By Olivia Smith
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Originally Published:Friday, October 30th 2009, 11:44 AM
Updated: Friday, October 30th 2009, 12:02 PM source: New York Daily News
Michael Jackson was always larger than life, perhaps even more so after his passing. How better then to do him justice than on IMAX movie screens, where fans get a visceral experience of “This Is It,” his blockbuster concert rehearsal film currently in theaters, which drew in more than $20 million at the box office on its opening day.
While IMAX digital-mastering always offers eye-popping picture quality and sound that makes you feel immersed in the movie’s aural world, these enhancements are especially valuable in a concert film – which much of “This Is It” is.
The performances featured in the movie were only rehearsals for Jackson’s series of concerts planned for London’s O2 Arena. But practice sessions or not, “This Is It” is by definition about the music, and it provides Jackson fans with some magical moments.
One of these is his duet with back-up singer Judith Hill on “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” in which he seemingly gets so absorbed that the two sing that lyric over and over again to each other in an improvisatory vocal dance. Another is seeing him jam with lead guitarist Orianthi as she plays electrifying riffs in “Beat It.”
Hearing these performances amplified in IMAX’s 14,000 watts of digital surround sound is, in terms of sound quality, literally better than having been there.
In terms of seeing Jackson, every subtle nuance of his expressions is visible on the ultra high resolution screen. Again, it’s a better view of the King of Pop than fans ever could have hoped for. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but in this case seeing Jackson speaking on film, whether his words are praise, constructive criticism, or jokes with his cast and crew, imbues the King of Pop with a humanity that all the photos ever taken of him could never hope to replicate.
Jackson’s concerts also planned to make impressive use of new digital film footage shot especially in order to be integrated into the live show: a graveyard sequence for “Thriller,” a little girl in a rain forest for “Earth Song,” an army for “They Don’t Really Care About Us,” and a montage that inserts Jackson into a Humphrey Bogart movie in “Smooth Criminal.”
Here as well, the sequences really shine in IMAX, especially in the last mentioned sequence. Jackson, decked out in a period suit, backs out a window to avoid the 1940s gangster’s bullets. The audience is treated to a mesmerizing explosion of sparkling shards of glass and metallic bullets flying towards us. It’s a telling example of the incredible production values Jackson was pouring into what was meant to be both a comeback and a farewell to the stage.
One slight downside to the IMAX experience is that portions of the film captured on less high quality cameras – resulting in noticeably fuzzy picture quality – stand out even more. But they likely still look better than on a conventional screen, and for fans thrilled to see the King of Pop performing his greatest hits it’s a minor detraction. Better fuzzy than not at all.
In New York, you can catch “This Is It: The IMAX Experience” at the AMC Loews 34th St. and in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Tickets go for $17.50, as opposed to $12.50 for a regular evening showing. For serious Jackson fans, the extra expense is well worth it to see the King of Pop in the glorious quality his last performances deserve.
The stadium rockers will stream their LA Rose Bowl Stadium gig
U2’s show at the LA Rose Bowl Stadium will be streamed live on 25th October at 8.30pm (PST) on Youtube. The Irish rockers are hyping the concert as “the world’s biggest band performing on the world’s largest stage” thanks to the huge number of fans expected to watch via the web.
Fans will also be able to “join YouTube’s global listening party via a Twitter gadget embedded on U2’s YouTube channel”.
Never shy of flashing a cool bit of tech, U2’s latest 360º tour courted controversy after claims that their outlandish “claw” stage set-up was harmful to the environment.
Holding lighters aloft, you can catch the gig here at 4.30 am UK-time this Monday.
Toll from heavy rain in Philippines rose further as more bodies were recovered
A total of 265 people were confirmed dead in landslides and flooding caused by Parma in the past two days
DAGUPAN, Philippines — Floodwaters from tropical storm Parma receded in much of the northern Philippines on Saturday but the toll from heavy rain rose further as more bodies were recovered, officials said.
A total of 265 people were confirmed dead in landslides and flooding caused by Parma in the past two days, civil defence and local officials said.
This brings the death toll from two weeks of killer storms to at least 602 with about 301,000 still crammed into makeshift evacuation centres since tropical storm Ketsana struck two weeks ago, the civil defence office said.
Civil defence spokesman Ernesto Torres said that among the latest fatalities were three firemen who were carrying out rescue operations at the landslide site.
In the northern Mountain Province, which had been hit hard by landslides, Governor Maximo Dalog made an appeal for medicine, food and sniffing dogs, “so we can find the bodies.”
Dalog said there were 35 dead in his province alone with at least 16 others still missing after heavy rain brought on by Parma caused huge landslides that buried houses late Thursday to Friday.
The mountain resort city of Baguio remained inaccessible as rockslides had cut off all major roads, said Mayor Peter Rey Bautista.
“The past two days have been very hard for the whole city and surrounding areas. But we are finally seeing the sunshine,” he said in a television interview.
In the farming region of Pangasinan to the southwest of the provinces where the landslides occurred, floodwaters that had swamped the area had largely gone down but they left a sea of mud that made travel difficult.
Dagupan, a major city in Pangasinan, was still flooded, with people forced to wade through waters, while roads remained impassable to small vehicles.
Parma, which first hit the country as a typhoon on October 3, sat off the northern Philippines for a week before dumping huge rains on the region on Thursday and Friday.
It finally moved away late Friday and was charted 250 kilometres (155 miles) northwest of Dagupan on Saturday, slowly moving west into the South China Sea, the government weather station said.
Parma had hit just a week after Ketsana struck the capital and surrounding areas, causing massive floods. Some low-lying areas remain flooded two weeks later.
Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro was quoted by ABS-CBN television as saying he was halting offensive operations against communist insurgents in the south so the army could concentrate on rescue and relief efforts in the north.
The succession of storms has overwhelmed government resources and forced the Philippines to ask for more foreign aid.
boatman transports three empty wooden coffins on the edge of Laguna Lake east of Manila on Thursday(LA Times).
A resident use makeshift boat to save himself and his neighbours after their house were hit by floodwaters caused by continous rains brought by Typhoon Parma in Baguio City, north of Manila October 4, 2009. (Reuters)
As if flooding in Metro Manila areas and nearby provinces aren’t enough, after Ondoy (ketsana),Philippines once again was hit by another strong Typhoon ( Pepeng, internationally known as Parma) on its Northern Luzon provinces. Rescuers struggled through mud and pounding rain Friday to clear mountain roads and retrieve more than 160 dead from dozens of landslides that buried villages and cut off towns in the rain-soaked northern Philippines.
The fatalities included 120 in Benguet, Gov. Nestor Fongwan said, while 23 died in Mountain Province, according to Gov. Max Dalog. Another 25 people died in Baguio, city relief administrator Peter Fianza said.
Four people had been found alive in debris, and at least 22 had been injured by landslides that started Thursday afternoon and continued all night, affecting several municipalities, said Elmer Foria, police senior superintendent.
Parma, which had been downgraded from a typhoon, poured more rain onto sodden and already weakened ground.
MOUNTAIN MUCK Vehicles are stuck in mud at Km 3, Barangay Balili, La Trinidad, Benguet, on Thursday as relentless rains brought by Tropical Depression “Pepeng” left not a few major roads impassable. EV ESPIRITU/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON
Flooding had inundated 32 towns and two cities, Dagupan and Urdaneta, according to Rocky Baraan, provincial administrator of Pangasinan. Some 35,000 people had fled to evacuation centers, the official Philippines News Agency reported, citing the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council.
The worst-hit areas included Bayambang, Alcala and Basista, the news agency reported.
People clambered onto rooftops as floodwaters rose, calling and texting for help. Rescue trucks were hampered by floodwaters that reach the roofs of single-story houses, Baraan said. About 16 rubber rescue boats had been deployed.
Since the rains started in central Luzon, three dams in the Pangasinan area have been releasing vast amounts of water — up to 10 million cubic meters per hour at one dam, dam officials said.
LA Times reporte that in Pangasinan province, 120 miles north of Manila, which has taken the brunt of the storm, dozens of towns were underwater as strong winds and rain hampered rescue efforts, grounding military helicopters and lifeboats.
Officials received frantic text messages from residents begging to be rescued from the rooftops of malls and houses. One dam also collapsed, weakened by pounding rains.
Attempting to prevent a second collapse, officials Thursday night released a wall of water from the San Roque dam along the Agno River Pangasinan province’s major river system, which traverses 18 communities. The new flooding has put 60% of the province underwater, officials say…”
As of this time, more than a thousand of people were stranded at SM City mall in Pangasinan were stranded.
In La Union, some families were still stranded for 5 days due to heavy floods and hevay rains caused by Typhoon Parma.
After hovering over South China Sea for 2 days, Typhoon “Pepeng” has again made landfall over the northern tip of Luzon, almost retracing its steps back to Ilocos Norte. Damage to homes, agriculture and infrastructure is now estimated to have reached P155.9 million following Typhoon Pepeng’s (Parma) onslaught in the province since Saturday.
The Ilocos Norte Provincial Disaster and Coordinating Council (PDCC) reported that most of the losses were in agriculture amounting to P133.8 million, of which P88.3 million worth of flooded matured rice crops were estimated to have been lost, as well as P41 million in high-value commercial crops like vegetables.
In the last several days, water has become the Philippines’ biggest enemy, as Parma, locally known as “Pepeng,” dumped as much as 36 inches (91.4 centimeters) of rain in some parts of the nation of islands, compounding misery in areas already flooded by earlier storm Ketsana.
The latest calamity brought the death toll to more than 450 from the Philippines’ worst flooding in 40 years after back-to-back storms started pounding the country’s north Sept. 26.
sources: CNN News/ABC News International/ The LA Times/ABS-CBN News/Inquirer.net
The wrath of Typhoon Ondoy has wreaked havoc in the Philippines, which claimed hundreds of lives,thousands of homes , and more are still trapped and missing…. and we need your help!
ABC News Breakfast-Australia 09-27-09
Seen from a military helicopter flying above the sprawling city, Manila was covered by a sea of brown on Sunday, with islands of desperate people clinging to corrugated rooftops. (NewsAustralia@youtube.com)
How To Help Victims of Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana)
Rescue Operations
1. National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) (+632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9115061, +632-9122665)
2. Help hotlines: (+65 734-2118, 734-2120) ndcchelpdesk@gmail.com
3. Philippine Coast Guard (+632-5276136)
4. Air Force (+63908-1126976, +632-8535023)
5. Metro Manila Development Authority (136)
6. Marikina City Rescue (+632-6462436, +632-6462423, +632920-9072902)
7. Pasig Rescue Emergency Number (+632-6310099)
8. Quezon City Rescue (161)
9. San Juan City Hall Command Post (+632-4681697)
10. Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (+63245-9634376)
11. Senator Dick Gordon (+639178997898, +63938-444BOYS, +632-9342118, +632-4338528)
12. Senator Manny Villar (+639174226800. +639172414864, +639276751981)
13. Philippine National Red Cross (143, +632-5270000)
14. Philippine National Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center hotline: (+632-6350922, +632-6347824)
17. Jam 88.3: (+632- 6318803) or SMS at JAM (space) 883 (space) your message to 2968
18. GMA Kapuso Helpline: (+632-9811950-59)
19. Sahana Disaster Management System needs IT volunteers. http://sahana.kahelos.org
Email sahana@kahelos.org.
Rubber Boat, 4×4 Trucks, Chopper Requests
1. NCRPO (+632-8383203, +632-8383354) Private citizens who would like to lend their motor boats for rescue please call emergency nos: +632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9122665, +632-9115061) You can also text (+632917-4226800 or +632927-6751981) for rescue dump trucks.
2. For those who are able to lend 4×4 trucks for rescue: Please send truck to Greenhills Shoppng Center Unimart Grocery to await deployment, Tel No. (+632920-9072902).
3. Petron & San Miguel Corporation are lending choppers for rescue operations, call/text: (+632917-8140655) ask for Lydia Ragasa
Power Supply
Meralco (+63917-5592824, 16211, +63920-9292824) If you want service cut off to your area to prevent fires and electricution.
People Tracker (using your phones, get your friends and family to turn on their finderservice for you)
FINDERSERVICE. For Smart, text wis to 386.
FINDERSERVICE. For Globe, text find to 7000.
Medical Services
The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP)will be rendering free medical services to the flood victims who may need medical assistance. Relief goods and medicines for donations are likewise accepted.
Contact Details
Units 2201-2203, 22 Floor
One San Miguel Ave. Bldg, San Miguel Ave. cor. Shaw Blvd. Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Telephone No. : (632) 910-2250; 910-2252; 910-2253 to 54
Fax Number : (632) 910-2251
Email : secretariat@pcp.org.ph
Website: http://www.pcp.org.ph/site/index.php
RELIEF AID AND DONATIONS
* PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS METROBANK Port Area Branch
Peso Acct.: 151-3-041-63122-8
Dollar Acct.: 151-2-151-00218-2
Type of Acct. : SAVINGS
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM
BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS Port Area Branch
Peso Acct.: 4991-0010-99
Type of Account: CURRENT
BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS UN Branch
Dollar Acct.: 8114-0030-94
Type of Account: SAVINGS
Swift Code: BOPI PH MM
Note: For your donations to be properly acknowledged, please fax the bank transaction slip at nos. +63.2.527.0575 or +63.2.404.0979 with your name, address and contact number.
For Credit Cards: Please fax the following info to +632.404.09.79 and +632.527.0575: Name of card member, billing address, contact nos. (phone & mobile), credit card no., expiration date, CCV2/ CVC2 (last three digits at the back of the credit card), billing address, amount to be donated. For online donations you may also visit our website at www.redcross.org.ph .
* URGENT:
Donations of heavy duty flashlights needed for rescue operations in Cainta area. Contact Cielo at (+632918-8824356)
BUSINESSES/COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS (Luzon)
*Stores/Cafes/Food Chains
1.. 7-11 Stores – drop off points
2. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will be accepting canned goods, water, clothes, blankets, towels, medicine, and emergency supplies (no cash) in all their branches today until Friday.
6. Red Kimono restaurants – has branches in Pasig, Pampanga, Quezon City and Taguig City. Will accept canned goods,
bottled water, clothing for all ages, basic household items.
7. Unimart – will receive all cash and in-kind donations to be transferred to LSGH Gate 2.
8. Binalot at Greenbelt 1, call Tetchie Bundalian at (+632922-8573277)
* Malls/Boutique
1. Alabang Town Center – drop off goods at the concierge. For inquiries, please call 842-2782 or 772-1860.
2. Aranaz Stores in Rockwell & Greenbelt is accepting donations of any kind for Payatas communities affected by Ondoy
3. Brainbeam Events, Inc. 2/F MB Aguirre Cornerhs Bldg,15 Pres Ave cor Elizalde Sts, BF Homes Pque across the old Caltex
in BF. Will accept relief goods.
4. Every Nation, FORT will accept donations for Red Cross esp. purified water, canned goods, and infant formula. Location @
32nd St cor University Pkwy across Market Market.
5. Fantastik Manila – send donations to 5729 Calasanz St. Barangay Olympia Makati City Telephone Numbers 729-0530 or
501-7405
6. Junior Chamber International Manila Baypark Tent, Roxas Blvd. will accept goods starting Monday.
Luca stores (Rockwell, Shang-rila, Eastwood, or GA towers): Send your old clothes & donations (no cash pls).
7. Manor Superclub, Eastwood City will accept goods and other emergency items starting Sunday at 10 am.
8. Moonshine boutique in Rockwell also accepting relief good to help Ondoy victims in Marikina and Cainta.
9. Myron’s Greenbelt will accept relief goods
10. Papemelroti stores in 91 Roces Ave. / Ali Mall Cubao / SM City North EDSA / SM Fairview / SM Megamall / Glorietta 3 in Makati / SM Centerpoint / SM Southmall are accepting relief goods (canned goods / milk / bottled water / clothes ? NO CASH pls.)
11. PowerPlant Mall accepting donations for ABS-CBN foundation. Dropoff at admin office, P1 level.
12. R.O.X. Recreational Outdoor eXchange is accepting donation for relief good for Typhoon Ondoy victims. You can bring it in the store located in B1 building Bonifacio High St., Tel. No. (+632-8564638/39)
13. Team Manila stores in Trinoma, Mall of Asia, Jupiter Bel-Air and Rockwell willl be accepting relief goods (Canned Goods, Ready-to-drink Milk,Bottled Water and Clothes) for distribution by Veritas.
14. Vivere Suites – 5102 Ridgeway Avenue, Fil-Invest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Contact 771-7777 for inquiries or drop off at concierge area. Will accept relief goods.
15. Whitespace 2314 Chino Roces Ave Ext as a Makati drop-off for relief goods.
Donations from Cebu
1. Aunt Genie’s Breadhouse in Cebu – 1279 Talamban, Cebu City In front of the Talamban Sports Complex – drop off point
2. Banilad Church of Christ, Cebu – bldg in front of Bright Academy near Sto. Nino Village), Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Donations drop off.
3. Bizroute Solutions – (Mon – Sat 11PM to 4PM) Unit 302 Keppel Bldg. Ayala, Cebu call at 416-0495 if you need directions to the drop-off area. Also Lahug Office (Mon – Sat 11PM to 2PM) Unit 201 MIT Bldg. Gorordo Ave., Lahug (near JY Square) Accepting: Canned Goods, Old Clothes, Blankets, Diapers for babies, Noodles, Rice, Medicine, Soap, Toothpaste, Water Container, Iodized Salt
4. Cebu Musicians & Outpost Restobar – drop off of goods. 09082368999 or 09322117111.
5. Cue Cafe Crossroads CEBU – accepting donations in cash or kind as part of JCI Zugbuana relief ops. Accepting clothes, blankets, towels, underwear, footwear, food and water
6. Citigym of CEBU – accepting donations in cash or kind as part of JCI Zugbuana relief ops. Accepting clothes, blankets, towels, underwear, footwear, food and water
7. Holiday Gym & Spa Banilad Cebu – Drop-Off center beginning Sunday, September 27. Bring blankets, clothes and canned goods to the front desk/ reception area.
8. Sunburst Fried Chicken, Cebu – Tabunok branch will accept donations from 10am to 9:30pm
Total gas stations- drop off point
9. Y101 station, CEBU – accepting donations in cash or kind as part of JCI Zugbuana relief ops. Accepting clothes, blankets, towels, underwear, footwear, food and water
3. Philippine Daily Inquirer – 1098 Chino Roces Ave. corner Mascardo and Yague Streets, Makati City and to any of its classified ads branches, and to any McDonald’s branch within Metro Manila. Donations in kind, such as instant noodles, canned goods, formula milk, blankets and clothes, are urgently needed. Call 8978808 loc. 260 and look for Megi Garcia
4. The Philippine STAR Operation Damayan c/o MBTC Aduana Branch Savings Account No. 151-304-161622-9 (fax deposit slip to tel. no. 301-9598 c/o Operation Damayan).
Donations in kind, on the other hand, may be sent to The Philippine STAR office at 202 Railroad corner R. Oca Sts., Port Area, Manila.
5. Smart Wireless Centers – SM Fairview, SM North EDSA, Gateway Mall Cubao, AliMall Cubao, SM Megamall, SM Muntinlupa,SM Bicutan, SM Sucat, Festival Mall Alabang, Alabang Town Center and SM Southmall. Will accept cash or goods.
6. Radio Veritas at Veritas Tower West Ave. Cor EDSA (+632-9257931-40)
GASOLINE STATIONS
1. Petron stations – DSWD drop off points
2. Shell gas stations – drop off point
Government/ Civil Society/ Movements
1. ABS-CBN through Banco de Oro account number 56300-20111 account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Incorporation
2. Akbayans taking donations, call 433-69-33/433-68-31 to donate or volunteer.
3. Brgy. San Antonio – Bgy Hall near Paranaque City Hall (Sta. Lucia St. corner San Pablo St., San Antonio Valley 1, Paranaque. Drop off point.
4. Citizens Disaster Response Center (CDRC): Relief goods for typhoon victims being accepted at 72-A Times St., West Triangle, QC. Tel (+632-9299820/22)
5. Corporate Network for Disaster Reponse bank account no. 0031 0654 02 BPI Ayala Paseo Branch for cash donations
6. Department of Social Welfare and Development – donation drop off points: National Resource Operations Center, Chapel Road, Pasay City (Contact: Mrs. Francon Favian) / Quezon City Area Disaster Resource Operations Monitoring and Info Center (DROMIC) (Contact Rey Martija or Imee Rose Castillo, Tel Nos. 951-7119, 951-2435 or Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera Tel No. 0918-934-5625) / San Rafael corner Legarda Streets, Quiapo, Manila (Contact: Dir. Thelsa P. Biolna, Dir. Delia Bauan Tel Nos. 734-8622, 734-8642)
7. Luzon Relief: Donations can be brought to RENAISSANCE FITNESS CENTER, 2nd Floor, Bramante Building, Renaissance Towers Ortigas, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City starting MONDAY (Sept.28) / 9am ? 7pm Contact Person: Warren Habaluyas (+632929-8713488) or email at luzonrelief@gmail.com
8. Marika Bouncers Coop – 95 Malaya St., Malanday, Marikina : will accept donations starting Sept. 28 at 10 AM
9. Philippine Army Gym inside Fort Bonifacio or GHQ Gym in Camp Aguinaldo are now distributing donations for Ondoy Victims.
10. Philippine National Red Cross different ways to Donate.
11. Private Citizens
MAKATI: 5729 Calasanz St., Olympia Makati City or call for pick up at (+632-5017405 or +632-7290530) c/o Omel Santos
SOUTH: Accepting relief goods in SOUTH AREA. Please contact Anne at (+632915-2854240)
12. Relief Efforts for Pasig at Valle Verde 1 Village Park, contact (+632916-4945000, +632917-5273616)
13. Relief Operations Center at AGS Annex, #446 EDSA Guadalupe Viejo after PET Tower contact Ares at 0917.855.4935 or Rachel at 0918.924.1636
14. Sagip Kapamilya hotlines (+632-4132667, +632-4160387) #13 Examiner St. West Triangle, QC. and Scout Mayoran, cor. Morato, near Alex III.
15. Tulong Bayan hotlines for donations and volunteers are (+632908-6579998) Marilyn, (+632939-3633436) Jenn (+632-9137122, +632-9136254 & +632-9133306).
16.UNICEF save and rebuild the lives of children affected by tropical storm Ondoy. To make a donation, please call our hotlines (02) 758-1000 / 758-1442 or deposit to UNICEF’s Metrobank account: C/A 066-7-06631209-3.
17. Valle Verde Mansions – 135 CAPT. HENRY JAVIER ST. BRGY. ORANBO, PASIG. This is near ULTRA for relief drop-off
18. Victory Fort is opening its doors to those affected by the typhoon. Call 813-FORT.
19. Worldvision Foundation is also accepting donations/volunteers to pack relief goods in QC. For $-donations, BPI:USDacct #4254-0050-08
World Vision partners with Phil Coast Guard and kind individuals for relief distribution to 3k families. Call (+632-3747618 local 242) or text (+632917-8623209) to help.
Personalities/Politicians
1. Bianca – will pick up donations from Greenhills/San Juan area. Donate food, medicine, or clothing. Call 4123861/ 09278436002
2. Colleen Manabat (Heartrio Prints) of Angeles City- will accept bottled water, canned goods, blankets, clothes, medicines from 9 AM to 6PM. Address is Stall 2 MGY Building, 2444 Sto. Entierro St, Sto. Cristo, Angeles City. She will forward the donations to Sagip Kapamilya – ABS-CBN Foundation.
3. Joseph Castillo of Cebu – will send a 20 ft. container to Manila and is looking for donations from Cebuanos. Get in touch with him through 09082368999 or 09322117111
Sen. Kiko Pangilinan is accepting donations @ AGS Bldg Annex, 446 EDSA Guadalupe Viejo. Contact Vina Vargas at (+632917-8081247)
4. Kabataan Partylist – Drop off donations or volunteer at 118-B Sct. Rallos QC.
09266677163 or kabataanpartylist@gmail.com
5. Kelly & Jodge – Colonade Residences, Legaspi St. corner C. Palanca, Makati City. Will accept relief goods.
6. Karen Ang- 3 Kagandahan corner Kabutihan Streets, Kawilihan Village, Pasig 0920-9520900
Will forward donated relief goods to Red Cross
7. Miriam Quiambao drop off point: One Orchard Road Building in Eastwood, or message http://www.twitter.com/miriamq for more details.
8. Move for Chiz is asking for volunteers and donations at Bay Park Tent, along Roxas Blvd., beside Max Restaurant and Diamond Hotel in Manila, or at Gilas Minipark at Unang Hakbang St., Gilas Q.C.
9. NoyMar Relief Operations: Clare Amador (+639285205508) or Jana Vicente at +639285205499). Drop off for relief donations is at Balay Expo Center across Farmers Market Cubao.
10. Omel Santos – 5729 Calasanz St., Olympia Makati City. Call (+632-5017405 or +632-7290530). Drop off point for donations. Also willing to pick up.
12. RJ Ledesma and friends – call us at 09178131601 for pick of donations. Only relief goods
Religious Organizations / Schools & Universities
1. Assumption College San Lorenzo is now accepting donations. Please drop them off at the AC guardhouse.
2. Ateneo de Manila University is now accepting donations for the victims of Ondoy. Donations can be dropped at MVP Lobby. For those stranded/those who need help: To all students who need help or know of people who need help. Please text the name, location, and contact number to (+6329088877166). ATENEO, which is now an open shelter, accepts refugees. Call (+632917-8952792)
3. Ateneo Law School – Rockwell. Looking for donations and volunteers. 20 Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City. Call 899-7691 to 96.
4. Caritas Manila Office at Jesus St., Pandacan Manila near Nagtahan Bridge (+632-5639298, +632-5639308)
CCF St Francis Mall, Ortigas is now accepting goods for donation.
CFC Center Ortigas is now open for donations in cash or kind. Call (+632-7270682 to 87) or text (+632922-2542819)
5. De La Salle University-Manila – The Sagip Metro relief operation will start to accept donation for Ondoy victims starting Monday @ 8:30 am. Please bring goods to the South Gate of DLSU-Manila.
6. De La Salle Zobel will be accepting donations tomorrow at Gym 5 (Near Gate 7 in Molave St.)
DLSU Medical Center will accept canned goods, blankets, clothes, water. Location is at Congressional Avenue, Dasmarinas, Cavite. Telephone lines are at(02) 844-7832 and (046) 416-4531
7. Hillsborough Village Chapel – accepts drinking water, blankets, shoes, and clothes may be sent to Hillsborough Village Chapel in Muntinlupa City. These will go to families whose houses were washed out in the nearby sitios.
8. La Salle Greenhills for Greenhills/Mandaluyong/San Juan Area, if you want to help out with the rescue and relief operations, you can drop off your donations (clothes, food, etc..) at LSGH Gate 2 or volunteer from 9am to receive, sort, repack the donations.
9. Our Lady of Pentecost Parish (+632-4342397, +632-9290665) per Gabe Mercado, donations are very much welcome. The Parish is located at 12 F. Dela Rosa corner C. Salvador Sts., Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
10. Peace Retreat Movement – leave all donations at the Peace Retreat Movement (PRM) office, 2F, Rm. 72L, Christ the King (HS) Bldg. on Wednesday, Sept 30, 12noon
11. Playschool International in Better Living is open to receive relief goods. Feel free to drop it there for your convenience. No Cash Pls.
12. San Beda College of Arts and Sciences Student Council – accepting clothes, meds, water, canned goods, soap, money, etc.
13. Santuario de San Antonio Parish – McKinley Road, Forbes Park. Accepting all kinds of relief goods. Contact JJ Yulo or Mike Yuson
14. Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan Task Force Noah, a disaster response arm of the Jesuits, is accepting donations. Please drop it off sa Ateneo Cervini Dorm.
15. Southville International School and Colleges – will only accept goods. 09155385113 / 09154151319
16. St. James Church Multi-Purpose Hall – Drop off point
17. St. Pedro Poveda College is now accepting relief goods. call the Social Action Center 6318756 loc. 121
UA&P Please contact Dae Lee [SEB EVP] @ 09178323533 needs donations and volunteers.
18. UP Sigma Alpha Nu Sorority MANILA – collecting food, water and toiletries. You may drop them off at unit 12-O One Adriatico Place, Ermita Manila or contact 0917 -8857188 or 0917-6659948.
19. UP College of Arts and Letters (CAL) is accepting goods and cash. Donation center at CAL/text 0929-6454102.
20. UP Diliman USC is collecting food, clothing and/or cash. Contact TITUS 09178001909, JOSE 09273056607 and TIN 09154906106
21. Katipunan Avenue. Contact Erica Paredes at (+632917-4741930) ? they need bread, packed juice, sandwich filling (tuna, chicken, anything) You can help her make them, deliver the sandwiches to her house, or help her distribute! Call for more details.
22. Xavier School in San Juan is now accepting donations, please bring to Multipurpose Center (MPC).
E-Donations
1. TXTPower now accepts donations via SmartMoney 5577514418667103, GCash 09179751092 and Paypal http://is.gd/3GvuN
2. Red Cross Load Donations: Right now the easiest way to make donations from the seat of your chair is via mobile phone load. The Red Cross Rescue and Relief Operations. Text: REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart)
3. SMS: text RED to 2899 (Globe) and 4483 (Smart)
4. G-Cash: text DONATEAMOUNT4-digit M-PINREDCROSS to 2882
INTERNATIONAL : FOR THOSE OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY WHO WANT TO DONATE:
1. TXTPower.org has set up a paypal account for donations. Your money will be forwarded to Red Cross.
2. Kapuso Foundation is also accepting credit card donations.
2/F GMA Kapuso Center
Samar St. cor. 11th Jamboree St. Diliman, Quezon City
Call 9827777 loc. 9901/9904/9905.
accepts relief goods and cash
myAyala.com account for Philippine Jesuits – you can use your CREDIT CARD and donate ONLINE. Go to www.myayala.com/sjph/. On the line “I would like to donate to:”, write “xs4ondoy“.
3. PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS
Send a letter of intent to donate to the PNRC
A letter of acceptance from PNRC shall be sent back to the donor
Immediately after shipping the goods, please send the (a) original Deed of Donation, (b) copy of packing list and (c) original Airway Bill for air shipments or Bill of Lading for sea shipments to The Philippine National Red Cross National Headquarters c/o Secretary General Corazon Alma de Leon, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila 2803, Philippines.
4. SAGIP KAPAMILYA is accepting donations for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. You can send check donations addressed to – ABS CBN Foundation – at
150 Shoreline Drive, Redwood City, California 94065.
In the memo portion, please write “Sagip – Ondoy”.
You can also help through our donate page on this website. Please write in the comment or “add instructions to seller” box that your donation is for “Sagip – Ondoy”.
Pledges and other information may also be received through:
(800) 527-2820 (toll free).
5. For Filipinos in Qatar, Please donate ur old clothes,food,etc. to victims of bagyong ondoy, just call this person,they’re going to go to your house and get your donation. Those who wants to donate may directly contact Perez on his mobile# 5642942
6. Singapore, – the drop off point for relief goods is Afreight Cargo, #03-09 Lucky Plaza, Orchard Road. Contact Person: Maureen Schepers 6235-1011/9111-7855
*USA: Call the American Red Cross at 1-800-435-7669. Please choose the 3rd option (International Donation), then tell the operator that your donation is for the Ondoy (Ketsana) typhoon victims in the Philippines.
Donate Through Your Community
*Australia (Melbourne): Drop-off donations near the Melbourne CBD through Coco Quizon’s residence @ 8 Vale St., North Melbourne. You can contact Coco through 0458603723
*Australia (Sydney): Deliver donations to 303/5 Stromboli Strait, Homebush Bay 2127. message twitter.com/allorange for questions
*Australia: Filipino students in Australia are also helping out by collecting 5-dollar pledges. Contact Coco Quizon 0458603723 (Melbourne), Aiya Buendia 0437 967 259 (Sydney) and Michelle Leonardo michelle.leonardo@gmail.com (Canberra)
*Austria: Cash: message Charmaine Taus (sacki@taus.us). she’s having a benefit concert on October 22! concert details to follow.
*Belgium: For those based in Belgium they can contact Shiera Catalan at +32485328811 if they want to donate goods for typhoon relief
*California (Burlingame): MANILA BOX USA is now accepting donations in kind & will provide FREE shipping to Manila. Items will be sent by Sea Cargo and will delivered to the Whitespace Relief Center/Mar Roxas Headquarters in Cubao. Please drop them off at their warehouse: 361 Beach Road Burlingame , CA 94010 or call (650)342-2858. Please pack them in boxes for easier handling. Business hours Mon-Fri 9am-6pm
*California (Carson/Hermosa Beach): We are collecting donations to send to flood victims in Manila. Our goal is to fill up a 40ft container in one week with new or used clothing,shoes, blankets,medicines,canned food items, etc. Dropoff Location : 205 West Torrance Blvd, Carson, CA 90745. We will be setting up a booth on Oct 3, 2009 at the Substance event in Hermosa Beach CA. THANK YOU and God Bless Manila. TWITTER (Socal4Ondoy)
*California (Cerritos): Our house is temp drop off point while we find a bigger venue. We’ll facilitate immediate shipment to Manila. Thank you in advance for your help. Pls pass. Dino & Jan Home:16622 Amberwood Way Cerritos, CA 90703; (562)404-0625
*California (Daly City): Please contact Ryan Leano (626)534-4971. Liwanag Cultural Center, Hillside Park Clubhouse, 222 Lausanne Ave., Daly City, CA 94014.
*California (LA): Relief goods accepted in LA! ANSWER ofc, 137 Virgil St, Rm 203, Los Angeles, CA
*California (LA): TULONG SA PILIPINAS (STP): Accepting donations cash or check. Send to People’s CORE, 1610 Beverly Blvd. Suite No 2, Los Angeles, Ca 90026. Donations more than $50 is tax deductible. Material donations drop off ( donations; shoes, clothes, canned goods. medicines etc. ) at ANSWER LA office at 137 Virgil St. Room 203 , Los Angeles, CA 900042.
*California (Oakland): Please contact Ryan Leano (626)534-4971. Asian Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy & Leadership. Attn: Armael Malinis, AnakBayan-East Bay. 310 8th Street, Suite 215. Oakland, CA 94710
*California (San Francisco): Stanford’s Pilipino American Student Union (PASU) is also collecting donations to be sent to the Philippines to help victims of Typhoon Ondoy (international name Ketsana). If you would like to make a donation, please contact AV David at avhdavid@stanford.edu or (650) 491-4561.
*California (San Francisco): http://naffaar8.com/typhoon-ondoy-ketsana-disaster-relief-efforts-in-san-francisco-ca/
*Canada (Toronto): Filipinos and Friends in Toronto, here’s how to help the victims of Typhoon Ondoy (intl name Ketsana): http://pidctoronto.com/projects/typhoon also see: http://bit.ly/28PDXf Thank You!
*Germany: Contact Denise Matias at denise.matias@gmail.com.
*Hong Kong: Filipinos in HONG KONG… Here’s how you can help: Ateneo Almuni Association HK is calling for donations to support relief efforts for the victims of Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) in the Philippines. Contact: Mike Reyes at +852.67131869
*Illinois: Contact Raymond Maximo of Northern Illinois University – rmaximo1@niu.edu.
*Japan: Japan Red Cross: http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/index.html
*London: Cash: Acct. Name: P. A. Cortez / Acct. Num.: 58099901 / Bank: HSBC UK / Sort Code: 400500
*Malaysia: For those in Malaysia, LBC is accepting donations in cash and kind. Their numbers are: 2026-8536 / 2070-0557. The office I know is at Kota Raya in KL.
*New Jersey: Sinugba Cafe – 561 Westside Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07304; or Casa Victoria – 691 Newark Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07306-2803 You can send CASH through Metro Bank acct. 3 189 14540 1 For BAYAN’s “BALSA” (Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan). For donations in New Jersey please contact: (201)621-3156-Yves Nibungco or (917)476-7855- Nick Cordero
*New York: Ondoy New York Disaster Relief drop off center @ Pandayan Center, 406 W 40th St. Between 9th and 10th Aves.
*New York, NY 10018 or call 212.564.6057.
*New York: NAFCON (Nat’l Alliance for Filipino Concerns)/SANDIWA Nat’l Alliance of Fil-Am Youth are now receiving relief donations (clothes, blankets, medical supplies, monetary). NY drop-off @ BAYANIHAN Filipino Community Center, 40-21 69th St. Woodside, NY 11377. Call (516)901-1832 or email sandiwa.national@gmail.com if you would like to help.
*New Zealand: For people donating from New Zealand go to: http://www.tearfund.org.nz or phone 0800 800 777
*Oregon: Cash: message Welo Chuidian Rivera (welo_rivera@yahoo.com), or check out her note: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=143295770052
*Singapore: Drop-off point for donations is Afreight Cargo, #03-09 Lucky Plaza, Orchard Rd. Contact Maureen Schepers 6235-1011. Get more information here: http://www.pinoysg.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=664644#664644
*South Korea: For the Filipinos and concerned citizens in South Korea: Pease support PIKO (Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea) fund-raising campaign for the Ondoy flood victims in the Philippines. Let us all help by donating to KOOKMIN BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER (498101-01-232756). Your help counts!
*Thailand (Bangkok): The Philippine Embassy will be receiving only donations in kind (ie., used clothing, shoes, blankets, and the like, and canned goods) …anytime between 9am-5pm until Fri. For queries, please contact the Philippine Embassy at (02) 259-0139 up to 40 or (08) 992-65954, or at bangkokpe@gmail.com.
*United Kingdom: Visit the OXFAM website
PRAYERS…are also very much needed.
========================
DONATIONS FOR TYPHOON PEPENG VICTIMS IN NORTHERN LUZON (AKO MISMO DROP OFF/DONATION CENTERS)
ABRA
Rosario Bldg., Zone 5, Bangued, Abra
AGOO
297 Consolacion Highway, Agoo, La Union
ANGELES CITY, PAMPANGA
Unit F JMS Bldg. Cor. Fajardo St., Salapungan, Angeles City, Pampanga
APALIT, PAMPANGA
GF St. Martin Bldg.
Poblacion Apalit, Pampanga
BAGUIO CITY
3FSM City Baguio, Upper Session Rd., Baguio City
BALANGA CITY, BATAAN
De Guzman Bldg., St. Joseph St., Poblacion. Balanga City, Bataan
BAMBANG, NUEVA VIZCAYA
National hi-way Banggod,
Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya
BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA
National cor. Pateros St., Bayombong Nueva Vizcaya
CABANATUAN
RFG Bldg., Burgos Ave., Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija
CAUAYAN, ISABELA
Northeast Cabatuan road. Barangay San Fermin
Cauayan Isabela
CALASIAO, PANGASINAN
Mc-Arthur Highway, San Miguel, Calasiao, Pangasinan
IBA, ZAMBALES
Magsaysay Avenue, Zone 3, Iba, Zambales
LAOAG CITY, ILOCOS NORTE
Brgy. 9 Rizal st. Corner Llañes st. Laoag City.
MARIVELES
GF Post Office Bldg., Luzon Ave., Mariveles, Bataan
SAN FERNANDO, LA UNION (formerly BACNOTAN, LA UNION)
C. Nuesca bldg. National Hi-way Sevilla San Fernando City La Union
SANTIAGO, ISABELA
304 Barrera St. Centro East Santiago City, Isabela
SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA
Unit 42A Jomafer Supermarket, San Agustin, Mac Arthur Highway, San Fernando, Pampanga
STA. CRUZ, ZAMBALES
National Road Poblacion South
Sta. Cruz, Zambales
TARLAC
98 P. Hilario St. Ligtasan Tarlac City
TUGUEGARAO
#51 Mabini St., Brgy. 3 Centro Tuguegarao, Cagayan
URDANETA
Josefa Building, San Vicente, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan
More Drop off/ Donation centers from all over the country, here:
Yesterday afternoon, actors Honglei Sun and Kelly Lin appeared in Guangzhou, to promote their upcoming September 28 release comedy film “My Fair gentleman”. During the event, the two unceasingly praise each other, and Kelly Lin frankly said: “Every woman want to marry Honglei. ”
The same day, Honglei appeared in a black suit , looking cool and fresh. Over the past few days, Kelly Lin has worn luxurious style of clothing, but yesterday, she appeared in a white shirt, a jeans, plus a pair of white boots, looking even more gorgeous. Even at the scene, before asking a question, a female reporter sighed in awe : ” How can you be so pretty? “
How popular is Honglei? From the journalist’s attention, you’ll learn: Almost 90% of the questions were thrown to him. In the past, Honglei left an impression to everyone of being a tough guy, a man full of spirit, but this time, he plays a very funny person in the film , for the image shift, Honglei said: “It is my first time in the big screen to play a comic role and I was very nervous, until the first 4 days of shooting that I only began to relax with the group. “Honglei said the film is more realistic and his role as well:”In real life, I am a very fashionable person,at the same time feel comfortable with what I wear. In my film roles I think and always choose the sets of clothes that I would wear. ”
The film is the first time Honglei and Kelly Lin, act as a partner, so how does Kelly Lin assess him? “He’s very good, very gentle, in real life he is full of sense of humor . But he is also caring with people, he will ask the staff if they already eat , and then let his assistants help to buy food.” When a reporter asked her if she’s aware that it is very popular online that “most women wants to marry Honglei” , Kelly Lin generously said: “Of course, every women wants to marry this man. ”
Kelly Lin after saying “every women wants to marry Honglei,” a reporter at the scene immediately asked: “Do you think Ken Chu is a good man to marry ? Have you never thought of marrying him?” Kelly Lin for a while became awkward , and immediately her agent came to the rescue and said: “I’m sorry, today’s topic is about “My Fair Gentleman.” Please do not discuss issues that has nothing to do with the film. ”
“In the event that a girlfriend does not want to publicize it , then I will not make it public; If she does not mind her private life being bothered, then I will tell everyone, but in an appropriate manner. I am not making it known to the media for promotion, becuase I am not a user/ an opportunistic person. ”
- Says Honglei , on his admittance of his romance with his grilfriend.
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The Vatican’s newspaper has finally forgiven John Lennon for declaring that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, calling the remark a “boast” by a young man grappling with sudden fame.
The comment by Lennon to a London newspaper in 1966 infuriated Christians, particularly in the United States, some of whom burned Beatles’ albums in huge pyres.
But time apparently heals all wounds.
”The remark by John Lennon, which triggered deep indignation mainly in the United States, after many years sounds only like a ‘boast’ by a young working-class Englishman faced with unexpected success, after growing up in the legend of Elvis and rock and roll,” Vatican daily Osservatore Romano said.
The article, marking the 40th anniversary of the Beatles’ The White Album, went on to praise the pop band.
“The fact remains that 38 years after breaking up, the songs of the Lennon-McCartney brand have shown an extraordinary resistance to the passage of time, becoming a source of inspiration for more than one generation of pop musicians,” it said.
Lennon was murdered in New York in 1980.
(Writing by Deepa Babington; editing by Keith Weir)
American Idol Finalists: A NEW REALITY
The hit show American Idol has remade the pop charts, but the style quotient is, well, a little pitchy. Top ten, meet fashion.
Crinkled tulle gown with organza embroidery, Oscar de la Renta, price upon request, at Oscar de la Renta Boutique nationwide. Vintage leather jacket, RRL. Cotton T-shirt, Polo by Ralph Lauren, $30 for three. Jeans, Earnest Sewn, $215.
Jason Castro
top 4, season 7
Tuxedo jacket, vest, shirt, all, Lanvin, prices upon request. Velvet bow tie, Tom Ford, from Bergdorf Goodman Men’s Store, NYC, $190. Butterfly pin, Dior Homme, $450.
Carly Smithson
top 6, season 7
Michael Johns
top 8, season 7
Wool crepe dress, Calvin Klein Collection, $4,075, at Calvin Klein Collection, NYC. Crinoline belt, Louis Vuitton, price upon request. Tights, Falke, $30. Men’s wool suit, Dior Homme, $1,990.
Ramiele Malubay
Wool jacket, $2,495, cotton shirt, $520, both, Jean Paul Gaultier. Jacket at Emphatics, Pittsburgh. Swarovski crystal earring, Bing Bang by Anna Sheffield, $95.
Brooke White and Chikezie
top 10, season 7
Silk and viscose jacket, $3,475, pants, $1,025, both, Giorgio Armani, at Giorgio Armani Boutique nationwide. Blouse, Armani Collezioni, $495. Shoulder bag, Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci. Crystal necklaces, $900–$1,240, bracelet, $940, all, Janis by Janis Savitt. Crystal cuff, Badgley Mischka, $500. Kidskin pumps, Jimmy Choo, $585. Men’s cotton shirt, Tommy Hilfiger, $148. Jeans, William Rast, $220. Jacquard tie, $210, silk pocket square, $130, both, Tom Ford. Shoes, Marc Jacobs.
The subtitle of this week’s long-awaited “24″ movie, “Redemption,” begs a question: Who or what is being redeemed?
Is it Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), the show’s battered and conflicted hero? Or is it the show itself, which hasn’t been seen since May 2007, when it ended a sixth season that its own producers admitted was dogged with storytelling problems?
“I think Jack’s being redeemed,” said executive producer Howard Gordon in a phone interview from Los Angeles.
“Jack clearly, from season six to season seven, has this emotional journey that he’s taken, and I think his redemption in some ways is his own spiritual redemption, but it’s also his redemption by the government that he’s turned his back on, and that has turned its back on him.”
Well, maybe. It remains to be seen whether angry, bitter Jack, who has long been susceptible to emotional crises following each “day” he spends preventing terrorists from destroying the US, gets “redeemed” in the upcoming seventh season of “24.”
All we really know about the new season, other than the fact that it premieres in January, is this: Jack’s been subpeonaed by a hostile Senate committee to testify about all the torture he’s conducted over the years.
While in Washington, Jack will once again become involved in fighting terrorism as a series of attacks rock the city. He’ll join forces with an attractive FBI agent (played by Annie Wersching) to battle a new enemy, former CTU (Counter-Terrorism Unit) colleague Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard), who was thought to have died in the show’s fifth season.
What does any of this have to do with this week standalone “24″ movie? Just this: The two-hour movie (which, incidentally, takes place in two hours of “real” time) is billed as a prequel to the upcoming season. It explains how Jack is lured to Washington, after traveling the world to avoid the Senate’s subpeona, for the Senate showdown.
The movie finds Jack in a fictional, war-torn African country working at a rural school for orphans. He winds up fighting against the sadistic rebels who roam the countryside conscripting children, such as those at his orphanage, for military service.
Meanwhile in Washington, it’s inauguration day, with President Alison Taylor (new cast member Cherry Jones) being sworn in to replace President Noah Daniels (Powers Boothe).
The film has plenty of action, including explosions, gunfights and at least one scene of torture (although this time Jack’s the would-be victim). It ends with a lengthy trailer that further sets up the upcoming “24″ season.
The movie serves two purposes, Gordon said. “One was that there was some fear on the network’s side that the long absence [of the show] would be hazardous, that the audience might forget about us.
“And,” he said, explaining the second reason, “it actually does enhance the viewing of the coming season. It’s not required viewing, but I think it does make it a much richer experience.”
Gordon said he’s confident the upcoming season of “24″ will not be bogged down by the problems that plagued season six and drew complaints from fans that this once-revered show was slipping.
For one thing, production on the season is almost finished. Last week, he was in the midst of filming episodes 21 and 22, and writing Nos. 23 and 24.
“We did hit some bumps [in season six], but the fact that we delayed this season [due in part to last season's writers strike] gave us some time. I think this absence has given us a chance to catch a breath and in the case of the audience, hopefully build up an appetite for ‘24′ and in our case a chance to reevaluate where we’ve been and where we want to take this show.”
LOS ANGELES – Chris Brown was the big winner, but it was Kanye West’s night at the American Music Awards.
Instead of his typical tantrum — a trend West started four years ago when he lost the favorite new artist prize — the rapper claimed two trophies Sunday and called on his colleagues to up their game.
“It’s our responsibility as musicians to keep pushing each other,” West said. “We will be the new Beatles, the new (Jimi) Hendrix. I want to be Elvis.”
West was named favorite male rap/hip-hop artist and his CD, “Graduation,” won favorite rap/hip-hop album.
Brown took the night’s top honors — artist of the year — as well as favorite male artist in both the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories.
“I was shocked,” the 19-year-old crooner said backstage. “I’m so thankful and grateful. I thought Coldplay should have won the award, but I’ll take it.”
Brown’s gal pal, Rihanna — who wore chains and a leather corset to perform her love ballad, “Rehab” — was named favorite female artist in both the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories. Alicia Keys was another double winner: Her CD, “As I Am,” was both pop/rock and soul/R&B album winner.
The American Music Awards traditionally centers on its performances, and Sunday was no exception. The show featured high-energy sets from Miley Cyrus, Ne-Yo and Beyonce, though a pair of lackluster medleys opened the program at the Nokia Theatre. Christina Aguilera channeled Madonna and the New Kids on the Block channeled an earlier version of themselves as each sang their latest singles and greatest hits.
Pink’s new track, “Sober,” was awkwardly introduced by slurring rocker Scott Weiland, formerly of the Stone Temple Pilots. Also performing were The Jonas Brothers, the Pussycat Dolls, Coldplay and Annie Lennox, who won the Award of Merit.
“I never thought I would live to see the day that I could be 53 years old standing on a stage,” Lennox said as she accepted the trophy from Justin Timberlake. “It’s been an incredible journey. Music: my friend, my accompaniment through life.”
Other winners included Brad Paisley for favorite country artist, Taylor Swift for favorite female country act, and Rascal Flatts for favorite country favorite band, duo or group.
“I didn’t really think that I had a chance at winning,” Swift confessed backstage. “I thought, yes, it’s good to be nominated, but I honestly didn’t think I was going to win this award. I can’t believe that I did. I can’t believe that the fans did that for me. Everybody on MySpace, they’re the reason I am holding this award right now.”
Fans chose the night’s winners through online votes.
___
By SANDY COHEN, AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen, Ap Entertainment Writer –
AP Entertainment Writer Derrik J. Lang contributed to this report.
LOS ANGELES – Audiences found the vampire romance “Twilight” infectious in its opening weekend, pushing the movie to a take of $70.6 million.
Catherine Hardwicke’s film also enjoyed the biggest opening ever for a female director, blowing away the previous standard of $41.1 million set by Mimi Leder’s “Deep Impact” in 1998.
Drawing from its huge fan base of teenage girls, who fell for Stephenie Meyer’s novel of forbidden love between brooding vampire Edward Cullen and bookish high schooler Bella Swan, “Twilight” made a whopping $20,636 per theater, according to Sunday morning estimates.
And the fangirls will get another taste soon enough: Summit Entertainment, which released “Twilight,” announced during the weekend that it’s going ahead with production of “New Moon,” based on the second book in Meyer’s internationally best-selling series. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart will return as its star-crossed lovers, but whether Hardwicke will be at the helm again is still being determined.
The laid-back Hardwicke, who went bodyboarding at sunset Saturday to take her mind off this high-pressure weekend, said Sunday morning that she was heading to a meeting later in the day to discuss her possible involvement in “New Moon.”
“I want to be sure that it’s going to be done right. I don’t want to rush into it,” she said. “It’s not like `Friday the 13th‘ or `Halloween,’ you can’t just do it super fast and knock another one out. I want to understand their plans and all that.”
Hardwicke, whose previous films include “Thirteen” and “Lords of Dogtown,” also said she was thrilled about the prospect that the success of “Twilight” will inspire other women and young girls to pursue a career in filmmaking.
“I hope not just women but all minorities get enthused and encouraged by it. I look at the (Directors Guild of America) calendar, at the pictures of everyone that had different movies each month, and it’s usually 22-29 different directors, and almost every month there’s one female and maybe one minority,” she said. “We’ve been having a lot of events, talking to a lot of fans, and so many kids of course are madly in love with Robert but tons of kids of every kind (and) girls are coming up to me and saying `I want to direct now, I’m writing a screenplay now, you’re my inspiration.’ I think it’s great that people are getting excited.”
The big opening for “Twilight” also helps put Summit Entertainment on the map, said Richie Say, the company’s president of domestic distribution. Summit has only been around since April 2007 and “Twilight,” its sixth release, cost just $37 million to make.
“It certainly says what we’ve been saying all along, that we can do more with less,” he said. When Warner Bros. pushed “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” from this weekend to a July 2009 debut, and Summit jumped to move “Twilight” from Dec. 12 into that spot on the schedule, “that decision was made in a day. I don’t know that the major studios have that ability.”
The tremendous take for “Twilight” far exceeded expectations, which had been set around $50 million.
“Teen girls rule the earth,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers. “If you look back at the `Hannah Montana’ movie, how well that did, and now this movie, the teen girl audience will never be ignored again or underestimated. It was always teen boys who were the coveted ones, but someone finally caught on to the idea that girls love movies, too, and if you create something that they’re into, that they’re passionate about, they will come out in big numbers and drive the box office.”
The other major debut of the weekend, Walt Disney’s 3-D animated “Bolt,” made $27 million to take third place. Featuring the voices of John Travolta and Miley Cyrus, “Bolt” follows the cross-country journey of a dog who plays a superhero on television, but sadly realizes he has no magical powers once he gets separated from his “person.”
Chuck Viane, Disney’s head of distribution, said “Twilight” took a bite out of everyone’s box office this weekend. If the vampire saga hadn’t been around, Viane said, Disney would have expected an opening of at least $30 million.
“Obviously we believe in the Thanksgiving holiday in a big, big way,” he said. “We’ve always viewed this as one of those 10-day marathons between opening day and the end of the Thanksgiving weekend.”
Last weekend’s No. 1 movie, “Quantum of Solace,” came in second with $27.4 million. The latest James Bond extravaganza has now grossed $109.5 million, and it crossed the $100 million mark faster than any other film in the franchise, said Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony. It’s also made $309 million internationally.
“We’re in great shape. We’re way ahead of where we were with `Casino Royale,’” said Bruer, referring to the last Bond picture, which also starred Daniel Craig as a more visceral incarnation of 007.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. “Twilight,” $70.5 million.
2. “Quantum of Solace,” $27.4 million.
3. “Bolt,” $27 million.
4. “Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa,” $16 million.
5. “Role Models.” $7.2 million.
6. “Changeling,” $2.6 million.
7. “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” $2 million.
8. “Zack and Miri Make a Porno,” $1.7 million.
9. “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” $1.67 million.
10. “The Secret Life of Bees,” $1.28 million.
By CHRISTY LEMIRE, AP Movie Writer Christy Lemire, Ap Movie Writer– Sun Nov 23, 5:26 pm ET
American Idol alums Jordin Sparks and David Archuleta pose together on the red carpet of the 2008 American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre on Sunday evening in Los Angeles.
David, 17, debuted his self-titled CD on November 11th and is still holding on to the #2 spot on the Billboard Music Charts. Country cutie Taylor Swift nabbed #1. David’s first single, “Crush”, sits at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 single sales charts as well. Not too bad.
He presented the Country Male Artist award to Brad Paisley at tonight’s show with Secret Life of an American Teenager’s Shailene Woodley.
… says ” it’s hard to maintain a friendship when you’re an artist .”
On the afternoon of the 22nd, Leehom Wang appeared in Shanghai to attend an event. During an interview, he confirmed that he will soon collaborate with Jacky Chan in a new film. When on the topic of him and Jolin Tsai collaborating in a new ad, he expressed that actually, the 2 have very little opportunity to work together: “Artists are all very busy, it’s hard to maintain friendships.”
It was noticed that Leehom looked very thin, and he said that it is because he is currently working on his new album, and everyday he only gets to sleep 2-3 hours. 2 days ago, he just returned from New York, he is indeed quite busy. About working with Jolin in new ad, Leehom expressed, “Everyone will soon get to see this ad, and will also be able to hear my new song in it as well. In the ad, you will see me teaching Jolin to play pool. We filmed for 2 days, and our pool skills have improved a lot, we specially invited a professional teacher to guide us.” He also said that besides filming this ad together, he actually has very little opportunity to work with Jolin: “We’ve actually been friends for many years, but artists’ lives are all very busy, and these kind of friendships are hard to maintain, unless we have the opportunity to work together like this.”
When asked whether he will collaborate with Jacky Chan in new film “Young Soldiers”, Leehom expressed, “Of course I am very anticipating to work with Jackie. I’ve watched his movies since I was little. To Chinese people’s hearts, he is a hero. To be able to work with him,of course I’m very happy.” source: 163.com translated by: x-WISHFULthinking @ http://asianfanatics.net
E! Entertainment recently released its “25 Sexiest Men of the World” 2008 list, in which Canadian-Chinese star Edison Chen somehow ranked higher (15th) than Chinese-Japanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro (20th).
Well, Edison might be sexier than Takeshi in E!’s point of views (I guess the sex pics might help a bit), but the sexiest Asian title goes to Dingdong Dantes (6th) from the Philippines instead.
Bollywood actor John Abraham is the other Asian celebrity that made the list, and he too was ranked higher than the two Chinese stars at 7th.
This E! sexiest men list is a bit unique as the chosen celebs covered a wide range of different nationalities and ethnicity as compared to most other sexiest/hottest lists which are dominated by Hollywood stars. Arguable… but nice try.
Here are the top 25 sexiest men of the world according to E!…
1. David Beckham (UK – soccer player)
2. Johnny Depp (USA – actor)
3. David Zepeda (Mexico – actor, model)
4. Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Ireland – actor)
5. Djimon Hounsou (Benin – actor)
6. Dingdong Dantes (Philippines – actor, director)
7. John Abraham (India – actor)
8. Freddie Ljungberg (Sweden – soccer player)
9. Maciej Zakościelny (Poland – actor)
10. Ryan Reynolds (Canada – actor)
11. Dan Carter (New Zealand – rugby player)
12. Michael Lewis (Israel – model)
13. Raoul Bova (Italy – actor)
14. Michel Gurfi (Argentina – actor)
15. Edison Chen (Canada – actor)
A newspaper published by China’s ruling Communist Party is blasting the latest Guns N’ Roses album as an attack on the Chinese nation.
Delayed since recording began in 1994, “Chinese Democracy” hit stores in the U.S. on Sunday, although it is unlikely to be sold legally in China, where censors maintain tight control over films, music and publications.
In an article Monday headlined “American band releases album venomously attacking China,” the Global Times said unidentified Chinese Internet users had described the album as part of a plot by some in the West to “grasp and control the world using democracy as a pawn.”
The album “turns its spear point on China,” the article said.
China’s Foreign Ministry did not respond to faxed questions about the article, although a spokesman speaking on routine condition of anonymity said: “We don’t need to comment on that.”
Spokesmen for the Culture Ministry and State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, government bodies that regulate album releases and performances, could not be reached for comment.
The Global Times article referred only to the title of the album and not to specific song lyrics. The record’s title track makes a reference to the Falun Gong meditation movement that was banned by China as an “evil cult” and warns “if your Great Wall rocks blame yourself,” in an apparent message to the country’s authoritarian government.
Songs from the album could be heard on Internet sites such as YouTube and the band’s MySpace page on Monday and it was not immediately possible to tell whether China’s Internet monitors were seeking to block access to it.
Monitors use content filters that highlight and sometimes block messages containing words such as democracy. That prompted some Internet users to combine English and Chinese characters in their postings about the album to skirt such monitoring.
China approves only limited numbers of foreign films and recordings for distribution each year, partly due to political concerns but also to protect domestic producers.
Live performances are also closely regulated, with bands forced to submit set lists beforehand. The Rolling Stones were asked not to play several songs with suggestive lyrics during their 2006 China debut, including “Brown Sugar,” “Honky Tonk Woman,” “Beast of Burden” and “Let’s Spend the Night Together.”
Earlier this year, bandleader Harry Connick Jr. was forced to make last-minute changes to his show in Shanghai because an old song list was mistakenly submitted to Chinese authorities to secure the performance permit for the concert. Authorities insisted he play the songs on the original list, even though his band did not have the music for them.
That came just a week after Icelandic singer Bjork embarrassed authorities by shouting “Tibet!” at the end of a Shanghai concert, prompting stricter vetting of foreign performers.
Despite such restrictions, computer file sharing and pirating of DVDs, computer games and music CDs is rampant in China, meaning that much banned material is available through alternative channels.
Veteran French rocker Johnny Hallyday and French actress Sylvie Testud are to star in Hong Kong-set crime thriller “Vengeance,” helmed by Johnnie To. The Pic, about a French assassin-turned-chef who comes to Hong Kong to avenge a murder, is set up as an ARP production in partnership with Hong Kong shingle Media Asia and produced by Milkyway Image.
According to Media Asia, the €9 million ($11.5 million) film has begun its scheduled 60-day shoot in Hong Kong and is skedded for delivery next summer. The film also stars To regulars Anthony Wong, Simon Yam, Lam Suet and Lam Ka Tung with a script by frequent collaborator Wai Ka-fai.
For To, pic is the continuation of a love-in between France and Asia, but a change of project. The helmer was ramping up to shoot a remake of French classic “Le Cercle Rouge” with Studio Canal and the Hong Kong thriller “Death of a Hostage.”
According to a spokesman for Milkyway, “Le Cercle Rouge” is still in development while shooting has halted on “Hostage” while the director’s focus shifts to “Vengeance.”
After 18 months off the air, the return of Fox’s “24″ as a two-hour stand-alone movie managed to rank as the highest-rated scripted program Sunday night.
Representing the final title disrupted by the writers strike to reappear on broadcast television, “24: Redemption” was seen by 12 million viewers and hit a 4.0 preliminary rating among adults 18 to 49. The adult demo rating landed in the lower end of Friday’s prediction of how the program might perform, but nonetheless represents a solid figure that could prime viewers for the regular series when it returns in January.
Facing intense competition from NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” and ABC’s presentation of the American Music Awards, the “24″ event was up 3% from the show’s last original episode — the sixth season finale in May of 2007. If compared to the show’s season premieres, however, “Redemption” came up short: The program was rated lower than any “24″ premiere and down 34% compared to the show’s 2007 debut.
The numbers suggest that while there hasn’t been a resurgence of demand for “24″ from viewers of yesteryear, the hardcore fans that stuck with the program through the critically derided previous season haven’t lost faith. For those who missed the show, Fox will release the movie on DVD tomorrow (“Redemption” reviews, thoughts and video here ).
Fox was in first place for the evening, with “24″ boosted by some heavy scoring NFL overrun early in the evening.
ABC placed second with a very successful presentation of the 36th annual AMAs (12.2 million, 5.1). The awards show was up 6% this year to mark the highest-rated and most-viewed AMAs in four years and stood as Sunday’s highest-rated non-sports telecast. The event follows ABC’s recent presentation of the CMAs, which roughly held steady from last year. The ratings for the two events raise the possibility that the next round of awards shows might not continue the string of record lows seen in recent years.
NBC was third, with “Sunday Night Football” (12.3 million, 4.7) covering the Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers.
With the increased competition, CBS had to settle for the rare indignity of fourth place, with “60 Minutes” (14.5 million, 2.8), “The Amazing Race” (10.1 million, 2.7), “Cold Case” (12.1 million, 2.6) and “The Unit” (10 million, 2.5).
The final weekend of MRC programming on the CW was largely unchanged (600,000).
NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. — George Clooney has been crowned People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” two times, first in 1997 and then in 2006. But his words of wisdom for the current “Sexiest” guy came in a late night phone call, saying, “Shut up, Jackman!”
“George Clooney rang me at two in the morning,” Hugh told People Monday at the “Australia” premiere in New York City.
“I was half asleep and I said to him, ‘Ah, George sweetie, good to hear from you.’ He goes, ‘Shut up, Jackman!”’ the Aussie actor recounted with a laugh.
But George apparently was not going to let Hugh off the hook before having a little fun with him.
“My old man traveled over with me and we landed in America … and all of sudden we were stopped at the airport and saw the Sexiest Man Alive magazine and everyone is talking about it,” Hugh told the mag. “My father found it really uncomfortable.”
“[My dad] said to me, ‘I can’t really talk to you about being sexy. It’s a little weird,’ ” he added. “Mind you, I’m still waiting for the birds and the bees pitch from him. That hasn’t happened either!”
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Italian jewelry brand Bvlgari opened a two large-interconnected stores in Kowloon station,Hong Kong yesterday,and actress Kelly Lin was the honored guest. She was wearing a total of 120 Million Yuan-worth of diamond jewelries .The light 3.11 karat pink diamond ring she was wearing was priced at almost 10 million, and she could not help but said: “This pink diamond ring is really a good choice.” Would you accept a jewelry from a man ?>> She did not hesitate to say: ” I don’t mind. But I’ll accept a ring only from my husband!”
photo: ent.qq.com
Beautious Kelly Lin has attended numerous jewelry activities, but said no one has given her this kind of jewelry. When she was a student, she has given her friends silver jewelries. If someone would give her a jewelry, of course, she wouldn’t mind. With the recent global financial crisis, Kelly Lin has also suffered, and said she has lost alot of her hard-earned investment funds ao that in the future, she will earn hard money to invest in real estate instead. Within 2 years, she would like to buy a house in the United States at about 65,000,000 yuan ( approx. 2 Million U.S. dollars), as a place for her to retire.
Kelly Lin is currently in Beijing with Ge You to shoot an independent film. She said that the new film is a black comedy, and she wants to be back in Taiwan during the Christmas holiday. People were concerned about her romance with Ken Chu, but she was still evasive and said: “He and I are good friends, but I do not know about the future.”
When all of a sudden, she was asked if she already wants to be a Mommy?>> She replied: “I’ll let nature take its course!” When asked whether Ken Chu loves to have a child, she said: “I do not know, but personally , I think I must have a child .”
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Modelling in public, Kelly (3rd from left) wears the most expensive diamond jewelries. photo:CCTV.com
In recent years, Kelly Lin was reportedly rumored with Daniel Wu and Ken Chu. A few days ago,Daniel Wu publicly claimed his high profile relationship with real girlfriend Lisa S. Kelly said she wishes them to be happy and more blessings, but she obviously would like to say only a few words about the topic. She evaded the topic by diverting it on having children. And her first condition to find a partner is that the man should not have a girlfriend. Seems like she was really emphasizing it.
Kelly Lin came out elegantly, and made a special trip from Beijing to Hong Kong yesterday to attend the grand opening of the new BVLGARI stores, as guest of honor . Also in attendance to the store opening were 乐基儿、姚书轶, Yao Yi, Jocelyn , Amanda S., etc. Kelly came out wearing the most expensive set with a total of 28 M HK dollar- worth of diamond jewelries, causing her alot of pressure wearing it in public. She was also accompanied by the brand’s managing director Jerome Baudy who was full of enthusiasm to accompany her on her visit to the shops.
In recent years, Kelly has been rumored with Daniel Wu and Ken Chu , but said she was constanly flying everywhere, so she has no time to get married yet. Apparently when the rumors between the two guys were being brought up,obviously she has a different approach.She was asked if she has no communications with Daniel Wu recently, she said: “No,at present I dont have the time.”
Will Buy A House In The U.S.
Regarding the high-profiled relationship of Daniel Wu and girlfriend Lisa S. that the two seemed to have a fresh start, she was asked if she will wish them blessings, she then said: “I wish for them to be happy and have more blessings.” Afterwards, scared that she will be pressed more on this, instead , she diverted the topic and suddenly pointed towards the female reporter’s belly and asked her if she was pregnant, but the female reporter said: “I just gave birth!” Kelly was a bit embarrased,then she was asked whether she wants to have a baby, she said: “I really wish! But I have to find a partner first.” (what are your requirements to have one?) “As long as the guy does not have a girlfriend. I dont have much of a requirement since it’s very difficult to say beforehand to have alot of requirements because he may have all the good qualities you require, but then later you realize you are not actually compatible with each other, that would not be appropriate. ” (Is a foreigner good for you?) “Out of the question.” (Ken Chu?) “He and I are still good friends, but we’ll never know in the future.I will just let nature take its course.“ (wouldnt he love to have children?) “I do not know, but I personally think I shoould really have a child .” (Will he be with you this Christmas?) “Ok, maybe you can help me ask him!”
In addition, with regards to the recent financial crisis, Kelly spoke frankly that she had lost over 1 Million yuan, therefore she will think twice before she’ll buy stocks now. Instead, she intends to buy a house worth approximately 2 Million US dollars next year. When asked whether she will pay a one time payment of money, she widely opens her eyes by saying: “No!”
Kate Winslet has revealed that she was in hysterics after finding out she had won a role in Heavenly Creatures.
The actress recalled that she was working in a delicatessen when she got the call confirming that she would star in the Peter Jackson-directed movie.
“I was in the middle of making a sandwich and I had to leave work pretty much immediately,” she told Parade.
“Somebody else had to finish making this poor guy’s sandwich, because I was hysterical. Then I had to walk home, because I had forgotten to collect my wages before I left and I had no bus fare.”
Hugh Jackman has revealed that his wife was happy with the screen kiss he shared with Nicole Kidman in Australia.
The actor said that it took an endorsement from wife Deborah-Lee Furness to convince him that the kiss worked.
“For actors, sometimes you can know someone too well and all of the heat goes out of the room and you’re too familiar,” he is quoted as saying.
“And thankfully, when I saw the movie for the first time, my wife was next to me and that very first kiss, which is quite a long, lingering, slow kiss – and just after it, Deb leaned over to me and said, ‘That – was – great!’ So if your wife can give you the thumbs up, you know you’re on the right track.”
The Big News: Beyoncé and her alter ego Sasha Fierce were victorious in a competitive, debut-heavy sales week as Mrs. Jay-Z and her double-disc I Am…Sasha Fierce sold 482,000 copies, roughly 160,000 more than the number two album, Nickelback’s Dark Horse. For Beyonce, it was her third consecutive chart-topping album. While American Idol winner David Cook didn’t debut as high as runner-up David Archuleta — Cook slotted at three this week while Archie placed two last week — Cook’s self-titled outsold Archuleta’s self-titled by about 100,000 copies in a first week comparison, raking in 279,000 units. Last week’s topper Taylor Swift and her Fearless dropped to four and Il Divo’s Promise checked in at five.
Debuts: Outside the major releases, Dido and her Safe Trip Home landed at 13, Mudvayne’s New Game grabbed 15 and Sammy Hagar’s Cosmic Universal Fashion came in at 94. Further down the charts, Phish’s live album At The Roxy sold 4,800 copies to take 148 and the Doors’ Live at the Matrix limped onto the charts at 191.
Last Week’s Heroes: It was a quick cameo in the Top 10 for David Archuleta as the tweens saw their boy hero plummet from two to 11 after only one week, thanks in part to a 64% sales dive from his debut week. T-Pain’s Thr33 Ringz had a similar fall, dropping from four to 12. With the heated sales battle between Guns N’ Roses, Kanye West, the Killers and Ludacris taking place now in record stores, expect next week’s numbers to be a shootout.
LOS ANGELES, Nov 24, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Group Earns Award for Favorite Band, Duo or Group Pop/Rock
Band Recording Follow-Up Album, Due Out Summer 2009
At the 2008 American Music Awards Sunday night, 19/RCA recording artist DAUGHTRY won for Favorite Band, Duo or Group (Pop/Rock). Just last year, the band won three American Music Awards, including Favorite Album (Pop/Rock) for its self-titled debut, which has been certified quadruple platinum.
“It’s an amazing feeling for us to be honored again so soon,” says the group’s singer, Chris Daughtry. “What makes this night even more special is that we’re recognized for our work together as a band.”
Daughtry, bassist Josh Paul, drummer Joey Barnes and guitarists Brian Craddock and Josh Steely, are currently in the studio, recording the follow-up to the band’s debut. The as-yet-titled album is scheduled for release in summer 2009.
Earlier this year, the Grammy-nominated group released a deluxe version of it debut, which is a hit on more than four continents. Powered by a trio of #1 songs, “It’s Not Over,” “Home,” and “Feels Like Tonight.” DAUGHTRY has become the biggest selling artist release of the past two years and the fastest selling rock debut in Soundscan history.
The newly released Daughtry Deluxe expanded CD/DVD version contains the album’s original 12 songs with four bonus tracks on CD, plus a DVD with videos for all five of the singles, live performances and exclusive interviews
SOURCE RCA Music Group
Rewind: American Music Awards 2007
Carrie Underwood handing out the trophy for Chris Daughtry
Former American Idol contestants and Justin Timberlake ruled the night at the American Music Awards on Sunday. Chris Daughtry’s band, Daughtry, and Carrie Underwood each took home three awards — Daughtry for pop/rock album, adult contemporary artist, and breakthrough artist, Underwood for country album, female country artist, and the T-Mobile text-in award. Timberlake, who accepted his awards via video from Australia, won for male pop/rock artist and soul/r&b album. Beyonce received a special award, the international artist award, which has been given to only a handful of artists including Rod Stewart, Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith. Other winners included Rihanna, Fergie, Nickelback, and Rascal Flatts.
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Financial Crime is the main theme of the movie ” Wiretap” and was offically introduced on November 25 in Hong Kong. Sean Lau , Louis Koo and Daniel Wu in the film will play as agents of the Criminal Intelligence Bureau, the members of the Bureau who will be tasked to do “interception” on the criminal cases.
“Wiretap” is a joint direction of Mai Zhaohui,and Wen Qiang, Fang-ping and Derek Yee will serve as the executive producers. In addition to Sean Lau, Louis Koo, Daniel Wu, Zhang Jingchu, Fang Zhongxin, Lin Jiahua, Lee Chi-hung, the new generation of actors Lu Shi-Yun, Chen Weiting will likewise appear in this new film .
Currently, financial crisis has been sweeping around the globe, so it was the focus of interest, Mai Zhaohui and Wen Qiang disclosed that there will be a verging war due to the frenzy on the financial market, bringing in this situation is a very new experience to the audiences in the world.
Daniel Wu’s Handsomeness has been questioned
Daniel Wu
As the star to play as intelligence officer- in charge of interception, Daniel Wu’s too handsome appearance has triggered questions from the media, because most people have the impression that the agents are usually far from being a handsome man, too prominent appearance will lead people to doubt the authenticity . Daniel Wu explained the fact that this extra-ordinary profession actually needs various people , from 15-year old old to a six year-old little girl or even a more than 80 year old man can engage in such profession. Moreover, the task will depend mostly on how one carries out the mission, amd therefore being “too handsome” is not the question.
Louis Koo appeared with Beard/whiskers
At the press conference, Louis Koo appeared with his face full of whiskers(beard), looking like a rich murderer. He disclosed to the reporters that he plays a father of 4 kids and he thinks his role would require such look. But he also disclosed that he doesn’t know whether the director would approve of this look.
Louis Koo originally wants to rest for a period of time, but after he read the script of “Wiretap” , he thought that this role is a very big one, only then that he changes his plan,into playing the part. He indicated that himself, Daniel Wu and Brother Sean Lau’s characters will be the key to this movie.
“Wiretap” is produced by the silver Organization Ltd, the Beijing-day entertainment media Co., Ltd., co-produced by the Xi’an Qujiang Television Investment Co., Ltd., Bao Li Bona films for the distribution.The film is expected to be released in Summer of 2009.
American Idol had a very strong presence at last night’s 2008 American Music Awards. Not only did Jordin Sparks , David Archuleta , David Cook , and Daughtry (with lead singer Chris Daughtry ) present awards, but there were also a number of wins in the AI camp: Daughtry-Favorite Band, Duo or Group, Rock or Pop MusicJordin Sparks-Favorite Artist, Adult Contemporary MusicCarrie Underwood-Favorite Album, Country Music–for Carnival Ride David Cook was also a featured guest as he performed live from the red carpet prior to the show. Congratulations to Jordin, Chris, and Carrie!
shrek balloon at the Macy’s Parade 2008 (photo:njnews.com)
The 82nd annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade wound its way through Manhattan streets under sunny skies on Thursday, as thousands of marchers carried giant balloons past throngs of holiday revelers cheering them along the route.
New to the revelry this year were Buzz Lightyear, the square-jawed, action-figure astronaut from the 1995 film “Toy Story”; Horton, the compassionate elephant of Dr. Seuss books; and a five-story Smurf, a blue, gnomelike creature popularized by a TV show that began in 1981. Old favorites like Kermit and the Energizer Bunny also were back.
About 3.5 million spectators were expected to view the parade in person, and 50 million more to watch it on television. The 2.5-mile route wound from Central Park to Herald Square, in front of Macy’s flagship store.
Crews on Wednesday inflated the 13 giant balloons and 31 smaller ones. Each giant balloon requires more than 5,000 cubic feet of helium.
Among the smaller balloons was a newcomer that pays tribute to graffiti artist Keith Haring, who died in 1990. The parade also featured 28 floats, 10 marching bands and performances by Miley Cyrus, Trace Adkins, James Taylor and the Radio City Rockettes.
Dancing to sitcom?
Brooke Burke says she wants to follow up her “Dancing With the Stars” triumph with a sitcom.
Burke, who served as a host on “Wild On,” E!’s look at the global party scene, also has had bit parts on “Monk,” “Less Than Perfect,” “The Bernie Mac Show” and “Las Vegas.”
She tells E!Online, “I’d love to do a sitcom. I just want to make sure that I’m really passionate about the next thing I do, because I poured my heart and soul into” “Dancing.”
Relatives on ‘Idol’
The next installment of “American Idol” might feature a few quasi-celebs. So says the New York Post, which reports that the 200 wannabes at a recent “Idol Boot Camp” included one of Donny and Marie Osmond’s nephews; the 2008 Miss New York USA winner, Danielle Roundtree; Anna Kaelin, daughter of Dean Kaelin, who is David Archuleta’s vocal coach; and one of “Idol” finalist Jason Castro’s younger brothers. No comment from the Fox network.
Actors heat up set
Nicole Kidman tells “Entertainment Tonight” that Hugh Jackman really heated up the set of the Aussies’ new flick, “Australia.” “When (Hugh) comes on screen no one’s looking at me,” Kidman said.
For his part, Jackman tells “ET” that his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, was ambivalent about the love scenes. Jackman said she was impressed by his first on-screen kiss with Kidman: “She leaned over to me and said, ‘Hugh, that was great!’ “
But Furness wasn’t so keen on a montage of smooching that followed. “‘All right, enough already!”‘ Jackman said his wife told him.
Bono’s music service
U2 singer and activist Bono says the new MSN.com music subscription service (Red) Wire, to be launched Monday, World AIDS Day, will raise funds for the fight against the deadly disease. The service will premiere with songs and videos from Coldplay, Dixie Chicks and Jay-Z.
From the headlines
The New York Post reports that NBC’s “Law & Order” is adapting the death of actor Heath Ledger for an episode. It will star Ryan Locke as a model who “has a great career and gets all the ladies.”
Hong Kong artiste Nicholas Tse says he has never ruled out Edison Chen as a friend. The former talked about Edison and the sex photos scandal in a radio interview on new movie “The Beast Stalker”.
Featuring Nicholas and China actress Zhang Jingchu, the movie by Emperor Entertainment Group premiered in Hong Kong on Nov 24. The film drew million-dollar box office sale in merely four days when it premiered in China. The gala in Hong Kong attracted artistes such as Josie Ho, Aw Yong Bobby, Jessica Hester Hsuan and Ada Choi.
In a radio interview, Nicholas says he will not want to be casted as a ‘calefare’ with three seconds of fame just to be in a Hollywood movie. It appears to be a mockery directed at Edison.
Nicholas’s wife, Cecilia Cheung, was involved in the indecent photos scandal with Edison earlier this year. On his thoughts of Edison, Nicholas says, “I’ve never ruled him out as a friend; I do not put the issue at heart.” Through the incident, Nicholas says he has learnt to be magnanimous and tolerant.
He also emphasized that he has never seen those photos and has never talked about them. “She (Cecilia) has talked about it but I don’t think it is necessary for me to take in any information. There’s no point in discussing it; it’ll only add oil to fire.”
What if his son asks about the issue? “If Edison has such great influence that even kids will ask about it, I think I’ll worship him.”
Johnny Depp got his first tattoo at the age of seventeen. Each tattoo marks a major thing in his life, a person, an event, or an idea. As Johnny explained, his body tells a story in a way.
As of last count, Johnny has 12 known markings on his body. He maybe has more but only these twelve are the ones recorded.
Listed below are his tattoos in no special order:
A swallow over a sunset with Jack tattooed underneath. While he was filming one of his most celebrated movies, Pirates of the Caribbean, he had to wear a fake version of these tattoos. He liked it so much that he had them permanently inked on his right forearm. Contrary to what people may have assumed, Jack is in honor of his son, and not his character Jack Sparrow. He also had the swallow tattoo inverted so that it is flying towards him. As he mentioned in one of his interviews in 2004, he always wants his son to come back to him.
The inscription Lily Rose. Found over Johnnys heart, the script honors his daughter Lily Rose.
Heart and Betty Sue. Johnny had his mothers name engraved on a heart and tattooed on his left bicep on May 31, 1988 in honor of the first woman in his life.
Wino Forever. Found on his right bicep, it originally read, Winona Forever in honor of his then girlfriend, Winona Ryder. After their breakup, Johnny had it laser-removed.
Native American Head. Just below the Wino Forever tattoo is a Cherokee Indian Chief in full headdress. Johnny had this tattoo to symbolize his ancestral cultural heritage.
The Brave symbol. This tattoo found inside his right arm is from one of his movies, The Brave.
Inverted Triangle. Above his mothers name tattoo is an inverted triangle which also symbolizes the heart. It is also a universal sign of the feminine and is often used to express romantic love.
Three Rectangles. Found on his right index finger, Johnny describes them as a permanent phone doodle. In many of his movies, Johnny wears a large ring to cover this tattoo.
Number Three. On Johnnys left hand, between his thumb and index finger, is the number three tattoo. In April 1996, he made a statement about the number three in the Young Flix Magazine. He described the number three as special, creative, mystical, and magical. However, in another interview, he said that he and a friend had that tattoo one day while they were bored.
Crossbones and Skull with the inscription Death is Certain. Johnny claims to be the only one who knows exactly what that phrase means.
Question Mark (?). On the right inside leg, over Johnnys ankle is a question mark tattoo.
Silence Exile Cunning. This latest tattoo found on Johnny’s arm is a quote from James Joyces book A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. It was first seen on June 2, 2008 at the MTV movie awards.
Tim Burton is gearing up to direct his next feature which will be a much darker interpretation of Alice In Wonderland. As always Burton has cast Johnny Depp in another one of his films. Thanks to our sister site Horror-Movies.ca we may have an early look at Depp as the Mad Hatter.
They are also careful to note that this is not official and could be just some fan art. But it is for sure I think a very good look at what we should expect for the next film. This could be some early concept art for the film as well. But until we learn whether this is official or not just check it out for a good idea of whats to come.
a handsome guy wants to please his girlfriend to look like Daniel Wu
Yesterday, at a hospital, Hong Kong star Daniel Wu’s posters were posted in the windows, the doctors are to operate on Mr. Wang’s plastic surgery procedures,”the cheeks should not sag, and face should be trimmed as much as possible!” Yesterday, at the plastic surgery department of the city hospital , 4 men were holding posters of Hong Kong star Daniel , and asked to look like Daniel Wu. According to Wu Zhuren Hospital-Plastic Surgery department, they already had two handsome guy this month trasnformed into the looks of Daniel Wu.
Friends and relatives of patient for plastic surgery brought posters of the star
At about 3 pm yesterday, the reporters rushed to the hospital on the man undergoing plastic surgery. According to reports, 26-year-old Mr. Wang Yuzhong ,who lives within the vicinity of Tong Jian, works in the IT industry. At about 9 am, accompanied by relatives and friends,Mr. Wang, came in for a 4-in-1 facial contour plastic surgery. “I am not afraid! Because i have thought of it for so long.” Mr. Wang was excited after the surgery, he said he has consulted only a week ago.
Yesterday was the day of surgery, Wang specially selected four Daniel Wu posters, showed to the doctors to serve as model in the operating room, so that the surgery doctors were positive of being able to do it very seriously! At 4 am, accompanied on his side by Wang’s aunt, the posters were shown to the reporters.
Researched on Daniel Wu For Six Months
Wang’s idea emerged through his girlfriend. He said his girlfriend told him: If you look like Daniel Wu, you’ll be perfect! Wang and his girlfriend met a year ago, his girlfriend is younger than him by 3 years and is still in college. Six months after the two’s exchanges, the naive illusion of love often sent his girlfriend laments that her boyfriend looks like the star Daniel Wu .” After hearing it often, he started feeling troubled by this. Wang said, their feelings has deepened and he was more and more concerned about his girlfriend, thus emerged the whole idea of transforming completely like Daniel Wu. Wang’s preparation lasted for six months, beginning to give attention to Daniel Wu online, in the news, movies, and later evolved immitating many of Daniel Wu’s living habits, and the recent poster of Daniel Wu he had it printed and carefully examined which features of him & Daniel are not alike.
The reporter also saw the paintings and drawings, and the plans he wanted to happen. the side angle,the positive side, the different angles of the jaw, and other features. Wuzhu Ren said that Wang has fully prepared. Wu said that being nearly 1.8 meters tall, appearance-wise, Mr. Wang Junxiu, himself is already a handsome guy.
Friends & Relatives, Not so worried about the Plastic Surgery
Surgery was done more than two hours, Wu Zhuren said the surgery is difficult to perform since they remove about two- bones in the mandibular area about five centimeters long and one centimeter wide, emphasizing his chin. It is learned that the operation only costs 70 to 80,000 yuan.
At about 4 pm, the reporter asked Wang’s aunt,whom she accompanied Wang during the surgery, smilingly said: “He’s like our son, whatever he likes,” Wang’s girlfriend said , she loves him and he is concerned about the outcome of the operation.
A Student in England Also Underwent Daniel Wu Transformation Last Week
According to Wu Zhuren, another man also went to the same hospital for plastic surgery. “The two are like twins, the idea are also the same!” Wu Zhuren was very surprised and told reporters that this 23-year-old man is in Chongqing, his surname is Li. On the 2nd of this month, he also brought same posters of Daniel wu to the same plastic surgeon. Fortunately, it was good! since it was a good background for Wu Zhuren’s surgery.
During a telephone interview with Mr. Li, Li said he is not very sorry undergoing plastic surgery,since it is purely a personal preference. Half a month after the surgery, when he saw the results, he said the change made him very confident. Li said “I am not afraid on other people’s perspective.” Li stressed that he is studying in Britain, and plastic surgery is normal.
In the Entertainment business, there is this special group of people, their origin is from the United States, but they have Chinese blood flowing from within. They are the so-called ABC (American Born Chinese) people, who, based on their appearances and cultural backgrounds, on their place of origin and the place they grew up in,would determine what they really are to people. But these qualities make them confused, suspicious, agitated, and even has given birth to the “status anxiety.”
Daniel Wu:
He was born in San Francisco in the US, but from a Shanghainese family. His father is an engineer, and his mother is a University psychology professor, and he has two sisters. He holds a bachelor’s degree, in Architecture from Ohio University, and he speaks English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Shanghai dialect, well.
The last time we chatted with Daniel Wu, was in last year’s Venice Film Festival – he,Chang Chen, and Shu Qi attended the “Blood Brothers,” premiere. “I grew up in the United States.” Talking to a lot of topics, Daniel Wu used this sentence to begin with.
Daniel Wu , who’s 34 years old, we can clearly find him, like any ABC men as different. He has the aesthetic standards of the Americans, that they think someone like him is not handsome. He said sometimes he couldnt tell to which country does he really belong to; he goes out with girlfriends who are also of mixed race since they are the only ones who understands him well; he could scold gossip magazines like in his blog, all for the sake of his own privacy,
Handsome guy? Americans dont think so.
“Shanghai is my hometown.” Daniel Wu has told reporters.
Daniel Wu’s parents are from Shanghai, both went to the United States, and met in New York, they started their family in San Francisco, his father was already 45 years old before he was born. Daniel Wu went to Shanghai for the first time 30 years ago! In 1978, he was only 4years old, along with his parents, he was brought back to Shanghai in the hope of settling in there, but they learned that the old family house has been occupied long by others.
Back to the United States, Daniel Wu attended school in the United States and speaks English,but goes home listening to his parents speak in Shanghai dialect. From a young age, he understood Chinese, but he cant read chinese. His parents hope for him to become a professional, they sent their son to learn about construction and architecture, but in 1997 he graduated from the university, placed the work of being an architect behind, instead went backpacking to the East to explore his roots. In Hong Kong, he didnt have that much money, so a friend asked him to become a model in pictures to make money, so there was when he started his career in the entertainment business.
Daniel Wu’s first movie was “Love of the Beautiful Youth”, he dazzles with those pair of glasses as Feng Delun. 10 years later, he is also following the path of that beautiful youth, Feng Delun. But in recent 2 years, he grew his beard, sometimes look sloppy in dressing up, but Daniel Wu also said that “I was already weary always playing the handsome guy”.
In fact, even in the United States, he does not cnsiders himself to be handsome, “in the United States, handsome is not what I look like! Handsome in the US is having blonde hair and blue eyes.”
Identity? I am “global”
His Parents from an early age, always reminds Daniel Wu, “Remember, you are Chinese.”
At 5years old, he would attend kung fu school, followed his master until he became a martial arts champion.He is also a favorite of the University Basketball team coaches. But when he came to Hong Kong, he often can not feel being “Chinese” , he felt perplexed about other people’s anxiety. “When I’m in the United States, they do not think of me as an American; in Hong Kong, Hong Kong people feel that I am not chinese; so I would always tell myself, I am a citizen of the world!”
He knows Chinese Kung Fu, an ABC who speaks fluent English, so we all feel that he should go to Hollywood to make a career. He shook his head: “I may play good on those fields, but there are obstacles in Hollywood, it is actually an obstacle to have no distinct chinese accent. Hollywood likes Jackie Chan, Jet Li, because one of the reasons is that they speak English accent that Americans find very interesting.” His mother tongue is authentic American English, in the film” Around the World in 80 days, ” the director asked me not to talk in a “good American-English”accent. There, it is necessary to speak English with a distinct chinese accent … …”
As a result, Zhang Ziyi has also break into Hollywood, while alot of ABCs return to their Chinese origin to find a dream.
When Daniel Wu arrived in Hong Kong, he only knew 2 Cantonese words, hello, and a violent foul language. Hong Kong people regard him as a foreigner,when he dines out, they would immediately give him a knife and a fork, but when he would ask them and they would see him use chopsticks skillfully, people would sneer at him and be alarmed: “you are quite difficult! ”
He also had difficulty putting up with others, “when I started, I wasnt able to understand Hong Kong person’s joke, likewise they didnt understand me. ” it took him several years to tap his good language talent , that was when he already shoot a Cantonese comedy,and he even delivers well in Feng Xiaogang’s movie.
Actually, this new discovery of him is not new. He cooperated with the new film “Like A Dream” with Yuan Quan, and she revealed that when Daniel Wu encounters into lines which he cannot understand, he lets his assistant write it on Pinyin, then he tries to find out the meaning again and memorize it by heart.
On Women? Mixed-race Beauty for a better communication
Uses Chinese in the movie to talk about love diligently, but Daniel Wu may not privately like discussing his feelings in Chinese . All of his girlfriends are of, or almost of mix-races beautiful women. From MaggieQ to Lisa S, they are tall, long-legged, a match for him, including Kelly Lin whom he was recently rumored with, also has an ABC background. Daniel Wu said: “Only them would think that my jokes are very funny. ”
Daniel Wu’s current girlfriend Lisa S has been known for many years, came after his former girlfriend MaggieQ, who was also known publicly. Lisa S’s background couldnt be underestimated. She is the only daughter of a Las Vegas casino owner. A half year ago, Lisa came to Shanghai to attend the “Dance Forest Congress”, the entire journey she only used English to reply. This girl is his number one fan,she even keeps his souvenirs privately and always acknowledges that her boyfriend is very good.
Lisa S travels crazily. Last year , the two went together to Africa and built a new house. “used cement blocks to serve as the walls,used the bushes as our roof,very similar to tribesmen’s house……” Daniel Wu describes his girlfriend this way, they had this understanding to choose the hut as their place to stay during their trip to South Africa . Daniel was responsible for the fence to surround the hut, and they stock food responsibly, even decorated the inner wall of the hut and renovated the toilet.
“That room has hot water, but didntt have electricity. We generally go to sleep at 7:00 pm , get up early in the morning, go to the mountain for climbing, ride horses, took a walk ……” Daniel Wu happily recalls in which he added , “that was very unlike in the life in Hong Kong, with only me and my girlfriend, just the two of us.”
Privacy? He will definitely stand up and fight for
Daniel Wu has been in Hong Kong for more than 10 years, has adapted to the traffic, to living in a small room, but also well-adapted to to the fast-paced way of living. But still he claims to have alot more of adapting to do, such as dealing with paparazzis. Two years ago, he was shot with his girlfriend’s “home” , as opposed to silence, he let go of his fury in his Blog ,calling the gossip magazines to be rubbish.
For a while, he wanted to move back and live in Shanghai, a friend advised, you can not put this to an end, you shuldnt make yourself like some caged animal” In fact, when he was in Shanghai, the Mainland has become increasingly popular for videotaping celebrities on their private time. Last week, pictures of him was taken in some bars,and a newspaper press stated ” Daniel Wu With Foreign Babes In Shanghai.” he was dumbfounded and didnt know whether to laugh or to cry.
“After I was photographed surreptitiously by these people, I only knew then that Hong Kong does not have the privacy protection law. ” He urges Hong Kong Government to positively safeguard the privacy law. Little did we know that Daniel Wu actually even likes expressing his political view in his Blog, and encourages everyone to vote on the upcoming US presidential elections. “ When I was young, I didnt think politics was important, but when I grew up, I had understood that our life is closely-linked to politics . ” After all, he is an American.
“Sometimes, i thought what if i returned to the United States. In the United States, so many people there do not know me, you can find plenty of time to study , and I wouldnt have friends to ask me what movie am I going to make.”
At 34 years old, Daniel Wu has been known to have plenty of moviefans who highly admires and praise him, but he has wanted to break out of the pure“attractive” image, and developed some dark-orientd roles. “I am very selfish, many of the things that I do are just to satisfy myself. I dont do this to ask for money or, for mostly, not to satisfy the fans.”
Reporter’s Notes
“Like a Dream”: Daniel Wu turned to be a “sloppy ABC guy”
Recently, he made a movie in Shanghai, directed by Hong Kong’s Luo Zhuoyao, and his partner is Yuan Quan
That day, when we saw Daniel Wu,he looks abit scary,his hair was dissheveled, he grew a beard, his extremities looked thin, wearing round eyeglasses, has put on a large T-shirt, carrying his laptop. Some female press complained on the scene that “why did you end up into a sloppy guy? ”
He cannot understand, a reporter explained: “why be a man who looks boring , does not like dressing up, and who always could not find a girlfriend? ”
“this image is the character I play in the movie. a chinese boy who grew up in the US , who makes a living as an IT. In fact, many American Chinese people has such character. ”
In the movie “Like A Dream”,Daniel plays a character who’s from New York, comes to Shanghai as an ABC. “This role , is a bit like my experiences in real life.I am also an ABC,but I am not that fussy in the movie, I dont take a bath.”
Like Dream” actors are shooting in Shanghai basically at night around 11 pm until morning , then they stop working for the whole day, but sometimes they extends until 2 pm in the afternoon . Reporters were present on that day to visit the set , and do some photographs. The scece was also surrounded by alot of guests. After Shanghai shoting wraps up, the dramatic team will starts to do their shoot in New York. special notes:
Daniel went to University of Oregon not in Ohio as mentioned on this article
Even if Daniel Wu has made an effort to prove to everyone that he is more than just a pretty face, at the press conference of the new film “Wiretap” his prettyboy looks was still the focus of the media/paparazzi’s attention. Unlike the heavenly kings of the entertainment business, who guard themselves so much to be photographed outside, by not having a night life , Daniel Wu is never worried about these silly rumors, making the reporters think that he’s making a mockery of these idols. He said he is never worried about it and his relationship with girlfriend Lisa S. has never changed, their relationship became even stronger, and they have plans to get married in the future and have children.
With regards to the skepticism of the media present on his credibility to play as a secret agent, saying he is too handsome for this role, Daniel is never worried and enumerated that such profession needs different people of different ages, and it depends on how one carries out the mission. He further said that he never really cared about how he would look on the films, but doing good on his acting is what gratifies him.
Daniel Wu (standing,right) with Jackie Chan,Andy Lau & Tony Leung
All these years, Jackie Chan has always confidence on his career and potentials and thinks that he has emerged away from that idol image, despite of the rumors surrounding him. Derek Yee spoke of his many works with Daniel, that in this generation of actors, Daniel Wu is a ‘world class’, and managed to do good not only on the entertainment business, but also on his lovelife, with his stable relationship with girlfriend Lisa S., and it is reallly difficult to find such person. “Daniel Wu and Lisa S.’s relationship is now 6 years, during which he has been rumored with different actresses, such as this year, Daniel Wu and Kelly Lin were first photographed together for a meal at night,then after some time with Shu Qi for a dinner at the central. Asked about this matter, Daniel Wu said with a smile: “Shu Qi can not be a third party, we know each other for too long, it’s just normal for us to chat over dinner.” Talking about his relationship with Lisa S., Daniel Wu said: “We Trust each other very much and we will certainly get married, and we have a very deep understanding that we never hide.” He further said he intends to marry her before he turns 40 years old.
The singer’s steep trajectory to redemption restored her to the top of searches. Her year began with a police visit, hospital stay, and psych evaluation. She returned under her father’s shelter and, by summer, settled custody with her ex. Professionally, she guested on a sitcom, won thrice at the MTV Video Music Awards, broke records with “Womanizer,” relaunched her site, and released a documentary detailing her fall and comeback…by age 27.
2. WWE
A June explosion destroyed a World Wrestling Entertainment stage and “injured” chairman Vince McMahon, unleashing a sweaty soap opera of chaos that included his kids appealing for cooperation in difficult times. The stunt could’ve symbolized the sporting empire’s battles against the economy’s fall and mixed martial arts’ rise. WWE produced more events, video games, and movies to make up for fewer paying fans, and faithfuls kept track online to maintain its Top 2 status.
3. Barck Obama
The Illinois junior senator faced two hard-fought contests and nearly won a third—although toppling Britney Spears wasn’t on his list. He entered 2008 as a relative newcomer on the national scene and ended the year as president-elect. His campaign defied political wisdom and made history at every turn. His Web strategy set the groundwork to make him the first wired president and, in an unprecedented Search surge, landed him at No. 3.
4. Miley cyrus
Before 2008, the singer/actress had been better known—and searched—by her Disney persona, Hannah Montana. She appeared on shows like “Idol Gives Back” as Cyrus, but true name recognition came with scandal: a Vanity Fair spread featuring the 15-year-old seemingly wrapped only in a bedsheet. Savvy Cyrus apologized, survived, and closed down Disneyland for a 16th birthday charity bash, and ended up at No. 4.
5. RunScape
The multi-player role-playing game’s international popularity rests on its cheap access, ability to run on older computers, and compelling play. Its underground success has even led to a real black market, trading actual cash for RuneScape gold—and controversial restrictions to stop it. A new boss, graphics, and touted player-versus-player combat release signal the company’s power play to step up in the RPG battle…and take hold at No. 5.
6. Jessica Alba
Her movies fared none too well, following 2007 missteps that got her three Razzie Worst Actress nominations. Still, she earned Best Movie Actress at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and No. 6 in searches, buoyed by her wedding and baby Honor Marie (who earned a reported $1.5 million in her OK! mag debut). The pregnant pause may have given her impetus to switch to more serious roles—something to watch for in 2009.
7. Naruto
The manga. The game. The anime. Whatever form Naruto Uzumaki takes, the awkward but accomplished young graduate of the Ninja Academy remains the Web’s most popular fictional character in seventh place. His peers and enemies also command their own followings, but the complex tale of Naruto (whose name translates to “maelstrom”), the orphaned misfit who craves recognition, resonates with its generation of fans.
8. Lindsay Lohan
At No. 8, the actress made stumbling progress back from rehab, revolving-door relationships, and rejected roles. On the upside, she settled down (with a monogamous twist), blogged about politics, and recreated Marilyn Monroe’s photo shoot. On the downside, she got booted from “Ugly Betty” and as World Music Awards host. Lohan has had celebs testifying to her talent, but a true comeback may have to wait for 2009.
9. Angelina Jolie
Leading power lists in Forbes and even Guinness World Records, the actress took her place among Hollywood’s elite. “Delicate” condition aside, she underscored her image as a tough-dame throwback with a 21st-century vibe. She earned box-office bucks as an assassin and cartoon tigress, Oscar cred in “Changeling,” and karma by donating her and Brad Pitt’s twins’ $14 mil pictorial payout to charity—moves that muscled her in at No. 9.
The “Twilight” fever may be waning, but the hype that its lead star Robert Pattison a.k.a. Edward Cullen is defintely not fading! As a tribute to the most promising young star of the new generation, I decided to put an ample place for Robert. I bet his going to be around for quite a long time. So, brace yourselves -today is the day of the hottest new brit import… Robert Pattinson!
Robert Pattinson, star of the vampire film Twilight, claimed he applied for acting school at the age of 15 to meet pretty girls.
By Graham Tibbetts
Last Updated: 12:30PM GMT 02 Dec 2008
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in TwilightPhoto: AP
He first trod the boards in Guys and Dolls at his local theatre group in London seven years ago.
Starting off with a small part as a Cuban dancer, he was soon taking the lead role at Barnes Theatre Club.
He said recently: “I owe everything to that little club.”
After acquiring an agent he landed the role of Cedric Diggory, a prefect, in the 2005 film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which required him to learn how to scuba dive.
This year Pattinson, 22, was ranked among Moviefone’s “25 Hottest Actors Under 25″.
Although he now lives in Los Angeles he was born in London and grew up in a small house in Barnes, south-west London.
His mother was a modelling agency scout and his father a vintage car dealer.
He recalled that his two elder sisters, Lizzy and Victoria, would dress him up like a girl until he was 12.
A pupil at the private Harrodian school, he was not particularly academic and his father refused to pay for him to study for his A-levels.
However, he managed to obtain an A and two Bs.
Jack Nicholson is his acting inspiration and in his spare time he plays guitar and keyboards.
Although Twilight has underlined his stardom – soon to be augmented by playing Salvador Dali in Little Ashes – Pattinson has said he is unimpressed by the trappings of acting success.
“I can’t see any advantage to fame,” he said. “I’m happy with the life I have now. I’ve got the same two friends I’ve had since I was 12, and I can’t see that changing.”
Earlier this fall Tina Fey, the actress who mimicked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin so brilliantly, said she couldn’t wait for the hockey mom to go away, presumably by the Republican presidential ticket losing the Nov. 4 election.
Palin and John McCain did, in fact, come in second that day.
But Palin, the losing vice presidential candidate, hasn’t gone away. In fact, she’s all over the place.
And it’s the winning vice presidential candidate, Democrat Joe Biden, who seems to have disappeared.
Palin was all over Georgia today earning future political owsies by wowing conservative crowds behind Incumbent GOP Sen. Saxby Chambliss’ runoff reelection bid tomorrow against Democrat Jim Martin.
And now, it turns out, it’s Fey who’s come back. Though losing her Palin schtick on “Saturday Night Live,” Fey is on the current cover of “Vanity Fair” magazine dressed as a, uh, red-white-and-blue Uncle Sam-antha. (For a trip down memory lane to watch some of Fey’s Palin video performances, click here.)
For a revealing video of Fey talking with Conan O’Brien about the ordeal of portraying Palin, click on the “Read more” line below. (She actually has some nice things to say about the governor.)
The heartthrob dishes on his contribution to the soundtrack, his take on the emo thing, and dealing with all those screaming fans.Laremy Legel, Nov 17, 2008
Last weekend a group of us movie-website folk descended upon Beverly Hills to talk to Robert Pattinson. They didn’t give us much time, but here is what we learned about the newest sensation:
Question: So are they still going to let you cut your hair?
Robert Pattinson: I already did cut it. Someone asked, “Is it true you haven’t washed it for six weeks?” and I said “I haven’t washed it for four years!
RP: By accident. I think Nikki gave a CD of stuff I’d recorded on my computer to Catherine. I’d recorded it years ago. I think Catherine put it into a cut and I didn’t even realize what it was at first. It kind of fit really well. I didn’t really think about it other than I didn’t know I was going to be on the soundtrack. I wanted to do it [under] another another name because I thought it would be distracting … which it has been. It was probably all a big mistake. But I like the idea. I think the song fit there. I didn’t think it sounded like me, so I thought it would just kind of work. I’m not trying to get a music career out of it or anything.
Question: Is it harder to act supernatural or American?
RP: I never really saw him as an American guy, the character, even though he’s got an American accent. I’m not playing a jock, which is typically American. Like you don’t have to do hand signs or anything or little handshakes, that type of stuff. So I guess the supernatural thing.
Question: But you did have to learn how to play baseball…
RP: I’ve been asked this everywhere. “So I understand you’re crap at baseball…” I just didn’t care. I think sports are stupid. Catherine Hardwicke was so determined to make me look like a professional baseball player. She had this coach trying to teach me the “ready” position, like a little squat. I was like, “Seriously, I’ll do it on the day. You don’t have to teach me.” But Catherine wanted to see it, in front of all these extras. It was just very embarrassing. So for the rest of the shoot, whenever Catherine couldn’t decide how to block a shot I’d say, “I think I should be doing my ready position.” But yeah, I’m terrible at baseball. I’m terrible at every sport apart from running, but I’m terrible at that now too.
Question: Talk about the use of music here, how the music sets up the feel of the Cullens.
RP: It’s the outsider thing. It’s always been associated with goth culture. It’s become more mainstream now; everyone seems to be emo now. Because young people feel like they don’t connect with anything anymore. There is no such thing as an insider anymore. Everybody feels like outsiders. Vampires are kind of the definition, anyone who preys on the rest of humanity is obviously going to be an outsider in society. All the other supernatural things are ugly, or they’re silly. I don’t know what music is inspired by fairies … or zombies. It’s quite difficult to say, “I’m obsessed with zombies, they’re so cool!”
Question: Do you consider Edward to be emo?
RP: I don’t really know what emo is to be honest. Does it mean you’re in touch with your emotions? I think he’s kind of the opposite. He’s spent his entire life repressing everything. He’s kind of ashamed of himself when he lets his facade of formality break. When Bella comes into his life. He doesn’t want to feel anything. He wants to make his world smaller and smaller because he doesn’t feel like he belongs in it. He either want to be a human or die because his existence is completely pointless. That’s why he doesn’t talk to anyone. He doesn’t really feel anything in the book apart from when Bella comes. He’s literally counting the cracks in the wall and stuff. Every single day is exactly the same thing. If he feels anything he shuts it down immediately. He doesn’t let himself feel anything at all, so I guess it’s the opposite. Or he’s a closet emo.
Question: So you’ve read the book … what was it like to have to live up to this expectation of being the most beautiful man?
RP: I read the book like five months before casting. I read the first 50 pages, up until when he gets introduced and I was just like, “No.” Because I was really fat last year as well. So it was just like embarrassing. I thought the whole thing was embarrassing, even turning up to the audition. I hadn’t read the whole book before the audition, but even [from] the four-line synopsis — “Edward is the perfect being. He’s so witty and beautiful. He’s crazy and funny. He’ll open doors for you. He’ll drive you in his Volvo.” — I thought even turning up would be embarrassing.
I still believe the initial reaction, when I was first cast, was the true reaction. Everyone now is like “Okay, I love the books so much I’ll go with it. He’s beautiful. Whatever.” But the initial reaction was 100 percent “He’s completely wrong for it.” And I agree with them. I didn’t play it like some guy who knew he was beautiful. I still don’t really feel it. I don’t feel it at all.
Question: So were you looking at all the blogs for reaction?
RP: No, initially I did. But my mom sent me some stuff, which she thought was really funny, when I was already in America. They had this picture from this Viking film I did where I looked like someone had beaten me in the face with a frying pan. I was wearing this disgusting wig. And they were like “THIS is Edward.” It was a petition, which they were going to send to Summit saying, “We will not go and see the movie.” It got up to 75,000 signings. This is about three days after I got cast. I was thinking, “Thanks for sending that mom!” That was my welcome into Twilight.
Question: But now people want all the Robert Pattinson news they can get. Can you say anything about Little Ashes?
RP: I did two little movies last year. Without Twilight I don’t know what would happen to them. They would get like one theater. Tiny. I love it when people come up to me and say, “I’m not actually a fan of yours from Twilight, I’m a fan of yours from the poster of Little Ashes.” It’s so funny.
Question: Has your life changed? Can you still walk down the street?
RP: I don’t [do] too much walking down the street. I’m always doing interviews or going into rooms where everyone is screaming. I go to different cities in the world for screaming sessions.
Question: Do you ever wish for a time before the internet?
RP: Definitely. It feeds the worst part of your soul. When you have nothing to do and you go on, when you’re too tired to read a book. I’ll read the news, you go on to the New York Times, you get bored and go on IMDb. Then you realize how pathetic you are. I have to delete my history. It is kind of addictive, but at the same time pathetic.
Question: How do you handle that swing of emotions, from 75,000 signatures to being on the cover of EW?
RP: It’s the same thing either way. I prefer sticking with the people who said they hated me. At least you’ve got to fight for something then. My dad said success and failure were both impostors. That’s the best way to go about acting, especially when everything is so extreme. Little girls saying, “I want to have your babies!” And it’s “Like, you don’t. Seriously.” I don’t even want to have my babies.
Entertainment Weekly has named its “10 Breakout Stars of 2008” and the list includes an actor who wants to suck your blood, a singer looking for a boy from America, a tween star known to hang out with three brothers – and even a dog who lives the good life in the 90210.
Robert Pattinson: Topping the magazine’s list is the “Twilight” star. The 22-year-old actor is set to play Edward Cullen in the big screen adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s insanely popular book series. Robert’s fans have been known to wait for hours to catch a glimpse of him, shriek and squeal at almost inhuman volume levels when they finally do see the British actor and even cause riots in malls if he’s nearby.
Demi Lovato: Demi burst on to the tween scene in the Disney Channel’s “Camp Rock” television movie, starring alongside the Jonas Brothers. The young star, who also dropped her album, “Don’t Forget” in 2008, will be seen in the upcoming movie, “Princess Protection Program.”
Russell Brand: The British funny man had audiences in hysterics in this summer’s “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” along with hosting MTV’s VMAs. He will revive his “Sarah Marshall” role in the upcoming “Get Him to the Greek.”
Estelle: Estelle’s debut album, “Shine,” paired her with some of music’s greats including, Mark Ronson, will.i.am. and Kanye West on her hit single, ‘‘American Boy.’’ She toured with Gym Class Heroes and the Roots in 2008.
Shailene Woodley: The TV version of “Juno,” Shailene burst onto the scene playing a pregnant teen on ABC Family’s hit show, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.”
David Cook: Cook nabbed a whopping 55 million votes to beat out David Archuleta for the crown of “American Idol.” He told EW that his fans can expect to see the real David on his upcoming self-titled album, saying, “This record is me. I have found a calm in it that people thought I had on the show.’
Tristan Wilds: The former “Wire” star has viewers tuning in to see him navigate through the world of Beverly Hills teen angst in the new “90210.” The young actor was also seen in 2008’s “The Secret Life of Bees” with Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah and Dakota Fanning.
Kat Dennings: Kat had a busy year in 2008, starring in “The House Bunny” and “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.” The young actress will be seen next in the upcoming “The Dream of the Romans” with “Juno’s” Olivia Thirlby.
Chelsea Handler: The comedienne hit the big time with her hit late-night talk show, “Chelsea Lately.” The funny gal has also inked a deal to star in ABC’s TV adaptation of the hit online series, “In the Motherhood.”
Angel: Proving the magazine’s list isn’t just for humans, the four-year-old Angel was the top dog as the box office this year, pulling in more than $88 million dollars with her hit family film, “Beverly Hills Chihuahua.” She might have played a posh pooch in the Disney hit, but her trainer told the mag it was all acting. ‘‘She’d rather run around and play with sticks than hang out in little pink dresses,’ trainer Mike Alexander said.
The news is enough to make Brad Pitt anemic: He’s not the sexiest blood sucker to hit the big screen. According to a new poll from the U.S.-based theatre information website Moviefone, Pitt placed second to Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson in a public vote that asked respondents to name the sexiest male and female vampires of all time.
Pitt fell far behind Pattinson’s 112,794 votes for sexiest pale male with a mere 96,307 votes, while Salma Hayek, who appeared in Robert Rodriguez’s kitschy From Dusk Till Dawn, pulled in 264,718 votes to edge out number 2 gal Kate Beckinsale (Underworld), who placed far above the rest of the competition with a healthy 243,763 votes.
Other contenders for sexiest vampire included Antonio Banderas (No. 4), Tom Cruise (No. 8), George Hamilton (No. 14) and Aaliyah (No. 4).
The results, compiled from more than 1.8 million respondents, point to a significant generational divide when it comes to vampire flicks as older, established Draculas — most notably Bela Lugosi — failed to make the cut.
Not even Susan Sarandon and David Bowie, who co-starred opposite Catherine Deneuve in Tony Scott’s sexy vampire flick The Hunger (1983) found a top notch to nibble on Moviefone’s survey. Only Deneuve made the list, pulling in a mere 22,954 votes for what remains one of the sexiest vampire performances of all time.
At the very least, the survey proves just how important sex-appeal is to the vampire formula, which is generally considered a powerful metaphor for the sexual act itself since it involves an exchange of bodily fluids and a form of penetration.
Interestingly, the new breed of male vampire is a lot friendlier than the forbidden and lethal partners of the past — which may explain the popularity of “nice vampires” like Pattinson, Pitt, Banderas, Wesley Snipes and Tom Cruise over Christopher Lee or Lugosi.
Mean female vampires apparently get better sex-appeal scores than nice ones, proving the timeless attraction to the femme fatale archetype as nasty Hayek topped the superhero Beckinsale. Comic vampires seem to fare the worst, if Jennifer Beals’s appearance opposite Nicolas Cage in 1989’s Vampire’s Kiss is any indication. Beals came in dead last, after lesser-known German vamp Yvonne Monlaur who starred in 1960’s Brides of Dracula.
Twilight, the teen vampire movie that took a stunning $70m at the American box office in its first weekend, has made its British star Robert Pattinson (pictured leftwith Twlight co-starKirsten Stewart) one of Hollywood’s most bankable properties. However, his largely (female) teenage fan base may be a little confused about his next film. Called Little Ashes, it depicts the love affair between the surrealist painter Salvador Dali, played by Pattinson, and the Spanish poet Federico García Lorca.
Pattinson, 22, who before his success in Twilight was best known for playing Cedric Diggory in a number of the Harry Potter films, says he made a point of boning up on his character’s life. “There’s a book of letters between Lorca and Dali, where they make obvious references to their relationship, which is obviously more than just a friendship. Dali says, like, ‘Lorca tried to have sex with me’ …”
Clearly fearing younger cinema-goers might be confused, he adds: “It’s a very complicated script, and before anyone would see it, I recommend that you read a biography of Dali. Otherwise, you wouldn’t get too much out of it.”
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Clip of the Day: WATCH A CLIP FROM ROBERT PATTINSON’S ‘LITTLE ASHES’
The TWILIGHT actor plays a young Salvador Dali
By CHARLENE CHENG, News Editor
Published 12/1/2008
THE SKINNY: Robert Pattinson, in an attempt to be more than that kid from TWILIGHT, is also starring in a movie called LITTLE ASHES.
In this one, he leaves Washington state behind for Fascist Spain, and plays a young Salvador Dali. The story follows Dali as he develops an unusual love affair with poet Federico Garcia Lorca (Javier Beltran).
The Indiana Jones actor has made the list compiled by website ETonline to find the best looking men of the year.
Other stars to be recognised for their handsome features include American football quarterback Tony Romo, the boyfriend of Jessica Simpson, actor Adam Rodriguez and Pineapple Express star James Franco.
Twilight star Robert admits he is finding it hard to come to terms with his new sex symbol status, especially as he still has difficulties finding women who are willing to date him.
The 22-year-old actor said: “I am single at the moment but I read stories in the magazines and papers that I am dating so and so or I am dating so and so. But it’s not true. But they are very good guesses because I always fancy the girl they pair me up with.
“I’m hoping it’s the girl herself who has made it up – then I’m in with a real chance. Maybe I should start getting in contact with them.”
ET’s Top 10 hunks of 2008:
1. Robert Pattinson
2. Zac Efron
3. Tony Romo
4. Reggie Bush
5. Shia LaBeouf
6. Adam Rodriguez
7. Chris Pine
8. James Franco
9. Jay Hernandez
10. Simon Baker
A new British study reveals that we’re mostly a bunch of tarot-paranoid, horoscope-reading, Casper-friending, UFO-spotting, vampire-crazed freaks. Or at least we’re more likely to believe in the veracity of Twilight than Christ. (Tell us something we didn’t already know!)
According to the Daily Mail:
Believing in ghosts and little green men from outer space appears a touch easier than having faith in God, according to a survey.
The researchers found that while 54 per cent of us are convinced the Almighty exists, 58 per cent believe in the supernatural…
Nearly a quarter of the 3,000 surveyed claimed they had had a paranormal encounter.
Some 37 per cent said aliens and ghosts were the basis of their belief system.
This year Barack Obama made believers out of Americans again with his talk of “Change We Can Believe In,” and as much as a certain Mr. Robert Pattinson has gotten us all a-twitter with Twilight madness, I’ll stick to believing in change over believing in vampires. Or perhaps even changing vampires?
Would the earth stood still when the Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly movie finally hits theaters next week?
Keanu Reeves will play the alien ”Klaatu” , while Jennifer Connelly as Helen and Jaden Smith as Jacob in this 1951 remake ”The Day the Earth Stood Still” . ”This movie is a cautionary tale about human survival on the precipice and our relationship to the planet.” So says Keanu Reeves. Directed by Scott Derrickson for the 20th Century Fox, it is set to hit the U.S. big screen on December 12. So prepare to meet thy visitor from outer space! Sigh…if only aliens were as gorgeous as this:
From gorgeous aliens to gorgeous painter, fresh from his hit movie “Twilight”, Robert Pattinson, or “Rpattz”( to his fans) will grace the screen once again but opps!…not until March 2009!
Rpattz will play Salvador Dali on this movie, that focuses on the intimate friendships of Frederico Lorca and Salvador Dali. From a vampire (with a bloody red lipstick) to a painter (with evolving moustache)- which one does he look best? I wonder how his legion of fans will react to this new movie? But worry not children, because one thing is for sure- this guy is versatile and his future looks brighter than his powdered face in “Twilight”!
Seems like the “Twilight” stars have a thing for biopics. Pattinson’s Twilight lady love Kristen Stewart is set to play rocker Joan Jett in a biopic about the rocker’s 1970s all-girl band, The Runaways- with Jett serving as the executive producer. Production is set to begin next year, but filming will have to revolve around Stewart’s commitments to the two upcoming Twilight sequels.
The first, New Moon, is expected to shoot sometime in early 2009. So expect for this two young stars to be around for quite a long time. *scream!*
Brad Pitt has said that he may marry Angelina Jolie in the future… if their children want them to tie the knot!
The couple have biological children Knox, Vivienne and Shiloh, as well as adopted kids Maddox, Pax and Zahara. Brad who obviously was beaming with pride when he said: : “I’m really proud of this family. I look at my sons and daughters… I feel rich being around them. Each one offers so much to the mix.”On the subject of marriage, he commented: “If we feel it’s important to our kids, we would.”
OK, no pressure Brad. I think its too early to be talking about marriage at this moment. *cough!* *cough!* Right, Angie? *winks!* In China ,the popular female magazine “GoodHousekeeping” will hold an awarding ceremony for the ”Most Loving/Compassionate Chinese Women of 2008″ on December 10, 2008, in celebration of the magazine’s 7th anniversary. The said event was launched in China in 2005, and every year until 2007, the magazine bestows the award of the 20 most admired chinese women , who represents femininity,grace and elegance in the chinese society. With this year’s theme about “Love”, the magazine will be announcing the 20 recipients of the “ most loving/compassionate chinese women of 2008″ , beloved and admired by chinese people.
The many women who will be invited to participate in the ceremony includes Yang Lan, Gigi Leung, 张兰 ,Sun Li,Kelly Lin, Jiang Wenli, Jiang Qinqin, Wu Peici, ,etc. According to the fashion insiders, it was revealed that the public’s choices ”forever princess” Zhou Huimin and “sexy goddess” Kelly Lin, is working very hard to fix their schedules inorder to grace this prestigious event, and God-willing, no unfortunate events would come up to hinder the presence of these two women. Who knows? They are amongst the winners! It has been also said that many music personalities has also been invited to perform for a mini-concert to pay tribute to these women.
So who says “Girl power” is non-existent in China?
And finally… the buzz in Hollywood for “The Dark Knight” to be nominated in Oscar is quite strong. According to the recent news, “The Dark Knight” has emerged as a solid contender for best picture and best director for Christopher Nolan.
Web sites such as TheEnvelope.com and Awardsdaily.com rank Nolan and Ledger among key Oscar contenders and list “The Dark Knight” alongside best-picture possibilities such as Ron Howard’s “Frost/Nixon,” Gus Van Sant’s “Milk” and David Fincher’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”
So let’s put a smile on that “Oscar’s” face and hope for a Ledger noms. That certainly isnt a joke.
Sat
May 02, 2009 11:45 pm EDT
By Steve Cofield
http://sports.yahoo.com/box/blog
It wasn’t a contest from the opening seconds. Manny Pacquiao came out and stunned Ricky Hatton with blazing speed. By the end of the second round Ricky Hatton was asleep and being fitted for a neckbrace. Pacquiao landed a left with seven second left in the second round. Hatton was out cold on the way down to the mat. It was over at 2:59 of the second as Pacquiao won something called the IBO super lightweight belt. The belt means nothing, Pacquiao further secured his spot as the king of boxing.
He can now spend the summer prepping to view Floyd Mayweather Jr. face off against Juan Manuel Marquez. Keep in mind it took 22 rounds for Mayweather to finish Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya. The “small” Pacquiao took out the pair with stoppages in 11 rounds.
The problems started early for Hatton. He simply could not see Pacquiao’s right hook.
“I expected my right hook was going to control him,” said Pacquiao (49-3-2, 33 KOs). “He’s open when he coming forward and his hands are down. He was very surprised by the right hook.”
Pacman blasted Hatton early and floored the Brit just 55 seconds into the fight and then did it again in the closing seconds of the first. Pacquiao landed an amazing 35-of-62 (56-percent) in that opening round.
“I’m surprised that the fight was kind of easy,” said Pacquiao. “I knew the left hook and right were going to be key in the fight.”
By JOJO P. PANALIGAN
May 18, 2009, 4:53pm source: Manila Bulletin
“American Idol” champion David Cook disgruntled some of his Filipino fans by excluding “The Time Of My Life” in his Manila concert set list last May 16.
“The Time Of My Life” was the coronation song of “American Idol” Season 7 which Cook won. The song went as high as number three in the US Billboard charts and became an even bigger hit in Canada (#2) and in the Philippines (#1).
Instead, Cook performed a barrage of unreleased tracks from his self-titled album that left the crowd lethargic. Songs from “Analog Heart,” an album he released during his pre-“Idol” days, made the crowd even more listless.
“We’re playing songs you’ve never heard before,” Cook explained, noticing the lull. “Is that okay?”
The only familiar songs from Cook that night were “Light On” (first single off “Cook”) and his remake of “Always Be My Baby” (originally by Mariah Carey).
“Little Lies” (Fleetwood Mac), although a charter in the US back in the 80s, received little airplay in the Philippines, thus, was hardly recognized when Cook performed it.
The rock singer opened his set somberly with just a guitar accompanying him in “The World I Know;” perhaps in honor of his brother, Adam, who died of brain cancer in March.
At one point, the “Idol” champ mingled with the audience and took a picture of himself using the camera of a fan.
He asked for a show of hands of those who bought his album. Cook, however, must have been let down when the audience couldn’t sing along.
“You guys are still having a good time…right?” he’d check on the crowd from time to time.
To catch the audience’s attention, the singer uttered the Filipino words “Salamat!” and “Magandang gabi!”
“I hope I didn’t butcher ‘em,” he said good-naturedly.
His latest single, “Come Back To Me,” Cook dedicated to newly weds. His doing so had some people scratching their heads.
Part of “Come Back To Me,” after all, goes, “You say you’re leaving as you look away/I know there’s really nothing left to say…”
Cook only gave an encore. Few fans shouted for more the second time he left the stage. Many were more interested in leaving The Mall of Asia Concert Grounds as fast they could to beat the expected traffic jam.
“American Idol” Season 7 runner-up David Archuleta served up a more balanced repertoire.
Although with fewer hit songs (two to Cook’s three), Archuleta was able to keep the audience interested by peppering his set list with four remakes: “Stand By Me” (Ben E King), “Angel” (Robbie Williams), “A Thousand Miles” (Vanessa Carlton) and a snippet of “Beautiful Girl” (Sean Kingston).
The remakes were performed successively at the latter part of the show, thus, establishing a sense of climax. Archuleta also wisely alternated between fast and slow songs instead of a stream of songs that had the same time signature and arrangement.
Archuleta was all over the stage. That’s why after doing certain fast numbers, he would reach for his bottled water and drink which, oddly enough, earned hoots of approval from the audience.
He also accompanied himself on the piano in some songs (e.g. “To Be With You”) and even whistled the instrumental hook in “Your Eyes Don’t Lie.”
The 18-year-old singer had some breathing issues in a couple of the fast numbers. Nevertheless, he was pitch-perfect in most and he was able to reach the high notes especially in “A Little Too Not Over You” and “Crush.”
Other songs that Archuleta performed were “You Can,” “Barriers,” “Don’t Let Go,” “Zero Gravity” and “Waiting For Yesterday.”
American singer David Archuleta thanked his Filipino fans following his “unbelievable” back-to-back concert with David Cook in Manila Saturday night.
In a video uploaded on YouTube, Archuleta said both he and Cook were grateful to the thousands of people who watched their show at SM Mall of Asia.
“It was unbelievable… it was so incredible. I can’t believe how many came to see the show. Just want to say thank you so much, to all the fans who came. To all the Filipino fans, both David Cook and I appreciate it so much. Just want to thank you, guys, from both of us. I can’t say salamat enough for the amazing time we had here (Philippines),” Archuleta said.
A report said around 50,000 fans trooped to the concert grounds of SM Mall of Asia to catch a glimpse of the two “American Idol” stars.
Cook sang songs from his album as well his versions of “The World I Know,” “Heroes” and his chart-topping cover of Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby.”
Archuleta also sang songs from his album as well as “Stand By Me,” which he performed on “American Idol.”
Most of the concert-goers said they followed the careers of the two Davids since they joined “American Idol” season 7 last year.
Archuleta said he and Cook would never forget their experience in the Philippines. He said the two of them had a great time in the country.
He also thanked his fans in Singapore, Malaysia and United Kingdom
FILE – In this May 12, 2009 file photo, actor Kiefer Sutherland arrives at the “24″ Season 7 finale screening and panel discussion in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — It was either an inadvertent or cleverly subtle attempt at humor when Kiefer Sutherland invited hundreds of advertisers Monday to join him at the bar.
The star of Fox’s “24″ was charged with third-degree assault for head-butting a fashion designer at a New York nightclub earlier this month. He returned to New York Monday for Fox’s annual presentation of next season’s schedule to TV advertising executives.
Sutherland was alone onstage when he thanked advertisers for all their support through the show’s run, through strong and not-so-strong periods creatively.
He told them he’d be at Fox’s party following the presentation.
He said, “I will be looking for you at the bar,” inciting loud laughter.
at 7:11 p.m. on June 13, 2009
Source: enjoy.eastday.com
Kelly Lin walked the red carpet alone
On June 13:The 12th Shanghai International Film Festival opened this evening,and the famous movie star Kelly Lin walked the red carpet alone, dressed in a romantic sexy red hot evening gown.
To many people, Kelly Lin has always been sexy , but tonight, Kelly Lin is red hot no doubt, exposing her perfect figure on that evening gown, and the deep v is open up to the stomach,backless but partly concealing her chest, causing the audiences to scream in awe intermittenly. Kelly Lin walked very carefully, very afraid of waldrobe malfunction, she also did not accept interviews,instead only accepted picture taking.
…At the opening ceremony (of Shanghai Internaltional Film Festival), Danny Boyle and other famous international directors came on stage to give each of their speeches. International movie star Halle Berry also received the Outstanding Contribution Award for film, which can be a reflection that the Shanghai Festival’s growing international trend is getting strong .
Let’s take a look who among them wears it right?
Halle Berry:
Modelling: In contrast to numerous stars present, Halle Bery’s modelling is very international.Halle Berry wears the white single-shoulder gown gracefully. With asymmetric tailoring, and getting rid of the simple boring taste is the detailed silver sequins in a corrugated linings serving as a contrast to that slender tan body.
Comment:
I am a fan of the international superstar,so I would never disrespect her on the red carpet!
Zhou Xun
Modeling: Zhou Xun is still on her favorite small short skirts. The sequined small black skirt would have been very eye-catching , but the huge pink bow on the chest is very cumbersome. And she should take pride on that small waistline, but because of this big bow, it can not be appreciated.
Comment: With such strange dress, I wonder if she and her designer boyfriend Li Qi are recently not in good terms.
Li Bing bing
Modelling: Possibly the designer may be concerned about a waste of cloth, so she wrapped it around Bing-bing’s upper body,and to say the least, the lower part of the body is covered with a cake-like skirt lengthened to the ankle area immediately turning it into a magic pagoda skirt. She may appear like a white swan, but in reality, there is no curve at all. Under her skirt are her black claws,which is also too obtrusive.
Comment: : The title of Pagoda Queen, must belong to you.
Fan Bingbing
Modeling: The unique but strange tailoring, plus the tie of red rose ribbon,and arms are fully exposed gives Fan bingbing a very sensual look. Likewise, restoring the old 80’s look hairstyle, coordinated just right . This modelling takes us to our warm feelings way back ,without hesitation, to that festive evening at the opera .
Comment:
You think you are Peng Liyuan,ah!
Kelly Lin
Modelling : Kelly Lin appeared in a red hot evening gown , her charms is so romantic , and she was simply natural. Her deep V front is no doubt expected to highlight her figure. In addition,her white skin and hair style were complimentary. It is without a doubt, Kelly Lin’s natural beauty is the most eye-catching and the focus of everyone’s attention on that evening.
Comment:
A stunner, it is that simple!
(excerpt on fashion- related contents only) Writer/Reporter: Tan Yan Ching source:
http://dgtime.timedg.com/html/2009-06/14/content_298929.htm
photos used are not the actual photos in the article.
photos courtesy of: sina.com/rednet.cn
Anthony Wong: ” It’s already popular for men to wear skirt for so many years .”
The 12th Shanghai international film festival held its opening ceremony last night , and also it lets Ken Chu’s former and present rumored girlfriends Li Bingbing and Kelly Lin meet at the red carpet.But “tian-lei love” has been going on for 4 years,and also news reported about a marriage celebration, Leilei obviously prevailed in relationship. Even yesterday, her red deep V evening gown by VERSACE slightly revealed the 33C chest startled and won the entire audience ,while Li Bingbing puts on an uptight white cake skirt . Everybody saw Leilei’s slightly apparent chest, some reporters asked that if she is worried of any wardrobe malfunction? She smilingly said: “I have made the required security measures.”
Last night, the stars shine at the red carpet of Shanghai film festival , the group of “foreigners” lead by Oscar best picture “Slumdog Millionaire” Director Danny Boyle took an approving assessment speech, causing the audiences to cheer on the scene. Oscar best actress Halle Berry yesterday entered the stage, and it is her first time in Shanghai, she learned to speak these words in Chinese: “I love you.”
Yesterday the red carpet seem like a”battlefield” of the stars from 3 places China, Hong Kong and Taiwan . Kelly Lin has rich experience in attending various occassions like this, she also knows the effect on her body of wearing this red deep V against her white skin ,with the exquisite golden clutch bag again were perfect. In addition, with her sweet smiling face, she instantaneously defeated the numerous stars from Hong Kong and Taiwan ,and she steps into this field successfully.
But mainland star Li Bing bing was horrifying as she puts on a burdensome white cake skirt, she wears in her upper body a long-sleeved short coat,wrapping around that 33 B, only apparent is her small face and she puts on sandals showing her toes,which was quite very prudish.
Anthony wong , however,appeared in a western-style clothing, with horse hairstyle, was an ingenious concept,along with a black long skirt , he smiled said: “” It’s already popular for men to wear skirt for so many years .”
This year’s Shanghai international film festival will conclude on the 21st, Hon Hai Group Chairman Terry Gou invested in an Aaron Kwok starrer “Silver Empire” is also a contender in the Jinjuejiang best picture out of 16 other film works. Zhang Ziyi yesterday came for “Sophie’s Revenge” , leading Fan bingbing,He Rundong to attend. However, her formal gown was too long, and she stepped on it carelessly.
More Photos at the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival:
Kelly Lin
Ge You teams up with beautiful partner Kelly Lin in the lead role, as well as with comedian stars Liang Tian, “ elder brother” Liu Hua,and Taiwan idol Bolin Chen to participate in this year’s biggest comedy film,”Gasp”. There will be alot of large local and foreign films to be released this summer to compete against one another. But the most anticipated is Uncle Ge You leaving Feng Xiao Gang for this very good comedy performance!
“Gasp opens in mainland theaters on August 11,2009
Depp is convinced he over-exerts himself while he is acting.
Hollywood superstar Johnny puts so much effort into his characters that the actor falls sick after every film.
The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star never gets sick while he is working, but as soon as he finishes each film he reportedly comes down with a mystery ailment which keeps him in bed for weeks, Contactmusic reported.
And Depp is convinced he over-exerts himself while he is acting.
“There is a period once you finish a guy – a character – when you’re looking to go back to yourself and sometimes it can manifest itself in illness. After I made The Libertine, I was in bed for two weeks. When you’re working, you don’t get sick, then suddenly it hits you like a two-by-four,” Depp said.
At 14:24 on June 17, 2009
Source: Sohu Entertainment
Review: Versace evening formal dress. Kelly Lin chose this deep V formal gown proving her unique sexy appeal once more. The VERSACE’s flaming hot red color matches the sexy style/cut . The upper cut went very well with her good figure, so that when she appeared on the stage, it ignited the whole crowd.With a combination of her sexy and pure/sweet looks, it added icing on the cake for the design, hence making her the sexy goddess of the night.
Kelly Lin chose this red Versace gown .
Kelly Lin is no doubt a perfect person to wear this
Kelly Lin, “the front part of the dress opens greatly”
Pardon the cliche, but it’s one of the holiest of Holy Grails of technology: Wireless power. And while early lab experiments have been able to “beam” electricity a few feet to power a light bulb, the day when our laptops and cell phones can charge without having to plug them in to a wall socket still seems decades in the future.
Nokia, however, has taken another baby step in that direction with the invention of a cell phone that recharges itself using a unique system: It harvests ambient radio waves from the air, and turns that energy into usable power. Enough, at least, to keep a cell phone from running out of juice.
While “traditional” (if there is such a thing) wireless power systems are specifically designed with a transmitter and receiver in mind, Nokia’s system isn’t finicky about where it gets its wireless waves. TV, radio, other mobile phone systems — all of this stuff just bounces around the air and most of it is wasted, absorbed into the environment or scattered into the ether. Nokia picks up all the bits and pieces of these waves and uses the collected electromagnetic energy to create electrical current, then uses that to recharge the phone’s battery. A huge range of frequencies can be utilized by the system (there’s no other way, really, as the energy in any given wave is infinitesimal). It’s the same idea that Tesla was exploring 100 years ago, just on a tiny scale.
Mind you, harvesting ambient electromagnetic energy is never going to offer enough electricity to power your whole house or office, but it just might be enough to keep a cell phone alive and kicking. Currently Nokia is able to harvest all of 5 milliwatts from the air; the goal is to increase that to 20 milliwatts in the short term and 50 milliwatts down the line. That wouldn’t be enough to keep the phone alive during an active call, but would be enough to slowly recharge the cell phone battery while it’s in standby mode, theoretically offering infinite power — provided you’re not stuck deep underground where radio waves can’t penetrate.
Nokia says it hopes to commercialize the technology in three to five years.
Kelly Lin has been frequently asked about marriage with Ken Chu last night (19) at Hang Lung Plaza in Shanghai for BVLGARI. At the recent opening ceremony of the film festival, she appeared in a plunging red gown, but last night , she was wearing a steady elegant black dress, with hair worn in a bun, looking very feminine, and noble , and when it comes to romance, she is not like some young girls,just like the elegant dress, she’s more stable now, and she could go perfect with a stable man to be with.
CTU is back. New York City has been added to the cast. And Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) has recovered. More details on the eighth season of “24,” bowing in January:
Fox last week confirmed that “24″ will shift to New York City and unfold, in the network’s words, “amidst the shadows of the Statue of Liberty and the United Nations.” CTU (Counter Terrorism Unit), which was shuttered a season or so ago in the wake of a scandal, will reopen and be run by Brian Hastings (Mykelti Williamson), who, we are told, is “razor-sharp” and has an MBA.
Also added is Agent Cole Ortiz — played by Freddie Prinze Jr. He wants to be Jack the 2nd (good luck, Cole). He’ll run field operations.
And recent fave President Taylor (Cherry Jones) will be back, but not her husband and daughter.
Few people have destroyed the world more than Roland Emmerich. In his mega-hit “Independence Day,” aliens laid waste to pretty much every metropolitan center on the planet, and in his eco-thriller “The Day After Tomorrow,” much of the northern hemisphere finds itself buried under ice. In his third crack at presenting the apocalypse, this fall’s “2012,” Emmerich taps into the angst of thousands of astrologers, doomsday enthusiasts, and conspiracy theorists who fear that a massive cataclysm will strike the earth on December 21 of that year. Yet unlike previous dates tied to the Earth’s expiration, this one has its roots in various sources throughout history including interpretations of the Mayan calendar, astrology, and the ancient Chinese fortune-telling text the “I-Ching.”
On the 125th anniversary of its foundation, Bulgari launches a major fund-raising project for the defence of children’s rights .
As part of the initiatives scheduled for 2009 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of its foundation, Bulgari has chosen to support the “Rewrite the Future” campaign of Save the Children, the largest independent international organisation for the defence and championing of children’s rights, present in over 100 countries around the world.
Through “Rewrite the Future” campaign, Save the Children is committed to providing within 2010 quality education to 8 million children living in conflict-affected areas. Thanks to the campaign, up to now Save the Children has rebuilt schools, supplied school materials and protected children from abuse and exploitation, paving the way for a durable change in the life of almost 6 million children.
Bulgari has decided to make its own contribution to Save the Children with the objective of raising € 10 million by the end of 2009, of which Bulgari has donated € 1 million to the organisation at the time of the official announcement on October 30th 2008, while the remaining figure will be raised during 2009.
The symbol par excellence of Bulgari’s commitment alongside Save the Children – and a tribute to the silversmith origins of Sotirio Bulgari, the company’s founder – will be a silver ring specially created for the campaign and featuring the Save the Children logo engraved inside.
The ring will be on sale from February to 31 December 2009 in all Bulgari stores throughout the world, in some selected department stores, and on Bulgari’s e-commerce website, at the price of SGD $555 / MYR $1250. (Shown below)
Besides the ring, to mark the occasion Bulgari will also develop a collection of 11 pieces of high jewellery and 7 high-end timepieces, of an estimated total value of € 3 million. It will be officially presented on 20 May 2009 in Rome, on occasion of the retrospective exhibition “Between Eternity and History”, hosted at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, to celebrate the 125 years of the Bulgari brand.
This collection of jewels and watches will then be presented at high-profile Bulgari events throughout the world – ultimately becoming the leading player of an auction that will be held on 8 December 2009 in New York and whose proceeds will be 100% donated to Save the Children.
All the initiatives connected with the operation will be non-profit for the Bulgari Group. Photographer Fabrizio Ferri, also a supporter of this project, has donated his time to photograph each celebrity supporter.
Among the celebrities who, thus far, have decided to support the initiative are: Julianne Moore, Benicio Del Toro, Ben Stiller, Sally Field, Sting, Willem Dafoe, Rosario Fiorello, Gabriele Muccino, Jason Lewis, Andy Garcia, Valeria Golino, Isabella Rossellini and Debra Messing.
Francesco Trapani, Chief Executive Officer of the Bulgari Group, commented on the initiative: “For Bulgari, being part of history and at the same time being able to help change it by giving less fortunate people the possibility of a new future is the best possible way of celebrating its 125 years. I am therefore really delighted that the company is actively working on the success of the “Rewrite the Future” campaign – a project consistent with the commitment Bulgari has decided to make to initiatives aiding youth education throughout the world. I am also convinced that, thanks to the help of our customers and Save the Children supporters, we will succeed in achieving – and hopefully in exceeding – the ambitious target we have set ourselves. ”
Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Secretary General of the International Save the Children Alliance commented: “We are very pleased to announce this global partnership with Bulgari. Their commitment and support for education is one of the most valuable ways to make a difference to children’s lives in war afflicted countries.”
Some of the celebrity supporters of this good cause:
Johnny Depp may be one of the most desirable men in Hollywood, but he looks far from handsome in his latest film role.
In place of his light golden tan and dark brown hair, Depp is unrecognisable with his curly orange hair, pasty skin and pink make-up as she plays the ghoulish-looking Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s upcoming adaptation of Alice In Wonderland.
The 46-year-old actor joins Anne Hathaway, Matt Lucas, Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry and Helena Bonham Carter in the eagerly-anticipated movie.
Relative unknown Mia Wasikowska, 19, from Australia, will be playing Alice, who is much older in the film than in CS Carroll’s classic.
Seventeen-year-old Alice struggles to fit into Victorian society and is about to be proposed to in front of hundreds of people at a garden party.
She flees the party and spots the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen) and follows him down a hole and into Wonderland.
While film fans will have to wait until March 2010 to see the film, Disney have given them a taste of things to come with the first official glimpse of the cast in their garish costumes.
The look of the film is typical Burton style with Victorian styling and extreme colour contrasts.
As well as being transformed by their costumes, the cast’s features have been digitally altered, making them look far removed from their normal selves.
As the tea-drinking, unbirthday-celebrating Mad Hatter, Johnny’s eyes are yellow and enlarged.
Producer Richard Zanuck said: ‘This character is off his rocker. He is so much fun and so nutty, I can’t imagine anyone else doing it.’
The film also stars Burton’s muse and real-life partner Bonham Carter, whose head has been digitally swelled to play the Red Queen.
Dressed in full royal regalia, Bonham Carter’s body is dwarfed by her bulbous head, a physical reflection of the Queen’s enormous ego.
The Red Queen has overthrown her sister, the White Queen (Hathaway) and has turned Wonderland from a peaceful kingdom to a land of paranoia and fear.
Zanuck explained: ‘The creatures are ready to revolt and waiting for Alice to help them.’
Normally a brunette, Hathaway looks ethereal with her platinum blonde hair and alabaster skin as she plays the exiled Queen.
Zanuck describes her as ‘beautiful but over the top. She doesn’t walk. She floats. She’s very eccentric’.
The Devil Wears Prada star Hathaway added: ‘She’s cute, but psycho. Things even out.’
Little Britain star Lucas plays rhyming twins Tweedledee and Tweedledum, who has been digitally manipulated to look egg-shaped using motion-capture technology.
The pair are two of the first characters to meet Alice upon her arrival in Wonderland and introduce her to the Mad Hatter.
Explaining his casting of newcomer Wasikowska as Alice, Burton said: ‘We met a lot of people, but she just had that certain kind of emotional toughness, standing her ground in a way that makes her kind of an older person with a younger person?s mentality.’
The film also stars Christopher Lee as the Jabberwock, Rickman as the Caterpiller, Fry as the Cheshire Cat and Back To The Future actor Crispin Glover as the Knave of Hearts.
Fashion magazine “WE PEOPLE” recently voted 10 best dressed people in Taiwan and the list included Kelly Lin, Shu Qi, Peter Lam-Kin’s girlfriend Monica Chen (Monica),Sun Yingying, first lady of Taichung Hu Tingting and so on. These personalities’ own photographs wearing different brands on their different perforamnces were collected, and judged based on their individual style and taste,however Taiwan models Lin Chi-ling and Lin Qi, lost big time.
“WE PEOPLE” founder Li Guanyi said: “Our selection criteria, does not necessarily deals with the ones who has the most beautiful dresses, but base on their own manner and fashion sense. They have their own ideas in the styles of dressing up and have thier own fashion taste .”
Kelly Lin has given people the feeling of a unique temperament, she has this air of natural elegance which comes from having good tastes. she once said: ” elegance is about being comfortable, and not to be pressured by what is invisible .”
As for Shu Qi, she said: “Growing up as a girl , I love dressing up, however when I entered in showbusiness, it’s the other way. I like to dress comfortably, to be more relaxed, and that is, my definition of taste.”
WE PEOPLE : Ten Best Dressed PEOPLE In Taiwan
1. Shu Qi
2. Kelly Lin
3. MOnica Chen-Ping (Mr. Peter Lam Kin’s girlfriend)
Monica(left)
4. Hu Tingting (wife of Taichung Mayor Jason Hu)
5. Sun Yingying
6. Wang Xiao Jie (daughter of the owner of precious stone garden)
By LYNN ELBER, Associated Press Writer Lynn Elber, Associated Press Writer – 4 mins ago
LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson, the sensationally gifted child star who rose to become the “King of Pop” and the biggest celebrity in the world only to fall from his throne in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday. He was 50. Jackson died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Ed Winter, the assistant chief coroner for Los Angeles County, confirmed his office had been notified of the death and would handle the investigation.
The circumstances of Jackson’s death were not immediately clear. Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 p.m., Capt. Steve Ruda told the Los Angeles Times. The paramedics performed CPR and took him to UCLA Medical Center, Ruda told the newspaper.
Jackson’s death brought a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music’s premier all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage.
His 1982 album “Thriller” — which included the blockbuster hits “Beat It,” “Billie Jean” and “Thriller” — remains the biggest-selling album of all time, with more than 100 million copies worldwide.
The public first knew him in the late 1960s, when as a boy he was the precocious, spinning lead singer of the Jackson 5, the music group he formed with his four older brothers. Among their No. 1 hits were “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” and “I’ll Be There.”
He was perhaps the most exciting performer of his generation, known for his feverish, crotch-grabbing dance moves and his high-pitched voice punctuated with squeals and titters. His single sequined glove, tight, military-style jacket and aviator sunglasses were trademarks second only to his ever-changing, surgically altered appearance.
“For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don’t have the words,” said Quincy Jones, who produced “Thriller.” “He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I’ve lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him.”
Jackson ranked alongside Elvis Presley and the Beatles as the biggest pop sensations of all time. In fact, he united two of music’s biggest names when he was briefly married to Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie.
But as years went by, Jackson became an increasingly freakish figure — a middle-aged man-child weirdly out of touch with grown-up life. His skin became lighter, his nose narrower, and he spoke in a breathy, girlish voice. He surrounded himself with children at his Neverland ranch, often wore a germ mask while traveling and kept a pet chimpanzee named Bubbles as one of his closest companions.
In 2005, he was cleared of charges he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor at Neverland in 2003. He had been accused of plying the boy with alcohol and groping him. The case took a fearsome toll on his career and image, and he fell into serious financial trouble.
Jackson was preparing for what was to be his greatest comeback: He was scheduled for an unprecedented 50 shows at a London arena, with the first set for July 13. He was in rehearsals in Los Angeles for the concert, an extravaganza that was to capture the classic Jackson magic: showstopping dance moves, elaborate staging and throbbing dance beats.
Singer Dionne Warwick said: “Michael was a friend and undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest entertainers that I fortunately had the pleasure of working with……..we have lost an icon in our industry.”
Hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital as word of his death spread. The emergency entrance at the UCLA Medical Center, which is near Jackson’s rented home, was roped off with police tape.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Michael Jackson has just died,” a woman boarding a Manhattan bus called out, shortly after the news was announced. Immediately many riders reached for their cell phones.
In New York’s Times Square, a low groan went up in the crowd when a screen flashed that Jackson had died, and people began relaying the news to friends by cell phone.
“No joke. King of Pop is no more. Wow,” Michael Harris, 36, of New York City, read from a text message a friend sent to his telephone. “It’s like when Kennedy was assassinated. I will always remember being in Times Square when Michael Jackson died.”
As the pundits rehashed the scandals of his life and debated what had brought him to a sudden end, Michael Jackson’s fans, an army of admirers undivided by language, religion or national differences, reacted with tears – and joy at the music he left behind. A look back at the life of the King of Pop:
Early Career
The seventh of nine children of Joseph and Katherine Jackson, Michael Joseph Jackson was born in Gary, Ind., on Aug. 29, 1958, and began his career performing with his brothers. His professional debut with the Jackson 5 came at age 11.
The group set chart records with its first four singles, including “I Want You Back” and “ABC.” As a solo artist, Jackson also recorded four albums for Motown Records before moving, with his brothers, to Epic Records, where they continued to record as the Jacksons until 1984.
Forming a partnership with producer Quincy Jones after working together on the 1978 movie musical The Wiz – in which Jackson played a rather sheepish Scarecrow to Diana Ross’s Dorothy in the urban adaptation of The Wizard of Oz – Jackson released his solo album Off the Wall, co-produced with Jones. The disc spawned monster hits including “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and “Rock With You.” His second Epic solo album, 1982’s Thriller, is often cited as the best-selling album of all time.
Moonwalk
The video for Thriller all but defined the music video genre and helped send the album to the top of the charts for 37 weeks. (All told, it remained on the list 80 weeks.) It was also nominated for 12 Grammys and won eight.
On March 25, 1983, Jackson performed his single “Billie Jean” live on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever TV special, where he debuted a dance, the moonwalk, that was to become his signature move. The following year, the singer was filming a Pepsi-Cola commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles when he suffered second-degree burns after pyrotechnics set his hair on fire before a full house. The singer settled out of court and established the Michael Jackson Burn Center with his $1.5 million award.
‘We Are the World’
In 1984, Jackson did his final tour with the Jacksons to support the album Victory. The one major hit from the recording was Michael’s duet with Mick Jagger, “State of Shock.” The next year, Jackson began to put charity first and co-wrote and sang (along with Willie Nelson, Tina Turner and nearly every pop star known at the time) “We Are the World,” on behalf of USA for Africa.
Then came the 1987 album Bad, when some slippage in his popularity began to show. At the time, the reclusive Jackson, who was raised a Jehovah’s Witness, started construction on a mini-Disneyland as his residence, which he named Neverland, a place to live out the childhood he claimed he never had.
In 1993, Jackson addressed persistent rumors, telling Oprah Winfrey on her TV show that, contrary to reports that he was bleaching his skin a lighter shade, he in fact suffered from a condition called vitiligo. He also said that his father physically abused him as a child.
Allegations
Not long after, Michael himself was accused of abusing a 13-year-old boy who slept over at Neverland, though police found no evidence to support the claim when they searched the ranch. The case was settled by Jackson for an undisclosed sum. When other allegations of a similar nature emerged, Jackson maintained his innocence.
In August 1994, Jackson and the daughter of the late rock icon Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie Presley, were married – and very soon split up. After their 1996 divorce, Jackson married Debbie Rowe, a nurse in the office of one of his doctors. Two children were born to the couple through artificial insemination: son Prince Michael Jackson, in 1997, and daughter Paris Michael Jackson, in 1998. Jackson later had a third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (nicknamed “Blanket”).
Professionally, Jackson was losing some of his luster, and the reception to his 1995 album HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book I was mixed, even though it produced two hit singles: “You Are Not Alone” and “Scream,” the latter a duet with his sister Janet Jackson. By the time Jackson’s 2001 album Invincible arrivedd, the artist was known as much an eccentric character as a serious musician.
Farewell to Neverland
Appearing dazed and confused on a 2002 MTV Music Awards telecast, Jackson further damaged his reputation when he held son Blanket over a hotel balcony in Berlin so his fans on the street could see the child. Once again, when the critics threw bricks at him, Jackson said he was acting out of innocence.
The real trouble came in 2003, with a TV documentary, Living with Michael Jackson, in which the star told British journalist Martin Bashir that he shared his bed with with young children. In 2004 came Jackson’s arrest on a slew of ugly charges, including lewd conduct with a minor, attempted lewd conduct, administering alcohol to facilitate molestation and conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. A media circus ensued at the trial – one day a very late Jackson showed up to court in his pajamas – though on June 14, 2005, Jackson was acquitted of all charges.
Saying that he felt that Neverland had been contaminated by police authorities who had gathered evidence against him, Jackson moved himself and his children to Bahrain. Amid promises of a new album, Jackson languished as an artist. Earlier this year, he announced that he would perform a series of concerts in the U.K. He said that these would be his final curtain call – his farewell to his fans.
June 23, 2009
by David Chiu source: www.spinner.com
With numerous hit singles, a Grammy Award, Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, and an induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame to his credit, Bryan Adams may have earned the ultimate tribute from his native Canada: a postage stamp.
The rock singer joins three other musicians — Stompin’ Tom Connors, Edith Butler and Robert Charlebois — as part of the Canadian Recording Artists stamp series. The stamps recognize “talented recording artists who have enjoyed great success in the music industry,” says the Canada Post on its website. The set of four stamps will be officially released on July 2.
“It is a wonderful honor to be amongst the great men and women who have graced our Canadian stamps,” Adams says in Details, Canada Post’s philatelic publication. “I am humbled by the recognition.”
Adams, who is also a professional photographer, has another connection with stamps: His photograph of Queen Elizabeth II was used on a Canadian postage stamp in 2003.
The arrival of the Bryan Adams stamp coincides with two special milestones for the rocker this year: Adams will turn 50 in November; and his blockbuster album ‘Reckless’ — best known for hits such as ‘Heaven,’ ‘Summer of ‘69′ and ‘Run to You’ — was released exactly 25 years ago. Last week, Adams was selected for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for 2010.
This is not the first time Canada Post, Canada’s postal service, has honored popular musicians. Two years ago it issued stamps of Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Paul Anka and Anne Murray. Should Canada Post decide to continue with the stamp series, it will have plenty of native artists to honor. Possible choices could include Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Rush, Sarah McLachlan, the Guess Who, Shania Twain and Celine Dion.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” finished its first weekend with a whopping $108 million domestic haul and did $200.1 million for its first five days.
Final numbers Monday were down slightly from estimates reported a day earlier by distributor Paramount. But the sequel remained the second-best five-day gross ever, coming in $3.7 million behind the total for “The Dark Knight” last summer.
The top 20 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Hollywood.com:
1. “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” Paramount, $108,966,307, 4,234 locations, $25,736 average, $200,077,255, one week.
2. “The Proposal,” Disney, $18,578,541, 3,058 locations, $6,075 average, $69,162,471, two weeks.
3. “The Hangover,” Warner Bros., $17,022,166, 3,525 locations, $4,829 average, $183,054,267, four weeks.
Leonardo DiCaprio was left bare-footed and red-faced on a recent trip to Japan – after fans reportedly stole his shoes during a visit to an ancient temple.
The Titanic star was sightseeing in the country and joined a group of fellow Americans on a day out to a hilltop holy monument in Kyoto, but allegedly upset his fellow holidaymakers after refusing to pose for snaps with fans.
And the tourists got their revenge for the snub – by running off with the actor’s Nike trainers after he removed them to step inside the temple, according to New York Post gossip column Page Six.
A source tells the publication, “They just ran off with them. The poor guy had to leave the place barefoot.”
Kelly Lin did not charge a single cent but dressed up to attend the charity event
Beijing News – On July 1, according to media reports in Hong Kong, BVLGARI and the Save the Children charity launched its limited edition rings, Kelly Lin (Kelly) as their endorser, was invited to to do pictorials for the posters .It was learned that Kelly did not charge a single cent, and likewise with her attendance to the opening party in Shanghai. She is very compassionate.
As a token of gratitude, BVLGARI gave Kelly one of the poster, which made her really very happy.
She has just completed filming her new movie, so Kelly will now have time to rest in Taiwan. Afterwhich, she will grab the time to undergo Kung Fu training for a new movie with John Woo and Michelle Yeoh’s “THE SWORD AND THE MARTIAL ARTS WORLD” ,and she felt very nervous. This is her first time to be in a costume and also the first time to work with her two company managers in a high level performance, and Kelly said she dont want to fail. Although her role is still unkown, but she will be among the lead actresses, so she has to start training kung fu . Kelly arrived in Hong Kong today, to attend the Dior event, and to see the new beautiful items. No wonder she jokingly said this will relieve her of the pressure!
Former Bond girl Michelle Yeoh is to star in an upcoming kung fu movie directed by John Woo, she said Sunday, adding that she’s not avoiding action movies despite a recent break from the genre.
The “Tomorrow Never Dies” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” actress told a press conference at the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival that the Chinese-language film will start shooting in China in September.
She said Woo will share directing duties in the film – tentatively called “The Sword and the Martial Arts World” – with Taiwan filmmaker Su Chao-Pin, who directed the horror film “Silk”.
Yeoh made her name as an action star. Her recent roles in “Memoirs of a Geisha” (2005) and “Far North” (2007) have veered toward drama, but the 46-year-old actress said she still feels fit enough to handle action.
“I don’t let age limit me,” Yeoh said, adding she chose those projects because she enjoyed the stories, not because they were less physically taxing.
The film is Woo’s first new project since his US$80-million epic “Red Cliff”.
Michael Jackson spent the last night of his life doing what he had always done: performing. The singer was in rehearsals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, running through a full slate of songs from his upcoming 50-concert London event flanked by friends and colleagues. He marveled at the major set pieces that had finally been installed in the rehearsal space. “He was just glowing, and you could see it, that he was finally seeing it all come together,” says Dorian Holley, the vocal director for Jackson’s upcoming tour. “Up until Wednesday, it had always been [just a concept], but that last day you could see it in him, that he was seeing the show finally come together for the first time. It was a big moment.”
Holley says he left rehearsals just before midnight on the night of June 24, as Jackson headed off to attend yet more meetings. About 12 hours later, a 911 call would be placed from Jackson’s home in Holmby Hills, reporting urgently that “he’s not breathing … He’s not responding to CPR, anything.”
The pop icon had seemed different during these rehearsals — not ailing by any means, but perhaps more contemplative — says Holley, who has coached Jackson on solo tours since 1987. In preparing for previous tours, Holley said auditions for backup singers and other performing roles would usually be held via videotape, and it wouldn’t be all that uncommon for the two to speak directly only two or three times over the span of a year. But for “This Is It,” the London concerts scheduled to begin in July, Jackson was much more present and available, attending auditions and eagerly talking with everyone in the crew about the larger mission behind the tour.
“It almost sounds crazy to say that the show wasn’t about him, but … he’d put it in perspective all the time, saying, ‘This is what we’re here for, to spread a message of love and taking care of the planet, that we want people to understand it’s very, very dear and not to take it for granted,’” Holley tells TIME.
Until the last hour of rehearsals, Jackson maintained a ferocious, perfectionist pace, says Holley, who, after decades working with the singer, says he was still astonished by his vocal and physical prowess. Some in the public questioned whether Jackson, at 50, would still be able to command a stage, and recent reports published Sunday in Britain’s Daily Mail said that Jackson had been too feeble to dance, sing or, at times, even speak in the weeks leading up to his death. But, Holley — despite his own early concerns about a lack of rehearsal time leading up to the first London shows in July — says the star’s presence and energy during his final week was unequivocal. “He’d take the stage with this group of dancers, all in their 20s, but you couldn’t take your eyes off him … Many of his songs have six or seven parts, and he would often come over if we were missing an important note in our mix, and he would sing through all the parts rapid-fire to show us what he wanted. We would just sit there with our jaws open — it was awesome,” Holley says. “He could still do everything … The only difference now was that he would sometimes talk about how it made him sore.”
“This time around, we had the technology to isolate just his microphone and listen to his singing separate from everything else. I had no idea what a genius he was. The way he’s able to use his voice as a percussion instrument, lyricist, jazz singer all at the same time. I’m sure as people mine his works in years to come, they’re going to discover how much is there,” he says.
It was a text message on Thursday afternoon that gave Holley the first hint of bad news — a note saying Jackson had been rushed to the hospital. Neither he nor the crew knew how to react to the uncertainty, so they did what they always did — they went in to rehearse. Except this time, as fans all over the world from Los Angeles to New York City to Tokyo to Buenos Aires played his music, sang his songs and emulated his dance in tribute, Holley says the crew couldn’t bring themselves to touch the music.
Jackson had been preparing to take the world back, Holley says, and during the singer’s final night, he finally knew he was ready. “You would think that, on the one hand, the world has kind of beaten him up, and you could forgive him for having some trepidation and fear. But he didn’t have any of that,” says Holley. “Words fail to describe what people would have seen with the tour. I couldn’t even imagine until last week when it became physically apparent [on the set]. He was ready to show the world, and I so wish there could have been just one concert so the world would have seen.”
Robert Pattinson’s aunt has urged the British hunk not to start dating his Twilight co-star Kristen Stewart – because she fears they’ll never have a moment of peace as a potential couple.
Stewart has reportedly split from longtime boyfriend Michael Angarano, paving the way for a romance with her movie love interest Pattinson.
The media has been linking the Twilight twosome ever since they first appeared onscreen together in last year’s vampire love story, and the romance reports went into overdrive when the pair started shooting the sequel New Moon in Canada.
Both Pattinson and Stewart have denied they’re anything but close friends and co-stars, and the British actor’s aunt Diana Nutley hopes it stays that way – and the love rumours are false.
She tells U.S. magazine Life & Style, “I don’t think it would be a good idea for Robert to be in a serious relationship with Kristen. How can he live his life with a fellow star, with their every move being watched just like Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes?”
And Nutley, who is the sister of Pattinson’s mother, hopes her famous nephew will make the most of his overnight super fame – and have fun.
She adds, “He’s only 23 and probably won’t get married until he’s 40, if he’s got any sense.”
And she hopes he’ll eventually settle down with an English girl: “I think he will eventually come back home to England and fall in love with somebody he’s known since school.”
Not only did Micheal Jackson left us with the legacy of his music , but he also left with us, inspiring and beautiful words – which just like his music, will forever linger in our hearts.
“Music has been my outlet, my gift to all of the lovers in this world. Through it — my music, I know I will live forever.”
“Who wants to be mortal? Everybody wants immortality. That’s why I put all my soul to my music, as what Michaelangelo said, that even if the creator will be gone,thru his piece of art his legacy remains.”
“And my goal in life is to give to the world what I was lucky to receive: the ecstasy of divine union through my music and my dance.”
“The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at work.”
“If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with.”
“In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.”
“The meaning of life is contained in every single expression of life. It is present in the infinity of forms and phenomena that exist in all of creation.”
“I believe in my heart that the music community will come together as one and rally to the aid of thousands of innocent victims, … There is a tremendous need for relief dollars right now and through this effort each one of us can play an immediate role in helping comfort so many people.”
“My heart and prayers go out to every individual.”
“I was a veteran, before I was a teenager.”
“I’m just like anyone. I cut and I bleed. And I embarass easily.”
“Smooth, but not a criminal.”
“’Lies run sprints, but the truth runs marathons. The truth will win this marathon in court.’”
“I am bewildered at the length to which people will go to portray me so negatively.”
“I will say again that I have never, and would never, harm a child. It sickens me that people have written untrue things about me.”
“I have always maintained my innocence, and vehemently denied that these events ever took place. I reluctantly chose to settle the false claims only to end the terrible publicity and to continue with my life and career.”
“People who grew up as child stars have the same thing in common. You’re cute, they love you; you go through the awkward stage, they don’t accept you any more. Very few make the transition to adult star.”
“Children show me in their playful smiles the divine in everyone. This simple goodness shines straight from their hearts and only asks to be lived.”
“Everyone who knows me will know the truth, which is that my children come first in my life and that I would never harm any child.”
“Let us dream of tomorrow where we can truly love from the soul, and know love as the ultimate truth at the heart of all creation.”
“Gone Too Soon”
Like A Comet
Blazing ‘Cross The Evening Sky
Gone Too Soon
Like A Rainbow
Fading In The Twinkling Of An Eye
Gone Too Soon
Shiny And Sparkly
And Splendidly Bright
Here One Day
Gone One Night
Like The Loss Of Sunlight
On A Cloudy Afternoon
Gone Too Soon
Like A Castle
Built Upon A Sandy Beach
Gone Too Soon
Like A Perfect Flower
That Is Just Beyond Your Reach
Gone Too Soon
Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight
Here One Day
Gone One Night
Like A Sunset
Dying With The Rising Of The Moon
Gone Too Soon
source: http://www.kwongwah.com.my/news/2009/06/25/43.html
At 15:34 on June 25, 2009
Kelly Lin was selected by a fashion magazine among Taiwan’s Best Dressed People, while Lin Chiling loses.
Hong Kong’s Apple Daily reported that Kelly Lin, now 33years-old has recently been selected by a fashion magazine in Taiwan’s top 10 best dressed people, and the one with good taste. She who has an image of being a fantasy to thousands of men, at the same time with an elegant, stylish and natural demeanor to some people . It is learned that for her, being elegant means not having pressures and good taste comes from being real. Among those included in the list of Taiwan’s top 10 best dressed, and who were actually always on the list are Kelly Lin, Shu Qi, Hu Tingting,Sun Yingying and so on. Their many photographs wearing different brands, showing their own individual styles were shown.
July 3,2009
source: yule.sohu.com no posting to other sites without permission
Kelly Lin in September will be working with Michelle Yeoh in a new film
Kelly Lin and Michelle Yeoh will be working together in a movie this September. This is her first costume and first-time to do a film with her and she feels happy. However, she felt she is less suitable for an ancient costume, she praised the appearance of Lin Chiling in an ancient costume to be pretty good. She will be playing a chivalrous woman in the movie, and to be believable in playing the part, she has to train hard on martial arts. She studied fencing before, and she hopes it could be of good use. When she was asked if she will be an apprentice for Michelle Yeoh? She said: “I do not know if she could teach me free of charge, but I will try.”
By Beth Hardie, Mirror.co.uk
U2 paid tribute to the late Michael Jackson on the first date of their world tour last night.
The band were playing in Barcelona at the Nou Camp stadium and frontman Bono dedicated their hit Angel of Harlem to Jacko, who died from a heart attack last Thursday.
He said: “We wrote this one for Billie Holiday but we are going to play it tonight for Michael Jackson.”
Towards the end of the song the Irish crooner weaved in Michael’s hits Man In The Mirror and Don’t Stop ‘Till You Get Enough as the 90,000-strong crowd scream in appreciation.
U2 will visit another 30 cities during the tour, which features an awesome stage in the style of a Space station, dubbed The Claw, and a 360 degree video-screen. Click below to see U2’s tribute…
The powerful sedative Diprivan was found in Michael Jackson’s home, a law enforcement official said Friday as the city planned for a massive crowd at the singer’s memorial service.Diprivan is an anesthetic widely used in operating rooms to induce unconsciousness. Also known as Propofol, it’s given intravenously and is very unusual to have in a private home.
The law enforcement official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about the matter.
A Los Angeles Police spokesman, Lt. John Romero, declined to discuss the case. “It’s an ongoing investigation,” he said.
The cause of Jackson’s death has not been determined. Autopsy results are not expected for several weeks.
At the downtown Staples Center, where Jackson’s memorial will be held Tuesday morning, Assistant Police Chief Earl Paysinger said anywhere from 250,000 to 700,000 people could try to reach the arena, even though only 17,500 tickets will be available.
City Councilwoman Jan Perry urged people to stay home and watch the memorial on TV. There will not be a funeral procession through the city.
Tickets to Jackson’s memorial service will be free. They can be obtained by registering at Staplescenter.com. There will be 11,000 tickets for seats inside Staples Center and 6,500 for seats in the adjacent Nokia Theatre, where fans can watch a simulcast. On Saturday night, 8,750 names will be randomly selected to receive two tickets each.
No details about the memorial service itself were released.
Jackson was known to have suffered from severe insomnia. In the weeks before his death, Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse who was working with the singer, said Jackson pleaded for Diprivan amid the stress of preparing for a massive series of comeback concerts.
Lee said she repeatedly rejected his demands because the drug was unsafe.
Told Friday that Diprivan had been found at Jackson’s house, she said, “I did everything I could to warn him against it.”
Jackson had trouble sleeping as far back as 1989, said one of his former publicists, Rob Goldstone, who spent a month on the road with Jackson during the “Bad” tour.
“He had very bad nightmares, he found it very difficult to sleep,” Goldstone said.
Diprivan, which has a milky appearance, is sometimes nicknamed “milk of amnesia.” Last fall, doctors from the Mayo Clinic warned at a conference that in rare cases, Diprivan can trigger an irreversible chain of events leading to heart dysfunction and death.
They said three patients receiving Diprivan to treat severe seizures had suffered cardiac arrest, and two died. The doctors said the clinic stopped using Diprivan to treat such patients because of the danger.
The drug’s manufacturer, AstraZeneca PLC, warns that patients using Diprivan should be continuously monitored, and in a tiny number of cases patients using it have suffered cardiac arrest, although it was not clear the drug was to blame.
Authorities are investigating allegations that the 50-year-old Jackson had been consuming painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants. Any criminal charges would depend on whether Jackson had been overly prescribed medications, given drugs inappropriate for his needs, or if doctors knowingly prescribed Jackson medications under an assumed name.
Edward Chernoff, an attorney for Jackson’s doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, said Friday through a spokeswoman that he had agreed with investigators not to comment until information is released through official channels. Murray was in Jackson’s rented mansion when the singer went into cardiac arrest in his bedroom on June 25.
Murray has spoken to police and authorities say he is not a suspect. In an earlier interview, Chernoff said Murray never gave or prescribed Jackson the painkillers Demerol or OxyContin, and denied reports suggesting that the doctor gave the pop star drugs that contributed to his death.
Chernoff would not discuss what drugs the doctor administered to Jackson, but said they would have been prescribed in response to a specific complaint.
More than half a million fans from around the world applied for 17,500 free tickets to Michael Jackson’s public memorial service next week, organizers said on Friday as a massive security operation got underway.The life and music of the self-proclaimed “king of pop,” who died of sudden cardiac arrest last Thursday, will be celebrated on Tuesday at the Staples Center, a basketball arena in downtown Los Angeles.
Officials on Friday unveiled an ambitious online lottery that will allow fans to attend either the televised service at the arena or watch the proceedings on a big screen at the nearby Nokia Theater.
But within minutes, the staplescenter.com (http://www.staplescenter.com) server crashed. Officials warned additional disruptions were likely as fans logged on ahead of the Saturday deadline at 6 p.m. PDT.
“You might want to consider watching this from the comfort of your own home,” said Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry, who is doubling as the city’s acting mayor.
The ceremony will also streamed online.
A wide area around the venues in downtown Los Angeles will be blocked off for the 10 a.m. event. Both local and state law-enforcement agencies have been marshaled for duty.
A local news-radio station reported that more than 1,400 officers from the Los Angeles Police Department alone have been asked to volunteer for duty on Monday and Tuesday. The LAPD, which has about 9,000 officers in total, declined to comment on the report or to reveal a staffing number.
A Jackson family spokesman also declined to provide details of the memorial service, but said there would not be a funeral procession and Jackson’s body would not be at the memorial.
Funeral arrangements have not been disclosed, but security has been beefed up at the Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills mortuary, where his body is believed to be held.
Officials were also tight-lipped about the cost of the memorial service, and who would pay for it.
Like other U.S. cities, Los Angeles is strapped for cash in the global recession and similar questions about public tax revenues being spent for such an elaborate ceremony surfaced last month when a $2 million celebration was given for the champion Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball team.
That event, which attracted over 500,000 people, was eventually funded through private donations.
The city has already budgeted for LAPD overtime, Perry said, adding that officials would “deeply appreciate” help to offset incremental costs, such as transportation, sanitation and staging.
Winners of the tickets will be contacted on Sunday and directed to pick up a pair of tickets and wristbands on Monday. No tickets will be sold. The massive demand raised the question of counterfeiting or scalping, drawing pleas from organizers for fans to act responsibly.
“For those that would try to take advantage of this, shame on them,” said Tim Leiweke, the president and CEO of AEG, the closely held entertainment concern that owns the venues and was backing Jackson’s planned comeback concerts in London.
Jackson’s last performance was at the Staples Center. The night before he died of sudden cardiac arrest last Thursday, he rehearsed for the tour at the venue.
NEW YORK – When Rabbi Shmuley Boteach brought his children to play with Michael Jackson’s kids at Neverland Ranch some eight years ago, the rabbi’s youngsters naturally made a beeline for the fabulous rides — the Ferris wheel, the roller coaster, the bumper cars.
But when Jackson’s own kids asked to go on the rides, he gently reminded them of the family rules, according to Boteach: The rides were only for birthdays or special occasions. “He was very concerned that the kids grow up with the right values,” says Boteach, Jackson’s former friend and spiritual adviser.
They are the children of one of the most famous men to have walked the planet. But unlike other children of mega-celebrities, whose faces are recognizable around the world, those of Jackson’s three kids — 12-year-old Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael; 11-year-old Paris Michael Katherine; and 7-year-old Prince Michael II, known as Blanket — are barely known.
Home-schooled and often isolated in mansions or hotels, the children have appeared only in rare paparazzi shots, their faces usually covered by scarves or brightly colored masks.
That fact alone — that Jackson sought to hide his children’s faces — would seem to speak of a dark, strange life. But those who’ve witnessed the family up close paint a brighter picture: a trio of engaging, intelligent, well-adjusted youngsters who adored their father. A father who, despite his eccentricities and the terrible controversy that surrounded him in later life, lived for his children and tried to make their lives as normal as — well, as normal as Michael Jackson could.
“To the extent that Michael Jackson’s kids COULD have a normal life, he wanted them to have it,” says Boteach, who eventually fell out with Jackson.
“Listen, I’m not here to whitewash the sins of Michael Jackson — he was accused of some abominable things,” says the rabbi, referring to the pop star’s trial and acquittal on molestation charges. “But when it came to being a father, there was much to admire.”
Dr. Tohme Tohme, a close friend and adviser to Jackson over the last year of his life, said he had “never seen a better father.”
“He was the father and the mother,” Tohme said. “He washed them and dressed them. I’m a father but I’m not sure I could do what he was doing with his children. They loved him so much.”
Of course, even Jackson’s closest friends are at a loss to explain what for many is the single most memorable image of Jackson as a father: the shocking moment when he dangled Blanket, then an infant, over a hotel balcony in Berlin, showing the baby off to fans with a delighted grin.
“What made that incident so inexplicable was that he was an OVER-protective father,” Boteach says.
Others who’ve been close to Jackson in the past agree. When the children stayed in hotels, says one photographer who spent several years working for Jackson, his handlers had long lists of all the foods the children could and could not eat. He was afraid of allergies but also poisoning, says the photographer, Ian Barkley. At the ranch, Jackson would not let the children roam far for fear of coyotes, he says.
When Barkley spoke to the kids himself, he was impressed. “Paris and (the older) Prince really blew me away with how smart they were. They were really well-mannered and nice.” And Jackson made sure they kept up with their studies. “Once I heard him ask the nanny if the kids had done their homework that day, and they hadn’t yet and he was really not happy.”
Yet Jackson also indulged his children in extravagances — he was known to rent out entire movie theaters so he and his kids could see a first-run movie in peace, said close friend Uri Geller, the entertainer, who accompanied the family on one such outing.
“The times I’ve seen Michael with his kids, he was simply a great father,” says Geller. “When I saw him alone in London, the first thing he said is how much he missed them. I know he loved them, and they loved him.”
US Weekly editor Janice Min, whose magazine reported on Jackson’s children this week, was surprised to discover how positive an outlook many Jackson associates had on the kids and their lives. “I would have thought it was a very gloom-and-doom picture, but across the board, everyone talked about these nice and seemingly normal kids,” she says.
Still, for many people, the hardest thing to get past about Jackson’s parenting style was those facial disguises. Geller, for one, is convinced the family saw it as a game. “It was a private joke on the media between Michael and the kids — the kids loved it,” Geller says. “That’s what Michael told me.”
But others speak of more serious reasons. Stacy Brown, a former Jackson family confidant who fell out with the family at the time of the 2005 molestation trial — he was a prosecution witness — says Michael was truly afraid of kidnapping. But also, Brown notes, there was a strategy: If the kids wore masks when they were with Jackson, they could go safely unmasked when they weren’t with him.
Still, says Brown, who co-wrote “The Man Behind the Mask,” a Jackson biography, “mentally, it was just not right. Why put a mask on these beautiful children?”
There may be another, more poignant reason. “He detested the media interest in whether he looked like his children,” says Boteach, the rabbi. “I think that was another concern. Those rumors were hurtful to them.”
Such discussion has only increased since Jackson’s death, as the world wonders not only who will get custody of the children but also whether Jackson is their biological father. Jackson’s ex-wife, Deborah Rowe, the mother of the two older children, says the children were conceived by artificial insemination. The surrogate mother of the youngest has not been revealed.
For now, Rowe is weighing whether to seek custody of her two children, while Katherine Jackson, the singer’s 79-year-old mother, has temporary guardianship of all three. Jackson’s will asks that permanent custody go to his mother.
Brown, the biographer, recalls running into Jackson and the kids in a town near Neverland shortly before the trial.
“They were the most well-behaved, well-mannered, immaculately groomed children,” Brown says. “It was all ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ and ‘excuse me.’ Little Blanket was wearing a kilt, and Prince a three-piece suit, and Paris a white dress with blue flowers. We chatted. I’m telling you, the guy was tremendous with those kids.”
Whatever happens, Boteach says, it was Jackson’s greatest wish that his children know how much he loved them.
“Michael often said he knew that when the kids grew up, they’d be asked by biographers what kind of father he was,” Boteach says. “He wanted the kids to know that he always put them first.”
Dancing king: Michael Jackson was looked at ease during the rehearsal
Footage of Michael Jackson performing some of his most famous hits for the final time has been released.
The King of Pop looked well and his voice sounded strong as he danced around the stage in typical fashion during rehearsals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The star was preparing for his 50-night residency at London’s O2 arena, which had been set to begin later this month.
Jackson died on June 25 after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest – just two days after the video was shot.
Jackson’s friend, Uri Geller, said tonight the footage raised a ‘big question’ about what prompted the star’s dramatic demise.
‘The question is: What happened from that point to the day that he died?’ said Geller.
‘In the photographs I’ve seen, he looked in shape, he was smiling, he was happy.
Veteran performer: The King of Pop practices one of his many hits
‘What happened? That’s the big question.’
Kevin Mazur, 48, the photographer who captured some of Jackson’s final moments on camera at the rehearsals, said the star appeared to be back to his best and had an ‘incredible energy’.
In time: Jackson spent hours in rehearsals with his troupe of dancers
Mr Mazur, co-founder of WireImage agency, told the Daily Mirror: ‘When he hit that stage, everyone was just mesmerised.’
The photographer said Jackson was happy and joking with the dancers as he rehearsed.
Comeback: Jackson was rehearsing just a few hours before his sudden death
Mr Mazur told the newspaper Jackson performed his set for 90 minutes until nearly midnight on June 23.
‘He was totally there – 100 per cent there in fact,’ said Mr Mazur. ‘You would never suspect this would have ever happened – especially after his performance on stage.’
Meanwhile, it emerged today that America’s anti-drugs agency had launched an investigation into Jackson’s death.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was called in by Los Angeles police to assist as they probe allegations the star was on powerful painkillers, sedatives and anti-depressants, sources close to the investigation said.
See video of Michael Jackson’s last performance here
The agency has vast experience in dealing with drug abuse and could evaluate the potential role of illegal drug manufacturers known as pill mills.
Jermaine Jackson said he would be ‘hurt’ if toxicology reports showed his brother had abused prescription drugs.
He told NBC he did not know of any drug abuse by the 50-year-old.
But he added: ‘In this business, the pressure and things that you go through, you never know what one turns to.’
Plans for Jackson’s funeral were still being worked on today, with fans still waiting to hear if and where a public memorial would take place.
Brother Jermaine said he believed Neverland – the singer’s vast estate in Santa Barbara, California – should be Jackson’s final resting place.
Johnny Depp surprised sick children in hospital when he visited them dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow, according to reports.
The Oscar-nominated actor was in London to promote his latest film Public Enemies and made a point to call in on Great Ormond Street Hospital, says Contactmusic.
Depp’s 10-year-old daughter Lily-Rose was a patient at the medical centre in 2007 due to kidney failure, while the ward that she stayed in was one of many that the star visited as his Pirates of the Caribbean alter ego.
“Johnny was so friendly with all the children on the ward and they absolutely loved his pirate outfit,” a source told WENN. “He spoke to lots of the youngsters and staff – and made their day by posing for pictures with them all.”
The 44-year-old previously donated £1 million to the facility to thank them for caring for his sick child.
The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory star recently said that he would love to resurrect his Pirates character for a fourth instalment.
By Maria Elena Fernandez and Scott Collins
July 4, 2009
source: LAtimes
The past week has been filled with breathless rumors and revelations from supposed intimates of Michael Jackson. Hyper-competitive news outlets are lapping up supposedly inside information from a motley cast of supporting characters, including Deepak Chopra, Lou Ferrigno and Al Sharpton, as well as many lesser lights.
A top publicist hired by the dead singer’s family has lashed back at the extensive and error-prone media coverage.
“People should be embarrassed when they print, blog or say things on the air that are proven to be entirely untrue or partially untrue,” said Ken Sunshine, a veteran PR consultant retained Wednesday by the Jackson family. “And there should be a shame in it.
You watch these interview shows all night and all day,” he added, referring to the nearly nonstop coverage on cable news. “The people that they get to interview: Where are the standards of choosing somebody to go on-camera? . . . The so-called experts, who the hell are these people?”
In his professional life, Sunshine has of course very good reasons to advance such an argument. But many Jackson-fatigued viewers are likely asking similar questions. Sixty-three percent of Americans say the musician’s death is getting too much media coverage, according to a survey released Thursday by HCD Research.
On the other hand, 80% in the same poll said they were engaged by Jackson stories when they saw them. So the past week has seen TV and websites awash with speculative and conflicting reports about whether the pop singer may have committed suicide or accidentally overdosed, whether he was the birth father of his three children, what sort of custody battle might ensue and even such basics as where his body is being held and the details of funeral arrangements.
“The frenzy is similar to O.J., but the media environment is completely different because there was no Internet, the cable universe was much smaller, and the press of attention was less as a result,” said CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, who rose to national prominence 15 years ago as one of many pundits during the O.J. Simpson case, which ushered in the modern tabloid era.
“One of the challenges is to separate actual Jackson associates from the large cast of sleazy hangers-on who claim to know more than they do,” he added. “The terms ‘Jackson lawyer’ and ‘Jackson advisor’ include actual advisors and people who know absolutely nothing.”
For example, even before Jackson’s death was announced on June 25, attorney Brian Oxman gave a CNN interview in which he said he had comforted stunned family members and charged that “people who have surrounded” the singer “have been enabling him.” The network identified Oxman as a “longtime friend and spokesman” and many outlets have called him a “Jackson family lawyer.”
However, Oxman’s authority has since come under some dispute. He was one of the singer’s attorneys during his 2005 molestation trial, but Joe Jackson, the clan’s patriarch, said on Sunday that attorney L. Londell McMillan was the family’s spokesperson; Sunshine was hired three days later. Oxman, who is still quoted by some outlets, told Los Angeles Times media columnist James Rainey that he is neither a family spokesman nor is he acting as a lawyer in matters relating to the Jackson death. He told Rainey, “I am a commentator and these are my comments.”
The confusion over sourcing — along with Jackson’s legendarily bizarre background — has created a hothouse for gossip and crackpot tips.
“The rumors are so rampant,” Steve Tseckares, vice president at E! Studios, which runs the cable network’s news programs, said Thursday. “Yesterday we heard at 6:30 that Michael Jackson had committed suicide. It seems outlandish but you have to ferret out everything in this story, because everything seems possible. What we determined was that it was just a rumor.
“But that’s what is making this story different, I think — many rumors. And with these stories being driven by the Internet now, those kinds of stories pop up and become real quickly, even if they may not be true.”
Some survey the circus surrounding Jackson’s death, though, and say it was ever thus. Or at least it’s always been that way when the media collide with a major developing story with massive public interest.
Jack Shafer, press critic for the online magazine Slate, argues that news outlets always get facts wrong when chasing big, multifaceted breaking stories. “What’s happening with the Jackson story seems to me to be deadline journalism par for the course,” he said.
As Tom Rosenstiel of the Project for Excellence in Journalism put it, “I can find you papers from the 1880s and 1890s that published just as much rumor and innuendo, but it was in the bulldog edition of a Hearst or Pulitzer newspaper.”
But given the worldwide interest in Jackson’s life and death, the singer’s family may need media handlers such as Sunshine for a long time.
According to a spokesman for the Los Angeles Superior Court, an all-time record of 70 news organizations — from the U.S., Britain, Australia, Japan, Germany, France, Brazil and Mexico — have applied for admittance to a Monday hearing on the control of his estate.
‘Daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine,‘ says daughter Paris.
Michael Jackson’s children, Paris and Prince, during the memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles July 7, 2009.Photograph by: Mark J. Terrill/Pool, Reuters
It would turn out to be nothing like we expected. It was dignified, and orderly. It was uplifting and respectful. It was sweet and defiant.
But mostly, despite millions of strangers watching the world over and thousands more in the Staples Center, the much-anticipated tribute to the late Michael Jackson, held Tuesday in Los Angeles, was an intimate affair.
It was filled with personal stories and spiritual messages, with tears and laughter, with all the emotion and dignity of what the many in the black community call a “home-going service.”
From the 8 a.m. private family gathering at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles, to the funeral cavalcade carrying the pop star in his gold-plated, rose-covered coffin, to the two-hour star-studded arena memorial, Michael Jackson’s final farewell was a surprisingly sombre and celebratory send-off.
Forgotten, for a brief moment in time, was the frenzy that followed the 50-year-old pop superstar’s death on June 25, the fighting over the will and custody of his three children, the questions surrounding his fatal cardiac arrest, the 1.6 million people who scrambled in an online lottery for those 17,500 memorial tickets, and the interminable blogs, Tweets, Facebooking and relentless media coverage that have consumed the world these past 12 days.
It was a funeral filled both with tenderness and defiance, and not a little humour, including Magic Johnson’s recollection of sitting on the floor in Jackson’s kitchen and sharing a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Speaker after speaker, including Motown’s Berry Gordy, Queen Latifah and the children of Martin Luther King, lauded Jackson’s humanitarianism, his love of family, his contribution to black awareness, his shyness offstage and his confident brilliance on.
With a biographical video montage as backdrop, and before a mostly hushed but occasionally cheering crowd, came powerful performances: Jennifer Hudson’s Will You Be There, John Mayer’s acoustic Human Nature, Stevie Wonder’s shaky Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer and Jermaine Jackson’s tearful rendition of his brother’s favourite song, Smile.
Larry King, an invited guest who sat in the row right behind the Jackson family, said afterward that “it was the greatest thing ever,” and cited Rev. Al Sharpton’s speech as the standout.
Sharpton, in his usual bombastic fashion, made a couched reference to Jackson’s 2005 child molestation charges, and told Jackson’s three children, sitting in the front row: “Wasn’t nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with.”
Long-time friend Brooke Shields provided a lighter touch, talking about how mischievous Jackson was, how he tried in vain to teach her the moonwalk, and the day he showed up wearing that now famous glitter glove.
“I was like, what’s up with the glove,” said Shields. “We never recorded a video, or a song, but what we did do was laugh.”
One can debate for days over how we can live in a time when an entertainer, a impossibly talented yet eternally troubled man, could possibly warrant what amounted to a state funeral, the kind of send-off usually reserved for dignitaries, world leaders and royalty.
The truth is, for many around the world, Michael Jackson was royalty.
In the end, two hours after the tribute began, Michael Jackson’s family took the stage, the men dressed smartly in suits with red roses in their lapels, the women in stylish black dresses.
And then came the most memorable moment of the day, unscripted.
Jackson’s daughter, 11-year-old Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, aided by her Aunt Janet, took the microphone and, her face crumpled in tears, said:
“I just want to say, ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him, so much.”
A poignant reminder, perhaps, that the man in the mirror was more than just a brilliant, reclusive and controversial pop star.
American Idol’s Chris Daughtry is a scruffy, soul-patched, denim-clad, boy-next-door type who traffics in heartland-friendly, somewhat Nickelbackian arena rock. Lady Gaga is an artsy, avant-garde, Brooklynite electro-goddess with a penchant for neon leotards, zippered eyepatches, hairbows fashioned out of actual hair, and divalicious dance-a-teria beats.
Nope, it doesn’t seem like these two would have anything in common, musically or culturally. It’s pretty difficult to imagine Chris Daughtry ever uttering the line “I wanna take a ride on your disco stick,” for instance, or Lady Gaga ever covering a Fuel tune.
But the bottom line is, a good song is a good song is a good song. And there’s no denying that Gaga’s “Poker Face” is a great song. Even Chris can’t deny it. So recently when he performed acoustic and solo on a German radio station, he put on his best poker face and played this dead-serious, surprisingly solid version of Lady Gaga’s big crossover pop hit:
Wow!
While it’s doubtful that Chris will be working with Gaga’s producer RedOne any time soon (as fellow Idol rocker Adam Lambert is currently doing), I must commend Chris for–as Simon Cowell or Paula Abdul might say–making this song his own.
The former Beatle has said he didn’t believe ‘for a second’ that the King of Pop intended to leave him his share of the Fab Four’s back catalogue
Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson in 1983. Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis
Sir Paul McCartney has said he is not surprised that Michael Jackson didn’t leave him the rights to the Beatles’ back catalogue, saying he didn’t believe “for a second” that this would happen. Despite rumours that Jackson planned to bequeath his share of Sony/ATV publishing to McCartney, it was revealed last week that there was no such instruction in the will.
“Some time ago, the media came up with the idea that Michael Jackson was going to leave his share in the Beatles’ songs to me in his will,” McCartney wrote on his website. “[It] was completely made up.”
That “idea” was first reported by the Mirror in January. Jackson, their source alleged, had decided to build bridges with McCartney by drawing up a new will that left him his share of the Beatles’ back catalogue. But after Jackson’s death on 25 June, there was no sign of this will – and the singer’s assets were all left to a trust.
“The report is that I am devastated to find that he didn’t leave the songs to me,” McCartney wrote. “This is completely untrue. I had not thought for one minute that the original report [about the will] was true, and therefore the report that I’m devastated is also totally false.”
In fact, Jackson may scarcely have had any of the Beatles’ back catalogue left. The Quietus reports that earlier this year, Jackson sold all but 5% of his remaining 25% share in Sony/ATV – in an attempt to improve his financial situation.
Jackson acquired the rights to the Lennon/McCartney song catalogue in 1985, outbidding McCartney in the purchase of ATV Music. ATV later merged with Sony’s publishing division, shares of which were considered some of Jackson’s most valuable property. Though Jackson and McCartney had collaborated on songs like The Girl is Mine and Say Say Say, the ATV purchase permanently soured their relationship.
McCartney often complained of “having to pay” every time he performed songs such as Hey Jude, but his resentment has faded with time. “I got off that years ago,” he told Halifax’s Q104 radio station last Thursday. It was something for a while I was very keen on and you can see why, naturally … [but these] sort of things can eat you up.”
After Jackson’s death, McCartney described the singer as a “massively talented boy-man with a gentle soul”. “I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael,” he said.
Amidst the news of Philippine President Gloria Arroyo’s “repair” of breast implant a week ago, I never believed it initially when I heard of it. I never was an Arroyo supporter, but I thought how low these media people could get to even spread rumors about the President having had a “boob job” in the past and have it repaired eventually. Never got really interested about the news, until the Natioanl Bureau of INvestigation (NBI) requested to probe a leak of this news from a posh hospital where the President checked in for a “supposed” quarantine from her visits to diffferent parts of the globe.
Seriously, NBI Agents , equivalent to the Federal Agents of the United States keeping themselves busy investigating on “booby job”? You gotta be kidding me! Dont they have anything sensible to do ? Imagine, it’s like Jack Bauer being requested by Bill Buchanan to investigate and torture those responsible poor doctors, hospital staff or even the presidential staff to spill the beans. Ridiculous! Jack would have said, “Dammit , Bill!”
And to even make matters worse, Presidential spokesman Cerge Remonde bristled at reporters when asked about journalist Bondoc’s expose, by dismissing it as nonsensical, saying that “Arroyo is not anactress fixated with such cosmetic surgery.”
“Just look if the president had a breast implant,” he said. “It’s obvious if women have had breast implants. The sexy actresses with boobs, they’re the ones who underwent breast implants. We can’t say the same thing of the president.”
coughs* coughs*
Exactly. Why would someone like her, will resort to a breast implant procedure? WHAT WAS SHE THINKING THEN???!!!
I wonder whether she had an initial interest of becoming a movie star before deciding that politics is her calling. Mostly, women who underwent “boob job” in those times (not so much today, though)were either those , as what her dearest spokesperson say, “The sexy actresses with boobs, they’re the ones who underwent breast implants.”
She must have been a frustrated sexy actress,then!
What made this issue even got interesting is when the President’s spokesperson later admitted to her undergoing breast implant procedure in the 80’s, and giving the lamest reason for the “implant” – an abscess removed previously.
Yeah, right. So the abscess must be humongous for it to require a replacement? Geezz, sir. You gotta do better than that.
Granted she didnt undergo “boob implant” repair, and at 62, yes, she could still develop a breast mass or cyst, but blaming it as benign and “hormonally-related”? Hmmm… that seems implausible. Benign- maybe, but hormonally-related? Duh! She’s probably menopausal for a decade now!
Brave columnist Jarius Bondoc even claimed from his source that after arriving from her foreign trip, Arroyo partied all night on Tuesday at the wedding anniversary of a trusted Cabinet man with dozens of people before she checked in at the hospital on Wednesday.
Great. A good model indeed. As Senator Pimentel said, “We have fake elections, we have a fake president, now we have fake boobs,” he said. “It’s fake all over.”
Yes siree! Plus a “fake quarantine”.
I believe Madam Arroyo has the right to a “doctor-patient” confidentiality. The people does not necessarily have to know about her breast implants- that is, if its for aesthetic purposes. But since the President is not a “sexy star” as what her spokesperson claimed, a “medical reason” would have to be acceptable. But, I just dont buy it that an abscess have caused her to have a boob implant. Please, that’s just too lame! I would have believed it if she underwent “mastectomy” for a suspected malignant mass or gigantic mass on her breast. For which, this is where the people needs to know about her medical history and conditions. If she underwent breast implant to replace a huge space previously occupied by a mass, and that, she “allegedly” underwent excisioon of breast mass and a mass on her groin, I would have think she has a case of metastatic cancer. I’m not saying that she has,but base on what her spokesperson are telling us, that’s how I put it into theory.
Have they been a bit “honest” of her medical conditions, to which the people deserve, these rumors would not have blown out of proportion. This issue has been mishandled improperly by her people. They should have shrugged it off, or laugh it off if there’s no sense of truth to it. But involving NBI on this??? Really, that’s just an overkill and an abuse of power.
So if it might just be a simple leaking of breast implant due to reasons of vanity, considering it was done way back in the 80’s, so no one would expect it to be done perfectly and that it needs to be repaired from time to time- that would have been a much better explaination. But an abscess? Sorry, I really aint buying it. It’s either she’s vain, or she’s got serious medical problem.
The lesson to this whole issue is that, the truth would have been better told in the first place, as what Jarius Bondoc said, “The trouble with telling lies [is] you are caught in the web of your own lies,”
Too caught up, I suppose.
It even added up to the shady reputation that this government already have.
Indeed, nothing is so entertaining than the Phillipine politics.
By Jeff Israely / Vatican City Friday, Jul. 10, 2009
source: www.TIME.com The Pope, center, walks with President Obama and the First Lady during an audience at the Vatican on July 10, 2009
SAUL LOEB / AFP / Getty
Body language says a lot about a world leader’s audience with the Pope. During his 2007 visit to Pope Benedict XVI’s private library, President George W. Bush sat down across the desk from the Pontiff as if he had just landed on his own porch in Crawford, Texas: leaning back in the velvet chair, legs crossed, apparently eager to show his command of the situation.
When President Barack Obama sat down in that same spot on Friday, July 10, for his first papal meeting, his posture was altogether different. Leaning forward from the front edge of the chair, his shoulders slightly hunched, his crossed hands resting softly on the edge of the Pope’s desk, the leader of the free world looked more like a schoolboy who’d arrived to humbly plead his case to the principal. “You must be used to getting your picture taken,” Obama commented to the Pope as a scrum of photographers clicked away, then continued, “I’m still getting used to it.”
The potential for global symbolism abounds whenever an American President meets the Roman Pontiff, and the first-ever encounter between the 47-year-old Obama and the 82-year-old Benedict offered a vivi
Question: Talk about the use of music here, how the music sets up the feel of the Cullens.
Question: Do you ever wish for a time before the internet?
Sat
