British comic Russell Brand filed for divorce Friday to end his marriage to US pop star Katy Perry 14 months after the pair were wed in India.
"Sadly, Katy and I are ending our marriage. I'll always adore her and I know we'll remain friends," the 36-year-old comedian and actor said in a statement.
In court documents Brand filed in Los Angeles, the British actor and comedian cited "irreconcilable differences" as a reason for divorce.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Russell Brand files for divorce from Katy Perry
Friday, December 30, 2011
Jennifer Hudson Declined Precious Role, Didn't Want to Gain Weight
Gabourey Sidibe sure must be grateful for this!
In Jennifer Hudson's book I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me Down, the 30-year-old singer-actress opens up about why she turned down an opportunity to star in the Academy Award nominated 2009 film Precious.
PHOTOS: Jennifer's incredible slimdown
"I had [gained weight] with Effie [in Dreamgirls]," she explains, as excepted by Uptown Magazine. "And as much as I was moved by this film, I wanted to try a role that had nothing whatsoever to do with my weight."
PHOTOS: Stars who were bullied for their weight
Instead, Hudson, who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Dreamgirls, went on to co-star in the first Sex and the City Movie alongside Sarah Jessica Parker.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Sears Holdings plans to close 100 to 120 Kmart, Sears stores as sales disappoint
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Sears Holdings Corp. plans to close between 100 and 120 Sears and Kmart stores after poor sales during the holidays, the most crucial time of year for retailers.
The closings are the latest and most visible in a long series of moves to try to fix a retailer that has struggled with falling sales and shabby stores.
In an internal memo Tuesday to employees, CEO and President Lou D'Ambrosio said that the retailer had not "generated the results we were seeking during the holiday."
Sears Holdings Corp. said it has yet to determine which stores will close but said it will post on http://www.searsmedia.com when a final list is compiled. Sears would not discuss how many, if any, jobs would be cut.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Justin Bieber Surprises BFF with Mustang Convertible for Christmas
Tis the season for giving, and Justin Bieber pulled out all the stops for a Christmas present for his childhood friend, Ryan Butler.
PHOTOS: Celebs with Bieber fever
"Justin got me a present. #swag!!!" Butler posted to his Twitter along with a pic of a brand-new ivory two-door Ford Mustang Convertible Sunday.
via ca.omg.yahoo.com
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Moon & Venus Put On Post-Christmas Sky Show
For those still recovering from an active Christmas Day, there will be a celestial sight pretty enough to adorn your Christmas tree on the evening after Christmas.
On Monday (Dec. 26), known as Boxing Day in Commonwealth nations like Canada and the United Kingdom): The brilliant planet Venus will shine prominently in the vicinity of a lovely crescent moon. The Venus-moon sky show repeats on Tuesday night, too.
On Monday, check the south-southwest sky right after the sun sets. Venus will likely catch your eye first since it will be shining about one-fifth of the way up from the horizon. Now look off to the right and at a slightly lower altitude from Venus and you'll also catch sight of the slender sliver of a waxing crescent moon.
Monday, December 26, 2011
What to Do with Unwanted Gifts
Not all presents are hits
In a recent Consumer Reports poll, 20 percent of adults admit they received a gift they didn't want last year. That's about 49 million unhappy gift recipients. Given this startling number, chances are you'll get an underwhelming present (or two) this holiday season. But that doesn't mean you're stuck with the duds. Following are your best options for parlaying your bummer gifts into bonuses.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
‘Blair Witch Project’ star Heather Donahue re-emerges as a medicinal marijuana farmer
Gotham Press, Arisan Entertainment
You can stop being scared of the Blair Witch, because we've found Heather Donahue. The girl who found fame by snottily bleating at the camera, "I'm so scared!" in "The Blair Witch Project" back in 1999 has resurfaced 12 years later -- and she seems far more blissed out.
In her new memoir, "GrowGirl," the 37-year-old actress reveals that in 2007 she cultivated the "seeds of a new dream." Put bluntly: She became a medical marijuana farmer.
via ca.omg.yahoo.com
Friday, December 23, 2011
‘X Factor’ Finale Results: And The Winner Is…
Melanie almost missed this opportunity, when Simon--either in a rare case of admitting he was wrong, or in a not-so-rare-case of manufacturing TV drama for ratings--initially eliminated her during the Judges' Houses rounds, and brought her back as a bonus contestant after having a last-minute change of heart/strategy. But once Melanie was back in the game, she was a frontrunner from that point on, never landing once in the bottom two--and this Thursday, she was declared the very first "X Factor USA" winner. Simon may have made some bad decisions this season--firing Cheryl Cole, not giving Steve Jones a co-host, keeping Simone Battle over Caitlin Koch, making Drew Ryniewicz spend an entire performance glued to a chair--but apparently going back for Melanie was not one of them.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Jennifer Hudson: Has She Lost Even More Weight?
Photos: Tony Barson/WireImage; Jim Spellman/WireImage
The incredible shrinking Jennifer Hudson!
It's no secret singer Jennifer Hudson has lost a phenomenal amount of weight since she became a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers. While she denied reports of getting as thin as a size zero, her appearance on the red carpet last night at the "VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul" concert in New York City seemed to show otherwise.Jim Spellman/WireImage
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
How to Perfectly Poach an Egg
How to Poach an Egg
Poached eggs were once a dish I indulged in only at restaurants.
Why? Whenever I attempted the feat of making them at home, I would wind up with either an unfortunate runny mess or a hardened lump that hardly lived up to my culinary ideal.
But then I learned a few simple tricks and the mystery of the poached egg was revealed. Deceptively elegant, firm whites offset by yummy runny yolk, a perfectly poached egg can perk up any meal, whether breakfast or dinner.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Czech revolution icon Vaclav Havel dies
Freedom icon and Czech ex-president Vaclav Havel, who steered his country peacefully to independence from Soviet rule, died aged 75 on Sunday, drawing a wave of tributes from around the globe.
Accolades poured in for the statesman and playwright hailed as a "great European" and the "soul of the Czech revolution" that toppled communism in his country.
Mourners held candle-light vigils across the Czech Republic, with an ad hoc memorial erected on Prague's central Wenceslas Square, the focal point of anti-communist rallies in 1989, and at Prague Castle, the seat of Czech presidents.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Why We Still Have Body Hair
Human body hair might seem to be useless on today's modern man, but it could help us detect parasites, researchers suggest, adding there's a chance our female ancestors preferred a bug-free mate, and so opted for hairier guys.
Humans appear relatively hairless compared with our ape relatives, but the density of hair follicles on our skin is actually the same as would be expected of an ape our size. The fine hairs that cover our bodies, which have replaced the thicker ones seen on our close relatives, are thought to be an evolutionary leftover from our hairy ancestors.
Now scientists find these fine hairs are useful after all — people with more of them are better at detecting bedbugs.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Disney Is Introducing a New Princess -- And She's Not What You'd Expect!
I’ve often wondered why the mothers are always dead in the Disney Princess stories. I figure it’s that if the mom was alive and well, the writers would miss all sorts of plot opportunities starring the vicious, evil stepmother. I’ve also questioned whether Disney would ever get a clue and give little girls a royal role model whose singular goal in life wasn’t to land the handsome prince.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Armed gang steals millions from Dubai royal family
Members of an armed gang are on trial after they've been charged with stealing millions from the Dubai royal family. The £2million heist ($3,099,000) was the royal family's "holiday spending money" set aside for its visit to London on June 24.Royal aide Abdullah Shakeri, who testified from behind a protective screen, said he thought members of the gang were only joking when they first approached him outside the Emirates Bank in Knightsbridge, West London with the demand to "put the cases down or I'll shoot you in the face." The Daily Mail reports that the robbers then repeated their threat and told Shakeri he would be shot if he did not flee the scene.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
British royals unveil diamond jubilee tour
Britain's royal family will tour the globe next year to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee marking 60 years on the throne, Buckingham Palace announced on Wednesday.
Prince William and his wife Catherine will travel to the Asia-Pacific region, while heir to the throne Prince Charles and his wife Camilla will visit countries including Australia and Canada, it said.
The queen, 85, and her husband Prince Philip, 90, will remain in Britain but will travel as widely as possible throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the palace said.
"Members of the royal family will travel overseas representing the Queen throughout the Diamond Jubilee year, visiting every Realm as well as undertaking visits to Commonwealth countries, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories," a Buckingham Palace spokesman said in a statement.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Air Canada to face class action suit from obese
A Quebec judge has authorized a class action lawsuit against Air Canada on behalf of obese travellers who had to pay extra because of their disability during a three-year period ending in December 2008.
The Montreal law firm BGA Barristers & Solicitors LLP announced the ruling on Monday. David Bourgoin, a lawyer with the firm, said a similar suit against WestJet was thrown out because of a technicality, but the firm has about 30 days to fix the problem and continue the case against WestJet.
The case against Air Canada is aimed at reclaiming fees the airline charged obese passengers for a second seat or a seat for an attendant before a tribunal and court ruling outlawed the practice.
Monday, December 12, 2011
December 5 – 11: Madonna Super Bowl Performance and Beastie Boys Induction Spark Backlash
Kiss member Gene Simmons and War founder Howard E. Scott unleashed verbal assaults this week on other acts.
Simmons, the bassist and vocalist for the legendary band, said Madonna is not appropriate to perform at Super Bowl XLVI. When asked for his opinion on the matter, Simmons had a sarcastic response. "I love all karaoke singers," he told TMZ. "I like all the girl singers who get up and sing with tapes. Shame on you."Gene Simmons
Simmons, whose band performed at the Super Bowl in 1999, said artists who lip-sync misrepresent themselves to their audience. He suggested that entertainers who sing over vocal tracks inform their audience beforehand.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Paralympian eyes Olympic glory after "miracle" crash - Cycling
UTRECHT, The Netherlands, December 8 (Reuters) - Paralympic silver medallist Monique van der Vorst has miraculously become an able-bodied Olympic hopeful after a crash reversed her paralysis.
Paralysed from the hip down since she was 13, the 27-year-old handcyclist, who has just signed with the Rabobank women’s professional cycling team to compete as a top-class able-bodied athlete, was hit by a bicycle last year while training in her wheelchair for the 2012 London Paralympics.
While recovering from the trauma, van der Vorst’s feet started to tingle and miraculously she began to move them again. From that point on she spent months in the hospital and in the rehabilitation centre trying to regain the use of her legs.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Japan quake caused rare double-wave tsunami: NASA
The massive earthquake off the coast of Japan in March caused a rare "merging tsunami" in which two waves combined to amplify the destruction after landfall, according to NASA.
For the first time ever, US and European radar satellites captured images of the two wave fronts, confirming the existence of the long-hypothesized process, which forms a "single, double-high wave far out at sea."
"This wave was capable of traveling long distances without losing power. Ocean ridges and undersea mountain chains pushed the waves together along certain directions from the tsunami's origin," NASA said in a statement on its website.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Hollywood’s Best Actors for the Buck
The "Twilight" movies are more than a cultural sensation, they're a financial phenomenon. The latest, "Breaking Dawn," has ranked No. 1 at the U.S. box office for the past three weekends and has already earned $588 million worldwide. The entire franchise has brought in $2.4 billion so far and there’s still one more movie set for release next year.©Dave M. Benett/Getty Images non-NA
It's been a lot of reward for relatively little outlay. The first two movies were produced for $37 million and $50 million, respectively. The current film is the most expensive to date with an estimated budget of $110 million. Part of the reason the budget has risen is that stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson are getting paid more for playing Bella and her vampire boyfriend Edward, but they’re still not getting the $20 million paychecks that some big stars can command.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Vancouver man trapped in automatic toilet
A Vancouver man is sharing a cautionary tale after getting stuck in one of the city's high-tech self-cleaning public toilets.
Paul Taylor says he was locked inside the public toilet for 45 minutes before city staff arrived to pry open the door with a crowbar.
The concept behind the self-cleaning toilets is simple: a user steps in, locks the door, and when the user exits, the facility flushes and cleans itself. The toilets are programmed to automatically unlock after 12 minutes as a safety measure.
But when Taylor used the toilet at the corner of Nelson and Granville streets last week, the door stayed locked. He tried the fail-safe lever, designed to open the door if it malfunctions, but he says that didn't work either.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Holiday tipping on a budget
This year, we've declared a moratorium on excessive holiday spending. We just can't afford to spend big money on celebrating. That means making and sticking to a clear list of what we plan to buy and how much we can afford to spend.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Tergiversate chosen as Dictionary.com's word of 2011
Dictionary.com has chosen a word you've probably never heard of as the word of the year for 2011.Laura Newcombe of Toronto, Canada, participates in the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee
The word is Tergiversate and it is a verb meaning "to change repeatedly one's attitude or opinions with respect to a cause, subject, etc." or to turn renegade. Basically it means you like to change your mind a lot.
Pronounced "ter-jiv-er-sate", editors say they chose it because it's associated with rapidly changing situations and is fitting to our political and economic times.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Top baby names for 2011
In January, Today’s Parent listed the top names and trends predicted to this year.(Thinkstock)
Now, as the year comes to a close, Baby Center has released its list of the most popular baby names of 2011.
Sophia and Aiden are still tops, and as Today’s Parent predicted, “last names as first names” were hot (Madison and Jackson) as were Biblical names (Jacob and Noah) and L-names (Lily, Lucas, Logan, Liam).
Boy names that end with “N” still reign supreme: Aiden, Jackson, Mason, Jayden, Ethan and Logan all made the top 10.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Paulina Gretzky back in love with Twitter, but not unconditionally
Earlier this week, the hockey world was rocked by scandal as the 22-year-old model/actress of a retired player deleted her Twitter account. Parades are planned, we imagine, now that she had made her triumphant return to the social media platform.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Apple iPhone 'self-combustion' on flight sparks probe
An iPhone that started spewing smoke and glowing red on an airplane in Australia has been submitted for analysis by transportation safety authorities.
The phone began "emitting a significant amount of dense smoke, accompanied by a red glow" on a flight from Lismore, near Brisbane, that had just landed in Sydney on Friday, reported the Regional Express airline in a news release.
The airline described the incident as a "mobile phone self-combustion."
A flight attendant managed to extinguish the red glow successfully, and no one was hurt, the airline said.
In a photo released by the airline, the phone appears cracked and discoloured following the incident.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Bikini-Clad Jennifer Lopez Lounges with Shirtless Casper Smart in Hawaii
Fashionista Jennifer Lopez didn't go shopping on Black Friday. Instead, she feasted her eyes on Casper Smart, her 24-year-old dancer beau of just a few weeks, who doffed his top during a sexy Thanksgiving vacation in Kauai, Hawaii.
New photos from Friday reveal Lopez, 42, sipping a tropical cocktail and lounging in her bikini in a cabana alongside her topless, muscular new man. As previously reported by Us Weekly, Lopez, Smart and her 3-year-old twins Max and Emme spent the Thanksgiving holiday in Hawaii.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Anne Hathaway Engaged to Adam Shulman!
Anne hath a ring on it!
After three years together, Anne Hathaway is engaged to actor Adam Shulman, her rep confirms to Us Weekly.
PHOTOS: Huge celeb engagement rings
The Oscar-nominated actress, 29, has been spotted out and about recently wearing an engagement ring -- designed, her tells Us, by Kwiat Heritage.
Low-key Shulman was initially Hathaway's rebound romance after the messy end of her four-year romance with Raffaello Follieri in mid-2008. (Follieri pled guilty in October 2008 to defrauding investors of millions of dollars in a shocking scheme in which he posed as a real estate consultant for the Vatican.)
Norwegian mass murderer Breivik insane, may avoid jail
OSLO (Reuters) - Court-appointed psychiatrists have concluded that Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik is criminally insane, a prosecutor said on Tuesday, meaning he may be committed to a psychiatric institution indefinitely rather than sent to jail.
Breivik killed 77 people in July by bombing central Oslo and then gunning down dozens of mostly teenagers at a summer camp for the ruling Labour Party's youth wing.
"The conclusion is ... is that he is insane," prosecutor Svein Holden told a news conference. "He lives in his own delusional universe and his thoughts and acts are governed by this universe."
Monday, November 28, 2011
The three times people are happiest - you may be surprised
According to a new UK study involving Apple and the London School of Economics - reported by Hannah Thomas at Marie Claire - people are happiest when they are having sex, exercising, and visiting the theatre. Sure, the having sex part is a no brainer. The exercise part is a bit surprising; people are often pretty happy when they've finished exercising - your feel-good hormones are coursing through your body and you have a great sense of accomplishment - but the during part can be quite a struggle. And the theatre? Hey, I like theatre - but I only get there a few times a year, and I imagine only very few people make it part of their regular routine.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
How to Survive a Trip to IKEA
Our family trips to IKEA used to go something like this:
We'd pile into a car on a Saturday morning, scoot up to the big blue-and-yellow building and wait in lines from the parking lot to the cafeteria to the check out -- and then out of the parking lot again.
We'd walk in thinking we wanted one thing, but then leave with armfuls of everything except the one item we came for.
We'd fight over who was lingering too long at the couches, or the kitchen items, or the TV consoles. By the time we reached the dining area, we'd be hot, sweaty, irritable and so hungry that no amount of Swedish meatballs could make us feel better.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Movies That Didn't Make the Cut: The Biggest Turkeys of '11
Turkey Day comes once a year, but in a year that's been short on big motion-picture success stories, it seems like a fresh bird has landed at the box office every weekend.
In honor of the biggest film-going holiday on the calendar, TheWrap has assembled a list of 2011's biggest duds so far:
THE RUM DIARY With Johnny Depp movies having amassed an astronomical $7.67 billion across the globe over the course of his career, this film stands out like a bad batch of hooch.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Ricki Lake Reveals 'Dancing With The Stars' Weight Loss
Ricki Lake has had a big story beyond getting to the finals with professional Derek Hough - a weight loss of more than 20 pounds - and several dress sizes.
The actress and returning talk show host started the competition a size 8, vowing not to try on wedding dresses until the competition was over and she revealed to Access Hollywood she is now 15 inches smaller and just a size 4.
PLAY IT NOW: AccessHollywood.com’s Top10 ‘Dancing’ Transformations Of All Time: Part 1
"If we don't win, I really will be OK. I feel like I've won thus far. I've come further than I thought I would," Ricki told Access guest correspondent Tim Vincent on Monday night.
via ca.omg.yahoo.com
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Man pulls lottery ticket from trash, ends up winning $250,000
Andrew Hunter, a 24-year-old server at a Dawsonville, Georgia, Taco Mac restaurant, tossed a lottery ticket in the trash last week. He thought it was worthless."I didn't realize you could win $3 for matching one number plus the Mega Ball," Hunter told the Georgia Lottery.
Once he realized his ticket could pocket him a few dollars after all, he fished it out of the garbage and took it to a nearby convenience store. There, he used his $3 in winnings to buy three $1 Mega Millions tickets.
One of those tickets won him $250,000.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Elders right all along: scientists find huge caribou herd thought lost
A vast herd of northern caribou that scientists feared had vanished from the face of the Earth has been found, safe and sound — pretty much where aboriginal elders said it would be all along.
"The Beverly herd has not disappeared," said John Nagy, lead author of a recently published study that has biologists across the North relieved.
Those scientists were shaken by a 2009 survey on the traditional calving grounds of the Beverly herd, which ranges over a huge swath of tundra from northern Saskatchewan to the Arctic coast. A herd that once numbered 276,000 animals seemed to have completely disappeared, the most dramatic and chilling example of a general decline in barren-ground caribou.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Zumba Fitness Total Body Transformation System
Zumba was first created in the 1990s by Columbian aerobics instructor, Beto Perez, when he combined Latin music with aerobic-like movements. The resulting Zumba Fitness Total Body Transformation system helps burn calories, involves cardio, tones muscles, and makes for a crazy fun time.
Many people who try Zumba for the first time are immediately hooked because it’s energizing and you don’t even realize you’re going through interval training. It’s currently one of the biggest fitness movements and gaining more popularity every day.
This looks like fun...!
Canadian retailers again selling off RIM's PlayBook at massive discounts
TORONTO - Canadian retailers are again selling off Research in Motion's (TSX:RIM.TO - News) PlayBook tablets at massive discounts and shoppers seem to be eagerly snapping them up.
Best Buy, Future Shop, Sears, The Source and Walmart are among the stores selling the tablets at $300 off, making the cheapest 16-gigabyte model about $200. The 32GB PlayBook is $300 and the 64GB model is $400.
It's not the first time PlayBooks have been heavily discounted but shoppers are really responding to this promotion, said Derek Szeto of the bargain-hunting website Redflagdeals.com, which attracts 2.5 million readers monthly.
"It's been crazy popular, at $200 I think the value is pretty incredible," said Szeto, noting that a post about the sale had amassed nearly 3,000 replies and 333,000 views by midday Friday.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Vibram Five Running Shoes Are the Hottest Trend in Running
Everyone knows that running is an excellent way to get in shape. It’s great for your heart, and does wonders for your body. Up until now, traditional running shoes are the only thing we’ve had to choose from for foot protection, support and comfort. But now, Vibram Five running shoes are changing all of the old ideas about what to wear on your feet for the best running experience.
If you’re a seasoned runner, you’ve probably already heard of these odd-looking shoes. Even running newbies are curious about them. They might look weird, but they offer a more physically correct way of running.
Britney Spears Sizzles in Lime Green Bikini
It's almost "Criminal" how good Britney Spears looks in a bikini.
PHOTOS: Britney's bikini body through the years
The 29-year-old pop star showed off her toned tummy and lean legs in a skimpy lime green two-piece in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday. Later that evening, Spears kicked off the South American leg of her Femme Fatale tour -- her 66th show this year.
PHOTOS: Britney's sexiest tour costumes
Spears was joined by her longtime love Jason Trawick, 39, and sons Sean Preston, 6, and Jayden James, 5, (with ex-husband Kevin Federline). She was also accompanied by her mother, Lynne, 56.
How does the princess of pop stay in such great shape?
via ca.omg.yahoo.com
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Puppy Grows and Knows Your Name
Puppy grow toy dog is a Fisher Price toy which magically grow up to be a full-sized dog in only four days. As puppy grows, it learns to know your name, its name and it is fed and groomed.
Watching the puppy get taller right in front of your eyes quickly wins the kid over. The included chart helps kids measure and track the growth of their puppy. Plus, puppy has something new to say each of the four days, which makes it seem like he really is learning as he grows. Part of this learning process includes singing two songs that feature your child’s name.
via puppygrow.com
Kinect for Xbox 360
Life should be about freedom – the ability to move about without restriction. Especially when it comes to the game life. Who wants to be constricted to having to stay in one place, tied down, limited and defined by a game console’s cords or short range controller?
You deserve more. You deserve your freedom. In fact, you deserve your freedom so much that you should have it – not only in your game playing, but in your entertainment as well. Does such a gadget exist that can give you the space to move as you choose? Yes, it does and you’ll find it in the Kinect for Xbox 360.
Thanks to this cool technology, there won’t be anymore sitting around as a couch potato. You’ll be on your feet, actively involved in the games and having a lot of fun. You move your body and the game reacts virtually.
Great present for Christmas.
Kadhafi son Seif 'arrested' after three months on run
Murdered Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's fugitive son and one-time heir apparent Seif al-Islam has been arrested in southern Libya, a senior National Transitional Council official said Saturday.
Seif al-Islam, 39, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), was "arrested in southern Libya" by former rebel forces, NTC justice minister Mohammed al-Allagui told AFP, declining to give any details.
As the last top figure of the Kadhafi family to have evaded capture or not to have escaped abroad, news of his arrest was greeted in Tripoli by gunmen firing into the air in celebration and the honking of car horns.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Fisher Price Bigfoot Monster Toy
The Imaginext Bigfoot Monsters by Fisher Price is a cool toy for youngsters. It’s fairly possible that this cool remote control Sasquatch can be the smash hit of the 2011 Christmas season. With over 80 phrases that your kid can hear from this lovable monster utter, you’ll feel safe knowing that this fuzzy pal of your minor tyke is not scary and is helping your child to learn.
Spike the Ultra Dinosaur
Meet Spike the ultra dinosaur that kids bring to life at the touch of a button. He walks, he stands on his hind legs, he blinks, his mouth opens and closes and his spikes even light up. You make it all happen with the easy-to-use remote control! Spike also makes lots of funny sounds. He growls, snorts, roars and more.
Lululemon hits branding sour note with Ayn Rand-inspired bags
Instead of swaddling shopping bags in its usual soft-focus cheer (above), yoga-wear giant Lululemon is promoting a slogan from the hard-edged mother of Objectivism, Ayn Rand. Wha?
I'm a Lululemon customer. And, yes, I'm aware it's not a brand loyalty men admit easily. As I sit here, typing, in fact, I'm wearing a pair of Lululemon "Game On" boxer briefs, which are made of something called Coolmax, and decidedly cozy.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Junior high app developer is a pre-teen tycoon in training
He might not be ready to submit a college application, but Thomas Suarez of Manhattan Beach, California is already releasing apps for iOS devices. The sixth grader recently gave a talk at TEDxManhattanBeach in which he discussed his love of computers (he got into them in kindergarten), his plans for the future, and the inspiration he got from the late Steve Jobs.
Suarez has released several apps on the Apple App Store since launching his first, a fortune-telling title called Earth Fortune, in late 2010. His most popular app has been Bustin Jieber, a Whack-a-Mole style game where players squish the disembodied head of Justin Bieber. "I created it because a lot of people at school disliked Justin Bieber a little bit," he told the TEDx crowd.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Tooth cleaning leads to fewer heart problems: study
ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - Regular visits to the dentist for tooth cleaning may provide more than just a brighter smile.
According to data compiled by researchers in Taiwan, people who had their teeth professionally scraped and cleaned had a 24 percent lower risk of heart attack and 13 percent lower risk of stroke compared to those who never had a dental cleaning.
Poor oral hygiene has been associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
The researcher who presented the findings of the multi-year study at the American Heart Association scientific meeting in Orlando on Sunday surmised that professional tooth cleaning appears to reduce inflammation-causing bacterial growth that can lead to heart disease.
"Protection from heart disease and stroke was more pronounced in participants who got tooth scaling at least once a year," said Dr. Zu-Yin Chen, a cardiology fellow at Veterans General Hospital in Taipei, who presented the findings.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Lottery agency tries to recover $12.5M insider win
More than seven years after a Toronto-area woman cashed in a stolen $12.5-million Lotto Super 7 ticket, Ontario's lottery corporation is trying to recoup the money, but the lengthy wait may have cost the Crown agency.
CBC News has learned that the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) filed a lawsuit in March against the woman who claimed the ticket, Kathleen Chung, and her family and associated companies for "deliberately deceiving" the corporation.
Police allege that Chung's father and brother stole the free play ticket in 2003 from its rightful owners who validated the ticket at the Chung-managed Variety Plus store in Burlington, Ont. The duo then allegedly gave the ticket to Kathleen to claim in an attempt to cover their tracks.
Monday, November 14, 2011
How Railings Can Derail Your Daily Workout
The minute your workout starts to intensify, the temptation is always there: grab the rails.
Whether you're on a stair climber, elliptical or treadmill, reaching out for those support bars can undermine your workout in ways you probably don't realize.
It may seem harmless to get your balance or hold yourself up a little, but it's very easy to support half your weight without really trying that hard. And on a stair climber, for example, supporting half your weight with your arms can cut into your calorie burn by as much as 35 percent, according to Zack Barksdale, a professional fitness trainer at Cooper Aerobics in Dallas, Tex.
And as counterproductive as those lost calories are, Barksdale, who holds a Masters of Science from Baylor University, says the long-term effects are much worse.
"The bad thing about it is that you're not activating your core," he says. "You're not working on posture if you're holding on, and you're not engaging your muscles naturally."
via thepostgame.com
Sunday, November 13, 2011
The Stroke of Genius Strikes Later in Modern Life - Yahoo! News
Young geniuses might have once made nearly all of the significant breakthroughs in science, but nowadays that's doesn't seem to be the case, suggests a new study.
Einstein once said, "A person who has not made his great contribution to science before the age of 30 will never do so." The genius himself discovered that matter was transmutable to energy with his famous equation E = mc2 and helped lay the foundations of quantum theory by that age as evidence for his claim.
That peak age has shifted considerably, the researchers found, with 48 being prime time for physicists.
Einstein-like geniuses
Friday, November 11, 2011
5 ways to make your Windows computer lightning fast
Trim-down and tune-up tips anybody can do
Nobody enjoys using a slow computer. You want your computer to be fast and responsive, whether it's brand spanking new or four years old. Follow our tips to keep you zooming along the information superhighway, regardless of your PC's age!
1. Run the essentials
The most basic thing you can do to speed up your computer is also one of the fastest changes you can make — close unneeded applications! If you're working in Excel, the odds that you'll need Word open at the same time are slim. Limit open software to what you are using at the time. This also cuts down on distractions and helps you get your work done more quickly.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
The Help's Jessica Chastain to Play Princess Diana?
One of Hollywood's hottest up-and-coming redheads just got the royal role of a lifetime.
Jessica Chastain has been cast as the late Diana, Princess of Wales in the film Caught in Flight, IndieWire reports.
PHOTOS: Look back on Princess Diana's wedding day
The Help actress, 30, will play Prince William and Harry's mom, who died at age 36 in 1997 in a car crash, in a film about her secret, alleged affair with heart surgeon Dr. Hasnat Khan, said to be the love of her life.
via ca.omg.yahoo.com
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Heinz beats Staszko in $8.72M WSOP main event
LAS VEGAS (AP)—Earlier this year, Pius Heinz was deciding whether to play cards full-time.
Now that the 22-year-old German has won the $8.72 million prize at the World Series of Poker, he can steer his life in pretty much whatever direction he wants.
“Honestly I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the money,” Heinz said early Wednesday after winning the main event in a marathon session of Texas Hold `em. “Probably my family is going to get a couple gifts.”
Heinz won with an ace high, just nine hands after using the same hand to boost himself from a nearly insurmountable disadvantage against 35-year-old Martin Staszko.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Convicted Jackson doctor could be free within months
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Michael Jackson's doctor may spend as little as a few months behind bars despite being convicted on Monday of involuntary manslaughter in the 2009 death of the "Thriller" singer.
Legal experts said that Dr. Conrad Murray was ultimately likely to benefit from a new California law that deals with chronic overcrowding in the state's jails.
Trial judge Michael Pastor could sentence Murray on November 29 to probation, home confinement or up to four years in state prison. He was found guilty of gross negligence by giving Jackson the anesthetic propofol -- normally used to sedate patients for surgery -- that was deemed the main cause of the singer's 2009 death.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Fighters in L.A. for BJJ tournament stop a robbery at hotel
Two mixed martial artists from Oregon were in Los Angeles for a grappling tournament, but they ended up using their skills to do much more than win a match. They subdued an armed robber who was holding up the clerk at their hotel. Watch the security video in this report from KCAL-TV.
Brent Alvarez runs Twisted Web MMA in Eugene, Ore., and Billy Denney is his student. They were walking through the hotel lobby when they saw the robber, who had gone behind the hotel's counter, pulled out a gun, and demanded money.
Friday, November 4, 2011
The world’s most powerful people
What do the president of the United States, the Dalai Lama, a billionaire drug dealer and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg all have in common? They are all featured on FORBES' annual ranking of the World's Most Powerful People.
The ranking takes into account four factors. First, we measured how many people a person has power over. For a religious leader, like Pope Benedict XVI (#7), that would be the number of adherents, or Catholics, in the world. For a CEO, like General Electric's Jeffrey Immelt (#28) we counted the number of employees.
Then we looked at the financial resources controlled by each candidate, whether that is revenues (for a company), GDP (for a country) or net worth (for a billionaire). Next we asked: Is a candidate influential in more than one arena, or sphere? This bumped up the ranking of people like New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (#17), who is a powerful politician, a self-made media billionaire and a major philanthropist.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Loneliness may cause fitful sleep: study
(Reuters) - People who are lonely may be more likely to have sleepless nights, researchers said Tuesday in a study that suggests loneliness may not only cause unhappiness, it may be bad for your health.
Reporting in the journal Sleep, Lianne Kurina of the University of Chicago and colleagues studied loneliness and sleep patterns among a group of older residents living in two colonies of Hutterites in South Dakota.
People in this religious sect live communally, sharing possessions and meals. They are rarely socially isolated.
She said the findings were similar to those from a 2002 study of college students that compared feelings of loneliness to sleep quality. It found that the lonelier the students felt, the more fitfully they slept.
The researchers collected information on feelings of loneliness, blood pressure and sleep from 95 residents of the Hutterite communities.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Sister on Steve Jobs's Last Words: "OH WOW. OH WOW. OH WOW."
Apple co-founder and Silicon Valley legend Steve Jobs lived a life that read like an epic novel, so it should be no surprise that his very last words on this temporal plane would be just as dramatic.
And they were: “OH WOW. OH WOW. OH WOW.”
That’s according to his sister, Mona Simpson, whose moving eulogy was published in the New York Times today. It’s well worth a read, given what a gifted writer Simpson is — she is a much-respected novelist — and the amazing subject.
Monday, October 31, 2011
5 Keys to a Successful Kitchen Renovation
A fresh, spacious and well-designed kitchen is one of the best ways to boost your resale appeal, whether you are considering moving out soon or not. We asked budget-conscious real estate agent Michael Macerollo for his top kitchen renovation tips to ensure you get the result you want at the best possible price.
Do Your Homework
Research carefully before you purchase anything. If you are considering altering your spatial design, consult the experts. Ikea has excellent plans to follow when changing your kitchen. Shop around and consider different types of building materials that might fit with your budget. Also enquire about durability and long term care required. Get a one hour consult from an interior decorator for tips on colour combinations and design as well. This is your most important step.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
If Disney princesses were real Photos | If Disney princesses were real Pictures
By Joanna Douglas. We’ve always loved the Disney princesses in a fairy tale sense, so we’ve never imagined they were real. But one graphic design student at the Arts University College at Bournemouth in the UK had the creative idea to bring Disney characters to life using photo manipulation. Jirka Väätäinen told us, “I've always been interested in the way people look and what makes them unique in their appearances. This was a personal challenge for me to see if I could recreate characters that we all know and love, and try to maintain their unique features. The end results are what I would imagine the characters to look like in ‘real life,’ while still staying somewhat true to the unrealistic quirks in their original character designs.” Väätäinen said his interpretations of eight Disney princesses and one villain were created by combining elements from different photos of women who resemble the characters. He then creates composite images through digital painting and then puts them together using Photoshop. The results are stunning and completely entertaining. Check out all of Väätäinen’s Disney-inspired art here in this slideshow. We’re hoping he’ll add Snow White, Cinderella, Tiana, Rapunzel, Alice, and Tinker Bell soon. Some of them look very realistic, like our favorite, Princess Jasmine from “Aladdin.” Let us know which you like the best.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
3 Shocking Lady Gaga Halloween Costume Ideas For 2011
Lady Gaga’s Dress
Year after year, Lady Gaga always provides us with a heap of inspiration for fun and unusual Halloween costumes! 2011 was no exception. Here are three of the most memorable outfits for you to choose from.
Check Some Of Lady Gaga Halloween Costumes
1) The Meat Dress
Latest Steve Jobs mystery revealed: how he drove without license plates
The multitude of mysteries revealed following the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' death now includes one that puzzled car enthusiasts for years: How did Jobs get away with driving without a license plate? It was common knowledge that Jobs would park his Mercedes SL55 AMG in a handicapped spot at Apple's Cupertino, Calif., headquarters, with nothing to identify his vehicle other than the tiny barcode that usually rests behind the rear license plate. According to Walter Isaacson's new biography, Jobs wanted to avoid having a plate for privacy reasons; and yet when having a license-less silver Mercedes became a kind of trademark, Jobs kept motoring without one "because I don't."
Friday, October 28, 2011
Commonwealth heads agree to update 300-year-old royal succession rules
PERTH, Australia - It's taken 300 years, but the old boys club of royal primogeniture has finally been shelved.
Sixteen Commonwealth "realms" that still maintain the Queen as their head of state agreed Friday to change the rules of succession that have favoured boys over girls since the 17th century.
The rules of primogeniture — which determine the constitutional figurehead of Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, among others — were belatedly dragged into the 21st century by dint of the massive popularity of Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.
"In future, the order of succession should be determined simply by the order of birth," British Prime Minister David Cameron said in announcing the agreement at a Commonwealth leaders' summit. "And we've agreed to introduce this for all descendents from (Charles) the Prince of Wales."
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Surprise! Baby an unexpected delight for Island mother
Surprise! Baby an unexpected delight for Island mother
A 25-year-old Crofton mother who didn't know she was pregnant until she delivered a healthy sevenpound baby hopes she doesn't receive a call from a reality TV show on the topic.
Emily Ratcliffe and her husband always questioned the women who appeared on the TLC show I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant - until it happened to her.
On the evening of Oct. 1, after a day of moving heavy furniture into her new home, Ratcliffe was overwhelmed by increasing abdominal and back pain.
About 30 minutes later, she delivered her fourth child, baby Mariah, on her livingroom couch.
"Honestly, I thought I was dreaming," Ratcliffe said. "It took me a minute to realize what just happened."
Baby Mariah is nothing short of a miracle, she said. "It's hard to believe. I'm happy. I can't imagine life without her."
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Amy Winehouse died as unintended consequence of drinking too much alcohol
LONDON - Amy Winehouse died as the unintended consequence of drinking too much alcohol, a British coroner ruled Wednesday.
Coroner Suzanne Greenaway gave a verdict of "death by misadventure," saying the singer died of accidental alcohol poisoning. "The unintended consequence of such potentially fatal levels (of alcohol) was her sudden and unexpected death," Greenaway said.
The singer, who had fought drug and alcohol problems for years, was found dead in bed at her London home on July 23 at age 27. An initial autopsy proved inconclusive, although it found no traces of illegal drugs in her system.
Pathologist Suhail Baithun told the inquest into the singer's death that Winehouse had consumed a "very large quantity of alcohol" — the level in her blood put her more than five times over the legal drunk-driving limit.
Police Detective Inspector Les Newman, who was called after a security guard found Winehouse, said empty vodka bottles were scattered around her bedroom.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
October 17-23: Lady Gaga Buys $13,000 Dinner At Charity Auction
Lady Gaga had a few good personal reasons for purchasing a $13,000 dinner with E-Street Band member Steve Van Zandt Thursday night when she attended the "Right To Rock" charity auction.
According to Forbes,Van Zandt used to frequent New York's Parma restaurant, where Gaga worked as a waitress when she was 19.
Additionally, the "Born This Way" singer's donation benefits the Little Kids Rock non-profit that supports music programs in schools.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Jennifer Lopez Gives Tearful Performance About Lost Love
Jennifer Lopez was spreading the love on Saturday night, but deep inside she was feeling mixed emotions.
At her jam-packed Mohegan Sun concert in Montville, Conn., the 42-year-old put together a bit focused around her love songs.
PHOTOS: Look back at Jennifer and Marc, the way they were
"You want to talk about love? I can talk about love. Oh, the stories!" she said during a heartfelt speech to the audience before breaking out with her hit "If You Had My Love."
PHOTOS: Look back at all of Jennifer's rocky relationships
Afterwards she said, "That's the first song I wrote about love. And this is the last song I wrote about love. A lot has happened since then!"
As she belted out one of her newer songs, a montage of male and female dance pairs whirled behind her. They paid homage to her past romances: her with a Diddy-esque person, her and a Ben Affleck type and lastly her and a Marc Anthony lookalike.
via ca.omg.yahoo.com
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Charlie Sheen slams new "Two and a Half Men"
Actors Charlie Sheen (L) and Ashton Kutcher are seen in this combination file photograph …
By Tim Kenneally
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Looks like Charlie Sheen is done playing nice with his former bosses.
The ousted "Two and a Half Men" star, who's preparing for his small-screen adaptation of the Jack Nicholson film "Anger Management," took a few shots at the show while out in Los Angeles on Thursday, saying he's "very disappointed" in the direction "Two and a Half Men" has taken since his ouster, TMZ reports.
Asked about the ratings slide that the show has taken since its eye-popping season premiere numbers, Sheen offered, "People aren't stupid, you know? Not all of them."
Saturday, October 22, 2011
PIC: Meet Mariah Carey's Twins, 6 Months, Moroccan and Monroe!
Friday was one sweet day when Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon finally let the world see their twin six-month-old bundles of joy on 20/20.
Moroccan and Monroe made their primetime debut when their beaming parents introduced them to Barbara Walters, who bonds with the cuties in an ABC interview.
PHOTOS: Stars who struggled to conceive
"My family gives me everything," Cannon, 31, told Walters. “Unconditional love means...the world to me. I mean, it's completion."
"It's just love," Carey, 41, added. "It's a beautiful place to be."
via ca.omg.yahoo.com
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