a stamp will rise from 39 cents to 41 cents staring Monday, May 14, a U.S. Postal Service release said. The 41-cent stamps are currently being sold at post offices.

Besides the rise in the cost of a first-class mail stamp, other postal costs also will increase on May 14, including costs to mail a postcard, priority mail (1 pound) and priority mail flat-rate box, according to the release.
Click here to find out more!

Also on May 14, the Breast Cancer Research

Is Aishwarya Rai a whore? Did Aishwarya Rai Sex Up Andrian Lester?

Thu, 03 May 2007 08:52:56 GMT

The bitch is obsessed with the west

Owen Prefers to Jog in Golf Wear

Wed, 02 May 2007 22:28:47 GMT

Owen Wilson looked like he was struggling a little bit out on his beach jog in Malibu this week. Hey, no judgment here -- running in the sand is hard! Owen was out earlier this week catching some of the very exciting Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks play-off games (and checking out some local SF spots) with his lady, Kate Hudson. Apparently, however, she opted out of the run. Maybe next time.

Brangelina: Czech Please!

Wed, 02 May 2007 22:26:46 GMT

Brad, wearing a sporty fedora, carried baby Pax from the private jet. Ange and the rest of the brood wearily followed.

Angelina is in Prague for at least a month to make the action thriller, "Wanted," with Morgan Freeman and James McAvoy.

Wedding Crashed: Esposito and Cooper Split

Wed, 02 May 2007 22:26:06 GMT

TMZ has learned that actress Jennifer Esposito has filed for divorce from her husband of four months, Bradley Cooper. The documents, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, cite irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.

The two dated a little over a year before getting engaged in October of 2006, and tied the knot December 21.

Esposito is best known for her roles on TV's "Spin City" and in the film "Crash." Cooper starred in the mega-hit "Wedding Crashers" and "Alias."

A rep for Esposito had no comment other than "Jennifer asks that you respect her privacy at this time." Cooper's rep calls the split mutual and says "actually they've been separated for quite a while."

Jessica Alba is Too Shy to be the Sexiest Woman

Wed, 02 May 2007 22:24:58 GMT

Jessica Alba claims she is self-conscious and shy, despite being voted the
world's sexiest woman.

The screen beauty - who recently topped FHM magazine's annual 100 Sexiest
Women in the World poll - insists she does not consciously flaunt her
stunning figure because she doesn't enjoy attracting attention.

Jessica is quoted by Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper as saying: "I try not
to make the headlines. I'm self-conscious about this. I try to not make my
presence known."

The 'Sin City' star - who has a strict no-nudity clause in her contract -
says her prudish attitude is reflected in her choice of clothing.

She said: "I have my own fashion style and do not try to fit in. I don't
have my breasts under my chin, I'm not showing butt cheeks, nor much legs. I
don't go for the trendiest look."

The 26-year-old recently claimed she wants to be a "serious actress", and
does not want her movies to be all about "me in a bikini".

Britney bounces back on a so called come back

Wed, 02 May 2007 22:24:34 GMT

Britney Spears made a triumphant comeback last night, playing her first gig in three years. The pop princess took to the stage at the House of Blues in San Diego for just 16 minutes but after she had belted out five of her classic tunes, fans were left shouting for more. Spears' return to the stage marks a major turnaround for the star, whose professional hiatus was marked by a very public meltdown. Just 10 weeks ago, Spears shaved her head and allegedly attacked a paparazzi vehicle with an umbrella. She then checked into Promises rehab clinic in LA for a month of treatment. Since leaving the facility, Spears has focused on returning to her former glory, taking regular dance classes and transforming her body to its current toned form. As word of her secret gig spread, eager fans snapped up all of the tickets ... Queues started forming around the block from early afternoon as Spears made her way from Los Angeles in a new tour bus. The mother of two, 25, took to the stage at 10pm in a brunette wig, sparkling bustier, fur coat, white skirt and boots. She kicked off the set with Hit Me Baby One More Time, followed by I'm A Slave For You, Breathe On Me, Do Something and Toxic. One fan said: "She was absolutely fantastic. You would never know she had been away." Spears seemed to have put her troubles behind her as she beamed at the crowd and said: "Thanks everyone for coming." In another brave move, the star created her own comeback dance routines after reportedly having a bust-up with her choreographer Brian Friedman. And judging from the crowd's reaction last night, she has pulled it out of the bag. I am so thrilled that things went so well for her last night. Sure, this performance wasn't anything major but it's definitely a step in the right direction. I'm sure the rest of her upcoming performances will go off without a hitch as well. Well done, Brit! I knew you could do it. It's interesting that we're hearing that Britney is no longer friendly with choreographer Brian Friedman -- he was attached at her hip all winter long (along with a bunch of her former male back-up dancers) while she was partying away and spiraling downward. Perhaps she cut all of those people loose after she decided to clean up her act. Interesting. I'm confident now, more than ever, that Britney has it within in her to get her life back on track and to get some semblance of her former popstar glory. I only wish I could be there to see these performances for myself

Fergie, Or Should I Say Mom

Wed, 02 May 2007 22:23:56 GMT

I want to start off by saying that I hope to God this look never catches on. Lately I’ve seen way too many celebrities wearing high waist pants and unless you’re my mom, it should be avoided at all costs! Please! It’s not sexy whatsoever. Anyway, here’s Fergie or should I say my mom in her overalls. And if you think she’s sexy in this getup. I’ll beat you over the head.

Britney Spears Topless Pictures!

Wed, 02 May 2007 22:23:34 GMT

Um, yeah. I don't even know what to say about these pictures of Britney Spears topless. What can you say about this girl that hasn't already been said? The desperate cries for attention. The ridiculous outfits? That Stupid. Fucking. Hat.

So really, are pictures of Britney Spears topless, covering her breasts with her hands and flowers really that surprising? No, but they do reafirm that Brit Brit has gone totally bonkers. Now, if only Lindsay Lohan would follow her lead... But ditch those stupid flowers.

Isla Moves On To The Cookie Queen

Wed, 02 May 2007 22:22:37 GMT

Isla was looking pretty laid back at lunch at the Farmer's Market in LA yesterday. We haven't heard anything lately about her rumored pregnancy and of course these pictures don't really shine a light on anything either. Audreystar points out that they are not denying it so that's good to know! In other Isla news, the latest film she's signed on for is called The Cookie Queen. It's a comedy about a woman who tries to stop a fifth grader from breaking her 20-year-old record for selling the most Girl Scout cookies. Sounds hilarious and we can't wait to see her funny personality back on screen!

Angelina Giving Out Lap Dances? Hmmm... to Oliver Martinez

Wed, 02 May 2007 21:44:44 GMT

Angelina and Brad just can't escape the rumors, but it's been a while since there's been talk of a new flame supposedly getting in the way of their relationship -- until today. According to Us, Angelina was getting pretty close to her former boyfriend Olivier Martinez at the after party for her documentary premiere. While Brad was at home "babysitting" Angie was out shaking her tailfeather with Martinez. In fact, "She turned to [Olivier] on the banquette and was shaking it in front of him. She was giving him a lap dance. She was looking over her shoulder, tossing a glance his way.” So, tossing a glance over your shoulder is now a lap dance? Plus, the whole family just arrived in Prague for Angie to shoot her new movie. Hmm, funny story, but methinks Brad shouldn't be too worried about this one just yet.

SJP Hangs Up Her Heels

Wed, 02 May 2007 21:43:37 GMT

SJP went casual gray again while out to breakfast with a friend in NY this week. She's busy promoting her new clothing line Bitten, but that doesn't mean she has to get all dressed up every time she leaves the house. In this month's Glamour Magazine she talks all about the pressures of being a trendsetter. Here's more:

Glamour: So are people disappointed that you are not as dressy as you were as Carrie Bradshaw?

SJP: They are. Often I’ll go to the market, and women will say to me: “Let me see your shoes.” And then I show them I’m wearing flip-flops.

Glamour: Do you say you’re sorry?

SJP: Constantly. I say, “I’m old now. I can’t run around in heels when I go to the market for my son’s yogurt.”

It's hard to think of SJP not running around in heels but since she is not really Carrie Bradshaw, I guess it makes sense. On a side note, after the insane success of Kate Moss' Topshop debut we have high hopes for SJP's Bitten line coming soon.

Digg Users Are Showing the True Power of Users on User Run Sites

Tue, 01 May 2007 23:04:47 GMT

Well, digg pissed off their users, and the users have just fought back.

I’ve never really seen anything like this on user run websites, but chaos is taking place over on Digg. As I have mentioned before, Digg is my favorite website out there, but after they banned me earlier today I got a little pissed. I submitted a story about a T-Shirt with the now famous HD-DVD hex key on it, and I was banned for “violating the terms of use”.

Stories were getting deleted and user accounts were being banned all because of a stupid HD-DVD copyright Hex code that can be used to unlock HD-DVD. Digg claimed that they could be sued and what not for it so they decided to censor all of the stories that had to deal with the key. The whole thing is just bull, you can’t copyright a sequence of numbers and letters.

People come to digg for the sole reason of not having to deal with censorship. The users have become pissed and now every story on the front page is about the HEX key. I’m not going to post it here, but you can go see for yourself.

Oh, and not to mention that HD-DVD is a main sponsor on Digg’s podcast, Diggnation, of which I am a fan of. Digg really screwed the pooch on this one. Don’t fuck with your users.

09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0 wikipedia bans editing hd dvd code

Tue, 01 May 2007 23:00:09 GMT

09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

How To Unlock Plastic Handcuffs

Tue, 01 May 2007 22:54:13 GMT

How To Unlock Plastic Handcuffs

Do you remember the cops who busted in on the 92 year old lady? Well, those cops are going to jail.

Tue, 01 May 2007 22:53:47 GMT

Two police officers pleaded guilty Thursday to manslaughter in the shooting death of a 92-year-old woman during a botched drug raid last fall. A third officer still faces charges.

Officer J.R. Smith told a state judge Thursday that he regretted what had happened.

"I'm sorry," the 35-year-old said, his voice barely audible. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter, violation of oath, criminal solicitation, making false statements and perjury, which was based on claims in a warrant.

Former Officer Gregg Junnier, 40, who retired from the Atlanta police in January, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, violation of oath, criminal solicitation and making false statements. Both men are expected to face more than 10 years in prison.

In a hearing later in federal court, both pleaded guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to violate a person's civil rights, resulting in death. Their state and federal sentences would run concurrently.

The charges followed a Nov. 21 "no-knock" drug raid on the home of Kathryn Johnston, 92. An informant had described buying drugs from a dealer there, police said. When the officers burst in without warning, Johnston fired at them, and they fired back, killing her.

Fulton County prosecutor Peter Johnson said that the officers involved in Johnston's death fired 39 shots, striking her five or six times, including a fatal blow to the chest.

He said Johnston fired only once through her door and didn't hit any of the officers. That means the officers who were wounded likely were hit by their own colleagues, he said.

Junnier and Smith, who is on administrative leave, had been charged in an indictment unsealed earlier Thursday with felony murder, violation of oath by a public officer, criminal solicitation, burglary, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and making false statements.

The third officer, Arthur Tesler, also on administrative leave, was charged with violation of oath by a public officer, making false statements and false imprisonment under color of legal process. His attorney, William McKenney, said Tesler expects to go to trial.

Tesler, 40, is "very relieved" not to face murder charges, McKenney said, "but we're concerned about the three charges."

Both men could have faced up to life in prison had they been convicted of murder. Instead, Junnier will face 10 years and one month and Smith 12 years and seven months. No sentencing date was immediately set, and the sentences are contingent on the men cooperating with the government.

The deadly drug raid had been set up after narcotics officers said an informant had claimed there was cocaine in the home.

When the plainclothes officers burst in without notice, police said, Johnston fired at them, and they fired back.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Yonette Sam-Buchanan said Thursday that although the officers found no drugs in Johnston's home, Smith planted three bags of marijuana in the home as part of a cover story.

The case raised serious questions about no-knock warrants and whether the officers followed proper procedures.

Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington asked the FBI to lead a multi-agency probe. He also announced policy changes to require the department to drug-test its nearly 1,800 officers and require top supervisors to sign off on narcotics operations and no-knock warrants.

To get the warrant, officers told a magistrate judge that an undercover informant had told them Johnston's home had surveillance cameras monitored carefully by a drug dealer named Sam.

After the shooting, a man claiming to be the informant told a television station that he had never purchased drugs there, leading Pennington to admit he was uncertain whether the suspected drug dealer actually existed.

The Rev. Markel Hutchins, a civil rights activist who serves as a spokesman for Johnston's family, said the family was satisfied with Thursday's developments.

"They have never sought vengeance. They have only sought justice," he said.

Hutchins said the family is considering civil action against the police department.

"I think what happened today makes it very clear that Ms. Johnston was violated, that her civil rights were violated," he said.

BBC to start allowing people to download any shows they want up to a week after broadcast. Isn't it nice when the government works with the people, rather than against them? BBC Trust approves iPlayer

Tue, 01 May 2007 22:53:09 GMT

The BBC Trust has given final approval for the iPlayer, the corporation's proposed online seven-day catch-up TV service.

After the trust's first application of its new public value test, approval was granted with two further amendments proposed by the trust in addition to BBC management's original plans.

The trust has now said that no more than 15% of the content on the iPlayer can be available for so-called "series stacking", where users can download multiple episodes of a particular TV series.

Article continues
Only certain types of programming will be offered this way, such as limited-run drama series. But the iPlayer will allow users to stack up previous episodes for the duration of the series, not just seven days after it aired. All other content on the iPlayer will be less than seven days old.

The second change is that after noting what it described as "strong public demand", the trust will audit the BBC's progress in making the iPlayer platform neutral.

BBC management originally proposed that the iPlayer would run only on Microsoft's Windows operating system and the Windows Media Player 10 because it wanted to use Microsoft digital-rights management technology.

Management also told the trust it would be unworkable to make the service available on other operating systems, such as Apple and Linux, within two years.

However, the trust will now audit the BBC's progress on this issue every six months and will publish its findings. The iPlayer project will cost £132m over five years.

Diane Coyle, BBC trustee and chair of the trust's public value test steering group, said: "The Trust is satisfied that the BBC's new on-demand services will create significant public value with limited market impact. We have therefore given our final approval for the services to be launched. "When considering the potential market impact of new service applications from the BBC, we must focus primarily on the effect on consumers who enjoy the choice offered by content and services beyond those provided by the BBC."

Other on-demand services given the go-ahead by the trust today include audio podcasts, simulcast TV online and seven-day catch-up TV via cable.

Cable catch-up will function under the same series-stacking conditions as iPlayer content, and podcasts will be used for all audio that does not include rights-protected material, such as music recordings.

Classical music and audio book material should not be included in on-demand services, the trust decided, because it was felt that such a service would impact too heavily on the market.

BBC director general Mark Thompson welcomed the trust's decision and said the public value test had been "extremely rigorous and exhaustive".

"This is a significant decision as the new on-demand proposals are at the heart of the BBC's Creative Future," he said. "However, we disagree with the trust's decision to exclude classical music podcasts from the proposal: our research suggests that classical music audiences would wish to download classical music programmes from the BBC and to listen to them on their terms, free at the point of use."

The trust said it had received an unprecedented 10,608 submissions over the iPlayer proposals, 10,500 of which were from members of the public. Most submissions supported the plans, the trust added.

More than 85% of respondents said it was important for catch-up services to be available on software other than Microsoft, and nearly 80% said a series-stacking feature should be included. Only a quarter said that they felt parental controls were necessary.

The best riddle you will hear today, period.

Tue, 01 May 2007 22:52:26 GMT

Digg fights user revolt over HD-DVD ban – Digg founders took HD-DVD sponsorship.

Tue, 01 May 2007 22:51:21 GMT

The founders of Digg.com – which has been rocked by an unprecedented user revolt over the release of an HD-DVD decryption code – accepted sponsorship from the organization behind HD-DVD last year.

Episodes of the DiggNation video show were sponsored by the HD DVD Promotion Group. DiggNation is produced by Revision3, a company run by Digg founders, Jay Adelson and Kevin Rose. Rose is also a co-host of the DiggNation show. The image below shows the HD DVD logo displayed at the beginning of one such episode.

During the past 24 hours, Digg administrators have apparently deleted dozens of stories which included references to the HD DVD decryption code. These included one story which appeared poised to become the most popular ever seen on Digg, with almost 16000 votes within 20 hours. Administrators have also apparently begun deleting stories criticizing their actions, and also banned numerous members – according to angry statements posted by Digg users on the site and elsewhere.
diggnation sponsored by hd dvd.jpg32 Dangerous Hex Digits

The 32 digit hexadecimal code can be used to make copies of HD DVD movies by using software such as BackupHDDVD. A number of websites and individuals have reported that they have been sent legal notices ordering them to remove the code from their servers. These notices have come from US lawyers representing the Advanced Access Content System Licensing Administrator LLC (AACS LA). Digg itself has not yet issued any statement on the case or its legal situation (but see update 2 below).

Digg, one of the world's fastest growing social networking sites, recently celebrated its one millionth user account – although the number of active contributors is believed to be considerably smaller than this figure.

All Digg content is submitted by users, who then vote for the stories they like. The company has made much of the community-administered aspect of the site. However, some users are now complaining that the recent events cast doubt on this.

Update 1: Edited sentence referring to Digg as most popular social networking site - this was incorrect.
Update 2: Digg co-founder Jay Adelson has now made a comment regarding Digg's position on the HD DVD code, at the official Digg blog.

Bob Woolmer 'poisoned first'

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 22:03:32 GMT

MURDERED Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer was poisoned before being strangled, rendering him powerless to fight back against his killer, the BBC will claim in a forthcoming program.

According to the broadcaster's flagship investigative show, Panorama, preliminary drug tests revealed a substance in Woolmer's body that would have weakened him.

Woolmer, 58, was found unconscious in his Kingston hotel room on March 18, the day after Pakistan crashed out of the World Cup in an upset loss to Ireland. He was later pronounced dead in hospital.

The officer leading the investigation, Jamaica's Deputy Police Commissioner Mark Shields, told the BBC that it would have been difficult to strangle a man the size of Woomer, who was 1.85m tall.

"It's difficult and it's rare," said Shields.

"A lot of force would be needed to do that."

"Bob Woolmer was a large man and that's why one could argue that it was an extremely strong person, or may be more than one person, but equally the lack of external injuries suggests that there might be some other factors and that's what we're looking into at the moment."

Though the final results of toxicology tests are expected to be handed to Shields and his colleagues next week, they are likely to confirm the preliminary findings, according to Panorama. Woolmer's death led to a fevered round of speculation as to the motive for the murder.

The most common theory is that his killing was linked to match-fixing and illegal betting in cricket.

Thirty police investigators are working full-time on the case and more than 100 witness statements have been taken.

Scotland Yard, Pakistan detectives as well as Interpol have been drafted in to help.

Kansas City Mall Shooting Leaves Three Dead - New York Times

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 19:26:27 GMT

A shooting at a shopping center here on Sunday afternoon left three people dead, including the gunman, the police said.

An elderly woman found dead earlier in the day may also have been killed by the gunman, the police said.

The authorities said they went to a home early Sunday afternoon to check on the woman, whom relatives had not seen for days. She was found dead and her car was missing, said a police spokesman, Tony Sanders.

The car was spotted later in the day by a police officer, who pulled the driver over and was shot in the arm, the police said. The officer, whose wound was not life-threatening, returned fire and shattered a car window.

The car left the scene and was later spotted at the mall, the Ward Parkway Center in southern Kansas City. The police said the man shot four people in the parking lot, two fatally, then went inside.

The gunman was shot to death by the police inside the mall.

The police did not say how the elderly woman died or whether the gunman was a suspect in her death. But they did say they believed that the events were connected.

Cassie Bradshaw, 19, an employee of Target, said she was in a break room with two other people when they heard shots. She said co-workers saw a man in his 50s with a rifle “shooting everywhere.”

The mall, one of the city’s busiest shopping centers, was shut down as officers went through each store to see if anyone else might have been involved.

The victims’ names were not immediately released, and the conditions of the wounded were not immediately available.

“It was just mass chaos, as you can imagine on a Sunday in a crowded mall,” Sergeant Sanders told Reuters.

Aaron Washington, 34, another Target employee, said he was returning from lunch when he heard gunshots and saw a man holding his eye. “The man had apparently been shot,” Mr. Washington said.

4 dead in Kansas City violence

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 19:20:18 GMT

A man driving a dead woman's car shot a police officer, then opened fire in a parking lot and a mall Sunday, authorities said. By the end of the day, four people, including the gunman, were dead.

Police shot the gunman to death outside a Target store inside Ward Parkway Center in south Kansas City, police spokesman Tony Sanders said.

Target employee Cassie Bradshaw, 19, was in a break room with two other people when they heard shots. Then, her co-workers saw a man in his 50s with a rifle "shooting everywhere," she said.

"It sounded like maybe firecrackers at first but then they got louder and louder and louder, and it sounded like someone shooting a gun," she said.

The string of violence began early Sunday afternoon, when police went to a home to check on an elderly woman relatives hadn't seen for days. The woman was found dead and her car missing, Sanders said.

The car was spotted later in the day at a gas station by an officer, who pulled the driver over and was shot in the arm, police said. The officer, whose wound was not life-threatening, returned fire and shattered the window of the gunman's car.

The car took off and was seen later at the shopping center. The man pulled into a parking space and fired at the cars on either side of him, killing two people, authorities said. He fired more shots, wounding two people, then went inside the mall, Sanders said.

Police did not say how the elderly woman died, or if the gunman was a suspect in her death. But they did say they believed the events were connected.

The mall, one of the city's busiest shopping centers, was shut down and officers were going through each store to see if anyone else might have been involved, Sanders said.

The gunman and victims' names were not immediately released, and conditions of the wounded were not available.

Four dead in Kansas City shootings

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 19:18:27 GMT

Four people were shot dead, including an assailant, and at least three others were wounded on Sunday in two incidents, including one at a crowded shopping mall in Kansas City, police said.

Kansas City police were uncertain if the same man was involved at the two locations and were treating them as two separate incidents.

One person was killed in a house and two others were killed at the upscale Ward Parkway mall south of downtown Kansas City about 10km away, where police killed a gunman, according to Sergeant Tony Sanders of the Kansas City police.

One of the wounded was a police officer who had responded to calls of the first shooting. His injuries were not life- threatening, police said.

"It was just mass chaos, as you can imagine on a Sunday in a crowded mall," Sanders said.

Police said the mall shooter used "a long gun" and would not clarify whether it was an assault rifle or shotgun.

The incident came almost two weeks after a Virginia Tech university student killed 32 people and then himself in the worst mass shooting in modern US history.

One eyewitness told CNN he heard three or four shots near the checkout aisles of a department store, and his son saw a man on the ground in shock with blood on his face.

The Kansas City Star said police were notified shortly before 4pm CDT (19h00 GMT) that a man was firing shots in the mall and that several people had been hit.

Four dead, several wounded in Kansas City shootings

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 19:17:35 GMT

Three people were shot dead including the assailant and at least two were wounded on Sunday in a shooting spree at a Kansas City shopping mall, police said.

Police were investigating whether an earlier homicide at a house 10 km away involved the shopping mall gunman, who was killed by an officer.

Kansas City police said a man, whom they did not immediately identify, pulled into a parking lot outside the mall that was filled with "hundreds and hundreds" of shoppers and immediately fatally shot two people who were parked on each side of him.

The gunman went into the mall and wounded at least two other people, according to Sgt. Tony Sanders.

"It was just mass chaos, as you can imagine, on a Sunday in a crowded mall," Sanders said.

The incident came nearly two weeks after a Virginia Tech university student killed 32 people and then himself in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Sanders said police were called to the mall and shot and killed the attacker, who was armed with what he would only describe as a "long gun."

The series of events began about 2 p.m. when police were called to a home in an upscale south Kansas City neighborhood where they found a body. After discovering the deceased's car was missing, police put out a description of the vehicle.

An officer who subsequently pulled the suspect vehicle over went to the driver's side of the car, when the driver pulled out a handgun and shot him through the arm and fled, according to police.

The officer was taken to a hospital with a non-life threatening injury.

About 15 minutes after that incident, police received the report of the shooting at the nearby mall. They entered and shot the gunman there, Sanders said.

Witnesses told radio and television they heard shots inside the mall, and one said his son saw a man on the ground in shock with blood on his face.

Breaking news Officials: Three dead at Kansas City shopping center

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 19:16:05 GMT

A man with a gun shot and killed two people at a shopping center in Kansas City, Missouri, and wounded at least two others Sunday before being killed by police, a police spokesman said.

The gunman was killed after police confronted him inside the Ward Parkway Shopping Center, about nine miles south of downtown, shortly after 3:30 p.m.

"It appears that he came to the mall to shoot people," Sanders said. "Whether it was random or not -- we do not know."

Two people were killed and two others were wounded in a parking lot on the west side of the mall by the man, who then carried a long gun into the mall.(Watch a witness describe hearing shots and seeing people flee the mall Video)

"We went inside to the mall and that's when we confronted the man outside the Target store inside the mall and he was shot and killed by the officers," said Sanders, who added that police have no clue as to motive.

Witness Janet Coleman said she saw "a young man with a sawed-off shotgun" in the parking lot being chased by police.

"I could just see a blunt-sized gun bigger than, like a regular .44," she said, adding that she gained her expertise in weapons from watching "a lot of crime TV."

Inside, clothing store manager Lissa Young said "several rounds of gunfire" were followed by two customers who ran into the store and said shots had been fired. She said she immediately locked the doors and ordered the customers to the back of the store, where they waited until police gave them the all-clear.

And shopper Queea Miller said more gunfire took place in the parking lot.

"I was in my truck and the gunman was two cars over from me," she told CNN. She said she saw the gunman shoot in the direction of a Starbuck's coffee shop. "Then, after he stopped, he re-loaded and started shooting again."

She said during the shootings, she and her 18-year-old daughter "lay our seats all the way back and I got to praying. You could hear the shots going off again."

Then police, their guns drawn, began "coming from everywhere," she said.

In addition, in what police say is likely a related incident, a police officer was wounded in a shooting just over two miles from the mall, Kansas City police Sgt. Tony Sanders said.

The officer was shot through one arm, and his injuries were not life-threatening, the sergeant said.

"He had his wherewithal enough to put out a suspect description and direction of travel and vehicle," Sanders said.

And authorities are investigating whether a fourth death is connected to the Sunday afternoon spree.

Sanders said investigators are trying to determine whether an incident in which someone was killed at a home about six miles from the mall was connected to the mall shootings.

Police were combing through the mall Sunday evening to ensure that the gunman had no accomplices. Sanders called the building "a giant crime scene."

"We have hundreds of witnesses who were inside the mall when he came in. We have story employees," he said. "It was a Sunday afternoon at a mall in middle America, so you can imagine it was crowded."

LG VX8700 Review by LAPTOP Magazine

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 12:55:57 GMT

The cell phone equivalent of a Zippo lighter, the LG VX8700 stands out from other thin clamshells because of its shiny metal finish. But that's not the only reason to snatch up this style statement. It's far from cheap, but a sharp two-megapixel camera, V CAST video and music support, and stereo Bluetooth solidify the VX8700 as a multimedia powerhouse.

By far the most attractive phone in Verizon Wireless' lineup, the LG VX8700 sports a silver body that feels smooth and solid in the hand. It's noticeably heavier than the VX8600 (3.8 ounces vs. 3.3 ounces), but the VX8700 is slightly thinner (0.54 vs. 0.58 inches). You'll either love or hate the metallic finish on the front and back. We're in the former camp, even though it didn't take long for this shiny cell to pick up fingerprints. One nice touch is that the three-line color LCD on the front doubles as a tiny mirror when it's off. (View Photo Gallery.)

Flip the lid and you'll find a flat but spacious metallic number pad. We found dialing easy, but the directional pad was a bit cramped. It's also positioned too close to the End and Clear buttons; we unintentionally exited a V CAST video during playback and a game of Derek Jeter Power Baseball 3D 2007 as we rounded the bases. On the plus side, we like the slightly recessed display hinge, which makes the VX8700 the perfect length when making calls with the phone cradled between your shoulder and ear. The menus have a sleek metallic theme by default and look good on the large, bright QVGA color display, an upgrade from the VX8600's 200 x 176-pixel screen.

The left side of the VX8700 houses the volume controls, the Voice Command button, and a combination charging port/headphone jack. A camera launch key is on the right side of the phone. So where's the microSD Card slot? You'll have to pop open the back metal cover and remove the battery to access it. We prefer a side-mounted slot, but that's the price you pay for style.

Mobile shutterbugs will appreciate the 2-MP camera. It captured highly detailed shots on our tests, good enough to zoom in 4X on your notebook's screen. (See the Photo Gallery for a few test shots.) Without autofocus capability, however, we noticed a slight shutter delay and some blurring with moving subjects. The camera doesn't have a flash, but you can increase the exposure on the fly by pressing up on the D-pad. It also has a Night Mode setting, which worked well at short range. The built-in Image Editor lets you rotate, crop, and save images right on the phone. You can use that skinny external display for taking self-portraits, but its small size means you'll have to make sure everything you want is in the frame before you shoot.

YouTube fans will like that the VX8700 records 320 x 240-pixel videos at 15 frames per second. We shot some footage of moving traffic in Manhattan, and playback was generally smooth, with rich colors. You can record up to one hour of video to a 2GB memory card, or up to 30 seconds in Video Message Mode.

Like all V CAST phones, the VX8700 can stream videos and download songs over the air. Over Verizon's speedy EV-DO network, it took only six seconds to start playing a Daily Show clip and 40 seconds to pull down a Nine Inch Nails track. At $1.99 a pop, however, these songs are pretty expensive compared with Sprint's 99 cents (down from $2.49). Videos looked just okay on the VX8700; we could decipher an NBC news clip, but the artifacts were a bit distracting. Then again, once you've seen V CAST Mobile TV in action, nothing else seems to measure up.

If you want to listen to videos and music, you can plug a stereo headset into the bulky and awkward 2.5mm adapter, which Verizon includes in the box. We would much rather use the VX8700 with Bluetooth headphones, however. Not only can you adjust the volume wirelessly, but you can also change tracks with the phone in your pocket, which is especially helpful because this phone doesn't have external music controls. We paired the VX8700 with the Motorola S9 in just a few seconds and enjoyed pristine audio playback.

Voice calls on our tests sounded nearly perfect in Manhattan and New Jersey, with no complaints from our recipients. The 3 hours and 20 minutes of rated talk time is 20 minutes shorter than what the VX8600 offers. We found ourselves needing to recharge every other day, which is a little more often than we'd like. Note that recording video and taking pictures takes up a lot of power, so avoid using the camera if you want to save some juice.

The lower-priced LG VX8600 is still our favorite bang-for-your-buck V CAST phone, but the VX8700 is worth $50 more for those looking for a combination of high style and substance. The 2-MP camera also helps justify the premium. Although some may balk at the lack of media controls and the internal memory card slot, we recommend this sleek silver clamshell for those who have the means.

George Bush Let us learn english wear your headphones

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:11:11 GMT

ACOMPANHE O DIÁLOGO:

(Música. Beep.)

Secretary: - Mr. President, Condoleeza Rice is here to see you.
George B. : - Good, send her in.
Secretary: - Yessir.

(Hangs up. Condi enters.)

Condoleeza: - Good morning, Mr. President.
George B. : - Oh Condoleeza, nice to see you. What's happening?
Condoleeza : - Well, Mr. President, I have the report here about the new leader in China.
George B. : - Great, Condi. Lay it on me.
Condoleeza : - Mr. President, Hu is the new leader of China.
George B. : - Well, that's what I want to know.
Condoleeza : - But that's what I'm telling you, Mr. President.
George B. : - Well, that's what I'm asking you, Condie. Who is the new leader of China?
Condoleeza : - Yes.
George B. : - I mean the fellow's name.
Condoleeza : - Hu.
George B. : - The guy in China.
Condoleeza : - Hu.
George B. : - The new leader of China.
Condoleeza : - Hu.
George B. : - The Chinaman!
Condoleeza : - Hu is leading China, Mr. President.
George B. : - Whaddya' asking me for?
Condoleeza : - I'm telling you Hu is leading China.
George B. : - Well, I'm asking you, Condie. Who is leading China?
Condoleeza : - That's the man's name.
George B. : - That's who's name?
Condoleeza : - Yes.

(Pause.)

George B. : - Will you or will you not tell me the name of the new leader of China?
Condoleeza : - Yes, sir.
George B. : - Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China? I thought he was in the Middle East.
Condoleeza : - That's correct.
George B. : - Then who is in China?
Condoleeza : - Yes, sir.
George B. : - Yassir is in China?
Condoleeza : - No, sir.
George B. : - Then who is?
Condoleeza : - Yes, sir.
George B. : - Yassir?
Condoleeza : - No, sir.

(Pause. Crumples paper)

George B. : - Condi, you're starting to piss me off now, and it's not 'cause you're black neither. I need to know the name of the new leader of China. So why don't you get me the Secretary General of the United Nations on the phone.
Condoleeza : - Kofi Annan?
George B. : - No, thanks. And Condi, call me George. Stop with that ebonics crap.
Condoleeza : - You want Kofi?
George B. : - No.
Condoleeza : - You don't want Kofi.
George B. : - No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk. And then get me the U.N.
Condoleeza : - Yes, sir.
George B. : - Not Yassir! The guy at the United Nations.
Condoleeza : - Kofi?
George B. : - Milk! Will you please make that call?
Condoleeza : - And call who?
George B. : - Well, who is the guy at the U.N?
Condoleeza : - No, Hu is the guy in China.
George B. : - Will you stay out of China?!
Condoleeza : - Yes, sir.
George B. : - And stay out of the Middle East! Just get me the guy at the U.N.
Condoleeza : - Kofi.
George B. : - All right! With cream and two sugars. Now get on the phone.

(Condi picks up the phone.)

Condoleeza : - Hello. Rice, here.
George B. : - Rice? Good idea. And get a couple of egg rolls, too, Condi. Maybe we should send some to the guy in China. And the Middle East. Can you get chinese food in the Middle East? I don't know.

(Door slam. Música.)

*Thanks to João Madureira & CAT

15 Startup Commandments

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:35:09 GMT

# Your idea isn't new. Pick an idea; at least 50 other people have thought of it. Get over your stunning brilliance and realize that execution matters more.
# Stealth startups suck. You're not working on the Manhattan Project, Einstein. Get something out as quickly as possible and promote the hell out of it.
# If you don't have scaling problems, you're not growing fast enough.
# If you're successful, people will try to take advantage of you. Hope that you're in that position, and hope that you're smart enough to not fall for it.
# People will tell you they know more than you do. If that's really the case, you shouldn't be doing your startup.
# Your competition will inflate their numbers. Take any startup traffic number and slash it in half. At least.
# Perfection is the enemy of good enough. Leonardo could paint the Mona Lisa only once. You, Bob Ross, can push a bug release every 5 minutes because you were at least smart enough to do a web app.
# The size of your startup is not a reflection of your manhood. More employees does not make you more of a man (or woman as the case may be).
# You don't need business development people. If you're successful, companies will come to you. The deals will still be distractions and not worth doing, but at least you're not spending any effort trying to get them.
# You have to be wrong in the head to start a company. But we have all the fun.
# Starting a company will teach you what it's like to be a manic depressive. They, at least, can take medication.
# Your startup isn't succeeding? You have two options: go home with your tail between your legs or do something about it. What's it going to be?
# If you don't pay attention to your competition, they will turn out to be geniuses and will crush you. If you do pay attention to them, they will turn out to be idiots and you will have wasted your time. Which would you prefer?
# Startups are not a democracy. Want a democracy? Go run for class president, Bueller.
# You're doing a web app, right? This isn't the 1980s. Your crummy, half-assed web app will still be more successful than your competitor's most polished software application.

Lindsay Lohan Hates Sleeping Alone. Obviously.

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:31:28 GMT

Lindsay Lohan has issues. Obviously. One such issue is her self-confessed fear of being alone, and, in particular, sleeping alone. Well, that explains a lot. The constant attention seeking, partying and sleeping around are Lindsay's way of avoiding her fear of being alone, and she pretty much says that very thing in the new issue of Nylon Magazine.

"I'm at the point where...oh my God...I'm going to go out! I work hard enough and I know how to take care of myself. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. I will say, though, that it's so much harder to stay sober in New York. Though it's hard in L.A. not to go out, it gets lonely. Being an actress is lonely, and I never want to be alone. I hate sleeping alone."

I guess identifying the problem is the first step, but Lindsay might want to find some better ways of dealing with her issues than indulging them. Then again, if she did that, I wouldn't have as much stuff to write about. You know what Lindsay, you're doing just fine. Keep it up.

Jessica Biel Half Naked Makes for Great Comedy

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:31:09 GMT

If you're the betting sort, the safe money for this summer's big comedy hit will be I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, and most importantly, Jessica Biel. Sandler and James play two straight fire-fighters who pretend to be gay, so they can claim spousal benefits should one of them die. Sounds funny. But you know what sounds a hell of a lot better? How about Jessica Biel getting half naked, and having her breasts groped!?

That's right, Jessica Biel plays the super-hot love interest for Sandler's character (because that's realistic), and ends up in the always realistic situation of getting half naked, showing off her amazing ass, and letting Sandler feel her breasts (because he's "gay"). Note: If you've ever needed a reason to write, produce, and star in your own movies, getting Jessica Biel half naked and playing with her breasts is probably the best reason ever.

From the trailer, it looks like a really funny movie, but you probably don't care about that. No, you just want to see Jessica Biel in her sexy underwear. Well, you won't be disappointed. Oh, she also wears a latex cat suit. Did I mention that?

Jessica Biel's Ass. In a Bikini. On a Boat. Perfect.

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:30:47 GMT

This is Jessica Biel. This is Jessica Biel's ass. This is Jessica Biel's ass in a bikini. This is Jessica Biel's ass in a bikini on a boat. Any questions?

Okay, that joke is getting old, but what the hell, it makes me happy. And speaking of things that make me happy. So does Jessica Biel's ass.

I know, I know. Blah blah blah, Jessica Biel's ass is perfect. Whatever. I never said I was original.

Jessica Biel is Leggy on Letterman

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:30:25 GMT

Here's a sight that will hopefully make up for the rest of today's posts. We already know that Jessica Biel has a great ass, and a great rack too, but now we know she's got killer legs to round out the package.

Anyway, she's hot, and she looks great. And it's a nice day, so I'm going outside. Peace.

Hilary Duff Has Got Legs, Knows How to Use Them

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:30:01 GMT

I'm not a big Hilary Duff fan, but even I've got to admit that she's been looking pretty damn good lately, and her recent appearance on MuchMusic's Much On Demand show proves that while her music, acting, and overall personality may lack anything remotely interesting, her legs help make up for it.

Anyway, it looks like this is officially Leg Week here on Egotastic!, what with Lindsay Lohan's leggy outing in LA, and Jessica Biel looking leggy on Letterman. I guess it's also alliteration week. So it's win win.

Jessica Alba Flashes Her Ass

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:29:10 GMT

So, the last time I checked, and I do a lot of checking, most dresses aren't so see-through that they completely reveal everything underneath, but it would seem that isn't the case here. While on set shooting a commercial for Revlon (in which her make-up actually doesn't look very good), we got a nice flash of Jessica Alba's ass, and her cute little white panties.

Of course, these pictures of Jessica Alba flashing her ass in her panties are a hell of a lot better than those pictures of Fergie's panties, since, well, it is Jessica Alba, and as we all know, Jessica Alba has one of the best behinds in the known Universe. I don't know about any unknown Universes, but I figure if there was a multidimensional "Who Has the Best Ass" contest, Jessica Alba would be top 5 for sure.

Whoa, kind of got a bit Sci-Fi there. Nevermind, just look at the pictures.

Jessica Alba is Feeling the Love

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:28:46 GMT

don't know exactly what the hell is going on with the Revlon commercial that Jessica Alba is shootng, but the last time we saw her on set, we got a glimpse of Jessica Alba's ass, and now it looks like Jessica is getting double, and even triple-teamed.

I never thought of Jessica Alba as that type of girl, but now it's almost impossible not to. I don't know what's in store for Jessica Alba next, but my money is on donkeys and midgets.

Scarlett Johansson Fall Down Go Boom

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:28:05 GMT

Scarlett Johansson might think she's clever, what with the way she's been ruining the pictures taken of her by the paparazzi, but she didn't look so clever after landing on her ass.

TMZ reports that Scarlett Johansson took a tumble outside the Saturday Night Live after party while trying to hide from the paparazzi. Scarlett tried to run to her car with a coat over her head, but while that meant the paparazzi couldn't see her face, it also meant she couldn't see where the hell she was going.

amusing picture of Hugh Grant taking a leisurely stroll down the street, but you can see that something is not quite right

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:27:28 GMT

We know this is usually that glorious point in the day where you guys get to guess someone's hair/back, but today we decided to give you a special treat and really test your creativity. We came across this amusing picture of Hugh Grant taking a leisurely stroll down the street, but you can see that something is not quite right. The user who can provide the wittiest comment (as judged by Pop and Molly) will win a sweet piece of Sugar Swag! Good luck and happy captioning!

Katie & Tom Enjoy Cut, Suri Enjoys the Great Outdoors

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:26:50 GMT

Tom and Katie took a break from baby birthday parties to have date night at Cut in LA last night. We got a little glimpse of them with cutie Suri at Grier's birthday party, but Suri got a little celebration of her own on the actual big day, April 18. Apparently the smallest Cruise (who is "walking and talking" these days) just loves being outside and was given a play set, books, dolls, and balls for her big day. Lucky little lady, that Suri. Hey, I'm just curious about how the little princess got her hair done for the big day. And whether she deigned to wear clothing. Heh.

Kristin Cavallari At The Young Hollywood Awards

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:26:25 GMT

I know I did a post on Kristin Cavallari the other day, but I just couldn’t resist posting these pictures of Kristin at the annual Young Hollywood Awards. I’m not sure what she was doing there, but they should have definitely given her some sort of award. Best legs, best smile, best elbows… anything. She looks hot!

Posh Admits to Being an Ano (Sort of)

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:25:29 GMT

Posh Beckham spoke about her weight in the latest issue of Heat Magazine. She said that she started dieting in the 90s and quickly became obsessed with being a skinny ho.

She said, "I became obsessed with what I looked like. I would look in the mirror and check the size of my bottom, see if my double chin was getting smaller.

"I began living on vegetables and nothing else. But it never occurred to me that I had an eating disorder."

She said that she developed polycystic ovaries, so she changed her eating habits. She admits it was hard to go back to eating normal food. She swears it's all better now, though.

"I do control my eating. But I think there is a big difference between someone having an eating disorder and someone who is controlled about what they eat."

Spoken like a true ano!

Rosie O’Donnell Emcees Award Show - Tells Donald Trump To “Eat Me”

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:39:04 GMT

Rosie O’Donnell made quite an appearance emceeing the Matrix Awards show at Waldorf-Astoria in New York. Instead of honoring women in the media she turned it into her own personal sounding board. Once Rosie got on stage it was all downhill from there.

O’Donnell said she was sad when Trump called her “disgusting” and “fat” because, “it was always my dream to give an old, bald billionaire a boner.”

The annual luncheon of N.Y. Women in Communications - which honored Cindy Adams, Meredith Vieira, Joan Didion, Susan Lyne, Arianna Huffington and Lisa Caputo, among others - featured as presenters News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch Joy Behar, Nora Ephron, Martha Stewart and Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Also on hand were 17 sweet-faced high school girls who won scholarships to pursue their dreams of careers in media.

“I was offended by how vulgar and common O’Donnell was,” said Robert Zimmerman, a Democrat active in progressive causes. “It was especially inappropriate with young people present.”

Brandon Holley, editor-in-chief of Jane magazine, said, “I wasn’t personally offended, but I thought it was fun to watch other people be offended.”

“I cringed and dove under the table when she said, ‘Eat me,’ ” said one woman attendee who declined to be identified.

Would you have thrown water on Rosie or told her to STFU if you were in attendance?

Breaking News: Something Happening In Haiti on The Onion

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:32:04 GMT

Important news out of Haiti's capital today. The Onion's Don Abrams reports live.

Mayor Daley's Son Appointed Head Of Illinois Nepotist Party on The Onion

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:31:14 GMT

CHICAGO—Mere weeks after his unusual mid-March graduation from Northwestern University's School of Law, Shaun Daley, son of Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley, was named chairman of the Illinois Nepotist Party Monday.

"I'm thrilled and humbled to be chosen to lead one of Chicago's most beloved and respected political organizations," said Daley, who was sworn in at his family's ancestral residence, the Chicago City Hall. "I swear to you all that I shall do my best to uphold the principles and last name that have made Chicago what it is today."

Daley vowed to use his position to combat unemployment amongst the sons and daughters of Illinois' most prominent politicians and business figures.

Cheney Celebrates Earth Day By Breathing Oxygen on The Onion

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:30:56 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC—At a special Earth Day event Sunday, Vice President Dick Cheney inhaled his first-ever breath of oxygen.

"I am…proud to stand before you today and…breathe in the same gas used by…millions of Americans," said a wheezing and gasping Cheney, whose body is accustomed to compounds of chlorine and sulfur dioxide. "One breath, however, is enough for me. I'm glad the stuff will be out of the atmosphere forever in a few decades."

Cheney then left the press conference to attend a cardiac health awareness dinner, where he feasted on human hearts.

Love Letter Made Longer By Increasing Margins on The Onion

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:30:22 GMT

CRYSTAL BAY, NV—A half-page love letter written using Microsoft Word on Monday by Derek Glassburn, 19, to his girlfriend Amanda Tinker, 20, was expanded to a full page by increasing the document's margins by nearly one-quarter inch on all sides.

"Even after saying that she was prettier than every girl I've ever dated, and that I loved her more than a bunch of stuff, [the letter] looked like I had put nothing into it," Glassburn said. "Besides lengthening the margins, I changed the font from Times New Roman to Helvetica, upped the font size to 12.8 points, and put it all in bold."

Glassburn reportedly handed two pages to Tinker, deciding at the last second to add a cover page with the title "Amanda Tinker: Why I Love Her, An Essay By Derek R. Glassburn."

Female Boss Walking Around Like She Owns The Place on The Onion

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:29:13 GMT

Lydia Bernoldini, the CEO of financial services firm Bernoldini & Co., consistently uses her personal carriage and manner of verbal address to establish a commanding presence in the workplace, her staff reported.

"I don't know where Lydia gets off acting like the big cheese all the damn time," said James Halterfeyer of his boss, whom he described as "bossy." "She acts like what she says goes, even if I don't agree with it entirely."

Roughly 65 percent of Bernoldini employees echoed Halterfeyer's sentiments, specifically mentioning her refusal to be addressed as "Lydia" and the fact that female employment had swelled to 35 percent of the company since Bernoldini took over from her father in 2002.

Karl Rove frosts and fumes at Sheryl Crowe

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:34:34 GMT

Republican strategist and often referred to as the brain behind the Bush throne, Karl Rove, had a run-in with Green queen Sheryl Crowe and her partner in cause, Laurie David, at the Correspondents' dinner.

The White House Correspondents Dinner had an array of guests from Sanjaya to Sheryl.

When the songstress was introduced to Rove, she asked him about Global warming issues, and according to Crow and David on their posted Huffington Blog, "he immediately got combative. And it went downhill from there."

Said David and Crow:"We reminded the senior White House advisor that the US leads the world in global warming pollution and we are doing the least about it. Anger flaring, Mr. Rove immediately regurgitated the official Administration position on global warming which is that the US spends more on researching the causes than any other country."

"We felt compelled to remind him that the research is done and the results are in (www.IPCC.ch). Mr. Rove exploded with even more venom. Like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum, Mr. Rove launched into a series of illogical arguments regarding China not doing enough thus neither should we."

David and Crowe write that they became "heartbroken" over the President of the United States and his top advisers deluding themselves that global warming as not being real.

According to David, "Sheryl reached out to touch his arm. Karl swung around and spat, 'Don't touch me.' How hardened and removed from reality must a person be to refuse to be touched by Sheryl Crow?"

David claims Crowe retorted: "You can't speak to us like that, you work for us."

Karl, according to David, replied: "I don't work for you, I work for the American people." Adding Sheryl stated, "We are the American people."

Victoria Beckham has been labelled a 'grade-A bitch' (Victoria Beckham + posh)

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:04:38 GMT

The former Spice Girl has reportedly infuriated staff working on the NBC programme - which follows Victoria and husband David's summer US move as David joins the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team - with her rude attitude and arrogant behaviour.
A show insider told Britain's Star magazine: 'We think she's full of herself and not very nice. She's very picky, demanding and rude. And she was mean to the assistants, too.
'She waltzes around with her icy attitude. People will walk up to her and say, 'Welcome to America', or, 'Good luck with the move', and she doesn't even stop to talk to them.
'The show is designed to make her a star in the States, but she's dreaming if she thinks that's going to happen. She's coming off as a grade-A bitch!' It is also alleged the show's nervous producers are worried the series will be boring and a major flop.
The source added: 'No one knows what to do with her to make the show interesting - she's so boring! Every suggestion the producers make, she rejects.'

Meg Ryan Was Destined To Adopt Her Daughter

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:04:22 GMT

The 45-year-old actress - who adopted a two-year-old girl, Daisy, from China last January - believes it was fate that brought the two together.

She said in an interview with Redbook magazine: "I am convinced, completely and utterly convinced, that there was nothing random about the adoption. She is the daughter I should have.

"I never felt like I was on a rescue mission or anything like that. I just really wanted a baby. I was on a mission to connect with somebody, and Daisy and I got to meet each other in this way at this time. We are so compatible."

Meg originally named her daughter Charlotte, but insists she had to change it because the moniker just didn't suit her.

She explained: "I thought she was Charlotte, and she's just not.

"She's a Daisy. She's got the most open, beautiful, honest face you'll ever see."

Meg also has a teenage son, Jack Henry, from her marriage to actor Dennis Quaid.

Posh Called a Grade-A Bitch For Icy Attitude

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:03:50 GMT

Victoria Beckham has reportedly pissed off the staff working on the NBC program that follows her and hubby David's summer as Becks joins the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team. They described her as having a rude attitude and arrogant behavior. Britain's Star magazine's source revealed:

"We think she's full of herself and not very nice. She's very picky, demanding and rude. And she was mean to the assistants, too. She waltzes around with her icy attitude. People will walk up to her and say, 'Welcome to America', or, 'Good luck with the move', and she doesn't even stop to talk to them. The show is designed to make her a star in the States, but she's dreaming if she thinks that's going to happen. She's coming off as a grade-A bitch!"

Rumors suggest that the producers of the show are nervous and worried the series will be boring and a major flop. The source added:

"No one knows what to do with her to make the show interesting - she's so boring! Every suggestion the producers make, she rejects."

Well, is this a surprise to anyone. As the saying goes, "A picture paints a thousand words" and Posh's pictures aren't very nice are they? She always seems to appear like she's upset or frowning or just plain mean.

Fashion Disaster Guess Who's!

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:03:25 GMT

Safari Skank Disaster Safari Skank DisasterFantasia Barrino!Denim Diaper Disaster Denim Diaper DisasterMischa Barton!Happy Days' Fonzy Gets a Sex Change and Joins the KKK Disaster Happy Days' Fonzy Gets a Sex Change and Joins the KKK DisasterKimberly Stewart!Lumberjack with a Blotchy Spray Tan Disaster Lumberjack with a Blotchy Spray Tan DisasterLindsay Lohan!1, 2, 3, 4

Egotastic! - Kirsten Dunst Bikini Goodness?

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:14:05 GMT

didn't really think I'd be writing this, but I don't want to see anymore Kirsten Dunst bikini pictures.

I know it's hard to believe, but there once was a time when Kirsten Dunst in a bikini was a good thing. It isn't anymore. Unless you like girls who look like wet cats. Also, that cigarette is really the added touch of sexy that just makes the whole package so appealing.

The plaid shirt is a nice start, but who would have ever thought that I'd be wishing Kirsten Dunst was wearing more clothes?

At least she's working on improving her mind...

If you really want to see them, there are a lot more Kirsten Dunst bikini pictures after the jump.

Kirsten Dunst: Duck and Cover!

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:13:37 GMT

Looks like somebody doesn't want to have her picture taken, and that somebody is Kirsten Dunst. But why so shy Kirsten? Well, according to the Daily Mail, even though Kirsten's night started out fine at the Spiderman 3 premiere, after hitting several parties and clubs, little miss Kiki D wasn't in the mood to deal the papz.

The 24-year-old actress began the evening at 6pm looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed on the red carpet in Leicester Square. She wore a demure high-necked dress which reached below the knee.

But two parties later, Kirsten - who by now had changed into a shorter dress with a bustier bodice - was looking more than a little dishevelled.

Well, after the Spider-Man 3 premiere, she went on to the afterparty at the Freemasons' Hall in Covent Garden.

After that, Johnny whisked her off to the Hawley, popular with stars like Sadie Frost and Amy Winehouse, where she apparently availed herself of the refreshments on offer.

She eventually stumbled back to the Covent Garden Hotel just before 4am.

I like how Kirsten thinks that trying to duck, or cover her face is going to make the paparazzi stop taking pictures. It's like when you're 4 years old and if someone ignores you, you just try and get their attention even more. Am I bugging you? Am I bugging you? Am I bugging you? Am I bugging you? Am I bugging you? Am I bugging you? Am I bugging you? Am I bugging you? Am I bugging you? Am I bugging you?

Lindsay Lohan is Leggy in LA, but Not a Lesbian

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:13:07 GMT

You can always count on Lindsay Lohan to come through with some nice pictures when the news is slow, and these pictures of Lindsay Lohan's lovely legs let me alliterate endlessly. That's the good news. The bad news is that Lindsay Lohan isn't a lesbian anymore, at least not on screen.

While she may be living the lesbian lifestyle with gal pal Samantha Ronson, Lindsay will no longer be playing the lesbian lover of Keira Knightley on the big screen. According to Life Style Extra, Lindsay has dropped out of The Best Times of Our Lives, which included a hot threesome sex scene between Lindsay and Keira.

Lindsay Lohan has seemingly pulled out of a film threesome with Keira Knightley.

The actress failed to appear on set this week to start shooting new movie 'The Best Times Of Our Lives' - in which she was to take part in a steamy ménage a trois with Keira.

Lindsay, 20 is reportedly unhappy with the terms of her contract.

A source told Life and Style magazine: "She didn't back out and the producers didn't pull the deal, but there were changes that weren't to her liking, and that was that."

So there you have it. One of the most highly anticipated sex scenes on all time, gone. Poof! That sucks big time, and I'm not happy about it. Hopefully these pictures will make up for it, though I know they really won't.

Kirsten Dunst has a drunk Publicist

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:08:14 GMT

Reacting to criticism of the news that Kiki Dunst may be playing Debbie Harry in a biopic of the Blondie lead singer, Drunkst's rep, Stephen Huvane, recently told the LA Times:

"Blondie herself has suggested Kirsten for the role and she is beyond flattered by it."

Uhmmm.

Did somebody forget to tell Huvane that Blondie was a band, not a person????

The American Idol loser, whose expressed desires to be a "model," made an appearance on Nickelodeon's Me

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:07:19 GMT

Our girl Sangina continues her media blitz!

The American Idol loser, whose expressed desires to be a "model," made an appearance on Nickelodeon's Me: TV, Monday in New York.

Lingerie modeling would be totally hot for Gina!

Alanis Morisette Satire busts a hump

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:06:41 GMT

PEOPLE endlessly complain that Hollywood is full of dopey, superficial films bereft of anything new to say. And they're right. Anyone looking for art that is edgy or relevant — and inspires comment — is turning to Internet video, which has become the true engine driving our pop culture.

Nothing demonstrates this better than the tsunami-like viral success of Alanis Morissette's "My Humps," which surfaced three weeks ago on YouTube and quickly became the most popular video on the channel, attracting 5.5 million views, easily outdistancing such rivals as "Otters Holding Hands" and "Farting in Public."

At first glance, it simply looks like another pass-along parody, a takeoff on the original "My Humps" hit by the Black Eyed Peas. But Morissette's video is armed with a provocative subtext that has people abuzz with debate. It's a fascinating piece of video art, an inspired combination of satire, social criticism and career reinvention that is a signature artifact of today's viral Web culture.

On one level, "My Humps" is a commentary on dim-bulb pop. The Black Eyed Peas' "My Humps," though a huge smash, was widely mocked for its vapid, suggestive lyrics. (Sample: "The boys they wanna sex me, they always standing next to me, always dancing next to me, tryin' a feel my hump, hump.") The video, featuring Fergie, the group's lead singer, was, if possible, even tawdrier. Full of nonstop teasing and thrusting, it's the kind of hip-hop booty porn that would make great torture material for Muslim prisoners at our Guantanamo Bay prison camp.

Dressing herself Fergie-style, with baubles and bling, surrounded by black-clad male dancers, Morissette retained the original's visual sluttiness but replaced the Peas' thumping rhythm track with a pensive solo piano. By removing the intoxicating bass line and clearly enunciating the crass lyrics, she gave the song's sexpot swagger a new tone of sadness and desperation while simultaneously parodying her own artistic tendencies toward self-absorbed angst.

It's a striking performance, functioning as both social criticism and self-criticism. It also has given an instant shot of street cred to Morissette, whose career had slid downhill after her incandescent debut in 1995 with "Jagged Little Pill." Stereotyped as an earnest navel gazer — one blogger recently dismissed her as an "emo-feminist" — she suddenly has fans seeing her through fresh eyes.

As Mark Blankenship put it in his ITotallyHearThat blog, "Remember when I was saying Pink didn't manage to criticize the objectification of female sexuality in 'Stupid Girls' without becoming the very thing she supposedly opposed? Well, Alanis found a way. If that kind of wit, intelligence and humility is in her next album, I'm buying it."

This is what gives YouTube its real power. It is a forum not just for amateur pranks but also for career reinvention. For Morissette, this video — made at her home on digital video for roughly $2,000 — may transform her persona as much as taking a part in "Pulp Fiction" did for John Travolta.

"It absolutely helps her career," says Bob Lefsetz, whose Lefsetz Letter is one of the leading blogs in the music business. "What's so cool is that she did this all by herself. There was no capitalization of it — it wasn't geared to help a new record or movie project. So it gives her credibility. It felt like the old days when Led Zeppelin would come to your town, do a show that blew the roof off and then — they were gone. No one knew how they did it. There was no explanation, no interviews, no nothing."

It's the quintessential definition of mystique: less = more.

Living in today's always-on-duty media culture, it's almost impossible to remember that there was a time — before TMZ, before MTV, before People — when pop culture had an air of ineffable mystery. Today, everything is over-analyzed, endlessly debated and all-too-glibly explained, which essentially reduces even the most thoughtful art to trivia and effluence.

Morissette has followed the model once practiced by Bob Dylan, who in his '60s heyday refused to explicate anything, bobbing and weaving in interviews, baffling the MSM of the day with a fog of evasions, sly jokes and put-ons.

Unlike Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and Fergie, who can't stop blabbing about their various addictions, pet causes and loser lovers, Morissette has greeted all "My Humps" interview requests with a vow of silence.

According to manager Martin Kirkup, she turned down everyone, including late-night TV chat shows, a Styles reporter from the New York Times who wanted to ask about her fashion choices and someone who wanted to start a music parody website. In an era when everyone talks — even lonelygirl15 went on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" — her silence has been golden.

As Lefsetz put it: "The less she does, the bigger the story is." By refusing to explain her intent, Morissette invested her clip with an irresistible layer of inscrutability, something that packs extra punch at a time when all too many found objects — even Will Ferrell's "The Landlord" video — turn out to be a marketing come-on for a website or movie project.

According to Kirkup, Morissette has no new album or tour to hawk. As she has remained mum, others have jumped in to stage a healthy debate about whether the sexual antics of today's starlets represent girl power or pathology. It's an issue that goes way beyond Fergie. As Natalie Nichols wrote recently in CityBeat, TV shows like "America's Next Top Model" and "The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll" "perpetuate the notion that a woman's hotness is directly related to the amount of 'power' she has. As though the best power women can hope to wield is sexual sway over men."

After "My Humps" appeared, the blogs were full of similar passionate argument.

When the Coterie of Zombies' Howard James Hardima wrote off Morissette's video as a "misguided potshot at confident, powerful sexy female figures everywhere," his post inspired heated response, led by Auros, who wrote: "Confidence and power don't come from trying to get boys to buy you stuff by playing the tease…. I believe the common term for that is 'gold digger.' Sexy is a girl who is smart, self-sufficient and couldn't give a fig for whether anyone thinks she's sexy."

Sex, of course, fuels debate everywhere, not just on the Internet. But the Web today is also brimming with a new kind of participatory activism, one that uses video as a tool for social criticism, from pop issues to political ones.

Robert Greenwald, who used to make issue-oriented films and TV movies, is now an Internet pamphleteer, having launched the websites FoxAttacks, which runs critiques on Fox News, and TheRealMcCain, which highlights flip-flops in Sen. John McCain's policy positions. Greenwald says his pieces, posted on YouTube and other sites, have reached 2.4 million viewers without him having to spend a penny of marketing money.

Like Morissette, Greenwald uses video as social critique, with the issues he once addressed in a six-hour miniseries now framed in two-minute commentaries. The shorts have just as much visceral immediacy as Morissette's video, not just because of their eye-catching visuals but because they are passed along — i.e. endorsed — by peers and friends. One of Greenwald's most viewed pieces, "Fox Attacks Black America," has been credited with helping spur the leading three Democratic presidential candidates to pull out of a September debate co-sponsored by Fox News.

"People spread these short pieces around because they want to, not because they're being bankrolled by a giant studio marketing campaign," he says. "Our young staffers can shoot and edit these pieces in three days and have them up for people to see. It's not just user-generated content. When someone watches it and hits the forward button, it's user-distributed too. You're replacing Universal Studios with a peer-to-peer network with the click of a mouse."

Universal Studios isn't going to disappear anytime soon. Nor, sadly, will Fergie and her humps. But the era of video activism is here to stay. Whether you're a political activist or a singer eager to try your hand at social comment, the pop culture playing field has never been more open to ideas than it is today.

What do Gwyneth PAltrow and Courtney Love have in common?

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:05:13 GMT

They must have interesting conversation!

The oddest of friends, Gwyneth Paltrow and Courtney Love, made the scene at LA steakhouse Cut on Monday night.

They probably talked about Beyonce and clean drinking water. Or something else really meaningful, like constipation or when it burns during urination.

Adam Brody Tells It Like It Is

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:04:32 GMT

Adam Brody took his turn on TRL this week while promoting In the Land of Women. The movie didn't do all that great at the box office this weekend, but he's still pretty excited about his first time as a leading man, especially starring opposite romantic comedy great Meg Ryan. He also talked a little about what he's learned about the inhabitants of The Land of Women

A virginia Tech massacre everyday

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 15:47:42 GMT

What a soldier really thinks of the war in iraq

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 15:47:00 GMT

I'm having the worst damn week of my whole damn life so I'm going to write this while I'm pissed off enough to do it right.

I am SICK of all this bullshit people are writing about the Iraq war. I am abso-fucking-lutely sick to death of it. What the fuck do most of you know about it? You watch it on TV and read the commentaries in the newspaper or Newsweek or whatever god damn yuppie news rag you subscribe to and think you're all such fucking experts that you can scream at each other like five year old about whether you're right or not. Let me tell you something: unless you've been there, you don't know a god damn thing about it. It you haven't been shot at in that fucking hell hole, SHUT THE FUCK UP!

How do I dare say this to you moronic war supporters who are "Supporting our Troops" and waving the flag and all that happy horse shit? I'll tell you why. I'm a Marine and I served my tour in Iraq. My husband, also a Marine, served several. I left the service six months ago because I got pregnant while he was home on leave and three days ago I get a visit from two men in uniform who hand me a letter and tell me my husband died in that fucking festering sand-pit. He should have been home a month ago but they extended his tour and now he's coming home in a box.

You fuckers and that god-damn lying sack of shit they call a president are the reason my husband will never see his baby and my kid will never meet his dad.

And you know what the most fucked up thing about this Iraq shit is? They don't want us there. They're not happy we came and they want us out NOW. We fucked up their lives even worse than they already were and they're pissed off. We didn't help them and we're not helping them now. That's what our soldiers are dying for.

Oh while I'm good and worked up, the government doesn't even have the decency to help out the soldiers whos lives they ruined. If you really believe the military and the government had no idea the veterans' hospitals were so fucked up, you are a god-damn retard. They don't care about us. We're disposable. We're numbers on a page and they'd rather forget we exist so they don't have to be reminded about the families and lives they ruined while they're sipping their cocktails at another fund raiser dinner. If they were really concerned about supporting the troops, they'd bring them home so their families wouldn't have to cry at a graveside and explain to their children why mommy or daddy isn't coming home. Because you can't explain it. We're not fighting for our country, we're not fighting for the good of Iraq's people, we're fighting for Bush's personal agenda. Patriotism my ass. You know what? My dad served in Vietnam and NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

So I'm pissed. I'm beyond pissed. And I'm going to go to my husband funeral and recieve that flag and hang it up on the wall for my baby to see when he's older. But I'm not going to tell him that his father died for the stupidty of the American government. I'm going to tell him that his father was a hero and the best man I ever met and that he loved his country enough to die for it, because that's all true and nothing will be solved by telling my son that his father was sent to die by people who didn't care about him at all.

Fuck you, war supporters, George W. Bush, and all the god damn mother fuckers who made the war possible. I hope you burn in hell.

Jennifer's Big Payday

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:11:16 GMT

Jennifer was taking the metallic trend a little too far when she stepped out of the Mandarin Hotel this weekend with Marc. Their new film El Cantante just released a fairly impressive trailer. Along with good early reactions, J Lo must be on cloud 9. She evidently also just scored a $1.2 million dollar paycheck to perform a 40 minute set for the joint birthday of a Russian billionaire and his wife on Saturday night. The lucky couple, Andrei Meinichenko and Aleksandra Nikolic also forked out another $800,000 to fly J Lo, Marc and their entourage to his estate in England and put them up at the Mandarin. Still, Jennifer didn't go out and blow all that cash. She and Marc spent an hour on Saturday afternoon at Topshop! Maybe she was given an early preview of Kate Moss's new line.

Do You Think Kate & Owen Will Last?

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:08:39 GMT

Kate and Owen have been spotted all over NYC in the past week, so it's pretty safe to say that these two are no longer trying to keep their relationship under wraps. There were rumors a few months ago that they had broken up, but now they seem to be going strong. What do you think - will Kate & Owen last?

Beckham Is Hot, Like Whoa

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:07:11 GMT

Hi, David Beckham is good looking. I mean, it's no major newsflash, but hot damn he looks smokin' in red.* While his wife was getting the old band back together, David was out (did I mention this is a good look for him?) grabbing some lunch after his team's big win on Saturday. I'm a big fan of this casual hat-wearing Beckham. I mean, I'm not going to commit and say it's my favorite Beckham, but it's pretty good for now.

Sanjaya Goes to the White House

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:06:28 GMT

Recently eliminated American Idol star Sanjaya and model Petra Nemcova at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.

The overabundance of fans left the 17-year-old slightly uncomfortable, but he says he's taking all the fame one day at a time.

His plans for the future? Acting, modeling, maybe even Broadway and he wouldn't mind doing a hair commercial either!

Jessica Alba Is Sexiest! So What Else Is New?

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:06:07 GMT

Another day, another list. But what the heck, this one is a “What is Sexy?” rundown from Victoria’s Secret. “SexyBack” singer Justin Timberlake is sexiest male musician; Jessica Alba, who starred in “Sin City,” is sexiest actress; and David Beckham, who has three sons with his wife, Victoria, is sexiest dad. The list of sexy entertainers and athletes was announced Thursday. It was compiled by a team of Victoria’s Secret executives, designers and supermodel spokeswomen, including Heidi Klum and Karolina Kurkova.
Source

A few weeks ago, Jessica Biel was voted “Sexiest Woman” by Stuff Magazine and, as I predicted, Jessica Alba would be voted “Sexiest” in the next lame poll. Well, guess what? This week Victoria’s Secret bestowed Alba with the title of “Sexiest Actress“. Shocker! Seriously, these polls have to end. They feature the same three girls in the top three (Jessica Biel, Scarlett Johansson, and Jessica Alba) and lack imagination. What Victoria’s Secret should have done was hold a contest featuring top female celebrities dressed in their lingerie, and then ask their male catalogue subscribers to vote on which celebrity looks best in Victoria’s Secret’s garter belts and thongs. What a missed opportunity.

Revolution Health - Start your Revolution

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 15:30:09 GMT

Medical site competing with WebMd

You’ll never read this, little girl, but… How did you DO that?

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 13:03:32 GMT

You’ll never read this, little girl, but…

I grew up an only child. I had friends, but sometimes they weren’t around. I had both parents and we went places and played often. But I enjoyed listening to my radio and coloring in my Spiderman coloring book in my room as much as I enjoyed playing with my friends or parents. I learned early on how to enjoy myself when I was alone. Not that way you sick monkey...well, at least, not yet.

It also meant that when someone left, it wasn’t a huge loss. A friend would move away, I would miss them, but it wasn’t devastating. An uncle would die, I would be sad, but it didn’t bring the world to a screeching halt.

As I grew into adulthood I began to treasure my time alone. Again, I had friends and we would go out and drink, hit on women way out of our league, and laugh about it later, but I enjoyed reading in my apartment listening to music alone as much as I enjoyed going out.

Girlfriends came and went until I met your mother. She had the most beautiful legs I’d ever seen. We met at work and dated secretly for six months before we didn’t feel like hiding it anymore.

We got married four years later. Then you came along a couple of years after that. There has never been anybody in my life that I couldn’t live without. I don’t think it’s a psychological issue (but crazy people really don’t know their crazy, do they?) Even if my beautiful wife left or died, I’d be despondent for some time, but life would go on. I never needed anyone before…until you.

You were so noisy and bothersome that for the first 6 months of your life I begged my wife to let me sell you on the black market. You were cute and had all your fingers and toes so you would have fetched a hefty sum; enough to put a nice down payment on a new house. But your mother just looked at me with daggers shooting from her eyes and I would slink out of the room. Damn her.

Then one day…it was close to my birthday, I was holding you and I made a funny face and you laughed. It was all downhill from there. I began to love you. And it only got worse as time went on. No one in my life has ever gotten in as far as you have.

My favorite time is bed time when we’ve finished reading “Where the Wild Things Are,” and “Guess How Much I Love You” and I turn out the light and get the covers snuggled up under your chin. I kiss you on the tip of your nose and tell you, “I love you, big girl.” And you say, “I love you too, daddy.”

I get choked up every time I hear that. I’m glad the lights are out.

How I wish to God I could keep you this age, but I know that you’ll eventually become a teenager, and may very well break my heart. That’s okay; it’s yours to break.

Simon Cowell On Sanjaya Being Voted Off

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 12:15:48 GMT

Simon appeared on Oprah Thursday and said of Sanjaya being voted off: “I was on a very happy plane last night. I miss him probably in the same way I miss my favorite horror movie. And i don’t mean that nastily. I like horror movies. I hate it. I love it. A very sweet guy. Quite entertaining but a horrible singer. That was the problem.”

“If he made it to the top three, I’m gone,” he said. But “they wouldn’t let me.”

Simon went on to talk about his favorite three: "I have a soft spot for Melinda. Very sweet girl. I like her. Jordin was sensational this week. Chris I like because he’s contemporary. But I’m a little bit worried about singing through the nose… My top three or top two would be Melinda, Jordin and I’m not writing off LaKisha.”

In Pictures: India's big wedding Aishwarya Rai

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 08:19:18 GMT

Glimpses of the bride, Aishwarya Rai, in the run-up to Bollywood's biggest wedding in years, have been rare. Rai is a former Miss World whose fame has spread well beyond India.

Was Madonna Snubbed by Nelson Mandela?

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 19:22:13 GMT

Madonna and David continued their tour of Malawi this week by visiting a day care center in Masekese. She seems to be enjoying herself but evidently her whole trip isn't going exactly as planned. She had been planning to meet with Nelson Mandela but he refused her invitation and she's said to be "devastated." After seeing her here that's obviously a bit of an exaggeration. Her rep denies the whole thing saying Madonna "never planned to meet him. She'd be honored, I'm sure. But she's focusing on Malawi. South Africa is Oprah's territory." We're sure Madonna is just happy enough helping out where she can.

'Am I in a gay bar?'

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 19:20:06 GMT

I'm walking upstairs and a guy i've never seen before pulls me aside with a panicked look on his face and goes: "AM I IN A GAY BAR??"
And i was like, "Um. No."
And he was like "Are you SURE?"
And I said "Well maybe it is normally, but not tonight" -- to which he says:
"Then why are you like the third woman i've seen?"
To which i replied, "Ohhhh, because it's a DIGG PARTY!"
Apparently, he'd be dragged there by his friends and had no idea.

[From an exchange at last night's Digg party, celebrating one million signups to the social news site. The participants: a stray guest freaked out by the overwhelmingly male crowd; and a Valleywag reader who was one of the few women present.

Spock.com is full of misogynists

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 19:10:55 GMT

Spock.com is full of misogynists

Disclaimer: The following is the personal opinion of my own written on my personal blog, not a reflection of the collective opinion of Women 2.0Kathy Sierra was silenced by death threats to her blog on "Creating Passionate Users". Then Don Imus was fired for comments about "nappy-headed hos".I was working at the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco yesterday and heard from MANY women who visited the Women 2.0 booth that Spock.com had offended them personally, I asked a Spock.com guy about it. He then reminded me that Spock.com was giving Women 2.0 a sponsorship for our upcoming event and gave me a look as he left that basically said "shove it". A member of the Systers community (a mailing list founded by the Anita Borg Institute for women and technology) recounted what had happened.

Systers,



I was wondering if any of you were at the Web 2.0 expo at San Francisco

yesterday attending the keynote by Jeff Bezos? Right after the keynote,

there was a launchpad session where 3 new start-ups launched their product

officially in front of the audience. One of the products was a new search

engine that can be used to search for people: www.spock.com



The founder and CEO Jay Bhatti made a very compelling pitch that had me

raring to give the site a whirl until he stuck his foot in his mouth. The

first search he demonstrated for the audience was for "bloggers". For the

next search, he said he wanted to make it more interesting, and asked the

audience (mixed audience, 16,000+ mostly tech. crowd) whether they would

like to search for Swimsuit illustrated models or for Victoria's secret

models!! Folks in the front voted for VS it seems, so he went ahead and used

his search engine to pull up Victoria's Secret models on the multiple big

screens for the crowd. The women standing next to me were disgusted, and

walked out literally calling him an idiot.









I personally found it offensive and idiotic, considering research has shown

that women are more likely than men to search for specific people and faces.

Where he would not do a search for Australian beef cake for the audience,

why should it be ok to search for VS models at a tech. conference well

attended by women, who are well represented in the blogsphere? Did any of

the other attendees get equally irritated? On the one hand, we are worried

about hate crimes against women bloggers and here is a guy who searches for

swimsuit models at the big launching event for his company at a tech.

conference! Wow, how dense can he get?



-Shuba

If there's not already a voice in my head that screams "misogyny", check this comment on a post about Spock.com at Tim O'Reilly's blog.

"Spock is a great way to get laid. Seriousy. Just enter "slutty whore" and

look at the results. You could bang any one of those skanks, especially my

ex-wife."

That comment either escaped moderation from ignorance or misogyny. Either way, it should be addressed. Someone else suggested writing to Spock.com and its investors, Clearstone Venture Partners and Opus Capital. That's a fine idea. I've spent the last 2.5 years of my working life at startups without HR and I think engineering/male-dominated startups kinda need it. They also need more diversity on their teams, starting with hiring more women. Little zings to women whether online or on the radio or in person should always be called out, brought to light, and extinguished. What is that smell in the air?

Spock.com's brilliant idea to publicly perform a search for scantily-clad Victoria's Secret models was projected onto multiple big screens at a large conference hall is a social faux paus because it offended many women in the audience --- I don't care if Spock.com has an amazing product, to read rave product reviews on their service, for the email the Spock.com CEO sent me as an apology. I still feel dirty that this happened in front of hundreds of attendees in broad daylight, and that women who speak out against bad taste are being called feminists and considered to be in hysterics. Wait a second. I don't think I'm the one exercising bad taste and testosterone-laden immaturity here. Next time you do a search for lingerie or swimsuit models during a demo, you better run a search for beefcakes next. Seriously.

One stripper tells it like it is Stripper rant

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 17:49:18 GMT

1) Hey you over there, holding that one dollar bill in your hand with a death grip and waving it around at me like it's the fucking deed to Trump Towers... what the fuck do you want me to do, grow another pussy?!? It's a fuckin' dollar, put it down on the tiprail and blow my world away already.

2) You losers that come into the club for a lapdance with NO underwear or boxers and thin-ass, nylon shorts, so we slip and slide on your hard-on (which always feel like a sharpie pen ~ fine point)...fuck you.

3) You with the thick-ass jeans, this was an impromptu visit, eh?

4) Don't pull my thong up during a dance and ask me if it felt good. IT DOES NOT FEEL GOOD.

5) Hey you, Loser, the one counting out the 20 bucks in one dollar increments, rubbing your fingers between each one to make sure you are giving me just that one dollar. Yes, you.

6) No I will not just let you "slip it in real quick" for $50 more bucks.

7) Yeah, my tits are real. As real as my affection for you.

8)If you cum in your pants, you have to tip me an extra $100 for being a lame-ass who can cum in their pants from a lapdance.

9) Stop asking me out. You're a smelly, fat loser and the only reason I'm smiling and cooing at you is because I want your money. Outside of the club I wouldn't even fart your way.

11) Stop bitching at me about the goddamn two drink minimum. First of all, your breath ranks (what'd you have for dinner, garlic and shit?), you're about 172 lbs. overweight, and you look like Jay Leno. More importantly: I don't give a shit.

12) Don't bitch at me about the $10 non-alchoholic beer either. Hide a bottle of Jack in your coat pocket next time like everyone else does.

13) My horniness is in direct proportion to your income.

14) No, you CAN'T SMOKE. Dumb. Ass.

15 )Boys, don't sit in the front row with your "homies" and act all engrossed in some deep conversation during a girls performance because you want to look like you're too "cool" to notice the hot, naked girl in front of you. It's a clear sign that you ain't getting any.

16) DON'T SIT IN THE FRONT ROW IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TIP. Fer chrissakes!!!!!!!!!!!

17) "So what do you guys do when you're on your period?" Answer: I lap dance with guys in dark pants.

18) STOP trying to grab my tits!!!!!!! That's extra.

19) SHOWER FIRST, you nasty fuck!

20) I had a feeling you weren't going to tip me, so I took extra care to rub my lip gloss on your collar and wear extra glitter lotion and obnoxious perfume before our dance.

21) Hey cheapasses: please don't come to my work. Just stay home and jack off to "Desperate Housewives" instead. It will save us a both a lot of unpleasantry.

22) Stop asking me why I do this job and try to get all psychologically analytical on me. For the money, you moron, that's why.

23) No seriously, my real name is Sparkle.

24) NO, I will not take a dime sac for payment. I can tell it's oregano anyway you stupid mutherfucker!

25) Sorry, I don't do that. Ask the ugly girl at the bar with the black roots and overbite.

26) I can see it's your first time at a strip club. Let me explain the dynamics to you. If you want a fuck or a blow-job, go to the ugly chicks. Hot girls don't have to do "extra services." I can give you some recommendations for a small fee.

27) It is not okay for you to bounce me on your cock like a baby on a knee. Not okay.

28) Stop complaining about how short the song was. It felt like the fucking maxi-single to me.

29)Yes I will fuck you, but only for 10 grand. More if you're ugly. So basically, more.

30) DO NOT come into the club looking for a girlfriend/date. It's like me going to PETA looking for a steak.

31) Girls--what's with the pole smell? Can we do a little hygiene check? Nothing than worse than twirling around the pole and getting a whiff of stale pussy.

32) Girls--stop lip-syncing to the song you're dancing to on stage. Especially if you don't know all the words.

33) Girls--if your toes curl and hang over your platform shoes a la' Fred Flinstone, you need to go up a size.

34) Girls--drowning yourself in Angel perfume is just as bad if not worse than the BO you're trying to cover. Take a goddamn shower, you smell like lapdance funk.

35) Hey DJ! You suck!

36)Girls--may I suggest complete sobriety before getting tatted up? Tattoos should be meaningful, or at least semi-meaningful, or at least semi semi-meaningful. That fucking dancing llama on your ass is so lame.

37)Girls--some songs just should not be stripped to. Please. No Disney soundtracks (you know who you are, you fucking weirdo), Sade, Boys II Men, or Bjork. For the love of God, Please.

Why Are Americans Afraid of Being Naked?

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:30:40 GMT

When Catholic protesters recently shut down a New York exhibit displaying a naked, life-sized Jesus sculpted from chocolate, the outcry wasn't totally unexpected. Labeled offensive by critics, the artwork touched an angry nerve by pushing religion and nudity -- two substances that historically don't mix -- into the limelight. While the media was quick to exploit the story, it also expressed surprising modesty when it came to the naked Christ, avoiding the full frontal and opting for photos of the Lord's backside.

But in Europe, and particularly the Netherlands, where bakeries display anatomically correct marzipan nudes in their front windows right next to chocolate bunnies and chicks, such furor over confectionary draws a complete blank. On this side of the Atlantic, when it comes to nudity, Europeans happily assert they've got absolutely nothing to hide.

"The Netherlands is a liberal country where public nakedness is allowed, and that's the way it should be -- that's why there's a law for it," says Ragna Verwer of the Dutch Naturist Federation (NFN), a 70,000-member-strong organization established to expand naturist activities.

According to Verwer, 1.9 million Dutch regularly get nude, going to nude beaches or stripping down in their own gardens, though she estimates the numbers are much higher as NFN doesn't include sauna-goers in its research. "Naked recreation is well accepted here. But we have to take care that things stay this way, which is why we often discuss these matters with local city councils and recreation areas to create more places."

Legally, in Netherlands people are allowed to be naked anywhere except public roads or when they annoy others, a law in play since 1986. It is not uncommon to find nude swimming sessions at public swimming pools, nude or topless beaches. Recently, Fitworld, a gym in Heteren in the eastern Netherlands, introduced Naked Sunday, offering locals the opportunity for bare workouts. This quickly proved a popular idea -- at least with journalists, photographers and television crews, who easily outnumbered participants on the opening day.

"I've done interviews with people from Russia, Ireland, Canada, Australia, America and Turkey," says Fitworld's owner, Patrick de Man, who says Naked Sunday was in part a competitive response to other gyms offering pole dancing courses, but also a response to a request from two of his naturist clients. De Man says the amount of attention he received both from home and abroad was surprising because "being naked is absolutely normal here," though admittedly, bare bench presses were totally new to Holland. But the owner has also received complaints from locals, mostly about sanitation, and at least one member wrote on the club's website that he was switching gyms.

"A lot people from the church have sent me letters about God and stuff like that. But I tell them God was the first man of naturism. He and Adam and Eve were all naked on Earth," says de Man, taking the criticism rather pragmatically. True -- at least until the couple donned their first fig leaves, provoking centuries of subsequent debate.

"Nudity is definitely not shocking or even arousing," says Mandy Servais, a customer at Amsterdam's Sauna Deco, in a robe wrapped loosely around her body, which for all intents and purposes, was naked, as Dutch saunas are visited in the buff. Says Servais, who has frequented saunas since she was a teen, "I think as a society we're very simple and take a practical approach to sex and nudity. We think that everything that exists is normal so there's no need to make a fuss. We're not really occupied with what others think."

Verwer mirrors Servais' response. "I think the Dutch believe let everyone have their dignity and do what they enjoy most. This isn't just how we think about naked recreation, the same goes for gays --everyone's accepted," she says.

While the Dutch seem to accept that underneath their clothing everyone's naked, the same laissez-faire attitude doesn't apply in the States, where the public has been schooled in the cultural ideology that "nude is naughty," and nudity is regarded as sexual.

Perhaps much of this attitude can be chalked down to America's cultural forefathers, the Puritans, whose deeply religious moral zeal made them fear nudity so much they refused to bathe, ensuring a future of national prudishness.

This might appear a huge contradiction given the American media's rampant appetite for sex, but how else to explain the fury over Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" and the network's rush to cleanup before facing clampdowns and stiff fines? Or PBS's need to position the disclaimer "For mature audiences only" when broadcasting footage of Michelangelo's David.

A further inconsistency when it comes to nudity is what Americans regard as risqué: barely clad Victoria Secret models strutting their way across television or nude grandmothers? As Dove soap found out this March, it's the latter. The Federal Communications Commission, which regulates America's broadcast media, banned a series of prime-time ads depicting six middle-aged women posing nude for Dove Proage products, claiming it was inappropriate, though the ads ran successfully in Europe and Canada.

Ironically, Dove's parent company is the Anglo-Dutch giant Unilever. While a number of pro-family and women's groups complained the ad contributed to the further commercial sexualization of women -- an ongoing and valid debate -- clearly, older nudity is threatening because our culture rarely separates nakedness from sex, which is something the elder crowd, at least until Viagra, wasn't supposed to be having.

On a similar note, in 2004 Wal-Mart, never one to balk at profits, refused to sell Jon Stewart's book "America," which featured doctored nude photos of Supreme Court judges. Old, saggy bodies were simply too offensive compared to, say, the number of slasher films Wal-Mart also carries.

Of the Dove Proage ads, says Claire Taylor, who works in international advertising, including projects with Ogilvy & Mather, the company responsible for the Dove ad campaign, "If the ad featured 20-year olds, there'd be no problem. It's so hypocritical."

Taylor, an American who has lived in Amsterdam for the last 25 years, thinks the negative reaction stateside is due to "puritanical prudishness," which doesn't balk at violence or soft porn on television, yet is offended by older nudity. "Now seeing older bodies -- that's reality TV if you want reality," Taylor quips.

Another, perhaps sobering, reality: America has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the industrialized world, according to the American Association of Pediatrics, and a rate that exceeds the Dutch by nine-fold. A healthy attitude to nudity as well as sex, something the Dutch are regaled for, might have a positive impact as more exposure typically leads to greater information.

Still, in America, being naked remains complex. Because our associations are often limited to porn, hippy naturalists, or the $400 million a year nude recreation industry, nudity is either seen as sexual or a gimmick. Take journalistic "undercover" exposes -- a choice phrase, given the situation -- on nudists at play ("Just look at those guys playing tennis!").

Or the media's buzz over photographer Spencer Tunick and his nude landscapes. Tunick, who specializes in photographing hundreds of naked bodies sprawled together in abstract forms against an urban backdrop, has definitely pushed social boundaries at home. But in Amsterdam, where Tunick is due this summer, it's a different story -- or no story. "Is it a big deal that's everyone's naked when everyone's naked?" asks Servais.

In Europe, then, clearly neither moral outrage nor public disorder greets nudity. Men don't go wild, women remain safe and the zero fashion statement remains just that, something with zero impact.

Taylor, who has fully adapted to Dutch ways, has taken her American sisters to the sauna when they visit and watched their transition from shock to comfort. "They're both overweight, so at first they were horrified. But one of my sisters quickly got used to being naked and it felt natural. When you see that other people are flabby and kind of falling apart, it's OK," she says, laughing. "Listen, you got to check out each other's parts, but seeing the Cesearean scars, fat rolls, cellulite, eczema and aging bodies of the over 50s crowd puts it all in perspective -- you realize how absolutely unique a gorgeous naked body is. Americans might associate nudity with eroticism but here, it's only associated with nakedness," she says.

But there is a glimmer of hope. Sometimes nudity can be a useful, positive statement, even in the States. Like the World Naked Bike Ride, a sort of "Critical Ass" of cyclists organized to protest car culture, promote sustainability practices and celebrate creative expression. Organized by Conrad Schmidt, a South African living in Vancouver, British Columbia, the international event is clothing optional.

"It's a way of challenging the stifling conformity we get here in Vancouver and North America, and certainly nudity laws challenge a system that needs shaking up," says Schmidt, who has been surprised how trouble-free the rides have been on a whole, though in America, Chicago tried to shut the event down and Los Angeles, never a hotbed of community activism, boasted a larger police-to-participant ratio.

"In Portland, people are always riding naked these days, but what's strange is they're apparently harassed more by the police when they're clothed," he says. "Nudity is tough for law enforcement because it involves the concept of indecent exposure. There's no good definition of what's indecent about the human body."

Jude Law Dating American Magazine Editor Kim Hersov

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 18:10:53 GMT

ude Law has a new girlfriend, PEOPLE has confirmed.

The actor is dating Kim Hersov, an American-born mother of two who works in London as the editor-at-large for Britain's Harper's Bazaar – and the two have now jetted off to India for a vacation together.

"They met a couple of months ago and the relationship has been developing slowly," a friend of the actor tells PEOPLE.

The pair – he with a camera and she with a sun hat – were spotted visiting an historic fort in Rajasthan, India, according to Britain's The Sun newspaper.

Hersov, who hails from San Francisco and previously worked for Vogue in New York City, has been described by Britain's The Times as "extremely glamorous" and by The Sunday Times as "ultra-chic." "She's very well established in the fashion world," says one industry insider who has worked with Hersov.

Hersov, who's divorced and whose children are 7 and 10, has lived in Britain for 14 years and is a self-confessed denim demon, according to an interview she gave to The Guardian in 2005: "I'm a jeans girl, I wear them day and night." (True to style, Hersov was spotted wearing a pair in India.)

Britain's News of the World first reported in late February that the two had been sharing romantic dinners, and The Sun says she has an uncanny resemblance to Law's former fiancée, Sienna Miller.

Father-of-three Law, 34, was officially divorced from actress wife Sadie Frost in 2003. He became engaged to Miller in late 2004 but an affair with his children's nanny turned that pairing into a roller-coaster romance that finally crashed in December 2006.

Law is now enjoying his blossoming spring romance, but his friend says both are treading carefully: "Neither of them wants to rush things."

Britney Can't Decide Between JT and K-Fed...Albums

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 18:00:32 GMT

While I'm hoping for a Britney comeback as much as the next Toxic fan, is it horrible that when I see Brit in a cuter dress like this one I think it's sort of a fluke? Girlfriend changes her clothes 12 times a day with pretty much no discretion and eventually she's going to have to come up with something cute, like by default? Seriously though, that hat needs to go almost as much as the boots do. Sorry, anyway, Brit continues to show off her re-killer body around LA, but that's not all she's got back. Judging from this X17 video in which she jokes about not being able to decide which album she wants more K-Fed's or Justin's (go with Justin, it's the safe bet), it's clear she's recovered her cheeky sense of humor, too

Paula -- No Sympathy for Sanjaya

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:38:41 GMT

Now that he's been booted from "American ldol," Paula Abdul couldn't care less about Sanjaya Malakar.

TMZ caught the loopy "Idol" judge outside Mr. Chow last night, where she went to chow down after the results show, in which the Sanjaya the Ponyhawked Wonder got the ax. When asked her feelings on his exile, Abdul wasn't exactly sympathetic, brushing off the question with a "Oh he'll be fine," and proceeded to sign photos for waiting autograph hounds.

With Sanjaya's media attention and lightweight vocals gone, Paula added, "The competition's gonna start getting heavy."

Bugsy nine year old Sanjaya Malakar -- The Drama Before the Drama the kid is gold

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:33:45 GMT

America has finally drop-kicked the smiley "Idol" wannabe into the last of fame's fifteen minutes, but it wasn't the first stage on which little Sanjy faltered.

TMZ has obtained some classic video of a nine-year-old Malakar performing in a local production of "Bugsy" -- a musical with children playing mobsters -- where the rejected "Idol" performs an amusing tap dance with a broom.

The Hawaii Children's Theatre performance was recorded in 1999, but there are already signs of some of his infamous traits -- the cheesy Mariah hand waves, his studied pre-teen chicken-necking, and signature note reaching. A star was born!

There's also a taste of Malakar as a random but adorable orphan in "Oliver," and sister Shyamali in "A Christmas Carol" as the Ghost of Christmas Past. Now Sanjy joins the ranks of wannabeens past ... but this kid is money.

Do You Jimmy Kimmel?

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 21:11:45 GMT

A site featuring the funniest tv show host

22 Killed in Virginia Tech Shooting

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:46:11 GMT

A gunman opened up fire on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia today killing at least 22 students. Another 21 students were seriously wounded and were sent to the hospital.

Campus police said there was only one shooter and he is now dead. They are unsure if the shooter was a student and it was unclear if he was shot by police or took his own life.

“The university was struck today with a tragedy of monumental proportions,” Virginia Tech President Charles Steger said during a press conference shortly after noon. “The university is shocked and horrified that this would befall our campus … I cannot begin to convey my own personal sense of loss over this senseless of such an incomprehensible and heinous act.”

At 7:15 a.m. Monday, a 911 call came in to the campus police department concerning an incident at West Ambler Johnston, a residence hall, and that there were multiple shooting victims, Steger said. While that investigation was underway, a second shooting was reported in Norris Hall, located at the opposite end of the 2,600-acre campus.
It was the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history.

Our prayers and thoughts are with those who were close to or lost someone today in this tragic killing spree.

Principal, teacher videotaped having sex in the Principal's room

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 16:55:57 GMT

A principal and a teacher at a suburban elementary school quit amid allegations they were caught on video having sex in the principal's office, authorities say.

In keeping with Cook County's reputation for bare-knuckle politics, the scandal broke after copies of the 2 1/2-hour sex tape were mailed anonymously to parents this week, just days before a contested school board election.

The case has also created something of a mystery: Who planted the camera that recorded the action?

Leroy Coleman and Janet Lofton submitted their resignations after meeting with the district superintendent Thursday, said John Izzo, board attorney for the Sandridge Elementary School district, about 20 miles south of Chicago.

Izzo said that Coleman, the school's principal since 2005, wrote that he was quitting for health reasons. He said Lofton wrote that she was stepping down immediately "due to the illness of a family member."

A third school employee, teacher’s aide Anjayla Reed, resigned Friday after the superintendent contacted her about allegations that she appears on a separate portion of the tape hugging and touching the principal, Izzo said. She gave no reason for her resignation.

Kim Grivakis, the mother of a 13-year-old girl and 11-year-old boy who attend the school, said she received a copy of the DVD in the mail Wednesday. She organized a meeting Thursday with other parents to call for action from the school board.

Grivakis said she could identify Coleman and Lofton on the tape.

"It made me sick," Grivakis said. "It's very graphic. I can't tell you how graphic because I have two children standing right here."

The Cook County Sheriff's Department is investigating.

"At this point we don't know if a crime has been committed," department spokeswoman Penny Mateck said, adding that investigators had a copy of the video.

Lofton has an unlisted telephone number, and no listing could be found for Coleman.

Izzo said that that he had been told by a sheriff's official that the two on the tape are Coleman and Lofton. "They asked to look at pictures of the staff members and they identified them," he said of the investigators.

The school board attorney said Coleman and Lofton apparently did not know about the camera. "Somebody got access and planted a bug in a school office," Izzo said.

He said sheriff's investigators searched the office on Thursday and apparently did not find a camera.

Copies the video, apparently taped in December and January from the date stamps on it, emerged just days before Tuesday's elections. Eight candidates are competing for four board slots.

"How come it took five days before the election?" said school board President Cheryl Ward said. "I think that is sick."

Man Gets 15 Years in Prison for Sophisticated Marijuana Ferris Wheel (PICTURE)

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 16:09:42 GMT

CHAD ROBERT LATHAM, 30, of Tacoma, Washington was sentenced today to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Manufacture Marijuana and Manufacturing Marijuana. At sentencing U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton noted that LATHAM had two prior state convictions for growing marijuana.

According to the plea agreement, LATHAM designed eight machines out of aluminum that looked like ferris wheels. Each machine held 24 rows of plants with eight plants in each row for a total of 192 plants per machine. The plants would rotate around the machine, passing by grow lights, dipping into a hydroponic grow solution at the bottom or passing under a hydroponic grow solution spray at the top. In 2003-2004, the grow operation was located in a garage in rural Pierce County in McKenna, Washington. A co-conspirator, DANIEL IRWIN, lived on the property and hung a deteriorating deer carcase near the door to the building so that the smell of the rotting deer would mask the smell of marijuana.

In March of 2004, someone discovered the grow operation and LATHAM determined it needed to be moved. In the middle of the night on March 8, 2004, LATHAM and others attempted to move the operation to a warehouse at S. Clement Street in Tacoma. Neighbors heard what they thought was suspicious activity in the alley and called Tacoma Police. LATHAM was arrested and 2,083 marijuana plants were seized.

The case was investigated by the DEA/ TNET Task Force comprised of DEA agents and local law enforcement officers from Tacoma Police, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, Washington State Department of Corrections, Bonney Lake Police and Auburn Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Douglas J. Hill. Hill is a Deputy Pierce County Prosecutor who is specially designated to handle drug cases in Federal Court.

Mexican Man Man who could become richest on the planet [Carlos Slim]

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:20:16 GMT

A modestly dressed Mexican with a taste for expensive cigars, baseball memorabilia and bonsai trees has overtaken the American investor Warren Buffett as the world's second richest man and is quietly closing in on Bill Gates as the richest man on the planet.
Mexican business magnate Carlos Slim

Carlos Slim, a magnate whose empire supplies Mexicans with everything from cheap flights to cigarettes, has seen his fortune soar by more than $4 billion (£2.02 billion) in two months to $53.1 billion, according to Forbes magazine.

The 67-year-old's net worth outstrips Mr Buffett's holdings, which have fallen to $52.4 billion since Forbes released its table of wealth rankings last month.

Since last year, his fortune has increased by $19 billion because of a strong Mexican economy and soaring stock prices for his businesses.

Mr Gates still holds the top spot with $56 billion but with the Microsoft co-founder increasingly focusing on philanthropy, analysts say Mr Slim is on track to surpass him.
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"It's virtually cradle to grave," Prof George Grayson, a Mexico expert at the College of William & Mary in Virginia, told the Los Angeles Times. "You are engulfed by Slim in Mexico."

Mr Slim is the son of a Lebanese-born shopkeeper. As a child he recorded every peso he spent in ledgers that are still in his office.

He bought a cigarette company in the 1970s. Despite an economic collapse and widespread panic in Mexico in the early 1980s, he kept acquiring assets.

The workaholic's charitable foundations have benefited hundreds of thousands of Mexicans. He has funded hospitals, a national archive and an art museum named after his late wife Soumaya, which houses works by Degas, Monet and the largest Rodin from her private collection.

Mr Slim recently told Forbes that his vision of a businessman's role differed to that of Mr Buffett, who is to donate $ 1.5 billion every year to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

"Our concept is more to accomplish and solve things - not going around like Santa Claus," he added. "Poverty isn't solved with donations."

Konami characters next to the 80s movies they ripped them off from [pix]

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:03:34 GMT

Konami has a bit of a history when it comes to creating characters based on Hollywood icons. From Contra to some of Hideo Kojima’s greats, familiar faces can be found all over Konami games. Take a peek.

Contra
Jimbo and Sully. Mad Dog and Scorpion. Bill and Lance. The two protagonist of the Contra series have gone by many names here in the states (it’s always been Bill and Lance) but their initial influence has never changed. Someone at Konami must have been a big fan of Predator and Rambo, because these characters are clearly based off Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. And why not? If Arnold and Sly made a movie together during the 80s, the world may have blown up. Since they never did, Contra was the next best thing that could happen.

Snatcher
This little known Sega CD game (in the states anyway) comes from the well known Hideo Kojima. This cult classic cyber punk adventure game stars a man named Gillian Seed, who resembles Harrison Ford’s character from the movie Blade Runner. I guess if you’re going to make a cyber punk adventure game, why not take from the movie that invented it?

Policenauts

Another Kojima game, but this one never actually made it to the states. I don’t know a heck of a lot about Policenauts other than the fact that it stars a blue haired Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. I guess the game is kind of like the anime version of Lethal Weapon in the future? Or not.

Metal Gear Solid
This is an obvious one. Snake was clearly created after the legendary Snake Plissken played by Kurt Russell in Escape for New York and LA. If the interviews from Kojima saying that Snake was inspired by Plisskin wasn’t enough proof, then maybe the fact that Snake showed up in MGS2 as “Iroquois Plissken” will make you a true believer Dr Jones.

Snake isn’t the only celeb creeping around in the Metal Gear world. Take a look at Big Boss from the MSX game Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

Sean Connery FTW.

Updated: A shot I forgot to include is the cover art from the original Metal Gear title. This time, it looks like Kojima was really into Terminator, as that is clearly Michael Biehn.

Bayou Billy
I can’t believe I forgot about Bayou Billy. This ridiculously hard NES game basically stars Paul Hogan’s Crocodile Dundee. Thanks for the heads up tkshredder.

Is 17-year Old Hayden Panettiere of "Heroes" the New Hollywood Bad Girl? Hayden Panettiere Loves Licking Tits

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 13:50:42 GMT

Judging by this picture of Hayden in a compromising position with another girl, I'd say so. Lindsay Lohan better step up her game!

Just a day and a half after I revealed my lewd jailbait fantasies for Hayden Panettiere of Heroes, she goes and teases me with a hot photo of her licking the breast of another nubile young hottie while showing bra and cleavage to boot. So, it looks like the request form on her MySpace page actually works. For my next wish, I’d like to see Hayden dressed up in a latex nurse’s uniform administering a coffee enema to… Wait a minute, am I saying this out loud?

‘More than half’ of Indian children suffer sexual abuse

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:17:33 GMT

More than half of Indian children have been sexually abused, according to a government survey that has prompted calls for tighter laws and mandatory sex education in schools.

The survey, by the newly formed Ministry of Women and Child Development, found that 53.22 per cent of children between 5 and 18 years old had suffered sexual abuse, ranging from forced kissing to rape. The study was the first attempt to document the extent of child abuse in a country where it is viewed largely as a Western phenomenon and where discussion of sexual matters is still strictly taboo.

“We always say our children are safe, we take good care of them — these bad things don’t happen here,” said Renuka Chowdhury, the Minister for Women and Child Development. India is home to 440 million people under the age of 18 — about a fifth of the world’s children.

The survey questioned 12,447 children from 13 of the 28 states in India, and was partly funded by Unicef, the United Nations children’s agency.

Sexual abuse was defined as “inappropriate sexual behaviour with a child”. Severe sexual abuse included rape, sodomy, touching or fondling a child’s genitals, forcing a child to exhibit his or her genitals and photographing a child in the nude.

“Other forms” included forced kissing, making sexual advances to a child during travel or marriage situations, indecent exposure or exposing a child to pornography.

Included in the headline figure of 53.22 per cent were 20.9 per cent of respondents who had experienced severe sexual abuse and 5.69 per cent who had suffered sexual assault. In at least half of cases, children were abused by people whom they knew or who were in positions of responsibility. Most of the victims did not report the matter.

Anu Dixit, a senior programme officer in child protection for Unicef who worked on the survey, said: “It is not just a problem in families that are poor or backward: it cuts across economic barriers.” She said that migration was a significant factor because children are often abused after leaving home to seek work in cities.

In some states, the problem is linked to cultural traditions such as child marriage or making a child become a sex worker as an “offering” to the gods.

Photos: Nigerian students power up their $100 laptops

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:38:14 GMT

Hassounah shows the students how to boot up their open-source laptops. The bright colors were designed to appeal to children, but the bug-like antennae are mostly practical. Two wireless receptors magnify the laptop's ability to net an Internet connection, which varies in availability throughout the test regions.

A first grade teacher collected well-known proverbs. She gave each child in her class the first half of a proverb, and had them come up with the rest. Their insight may surprise you...

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:36:09 GMT

Better to be safe than ....Punch a 5th grader.

Strike while the.....Bug is close.

It's always darkest before....Daylight Savings time.

Never underestimate the power of.....Termites.

You can lead a horse to water but ....how?

Don't bite the hand that ....looks dirty.

No news is....impossible.

A miss is as good as a .....Mr.

You can't teach an old dog new....math.

If you lie down with dogs, you....stink in the morning.

Love all, trust .....me.

The pen is mightier than the....pigs.

An idle mind is....the best way to relax

Where there's smoke there's ....Pollution.

Happy the bride who.....gets all the presents.

A penny saved is....not much

Two's company, three's....the Musketeers.

Don't put off till tomorrow what....you put on to go to bed.

Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and ....you have to blow your nose.

None are so blind as....Helen Keller.

Children should be seen and not....spanked or grounded.

If at first you don't succeed....get new batteries.

You get out of something what you....see pictured on the box

When the blind leadeth the blind....get out of the way.

Elizabeth Hurley Could Face Jail Time

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 16:15:54 GMT

Elizabeth Hurley and her new husband, Arun Nayar face a three jail term for breaking Hindu marriage customs.

Vishnu Khandelwal, who may have never met the couple, has started legal action on the grounds that the wedding defied Hindu custom.

Khandelwal is accusing Hurley of drinking alcohol and refusing to take off her shoes when she arrived at the marriage mandap(marriage place.)

Ironically the million dollar wedding pictures will be used as evidence. Pictures from Hello! and People magazine show the bride and groom kissing. Hindus don't kiss during the wedding ceremony. Prosecutor HM Saraswat says that Hurley's father-in-law Vinod Nayar is offering help with case.

The elder Nayar disowned his son and daugther-in law after last month's Indian and English nuptials. Vinod Nayer says that he and his second wife were treated as"second class citizens" at the lavish ceremonies.

Vinod Nayer believes that the couple did not think and Joanne Nayer were glamorous enough for their multi million dollar magazine deals.

"Maybe they didn't really want my side of the family there. They didn't even have the manners to invite my 87-year-old mother. I once thought Liz was a lovely, un-spoilt woman, but now I see that she is a very hard person. It was important for her to get celebrity faces there. That's what the Hello! deal was about. She was fulfilling her contractual obligation. I knew she was very ambitious, but I never realized just how desperate she is for fame and attention."

If convicted of acts against the faith Saraswat said "An arrest warrant could be issued for Arun and Liz as soon as the prosecution has made its case either because they are summonsed to give evidence or they have been found guilty."

"Vinod Nayar told me that when Arun Nayar and Liz Hurley came to the marriage mandap Arun Nayar left his footwear outside but Liz Hurley refused to remove her footwear. When we worship we just remove our shoes because we pray to God and at that time shoes should be removed."

"Our intention is to prove that the procedures adopted by both the accused for their marriage is against our Hindu rites.''

A source close to Hurley says the actress "went absolutely ballistic when she found out what Arun's family had been saying about her."

Hurley declined comment on the matter.

Elizabeth Hurley Faces Jail Time?

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 16:14:18 GMT

Elizabeth Hurley and her new husband Arun Nayar could be facing jail time after being accused of breaking Hindu customs during their wedding ceremony.

According to reports, Arun's father Vinod, who was upset about how he was treated during the wedding, is willing to testify against the couple with written evidence. Isn't that sad that his own father is trying to put the couple behind bars? Isn't he taking into consideration that fact that she has a little kid? Is he gonna take care of him?

Some of the complaints against them include: Hurley refused to remove her shoes inside the marriage mandrap (marriage place) and that the couple drank alcohol before the wedding.

The Daily Mail claims that the couple have been charged with an intention to outrage the feelings of Hindus by insulting their religious and ritualistic beliefs under section 295 A of the Indian Penal code.

Those found guilty of deliberately insulting the Hindu religion can face a three-year prison sentence.

"An arrest warrant could be issued for Arun and Liz as soon as the prosecution has made its case – either because they are summonsed to give evidence or they have been found guilty," prosecuting lawyer HM Saraswat said in comments reported by the paper.

Hurley jail threat over wedding

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 16:14:11 GMT

* Three year jail threat for breaching Hindu customs
* Wedding pictures of kiss could be used as evidence
* But legal experts say jail term unlikely

IN a bizarre twist to her recent wedding ceremony, Hollywood star Liz Hurley faces a three year jail term for breaching Hindu custom.

Even more bizarrely, wedding pictures the star sold to Hello! magazine for $5 million might be used to prosecute her, combined with evidence from her new father-in-law.

A devout Hindu, Vishnu Khandelwal, who is thought never to have met the couple, has begun legal proceedings saying their lavish wedding broke with Hindu custom.

Among the allegations are that Hurley refused to take off her shoes when they arrived at the marriage mandap (marriage place) and that she drank alcohol.

Pictures of the pair kissing in Hello! will be used to show that they failed to "behave soberly'', while it was noted that kissing is also against Hindu culture.

"We are using the Hello! pictures to prove our case,'' prosecuting lawyer HM Saraswat said. Hurley's father-in-law Vinod Nayar has also contacted the prosecutor saying he has help regarding the case.

"He wants to disclose some important facts,'' Mr Saraswat said.

Mr Nayar famously disowned his son and daughter-in-law last week after claiming he and other Indian guests at the wedding were made to feel like a "second class citizens'' in comparison to European guests at the lavish do.

If found guilty of a "deliberate and malicious act'' against the religion, both Hurley and her husband Arun face a three-year jail sentence.

"An arrest warrant could be issued for Arun and Liz as soon as the prosecution has made its case - either because they are summonsed to give evidence or they have been found guilty,'' Mr Saraswat said.

"Vinod Nayar told me that when Arun Nayar and Liz Hurley came to the marriage mandap Arun Nayar left his footwear outside but Liz Hurley refused to remove her footwear.

"When we worship we just remove our shoes because we pray to God and at that time shoes should be removed.

"Our intention is to prove that the procedures adopted by both the accused for their marriage is against our Hindu rites.''

The pair could also face an unlimited fine - putting a sizeable hole in their Hello! advance - by the judge presiding over the case if he decides there is a prime facie case to answer.

They could be charged under section 295A of the Indian penal code, detailing an intention to outrage the feelings of Hindus by insulting their religious and ritualistic beliefs.

Hurley's father-in-law has agreed to testify against the couple with written evidence but, despite his and the prosecutor's best efforts, legal experts said it was unlikely the couple would go to jail.

Lara Bingle nude betrayal row

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 22:11:41 GMT

A PHOTOGRAPHER who snapped nude pictures of Lara Bingle today denied he hed "betrayed" her by making money on the pictures.

The row broke out between Gavin O'Neill, one of Australia's most successful nude photographers, and Lara Bingle's management who claim the photos were taken as test-shots when she was only 17.

O'Neill contends they were taken with the full knowledge and support of her agency.

O'Neill, who has photographed Penelope Cruz, Megan Gale and Tara Moss, told a Sydney newspaper he was being blamed for the "mis-management" of her career.

"This shoot was done with the full knowledge and support of her agency who set up the initial meeting to discuss the shoot in the first place," O'Neill stated in an e-mail.

"So they are well aware of the exact purpose of publishing them in European magazines, as agreed, so I find it all a bit confusing as to why her agency would now slander me in the media, accusing me of cashing in."

An influx of curious Aussie men, eager to get a glimpse of the nude pictures of Bingle, have crashed the GQ Germany Web site after it published nude photos of the popular model.

After it was revealed the nude photos were on the GQ Germany site, hordes of visitors flocked to the site, crashing its servers and resulting in the GQ Germany team to replace the photos with this message:

"Welcome to GQ Germany, Australia! It's always nice to have visitors from Down Under, but our servers were not prepared for this sudden rush. So our work here was done, before it even started. Cheers mates!"

The photos have since been taken down but you can see one here

The nude photographs of Bingle - including one showing her sitting in a field of long grass, and another with her wearing pink silk sleeves with the ocean behind her - surfaced last week after men's magazine Zoo Weekly, revealed it would be using them in their defence of legal action brought by Bingle for defamation, misleading conduct and breach of copyright.

Google, finally shows its funny side

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:53:56 GMT

The world will get a chuckle out of Google’s April Fools prank, “TiSP.” But unless you’ve been following their plans with Earthlink to develop a citywide wifi program pretty closely, you might have missed the element of mockery.

You see, a competing plan proposed by San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano proposed building out a municipally owned network by laying fiber-optic cable alongside the city’s underground sewers.

Local columnist Matt Smith called Ammiano’s plan a “boondoggle” in this weeks San Francisco Weekly, though also complained that Gavin Newsom’s lack of political skill is what’s keeping Google from giving away “what amounts to free beer.”

Touche, Google. Touche.

Paris Paid $10 Million To Develop Push Up Bra Line

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:27:01 GMT

For the past few weeks the internet has been abuzz with rumors that Paris Hilton secretly snuck off and got breast implants. She has been looking quite buxom these days, after all. As it turns out, it was all smoke, mirrors, and a lucrative stunt. Starting today, Paris Hilton is the official spokesperson and designer for the newest line of push-up bras from Victoria's Secret named The Fake-Body by Paris: Just Like The Rest of Her.

K-Fed To Release Album of Love Songs for Britney!!

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:26:31 GMT

After the disappointing album sales of Playing With Fire, Kevin Federline is at it again -- only this time he's changing his tune. Rumor has it that The Fed (in conjunction with Federation Records, natch) is planning on releasing an R&B album of love songs as a last ditch effort to win back his ex, Britney Spears.

The working title of the album is In The (Love) Zone: Kevin Does Romance.

Apparently he is planning on including covers of some well known tunes, including Can You Feel The Love Tonight, Lets Get It On, and Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman.

To hear more details about the album, and hear an early clip of his crooning just

APRIL FOOLS!!!!! But seriously, how embarrassingly hilarious would that be?!?

Jess and John Secretly Marry In Hawaii!!!!

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:25:57 GMT

Never one to dilly dally in the ways of love, Jessica Simpson and John Mayer secretly married in Hawaii this weekend. There were not, as far as I know, reality TV crews around, but I could very well be wrong. The couple stopped off to get Maui'ed on their way to Australia for the last leg of John's tour.

Rumor has it that he serenaded his new wife at the reception with Your Body is a Wonderland as well as a new tune written just for her. To hear more about the ceremony, and see a preview of the pics just
APRIL FOOLS!!!!! But would you really put it past her??

Test Screening Details On ‘The Simpsons’

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:17:19 GMT

Here's more from that hush-hush Portland, Oregon, test screening of the hush-hush The Simpsons movie which is still a work-in-progress with only partial animation and in need of tweaks like Hans Zimmer's score. Naturally, the attendees were forced to sign a multi-page nondisclosure agreement. Given all the secrecy, what does Fox think they have buried there: gold? Why, yes, box office gold! Who's not gonna see this pic. And what summer blockbuster would be without a big sickening summer promotion. Right now, 7-11 and Fox are working on a deal to transform 11 of 4,700 stores across the U.S. to resemble the front of the Kwik-E-Marts selling some of Homer Simpson's favorite snacks. Inside every 7-11 will be a bonanza of Simpsons characters hawking the food. And all 7-11 customers will be able to buy products inspired by the show, including KrustyO's cereal, Buzz Cola, and iced Squishees (the cup will say Squishee, but the contents will be Slurpee). But back to the test screening. My immense thanks to Shawn Levy of The Oregonian, whose source adds nice detail to the already posted brief write-up by a contributor to Ain't It Cool News:

"A reliable informant sends the following: 'I, too, attended the first public test screening last Tueday night at the Lloyd. Matt Groening sat four seats away from us, James L. Brooks and a plethora of writers sat behind us in two rows. It was good but very rough. Lots of animatics, both pencil drawings, and CG match moves and storyboards. Pretty enjoyable all around though and a pretty amazing screening experience, perhaps one of the best of my life thus far. It's in the top five at least. Here are a few more details:
# simpsonsmovie_bigteaserposter1.jpgThe film was about 90 minutes + some more.
# It was very rough in places with CG animatics and match move models of characters and then pencil sketches. Some were just story boards.
# The plot of the film is like a big episode, but kept pretty straightforward and linear. Not a ton of wacky digressions, but the focus is on the family first and foremost.
# The first 45-50 minutes are pretty tightly written and cut, with a lot of well structured 'A' jokes followed up very quickly by the smaller 'B' joke.
# At this point, the film is pretty well mapped out and plotted, but still very very malleable.
# I would say the most work needs to be done near the last third of the film. It just feels a bit fast in how it wraps up, otherwise, it's a solid piece of entertainment.
# There were more than a few points where I had to remind myself that I was watching a movie, not just an episode and they even make a few jokes about this too.
# The film is in Scope/2.35:1 and makes a joke about this in the first 3-4 minutes.'"

Ain't It Cool News contributor Biker-Boy wrote earlier about the test screening:
# The film in its current form is massively unfinished; with, I would guess, around 30% of the film in the final hi-def, super sharp animation. The rest was divided between hand drawn storyboards, and low res, choppy colour animation.
# The voice soundtrack was complete, but the musical score wasn’t.
# simpsons2.jpgAll this probably means that, even if unchanged, the final print will maintain its pacing, excitement and charm a little better than the version we saw, as 2 or 3 hand-drawn storyboards don’t quite manage to convey all of the things which makes The Simpsons so special.
# We did get a pretty good idea of what to expect though, and where the film makers are going with this big screen version. So what did I, a Simpsons appreciator of long standing, think of the movie? It’s excellent. Is it mind blowingly awesome? No, not quite. Almost, but not quite. At least not in it’s current form.
# The first thing to say is, it’s too short. I didn’t time it exactly, but the movie is something like an hour and a quarter in length. It’s over in a heartbeat.
# Because (I would guess) of this short running time we come up against the first of the films little problems… Not nearly enough screen time is given to any one of the multitude of surrounding characters. Not one of them. We have the main Simpsons family taking centre stage, and a couple of new characters to be introduced to, but aside from that any of the other people who populate Springfield are reduced to one line (or at least sub-5 second) cameos. I feel they have wasted their best resource by simply omitting them. The trailer's assertion that ‘the gangs all here’ is pretty misleading, since with a couple of exceptions (who get a few short minutes each) we don’t get to spend any time with any of the surrounding cast. It’s a crying shame.
# The easiest way to describe the film is by way of it’s three acts. They roughly split up into; the first half hour, the second half hour, and the final quarter hour-ish of climax.
# The first half hour of the Simpsons movie is hysterical genius. It’s classic. It’s old school. It’s violent. It’s slapstick. It’s clever. It’s everything you could ever want it to be. There’s a gag every couple of seconds (sometimes several going on in the background), and pretty much all of them hit the mark with confidence and accuracy. I haven’t laughed so hard in ages (definitely not since Hot Fuzz). Seriously. My head almost fell off.
# simpsons1.gifIt’s here we see scenes like Homer fixing his roof with Bart from the most recent trailer. It’s day-to-day life stuff, and is The Simpsons at it’s best.
# The ‘plot’ of this first act reflects back to several classic episodes, and puts the family in situations that are familiar to all of us. Here we do, of course, meet all our favourite characters (albeit, as I said, too briefly), and get some marvellously funny set pieces. You might even say that the first act of The Simpsons movie is the Best. Episode. Ever. (sorry).
# The second half hour is a problem. Here we are attempting to further the plot, and add some conflict and exposition. It’s not that it’s bad, just that it isn’t really as good. The gag rate drops right off, and (shockingly for such a short movie) it feels a little slow. There’s some good moments in there of course, but it just seems to lose it’s zap and it’s zing.
# Here we could have done with branching off from the main story line and returning to perhaps some of the supporting characters for some laughs, some fun-poking, and some humour for humour’s sake. Padding if you will.
# There is one stand out scene in this middle section which is utterly inspired, and where you get to see Bart at his comedy best.
# The final short act, where the climax is played out, and everyone learns a valuable lesson, is exciting, clever and extremely satisfying. It definitely ends well, if a little abruptly. It all wraps up pretty neatly, and the animation here is superb, mixing high quality 2D and 3D to outstanding effect.
# To ensure they get a brief mention, the voice acting is typically faultless, and the music was adequate – even though unfinished.
# People keep asking me: “so is it any good, or is it just like a longer episode?”. I say, if you pick some of the truly classic episodes, then a longer version is exactly what we wanted. What we got feels like they weren’t quite sure how to create a 90-minute episode, so they did one episode for comedy, one for plot, and one for the ending. I say we got three episodes back to back, and they all feel slightly different.
# None of this of course means that the movie is bad. It isn’t. It’s The Simpsons. It’s funny, charming, exciting, familiar and is peppered with delightfully loving references to all our favourite events in the Simpsons family history (one in particular will have you whooping with joy in your seat if you’re a Simpsons fan).
# I’d recommend the movie, yes - in its current state, to anyone who enjoys watching the show, and anyone who enjoys a laugh in general. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and am looking forward to seeing it again.
# I just hope, somewhere in the back of my mind, that they read and pay attention to my comment card, and fill out the middle section with some more snap, crackle and pop. If they do, they could have an all time classic on their hands, which sadly the version I saw falls ever so slightly short of."

Salma hayek hides the bump

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:14:21 GMT

A very sperminated Salma Hayek is shy about showing off her growing belly. The actress was snapped in New York City this past weekend, hopefully spending some of her babydaddy's money. He's a billionaire!

Working Mommyhood is a Dirty Job for Jen

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:12:04 GMT

Jen and Ben stepped out without Violet to visit a Doctor's office in LA this week. We love seeing that Jen is such a hands on mom. We even remember seeing Jen covered in fake blood while playing with Violet on the set of her upcoming action film, The Kingdom. In the April Allure she talks about how mixing work and mommyhood was a little messy - literally. Here's more:

"Violet would be there on set and I would feed her an then go back out. I was covered in blood and mud and dirt, and so her little sweet pink outfits would be caked in fake blood by the time she went home. She had blood across her forehead, and you don't want to see that on a little one."

We're sure little Violet didn't even notice and was just happy to be at work with Mommy. We totally understand Jen's concern about her pristine little baby, though.

What Do You Want To See From Carmen?

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:10:23 GMT

Cute Carmen spent some time buying something sexy at Agent Provocateur in LA this week. Her ex Dave Navarro has been spotted all over town with a new lady, but Carmen has been pretty single since her break-up. She certainly doesn't need to jump into a new relationship right away, but we'd love to see something new from Carmen.

Hot Couple Alert: Penelope Cruz and Olivier Martinez

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:02:58 GMT

So much for those Penelope and Orlando rumors. Apparently the Volver actress has moved onto Kylie Minogue's ex hottie Olivier Martinez. The two have been spotted out and about in LA together this week, and X17 hears they were seen late night dining (and making out) at The Little Door the night before. Supposedly, he even spent the night at her place. Penelope is pretty private about her personal life so we doubt if there will be a conformation anytime soon

Kids' Choice Awards Round Up

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 01:51:32 GMT

The Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards is one of the less formal and more fun red orange carpet arrivals to watch. Hayden Panettiere glammed up in gold while Jessica Alba dressed up jeans with a cute top. Looks like Britney could use some style advice from her lil' sis. Jamie Lynn Spears was one of the cutest on the carpet this weekend

Britney Loves The Lakers

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 01:50:33 GMT

Britney is learning you don't needs drinks and drugs to smile. The rehabbed pop star took in a Lakers game this weekend for some carefree fun times. She is still showing off her new baby blue eyes and pearly whites as well as once again being able to wear more shades of brown than I ever knew existed. After the big game Brit laid pretty low, but no news is good news from Brit these days.

Kate & Owen Publicly Announce Love By Dining At Ivy

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 01:49:52 GMT

Kate and Owen have been an item for a while now, but their cycle-heavy love has, until this weekend, played out overseas. Lucky for us (or those of us who love this flaxen haired duo at least), Kate's filming schedule in Australia was delayed due to a jellyfish scare, which brought her back to LA to lunch at The Ivy with Owen on Friday. Obviously these two are ready to go very public with their relationship, otherwise no reason to dine at The Ivy. They're looking pretty cute* these days (and only 80% like siblings), too. Though they should probably get back to the beach soon -- it's their native habitat after all.

*Though, are Kate's sunglasses the kind that are made to be worn over real glasses. Nerd alert! (Which isn't saying I've never owned those.)

One woman fighting an army (pic)

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 18:35:30 GMT

World Press Photo Awards for 2006
Settler woman struggles with Israeli security officer, Amona outpost.

Sanjaya And His American Idol Mohawk!

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:37:17 GMT

Sanjaya And His American Idol Mohawk!

sanjaya's weak mohawk & performance!

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:37:00 GMT

sanjaya's weak mohawk & performance!

Sanjaya Rocks the Ponyhawk

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:36:40 GMT

Sanjaya Rocks the Ponyhawk

SANJAYA ROCKS A FAUX-HAWK

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:36:02 GMT

SANJAYA ROCKS A FAUX-HAWK

Sanjaya Malakar Makes Little Girl Cry

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:35:05 GMT

Sanjaya Malakar Makes Little Girl Cry

The power of Google or lord of the flies

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:33:20 GMT

Google is the evil master of us all

Why I get nothing done on the internet [cartoon]

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 11:51:57 GMT

Funny

Was Griffin's Crash a Hoax? - TMZ.com

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 12:13:59 GMT

Eddie Griffin's ultra-expensive crash in a $1.5 million Ferrari Enzo has been all over television and the Internet today, but could the pricey wipeout really be a brilliant marketing ploy?

In the video obtained by CBS2 News in Los Angeles, it shows the car slamming into a concrete barricade. But, to quote Dr. Henry Lee from the O.J. Simpson case, "Something wrong."

Roll the video and take a close look at the guy standing next to the concrete barrier. He doesn't even flinch as the car comes near. Also, it's pretty interesting that after the crash, Griffin joked it up, saying, "Undercover Brother's good at karate and all the rest of that, but the brother can't drive."

This isn't the first time that one of Daniel Sadek's high-priced cars have been wrecked. During production of his movie, "Redline," two of the producer/real estate investor's expensive Porsche Carrera GTs were totaled during filming. One of the collisions was designed as a stunt. The other was an accident.

UPDATE: Eddie Griffin's publicist, Lori Jonas, told TMZ, "It was not a hoax. Eddie was racing for a charity to promote his upcoming film, "Redline." He got in an accident. He is suffering from neck and shoulder pain as a result of the accident. It was in no way a hoax."

Identity Of 'Idol' Crying Girl Revealed!

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 01:29:44 GMT

The LAT's crack American Idol Showtracker investigative team was backstage at last night's taping, which introduced Fox's latest breakout star to nearly 30 million television viewers: young Ashley Ferl, the girl so memorably paralyzed by the spasms of tears elicited by Idol's resident Destroyer of Popular Music Sanjaya Malakar's eardrum-perforating performance. Reports the Times on how the show's producers came to identify the undeniable talent in their midst:

First things first: Who was the crying girl? After the show, I chatted with Idol's newest superstar, the crying girl, Ashley Ferl, aged 13, from Riverside. For some long minutes after the show, Ashley remained in a state of inconsolable sobbing, unable to choke out a single word. However, through an interpreter (her mother) we were eventually able to learn some facts about the young superstar.

The family, I was told, obtained tickets on a website to attend a taping of "Smarter Than a 5th Grader" a day passage that included not just the taping of the show itself, but also the dress rehearsal of either "Grader" or "Idol." The fates were kind, and the mother and daughter found their way to the "Idol" rehearsal, where Ashley's waterworks began. Her prowess was quickly brought to the attention of "Idol" producers who summoned the clan to a ringside seat of honor at the final taping.

Her powers of speech slowly returning, Ashley revealed that while she was on stage she had been thinking that "this was the coolest thing ever." Asked whom she was supporting in the competition she named "Sanjaya, Melinda, Gina and Jordin" as her picks, refusing to narrow her vote down to a single choice. All my journalistic powers of persuasion, cajoling, bullying and insistence that on her vote might turn the entire competition, that "Listen to reason, young Ferl, there can't be four American Idols," would not convince her to name a single favorite. To my every argument, she would only repeat her mantra, "All Four: Sanjaya, Melinda, Gina and Jordin." And so the race begins in earnest, with tears at every step of the way.

Their reporting makes no mention of whether or not Fox, never a network to leave any opportunity for exploitation unexplored, has invited Ferl back for tonight's result show, knowing that the superfan's unflagging support of four of the remaining eleven hopefuls leaves them with (at worst) a thirty-seven percent chance of capturing on camera the utter ruination of her childhood should one of her favorites be dismissed. The resulting paroxysm of sorrow will immediately become part of the "farewell montage" that plays each contestant off the stage and into the professional purgatory of the Idol Tour, where the girl's flood of uncontrollable tears will remind viewers about the lives they destroy each and every week with their phone calls and text messages.

Is Howard Stern Behind Sanjaya Malakar's Staying Power On 'Idol'?

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 14:56:51 GMT

It's not as though Sirius Satellite shock jock Howard Stern has been taking credit for Sanjaya Malakar's startling longevity on the sixth season of Fox's "American Idol," but boy, would he like to.

That's right, folks — Malakar has himself an unlikely campaigner in the "King of All Media," who's been advising his fans to vote in jest for the first contestant of Indian descent to make it into the show's top 12.

Stern — a self-professed "Idol" junkie, much to the chagrin of his mostly male audience and buoyant sidekick, funnyman Artie Lange — has thrown his full support behind the 17-year-old finalist, considered by many to be this season's underdog. The mediocre Malakar has evoked comparisons to third-season hopeful William Hung, and each week, he finds himself accused of slaughtering yet another song.

And that's precisely why Stern would like to see Sanjaya assume the "Idol" title from the affable, salt-and-pepper-pelted Taylor Hicks. Of course Stern's espousal is largely disingenuous; after calling Malakar his "favorite contestant" recently, Stern confessed he'd like to see Sanjaya win because he's the least talented of this year's finalists.

Likewise, Malakar is the "Idol" aspirant of choice on the Web site VotefortheWorst.com, which encourages its visitors to vote for the show's least talented contestants in hopes of ultimately swaying the final vote and derailing the reality-TV franchise altogether. On Tuesday (March 20), Stern interviewed VotefortheWorst.com founder Dave Della Terza about his Malakar mission.

Stern — who has theorized Malakar's staying power on the show has hinged on phoned-in votes from India — may just be doing all of this to raise the ire of regular caller and resident "Idol" expert Eric Lynch, known to fans as "Eric the Midget."

Lynch, who claims he has been voting for 27-year-old Lakisha Jones, fears Malakar's inclusion on this summer's impending "American Idol" tour and promises to call Stern and gloat the second Sanjaya is given the old heave-ho. Stern has said he's even toying with the idea of sending show writer Benjy Bronk out on the streets of Manhattan with a sign, urging the public to vote for Sanjaya.

With more than 6 million subscribers signing up for Sirius Satellite service since his arrival, it's possible Stern's influence will be felt. But Maria Milito — a New York radio host who appeared on MSNBC's "Countdown With Keith Olbermann" earlier this month, touting herself as the " 'American Idol' Princess" — doubts Stern's audience is carrying out his orders.

"I don't think that he can do this," she said. "Compared to the days when he was on free radio, it's different now. I don't think [Malakar is still in contention] because of Howard. I think [Malakar will get booted] eventually — this kid won't last."

While an improbable campaign, Stern did mobilize his audience enough to land repeat guest Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf onto People magazine's list of most beautiful people in 1998. Stern called on his audience to vote for Hank, and they inadvertently hijacked the poll, giving him the edge over Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney and others.

Only time will tell if the supposed "Stern Effect," a term coined to reflect the subscription growth attributed to Stern's joining Sirius, will influence who stays and who goes on "Idol." One thing's for certain: Lynch is licking his chops and hoping for sweet revenge.

Gambar Bogel Zana AF 5 : Naked pictures Zana AF5 this is why she is fired

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 01:34:02 GMT

Zana AF5 sacked

The AGLOCO Scam Decontructed: Finally Someone's Reading the Fineprint!! What Everyone Ought to Know About Agloco at Trader’s Narrative

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 17:45:26 GMT

Agloco uses a tortuously roundabout path to go from surfing to actual payment of money. Basically, they're going to pay you in worthless AGLOCO stock after watering it down every step of the way. If you think those AGLOCO signups you got are going to make you money, think again! Read this finanial analysis of just how hard it will be to get paid

Agloco is a pay to surf MLM scheme that exploded onto the interwebs late last year. It is backed by the same team as AllAdvantage which crashed and burned in the bubble years. Check out this article from Business 2.0 on AllAdvantage (pdf).

agloco virus spreads on internet.png

AllAdvantage had a simple proposition: pay people a fixed hourly rate for the hours they spent browsing the internet with their software and use an MLM structure to attract new users. As you’d expect, this lead to legions of bots that pretended to surf. In contrast, Agloco uses a tortuously roundabout path to go from surfing to actual payment of money.

Still, most people mistakenly see Agloco as having a simple, linear model. Consider the following a public service announcement. If you’re a shrewd trader or investor or ever sat through an economics class (awake) you have no need to read further.

For the rest, let’s break it down:

agloco.png
[1] First, you have to download and install Agloco’s viewbar. This software (vaporware?) has yet to be released and every time a date is given, it makes a nice whooshing sound as it passes by. For the sake of this analysis, let’s assume it is actually released.

[2]So you surf the web while running the viewbar. But you don’t get a one-to-one proportionate credit for the actual hours you spend online. No matter how much longer you spend online, you’ll only get five measly hours accrued a month. And they “reserves the right to change these rates at any time for any country”.

[3]Next, these ‘Agloco hour units’ will accumulate. At some point, who-knows-when (if ever) they will be converted to something else. Note that they “reserves the right to change the [conversion] rates at any time”. So you can find yourself on shifting ground and get much less than what you thought you’d get.

Now, here’s the knee slapper: Agloco will convert these ‘hour units’ not into cash but into shares. But Agloco is a private company in start-up mode; has no public shares to distribute; is not profitable; hasn’t even released a product; and its founders failed the first time they tried this venture (what they lack in creativity, I suppose, they make up in persistence). Furthermore, according to SEC regulations, Agloco can not distribute unregistered shares to the public. While the ability of Agloco to produce and distribute value hinges on being able to going public, it’s ironic that the least amount of attention has been paid to this point.

From Agloco’s website:

“Remember, the company is 100% owned by the Members…”

No, it is not. It is a private company owned by a very few. I can cut them some slack for aggressive promotional copy but this is a bald faced lie.

[4]Assuming it does actually go public (I would really like to see an investment banker sit through a meeting with a straight face) Agloco will then have to use its shares as currency to pay its members – that was the original point, before all these twisty turns, remember? When it begins to do so, the proverbial shit will hit the fan.

If we assume Agloco is successful, they will have to regularly pay their considerable and probably growing user base a massive amount of money. Which means selling a massive amount of shares on the market. Guess what will happen to the value of the shares when this unflagging selling takes place? Guess what will happen before the selling hits as smart traders position themselves ahead of the avalanche of sell orders?

[5]But wait, maybe I’m being too harsh here. Let us again give them the benefit of the doubt. Let’s assume that people don’t make a mad dash to cash in their shares… eventhough they’ve been slaving over a hot monitor for months. The next hurdle to the ‘members’ seeing money is for the firm to become profitable.

[6]The chances of this are very slim for obvious reasons. Even if they do become profitable, the founders will rightfully want to get a return on their risk capital before paying anyone else. Again, let’s assume not only that Agloco becomes profitable but that their board declares a cash dividend (as opposed to a sneaky stock dividend).

[7]Now here is the payoff that the ‘members’ had been waiting for. Assuming all the above, we finally get to the single mention of cash payment to users in Agloco’s website:

“As Agloco grows and the company generates positive cash flow, we will be distributing the excess cash to Members and shareholders of the company.”

At this improbable point, having jumped through hoop after hoop and assumed everything but the kitchen sink, the members are getting paid a pittance: dividend ‘cents’ on any ‘dollar’ shares owned. And that is assuming that in Agloco’s glorious ascent, hackers the world over haven’t unleashed massive ‘bots’ to mimic surfing and made it a victim of its own ’success’. Or that the SEC hasn’t nabbed the founders on charges of attempting to circumvent securities law by promising the public unregistered securities in return for membership.

If you are more jaded than I am, you may point out that at each node through this circuitous path, Agloco has built in several mechanisms to control the amount of ‘value’ they distribute – whether limits on hours, conversion rates of shares or cash, reserving the right to kick anyone out for any reason, etc. These built in ‘firewalls’ are there for the protection of the founders and the business but they can also be used quite easily to manipulate the user base to extract the most from them while reciprocating a minimum.

Having said all that, I don’t think Agloco’s a scam. It is a poorly conceived scheme that appeals to those who know very little about finance, share issuance and regulation. I really do wish Agloco would go public. How else would I get a chance to short it? ;)

Teen is killed at exact spot friend died hours earlier

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 17:43:18 GMT

A teenager was killed by a hit-and-run driver at the same spot where his 14-year-old friend had died in a car crash just hours earlier.

Andrew Coit, 18, was hit by a car after 4 a.m. Saturday as he played a guitar at a makeshift memorial to Darien Plass, 14, on West Warwick's Main Street. Plass died after driving his mother's minivan into a utility pole late Friday, friends of both teenagers told the Providence Journal.

"He wanted to play one last song for (Plass), and that was the last time anyone saw him. He loved singing. He died doing what he loved doing," said Coit's friend, Dennis Sullivan.

Plass' friends said he had been drinking and took his mother's minivan without her knowledge. Coit and other friends set up the memorial.

Sullivan told the newspaper the mourners remained at the memorial until about 4 a.m., but Coit stayed behind to play one more song for Plass by himself.

Minutes later, police received a call of a man down, and an ambulance crew found Coit on the sidewalk. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

"He died pretty much instantly. He did not suffer," Alan Coit said of his son.

Police were searching for the hit-and-run driver who hit Coit, said Detective Sgt. James Tiernan.

South Park Mormons Part 2

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 15:43:58 GMT

The South Park depiction of the Book of Mormon character Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith in September 1823 reveals some holes in Joseph Smith's story.

First and foremost, it shows Joseph Smith sleeping alone in a cabin, which was not the case. In fact, at the time of the appearance of Moroni in 1823, the Smith family was living in a two-room cabin and Joseph shared one bedroom with his four brothers.

Angel Moroni

There are no contemprary accounts of the appearance of Moroni to Joseph Smith. In fact all of the earliest accounts, which started in 1829 after publication of the Book of Mormon, describe Moroni as a spirit coming in a dream, not an angelic physical visitation.

Special Book of Mormon witness Martin Harris was among the many who described Moroni as a spirit coming in a dream. On September 5, 1829, the Rochester Gem reported on the origins of Mormonism and quoted Book of Mormon Special Witness Martin Harris: "he states that after a third visit from the same spirit in a dream he (Smith) proceeded to the spot."
- “A GOLDEN BIBLE” Gem, (Rochester, NY), 5 Sept. 1829. Source of reference: A New Witness for Christ in America, (Zion's printing and Publishing, 1951)

Perhaps this explains why none of Joseph Smith’s four brothers who were sleeping in the same room with him that night ever left any accounts of such an event occurring in their bedroom. Indeed, Martin Harris never changed his testimony of the night Joseph Smith first met Moroni. In 1842 Martin Harris again testified what happened the night of September 21st, 1823:

"Consequently long before the idea of a Golden Bible entered their minds, in their excursions for money-digging, which I believe usually occurred in the night, that they might conceal from others the knowledge of the place, where they struck their treasures, Jo used to be usually their guide, putting into a hat a peculiar stone he had through which he looked to decide where they should begin to dig."

"It was after one of these night excursions, that Jo, while he lay upon his bed, had a remarkable dream. An angel of God seemed to approach him, clad in celestial splendor."
- Martin Harris Interview, “Testimonies of Book of Mormon Witnesses” John Clark, Gleanings (1842), p.226

For more historical accounts that describe Moroni as coming in a dream, see: http://www.i4m.com/think/history/moroni_dream.htm

Mormon Nephite

In what the church now considers the official history of Joseph Smith, written by James Mulholland and first published in 1842, Moroni is indeed an angelic visitor. Described as South Park represents, Moroni identified himself as a Native-American yet appeared as a naked white man wearing nothing but a "loose, open robe." According to this 1842 official account, the Angel Moroni told Joseph Smith that:

“there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this [American] continent, and the source from whence they sprang. [The angel] also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants [of the Americas].”
- Joseph Smith History, Verse 34

However, unlike the South Park depiction, Moroni does not say that Native Americans were cursed with red skin because they killed all the white-skinned Native Americans. This in fact, comes from the Book of Mormon itself, for example:

Book of Mormon, Alma Chapter 3 Verse 6
"And the skins of the Lamanites (Native Americans) were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a curse upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion against their brethren, who consisted of Nephi, Jacob, and Joseph, and Sam, who were just and holy men."

The Book of Mormon also tells the story of how Native-American "Indians" are really Jews that came from Jerusalem and crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a boat. The Book of Mormon says it

"...gives an account of two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C., and afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the Lamanites. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel. This group is known as the Jaredites. After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are the principal ancestors of the American Indians."
- The Book of Mormon, Introduction Page

But the Book of Mormon does not say that the Garden of Eden was in America. This in fact came from Joseph Smith many years later when he and the Mormon Church settled in Jackson County, Missouri. Smith taught that Adam and Eve lived there in the Garden of Eden and this doctrine has been supported by many other church leaders. According to the official Church History, Joseph Smith even identified a mount of rocks in Missouri as Adam's altar. (For more details and photos, see "Garden of Eden in Missouri" here.)

Although South Park shows Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith only one time that night in 1823, the 1842 official version says Moroni repeated his appearance three times:

“After this third visit, he again ascended into heaven as before, and I was again left to ponder on the strangeness of what I had just experienced; when almost immediately after the heavenly messenger had ascended from me for the third time, the cock crowed, and I found that day was approaching, so that our interviews must have occupied the whole of that night.”
- Joseph Smith History, Verse 47

Idol Video: Ashley Cries (and Cries) for Sanjaya | American Idol (Series)

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 15:22:01 GMT

Last night, the world got to meet one of Idol's biggest fans up close: Ashley Ferl from Riverside, Calif, the teary-eyed 13-year-old who got major screen time when Malakar rocked out to "You Really Got Me." And got her he did, which began a TV love affair with the blonde-haired California girl.

Ashley, who won tickets to the show on OCATV.com, seemed to have cried through every moment of her Idol experience: meeting the judges, getting a hug from Sanjaya, watching Melinda Doolittle's performance and the big finale – greeting the contestants onstage. "It was unbelievable!" Ashley told PEOPLE about her experience. So we salute the teen, because long after we've forgotten some of the performances of the night, we'll always have Ashley Cry Me a River from Riverside.

Just Add Coffee "Salt Lake City" Mormon Moroni drinking coffee through his trumpet Tshirt Church Sees No Humor in an Angel T-Shirt

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 13:31:34 GMT

T-shirts of a Mormon angel with coffee flowing into his trumpet are selling well at a coffee shop in this central Salt Lake Valley city. But they do not have the blessing of religious leaders.

The shirts have upset the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The angel Moroni is a revered figure (Mormons believe he appeared to church founder Joseph Smith); many Mormon temples are topped with a statue of the angel.

Also, Mormons are discouraged from drinking coffee.

The T-shirts show the angel Moroni, a male figure in a robe who is blowing a trumpet. The trumpet is turned up at an angle as coffee is poured in.

“They’ve been the best-selling T-shirts we’ve ever done,” said Ed Beazer, an owner of the coffee shop, which is called Just Add Coffee.

Scott Trotter, a church spokesman, said the angel’s image was a trademark of the church.

“If they provide proof, we’re going to comply,” Mr. Beazer said. “We don’t want to break any laws or anything.”

Just Add Coffee put the image on greeting cards about a year ago and started selling the shirts before Christmas. The coffee shop also used Moroni in advertisements that caught the church’s attention.

“It was a spoof,” Mr. Beazer said. “It was meant to be fun.”

Tolkien Jr completes Lord of Rings

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 22:59:02 GMT

The first new Tolkien novel for 30 years is to be published next month. In a move eagerly anticipated by millions of fans across the world, The Children of Húrin will be released worldwide on 17 April, 89 years after the author started the work and four years after the final cinematic instalment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, one of biggest box office successes in history.

The book, whose contents are being jealously guarded by publisher HarperCollins - is described as "an epic story of adventure, tragedy, fellowship and heroism."

It is likely to be a publishing sensation, particularly as it is illustrated by veteran Middle Earth artist Alan Lee, who won an Oscar for art direction on Peter Jackson's third film The Return of The King. Lee provided 25 pencil sketches and eight paintings for the first edition of the book, one of which is reproduced here for the first time in a national newspaper.

Tolkien experts are already tipping The Children of Húrin - which features significant battle scenes and at least one major twist - for big budget Hollywood treatment. Takings from the Lord of the Rings trilogy box office takings to date total some £1.5bn.

Chris Crawshaw, chairman of the Tolkien Society, said: "It would probably make a very good movie, if anyone can secure the film rights.

"Tolkien saw his work as one long history of Middle Earth: from the beginning of creation to the end of the Third Age. The Children of Húrin is an early chapter in that bigger story."

The author's son Christopher, using his late father's voluminous notes, has painstakingly completed the book, left unfinished by the author when he died in 1971. The work has taken the best part of three decades, and will signify the first "new" Tolkien book since The Silmarillion was published posthumously in 1977.

"It will be interesting to see how it stands up today alongside all the Tolkien-alike literature that we've become familiar with," said David Bradley, editor of SFX magazine.

Playboy Causes Controversy On Vanderbilt's Campus

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 16:09:50 GMT

Playboy arrived at Vanderbilt Tuesday, scouting for female students who attend Vanderbilt for a future pictorial .

While some are auditioning to become part of the men’s magazine, others are upset the magazine is at the school.

In Wednesday edition of Vanderbilt’s student-run newspaper, "The Vanderbilt Hustler", the cover story is about the Playboy controversy that began with the advertisement that Playboy is coming to Vanderbilt to “Look for beautiful young college girls.”

Playboy photographer George Georgiou has been scouting girls on college campuses for over a...
...decade.

For the past two days, he's been in Nashville.

He and the Playboy staff set up a casting call inside a room at the Hampton Inn off Elliston Place.

Georgiou said some 30 Vanderbilt students have auditioned for Playboy's "Girls of the SEC" pictorial.

Vanderbilt seniors Lille and Mary Beth were among those. They said while they’ve never done anything like it before, they thought it’d be a fun experience.”

The topic, however, is much more serious for Vanderbilt senior Reagan Bush.

She said, “I’m against Playboy soliciting Vanderbilt women because I feel like itfurther perpetuates the notion that no matter how smart a women is or how intelligent and how hard she world to advance in the world and society she still has to be hot or sexy to be valued and it's a complete objectification of women for men's pleasure.”

Bush said she first became outraged when the student paper ran the initial ad.

She said she and a professor cut the advertisement out of every paper at Garland Hall.

She said, “We were covered in black ink and had cut about 200 papers by the end of the day.”

The “Hustler” editorial board has since ran an article saying Vanderbilt women should not“bare all” for temporary fame.

Lillie and Mary Beth said everyone is entitled to their opinion. They said, “That’s what they want to do, that's fine that's there opinion... I don't think this is harmful or degrading.”

The Playboy staff said the controversy is expected in the Bible belt.

Georgiou said, “Playboy is an American institution we have been doing this for 50 years, we aren't doing anything illegal and if you don't care for it then don't be part of it.”

Bush is working hard to see that women across the country not be a part of the magazine.

To prove herpoint, she sent out an email petition that grew to over 200 names. She also ran is as an advertisement in Wednesday’s “Vanderbilt Hustler.”

Bush said, “Hugh Heffner will be getting a copy but it's really just to show that it's not just the women who are upset about this it's the whole community… there's an overwhelming amount of men's names on there as well.”

Regardless, Playboy is still holding auditions Wednesday and will stay in Nashville the rest of the week to shoot.

Vanderbilt Spokesperson Mike Schoenfeld said Playboy did not ask for permission to do anything on campus and that they had nofurther comment.

Jenna Fischer: Nude in ‘Wired’

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 16:06:06 GMT

Every Dunderhead is going to get Wired over these!

Jenna Fischer, aka Pam Beesly from The Office, drops her clothes and gets naked as the cover girl for the April 2007 issue of Wired. Here’s the blurb naked Jenna is holding up in her cover shot:

GET NAKED AND RULE THE WORLD Smart companies are sharing secrets with rivals, blogging about products in their pipeline, even admitting to their failures. The name of this new game is radical transparency, and it’s sweeping boardrooms across the nation. Even those Office drones at Dunder Mifflin get it. So strip down and learn how to have it all by baring it all.

If you’ll notice, Jenna’s face in identical in both cover shots. The million dollar question — did Jenna pose nude or did the Wired staff digitally undress her. “Radical Transparency,” perhaps?

Read the full Wired Dunder Miflin case study below!

Rift between Hurley and mother in law

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 17:46:08 GMT

Liz Hurley's Indian wedding celebrations appear to be going from bad to worse, if reports in the Indian press are true.

First the ceremony where Hurley wed Arun Nayer in Jodhpur was marred when a fight broke out between her security guards and Indian journalists and locals.

And now there are reports of a rift between Ms Hurley and her mother-in-law.

A party set to be held for the couple on Saturday night in Bombay was cancelled after Ms Hurley and her mother-in-law Joanne Nayar fell out during the celebrations in Jodhpur, according to a report in the Times of India's Bombay supplement.

The report claimed there is a "war" on between the two women, and that Ms Hurley was upset that Ms Nayar had used the wedding to promote a range of jewellery.

Ms Nayar and her husband, Vinod, were to host a party for the newlywed couple in Bombay on Saturday, but it was cancelled at the last minute.

Ms Nayar denied it had anything to do with any rift between her and Ms Hurley.

"We cancelled the party as the paparazzi was getting aggressive in Jodhpur and we didn't want another scuffle," she told the Bombay Times.

"It's all calm and cool between Liz and me. How can you fight with family?"

Ms Hurley's marathon wedding celebrations in India have been fraught with trouble.

Police demolished a wooden deck specially built to host her hours before a party started in Bombay, after complaints from local residents it was encroaching on a public beach.

There were complaints too that private security guards were blocking locals' access to the beach.

The trouble over the security guards only got worse when the party moved on to the Rajasthani city of Jodhpur for a Hindu marriage ceremony, with accusations they had roughed up several Indian journalists and locals trying to get a glimpse of a banquet being held in the city's Mehrangarh Fort.

The irony over the latest allegations is that Ms Hurley's Indian wedding has been a highly commercial affair.

The couple sold the exclusive rights to Hello! Magazine.

But now, if the reports are true, Ms Hurley is unhappy that her mother-in-law tried to exploit the wedding commercially.

Ms Nayar is believed to have signed a deal to become "ambassador" for a Bombay jeweller earlier this year, and now reports claim she used the wedding to promote the shop.

Ms Hurley's problem throughout her stay in India is that she has been behaving like a celebrity in a country where she isn't one.

Indians might accept being forced off their beach or jostled by security guards for a Bollywood star or a cricketer - but they are not going to be pushed around by a foreigner almost nobody has heard of here.

Mr Nayar was brought up in Bombay but left the country many years ago, and is little known in India.

The couple are now believed to have left India on honeymoon to an unspecified destination in Africa.

Hollywood Loves Their Lakers

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 12:06:00 GMT

Laker basketball games are notoriously loaded with celebrity fans. From old schooler's like Jack Nicholson and Penny Marshall to new one's like Chris Rock and Leonardo DiCaprio. See how many stars you can name in the NBA.com's fun montage... Celebrity Laker Fans!

Plus, the definitive list: Top 10 Celebrity Lakers Fans

Bonus link: Cheerleader Fights Happen

See who's in the image above, below!...

Steven Spielberg, Tony Danza, Cindy Crawford, Jack Black, Adam Sandler, Heather Locklear, Matthew Perry, Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher, Andy Garcia, Anthony Kiedis, Jessica Alba, Garry Shandling, David Arquette, Sylvester Stallone, Dustin Hoffman, Pamela Anderson, Dyan Cannon, and more!...

Kristin Cavallari Determined to Learn the Hard Way About Tattoos

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 12:05:10 GMT

Nick Zano, Kristin Cavallari's boyfriend, wanted to make sure that his girl was displaying proof of his love on her person before she headed off too Miami for spring break. Page Six reports:

"He wants the other guys who flirt with Kristin to know she's all his," said an insider, who got a peek at the "Laguna Beach" girl's new wrist tattoo during a Victoria's Secret Pink event on the beach.

And what is it, exactly? According to the Post's tipster, it's the initials "NZ" in black ink. And when Cavallari was asked about it, she "got really giggly and started blushing." Well, I guess at least when they're broken up, she can possibly try and front that it's just a symbol of her undying love for New Zealand.

Jude Law and Lindsay?

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 12:04:49 GMT

Sources close to the recently rehabbed starlet have revealed that the two were spotted at a club in NYC called "The Box" and socialized with each other for more than two hours. God only knows what they were chatting about. Perhaps Lindsay was extolling the virtues or black leggings and/or showing off her newly blonde tresses and puffed-up lips. Who knows? In any case, a friend of La Lohan's said that she is smitten.

"Lindsay is obsessed with Jude."

Oh Lord. I'm no Cleo, but I have a feeling this is all going to end badly. I see a poorly-dressed standoff between Sienna and Lindsay, in which the two throw the drug of choice into the other's face until finally someone breaks their

Brit's butt is where the auction is - Brits butt worth $150K

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 12:04:24 GMT

Things are about to go from bad to worse in the saga of Britney Spears. While the beleagured pop princess is holed up in rehab, celeb snipers are bidding on pics of the fading star's bare behind.

The asking price for the shots - which show Britney playing dress-up with two dancers at New York's nightclub One Feb. 12 - currently hovers at $150,000.

But even more damaging is video footage that may follow - Britney's dancer buddies are telling friends that the club let them go when management discovered a security video of them doing some serious partying with the mother of two.

"The manager said there was a tape of them," said our spy. "Both the girls cried about it when they got fired, but they didn't deny it."

A rep for the club told us the dancers were "absolutely not fired" and that there weren't any cameras in the area behind the coat check where Spears and her new friends went to change into fishnets and bikinis.

But our spy insisted, "Yes there are. There's a camera above the office back there that can see that whole room."

Said another source, "If that thing goes on the Internet, there's going to be big trouble. It might be what they need to take [Spears'] kids away from her."

Calls to Spears' rep and to one of the dancers were not returned.

DJ AM Once Again Left Without Famous Chick To Starf*ck

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 12:01:17 GMT

Mandy Moore dumped DJ AM. This is probably a relief to her because you know he was one of those radio nazis when they were in the car and was always flipping through the stations, the Sirius and the iPod until they found a good song and it used to drive her crazy.

Friends of Mandy Moore said the singer/actress has kicked the DJ to the curb and is single again. AM, real name Adam Goldstein, used to date Nicole Richie, and after they broke up, told friends he needed to date another high-profile person because his ratings were plummeting. A rep for Moore said, "We don't comment on her personal life."

To his credit, a friend of mine heard him spin in Vegas and said it was a hot set. Then again, her ass was probably drunk.

ALONE AGAIN Mandy Moore kicked DJ AM to the curb

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 11:57:21 GMT

Mandy Moore

Someone Plotted To Kidnap The Most Beautiful Woman In The World Angelina Jolie

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 11:56:30 GMT

Prince William’s Swiss Skiing Trip | Prince William, Kate Middleton, Skiing

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 11:49:12 GMT

Prince William’s Swiss Skiing Trip

Keira Knightley Comic Makes Disney Mad

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 11:48:31 GMT

Want to really piss off the folks at Disney? It's really easy. Just make a Keira Knightley porn comic based on Pirates of the Caribbean. That's just what Sinful Comics (NSFW) has done, and their hardcore porn comic, depicting Keira Knightley having sex with Johnny Depp Orlando Bloom, and the Davey Jones squid character, has made Disney very, very angry, reports The Sun.

A HARD-core porn comic has caused outrage by depicting Keira Knightley having sex with Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp.

The US publication, produced by a firm called Sinful Comics, boasts readers will see Keira, 21, as "she gets seduced" by her Pirates of the Caribbean co-stars.

Film-makers Disney are reported to be considering taking legal action.

Now, I can understand why Disney would be mad about this whole thing, but putting celebrities in cartoon porn is nothing new. It's not like we haven't all seen Homer and Marge Simpson getting it on in all their yellow glory, and who hasn't seen Mickey and Minnie Mouse going at it. Hell, I'm pretty sure I've even seen Donald Duck and Goofy being a little "experimental." So, Disney, it's time to relax, and maybe grow a sense of humor.

Fashion Disaster of the Day Lindsay Lohan

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 11:47:30 GMT

Marilyn Monroe with and without Makeup

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 19:16:51 GMT

not so pretty as you would think

China's most flexible girls and how they got that way

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:28:08 GMT

实拍杂技团美女训练生活－Teein帖易_中文聚合门户

Anna Nicole Smith - A Troubled Tabloid Life Ends in Fla.

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 20:45:29 GMT

Anna Nicole Smith, a postmodern pinup for a tabloid age, died of unknown causes yesterday after being rushed to a Florida hospital, her sudden death at 39 delivering the same shock and uproar as the celebrity life she cultivated from the hardscrabble dust of small-town Texas.

Smith was in her sixth-floor room at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., when her private nurse called the operator for help, according to Seminole Police Chief Charlie Tiger, who said a bodyguard attempted CPR but could not revive her.

The former Playboy Playmate of the Year was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital, where she died at 2:49 p.m., sparking live news coverage from the Indian reservation. The Broward County medical examiner planned to conduct an autopsy today.

Embroiled in an epic court feud over the hundreds of millions of dollars left behind by the octogenarian oil tycoon she married at 26 but never lived with, Smith cultivated a Marilyn Monroe image with her breathy singsong voice and va-va-voom figure. She pursued fame with a dignity-be-damned abandon, and her life unfolded in lurid headlines, tragedy and triumph in outsize measure -- with so much legal drama that Smith was as likely to appear in a courtroom as in a centerfold.

Her fight over the inheritance of J. Howard Marshall II took her to the U.S. Supreme Court in May. The paparazzi were waiting on the steps as Smith catwalked past in a form-fitting suit.

Smith's death came just five months after her 20-year-old son, Daniel, mysteriously died at her hospital bedside in the Bahamas, where Smith had given birth to a daughter whose paternity immediately became a matter of legal dispute.

Smith's attorney, Ron Rale, told reporters in Los Angeles that his client had not felt well in recent days, suffering from flu-like symptoms.

"I don't think anybody should have to endure what she's endured, having lost her son, people attacking her left and right," Rale said in confirming her death on MSNBC. "I felt like Anna was the underdog, having all of this thrust upon her. And she really just wanted to be a mom, and she was a good mom."

It was not explained why Smith, who had been hospitalized for drug and alcohol use previously, took her own nurse to the Indian gaming resort, where hotel sources described her as a regular guest who had last visited to attend a boxing match in January. She had arrived for this visit on Monday.

Her baby, Dannielynn Hope, was not with her in Florida, police there said, and was believed to still be in the Bahamas, where Smith set up housekeeping pending a formal inquiry into Daniel's death by the Bahamas magistrate in March. An American medical examiner hired by the family has said the death was an accident caused by the reaction of methadone and two antidepressants in his system.

An ex-boyfriend, Larry Birkhead, has filed a paternity suit claiming he fathered Dannielynn, and a Los Angeles judge ordered Smith to have the baby undergo a DNA test by Feb. 21.

Shortly after Dannielynn's birth, Smith identified her personal attorney, Howard K. Stern, as the father, and the two staged a white-dress "commitment ceremony" they later admitted was non-binding. They celebrated with champagne and buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Her life had been one of extremes ever since Vickie Lynn Hogan escaped the high school dropout life of teen bride. First married to a fry cook named Billy Smith in Mexia, Tex., she later worked at Wal-Mart and waitressed at Red Lobster before heading to Houston to pursue her fortune as a topless dancer. It was as a stripper that she met Marshall, 63 years her senior.

While in Houston, a friend urged Smith to send photographs to Playboy, which featured her as 1993 Playmate of the Year, and the persona of Anna Nicole was not so much born as invented.

Smith became famous as a Guess jeans model, her curves and sleepy-eyed gaze conjuring the ghosts of Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. There were soon other memorable photographs, as well -- of Anna Nicole burying the wizened head of the wheelchair-using Marshall in her ample bosom.

The unlikely pair married in 1994. After the ceremony, the bride told her husband -- whispered, according to People magazine -- "Bye, darling, I'm off to Greece."

She was one of the original celebrity-train-wreck girls, undeniably beautiful but ultimately more famous for the calamities of her life than her accomplishments. Her knack for upstaging could be both a gift and a curse. In 2005, she popped up backstage at a Live 8 concert in Philadelphia, dressed in tight jeans and a nearly absent pink top, her Mystic Tan gleaming. She shook her implants and shimmied for the cameras as actor Will Smith began a somber speech about children starving to death in Africa.

"If I had to say what was Anna Nicole Smith's legacy to the culture, I'd call her a conceptual artist," said Robert Thompson, director of the Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse University. ". . . It was almost like she was this explorer who went out to the edges of celebrity and by watching what she was able to achieve, we know more about the nature of celebrity."

Smith parlayed numerous Playboy videos showing her in fancy cars and bubble baths into B-movie roles, cameos in sitcoms and, later, her own reality TV show. Playboy founder Hugh Hefner issued a statement describing her as "a dear friend who meant a great deal to the Playboy family and to me personally."

Marshall's death in 1995 triggered a long contest for the estate between Smith and her 60-year-old stepson, E. Pierce Marshall. At one point she was awarded $88 million by a federal court in California but she never saw the money. The case made its way to the Supreme Court, but the stepson died before there was a resolution.

In one ruling over her late husband's fortune, a federal judge noted that Smith's "illiteracy is striking. . . . She has only recently started learning to pay her own bills after years of managers and relatives managing her money."

Her weight fluctuated as drastically as her fortunes. She lost a reported 69 pounds and became a spokeswoman for TrimSpa, a weight-loss supplement. On Wednesday news broke that Smith and the diet products company were named in a class-action suit alleging false or misleading marketing of a weight loss pill.

When a biography segment about her on E! Entertainment Television brought high ratings, the network gave her a program in 2002, "The Anna Nicole Show," one of the first so-called celebrity reality series. It aired for two years despite a beating from television reviewers. The show featured such recurring characters as her then-teenage son, her lawyer and a Prozac-chomping poodle she called Sugar Pie.

Just before "The Anna Nicole Show" debuted, she touted it in a press release. "People won't be able to stop watching once they tune in," she said. "My life is a roller coaster, so hold on and enjoy the ride."

Larry Birkhead, Howard Stern and Virgie Arthur struggle for control of Anna Nicole Smith's daughter and heiress Danielynn

Sun, 11 Feb 2007 22:06:28 GMT

Howard K. Stern, the man listed as the father of Anna Nicole Smith's daughter on her birth certificate, swooped into the Bahamas yesterday to hold the baby girl at the center of a paternity battle - and warn her maternal grandma she'd never see the child.

Five-month-old Dannielynn - dressed in her dead mom's favorite color, pink - was reunited with her legal "daddy" at a secret location in the island about midday, as the cameras for "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider" captured the moment.

"This is the only piece of Anna I have left," Stern told "ET" co-anchor, Mark Steines, as he scooped up the girl and hugged her for the first time since her mother died in Hollywood, Fla., on Thursday.

"I wouldn't be here now, but I had to get back to Dannielynn. I know Anna loved her more than anything in the world," he said through tears.

But the waterworks quickly turned to venom as Stern warned Smith's estranged mother, Virgie Arthur, to stay away from Dannielynn.

"Anna despised that woman. As long as I have breath in my body, that woman will not see Dannielynn," a furious Stern said.

He said he was aware that Arthur had flown into the Bahamas to try and wrest the child away from him.

Arthur has teamed up with Stern's rival - California photographer Larry Birkhead, who also claims paternity of the baby - to try and remove Dannielynn from Stern's custody.

A DNA test is supposed to settle the issue of fatherhood.

Birkhead's lawyer told The Post yesterday that Arthur had agreed that the baby had to be taken from Stern. The grandmother had spent the weekend trying to get Bahamian police and child protective services to intervene on her behalf.

"Everybody is in agreement that that child must be removed from Howard K. Stern's environment and everybody is going to do whatever they can to get that done," Birkhead's attorney Debra Opri said.

But Stern was adamant that Smith's mother would never get hold of Dannielynn.

"She has no right. She can't take my baby. She can't take Anna's baby," the beau said in his TV interview, which is scheduled to air throughout the week.

The baby girl, however, was oblivious to the extraordinary fuss surrounding the issue of her paternity - and up to $474 million she stands to inherit.

A dozy Dannielynn mostly slept on Stern's chest, only stirring when she needed her diaper changed, Steines said.

"He was whispering stuff to her," Steines said. "She was for the most part asleep. Howard held her for what seemed like eternity."

"He broke down and he was crying and he was holding her."

Dannielynn had been cared for by a family friend, but Stern's mother, Bea, and sister, Bonnie, rushed to be with her in the Bahamas on Friday, Stern's lawyer, Ron Rale, said.

It was the first time Bea Stern had seen the child since she was born on Sept. 7.

"When he arrived, Howard's mom came running up and embraced him and she said, 'Your daughter is so beautiful,' " Steines said. "They were taking turns to hold her. They kept saying, 'Are you done holding her yet?' "

Stern plans to stay with Dannielynn at the undisclosed home in the Bahamas at least until Smith's funeral, Steines said. That won't be before Feb. 20, by order of a California judge who ruled her body had to be preserved for DNA testing.

But as Stern held his so-called daughter, the case for Birkhead being the father seemed to garner strength.

While she was pregnant, Smith reportedly asked a former beau, G. Ben Thompson, to list his name as Dannielynn's father on the birth certificate.

Thompson, the landlord who tried to evict mother and child from their home in the Bahamas last month, said he eventually refused to keep lying for Smith about the baby's daddy.

"Anna wanted me to put my name on the birth certificate as the father. I never committed to her, but I sort of went along with her to appease her," Thompson told "The Insider."

"When the baby came and she finally had to put a father on the birth certificate, I told her I would not do it. I knew it was a lie and I was not the father. I didn't want to go on the record that I was the father."

Thompson said he was certain he couldn't be the daddy because he had a vasectomy. Instead, he said, Smith chose to list live-in boyfriend Stern as the dad.

But Thompson - who yesterday changed the locks on the island home that he and Smith were fighting over - said he had no doubt that the father is Birkhead.

Another contender for the title of "baby daddy" is Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband, Prince Frederic von Anhalt.

Smith's half-sister Donna Hogan has alleged that she preserved her Texas billionaire husband J. Howard Marshall II's sperm after his death, and that was how Dannielynn was conceived. But the story was refuted by several sources, including Hogan's father.

"Where would she get something like that?" Anna and Donna's father, Don, told The Post in Texas. "Donna has only met her once in her life."

The claim, which first surfaced in October, has not been substantiated by Hogan's publisher. It was included in a first draft of a book ghostwritten for Donna Hogan by Stacy Brown.

But the Brown book deal fell through and Hogan later co-wrote a book with author Henrietta Tiefenthaler. It is unclear if the new book contains the Marshall sperm story.

Don Hogan said he hoped that the investigation into her death would reveal what led to the death of Anna Nicole's son in September.

"There's a lot of things I'd like answered. What's the percentage of that happening? My grandson and my daughter drops dead," he said.

State Traumatises girl for watching her mother have sex with a boyfriend

Sun, 11 Feb 2007 19:00:55 GMT

An Associated Press article in today's Boston Globe reports:

A Woonsocket mother and her boyfriend are headed to trial on charges they had intercourse in front of the woman's 9-year-old daughter as a way to teach the girl about sex.

Rebecca Arnold and David Prata have pleaded not guilty to felony child-neglect charges. A pretrial conference is scheduled for next month.

Rebecca Arnold's daughter spent the summer in Woonsocket. During the school year, she lives with her father in North Adams, MA. There, she told a teacher that her mother & mother's boyfriend had sex in front of her, and did not ask her to leave. The teacher called the Child Abuse Hotline.

When questioned by an investigator from the state Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Prata, 33, said he and Arnold, 36, had sex "all the time" in front of the child and that "we don't believe in hiding anything."

He said the girl would often be on the bed watching as the couple had sex. Though they did not ask her to leave, they also did not force her to remain on the bed, Prata said.

Cos :: State Traumatizes North Adams Girl to "Protect" Her
The Providence Journal has a more detailed account of the RI state investigator's interviews with Prata, Arnold, and her daughter. Both adults freely volunteered that they did have sex many times with their daughter present, because they didn't believe in hiding anything. They said she was often sitting on the bed watching when they had sex, but they did not include her in their activities and she was free to leave whenever she wanted to. Rebecca, the girl's mom, also talked about how her first husband and mother in law made fun of her for not knowing much about sex when she was first married, and did not want her daughter to experience that.

The interview concluded with the investigator asking Prata if he understood that he had done psychological damage to the girl. "No," Prata said.

No?

While this is very unusual for modern day America, it used to be the norm in most cultures centuries ago, and still is in many places. Families would live together in small spaces, and sex would not be hidden from anyway. Why are we so sure that it causes "psychological damage?" Personally, I'm convinced that hiding is what causes the damage.

Then there's the double standard when it comes to violence. Logically, I can't see any reason why someone would argue that witnessing happy, consensual sex could possibly be worse than witnessing physical violence, but how often do parents "allow" their children to witness someone hitting someone else? How often do parents actually encourage their sons to fight? And how often do parents get charged with "child abuse" for it?

Arnold & Prata were arrested at the beginning of 2005, and have been barred from contact with Arnold's daughter for the past two years. Now, they've been charged with neglect, and have pleaded Not Guilty.

The investigator interviewed the daughter, too. The girl said "she saw her mother and Prata having sex more than once and in different rooms." She apparently at some point thought Prata was hurting her mother because of the sounds her mother made, so she "asked her mom if David was hurting her, and her mom told her no."

The girl said her mother and Prata never touched her or tried to include her in their sexual activity, according to the report.

The girl told the investigator "she was afraid that her mom and David would go to jail and she did not want that to happen." The interview ended when the girl picked up an Etch A Sketch and "would not engage further," the investigator said.

From that snippet, which is all we have to go on, it sounds to me as though the girl is very troubled by the questioning, and by the prospect of the two going to jail, so much so that she froze up and didn't want to continue. But what little information they provided about her conversation on the actual substance of the accusation suggests that she took a rather matter-of-fact attitude towards it, and did not seem troubled.

I'm not at all convinced that seeing sex is harmful, but there are some things that happened here that I am quite sure can be harmful to a young girl:

* Being cut off from one of her parents involuntarily.
* Being questioned by the state for evidence against her parent.
* Seeing the official spotlight shining on her home life.
* Being told by adults about how "wrong" this was, and that it should've been hidden from her.
* Seeing her parent go to jail and knowing it was partly through what she said.

These are extreme measures, justifiable only in situations of real abuse. So what I wonder is, will someone interview the state, and ask if they "understand that they have done psychological damage to the girl?"

Anna Nicole autopsy results

Fri, 09 Feb 2007 21:42:54 GMT

Anna Nicole Smith was not the victim of foul play, according to preliminary results from an autopsy held earlier today.

The cause of death has not yet been determined, though, and the investigation will remain open.

Chief Medical Examiner for Broward County, Florida, Dr. Joel A. Perper, says there was no immediate indication of blunt-force trauma, gunshot or stab wounds, asphyxiation or other physical trauma.

Perper says his office is awaiting results of toxicological and other tests, but found no drugs in her stomach.

He says he'll continue to investigate: "There are a number of possibilities," he commented, including natural causes or a drug reaction.

Seminole Police Chief Charlie Tiger said no evidence collected suggests that a crime occurred. Tiger also said that no illegal drugs were retrieved from Smith's hotel room.

While the autopsy was underway, a judge ruled that Anna's body be preserved until at least February 20, when the judge will hear arguments and try to take steps to resolve an ongoing paternity case brought by Anna's ex-lover, photographer Larry Birkhead.

Authorities investigating Smith's death retrieved a "large amount" of prescription medicine from Anna's hotel room, but on closer inspection, did not characterize any of the drugs as illegal.

Dr. Perper also revealed that he found "a small amount of blood in the stomach," which he suggests is related to her "being in terminal shock a short time before she died."

Perper also says: "It's a possibility that it might be a natural death." He also explained that he was puzzled by a slight inflamation in Smith's heart, which is not visible to the naked eye.

His comment on the abnormality was "I saw something that looked a little bit unusual." He adds that he plans to investigate the finding further.

Lastly, the medical examiner ruled out reports that Anna was a longtime prescription drug abuser, stating, "There are no findings to indicate continuous drug abuse."

Although preliminary autopsy results indicate no foul play, it has not been ruled out completely, and it might take weeks to accurately determine what actually killed Anna Nicole.

Because I Said So: Mama Said There'd Be Movies Like This and she said the movie sucks

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 01:55:02 GMT

Tom and Katie flew to South Beach to check out J Lo and Marc perform together at a Pre-Super Bowl party thrown by Ocean Drive Magazine. General admission tickets were not cheap for the event, which started at $1,500. Apparently it was worth the price since Tom and Katie were seen dancing up a storm. Fergie kicked off the event, where Katie was seen as "quite the dancer!" The couple brought along Connor who stayed out until 2am partying the night away.

More of the two backstage at their BFF's concert so

Tom and Katie Flew to South beach for Jlo's superbowl performance

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 01:53:58 GMT

More of the two backstage at their BFF's concert so

Katie And Tom Get Down In South Beach

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 01:53:21 GMT

More of the two backstage at their BFF's concert so

Meet the Minister Puerto Rican Who Says He Is Jesus Christ

Sat, 03 Feb 2007 18:39:41 GMT

At first glance, the congregation gathered in a warehouse in Doral, Fla., seems like a typical Hispanic evangelical group. There's the 10-piece band, the singing and swaying, the whooping and hollering. But look a little more closely. There's not a cross in sight. The lectern is emblazoned with a near replica of the U.S. presidential seal, except that it reads in Spanish, government of god on earth. Off to the side stand three burly guys in dark suits with Secret Service-style earpieces. When a door by the stage opens, the guards leap into action. They surround the man with slicked-back hair who emerges and escort him to his seat. When the crowd spots him, it goes wild. People chant, "Lord! Lord! Lord!" It quickly becomes clear that they're referring to him. "It's Jesus Christ himself!" a preacher onstage announces. "Let's welcome Jesus Christ Man!"

In the rapturous eyes of his flock, Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda is, in fact, the second coming of Christ. As the head of the Growing in Grace International Ministry, he presides over a sprawling organization that includes more than 300 congregations in two dozen countries, from Argentina to Australia. He counts more than 100,000 followers and claims to reach millions more through a 24-hour TV channel, a radio show and several Web sites. He is supported by the generosity of his devotees, who have launched some 450 businesses to pour cash into Growing in Grace's coffers. Though de Jesus' followers worship him, others denounce him as a charlatan. Everyone, however, agrees on one thing: his teachings are incendiary.

A native of Puerto Rico, de Jesus, 60, spent his youth drifting from the Roman Catholics to the Pentecostals to the Baptists. Then one night in 1973, he says, he awoke to a vision of two hulking men at his bedside who announced the arrival of the Lord, who, says de Jesus, "came to me and integrated with me." In the early years after founding Growing in Grace in Miami in 1986, de Jesus didn't claim to be Christ. Instead, he worked as a pastor spreading his doctrine: that under a new covenant with God, there is no sin and no Satan, and people are predestined to be saved. But as his following expanded, his claims did, too. In 1998, de Jesus avowed that he was the reincarnation of the Apostle Paul. Two years ago at Growing in Grace's world convention in Venezuela, he declared himself Christ. And just last week, he called himself the Antichrist and revealed a "666" tattooed on his forearm. His explanation: that, as the second coming of Christ, he rejects the continued worship of Jesus of Nazareth.

All members of Growing in Grace are expected to tithe—which, along with offerings, yielded $1.4 million for headquarters last year. One of the first orders of business at every service is the collection of money (credit cards accepted). Those who have pledged their businesses to de Jesus donate much more. Alvaro Albarracín, a savvy, successful businessman given the title Entrepreneur of Entrepreneurs by de Jesus, is an example. Over the course of Albarracín's 14 years in the church, he estimates that he's given roughly $2.5 million. Such funds help underwrite a lavish lifestyle for de Jesus, including diamond-encrusted gold rings and fancy cars. But most of the money goes to his broadcast operation.

Some observers call Growing in Grace a cult. De Jesus exerts total authority over the ministry. As a result, many have defected over the years, including Albarracín's mother, Regina, who initially turned her son on to the church. "They brainwash you," she says. Because of their disagreement, Regina and her son haven't spoken in years (she now attends an evangelical church). "This is my only family," Alvaro says of Growing in Grace. Such submission concerns Daniel Alvarez, a religious-studies instructor at Florida International University. "I hope [de Jesus] doesn't metamorphose into Jim Jones," he says, referring to the cult leader who led his followers to mass suicide in Guyana. "He has that kind of control over people." (De Jesus responds that congregants are free to come and go as they please.)

Over the past year, de Jesus has encouraged his followers to protest the alleged lies of other churches. In response, supporters have picketed Catholic congregations and burned religious materials, including crucifixes. "Our purpose is to open up people's minds," says de Jesus' right-hand man, Carlos Cestero, who says that the group rejects violence. Jesus wouldn't have it any other way—the question is whether de Jesus feels the same.

Jennifer Hudson Slams American Idol As “Abusive”

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 22:47:08 GMT

Golden Globe winning Academy Award nominee Jennifer Hudson slams the talent series that introduced her to mass media as “abusive” in the March issue of Essence.

“On American Idol, you go through this mental thing; you’ve got to get yourself back together. You’ve been abused, misled and brainwashed to believe whatever they want you to think,” J Hud says.

“You become a character – I became the girl in the turkey wrapping. I just knew I had to sing my way out of it. I don’t believe in looking back, and I didn’t look back.”

Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman are apparently refusing to work with Lindsay Lohan

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 02:26:57 GMT

Hollywood stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman are apparently refusing to work with Lindsay Lohan, with the troubled actress becoming even more unpopular. The Mean Girls star created the wrong type of headlines again yesterday with her friend Sean Lennon criticising her for agreeing to star in a new film about his father John’s murderer, Mark Chapman. Now The Sun reports veterans Nicholson and Freeman have instructed their agents there is no way they would even consider working with Lohan.

J. Lo: Child of Scientology

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 02:26:03 GMT

Jennifer Lopez is not a Scientologist, okay? But that doesn't mean she doesn't love herself some of those zany characters. Not only is she BFF with the Cruise/Holmes duo, but she recently revealed that there's another Scientologist in her life. And no, I'm not talking about a secret relationship with Danny Masterson. Miami's NBC6 reports:

When asked about what she thought about the negative perception some people have about Scientology, Lopez replied, "I, myself, am Catholic. But it's just sad that people would look at it (Scientology) in that way."

J.Lo also has a personal connection to the Church of Scientology.

"My dad has been a Scientologist for 20 years," she said. "It's weird people want to paint it in a negative way."

Twenty years a Scientologist? That's like Tom Cruise Scientology status. J-Lo's dad must be Scientology visionary, nay, revolutionary of Cruise-like proportions. Only not as aggressive. And hopefully he keeps his shoes off the couch.

Leo dumped by Israeli Model Bar Rafaeli

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 02:17:51 GMT

According to some media reports, Leonardo Dicaprio has been dumped by his model girlfriend. Bar Rafaeli reportedly ended the couple's six-month relationship because she found it hard to deal with the actor's work schedule and partying. "Bar is a professional model so she has to be healthy and look great every day, so there is no way that she could keep up with that kind of decadent lifestyle," a friend of the model told a British paper. "When they were apart she worried about what he was up to and in the end decided it would be easier and less painful just to say enough is enough."

An Epic waste of Time

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 02:15:36 GMT

After takin in weeks and weeks of the opposite of weak fare leading up to the Globes and the AA nominations, yours Thighly decided it was time to see something fluffy and mind numbing, and perhaps even entertaining. Well, after peepin about 30 seconds of Epic Movie I was willing to trade in the escapism of a movie theater for escaping from the movie theater! YIIIIIIIIKES!! So for the first movie that I see from the '007 I'm all ready to declare it the wurstest of year! It'll be purty hard to beat, but then again a release date hasn't been set for Keenen Ivory Wayans' The Munsters, so lettuce not declare any winners losers juss yet

Sure, I'm the toughest of tough cookies when it comes to comedies (tits a no-brainer that Blades of Glory is gonna be a hannah-shit-storm), but ya gotta truss me on this one that only the parents of the filmmakers are gonna find this funny. After one early Doritos joke that made me chuckle alound, I decided to keep count of the laffs. 1 hour and 20 some odd minutes later, the finger count remained the same!! The jokes were lamer than lamerer. They're so dated that in 5 years, no one will even understand what they're even pokin fun at

There were only five thangs that I got outta this, and none of them had to do with laffing:

1) Darrell Hammond's pirating of Cpt Jack Sparrow has got to rank among his bestest imitations

2) the sandra oh so adorable Jayma Mays' first lead role is a complete waste of her talents. Not so much her fault, unless of course she read the script before filming began, but they basically turned her into an unfunny redheaded version of Anna Faris. Oddly enuff, the two will be in Gregg Araki's follow-up to his uber-brills Myserious Skin [TWS.org's mini-review], Smiley Face

3) Christopher Guest regulars Jennifer Coolidge, Fred Willard & Jim Piddock are about as pathetic in this poo-fest as they were in For Your Consideration [TWS's poo-review]. Go figure

4) Kal Penn is the Indian Samuel L Jackson. He never turns down a movie. Lettuce hope The Namesake [trailer] will redeem all

& frynally

5) Biggest missed-casting in recent memory (notice I didn't spray 'miscasting'): letting the usual money bags mcgee Johnny Depp ruin the legend of Willy Wonka, when Crispin Glover would been a wiser choice for the Tim Burton remake. See pic above for what geniusnessness that mighttta been

Unsatisfied with this?: yeah, dumb sure you were, so Netflix one of the more LOL stoopid slapstick flicks of recent memory, Scary Movie 4 [Trailer|TWS.org Review]... no, seriously, you should

Possible Porno Name: Epic Sploogie

Apt MPupil3: how bout something on Epic Records... like anything by Peter Gallagher [tunes on hispace]

IMDb Sweeney: Is Groovy the new Alan Smithee?

John Grisham's Jizzum (aka Verdict): Slit Your Eyes Out Repoopulous!

until next thyme the balcony is clothed...

JC Chasez Does Justin-Cameron Dish

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 14:21:32 GMT

Justin Timberlake’s former NSYNC bandmate is dishing on the “Cry Me A River” singer’s recent breakup with hissy-fit thrower Cameron Diaz.

Cameron has reportedly begged J.T for “one more chance.” But according to JC Chasez, “He’s glad to be out on the road and touring,” JC told OK Magazine. “He wants to be in front of his fans. He worked hard on his record and he wants to bring the music to everybody.”

“It’s tough dealing with any breakup. They spent a good amount of time together. He cares about her a lot. It’s just a matter of sometimes in life things go one way, and sometimes in life, things go another.”

JC is currently working on his second solo album entitled KATE.

Jessica Simpson really is stupid

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 14:18:27 GMT

I’m giving the John Mayer/Jessica Simpson relationship a few more weeks. Apparently the couple “barely spoke” during their dinner at a South Beach Nobu on Tuesday night. From the New York Post:

“John was extremely quiet and didn’t speak a lot,” said a source, while Jessica “just gave a lot of puppy-dog looks and twirled and twisted her hair.” The two were seen holding hands, but Simpson left Mayer for 20 minutes while she “fixed herself up for the camera” before heading back to their hotel.

I love it when you hear a story about a celebrity that totally lives up to any preconceived notions you may have had. I mean, did anyone honestly think Jessica would be sitting at the restaurant with John debating the pros and cons of supply-side economics? Unlikely–especially after Jessica noticed that huge clock hanging above the bar. It’s so round and clocky! And round!

I think the real reason John wasn’t talking was because he couldn’t stop staring at Jessica’s massive side boobage.

Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams might be married

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 14:15:31 GMT

Did Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams secretly get married? Ledger was recently spotted wearing a wedding ring while out and about with the couple’s daughter, Matilda. Last month news came out that the two has secretly applied for a marriage license in Brooklyn. Williams and Ledger originally met on the set of Brokeback Mountain. Which is precisely the reason why I hope this story is true. Can you imagine the uncomfortable conversations that would certainly occur with their grandchildren. “Grandma, Grandpa, where did you guys meet?” “We met on the set of a movie where Grandpa was playing a cowboy who, uh…liked to give oral to dudes.”

Hugh Hefner Says He Will Never Put Kelly Osbourne In Playboy Magazine

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 14:13:44 GMT

Hugh Hefner insists Kelly Osbourne will never appear in Playboy, because her body would need too much airView the profile for Victoria Beckham on Celebrity Spotlightbrushing.

The 22-year-old star, the daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, recently revealed she would love to pose for the legendary magazine.

But when asked if he'd give Kelly a centrefold by Britain's Closer magazine, Hugh replied: "I can't see it happening somehow - we don't airbrush to that extent."

Hugh Hefner to Kelly Osbourne: We can’t airbrush THAT much, honey

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 14:12:55 GMT

You might remember that Kelly Osbourne asked Hugh Hefner if she could show her mysterious lady parts to the world in Playboy. Well, here’s Hugh’s answer:

Hugh Hefner insists Kelly Osbourne will never appear in Playboy, because her body would need too much airView the profile for Victoria Beckham on Celebrity Spotlightbrushing.

The 22-year-old star, the daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, recently revealed she would love to pose for the legendary magazine.

But when asked if he’d give Kelly a centrefold by Britain’s Closer magazine, Hugh replied: "I can’t see it happening somehow - we don’t airbrush to that extent."

Feel that? Do you feel that? That was a burn. Hurts, don’t it?

Kate Enjoying Summer Down Under in Australia

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 13:40:00 GMT

Kate Hudson is a lucky California girl. The actress is in Australia enjoying the summer months frolicking around in shorts and tank tops while we all bundle up in winter coats. I guess the sunshine can help cure her bad mood as a result of Owen and her divorce. She also has Ryder to make her happy. The little man just celebrated his third birthday this week!

Jessica Biel Won't Dish on Derek

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 13:39:22 GMT

Jessica went from Puerto Rico to Palm Springs and is now back in Brentwood munching on a salad at Le Pain Quotidien. She continues to stay quiet about her relationship with Derek despite the fact we just saw them galivanting around in Puerto Rico. The couple stayed at a $1,400 a night cliffside villa at Las Casitas Villiage & Golden Door Spa and even had a personal butler. At the Palm Springs Festival on Saturday she responded to reporters' questions about Derek with a "Just working. No Valentine. I'm good," and a smile. Does that mean Derek is off the hook for Valentine's Day?

For

WTF Selma Blair? Crazy new haircut OMG

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 13:36:02 GMT

Selma came out to a screening of Pan's Labyrinth the other night in LA. While the night was supposed to be about the film, we can't doubt that there was much ado made over Selma's new haircut. She really seems to be digging her do which leads us to believe she may have cut her hair like this on purpose! Still, we're holding out hope that she's doing a film that's set in the 80's and that it grows out really quick.

Games of Nitendo Wii

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 17:30:50 GMT

With a successful sellout at launch and a huge amount of public goodwill, the sky’s the limit for Nintendo’s innovative new console. But can the company build on this great start, delivering great content in Wii’s important early stages?

Nintendo’s new system had a stellar launch – not only did the machine sell-out; it also had a strong launch lineup of interesting games, positive buzz from the mainstream media, and a killer app in Twilight Princess. As a result, the holiday season was good to a well-deserving Nintendo.But then the system launched nearly two months ago, and those familiar with Nintendo’s history know what come after a launch regardless of that launch’s success – a content drought of huge proportion, even compared to the meager first years most consoles have to suffer through. Wii has an advantage in that developers are genuinely excited to design for it, so there are quite a few projects already announced for the system – as well as several first-party offerings Nintendo has been sitting on specifically so the past is not repeated. Assuming the majority of the lineup is not lost to delays or cancellation, there could be quite a bit to play on Wii in 2007. All the same, it never hurts to be a cautious optimist.Vying for Everyone That said, one title you can rest assured on is Wario Ware: Smooth Moves (1/15/07), which will be out in a matter of days. Nintendo’s go-to franchise for fast-paced innovation will acclimate both players and developers to dozens of new ways to interact with the Wii, and should help to carry system owners through the rest of the winter. Wario is hardly the only casual appeal title currently announced for the year, though. Since Wii is Nintendo’s big push to hook non-gamers and gamers alike, it’s almost insidious that it’s bundling the upcoming Wii Sports-like Wii Play (2/12/07) with a Wiimote – a good deal to be sure (nine minigames couldn’t have pulled full retail price otherwise), but a Trojan horse to get non-gaming household members hooked nonetheless. Ignition Entertainment has also made the easy choice of porting blob-rolling puzzler Mercury Meltdown Revolution (2007) to the system – since that entire game uses tilt mechanics to control the playfield anyway, the fit couldn’t be anything less than perfect.A little bit more unusual is Cooking Mama: Cook Off (Q1 2007), the sequel to Majesco’s charming DS game Cooking Mama. Cook Off offers international cuisine though, so it might actually be less unusual (and therefore more palatable) than the Japanese-centric meal preparation of the original. Strangest of all is InXile’s effort to bring Line Rider (Q2 2007) to DS and Wii – it’s an interesting non-game about drawing tracks for a physics-enabled sledder, sure, but it’s freely available online and surely a difficult premise for most consumers to swallow.Most consumers, however, would be delighted if the announced Animal Crossing Wii (TBA) made it out this year. It might, but I wouldn’t wait up.The RPG Conundrum Role Playing Games are descending onto Wii with no small amount of trepidation. The combination of the genre’s typically epic scale with the system’s movement-based gameplay is a rather disconcerting design problem. Some like the first-party strategy RPG Fire Emblem (Q2 2007) dodge the issue entirely by using the Classic Controller, making that game more of an evolutionary sequel to the Gamecube’s Path of Radiance. Sega’s action RPG Alien Syndrome (2007) does promise some unique Wii controls, though it also looks to be far more action than RPG. Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors (2007) skews toward the action side as well – in fact since the game is mostly sword slashing and character movement control is extremely limited, it’s barely an RPG at all. Pokemon Battle Revolution (2007) is actually not an RPG at all, acting more as an extension of the upcoming DS Pokemon Diamond and Pearl than anything else. Having those games (or indeed a DS at all) isn’t necessary to play this – though without it the game is just a turn-based online-enabled Pokemon battler with some extras thrown in. So perhaps Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers (2007) will be the game that shows how to properly do the genre on Wii, as its predecessor showed how to properly do the genre with Gamecube-GBA connectivity. That’s entirely speculative, though – at this point, the game doesn’t even have a release date.Action and Adventure, now with Physical Action At this point, it looks like action games will be picking up the slack for most of the other genres this year. Key to this point is the late year release of Super Mario Galaxy (2007), which should be one of the first games to combine old platforming elements on the nunchuk with completely new mechanics on the Wiimote for an expansive and fresh yet familiar experience. Super Mario Sunshine seemed to disappoint a few (rather misguided, as the game was brilliant) people. I highly doubt Miyamoto will let such a thing happen again.Even the upcoming Sonic and the Secret Rings (2/27/07) looks pretty good – which shouldn’t be surprising, but the last several Sonic outings have been so uniformly poor that it’s impossible to take the quality of the franchise on faith anymore. The Secret Rings returns the franchise to more two-dimensional gameplay, integrates tilt control into Sonic’s movement to add to the feeling of barely being in control at great speed, and most importantly, seems to be more about Sonic and less about other unnecessary hedgehogs. So the big platformer guns are in full force on Wii in 2007, and those two games alone will probably move plenty of units and consoles. The big movie tie-in games of the year, Spider-Man 3 (May 2007) and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (July 2007), should do the same. While normally such games wouldn’t be very interesting, these two specific movie tie-ins are; Spider-Man because the series’ game experiences are so uniformly good, Harry Potter because the Wiimote makes a perfect wand. They may be multiplatform titles, but they’ll be completely different on Wii.That still would be depressing though if all the new content on the system was franchise updates and cash-in fare. The brand new control system means there’s plenty of room to experiment in new properties as well. Take the mysterious and strange title The Sadness (2007); it looks like it will combine elements of action adventure and survival horror, while completely discarding the HUD. It takes place in the Victorian era and will play out entirely in black and white. If it manages to make it out this year, its oddness definitely makes it worth checking out.Nintendo also has a new action survival title in Disaster: Day of Crisis (2007), which also might not make it out this year but interestingly follows in the thematic footsteps of cult classic natural disaster game Disaster Report. Codemasters has a new arcade-style flight simulator in Heatseeker (Q1 2007). And in Nintendo’s Project H.A.M.M.E.R. (2007), you have a hammer. You hit things with said hammer. It’s amazing that on Wii, this is actually a compelling prospect.But there will also be the obvious stuff, like anime action adventure One Piece Unlimited Adventure (2007). Ubisoft will also continue their business model of porting old content to the system with Prince of Persia: Rival Swords (3/13/07), really just 2005’s Two Thrones with a fresh coat of paint and a modified control scheme. All the Rest Unsurprisingly, most other genres are treading lightly into the new territory this console represents. Very few sports games have been announced, though Nintendo does have a first party entry in Mario Strikers Charged. Early buzz is that the Wii controller makes it just different enough from its predecessor to be worth it. EA has also been showing off SSX Blur (Mar 07) for the system. It can be expected that joining the snowboarding game will be the typical cache of yearly sports titles from the mega-publisher, though if Madden NFL 07 is any indication the company will avoid straight ports from other system and redesign to be appropriate to the new controller. The fighting genre is even quieter; the only title of note expected for the year is Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2007), which is almost more of a party game than a fighting game. In any case, the game will use the good old Gamecube controller – hardly a revolution, though the addition of third party characters like Solid Snake should make for an even more surreal action experience than normal. Midway is also porting Mortal Kombat Armageddon (3/1/07) to the system, but what changes will be made, if any, are still unknown.Perhaps most surprising is the number of first-person shooters announced for the system is so minimal. Nintendo as usual has the biggest entry in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (2007), which was originally announced as a launch title and thus should be making it out this year. While it also doesn’t try to be too different from its predecessor, it does combine lock-on aiming with Wiimote-pointing aiming. EA is also priming Medal of Honor: Vanguard (2007), a game which will use a series of simple Wiimote gestures to let the player indicate what they want to do. But that’s basically it for the genre.Oh, there is a single RTS game announced for the system in the first-party Battalion Wars 2 (2007), the sequel to the underappreciated 2005 Gamecube game. That’s something, but the genre could definitely use another Pikmin title. That, however, is a request for another year.

Sony PS3 outsold by Nintendo Wii in Japan: magazine

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 17:27:17 GMT

Sony PS3 outsold by Nintendo Wii in Japan: magazine

Sony sold 466,716 PlayStation 3 game consoles in Japan by the end of last month, less than half of its shipment target and of sales of Nintendo Co.'s rival Wii console, video game magazine publisher Enterbrain said on Tuesday. Enterbrain said Nintendo sold 989,118 Wii units despite a launch date about three weeks later than the PS3 in Japan. Nintendo introduced the Wii in Japan on December 2 and had a target of shipping 1 million units in that market by year end. Sony started selling the latest version of its blockbuster game console in Japan on November 11 and had also stated plans to ship 1 million units in Japan by the end of December. Sony said earlier this week that it met its goal of shipping 1 million PS3 units to North America since its launch there on November 17, but did so by diverting units from Japan. The electronics maker did not say whether it met its goal of shipping 2 million units combined in the North America and Japan markets by year-end. The Enterbrain data suggests that it probably missed its target.

Sony has had an iron grip over the video game console market with its two previous PlayStation models -- combined unit sales of which have reached more than 200 million globally -- but its launch of the PS3 was beset by delays. But Sony said this week that it was on track to ship 6 million PS3 consoles worldwide by the end of March 2007.

Rent-a-Cops Quietly(TM) Given Full Police Powers

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 11:48:46 GMT

MAria Sharapova swimsuit CALENDAR 2007

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 13:57:19 GMT

Katharine McPhee VIDEO boobshow unlimited

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 13:51:29 GMT

Longer faster harder Viagra for fun

Sun, 31 Dec 2006 18:36:24 GMT

Saddam Hussein executed

Sat, 30 Dec 2006 00:06:21 GMT

Saddam Hussein is dead

Scarlett Johansson Thinks She's Fat

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 19:23:39 GMT

It's a well-known fact that girls are crazy. Ask anyone. Hell, ask Scarlett Johansson. Even though she's probably one of the most beautiful women in the world, she says she has "fat days" and will never be "real thin," reports PR Inside.

I have fat days and accept that I'm never going to be real thin.

I know what I look like when I wake up in the morning after three hours sleep. Sometimes I feel, 'OK, this is a good day', and other times I wake up and think, 'Oh my God, I need a hat today.'

I don't think Scarlett understands the meaning of fat. The goal is not to look like Nicole Richie, or the Olsen Twins. The goal is to look like Scarlett Johansson. And if Scarlett is fat in any way, it's in all the right places.

Whatever, if Scarlett needs any help remembering just how not fat she is, hopefully these classic pictures will do the trick.

Vida Guerra in a BIKINI and less MUCH MUCH less

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 19:22:20 GMT

Jessica Biel in a white bikini in HAWAII CANDID VIDEOS

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:35:30 GMT

Jessica Simpson says OK to boob JOB

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 23:58:26 GMT

Weird Al interviews Eminem priceless VIDEO

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 23:55:00 GMT

"Weird Al"'s interview with Jessica Simpson

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 23:47:55 GMT

SUPER FUNNY

"Weird Al"'s interview with Kevin Federline

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 23:30:31 GMT

To Jennifer Aniston: To stay in the news gotta flash your gooch

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:53:27 GMT

Like lindsay, paris and britney and list goes on and on..

Stunning Leona Lewis - Over The Rainbow

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 21:34:31 GMT

Amazing. Stunning. Perfection. Leona Lewis’s rendition of “Over the Rainbow” during this past week’s The X Factor. Her voice is a gift.

Britney Spears: ‘Sorry. Bought Panties

Thu, 07 Dec 2006 18:25:18 GMT

Angelina Jolie on Vogue’s January cover. Smoking hot

Thu, 07 Dec 2006 12:17:06 GMT

Lindsay Lohan's Entire email to friends

Thu, 07 Dec 2006 12:01:57 GMT

But to make false accusations to one girl is unjust in my oppinion. Having said this, I am willing to do anything I need to get my life the way it should be and the way I work for it to be.. And have thus far in my career. Let's sue the tabloids for saying the things they say. Defamation of character. Amongst other illegal accusations, I will repeat this over and over to make my point. I am not fully aware of what these, again, accusations are, but I am fully and eagerly prepared to learn them. Have harvey and all lawyers help me please. If he is willing. Al Gore will help me he came up to me last night and said he would be very happy to have a conversation with me.

Dropping A 300lb. Safe On A Buick

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 00:44:57 GMT

Scarlett's career fear - Womanspassions.com

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 01:36:08 GMT

The 22-year-old actress, who starred in her first film aged just 12, admits she fears every film will be her last.

Jessica Biel and Derek Jeter Too Much Public Affection

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 20:30:35 GMT

New celebrity couple Jessica Biel and Derek Jeter sparked outrage when their public display of affection at a sombre exhibition left art fans upset.
The actress and the New York Yankees baseball star were checking out the Holy Image, Hallowed Ground: Icons From Sinai exhibition at Los Angeles' Getty Museum when things started getting hot and heavy. One eyewitness tells US tabloid the National Enquirer, "It was shocking. They were making out on a veranda in full view of everyone, including several Orthodox Jewish families who'd come to see the religious artifacts." The upset witness even claims security staff had to interrupt the loved-up couple and ask them to cool it.

Mischa Barton Likes really unattractive guys

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 15:29:12 GMT

Kristin Cavallari still a nobody - The Superficial - www.thesuperficial.com

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 15:27:27 GMT

Kristin Cavallari's first movie, a remake of the 80's Revenge of the Nerds, has been permanently shut down just weeks into production because Emory University backed out as a shooting location after seeing the script.

I am shocked - shocked - that somebody as famous as Kristin Cavallari would be associated with a script so shoddy everybody involved decided to back out. I mean she was on Laguna Beach. And that was on TV. Real TV. With that kind of star power it's a wonder she didn't get her own Star Wars movie.

Actress Pamela Anderson always ends up naked whenever she goes out partying in Hollywood

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 14:50:44 GMT

Lindsay Lohan Gets Crazier and Crazier

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 14:40:33 GMT

Nicole's Positive Influences?

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 13:16:09 GMT

Paris and Britney may be making the rounds these days but Paris and Nicole are still reunited BFF's. They always seem to come back to each other even after their many feuds. Some people, however, think Paris is a bad influence on Nicole. Rachel Zoe happens to be one of them. We were surprised to hear that Nicole had dumped her celebrity stylist, since she "wanted to surround herself with positive people and influences." But Rachel's friends evidently say that Paris is actually the one that needs to be dumped. Here's more:

Nicole didn't trust Rachel anymore," according to a magazine source. However, a friend of Zoe told Page Six, "Please - and Paris Hilton, her new best friend [after a long estrangement], is a good influence? Give me a break. Rachel was acting as a concerned friend and voiced her concerns to Nicole about her lifestyle, and Nicole didn't want to hear it."

It's not the first time we've heard this before. Paris just doesn't seem to be a good influence on anyone! Well, at least she's encouraging Nicole to eat! For more pics of the two just read more

Penelope Cruz Pirelli Pictures

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 11:21:53 GMT

Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom are Totally Doing It

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:18:37 GMT

Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom worked on the film Elizabethtown together over a year ago, but in what has to be the greatest Hollywood story of delayed gratification, the two have only gotten together a month ago. They're definitely making up for lost time, and publicity, though, because according to The Daily Mail, Kirsten and Orlando were spotted in a very public make out session at the Chateau Marmont hotel in Hollywood.

But last week they were spotted all over each other in Los Angeles hotel Chateau Marmont. We're told: "Kate and Orlando are definitely more than just good friends now.

"They were kissing and cuddling in the corner of the lobby bar and didn't seem to care who saw them. They even stayed past closing time because they were enjoying each other's company."

The Chateau Marmont is not the place to go if you want to keep a blossoming romance under wraps, one source tells us, adding: "It's like coming out without actually issuing a statement."

So what's the attraction between the two? Well, it's obvious that Orlando is winning in the looks departement of this pairing, but he doesn't seem to mind. In fact, he rather likes that Kirsten can look really, really crappy.

"It was so much fun for him to be with her because she seemed carefree and not obsessed about fattening foods. Kirsten can also let her hair down a bit and isn't worried about being the most fashionable girl in the room.

"Orlando likes that she can look a bit dishevelled, he thinks it's sexy. Kate would never go out unless she looked perfectly coiffed and that got a bit tiring."

Granted, Orlando's ex-girlfriend Kate Bosworth was rapidly working her way up to the rank of President of the Lollipop Head Club, but I'm not sure Kirsten is much of a trade up. As far as pretty girls go, Kirsten isn't one most of the time. It may be cute at first, but after a while, you start to appreciate a girl who appreciates taking a shower.

That being said, Kirsten Dunst can clean up nice if she wants, as you can see here in these pictures from the New York premiere of Elizabethtown. Tons more Kirsten Dunst pics after the jump.

Britney Spears May Just "Give Away" Sex Tape

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 09:26:44 GMT

"Kramer's" Racist Tirade - Caught on Tape

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 09:26:14 GMT

LILO'S $50 000 MISTAKE

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 09:24:14 GMT

Lindsay Lohan had to fork over $50 000 after losing a Cartier bracelet.

The troubled actress misplaced the expensive band she had been loaned by the jewellers while partying in London at the weekend.

Lindsay - who was in the UK capital to present last week’s World Music Awards - was ordered to pay for the bracelet in full yesterday after a fuming Cartier representative demanded the item was returned.

A source told The Sun: “Lindsay had been loaned the jewellery in good faith for her presenting job at the World Music Awards. The plan was always for her to return the bracelet after, which seemed to have slipped her mind.”

"Slipped her mind"? Talk about understatement of the year! The girl is lucky if she manages to throw on a pair of panties on a given day and you're asking her to remember to returns an expensive bracelet??

PARIS IS A BAD INFLUENCE on britney spears

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 09:23:42 GMT

One day of hanging out with Paris Hilton and Britney Spears is already taking off her pants in the middle of nightclubs. She's just one nip slip and a ugly celebrity catfight away from reaching a Hiltonesque level of trashiness -- a true feat for Britney!

IS LINDSAY LOHAN A CUTTER?

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 21:22:51 GMT

OMG!!!!!!!!! When Lindsay Lohan was photographed leaving the World Music Awards in London, some disturbing red marks were clearly visible on her wrist leading to speculation that she self-mutilates.

Have recent troubles in LiLo's life taken their toll on the young starlet? According to Leslie Sloane Zelnik, Lindsay's publicist, "She scraped herself badly in a fall in some bushes. She had bandages for a couple of days but it looks worse than it is."

Umm....weren't those bandages from a sprain Lindsay suffered during New York Fashion Week? Get your stories straight, girl!

Lindsay to host WMA’s

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:48:50 GMT

Halle and boyfriend attend exclusive Hennessy tasting

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:47:26 GMT

Angelina Jolie Lovin’ it at McDonald’s

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:14:45 GMT

NEW 'SWEET ESCAPE' PROMO SHOT

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:12:24 GMT

If the style looks familiar, that's because Gwen Stefani's press photos were taken by Jill Greenberg, the photographer whose latest exhibit featuring crying babies came under a great deal of scrutiny when she was accused of tormenting them for the shot. Greenberg claimed she merely took a lollipop away from them.

Nonetheless, the shots are moving and powerful.

Models on a plane

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:09:50 GMT

Victoria's Secret girls head to LA for a fashion show

George Clooney Named PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 11:20:41 GMT

VIDEO: More Details on Tom and Katie's Big Blowout

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 11:20:14 GMT

Human Saliva Contains A Painkiller 6 Times More Powerful

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 16:52:32 GMT

Jennifer Aniston Buys $10.6 Million House

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:27:54 GMT

Lindsay Lohan moons onlookers through her black pantyhose

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:27:23 GMT

Borat's Kazakhstan bank snafu

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:26:43 GMT

Scarlett Johansson Body Candy

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:25:07 GMT

Hookers dish the dirt on Hollywood actors [including Brad Pitt] in steamy new book

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:24:41 GMT

Courtney Love and Lindsay Lohan banging the same 20 year-old guy

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:24:19 GMT

Sandra Bullock's Secret to Sucess: Mind Blowing Sex

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:23:41 GMT

Angelina Jolie Pregnant!

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:21:14 GMT

Brad Pitt caught in his undies on Vanity Fair cover

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:17:24 GMT

Nicole Richie Busts Out Of Treatment Center To Go Shopping

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:14:23 GMT

Lindsay Lohan shows what too much Strawberry Nesquik (Hollywood's term for flavored blow) can do to your fashion sense.

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:13:50 GMT

Nicky Hilton Can't Handle A Break-Up

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:13:18 GMT

David Hasselhoff threatens to chop off daughter's bf's penis

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:13:02 GMT

Has Ashlee Simpson had even MORE plastic surgery?

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:12:41 GMT

K-Fed Releases SEX TAPE as revenge?

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:12:01 GMT

Nicole Kidman Is Pregnant!

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:11:41 GMT

Reese Witherspoon files for divorce from Phillipe

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:11:10 GMT

Scarlett Johansson & Josh Hartnett on verge of split

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:10:03 GMT

I Wnt 2 Dvrce U: Britney Dumps Kevin Via Text Message

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:01:15 GMT

That's what Britney Spears was telling hubby Kevin Federline when she digitally dropped her divorce bomb on him - via text message.

Landscaper Refuses Service To Gays

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 12:57:13 GMT

Speedbandits NSFW [Video]

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 12:54:56 GMT

Evaluate moving to Denmark

Jack Black's tenacious

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 23:52:41 GMT

Jack Black was king of the funny last night in Los Angeles for his premiere of Tenacious D: In the Pick of Destiny. He might not have had ponys and hookers to escort him down the red carpet, but he's pretty entertaining all by himself. The film that Jack wrote with comedic partner Kyle Glass, is about two slackers on a quest to be the world's greatest rock stars. It stars Ben Stiller, Amy Poehler and Tim Robbins and opens November 17th. And tons of stars came out to see the film. For more pics including Kristin Cavallari, Sarah Silverman and Jeremy Piven just

Tom and Katie's Wedding Snag

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 23:50:51 GMT

That Catholic wedding that Katie's folks were hoping for may not happen after all. The couple are supposedly tying the knot the weekend of Nov 16th in the Italian village of Bracciano near Rome. Rumor has it they had planned two ceremonies, a traditional Catholic ceremony on Saturday followed by a Scientology event the next day. But now, it turns out that Tom's divorce is getting in the way.

Lindsay Lohan: "Paris Hilton is a Cunt"

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 12:14:53 GMT

Not sure exactly what's going on here. I thought Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton were Best Friends Forever again, but I guess Paris must have stolen Linsday's last line of blow, or something, because it looks like Lindsay doesn't...

Being Mr. Britney Spears WAS his career

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 12:14:04 GMT

K-Fed's ex Shar Jackson was all smiles last night!

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 12:12:12 GMT

Beyonce's Secret to Looking Stylish

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 12:11:14 GMT

The stars shined last night at L'Oreal's Legends Gala at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC. Beyonce seems to rarely have a bad day and always manages to look her best from head to toe. And it turns out she has a secret to never having a bad fashion day. Apparently she never leaves home without a full examination by her stylists

Another Lindsay Lohan Car Crash

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 15:49:20 GMT

With all the Britney Spears news, Lindsay Lohan is feeling neglected. So neglected, in fact, that in order to get the spotlight back onto her, she had herself another little car crash. The New York Daily News reports that

Britney Files For Divorce Get The Entire Scoop Here!

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 21:13:38 GMT

Oops! Seinfeld Bugs Rock About Wife more ...

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 11:30:00 GMT

Jerry Seinfeld called on funny buddy Chris Rock to appear in a live-action trailer for Jerry's animated DreamWorks flick, "Bee Movie," where the comedic twosome are dressed as insects. In a case of art imitating life, a joke about Rock's wife seems..

FOLLOW THE TWINS - TAKING after her sister Paris ... (New York Post)

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 11:27:05 GMT

TAKING after her sister Paris, Nicky Hilton is going after an Olsen twin ex. While Paris bagged Stavros Niarchos, a former flame of Mary-Kate, Nicky - who dumped Kevin Connolly last month for cheating on her with a college girl - has quietly been dating Ashley Olsen's ex …

Salma Hayek Undresses

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 11:15:49 GMT

Salma Hayek blah blah TV show blah blah Ugly Betty blah blah. BOOBS! I personally have one of the nicest racks this side of the Mason-Dixon (it’s been proven in 9 states, fellas!) and even I can’t help but drool over Salma Hayek’s devastatingly perfect rack. The only thing better would be if her bra was even more ill-fitting and revealing. Actually, it would be better if I was in the elevator with her and we accidentally got stuck for a few hours. We got stuck because I might have promised the elevator repairman a trip “around the world” to write down the wrong building address. But I digress. Boobs!

Borat at Airport, Out of Character more ...

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 10:57:26 GMT

Sick of traveling around in a cramped ice cream truck, Borat's alter ego, Sacha Baron Cohen, finally coughed up enough cash to fly the friendly skies this week.For the first time in months, the actor broke character in public, replacing his famous...

The Brain Behind Borat

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 02:03:58 GMT

Judge dismisses Britney Spears' libel suit

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 02:03:19 GMT

Nicole Richie passes out....again

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 01:27:36 GMT

Surprise! TomKat wedding to be on the freak

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 01:24:23 GMT

What's up with J Simp's look?

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 01:23:17 GMT

Scarlett is the new britney

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 01:15:33 GMT

photos of Scarlett Johansson (along with Hugh Jackman) at the London Premiere of "The Presitge" after the jump.

Angelina Jolie is Still Really, Really Pretty

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 01:14:03 GMT

SCARLETTS SEX TAPE IS NOW FOR SALE

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 01:09:46 GMT

An email went out this weekend saying that the Scarlett Johansson (?) sex tape (see more here) is now for sale through this maybe real/maybe not website. The email said: … Model-y sounding Adriana sent an email and said the clue on the website …

Dogg Obedient — Rapper Turns Himself in To Cops

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 01:08:27 GMT

Four days after a warrant was issued for his arrest, rapper Snoop Dogg has just surrendered to O.C. authorities. — The rapper arrived to the Orange County Jail in style this morning; rolling up in a dark purple Porsche Carrera, along with a driver and a bodyguard.

BRITNEY'S BRINGING SEXY BACK

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 23:07:53 GMT

Britney Spears briefly dropped by 'The Late Show with David Lettermen' last night to debut her trim new bod less than a month after giving birth to her second son, Jayden James. Sorta puts Kirstie Alley's bikini debut on 'Oprah' to shame.