Statue ofLiberty

The Statue of Liberty was a joint effort between France and the United States, intended to commemorate the lasting friendship between the peoples of the two nations. The French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi created the statue itself out of sheets of hammered copper, while Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, the man behind the famed Eiffel Tower, designed the statue's steel framework. The Statue of Liberty was then given to the United States and erected atop an American-designed pedestal on a small island in Upper New York Bay, now known as Liberty Island, and dedicated by President Grover Cleveland in 1886. Over the years, the statue stood tall as millions of immigrants arrived in America via nearby Ellis Island; in 1986, it underwent an extensive renovation in honor of the centennial of its dedication. Today, the Statue of Liberty remains an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy, as well as one of the world's most recognizable landmarks.
Origins of the Statue of Liberty

Around 1865, as the American Civil War drew to a close, the French historian Edouard de Laboulaye proposed that France create a statue to give to the United States in celebration of that nation's success in building a viable democracy. The sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, known for largescale sculptures, earned the commission; the goal was to design the sculpture in time for the centennial of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. The project would be a joint effort between the two countries--the French people were responsible for the statue and its assembly, while the Americans would build the pedestal on which it would stand--and a symbol of the friendship between their peoples.

Due to the need to raise funds for the statue, work on the sculpture did not begin until 1875. Bartholdi’s massive creation, titled "Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World," depicted a woman holding a torch in her raised right hand and a tablet in her left, upon which was engraved "July 4, 1776," the adoption date of the Declaration of Independence. Bartholdi, who was said to have modeled the woman's face after that of his mother, hammered large copper sheets to create the statue's "skin" (using a technique called repousse). To create the skeleton on which the skin would be assembled, he called on Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, designer of Paris' Eiffel Tower. Along with Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc, Eiffel built a skeleton out of iron pylon and steel that allowed the copper skin to move independently, a necessary condition for the strong winds it would endure in the chosen location of New York Harbor.
Statue of Liberty: Assembly and Dedication

While work went on in France on the actual statue, fundraising efforts continued in the United States for the pedestal, including contests, benefits and exhibitions. Near the end, the leading New York newspaperman Joseph Pulitzer used his paper, the World, to raise the last necessary funds. Designed by the American architect Richard Morris Hunt, the statue's pedestal was constructed inside the courtyard of Fort Wood, a fortress built for the War of 1812 and located on Bedloe's Island, off the southern tip of Manhattan in Upper New York Bay.

In 1885, Bartholdi completed the statue, which was disassembled, packed in more than 200 crates, and shipped to New York, arriving that June aboard the French frigate Isere. Over the next four months, workers reassembled the statue and mounted it on the pedestal; its height reached 305 feet (or 93 meters), including the pedestal. On October 28, 1886, President Grover Cleveland officially dedicated the Statue of Liberty in front of thousands of spectators.
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

In 1892, the U.S. government opened a federal immigration station on Ellis Island, located near Bedloe's Island in Upper New York Bay. Between 1892 and 1954, some 12 million immigrants were processed on Ellis Island before receiving permission to enter the United States. From 1900-14, during the peak years of its operation, some 5,000 to 10,000 people passed through every day.

Looming above New York Harbor nearby, the Statue of Liberty provided a majestic welcome to those passing through Ellis Island. On a plaque at the entrance to the statue's pedestal is engraved a sonnet called "The New Colossus," written in 1883 by Emma Lazarus as part of a fundraising contest. Its most famous passage speaks to the statue's role as a welcoming symbol of freedom and democracy for the millions of immigrants who came to America seeking a new and better life: "Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free/The wretched refuse of your teeming shore/Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me/I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
The Statue of Liberty Over the Years

Until 1901, the U.S. Lighthouse Board operated the Statue of Liberty, as the statue's torch represented a navigational aid for sailors. After that date, it was placed under the jurisdiction of the U.S. War Department due to Fort Wood's status as a still-operational army post. In 1924, the federal government made the statue a national monument, and it was transferred to the care of the National Parks Service in 1933. In 1956, Bedloe's Island was renamed Liberty Island, and in 1965, more than a decade after its closure as a federal immigration station, Ellis Island became part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument.
DID YOU KNOW????

The base of the Statue of Liberty's pedestal contains exhibits on the monument's history, including the original 1886 torch. Visitor access to the Statue of Liberty's torch was halted for good after German operatives set off an explosion on the nearby Black Tom peninsula in July 1916, during World War I.

By the early 20th century, the oxidation of the Statue of Liberty's copper skin through exposure to rain, wind and sun had given the statue a distinctive green color, known as verdigris. In 1984, the statue was closed to the public and underwent a massive restoration in time for its centennial celebration. Even as the restoration began, the United Nations designated the Statue of Liberty as a World Heritage Site. On July 5, 1986, the Statue of Liberty reopened to the public in a centennial celebration. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Liberty Island closed for 100 days; the Statue of Liberty itself was not reopened to visitor access until August 2004. In July 2009, the statue's crown was again reopened to the public, though visitors must make a reservation to climb to the top of the pedestal or to the crown.http://www.history.com/ Read More..

Coffee, Alcohol, and More That May Affect RA

Rheumatoid arthritis

By Tammy Worth

About 1.3 million Americans are affected by rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease thought to be caused by genetic and environmental factors.

Strong medication can help prevent joint destruction and painful symptoms.

But there are other things that may affect RA risk and symptoms. In the big picture, these play relatively minor roles in RA (compared to, say, taking the right medication).

Still, here are some factors to keep in mind.
Smoking

One factor that affects RA is smoking, says Susan Goodman, MD, a rheumatologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

"Smoking clearly has an impact—it makes it worse and increases the likelihood of getting it," she says. "There clearly is something about smoking that is a bad actor."

RA nonsmokers have fewer swollen, painful joints than smokers, research suggests. RA smokers are three times as likely to have rheumatoid factor—a sign of more severe disease—and twice as likely to have joint damage.
Coffee

The link between coffee or tea and RA is debatable, Dr. Goodman says.

Research has suggested that decaf coffee (four or more cups a day) can increase the risk of getting RA, but caffeinated coffee has no impact, and tea may reduce risk. Other research found no correlation between decaf and RA.

One issue, though, is that coffee may make some RA medications, such as methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall), less potent.

"There is not a consistent message there," Dr. Goodman notes. Check with your doctor; it may be fine to have a cup of joe.
Weather

While research on the topic is scant, there does seem to be a link between weather and RA symptoms. It is likely that barometric pressure and temperature changes have the biggest impact on symptoms.

"Many, many, many people say it, so my sense is it is something we just don't have an appropriate investigational design to test," Dr. Goodman says.

She says any change in climate tends to worsen symptoms—so RA patients may fare better when the weather is more consistent.
Seasonal allergies

As with the other factors on the list, the link between RA and allergies may vary from person to person.

Still, there is some research that suggests that people with RA are less likely to have hay fever. And people who do have both may have less-severe RA symptoms.

"My guess is that some of the allergy medications may help with some (RA) symptomatic therapy," Dr. Goodman says. "Or it could just be that people notice RA symptoms less because they are so distracted and miserable with their allergies."
Alcohol

In a recent study in the journal Rheumatology, researchers asked about 1,800 people about their alcohol-drinking habits and RA.

They found that people who had at least one drink three or more days a week were four times less likely to have RA than nondrinkers.

Also, RA patients who did drink tended to have milder symptoms than those who didn't.
Vitamin D

The link between vitamin D and RA is tricky.

Research suggests women in the northeastern U.S. are at greater risk of RA than those in sunnier regions. Lack of sun can cause vitamin D deficiency. And vitamin D deficiency has been linked with other autoimmune diseases.

"Vitamin D has a lot of interesting immune effects and metabolic effects and is critical to bone health," Dr. Goodman says. "Whether taking vitamin D will delay the onset or prevent it seems less clear-cut, but it is an important part of overall bone health."
Pregnancy

It's tough to predict the impact of pregnancy on RA. Women generally stop taking medication in pregnancy because the drugs may hurt the fetus.

For some, RA symptoms improve or even go into remission, Dr. Goodman says. She attributes this to the fact that the immune system is suppressed during pregnancy.

But others can experience even more pain than they normally do. And those who have a great pregnancy can have a flare-up after they give birth.
Breast-feeding

There are many benefits to breast-feeding, including a possible reduction in RA risk.

A 2004 study in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism found that, compared to women who didn't breast-feed, those who spent a total of one to two years breast-feeding had a 20% lower chance of getting RA. Those who did for two years or more had a 50% reduced risk.

A 2008 Swedish study showed similar results. Breast-feeding for up to one year was associated with a 25% reduced risk, and breast-feeding for 13 months or more was linked to a 50% reduction in risk.
Hormones/contraceptives

The data are a bit up in the air when it comes to hormones and RA.

Studies have not found a link between contraceptives and the risk of RA or the severity of disease.

A 2004 study found that women with irregular menstrual cycles do have a higher RA risk.

"The data aren't completely clear" on this topic, Dr. Goodman says. But hormones may play a role in reducing symptoms. "There is no question that estrogen can decrease pain, so part of some of the perimenopausal flares may be caused by estrogen withdrawal."
Cold/flu

There seems to be an anecdotal link between the flu and worsening RA symptoms. And the flu can be especially dangerous for people taking medication that weakens the immune system, which includes most of the drugs used to treat RA.

The CDC recommends flu shots for people with RA. (But not nasal-spray flu vaccines, which contain live viruses.)

One note of caution: Certain RA medications—methotrexate, prednisone, and rituximab—may lower the effectiveness of flu shots.
http://www.health.com/health/ Read More..

5 Fixes for Financial Woes

Get Out of Debt Fast
By Stephanie O'Neill, Special to LifeScript
Published January 04, 2008
Your credit card balances are creeping upward. That once-attractive variable mortgage rate has jumped. Your car’s engine is knocking. Worse, your checking balance is headed for red – again. Anxiety over your financial woes keeps you up at night. Sleepless, you see yourself sinking into a debt spiral. What to do? Follow this 5-step, get-tough, financial fitness plan...

Uncontrolled debt not only batters your finances but also generates enough stress to threaten your health. “Half the population is worried about debt,” says nationally syndicated finance columnist Liz Pulliam Weston, author of Deal With Your Debt: The Right Way to Manage Your Bill$ And Pay Off What You Owe (Pearson Education, 2006). And worry generates headaches, sleeplessness, and even digestive disorders.

Clearly sleepless nights won’t pay off your debt. But how can you get back in the black? You’re in debt precisely because you don’t have money to spare, even to pay off your creditors. Still, no matter how bleak your financial picture, Weston says, if you commit to the following steps, you can get out of debt – fast.
Step 1: Sort Out the Good, the Bad, the Ugly
Write down each and every debt. Include the debtor’s name, the amount of the debt, the interest rate, and the minimum payment. At the bottom of the list, write down the “good” debts, such as your mortgage and student loans. Put “bad” debts, such as unpaid high-interest credit card balances and payday loans – cash loans against a future paycheck or infusion of money – at the top of your debt-elimination list. (See related article: 10 Ways to Be Debt-Defying)
Step 2: Figure Out How Much You Earn… And Spend
“Most people don’t have a clear idea of their monthly income,” Weston says. “And they don’t know how much they’re spending.” That’s a big no-no, especially if you allow balances to carry over month-to-month on your credit cards.

Knowing how much you earn, spend and overspend each month is key to stopping the financial bloodletting. Begin by reviewing several months of bank statements (including ATM cash withdrawals) and all bills. Then review the income you received during that period.
S tep 3: Lose the Flab
Here’s where the process gets a bit tougher. “You need to ask, ‘What can I trim?’” Weston says. Consider how much you spend on mortgage, rent, car payment, insurance, groceries, utilities, gasoline – everything. If you’re consistently spending more than you earn, consider taking in a roommate or even moving to a less expensive house or apartment. “These are radical solutions, but nothing should be off limits,” Weston says.

Even the seemingly inconsequential stuff can make a big difference. Try these five fast fixes:

1. Does your utility company charge you higher rates during peak hours? If so, wash your clothes and run the dishwasher at night or early in the morning to save on your utility bill.
2. Do you have multiple phone lines with all the bells and whistles? Trim back the service and consolidate your lines for more savings.
3. Shop around for better insurance rates.
4. Buy groceries in bulk.
5. Carpool when possible and incorporate errands into your work commute to cut down on gas costs.
S tep 4: Boost Your Bucks
What can you sell? “Some people are lucky to have stock or a mutual fund that’s not in their retirement, or an extra car hanging around costing them insurance,” Weston says. If so, now may be the time to sell. And don’t stop there. Empty the garage and cabinet clutter, then stage an old-fashioned yard sale. Or go online and sell to the highest bidder on eBay or Craigslist.com, an online city-by-city bonanza of classified ads.

Consider asking for a raise at work. “Work a second job or start a side business that will actually make money from Day One, like house-sitting, errand running, pet sitting – something that doesn’t require a big up-front chunk of change,” Weston advises. The goal is to generate money that you can set aside for faster debt repayment. (See related article: 10 Money Mistakes Women Make)

Step 5: Prioritize Your Payments
Once you’ve got your spending in line with your income and you’ve generated some extra cash, return to your debt list and attack your most expensive debts first.
Carnivorous Credit Cards
If you shell out only the minimum payment, it will take years before your card is paid off. And while your balance is unpaid, the credit card company may charge double-digit interest on every new purchase. The solution? “Put the credit cards away and stop using them,” says Daryl Wilson, a partner at Romberger, Wilson & Beeson (rwbcpa.com), an accounting firm in Glendale, California. “If you’re not disciplined enough to put them away, cut them up.”

Weston, who also authored Your Credit Score: How to Fix, Improve, and Protect the 3-Digit Number that Controls Your Financial Future (Pearson Education, 2007), agrees: “That’s a crucial step, and one that people tend to skip.” If you continue to use the charge cards, the compound interest charges – interest on both the principal and previously accumulated interest – will gobble up your progress and keep you in debt. If you must, keep one card for emergencies only, Wilson says.
Next, check your credit rating for a nominal fee at MyFico.com. If your FICO score, or credit rating, is above 700, an excellent rating, contact your credit card companies and ask for a lower interest rate. If you meet resistance, let the agent know that without a lower rate you’ll transfer your balance to another credit card. A good FICO puts you in the driver’s seat. And lower rates will accelerate your payoff efforts.

Just Say No to Payday Loans
Payday loans are as financially dangerous as they are prolific. “There are more of them than McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s combined,” Weston says. “They’ve just exploded in the past 10 years.” If you’re desperate for money, street-front loan shops will trade immediate cash for a post-dated check from you – in other words, an advance on your next paycheck. What’s the catch? A whopping fee tantamount to triple-digit interest. “You write a check [to them] for $300, and you get $250 or $225 cash back,” Weston says. And it gets worse: “When payday comes around, many people can’t pay off the loans.” That results in further penalties that can vault you into quadruple-digit interest rates. If you’re caught in this cycle, pay these loans off first – even before credit cards – and never use them again.
When All Else Fails…
If, despite your efforts, you can’t dig out from credit card debt within three to five years, you may be a candidate for the more desirable Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which erases debt from credit cards, medical bills, and some other loans. But do nothing before contacting a non-profit credit counselor at the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC.org), Weston advises. If you do file for bankruptcy, it will stay on your credit record for 10 years, which means you may be turned down for future loans. “But if you get your act together and handle your (finances) responsibly,” Weston says, “you can restore your credit scores to close to 700 in a few years.”

Want to learn more? Get your own copies of Deal with Your Debt and Your Credit Score.

Do You Have the Credit Score Smarts?
A low credit score could not only cost you thousands of dollars a year, but could also deny you access to credit cards, insurance and even a place to live. Find out whether your credit IQ will help you land the plum rates or if you're a lender's nightmare with this credit score quiz.



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How to Keep Your Knees Healthy

By Linda Melone, CSCS, Special to Lifescript
Published April 23, 2011
Reviewed By Edward C. Geehr, M.D.
Healthy knees are important to your well-being, but painful injuries like “runner’s knee,” ACL tears and tendonitis are all too common. In fact, women are more likely than men to suffer serious knee trouble. Read how the knee works, what can go wrong and how to prevent getting hurt. Plus, learn how to strengthen leg muscles and reduce pain with a knee workout...

Although they’re the largest joints in the body, your knees are also among the most vulnerable to injury. And women face a higher risk, especially if they’re active.
But if you take precautions, you can reduce the likelihood of painful or even debilitating damage.

“Knee injuries generally fall into two categories: macro traumas and overuse injuries,” says John Hurley, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Summit Medical Group in Morristown, N.J.

Macro trauma includes tearing of a tendon or cartilage, usually the result of turning and twisting during running or sports. A tear can also occur when you stop short with feet planted in one direction and the knee forced into a different direction.

An overuse injury, on the other hand, often occurs from asking too much of your knees without enough rest.

And while they’re not completely preventable, both kinds of injury can usually be avoided with proper care.

Anatomy of a Knee
To understand how these problems happen, it’s helpful to know what makes your knees work.

Ligaments are stabilizers that hold your knee together. Two on each side prevent it from moving side to side. One on the inside and outside prevent it from collapsing in either direction.

A wrong step or sideways collision can easily result in a strain or tear. Women are two to eight times more likely to experience a tear of the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament – one of the knee’s stabilizing ligaments) than men. Read More..

How to Teach a Child to Read and Write

Overview

Reading and writing are the most important skills that a child learns in his early years of school. Once a child can read, he can learn about anything. Many parents decide to teach their children to read before they are officially school-aged. Other parents need to teach their own children because they do not learn to read at school for one reason or another. If you would like to teach your child to read and write, remember to keep it fun and interesting, to move along at your child's pace and to cut the lessons short if your child does not seem ready or if he is getting very frustrated. Keep a calm and patient demeanor to most effectively tutor your child.
Step 1

Show your child that reading and writing are fun by reading yourself. Read your child a variety of materials, from picture books to nonfiction books. Let her see you reading everything from newspapers and magazines to hardcover fiction books to do-it-yourself guides. Let her also see you write out grocery lists, letters, postcards and appointments on the calendar.
Step 2

Play games with your child to teach him phonemic awareness. Ask him if he can think of "-at" words to go in the "-at" family. Start him off with a few examples, such as cat and rat. Try to make up silly rhymes with your child. When reading nursery rhymes, leave off the last word and see if your child can fill it in.
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Step 3

Teach your child the lowercase letters and what sounds they make. Teach a few consonants and one or two vowels so that he will be able to read some short words. Continue to add in letters gradually. Work on the short vowel sounds, then the long vowel sounds. Consider using a phonics workbook or a reading curriculum, such as Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.
Step 4

Show your child how to write the letters as you teach him the sounds. Use lined paper to make large lowercase letters. Have him trace several of your examples, then try it on his own. Praise any efforts that he makes. If he is not ready to use a pencil to make letters, allow him to use a marker, chalk on a chalkboard or even his finger to write the letters in a tray of sand, salt or dry rice.
Step 5

Teach your child some common sight words that do not follow the basic rules of phonics. Examples of these words are the, is, of, to and said.
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Tips and Warnings

* Take your child to the library to choose new reading material. The children's librarian will be able to help you find books that are not too easy or too hard, and that will help hold his interest. While many children are able to learn to read between the ages of four and six, remember that your child may need extra time to mature before being taught to read. If you are worried that your child is learning too slowly, speak to his teacher or pediatrician about your concern.


http://www.livestrong.com/
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A father's day wish: Dads, wake the hell up!

Editor's note: Jeff Pearlman is a columnist for SI.com. He blogs at jeffpearlman.com.

(CNN) -- The woman started crying.

I didn't expect this, because, well, why would I? We were two adults, standing in a preschool auditorium, waiting for the year-end musical gala to begin, talking summer plans and Twitter and junk fiction and all things mindless parents talk at mindless events. Then -- tears.

"My husband," she said, "doesn't care."

"Uh, about what?" I asked.

The floodgates now open, she told me her husband works from home. But he never drops their daughter off at preschool. He never picks their daughter up at preschool. He never wakes up with their daughter, never puts her to bed, never takes her to a movie or a carnival or a ball game; never comes up with fun daddy-daughter activities. "All he worries about is golf," the mother said. "Sometimes he'll take her to the driving range for an hour. But that's it. ..."

Two days later, by mere coincidence, a different mother cornered me. I was sitting in a pizzeria with my son, Emmett, and daughter, Casey, gnawing on a calzone. The woman, another preschool regular who always seems to be dragging around her kids with the worn look of a chain gang inmate, glanced my way and muttered, "My husband would never do that."
"Do what?" I asked.

"Be out alone with both of the kids at once," she said. "Never."

In case you are wondering, I am that dad. The one who works out of the house. The one who drives his kids to school, packs lunches and pushes swings and arranges play dates and attends teacher conferences and -- generally speaking -- frequently finds himself alone in brightly colored rooms filled with women and tykes.
President Obama talks about fatherhood
CNN Comedy: Father's Day
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* Father's Day
* Parenting

Along with my wife (who, until recently, also worked from home), I wipe snot, clean poop, order time outs and say no -- Really, no! I'm being serious, no! -- to the damned ice cream man and his Satanic siren call. I know all of my kids' friends, and most of their tendencies (Ashley and Emily love dolls, Lucas only wants to talk about Derek Jeter, Tyler digs applesauce).

Hence, I have been sent here today, on behalf of the stay-at-home mothers of the world, to convey to my fellow pops a message of love and hope in this lead-up to Father's Day: Wake the hell up.

Really, wake the hell up. Now. I understand that most of you have 9-to-5 jobs, that you leave tired and come home tired and just wanna chill in front of SportsCenter with a bowl of chips. But, seriously, you have no remote idea: Being a stay-at-home parent is exhausting. At the office, you can hide. You can take lunch. You can pretend you're working while scrolling the Internet for Yankees-Blue Jays and, ahem, Lindsay Lohan news. You have genuine social interactions with folks over the age of, oh, 12. People ask questions about your day -- and listen to the answers.

I envy you, but I sort of pity you. Kids grow. Age 1 turns to age 3, which turns to age 7, which turns to 15 and 18 and 21, all in the blink of an eye. If you're there, as I am, it flies. If you're not there -- if you're almost never there -- it barely exists at all. Which is why I just can't stomach those millions of dads who view their days at home as recovery from work, who'd rather rest than engage, who have no problem with passing the tykes off for more alone time with mom and who, literally, moan to their wives, "You have no idea how hard I work."

For you, I offer these 10 commandments of righteous fatherhood. Pay close attention, because, behind your back, people are pitying your wife:

1. No golf on weekends: Seriously, it's ludicrous. Your spouse is home with the kids all the time, and you think it's OK to take five hours on a weekend day to pursue your own pastime? Selfishness, thy name is Father.

2. Wake up: Literally, wake up. With your kids. On at least one of the two weekend days -- and perhaps both. I know: you wake up early for work. Not even remotely the same thing. Rising alongside the kiddies is hard. And crazy. And (gasp!) sorta fun, if you'd just stop moping.

3. Change diapers: If you have little kids, and you don't know how to change diapers (or, even worse, refuse to change diapers), you're pathetic. That's no exaggeration -- p-a-t-h-e-t-i-c. It's not all that hard, and though the poop sometimes winds up on the fingers, well, uh, yeah. It just does. Wash your hands.

4. Play with dolls and paint your toenails: How many fathers do I know who refuse to get girlish with their girls? Dozens. Dude, put aside the machismo, break out Barbie and slather on some pink polish. You'll make a friend for life -- and nobody else is watching.

5. Do things you don't want to do: It's easy to take the kids to the driving range -- because you want to be there. Now try spending the day having a tea party at American Girl. Or crawling through one of those wormholes at the nearby kiddie gym. Fun? Often, no. But this isn't about you.

6. Order the wife to bug off: I recently met a mother who told me her husband hadn't been alone with their 9-year-old daughter for more than two hours ... ever. Inexcusable. Let your wife do her own thing: relax, take a run, whatever. Entertain your children solo. They don't bite (Note: CNN.com is not liable if your children do, in fact, bite).

7. Surprise! Just once, on a random day without meaning or purpose, show up early at your kid's school/camp/wherever, say "Get in the car!" and take him/her somewhere special. Just the two of you, alone. A movie. A park. A hike. The memory lasts -- I promise.

8. Dishes Don't Clean Themselves (Nor Do Toys): It's amazing how this one works. You pick up a dish, run it under hot water with some soap, rub it down with a towel and place it back on the shelf. Then repeat.

9. Wake up your kid: Not often. But if you want to score big points and create a killer memory moment, walk in Junior's room at, oh, midnight, wake him/her up and go outside for 10 minutes to watch the stars.

10. For God's sake, tell your kids you love them: They never see you, and they'd probably like to know.

Bud, as you read this your wife is expecting little -- and your kids are expecting even less. Pull one out of the blue. Make Father's Day less about you, and all about them.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jeff Pearlman. Read More..

As Arizona fires rage, 7 states face extreme fire risk Sunday

(CNN) -- Firefighters across the southwestern United States on Sunday could face some of the worst weather conditions of the season for battling blazes currently raging across the region.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for most of Arizona, all of New Mexico, much of north Texas and portions of Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas and Utah for Sunday. A red flag warning means weather conditions -- mainly high heat, low humidity and strong winds -- pose an extreme fire risk.

"The winds certainly will be very gusty and strong," said Ken Daniel, NWS meteorologist in Flagstaff, Arizona. "Any new fire starts would have the potential to have explosive growth."

The forecast calls for winds of 30 mph or more in some areas, with gusts of up to 50 mph, Daniel said.

There are currently dozens of active wildfires burning in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, according to InciWeb, an online interagency database that tracks fires, floods and other disasters.

Nationwide, wildfires have burned almost as many acres in the first half of 2011 than were recorded by the National Fire Interagency Center for all of 2010. The agency reports on its website that 3.1 million acres in the United States had been ignited by wildfires as of May 31, compared to 3.2 million burned acres cited in the organization's year-end report in November 2010.

One Arizona blaze that started May 29 has mushroomed into a massive wildfire that's scorched more than a half-million acres. A smaller but fast-moving blaze is raging in the southeastern corner of the state.
The latter of the two has emerged as "the number one priority" for firefighters nationwide, according to the chief of the U.S. Forest Service.

"The conditions that we're dealing with here are as bad as we can get," said Tom Tidwell, head of the U.S. Forest Service, of the combination of high temperatures, low humidity, ample "fuel" and strong winds. "It just can't get any worse."

Gordon Van Vleet, a spokesman for the Joint Information Center, said that no cause has been determined for the so-called Monument Fire, which has spread across the Huachuca Mountains and burned 20,956 acres as of Saturday afternoon. He said authorities likely won't state a cause until the blaze is more under control.

"We know where it started and when it started, but (the specific cause) is under investigation," Tidwell said. "When we do have that information, we will share it."

At a press conference, U.S. Sen. John McCain blamed illegal immigrants for starting unspecified fires in the area. The Arizona Republican, however, did not provide evidence to back up the accusation, which prompted rebukes from Latino civil rights leaders.

While a fire at the U.S. Army's Fort Huachuca is 100% contained, according to Van Vleet, the Monument fire was 27% contained as of Saturday afternoon -- an improvement over the 15% figure in the morning, but certainly dangerous given the inordinately dry and windy conditions.

"This has been the number one priority in the country for a couple of days," Tidwell said. "That means this will receive resources before anyone else."

The Monument Fire, just south of Sierra Vista, Arizona, has torched at least 40 homes.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has issued emergency declarations for the Monument Fire and another blaze, Horseshoe II, making Cochise County eligible for $100,000 toward response and recovery expenses.

Meanwhile, residents of the eastern Arizona community of Alpine were able to return home, according to fire spokesman John Helmich. The community has a population of about 300, but many more seasonal visitors were forced to leave earlier this month because of the historically large Wallow fire.

The Wallow fire, which burned 500,409 acres, was 38% contained Saturday.

Tidwell said earlier Saturday that he was "very optimistic" that damage from future wildfires could be minimized by thinning forests and clearing out biomass -- which did occur, to some extent, in parts of eastern Arizona. He noted that 3.2 million acres were "treated" nationwide last year.

Sen. John Kyl, R-Arizona, noted that the estimated $64.1 million price for the Wallow fire would more than double after the costs of mitigation efforts to prevent mudslides from the summer monsoons.

"Just think that what we could have done using those funds to treat those forests in advance," Kyl said.

But government budget strains have limited the amount of money going to such efforts. "The only way we are going to get these (forests) thinned is through greater participation of private enterprise," McCain said, adding that the government should try to facilitate such initiatives, including by allowing limited logging in national parks.

"There is simply not enough tax dollars to get the job done without them," McCain said of private companies. Read More..

Torrential rains hit south China, killing 25

(CNN) -- Another round of torrential rains has flooded a once-drought-stricken region of southern China, killing 25 people and leaving 25 missing, authorities said Friday.

The flood has forced the evacuation of about 671,200 people and has affected 10 provinces and municipalities in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs

In Zhejiang province, where the water level has exceeded the historic record set in 1955, officials have raised the disaster alert to the highest level. More than 2,000 soldiers mobilized for the emergency response in the area.

The Ministry of Finance has distributed about 130 million RMB ($20 million) for relief efforts in Hubei and Hunan.

This is the third round of heavy rains in the region this month, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The last round hit the area June 9, triggering floods and mudslides that left 77 dead and 31 people missing, authorities said.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs estimated losses stemming from the latest flood at 12.85 billion RMB (nearly $2 billion), more than the previous two floods combined.
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Ned Kelly tattoos linked to higher violent deaths and suicides

Ned Kelly, who died in 1880 when he was hanged for murdering three police officers, was an Irish-Australian who became a symbol of the Irish resistance against the British. He was known for creating armor out of agricultural machinery and this can be seen in many of the different tattoo images supporting him.

Byard first became interested in the possible connection between Kelly tattoos and violent death when he noticed a high number of bodies coming into the mortuary with Kelly tattoos. He then looked at 20 men with the tattoos and found that only three had died from natural causes.

When comparing the findings to around 1000 other deaths in South Australia, he found that those with a Kelly tattoo had a suicide rate 2.7 times that of those without and a homicide rate of 7.7 of those who did not have a tattoo. The three that had died of natural causes can be compared to a national rate of 50 percent of the population.

Byard also noted that 11 out of the 20 men studied also showed signs of drug and alcohol abuse.

While this is not the first study to link violent deaths to anti-social tattoos, it is the first study to link these types of violent deaths with a specific tattoo and person.
Abstract
Tattoos depicting Ned Kelly, a 19th-century Australian bushranger (outlaw) are occasionally encountered in the contemporary Australian population at forensic autopsy. To determine the characteristics of decedents with such tattoos, twenty cases were identified in the autopsy files at Forensic Science SA. All of the decedents were white males (100%) with an age range of 20–67yrs (average 37yrs). Seventeen of the deaths (85%) were unnatural, due to suicide in eight cases (40%), accidents in seven cases (35%) and homicide in two cases (10%). Compared to the general autopsy population suicides and homicides were 2.7 and 7.7 times higher, respectively, than would be expected, with a striking male predominance. A Ned Kelly tattoo identified at autopsy in another country or in a disaster victim identification situation may suggest that the decedent was Australian or had a connection with that country. Although the population studied is highly selected, individuals with these tattoos had an above average incidence of traumatic deaths.

© 2010 PhysOrg.com
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Kilobots bring us one step closer to a robot swarm

Enter the Kilobots. These small and simple robots are about the size of a US quarter that moves around on a set of vibrating legs. These small robots are able to communicate with each other by blinking lights mounted on their cases. While each individual unit may not seem that advanced or impressive the real impact is what happens when the robots work as a system.

Swarms of hundreds or thousands of these robots, which each cost about $14 and take roughly fine minuets to assemble, are not designed to be used on an individual basis. The first group to be used by a research group at Harvard University is starting out with a group of 25. While this may not be the stuff of the nightmare scenarios of a thousands of horror movies as of yet these robots could easily be swarmed by the 1000's if the small scale testing goes well.
Enter the Kilobots. These small and simple robots are about the size of a US quarter that moves around on a set of vibrating legs. These small robots are able to communicate with each other by blinking lights mounted on their cases. While each individual unit may not seem that advanced or impressive the real impact is what happens when the robots work as a system.

Swarms of hundreds or thousands of these robots, which each cost about $14 and take roughly fine minuets to assemble, are not designed to be used on an individual basis. The first group to be used by a research group at Harvard University is starting out with a group of 25. While this may not be the stuff of the nightmare scenarios of a thousands of horror movies as of yet these robots could easily be swarmed by the 1000's if the small scale testing goes well. Read More..

Selena Gomez Photos: Hot Hollywood Celebrity Photo Gallery of the Week

Selena Marie Gomez (born July 22, 1992) is an American actress, singer, and entrepreneur, best known for portraying Alex Russo in the Emmy Award-winning Disney Channel television series Wizards of Waverly Place. She subsequently ventured into feature films and has starred in the television movies Another Cinderella Story, Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, and Princess Protection Program. She made her starring theatrical film debut in Ramona and Beezus.

Her career has expanded into the music industry; Gomez is the lead singer and founder of the pop band Selena Gomez & the Scene, which has released two RIAA Gold certified studio albums, Kiss & Tell and A Year Without Rain. As of April 2011, The band has sold 1,354,000 albums in the United States. Gomez has also contributed to the soundtracks of Tinker Bell, Another Cinderella Story and Wizards of Waverly Place after signing a record deal with Hollywood Records. In 2008, Selena Gomez was designated a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Gomez was born in Grand Prairie, Texas. She is the daughter of former stage actress Mandy Teefey (née Cornett) and Ricardo Joel Gomez. Her father is Mexican American and her mother is of half Italian descent. Regarding her Hispanic heritage, Gomez said: “My family does have Quinceañeras, and we go to the communion church. We do everything that’s Catholic, but we don’t really have anything traditional except [that we] go to the park and have barbeques on Sundays after church.” Her birth parents divorced when she was five years old, and she was raised as an only child by her working mother. In 2006, Mandy remarried Brian Teefey. She is named after Tejano singer Selena. In a 2009 interview with People, Gomez mentioned that she developed an early interest in acting from watching her mother prepare for and act in theater productions. She earned a high school diploma through homeschooling in May 2010.

Acting career
2002–2006: Barney & Friends and early work

Gomez began her acting career at age seven, playing Gianna on Barney & Friends.[15] She later had minor roles in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over and the TV film Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial By Fire. Gomez also starred in the television movie Brain Zapped.

In 2004, Gomez was discovered by the Disney Channel in a nationwide scouting. Gomez appeared as a guest star on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and had a guest appearance – that later turned into a recurring role – on Hannah Montana from season’s two to three. Gomez previously taped two different pilots that were spin-offs to two previous Disney series. The first one, What’s Stevie Thinking?, was the spin-off to Lizzie McGuire. Gomez played Stevie Sanchez, Miranda Sanchez’s little sister. The other show was titled Arwin!, the spin-off to The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, in which she played Alexa. Neither series was picked up.
2007–2009: Wizards of Waverly Place and rise to fame
Gomez on the studio set of Wizards of Waverly Place before filming an episode for the show’s first season in April 2007

In early 2007 Gomez was cast in the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place as one of the three main characters, Alex Russo. The show premiered to an audience of 5.9 million, becoming a hit. Many news outlets began dubbing Gomez the next ‘Miley Cyrus’ causing some controversy and a reported ‘feud’. Gomez clarified that there was no feud and that she was flattered by the comparison, saying: “It’s a little overwhelming, but I think really, it’s a compliment. She’s obviously extremely successful, and I think she’s a wonderful performer … So being compared to her, I was very, very flattered.”

In 2008, Gomez appeared in Another Cinderella Story, the direct-to-DVD sequel to the 2004 Hilary Duff film, opposite Drew Seeley. She also had a minor voiceover role as one the Mayor’s ninety-six daughters in Horton Hears a Who! which released in March of that year. In April, Lacey Rose, of Forbes ranked Gomez as being fifth on their “Eight Hot Kid Stars To Watch” list; and Rose described Gomez as having been “a multitalented teen”.

In June, 2009, Gomez did a guest appearance as herself in one episode of best friend Demi Lovato’s Disney Channel television show, Sonny with a Chance, entitled “Battle of The Network Stars”. That same month Gomez appeared alongside Lovato in the made-for-television Disney Channel movie, Princess Protection Program.[20] The telecast garnered 8.5 million viewers becoming, at the time, the third most watched Disney Channel Original Movie.[21] One month later, Gomez, along with two cast members of Wizards of Waverly Place appeared in a television three-way cross-over episode with Hannah Montana and The Suite Life on Deck, entitled Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana. On August 28, two month after appearing in Princess Protection Program, Gomez appeared in Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, a made-for-television film based on the show. The film premiered to an audience of 11.4 million viewers becoming cable’s No. 1 scripted telecast of 2009 and Disney Channel’s second most-viewed film premiere after High School Musical 2. In February 2009, Gomez signed on to star as one of the two female leads in Ramona and Beezus, a film adaption of the children’s novel series by Beverly Cleary. Gomez stated that she felt no pressure in taking more adult roles: “I think I’m fully aware of my audience and I’m still just a kid myself. I wouldn’t do a role I don’t feel comfortable doing or that my audience wouldn’t feel comfortable seeing.”

2010–present: Focus on film
Gomez on location in Paris, France filming Monte Carlo in June 2010

Gomez’s first theatrical film Ramona & Beezus premiered on July 23, 2010 and met with generally positive reviews. In March, 2010, Variety reported that Gomez was set to star as one of the three lead roles in Monte Carlo, alongside Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy. In the film Gomez plays Grace, a girl who’s “mistaken for a socialite while on a trip to Paris.” To prepare for the role Gomez learned how to play polo and also took two weeks of vocal training to learn two different British accents. The same year Gomez confirmed that the fourth season of her hit Disney Channel show, Wizards of Waverly Place, would be its last.

In February 2011, Deadline.com reported that Universal Pictures and Strike Entertainment had acquired the novel Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher with Gomez attached to the lead. That same month TV Guide reported that Gomez would make a cameo in the upcoming Muppets film. Production for the final season of Wizards of Waverly Place came to a wrap on May 14, 2011. Gomez is set to co-host the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards on June 19.

Music career
2009: Solo career

“Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” (2008)
Play sound
Gomez’s first song to chart on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
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In 2008, Gomez recorded a cover of “Cruella de Vil”—which included a music video—for the compilation album DisneyMania 6. Gomez recorded three songs for the Another Cinderella Story soundtrack, which Gomez appears in. Gomez also recorded “Fly to Your Heart” for the 2008 animated film Tinker Bell. In July 2008, before Gomez’ sixteenth birthday, she signed a recording deal with Hollywood Records, a music label owned by Disney. In 2009, Gomez recorded “One and the Same” for Princess Protection Program as a duet with her co-star Lovato. Gomez recorded four songs, one of which was a cover, for the Wizards of Waverly Place soundtrack, only one single (Magic) from the album was released. In May, of the same year, Gomez was featured, with Forever the Sickest Kids, on a duet version of the non-album song “Whoa Oh!”.

2009–present: Selena Gomez & the Scene
Main article: Selena Gomez & the Scene

Formed in 2009, Selena Gomez & the Scene (aka Selena & The Scene) is a teen pop band which consists of Selena Gomez on vocals, Ethan Roberts on guitar, Joey Clement on bass, Greg Garman on drums and Dane Forrest on keyboards. Kiss & Tell is the band’s debut studio album and was released on September 29, 2009 by Hollywood Records. On March 5, 2010, the album was certified Gold by RIAA. The album’s single, “Naturally”, was certified Platinum by the RIAA on July 15, 2010.[2] The band’s second album A Year Without Rain was released on September 17, 2010. The record debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 4, selling 66,000 copies. On January 19, 2011, the album was certified Gold by RIAA. The band’s third album When the Sun Goes Down, previously titled Otherside, is set to hit shelves on June 28, 2011. Gomez confirmed via her official Twitter that their lead single will be titled “Who Says”. The single was previously scheduled to premiere live on On Air with Ryan Seacrest March 10, but was pushed up two days early to March 8. The accompanying music video, which was directed by Chris Applebaum, premiered on Disney Channel March 11. The single was certified Gold by RIAA on June 9, 2011.

Other projects
Philanthropy

Gomez was involved in the UR Votes Count campaign which encouraged teenagers to learn more about 2008 presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain. In October 2008, Gomez participated in St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital “Runway For Life” benefit. Gomez is a spokesperson for Borden Milk; she is featured in the campaign’s print and television ads. She is the ambassador of DoSomething.org after being involved with the charity Island Dog, which help dogs in Puerto Rico. She got involved while filming Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie in Puerto Rico. Gomez is a spokesperson for State Farm Insurance, and is featured in their TV commercials; which air on the Disney Channel, to raise awareness of being a safe driver. Gomez is also involved with the charity RAISE Hope For Congo, the charity helps raise awareness about the violence against Congolese women, in the Congo.

In October 2008, Gomez was named UNICEF’s spokesperson for the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign, which encouraged children to raise money on Halloween to help children around the world. She said that she was “extremely excited” to “encourage other kids to make a difference in the world.”

In August 2009, a 17-year-old Gomez became the youngest UNICEF ambassador ever, passing fellow songstress Hayley Westenra, who had been 18. In her first official field mission, Gomez traveled to Ghana on September 4, 2009 for a week to witness first-hand the stark conditions of vulnerable children that lack vital necessities including clean water, nourishment, education and healthcare. Gomez explained during an interview with Associated Press that she wanted to use her star power to bring awareness to Ghana: “That’s why I feel very honored to have a voice that kids listen to and take into consideration [...] I had people on my tour asking me where IS Ghana, and they Googled it […] and because I went there, they now know where Ghana is. So it’s pretty incredible.” Gomez said of her role as ambassador that: “Every day 25,000 children die from preventable causes. I stand with UNICEF in the belief that we can change that number from 25,000 to zero. I know we can achieve this because every moment, UNICEF is on the ground providing children with the lifesaving assistance needed to ensure zero becomes a reality.”

Gomez was named spokesperson for UNICEF’s 2009 Trick-or-Treat campaign, for the second year in a row. Gomez, who raised over $700,000 for the charity in 2008, stated that she hopes to be able to raise 1 million dollars in 2009. Gomez participated in a celebrity auction and hosted a live web cast series on Facebook in support of the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign. Gomez will return as the UNICEF spokesperson for the 60th anniversary of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign in 2010.

Gomez is involved in Disney’s Friends for Change, an organization which promotes “environmently-friendly behavior”, and appears in its public service announcements to raise awareness for the cause on the Disney Channel. Gomez, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, and the Jonas Brothers recorded “Send It On”, a charity single which serves as the theme song for Disney’s Friends for Change in 2009. The song debuted on the Hot 100 at number twenty. Disney’s Friends For Change will direct all of its proceeds from “Send it On” to environmental charities to the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund. On October 6, 2009, Gomez made a surprise visit to a Los Angeles elementary school as part of the “A Day Made Better” program that was sponsored by OfficeMax. During her visit, Gomez gave the school an award, and gave them $1,000 worth of school supplies. Gomez spent the day with the students and talked about the importance of giving back to the community.

Selena Gomez is also the owner of five rescue dogs and describes herself as a “huge animal-lover”.

Entrepreneurship and sponsorships
Gomez on the set of her music video for “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” in July 2008

Gomez was part of Sears back-to-school fashion ad campaign. As part of the campaign Gomez was featured in the television commercials. In August 2009, Gomez also hosted the “Sears Arrive Air Band Casting Call” – to select five people for the first-ever “Sears Air Band”, which performed at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

In October 2008, Gomez launched her own production company, July Moon Productions, and partnered with XYZ Films to create star vehicles for Gomez. As part of the agreement Gomez will have the opportunity to be able option articles, hire writers and create talent packages to shop to studios. Also, as part of the deal, “XYZ Films will allow Gomez to star in and produce at least two films. Variety reported that: “In August, XYZ [Films] inked a similar deal with Time Inc. and management-production company the Collective to finance the development of the print media giant’s content for the bigscreen [...] As part of the July Moon-XYZ deal, [Selena] Gomez will have the ability to cherry-pick projects from the vast Time Inc. library, which includes Time, Sports Illustrated, Fortune and Life.”

In October 2009, Gomez announced her plan to launch her own fashion line, called “Dream Out Loud by Selena Gomez”. The clothing line launched in the fall of 2010. The collection consists of and features bohemian dresses, floral tops, jeans, skirts, jackets, scarves and hats, all made from recycled or eco-friendly materials. Gomez said that the line will reflect her own personal style and described the clothing as being “pretty, feminine, and bohemian,” and: “With my line, I really want to give the customer options on how they can put their own looks together [...] I want the pieces that can be easy to dress up or down, and the fabrics being eco-friendly and organic is super important [...] Also, the tags will all have some of my inspirational quotes on them. I’m just looking to send a good message.” Gomez, who has no background in fashion, teamed up with designers Tony Melillo and Sandra Campos, both who have worked with big-name fashion houses. Gomez said of the partnering: “When I met Tony and Sandra, I was instantly comfortable with them and now they are just like family to me [...] They are so creative and I love how I can just call them up whenever and talk to them about everything, even if it’s just about changing a button [...] They’ve been so cool about everything.” The brand will be manufactured by, Melillo and Campos teamed with New York-based Adjmi Apparel and formed by Adjmi CH Brands LLC; which is the holding company for the brand.
http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2011/06/18/selena-gomez-photos-hot-hollywood-celebrity-photo-gallery-of-the-week/ Read More..

Britney Spears is set to launch a multi-platform campaign

By: Josh Abraham
HollywoodNews.com: Britney Spears is set to launch a multi-platform campaign of her eagerly awaited video, “I Wanna Go.” This Sunday Spears will simultaneously air an exclusive 30-second teaser on Bravo’s popular “Watch What Happens: Live ” and on VEVO. The teaser leads up to the full video premiere on MTV and VEVO on Wednesday the 22nd. Following the premiere the video will air hourly on MTV, during video hours, and on VH-1’s Best Morning Buzz Live.

The video was directed by Chris Marrs Piliero and shot in Los Angeles. The “I Wanna Go” video comes on the heels of her highly-anticipated Femme Fatale tour in Sacramento yesterday. Spears was warmly received by a sell-out crowd and high praise from critics: Rolling Stone raves that “the night belonged to Britney” and that it was “possibly her flashiest, fastest moving, and most entertaining production yet.” The Sacramento Bee adds “Spears performed like a pro throughout the show” and that the “sellout crowd thrilled… from the start to Spear’s stellar pop songs.” Spears’ Femme Fatale Tour with special guest Nicki Minaj, Jessie and the Toy Boys and Nervo next tour date is June 18th in San Jose at the HP Pavilion and is slated to wrap on August 25th in Raleigh, NC before heading off to Europe.

“I Wanna Go” (click to listen) is the third single from Spears’ platinum selling 7th studio-album Femme Fatale (Jive Records) and was produced by Shellback, Savan Kotecha and long-time collaborator Max Martin.
About Bravo:

Bravo is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been an NBCUniversal cable network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information, visit www.BravoTV.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BravoPR.

About MTV:

MTV is the world’s premier youth entertainment brand. With a global reach of more than a half-billion households, MTV is the cultural home of the millennial generation, music fans and artists, and a pioneer in creating innovative programming for young people. MTV reflects and creates pop culture with its Emmy®, Grammy® and Peabody® award-winning content built around compelling storytelling, music discovery and activism across TV, online and mobile. MTV’s sibling networks MTV2 and mtvU each deliver unparalleled customized content for young males, music fans and college students, and its online hub MTV.com is the leading destination for music, news and pop culture. MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. For more information, go to www.mtvpress.com.

About VEVO:

VEVO is the world’s leading all-premium music video and entertainment platform. VEVO is available in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom, which includes VEVO.com, Mobile Apps (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Android), Connected Television (Google TV, Boxee) and user embeddable video players. VEVO powers music videos on over 200 artist pages across Facebook, as well as syndicates to dozens of online sites, including AOL, BET, CBS Interactive Music Group (including Last.fm), Fuse.tv and Univision. Additionally, through a special partnership with YouTube, VEVO is accessible in over 200 countries, expanding the platform’s reach around the globe. Read More..

Steven Spielberg Kicking Around Ideas for Jurassic Park 4

I’m frankly shocked a new “Jurassic Park” movie hasn’t reared its prehistoric head sooner. After all, it’s been over 10 years since the last installment, Joe Johnston’s “Jurassic Park 3″, which despite poor reviews, still managed to gross over $368 million worldwide from an estimated $100 million production budget. A lot of movie studios would call that a runaway success, but apparently Universal was hoping for more.

Steven Spielberg, the producer and director on the first two “Jurassic Park” movies, hasn’t given up on the franchise yet (or on dinosaurs; he’s got a new dinosaur-heavy show called “Terra Nova” coming to FOX soon), and THR reports that the director is currently “[kicking] around ideas” for a fourth movie with “I am Legend” writer Mark Protosevich.

Nothing is official, no scripts have been written, and currently one is getting paid to do anything, and the idea of a “Jurassic Park 4″ is said to be purely “exploratory”.

The first “Jurassic Park”, based on a novel by the late Michael Crichton about scientists cloning dinosaurs from DNA frozen in amber, was directed by Spielberg and made a whopping $914 million worldwide. Remember, this was back in 1993. In today’s dollars and adjusted for inflation, that’s over a billion. If Spielberg’s “Terra Nova” becomes a hit, though, you can expect a “Jurassic Park 4″ to get fast-tracked.
http://www.beyondhollywood.com/steven-spielberg-kicking-around-ideas-for-jurassic-park-4/ Read More..

First Look at Tom Cruise in Rock of Ages

Tom Cruise has traded in jumping on couches and saving the world one impossible mission at a time and swapped it to let his inner child play by rocking the hell out in this first look at Cruise as rocker Stacee Jaxx in Adam Shankman’s musical, “Rock of Ages”.

The Newline/Warner Bros. film stars Julianne Hough, Alec Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, Diego Bonet, Russell Brand, Mary J. Blige, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bryan Cranston and Malin Akerman.


Hitting theaters on June 1, 2012, “Rock of Ages” is set in the 1980s and centers on an aspiring rocker, Drew (Boneta) who works as a busboy in the trademark Hollywood bar/club The Bourbon Room. He falls instantly for a cute girl, Sherrie (Hough), who arrives from Kansas hoping to make it big in acting. After being hired by the bar, Sherrie accepts Drew’s invitation to have a picnic at a place overlooking Los Angeles. There, he mistakenly suggests that the two are just friends. Later, at the Bourbon Room, ladies’ man and lead singer for his band Arsenal, Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise), will be playing that night and instantly hits it off with Sherrie and the two have sex in the bar’s bathroom. Subsequently, Drew proves his musical ability in the club and is chosen to open for Stacee. A record producer in the club offers Drew a contract, which he accepts.http://www.beyondhollywood.com/first-look-at-tom-cruise-in-rock-of-ages/> Read More..

Thor (2011) Movie Review

Verily! “Thor” doth cometh to smite thee! Okay, so the Thor in Kenneth Branagh’s big-screen version of the Marvel Comics character doesn’t actually talk like a reject from a Renaissance Fair, which is a shame, as that might have been hilarious. Instead, Thor and his buddies, including the Warriors Three (or, er, Four) talk pretty much like you and I, except with a little more English. Literally. The film boasts a number of British actors, including Tom Hiddleston as Thor’s brother Loki, and of course, the venerable Anthony Hopkins as the granddaddy of all Asgardians, Odin. Star Chris Hemsworth isn’t British, but let’s face it, he has less ground to cover in “sounding” British than, say, Jaimie Alexander, who plays the Warrior Lady Sif and hails from South Carolina, USA.

The first of Marvel Studios’ big-screen onslaught of big-budget comic book movies, “Thor” is probably the least well-known of the superheros that will be battling for your hard-earned bucks this Summer. Moviegoers certainly aren’t as familiar with him as they are with, say, Captain America (soon to be seen in his own movie, “Captain America: The First Avenger”) or Iron Man (eventually to be seen in “Iron Man 3″, but first in next year’s “The Avengers”). And if I’m being honest, it’s the one comic book character that I didn’t think could ever NOT look (or sound) silly onscreen. So you can imagine my surprise on how the film turned out: while not “knock your socks off” great, it’s still pretty darn “go figure, it’s a lot better than I thought it would be” good.
Australian hunk of a man Chris Hemsworth stars as Thor, the Asgardian God of Thunder, though he’s never really mentioned as being a God, just a dude with a really cool hammer that can do really cool things like whip up lightning, tornadoes, and help him fly. It can also be wielded by only the most “worthy” of wielders, which makes you wonder how Odin, his pop, ever gave it to Thor, since when we first meet him, Thor is every bit the thoughtless rogue his much more sublime brother Loki believes him to be. On the day of Thor’s coronation to the throne, some unsavory Frost Giants (tall, blue ice beings) break into Asgard and cause mischief. Thor, never one to take an invasion lying down, decides to retaliate by attacking the Frost Giants’ home world, starting up a war that has been in a state of limbo for centuries or thereabouts. (“The Chronicles of Riddick’s” Colm Feore voices King Laufey, leader of the ice-lovin’ Frost Giants.)

As punishment for his misguided heroics, Thor is cast out to Earth, but not before he’s stripped off his powers and precious hammer. Now a mere mortal, Thor meets spunky scientist Jane Foster (a spunky cute Natalie Portman), who keeps broadsiding him with her jeep, and her professor/mentor (Stellan Skarsgard) and unpaid intern Darcy (Kat Dennings), the trio having been scouring the New Mexico nights for signs of wormholes. When Thor drops into Jane’s lap, it proves her theories mostly correct. Or correct-ish. Honestly, it’s all technobabble to me, folks. Suffice it to say, soon the super spy agency SHIELD, led by Marvel U.’s ominipresent Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) has shown up to boss people around. Meanwhile, back at Asgard, Loki spins his sinister plans, taking down Odin, and assuming the crown. He does this incredibly easily, which is both silly and amusing, but does the job of giving Thor a big ol threat to combat.
Featuring surprisingly sure-handed direction by Kenneth Branagh (whose hiring for the gig was probably as out-of-left-field as you’ll find in recent years), he of the Shakespearean plays and movies, “Thor” has all the brawn, humor, and superhero action you’d want from a superhero movie. It also brings a lot of tragedy to the table, with much of Loki’s machinations spurned on by that most ancient of squabbles, sibling rivalry. Which makes the casting of Hopkins as Odin a no-brainer. Odin is full of gravitas and is one emotionally heavy dude, helping to make the movie’s twisted family dynamics believable. Tom Hiddleston is equally fantastic as Loki, bringing a sly menace to what could have been stock villainy. Thor may have all the brawn and bravado, but you do believe that Loki, though less physically imposing, is every bit his equal when the chips are done, thus setting up a pretty intriguing clash for years to come.

A hugely imposing fellow, Australian chap Chris Hemsworth fills out his red cape and shiny Asgardian armor nicely. He’s asked to be charming and keep those pecs glistening throughout, both of which he does with aplomb. Natalie Portman, coming off her Oscar winning turn in “Black Swan”, seems to understand that she’s in a Summer comic book movie and acts accordingly. We’re told her Jane Foster is super duper smart, but honestly, she’s just goofy and endearing. Likewise with Kat Dennings, who unfortunately gets mostly lost after the first act. The film’s huge action set pieces come early and fast, with Thor and company invading the Frost Giants’ home, then the Destroyer arriving on Earth to finish off the banished Asgardian. Curiously, the Warriors Three really don’t get a whole lot to do after the battle at the Frost Giants’ homeworld, in particular Japanese cinema icon Tadanobu Asano, who looks mostly lost among the English-speaking cast. I have to believe Asano spent most of his screentime being either bewildered by the Hollywood production or concentrating very hard on his few English lines.
Early International reviews for “Thor” have been surprisingly strong, which should bode well for the film’s Stateside premiere this Friday. Of course it helps that the film has a strong foundation, with Shakespearean guy Branagh behind the camera and Hopkins and Hiddleston in front of it, both giving standout performances. Chris Hemsworth is no slouch, but let’s face it, he’s big and brawny and throws a mean punch and looks good doing it. It’s not exactly a tour de force performance. On the fanboy angle, comic book geeks should keep an eye out for a shadowy guest appearance by an Avenger during Thor’s raid on the SHIELD compound halfway into the film. And there’s another worthwhile cameo during a scene where locals try to pick up Thor’s hammer that’s good for a chuckle or two.

P.S. Stay after the end credits.

Kenneth Branagh (director) / Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz, Don Payne (screenplay), J. Michael Straczynski, Mark Protosevich (story)
CAST: Chris Hemsworth … Thor
Natalie Portman … Jane Foster
Tom Hiddleston … Loki
Anthony Hopkins … Odin
Stellan Skarsgård … Erik Selvig
Kat Dennings … Darcy Lewis
Clark Gregg … Agent Coulson
Idris Elba … Heimdall
Ray Stevenson … Volstagg
Tadanobu Asano … Hogun
Josh Dallas … Fandral
Jaimie Alexander … Sif
Rene Russo … Frigga Read More..

Boeing hosts Paris Air Show preview

In two days the annual Paris Air Show opens at Le Bourget Airport just outside the French capital. Aviation geeks of all stripes know the event is the biggest and best air show in the world, with just about every airplane you can imagine. And as it has always done, Boeing will be making the flight from Seattle to Paris to show off its newest aircraft, like the 747-8 and the 787 Dreamliner. There, the company will face off with rival Airbus and a number of smaller manufacturers like Bombardier and Embraer.

As part of his Road Trip 2011 CNET's Daniel Terdiman will be on site in Paris early next week to bring you the sights of the show. As a confirmed aviation geek, I'm insanely jealous, much like I envied his trip to the Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen, Germany, last week. Yet, Daniel's European trip also offered me the opportunity to attend Boeing's Paris Air Show Preview in Seattle earlier this month.

Boeing invited journalists to two days of briefings and tours at the company's factories in Everett and Renton, Wash. The tours showed the production lines for the company's 747, 737, 777, 767, and 787 aircraft (I even got to go inside a 747-8 under construction), while the briefings offered an advance scoop on the company's news for the coming week. Much of the information concerns aircraft production rates, delivery schedules, and airliner orders--Boeing is not expected to announce any new aircraft in Paris--but I'll offer a few highlights here. And of course, Daniel will have more insights after the show starts.

Just across the factory floor was a 787 for Japan Airlines.
(Credit: Kent German/CNET)

787 Dreamliner
After more than three years of delays, Boeing's groundbreaking aircraft will finally be delivered to launch-customer All Nippon Airways in the third quarter of this year. The 787's composite materials, along with a sharper nose and curved, upswept wings, promise greater fuel efficiency, quieter engines, and longer range. It first took to the air in December 2009 and has been performing flight testing and pilot training in the subsequent months.

Currently, 10 test aircraft are undergoing "functionality and reliability" training, which is designed to simulate real-world commercial passenger use. Just as an airline would, Boeing conducts a series of flights within hours of each other. The company also is conducting longer-range "ETOPS" tests (extended twin engine operations) to ensure that the aircraft has enough time and fuel to divert to an airport if one of the engines needs to be shut down. Boeing says it has completed most of the tests necessary for certification by the Federal Aviation Administration. After everything is done, the FAA will then inspect the materials and decide whether to certify the 787 for passenger flights.

The huge building also houses the 747-8 production line.
(Credit: Kent German/CNET)

747-8
The company's newest member of the iconic 747 family made its first flight last March after an official unveiling weeks earlier. The 747-8 also is undergoing functional and reliability testing with five 747-8 Freighter models and two 747-8 Intercontinental passenger versions.

So far, Boeing has built a total of 20 aircraft and completed 25 percent of all FAA certification tests. Earlier tests revealed some flutter and wing vibration, but the company says those issues have been addressed. Boeing has announced 114 orders, with the first delivery to launch-customer Lufthansa set for later this year.

Of course, I'm guessing you're really here to peruse the photo galleries from the factory tours (indeed, putting the galleries together was my main reason for being in Seattle). So, by all means, please take a look.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-20072031-76/boeing-hosts-paris-air-show-preview/#ixzz1PgbVVZH3
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Pandora, a good service but poor investment

Pandora is one of the Web's most popular and beloved music services, and smart investors shouldn't go anywhere near the company's stock.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20071325-261/pandora-a-good-service-but-poor-investment/#ixzz1PgabnMda
Shares of the profitless radio service began trading today on the New York Stock Exchange as part of an initial public offering, the latest technology play with a questionable business model to test the public equity markets.

In early morning trading, Pandora, which trades under the ticker symbol P, was up 28 percent to $20.37 a share but then began to level off. Investors began pulling back not long after and the stock closed the day at $17.42, up 8 percent. According to Bloomberg, Pandora sold 14.7 million shares yesterday at a price of $16 a share, giving the company a valuation of $2.6 billion. Pandora isn't worth $2 billion and here's why:

Where are the ads?
The way Pandora works is that the company's 80 million users choose their favorite artists and musical genres and the Oakland, Calif.-based company delivers songs over the Internet based on those choices. Pandora offers an ad-supported service that is free of charge to users but limits them to 40 hours of free listening per month. Another service, called Pandora One, costs $36 annually and offers unlimited commercial-free listening.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20071325-261/pandora-a-good-service-but-poor-investment/#ixzz1PgahXYhs

Since most of the users choose the free-of-charge service, advertising is vital to Pandora. Up to now, however, the company doesn't appear to to be very effective at drawing ad dollars. In documents Pandora filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company saw $119 million in ad revenue for fiscal year 2011, or 87 percent of total revenue. That's more than twice the ad revenue Pandora saw the previous year, but not enough to cover costs, which are also growing. (We'll get to those later.)
"Because the rate they pay is based on per-spin, more listeners doesn't make them more profitable. It doesn't solve their problems. They have to make each listener more profitable."
--SoundExchange spokeswoman

The Wall Street Journal pointed out yesterday that one likely indication that Pandora is struggling to sell ads is that users frequently hear the same ads. Another is that only 1 percent of listener hours are devoted to ads, compared to traditional radio, which generates about 20 percent. The Journal noted that mobile ads are less lucrative and the percentage of music Pandora delivers to portable devices rose from 1 percent in 2009 to 60 percent last quarter.

Another stumbling block is that Pandora has failed to tap into local advertising effectively. According to music industry sources, Pandora executives have complained that the company has not been able sell the kind of ads to, say, regional car dealerships, department stores, and other local businesses that are the bread and butter of traditional radio broadcasting.

For Pandora to slice off a piece of this market, it would have to snatch away share from hundreds of local radio stations across the country and their individual ad sales teams, who have established relationships with local advertisers over decades.

Music expenses to grow
When you talk about fixed costs, that's when Pandora's stock really begins to look dicey.

Every time someone listens to a song on Pandora's ad-supported service, the company must pay about a tenth of a penny to copyright owners. Actually, Pandora pays SoundExchange, the performance rights group that collects music royalties from Internet radio and satellite services.

"For our fiscal year ended January 31, 2011, we incurred SoundExchange related content acquisition costs representing 45 percent of our total revenue," Pandora said in SEC filings. That's not all. The statutory rate, which is set by Congress, is scheduled to go up almost every year until 2015. There are estimates that Pandora will pay half of total revenue to SoundExchange for fiscal 2012.

"If we are unable to reach a new agreement with SoundExchange," Pandora wrote, "our operating costs may significantly increase, which could harm our financial condition and inhibit the implementation of our business plan."

Related links
• Why Google should acquire Pandora
• Web radio, music industry reach agreement on royalties
• Michael Robertson: Digital music's bad boy was right

So what does a tenth of a penny per play cost Pandora over a year? Laurie Anderson, a SoundExchange spokeswoman, broke it down this way: Pandora allows users of the ad-supported service 480 hours per year of free play (40 hours x 12 months). She said that if a user listens to 15 songs an hour, this is the equivalent of 7,200 songs per year. She said the 2011 rate Pandora pays is a "PurePlay Webcaster rate" of $0.00102 per spin. Assuming all these users max out their 40 hours of free listening each month, this means each of them costs Pandora $7.35 per year.

As Pandora bulls on Wall Street wax on about how the company should be able turn its large audience into gold, Anderson painted a picture of what Pandora has to overcome just to break even.

"Everyone will be watching to see if they can figure out how to monetize their users in other ways," she told CNET today. "Because the rate they pay is based on per-spin, more listeners doesn't make them more profitable. It doesn't solve their problems. They have to make each listener more profitable."

One high-profile critic of Pandora's business model for the past several years has been Michael Robertson, the founder of pioneering music service MP3.com. This is what he told me in 2009 about Pandora and pay-per-stream business models:

"It's just simple math that you can't make enough with ad banners and click-through keywords to pay a penny per song," Robertson said. "Simple math, ask anybody who knows Internet advertising. Somebody sits there, listens to 20 songs, the royalties pile up with each tick of the clock. Those songs may or may not have ads at any given time and even if they do you can't charge enough for those ads to cover the royalty payments, much less all the other engineering fees and bandwidth, sales and all of the other costs. There's no question that today, Webcasting is not a business."

And what about digital music overall? Surely, this is an area where lots of companies are raking in big bucks, right? On the contrary, this is a sector that over the past five years has seen most of the top players shut their doors, satisfy themselves with niche markets and small profit margins or, in Apple's case, use music to sell phones and digital music players. What's one of the worst performing areas? You guessed it, ad-supported music services. They have taught us that music remains popular and you can attract large audiences by offering free music. But it doesn't equal a profitable business.

There are indications that the situation may have bottomed out. Instead of a free fall, overall music sales appear to be flat. Online music piracy appears to be under siege thanks to some recent court victories and government action.

For Pandora, it's hard to believe that SoundExchange will try to drive the company's costs higher. It wants Pandora to stick around and generate cash for artists, which could mean a break on the royalty rates. Other things Pandora has going for it are an excellent brand and an experienced management team. I have written that Pandora could make a nice acquisition for Google and others.

But as a standalone investment, Pandora is too dependent on its music suppliers. The company faces too much competition for listeners from other Web music services, such as Google's YouTube, which also is a popular ad-supported music discovery service. Pandora must also fight for regional ad dollars with terrestrial radio stations. And any investor should remember Pandora isn't a start-up. The company has been unprofitable at this for 10 years, and there's little reason to think it will suddenly turn into a great business.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20071325-261/pandora-a-good-service-but-poor-investment/#ixzz1PganUibZ
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Google announces host of search improvements

Google held a special search event in San Francisco this morning to discuss several improvements to its Web and mobile search products.

Though details surrounding the Inside Search event were slim leading up to it, the company promised journalists it would give them "an under-the-hood look at Google Search, share our vision, and demo some of our newest technology and features."

At a similar event last year, Google unveiled its Instant Search feature, allowing users to see results as they type queries into the search box.

This time around, the company focused first on mobile search. It reported that Web searching volume declines over the weekend after staying high during the workweek. With mobile search, however, Google's traffic jumps on the weekend. The company also said that with mobile search traffic, there is no slowdown during the summer or holidays like there is for traditional Web searches. In fact, the company's mobile search has been enjoying strong, consistent growth over the last few years.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20071058-17/google-announces-host-of-search-improvements/#ixzz1PgZqxL00

To keep that going, the search giant unveiled several mobile search improvements, including a new set of icons on the company's mobile search page, allowing users to find local establishments, including restaurants, coffee shops, attractions, and even gas stations. Upon clicking one of those items, users can scroll through different locales and see their placement on a map. After clicking an establishment, users will find relevant information, including its address and phone number.

Google also discussed instant search suggestions to help users get answers to their queries more quickly. In addition, the company has added "plus" icons next to suggestions to let users efficiently modify their queries. For example, if a user starts typing "Hilton," and chooses the plus icon to add that to the search box, the search suggestions will change to queries related to Hilton, such as "Hilton Garden Inn," for example.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20071058-17/google-announces-host-of-search-improvements/#ixzz1PgZxFmqw
Finally, Google showed off a new search user interface for tablets that makes better use of those devices' large displays. People sifting through images in a tablet search also can now scroll without being forced to skip to other pages.

Google's mobile search improvements are available now on the company's mobile Web page.

Bringing mobile features to the Web
Google also said it wanted to bring some of its "mobile innovations" to its Web-based search service.

As such, it unveiled voice search for the Chrome browser. Users will soon find a microphone icon when accessing Google search from their Chrome browser, allowing them to speak a query. That service was previously only available through the company's mobile search application. Google is beginning to roll that out to Chrome users today.

Google has also added a new Search By Image feature to its image search tool that delivers results based on a photo. Users can drag and drop an image into the search box, or instead choose to upload it or copy and paste it into the field.

After a photo is added to the search box, Google delivers relevant results related to it. So, if a person drops a picture of a location in the search box, for example, Google will return information about the place, as well as any Web results on the same topic. Chrome and Firefox extensions are also available to help users search for information on images they find around the Web.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20071058-17/google-announces-host-of-search-improvements/#ixzz1Pga1Gbdh
Faster load times
Finally, Google unveiled a new improvement to its Web search that will help users get to their desired destinations sooner.

Dubbed Instant Pages, the offering instantly renders a destination page. According to Google, users currently need to wait 5 seconds to get to a destination page from its search service. With Instant Pages, they won't need to wait at all. In one example, Google said that The Washington Post's homepage loaded in 3.2 seconds without help from Instant Pages, and took 0.0 seconds to load with the new feature's help.

Like Google's other Web search improvements, Instant Pages will only be available to Chrome users when they launch. The company will be making that new feature available this week in Chrome beta.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20071058-17/google-announces-host-of-search-improvements/#ixzz1Pga6S781
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